Population explosions in Bangladesh moving towards danger

The high population growth rates of Bangladesh have appeared as the major impediments to its development. The family planning programmes are going on, of course without much of any notable achievement. The domestic and international sources are financing the programmes...

The current oil shock

When will it end, this crushing rise in the price of gasoline, now averaging $4.10 a gallon at the pump? The question is uppermost in the minds of American motorists as they plan vacations or simply review their daily journeys....

Adulteration of food

Adulteration of food in Bangladesh has taken a serious turn upward, taking advantage of the absence of any provision for strict punishment and administrative supervision for implementation of the same to discourage and deter the dishonest traders and businessmen to...

High time to diversify traditional agriculture

Traditional agriculture- centering mainly on the production of food grains -- has served a purpose, no doubt, in feeding the growing population of Bangladesh. But this singular emphasis on food grain production is also costing dear the country in different...

Job openings in tourism industry

The vast hospitality and tourism industry of the world is viewed by economists as a great contributor to employment, gross domestic product ( GDP) and revenues.According to the World Travel & Tourism Council in 2007, the industry grew significantly for...

Poor at great risk because of high food inflation

The positive gains in the country's poverty reduction efforts have now been reversed due to high food prices and soaring inflation, said government and private research agencies.They said poverty eradication process has been seriously affected due to abnormal hike in...

For a better functioning DCC

The exodus of people from other areas of the country leading to their migration to Dhaka city and its adjacent areas is occurring at a fast pace. The pull factors of the city are considered as almost unstoppable by experts....

Road map to good governance - the Nine "I" model

Economic development can not flourish in the absence of good governance. The precondition for good governance is effective democratic institutions. What is important for good governance is democratising the society? Without people's participation in governance, there can be no sustainable...

Exports record 15pc growth last fiscal

The country's export in fiscal 2007-08 recorded more than 15 per cent growth over that of previous fiscal, a senior official said Sunday.According to the provisional statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh fetched over $14.01 billion through export...

'Thank God, our farmers were untaught'

OFTEN when I reflect my face on a mirror I wonder what my ancestors did for their living, say, 400 years back! Given the texture and colour of my dark skin, my body size and my idiosyncrasies, I guess my...

Who is to blame: employer, worker or mission?

Kuwaiti police and special force used batons, fired tear gas canisters and arrested a few Bangladeshi workers, who in their hundreds, allegedly, along with some other Asian workers resorted to strike and turned violent last Monday at Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, 20-km...

Investment in saving tools declines by 39pc in FY'08

Investment in saving tools by small savers declined by 39 per cent in fiscal 2007-08 as much of the fund flowed into more lucrative stock market, officials said.The National Savings Directorate (NSD) received net investment worth Tk 25.16 billion in...

Expectations from Colombo summit of Saarc

Leaders of the 1.5 billion-strong South Asian nations will again meet in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, for the 15th time to discuss issues of mutual interests in order to enhance cooperation among the member states. The people of the...

Price hike of raw materials pushes boutique businesses into harsh time

Prices of raw materials for boutique products have increased by at least 20 per cent over the last one year pushing the boutique businesses into a very harsh time."Prices of raw materials like fabrics, colours, yarn and kerosene have increased...

US-Iran hot and cold relations

BECAUSE of its sheer military power and arrogance, the US does not hesitate to threaten and invade sovereign countries considered by Washington not falling in line with its global agenda. Hence the US issues threats to them with deadlines to...

The deadline for special citizen facility need to alter

WE appreciate that the present government has taken an excellent move for providing Special Citizen Facility to our expatriate Bangladeshis who sent home remittance worth over US$ 5,000.00 in fiscal 2007-08 aiming to boost inflow of foreign exchange. Under the...

news digest

better in Darfur: aid groupsNAIROBI, July 28: UN peacekeepers in Darfur, despite being severely under-equipped and under-manned, can and must do far more to protect civilians in the war-torn Sudanese region, aid groups said in a report Monday. The joint...

NBR move to realise tax from evaders suffers setback

The government's move to realise taxes evaded by suspected tax dodgers from their property seized by the authorities concerned has got stuck up in legal tangle.The National Board of Revenue (NBR) initiated the move on October last to issue demand...

Biofuel plantations should make way for more agro output

SELDOM does the top boss of the UN speak out so loudly especially for rousing awareness amongst the member countries. The Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki moon came out very strongly in warning the leading economies of world...

Imports grow 27.56pc last fiscal

The country's overall imports grew by 27.56 per cent with food grains marking the highest at 142.70 per cent in fiscal 2007-08 over those of the previous fiscal.The value of letters of credit (LCs) against imports worth $20.372 billion were...

NBR targets profitable units that remain outside tax net

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will look for the profitable organisations that still remain outside the tax net, officials said.The taxmen will gear up efforts to find out the business establishments that maintain a considerable amount of turnover for...

sports digest

SUNDERLAND (England), July 27: French defender Pascal Chimbonda has joined Sunderland from Premier League rivals Tottenham on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the north-east club announced Saturday. The 29-year-old full-back, who can also play in the centre of...

Global agricultural prices: Is food the next strategic asset?

FROM tortilla riots in Mexico, the pasta strikes in Italy and tomato boycotts in Argentina to government restrictions on food exports in Russia, the food crisis is firmly in the spotlight this year. Over the last 12 months the average...

Inflation, thriftiness and economy

With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, the people are expecting yet another round of hike in the prices of most essential commodities in the market. Such a hike though is a matter of tradition rather than a rule would...

Mathematics needs regular practice

MATHEMATICS is a very fundamental subject for any student. Anyone weak in mathematics may remain afraid of the subject and this may cause immense sufferings for him or her.It is very common to see students sometimes only try to

Stock trading pattern in Bangladesh

STOCK trading is no longer confined to the domain of the professional investors. It has become a universal pursuit by amateurs and professionals alike. One of the main reasons for such ubiquity is the ease of trading through brokers or...

Stock trading pattern in Bangladesh

STOCK trading is no longer confined to the domain of the professional investors. It has become a universal pursuit by amateurs and professionals alike. One of the main reasons for such ubiquity is the ease of trading through brokers or...

Ctg city to ban truck, van movement during day time

CHITTAGONG, July 26: Movement of trucks and coveredvans is going to be stopped by day time to eliminate traffic congestion and ensure unhindered movement of pedestrians and vehicular traffic over the city roads. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Traffic Department has...

Motor vehicle tax, other fees raised by 17 to 25pc

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has raised Motor Vehicles Tax (MVT) and other fees by 17 per cent to 25 per cent, effective from July 1.The BRTA has also increased driving licence fees by Tk 100 to Tk 250...

Prospective silk industry

Bangladesh has a traditional natural silk based industry at Rajshahi. Rajshahi silk is well known in the country and saris and other products made out of it are coveted by users in the country as well as in foreign countries....