The Daily Star - Bangladesh News, Political News, Bangladesh Economy & Videos, Breaking News

Column by Mahfuz Anam / What are we building after dismantling the AL regime?

Democracy does not seem to be our focus today. Because if it were, then shouldn’t we have been talking about elections more?

Interest payments and subsidies have absorbed nearly half of Bangladesh’s total budget expenditure in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, underscoring growing fiscal stress and raising concerns over public finances.

JnU students have continued their blockade at the capital's Kakrail intersection for the second consecutive day

Malaysia job market: Bangladeshis may be given preference

Malaysia will initially take nearly 8,000 Bangladeshi workers from among the 17,000 who missed a deadline for joining due to a flight shortage.  

MY DHAKA / Why everyone’s quietly moving to Uttara

Living in this beautiful suburb in the northern part of Dhaka has both pros and cons

Govt bans plantation, sale of eucalyptus, akashmoni

In a bid to protect the environment, ecosystems, and biodiversity, the government has banned the plantation, collection, and sale of eucalyptus and akashmoni saplings

Barcelona claim 28th LaLiga title, complete domestic treble

A stunning Lamine Yamal strike helped crown Barcelona LaLiga champions with a 2-0 win at local rivals Espanyol on Thursday, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table.

Yamal rises to stardom in stellar year capped with title triumph

Barcelona's 28th Spanish league title caps a remarkable season defined by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who at 17 has emerged as world football's most electrifying talent.

2 killed in bus-truck collision in Gopalganj, 20 hurt

Two people were killed and at least 20 injured in a road accident on the Dhaka-Khulna highway at Kashiani upazila in Gopalganj

WHO says Gaza's last cancer hospital stops working

The World Health Organization said Thursday that the last hospital in Gaza providing cancer and cardiac care had stopped functioning after an Israeli attack

Court orders removal of Brazil's FA president from office

A Rio de Janeiro court ordered the board of Brazil's Football Confederation (CBF) to be removed from their positions, including president Ednaldo Rodrigues, a decision showed on Thursday.

He went there on leave to see his ailing wife

NBR moves to speed up auction of abandoned goods

About 2 lakh tonnes of imported goods left abandoned at Chattogram port alone for years

Shakib gets PSL NOC

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been granted NOC to play the PSL, BCB cricket operations confirmed.

Man killed as rival groups clash in Brahmanbaria

A man was killed in a clash between two rival groups in Natai village under Brahmanbaria’s Sadar upazila

Real's Asencio wants 'presumption of innocence' in underage sex video case

Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio said Thursday a presumption of innocence "must continue to prevail" after he was indicted in a case involving the viewing and distribution of a sexual video involving a minor.

Opinion

Opinion

Challenging gender equality disempowers women

The expansion of animosity and prejudice is rooted in toxic patriarchy.

How to use RTI when there are no information commissioners

The interim government should encourage all public officials to respond diligently to the citizens’ RTI requests.

Business

Business

‘Govt to act if telcos don’t cut internet prices’

The government will take measures if mobile operators fail to reduce internet prices, said Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, the special assistant to the chief adviser with executive authority over the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and ICT.

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Sports

Sports

How will team management justify Shanto's inclusion?

As it seems, the dilemma for Bangladesh remains: is Shanto worth the tactical compromise?

Messi returns as Argentina announce squad for WC Qualifiers

Already assured of their place in the 2026 World Cup, Argentina will travel to Santiago (play against Chile on June 06) and then host Colombia (June 11) at the Monumental Stadium. 

Pitch Perfect / Bangladesh cricket in a mess: On and off the field

This episode of The Daily Star’s podcast Pitch Perfect takes a deep dive into the unfolding crisis and tries to shed light on the root causes of the dysfunction and explore what it would take to bring Bangladesh cricket back from the brink.

TDS bangla banner TDS bangla banner
News

News

UKRAINE-RUSSIA PEACE TALKS IN TURKEY / Putin’s no-show throws talks into confusion

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a second-tier team of aides and deputy ministers to hold peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey yesterday, spurning Kyiv’s challenge to go there in person to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.

MYANMAR BORDER / Indian army ops kills 10 insurgents

The Indian Army said at least 10 militants were killed in an operation still underway in the troubled northeastern state of Manipur, bordering Myanmar.

US close to a nuclear deal with Iran

US President Donald Trump said yesterday that the United States was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, and Tehran had “sort of” agreed to the terms.

Strengthening Health financing / Commission for CSR-driven health fund, expat bond

Aside from proposing a significant increase in the health budget, the Health Sector Reform Commission has suggested several innovative ways to mobilise funds to strengthen the country’s underfunded health services.

Buri Bhairab River / Crumbling bridge puts 50,000 lives at risk

A wooden bridge over the Buri Bhairab River remains the only route for around 50,000 people commuting between the Afra area of Narail Sadar upazila and the Basundia area of Jashore Sadar upazila.

Entertainment

Entertainment

Farooque: The unparalleled hero of social cinema

Today marks the death anniversary of legendary Bangladeshi actor Farooque, a beloved figure in the golden era of Dhaka cinema. Renowned for his roles in social dramas, Farooque became a household name through films that resonated deeply with rural and urban audiences alike. Though he played romantic and liberation war heroes, it was the social narratives that elevated him to iconic status.

