Thalassemia prevention: Time to build a countrywide social movement

Three-year-old Keya lives with thalassemia major. Since infancy, she has required monthly blood transfusions to survive. For her family, each month brings the same urgent question: where will the next unit of safe blood come from? Keya's story is not...

World Ovarian Cancer Day: The cost of silence

In Bangladesh, ovarian cancer is often discussed as a medical issue, but rarely as an economic one. Every late diagnosis not only puts a life at risk, but also poses a financial burden on a family and the national health...

Why UAE walked away from OPEC

For nearly 60 years, the global oil market has danced to the tune of a powerful cartel. OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has been the invisible hand guiding the price of the black gold that runs our...

Lack of jetties causing hardship for traders, labourers

CHANDPUR, May 07: Loading and unloading goods along the Meghna and Dakatia rivers in Chandpur's Puranbazar have become immensely challenging for traders and labourers over the absence of adequate number of pontoons, or jetties.Nazmul Islam and Mainul Islam Kishore are...

Six resource-rich areas in Sylhet to be declared ECAs

SYLHET, May 07: The government has taken initiatives to declare six "natural resource-enriched sites" of Sylhet, including Sada Pathor, a tourist spot in Bholaganj, 35 kilometres away from the city, and Shah Arefin Tila, a historically significant hillock in Companiganj...

Envoy of Kosovo visits Ctg port

CHATTOGRAM, May 07: Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Dhaka Lulzim Pllana visited Chittagong Port on Thursday.Commodore Ahmed Amin Abdullah, Member (Harbor and Marine), Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), paid him a courtesy call. During the meeting,...

1.5m vaccines arrive amid measles outbreak

Bangladesh received a critical shipment of 1.5 million vaccine doses on Wednesday, including measles-rubella (MR) and tetanus-diphtheria (TD) vaccines, as the country has been battling a widening measles outbreak since mid-March.Meanwhile, seven more children died of measles and measles-like symptoms...

Govt raises launch fare

FE REPORT The government has raised launch fare to Tk 2.95 per kilometre from the previous Tk 2.77 for a travel up to 100 kilometres.For travel beyond the 100 kilometres the fare has been raised to Tk 2.52 from the...

Depositors of six distressed NBFIs seek BB action

An alliance representing more than 12,000 depositors of six non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) currently under liquidation on Wednesday demanded immediate action by the Bangladesh Bank to recover funds that have remained trapped in the troubled institutions for nearly seven years,...

Draft Import Policy Order to be made public today for feedback

The government has initiated to a move to simplify trade facilitation measures, aimed at boosting exports in line with global regulations and the requirements of major trading partners, including the United States and the European Union (EU), officials said.The draft...

ERL to resume full operation today as crude oil supply stabilises

CHATTOGRAM, May 06: Production at Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), the country's only state-owned oil refinery, is set to resume at full capacity from Thursday (today) following the easing of a crude oil shortage.Sources said an oil tanker carrying 100,000 tonnes...

BERC set to hold public hearings on May 20-21

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is set to hold a two-day public hearing on May 20 and 21 over proposals to increase electricity tariffs at both bulk and retail levels.The commission will hold hearings on May 20 on proposals...

Tarique halts convoy to let ambulance pass

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made way for an ambulance by halting his motorcade on the elevated expressway near Karwan Bazar in the city on Wednesday, breaking the usual VVIP protocol.The move came shortly before 9:00am as he was travelling from...

PM calls for people-oriented admin, faster public services

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday called for building a people-oriented administration to ensure faster, transparent and harassment-free services for citizens. "The administration must be made people-oriented, and much of that depends on your role. Our government wants an administration...

BD risks losing $8.0b opportunity annually

Bangladesh's textile and apparel sector risks losing a multi-billion-dollar opportunity as weak policy support and limited technological capacity hinder the transition to a circular economy.Industry insiders estimate the economic opportunity of waste recycling to be worth $8.0-billion annually.They warned that...

US, Iran 'closing in on' memorandum to end war

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters): The United States and Iran are closing in on an agreement on a one-page memorandum to end the war in the Gulf, a source from mediator Pakistan familiar with the negotiations said.The Pakistani source said a...

Depositors of six troubled non-bank financial institutions stage a silent protest in front of Bangladesh Bank

Depositors of six troubled non-bank financial institutions stage a silent protest in front of Bangladesh Bank in the capital's Motijheel on Wednesday, demanding the return of their savings and punishment for those responsible for irregularities and looting in the sector....

Trade deficit widens to $19.2b in Jul-Mar FY'26

Bangladesh's trade balance deteriorated significantly during the July-March period of the current fiscal year, driven by a decline in merchandise exports, according to central bank data.The Bangladesh Bank, which compiles the balance-of-payments (BoP) data, reported that the trade deficit stood...

First PPP-based solar power plant to be set up at Sonagazi

The country's first solar power plant under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is set to be established in Sonagazi upazila of Feni district on land owned by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), officials said.Stakeholders welcomed the initiative, saying renewable-energy...

Factories needing smaller working capital to get priority

An around Tk 200-billion kiss of life to midsize industrial units remaining shut after the July-August 2024mass uprising is planned to help resume factory production and protect jobs. The central bank may initially provide the special funds for those industries...

April inflation goes past 9.0pc mark

People pay through their nose as the persistent Gulf turmoil impacts Bangladesh's consumer-price indices with overall inflation having hit a near-double-digit high at 9.04 per cent in latest official count.Official data released Wednesday for the past month shows the most...

Commercial engagement with BD a key priority for India

India is ready to work towards constructive, pragmatic and forward- looking relationship with Bangladesh based on "mutual respect and benefits", India's foreign secretary reaffirms their position after regime changes. "We are ready to work with Bangladesh new government elected by...

BD, China reaffirm commitment to strategic partnership

Bangladesh and China on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries during bilateral talks held in Beijing.Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, focusing on...

DCE of Southern University holds graduation ceremony

CHATTOGRAM, May 06: The Department of Civil Engineering (DCE), Southern University Bangladesh, held a graduation ceremony and festival on the university's permanent campus at Arfeni Nagar under Bayezid PS in the port-city on Tuesday.DCE Head Saima Akhtar chaired the ceremony....

IEB Ctg observes 78th anniv today

Our CorrespondentCHATTOGRAM, May 06: The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), Chattogram Centre will observe its 78th founding anniversary today (May 7). It has arranged a rally on this occasion. IEB, Chattogram held a view exchange meeting with the journalists on...

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur (DUET) organised a discussion and a rally

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur (DUET) organised a discussion and a rally on its campus on Wednesday on the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day 2026, where its Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Zoynal Abedin was present, among...

Scuffle breaks out at DU Mohsin Hall over banner dispute

A scuffle broke out between the hall union leaders and the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) members at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University (DU) over a banner dispute.The incident occurred at the main gate of the hall at around...

‘Extortion won't be tolerated during transportion of sacrificial animals’

FE REPORT The government has taken steps to prevent incidents of extortion on roads during the transportation of sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul- Adha. "We have taken measures to prevent extortion on roads. If any extortion takes place involving...

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon speaking at the fifth session on the final day

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon speaking at the fifth session on the final day of the Deputy Commissioners' (DC) Conference 2026 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Wednesday. — PID

Introduce a service framework for private-sector engineers

FE REPORTThe Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) on Wednesday urged the government to ensure the appointment and promotion of engineers to top leadership roles within technical and engineering-based organisations. They also called for the formation of a dedicated taskforce to...