Asian miracle - a story of rising wages and wealth

Asian hi-tech innovation, amplified by a growing appetite for research and development, is about to transform the region. Much of the first phase of the Asian miracle has been driven by the production of high-tech goods - the tens of...

A historical sketch of our jute industry

Bangladesh industrial economy gained 65 per cent of the capacity owned and managed by the Pakistanis after the liberation war. This caused serious management problems in addition to a loss of an estimated Tk.69.9 million in the jute sector alone...

Foreign secretary\\\'s ill-timed visit to New Delhi

The Foreign Ministry has been a different one since the Awami League (AL) returned to power in January 2009 compared to what it was in the AL's term of 1996-2001. In the 1996-2001 term, there were two major achievements in...

Sustainability of local technology

Sustainability is a great concern in today's world. And in order to achieve something sustainable there must be a research environment within the country, and we must remain prepared to adopt any kind of technological innovations. Numerous agricultural and livestock...

Bringing to an end indecency in the name of fashion show

Fashion shows of today are frequently held in venues without much of a background or even a theme. They are star-studded affairs that draw celebrities as well as buyers. They have become national and world-wide events that are recorded by...

Food crisis in Pacific realm

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has warned about the food crisis in Pacific realm. Nearly 25 microstates exist in the Pacific realm, a vast ocean mass twice the size of the Continent of Asia, the largest continent in the...

Need to define blackspots for curbing road accidents

An accident black spot is a term used in road safety management to denote a place where road traffic accidents have largely been concentrated. At certain sites, the level of risk might be higher than the general level of risk...

Cycling saves cash and life time

The dreadful traffic condition in Dhaka city has led the commuters to search for an alternative mode of transport that would reduce commuting time and help avoid the notorious traffic congestion. Some citizens have found the solution to avoid the...

DNA tests identify 10 more Rana Plaza victims

The National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory has identified ten more Rana Plaza victims who were buried without identification, officials said. With the latest detection, the number of victims identified through DNA test rose to 210, causing a matter of little...

Steps taken to raise exports to SAARC member states

Measures have been taken to increase exports to the SAARC member-states against country's huge trade deficits, particularly with India. Official statistics say in the last fiscal year Bangladesh exported only US$700 million to Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal...

BIWTC net profit set to fall far below expected level

The net profit of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is set to fall far below the expected level this fiscal year (FY) as recent political turmoil badly affected its commercial operation, a high official said. The BIWTC is...

Satellite towns can promote tourism

Tourism is considered a major foreign exchange earning industry in all developing countries like Bangladesh. It is also considered the single largest industry in the developed world. Bangladesh is a land of natural beauty. Tourism is yet to make remarkable...

Global RMG market: Bangladesh projected as \\\'Next China\\\'

Due to declining profit margins and capacity constraints in China, investors are looking at other lower-cost countries for making investment in ready-made garment (RMG) industry, and producing and sourcing garment products. Bangladesh's apparel exports could triple by 2020 as the...

Stocks edge up for second day

Stocks edged marginally up Thursday for the second running session as investors find the overall price level of most of the stocks attractive as the market suffered continuous setback in the last few sessions.The market opened with uptrend and the...

More Dutch FDI sought

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu has called upon the Dutch investors to invest directly or relocate their sophisticated hi-tech industries in Bangladesh.The Industries Minister at a seminar Tuesday welcomed the FDI from the Dutch investors in different local prospective industrial...

Stocks positive at opening

Share prices on both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – witnessed upward trend in early hours of trading on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE,...

Surprise for road users

The government last Monday sprang a surprise for millions of road users. The cabinet at its regular weekly meeting on the day decided in principle to collect toll from them in varying rates. Luckily, however, the government is not in...

Corporate taxpayers\\\' number set to go up by 25pc this year

Number of corporate taxpayers is set to increase by 25 per cent this year compared to the corresponding period last year thanks to the newly introduced online TIN issuance system from the current fiscal year (FY). A total of 20,634...

17 new RHD projects likely to get funds from RADP

Some 17 new projects of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) are expected to get funds from the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP), although five of these projects were not included in the original ADP for the fiscal year (FY)...

Bureaucratic tangles behind closure of country\\\'s lone diamond factory

Country's lone diamond cutting, polishing and jewellery manufacturing factory remains closed for a long time despite having vast prospect of export earning. The closure is due mainly to bureaucratic tangles, industry sources said. The country has started its journey with...

Working together to improve disaster management

On the last Thursday of every March, Bangladesh observes National Disaster Preparedness Day (NDPD). This year the day will be observed on  March 27. Different types of events are planned by the government, civil society forums, disaster practitioners and the...

Only two cell phones, no other property

The above news item received wide coverage in the media very recently and also became a much talked about topic. The incumbent Prime Minister of Nepal Sushil Koirala does not possess any property other than two cell phones. The prime...

India needs a vibrant corporate debt market

The health of an economy largely depends on the very functioning of the financial system and as such the vital requirement is to pep up the same in a fast and consistent manner. But the trends in many of developing...

Making the best use of forex reserve

The foreign exchange (forex) reserve in Bangladesh reached US$ 19.2 billion in February last, thirty-six times the reserve in 1990 and twelve times the level in 2000. The government until late 1990s had been worried much over the then inadequate...

Stocks see rally

Stocks rebounded Tuesday, a day after sharp decline with turnover remained sluggish as investors were cautious, and followed 'wait-and-watch approach. The market opened with a negative note, but later it went up gradually as session progressed. At the end of...

Stocks see downward trend

Share prices on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed downward trend in early hours of trading on Tuesday amid modest volatility. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went down by 3.20 points or...

Moheshkhali island in Bay identified as energy hub

The government has identified Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal as an energy hub by implementing there a cluster of projects including power plants and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to boost the country's overall economy. It has also...

Tough provisions halt fund disbursement

Fund worth Tk 3.0 billion under the capital market re-financing scheme remains cent per cent undisbursed, mainly because of tough conditions set for borrowers, even after eight months of its release. The Bangladesh Bank (BB) released Tk 3.0 billion out...

Drive soon against vehicles using illegal horns

The government is going to conduct a stringent drive against vehicles using illegal horns of more than approved decibel to contain sound pollution across the country, officials said. The sound pollution in and outside the capital city has reached an...

Beekeeping can contribute a lot to economic dev of country

JHENIDAH, Mar 23: In an agricultural country like Bangladesh, it is undeniable that beekeeping, an agro-resource, can contribute to economic development greatly. Though beekeeping is possible in every district of Bangladesh, the districts which are very suitable for the purpose...