Nine-day theatre fest opens in Chattogram

The event opens with a two-night run (May 16–17) of “Fire” by Avant Garde Natyadal. Written by Suman Tinku and directed by Shamsul Kabir Liton, the play explores provocative themes.

#Perspective / Geetika Recording Centre: Discover Dhaka's last stand for analog music lovers

Geetika Recording Centre in Old Dhaka preserves the soul of a fading era, offering cassettes, vinyl, and nostalgic music memories. Amid digital convenience, it stands as a timeless tribute to Bangladesh’s golden musical past.

Life & Living

Life & Living

Protecting elders from heatwaves: Practical cooling solutions

Protect elderly loved ones from extreme heat by using refrigerated towels, sponge baths, and mist sprays to cool skin gently. Review medications for heat sensitivity, encourage breathable footwear, and prioritise hydration with light, water-rich foods for better health.

#Perspective / Where are the summer lovers now?

Dhaka’s brutal summer heatwave hits 38-46°C, turning the city into an urban heat island with power cuts and unbearable humidity. Summer enthusiasts vanish indoors, while street vendors endure the extreme conditions, redefining what surviving summer means.

How unresolved childhood trauma haunts marriages

Unresolved childhood trauma often resurfaces in marriage, shaping emotional responses and deepening relationship conflicts. In Bangladesh’s high-pressure society, healing requires vulnerability, therapy, and confronting past wounds to build truly intimate, emotionally resilient partnerships.

Youth

Youth

Should you consider pursuing an online degree?

Online degrees offer the freedom to study from anywhere, often at a fraction of the cost needed to pursue the same degrees in person from traditional universities.

Are late night study sessions effective?

Do late-night study sessions truly offer the environment conducive to learning and self-evaluation that individuals desire?

RUCSU draft voter list delay draws criticism from former student leaders

They issue a four-point demand, with the immediate release of the draft voter list as a key priority

Tech & Startup

Tech & Startup

Views / Crushing progress: The e-rickshaw dilemma in Dhaka

In the chaos of Dhaka traffic, one vehicle has quietly taken over: the battery-powered three-wheeler, often called the ‘Tesla’, not the sleek one from Silicon Valley, but the Bangladeshi kind.

Google's AI solves silver medal-level Math Olympiad problems

Google DeepMind has unveiled two new AI systems that collectively solved four of six problems from this year's International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), performing at the level of a silver medalist. According to an official blog post by Google, this marks the first time AI has achieved such a level in the world's most elite high school math competition.

Next Step / Too old to hire? The quiet bias keeping skilled professionals out of jobs

In a world that prizes innovation and adaptability, one would assume experience is a critical asset. Yet, for many older professionals, particularly those over 50, the job market tells a different story—one where decades of service are quietly disregarded in favour of youth. Age discrimination, or ageism, in the workplace remains a pervasive but often under-acknowledged issue globally, and Bangladesh is no exception.

Star Multimedia

Star Multimedia

How video game shots are being used as videos of India-Pakistan conflict

Today's Star Explains is on how the web of misinformation is being spread around the conflict, and who is fuelling it

How is Bangladesh being affected despite the US tariff suspension?

Watch today's episode of Star Explains to find out more

24 parties in 8 months: History repeating itself or is democracy growing?

Let's find out the answers in today's episode of Star Explains

May Day: Remembering a bloody history

Find out more about the history behind the significance of this day in today's Star Explains

Bangladesh demanded $4.52 bn and an apology from Pakistan, what’s next?

What does this BBC report indicate? And more broadly speaking, what does the resumption of diplomatic talks between Bangladesh and Pakistan signify?

Environment

Environment

Forest marbles …

A magnificent marbled cat spotted in Fatikchhari’s Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary. First recorded in Bangladesh in 2014, these rare and elusive felines inhabit the dense evergreen forests of Sylhet, Chattogram, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

8h ago

BMD issues lightning alert for parts of Dhaka, surrounding districts

The alert instructed residents to refrain from going outside when a hail starts

20h ago

6.0-magnitude earthquake strikes near Fry, Greece: USGS

A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck south of the Greek island of Kasos on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage

2d ago

Waterlogging in Ctg a 'man-made' problem: Adviser Fouzul

He said this while inspecting progress of Birza Khal’s excavation and cleanliness activities

2d ago

Jashore hatcheries suffer as temperatures soar

The intense heat wave sweeping through Chanchra in Jashore is severely disrupting the production of fry (renu) and fingerlings, as temperatures have hovered around 40 degrees Celsius for a week

2d ago

Declare Ctg Circuit House ground open courtyard: Forum for Planned Ctg

The voluntary organisation of Chattogram based professionals, town planners, and civil society members made the demand at a press conference at Chattogram Pres Club yesterday

3d ago

No new industries within 10km of Sundarbans ECA

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has prohibited any new industrial activities or projects within 10 kilometres of the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) around the Sundarbans.

3d ago

Heatwave likely to ease; rain expected across Bangladesh tomorrow

A severe heatwave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Rajbari, Khulna, Chuadanga, Meherpur, and Jashore

3d ago