Securing Bangladesh\\\'s share of Teesta water

The issue of sharing Teesta waters has not only remained unresolved but has also given rise to a host of other side issues. Two most tormenting ones relate to desertification and drastic fall in underground water level in the northern...

Let there be proper evaluation of MPO

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said that the present government is not going to extend the MPO (monthly payment order) facilities. He said no new school will be brought under the scheme as the system has been destroying the secondary...

Why the Russian sanctions don\\\'t work

Why did the U.S. and European sanctions against Russia earlier this week trigger a rebound in the ruble and the Moscow stock market? To understand this paradox it is worth recalling Yes Minister, the British TV comedy about a blundering...

FY15 budget: Promoting inclusive growth

The budget for financial year 2014-15 (FY15) is in the offing. The development initiatives of the government in Bangladesh are mainly guided by a five-year plan, formulated in every five years on the basis of the review of the problems...

US job growth jumps, but shrinking labour force a blemish

US employers hired workers at the fastest clip in more than two years in April, pointing to a rebound in economic growth after a dreadful winter and keeping the Federal Reserve on track to end bond purchases this year. The...

After bombing in west, China angered by US criticism in terror report

China's foreign ministry has reacted angrily to U.S. criticism of the level of cooperation from Beijing on fighting terrorism, after an apparent suicide bombing in the country's far west pointed to a possible escalation of unrest there. The Chinese government...

West struggles for winning formula on Russian sanctions

Western states used targeted sanctions to isolate Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and push Iran into nuclear negotiations. Using similar tactics against President Vladimir Putin's Russia is a challenge on an entirely different scale. Not only is the volume of Russian money...

Importance of character education

Character education is the teaching of people in a manner that will help them develop as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant or socially acceptable beings. It is not a new phenomenon, rather it is...

Our higher education: The current picture

Higher education in Bangladesh is imparted to students at 34 state-run, 78 private and 3 international universities. Students can choose to study in chartered accountancy, engineering, technology, agriculture and medicine at a variety of universities and colleges. At the higher...

Tough actions against hoarding, syndication under way

Some tougher provisions against illegal hoarding and market syndication are expected to be incorporated in the draft Bangladesh Competition Commission Rules 2014, officials said. Besides, the commission will be empowered to take action against artificial price hike and to restrict...

Tk 650b income tax collection target likely for FY \\\'15

The government is likely to fix a target of mobilising Tk 650 billion as income tax for the next fiscal year (FY) by increasing the collection of withholding tax and taking a few new tax measures. The target, if fixed,...

Further time extension for its completion likely

The Dhaka-Mymensingh Four-lane Highway project is unlikely to be completed within the time extended until June this year, officials said. Progress of the project varies according to the constructing organisations while, sources said, there might be 50 per cent progress...

Teesta: Strange flow and ebb

The nation witnessed, during the official visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Dhaka in September 2011, a drama concerning the Teesta river upon which millions in Bangladesh depend for their lives and livelihoods. The Awami League-led government was assured...

Sluggish investment — an unwelcome development for emerging economy

We are one of the ten newly emerging countries as identified by the Coface, a French credit insurer firm. Bangladesh is also listed among top twenty-five countries in terms of per capita income by the year 2050. Many economists are...

Overcoming medical malpractices

Medical ethics has long become a casualty. Ever since the pharmaceutical companies have sought to monopolise market, ethics has been relegated to the back burner. Profit motive has overtaken that of engagement in a cause for the humanity. That 10...

B\\\'desh gets duty-free market access to 37 countries only

Bangladesh's products are not getting duty-free market facilities to more than 150 countries due mainly to the lack of pro-active measures. Realising the urgency, the government is trying to secure duty-free market access to a number of countries including Russia,...

Event management firms mushrooming in country

Event management companies that help organise programmes professionally are mushrooming in the country, sources said.     There is no official record relating to how much the growth the sector has achieved, but the earliest companies are feeling the heat of competition...

Diagnostic cos thrive on unethical practices

Most of the diagnostic companies in the country are allegedly involved in unethical business promotional activities to allure doctors. Such companies, as allegations say, try to allure doctors with attractive commissions and gifts to induce them to prescribe more tests...

DSEX dips below 4,600-pt once again

Stocks witnessed drastic decline last week with sluggish trading as investors showed lack of confidence in local companies by selling off shares throughout the week. The week featured four trading sessions as Thursday was public holiday on the occasion of...

Recognising transgenders as the third gender

In India, the Supreme Court recognises transgenders as the 'third gender.' This has brought hope among the transgender community, for this is a landmark ruling certainly. On April 15, 2014, Down to Earth released the news that 'transgender people will...

Cox\\\'s Bazar sea beach in jeopardy

The Cox's Bazar sea beach is one of the natural beauties in this world. Thousands of tourists are visiting this spot every day from home and abroad. This natural beauty captivates anyone and could mitigate the mental anguish of a...

Taxicab service too hot to handle

So the capital has got a taxi service, after a long gap. The inhabitants of the capital who are not fortunate enough to own a car, eagerly waited for the luxury taxicabs in the hope that they would be able...

BAIRA elections Saturday

The biennial elections of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) will be held on May 3 (Saturday). A total of 924 voters will cast votes to elect 27 EC members of two panels led by Mohd Abul Bashar and...

Govt plans to construct 10 dormitories in EPZ areas for female RMG workers

The government has planned to construct ten dormitories in the country's export processing zone (EPZ) areas in a bid to solve the long-standing housing problems of female RMG workers.  "The authorities concerned are going to build the dormitories for the...

BSC suspected of compromising standards leading to quality fall

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is allegedly compromising on standards in its move to buy six new vessels from China, sources said. The 'compromise' may lead to a fall in quality of the vessels to be supplied to the corporation,...

Dhaka, Colombo agree to ink coastal shipping accord

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Wednesday agreed to sign a coastal shipping agreement aiming to boost bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, officials said.   The decision came at the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on maritime...

Use of economic policies

Economic policies are usually used as instruments to solve economic problems in an economy. In recent times, our country is experiencing some problems caused not by the malfunctioning of pure economic forces but by the political forces. Some of the...

Better safety and lesser disparity

Bangladesh is endowed with rich human capital. It may not have oil, gold or copper as much as others, but has brain, hands and bodies as the unique resources. The majority of the people in this country are involved in...

Stocks close flat,turnover up

Stocks closed flat into the red on Wednesday after three sessions’ correction with turnover improved slightly as investors went for last minutes buying spree on large cap stocks. Wednesday was the last trading day of the week as tomorrow (Thursday)...

DSE, CSE slip at opening

Share prices on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed negative trend in early hours of trading on Wednesday, the last trading day of this week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went down by 14.19...