A day in NASA

During our extended holiday in USA, my wife and I were travelling mostly in California, Oregon and Texas; transiting through Arizona. We went to Texas twice; first in Austin in December, 2012 while my eldest son-in-law, M Zahid Khondokar (Russel),...

Providence plays a part but man is no less responsible

It is not unusual for the most joyous moments turning into a nightmare or tragedy. Whoever is involved, the sense of loss reverberates across the known circles and beyond. When none other than young children become the casualty, the poignancy...

Technology and social relationships

We are living in an era that turns out to be a boom time for use of technology. In Bangladesh, particularly in the capital Dhaka, we observe significant changes in lifestyle of the urbanites due to technology that could not...

Britain turns to the east

British Prime Minister David Cameron, in the midst of global change and geopolitical shift of power visited China. Before that the Chinese leaders had received the European Union leaders in Beijing and the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang met the...

Interest rate spread below 5pc in Jan

The interest rate spread in the country's banking sector came down to below 5.0 per cent again in January with the increase in competition among the banks for attracting well performing clients. "We're are now offering lower interest rate on...

Country\\\'s wheat import target for FY \\\'14 may be fulfilled

The government is optimistic about achieving its wheat import target during the current fiscal year (FY) 2013-14 due to its lower price in the international market compared to the previous year, a high food official said. "We will be able...

Move to set up garment village on unused BSFIC land

The government is considering setting up a garment village on the unused land under Bangladesh Sugar & Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC). The ministry of commerce (MoC) would seek opinions of the Privatisation Commission (PC) on approval of the proposal, a...

Battling violence against women and other maladies

Physical or sexual violence is a public health problem that affects more than one-third of all women globally, according to a new report released by WHO. Some 35 per cent of all women experience violence either by intimate partners or...

On economic impact of diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot produce enough or effectively use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose from food to enter the body's cells where it is converted into...

Risk management system of banks to be improved

Information Technology is important in promoting faster and safer inter-connectivities among banks. The inherent challenges of IT along with its efficient role in banking services are also becoming vivid. All of us are well-informed of the government's vision of achieving...

Unacceptable deaths of migrant workers

The news should have hit headlines in most contemporaries but it did not quite do as much. Perhaps more interesting proved the crossing of $19 billion mark in the country's foreign exchange (forex) reserve, a good part of which came...

DSE turnover crosses Tk 6b-mark

Dhaka stocks closed flat Thursday amid volatile trading throughout the session with turnover crossed Tk 6.0 billion mark after 12-session as investors took position amid optimism. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX --- ended at...

DSE, CSE open positive amid volatility

The prices of most shares on both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Thursday amid modest volatility. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE went...

BSEC differs with BB directive

The securities regulator differs with the central bank's verbal instruction regarding submission of day-to-day stock purchasing information by subsidiary firms of all banks to the Bangladesh Bank (BB), officials said Wednesday. On the other hand, the central bank says that...

Draft to be finalised within 45 days

The government has asked the committee concerned to finalise the draft Bangladesh Competition Commission Rules 2014 within the next 45 working days to implement the Competition Act 2012, a high trade official said. Earlier, the government constituted a six-member committee,...

Mongla seaport raises tariff by 10pc to make more profit

The country's second seaport Mongla has increased its tariff by 10 per cent which is aimed at raising its profit, officials said. "We have raised user-tariff of the equipment, which are run on diesel and electricity, by an average of...

Energy drinks causing renal, other disorders among consumers

Both local and foreign branded carbonated sugar and energy drinks are causing renal and other disorders among consumers due to availability of ingredients more than international standard levels. Though a BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution) move in reducing the...

Incidents of luggage missing at HSIA on rise

The number of luggage-missing incidents from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has gone up alarmingly in recent times, causing frustrations and sufferings among air passengers, sources said. Mishandling of luggage causing harassment to inbound-passengers has become almost a regular...

NBR steps in to realise taxes from errant beverage groups

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a guideline on tax collection from energy drink producers, which have evaded taxes in the absence of clear definition of soft and animated drinks. Taxmen alleged that some beverage groups are marketing...

Quality of regulatory framework

Quality of regulatory framework is the single most important issue for private infrastructure projects in all countries, particularly developing countries. The principal objectives of regulators tend to be: a. to prevent the exploitation of consumers by monopoly providers, and b....

G20 and global growth

Group of 5 (G5) evolved into G20 in recognition of the changes that had taken place in global economy. It was realised that the big five plus Russia was not enough to take concerted actions to guide the world economy....

Ukraine developments - Setback for Russia?

President Vladimir Putin's aggressive but at times prudent foreign policy, including in the Syrian conflict, has earned him credits in recent times. Lately, however, the Russian leader has suffered a setback in Ukraine. The former Soviet republic has been in...

Government borrowing and private investment

The buzz of 'crowding out effect' of government borrowing is back in town. For a number of reasons, implementation of annual development programme (ADP) and collection of revenue during the first half of the current fiscal year not only has...

Looking ahead: Education reforms and global support

National and international efforts have made considerable progress in pushing enrolment rates in primary education to near universal level in large parts of the developing world. At the same time, national educational systems have to cope with a faster pace...

DSE turnover dips below Tk 4b

Stocks edged marginally down on Wednesday after two sessions of positive trend with turnover dipping below Tk 4.0 billion mark once again as investors took cautious stance. The market opened with a positive note but could not sustain. At the...

Stocks see downward trend amid volatility

The prices of most shares on both bourses --- Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) --- saw negative trend in early hours of trading Wednesday amid volatility. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE went down by...

It\\\'s time to review security system by banks

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is pleased with the country's banking sector performance as the sector, according to him, 'now stands on a strong footing with a satisfactory expansion'. But how far is his statement, delivered at the Sonali Bank's annual...

VAT law enforcement suffers as no funding yet for project

The process of implementing the new VAT law from 2015 is facing difficulties due to a delay in disbursement of necessary funds for a relevant project. The VAT and Supplementary Duty Automation Project, approved on October 8 last, still did...

3rd alignment finalised for BD, Myanmar border road

The government has finalised the alignment of the Balukhali-Gundhum border road that will connect Bangladesh and Mynmar in order to establish regional connectivity through its link with the Asian Highway and the BCIM. The special works department of Bangladesh Army...

Relocation of tanneries to Savar begins in April

Tanneries would start to be relocated from the city's Hazaribagh to Savar Tannery Estate in April this year. In a meeting with the Industries Ministry on Monday, the tanners made the promise to the government to start relocation in April,...