Surging labour wages make Boro harvest difficult

OUR CORRESPONDENT BENAPOLE, May 06: Farmers in the Bhabadaha region of Jashore are facing mounting difficulties in harvesting their Boro paddy this season, as labour wages have nearly doubled, driven by an acute shortage of farm workers, making it difficult...

Can Dhaka regain its lost biodiversity before it's too late?

Dhaka's greatest crisis is not just pollution or falling water tables, but a rapid loss of biodiversity that threatens the city's capacity to support life. Reversing this decline must be the city's most urgent priority if it is to secure...

Set up breastfeeding corners

Mother's milk means the health of a child, and a healthy child means a healthy future generation. Women engage in various activities every day; sometimes they are alone, and sometimes they stay outside for long hours with small children. There...

Prospect of student entrepreneurship

Bangladesh has a large young population and a growing number of university graduates, and thus has significant potential for student entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, as more students become interested in starting their own business, there remains a disconnect between aspiration and action....

Tapping into vast potential of handicraft export

Underprivileged rural women of Jhenaidah have set an admirable example of self-reliance. Instead of taking micro-credit at the risk of defaulting, they are making impressively designed handicrafts with an eye to foreign market. According to a recent report by a...

Achieving solar power target

Disruption of supply line following the Israel-US imposed war on Iran has laid bare the vulnerability of countries dependent on fuel oil and gas from Middle East countries. This fuel shock has compelled these countries to either look for alternative...

Stolen-asset recovery: Bangladesh has the machinery, but not the vehicle

As of 25 March 2026, courts in Bangladesh had ordered the freezing or attachment of assets totaling Tk 70,446 crore - Tk 57,168 crore inside the country, Tk 13,278 crore abroad. The figures were reported by the Prime Minister to...

When the empire outlasts its founder’s wisdom

Family businesses built Bangladesh's private sector. Walk through any major industry -- garments, banking, real estate, telecoms -- you will find that the dominant players trace their origins to a single founder. That is the story of how economies get...

LGRD seeks Tk 9.0b extra dev funds

JAHIDUL ISLAMThe Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) has sought an additional Tk 9.0 billion for the current fiscal year (FY 2025-26) to meet urgent development needs across local government institutions, from Union Parishads to city corporations.While...

Two-yr bond yield jumps on weak demand

The yield on two-year treasury bonds increased significantly on Tuesday, as banks showed reluctance to invest their surplus funds in government securities in an effort to manage their portfolios more efficiently.The cut-off yield, generally known as the interest rate, on...

Hawkers reoccupy busy roads in the capital's Gulistan after a brief lull, despite earlier eviction drives-

Hawkers reoccupy busy roads in the capital's Gulistan after a brief lull, despite earlier eviction drives, bringing back traffic congestion and public suffering. The photo was taken in the Golap Shah Mazar area on Tuesday. — FE Photo

BSAMA clarification

The Bangladesh Sulphuric Acid Manufacturers Association (BSAMA) has clarified its position regarding a report headlined 'Supply woes deepen sulphuric acid crisis' published in the April 30, 2026 issue of The Financial Express.In a statement issued on Tuesday, BSAMA said, "There...

BB raises auto loan limits to promote green vehicles

Bangladesh Bank has expanded consumer financing limits allowing banks to offer higher auto and personal loans in a move aimed at supporting rising consumer demand and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly vehicles in the country.In a notification issued on...

PDB proposes up to 21pc hike in wholesale power prices

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) has sent a proposal to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to increase wholesale electricity prices by 17 per cent to 21 per cent, reports bdnews24.com.The move comes amid the US-Israel war on Iran,...

Interest payments on government debts swallow huge sums

Rising interest payments on government borrowings swallow a huge sum of Tk 712.53 billion during July-December of this fiscal year, in a 22-percent annualised increase. A latest report prepared by the Finance Division says the increase was driven largely by...

Patients caught between costly pvt care and poor govt service

The woes of kidney patients are deepening in Bangladesh amid poor service management in government hospitals and costly treatment in private facilities.On the other hand, the number of such patients, including those who are young, is rising due to unhealthy...

PM's first foreign visit to China or India

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman may travel to either China or India in June on his first foreign trip after election, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Tuesday before flying for Beijing."No final decision has been taken on the destination, and discussions...

Mamata refuses to resign after election defeat to Modi's BJP

NEW DELHI, May 5 (Reuters): An Indian chief minister who was swept from power by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in state elections said on Tuesday that she had "not been defeated" and would not resign, in...

Govt to scrap Dhaka-Gazipur BRT project

The government is set to scrap the long-delayed and controversial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and convert the dedicated Dhaka airport-Gazipur corridor into a regular road network, officials said on Tuesday.The decision marks a dramatic end to a 15-year project...

Measles, measles-like symptoms claim six more young lives

Measles and measles-like symptoms claimed six more children's lives in the past 24 hours as of 8:00am on Tuesday, pushing the death toll to 317 since mid-March.Of the latest fatalities, two were laboratory-confirmed measles cases. Since the outbreak began, 54...

Govt decides in principle to build East-West elevated expressway

High-speed travel across Dhaka seems no distant dream now as a multifaceted elevated expressway over the crammed capital gets the go-ahead after an updated feasibility study that estimates the cost at Tk 430 billion. The new government has in principle...

Scope inlaid in pact for review suiting national interest

Bangladesh retains the option to review and adjust its trade treaty with the United States in keeping with national interest, says Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir to dispel doubts. The scope is inlaid in the agreement and so "there is...

Flood-hit farmers to get Tk 7,500 each in govt aid

The government has announced a cash grant of Tk 7,500 for each farmer, affected by the flash floods in the country's north-eastern haor regions, triggered by heavy rainfall and upstream hilly run-off, report agencies.Zahed Ur Rahman, the prime minister's information...

IUB launches BBA in supply chain management prog

The School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) has introduced a BBA in Supply Chain Management programme under its Department of General Management, according to a statement.The programme is designed to provide students with structured exposure...

JU sets Jun 17 for freshers' classes

JU CORRESPONDENTClasses for first-year undergraduate students of the 2025-26 academic session (55th batch) at Jahangirnagar University will begin on June 17.The university authorities have also directed students who have already completed their academic tenure to vacate residential halls by May...

JCD submits memo to DU VC on freshers’ accommodation

DU CORRESPONDENTThe Dhaka University (DU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has submitted a memorandum to the university adminsitration, outlining several demands. These include ensuring accommodation for first-year students and taking action against those responsible for torture in guest rooms...

PM's defence adviser calls for integrated approach to ensure good governance, security

Prime Minister's (PM) Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam on Tuesday underscored the need for an integrated initiative involving all state institutions to ensure good governance, national security and sustainable development, reports BSS."All institutions of the state...

Runa Laila honoured with Minar-e-Delhi Award

NEW DELHI, May 05 (UNB): Legendary singer of Bangladesh Runa Laila was honoured with the prestigious "Minar-e-Delhi" Award at the Delhi International Film Festival.The event was held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts on Monday.She also shared...

PM for performance audits to ensure transparency in public expenditures

Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman on Tuesday put special emphasis on conducting performance audits along with compliance audits to ensure transparency in public expenditures, reports BSS.He highlighted the importance of performance audits to ensure transparency and accountability in spending public...

Bus terminal relocation stalls, worsens Dhaka traffic

Dhaka's worsening traffic congestion continues to intensify as long-delayed plans to relocate inter-district bus terminals remain largely stalled, with authorities yet to begin land acquisition despite policy commitments made in 2021.A feasibility study conducted that year identified the existing terminals...