Wasim Bin Habib

$520b economy by next fiscal year

Bangladesh’s gross domestic product is projected to surpass the $500 billion mark for the first time in the upcoming fiscal year contingent upon exchange rate stability.

2d ago

How much longer must south Dhaka suffer?

Standoff over Ishraque Hossain’s mayoral post halts civic services in half of Dhaka

4d ago

National budget FY25-26: Govt to recast social safety net schemes

The interim government is likely to introduce a transparent system for social safety net schemes in the upcoming budget, increasing the number of beneficiaries by around 10 lakh while slashing one-third of the existing programmes.

1w ago

The Kajoli model learning with laughter, growing with joy

“Who will pick up the duck’s photo?” The moment Rafia Sonamoni posed the question to a group of 26 children, four eager hands shot up, accompanied by excited shouts of, “I will!”

1w ago

Aid allocation to be trimmed in next budget

The plan comes as $42.85b foreign funds remained unused at start of current FY

1m ago

Reform proposals: BNP opposes two-term cap on prime minister

The BNP submitted its feedback yesterday. So far, 15 other parties have submitted theirs.

2m ago

There’s no need for constituent assembly

It has been seven months since the interim government took office. During this time, the caretaker administration has been working to revive the political process and strengthen state institutions. Meanwhile, participants in the July uprising have floated a new political party.

2m ago

Why wash dirty linen in public?

Culture adviser Farooki and Shilpakala chief Syed Jamil exchange barbs

3m ago
February 2, 2025
February 2, 2025

‘No room for politics under AL name, ideology’

Nahid Islam, adviser to the interim government, spoke with The Daily Star on the nation's key challenges and the way forward.

December 31, 2024
December 31, 2024

Nation sees tectonic shifts in politics

Seismic. That is perhaps the one word close enough to describe Bangladesh’s transformation in 2024.

October 24, 2024
October 24, 2024

Fate of 62 ASPs: Who’s calling the shots?

The stage was all set. The Bangladesh Police Academy at Sardah was decked up for the year’s highlight. Another batch of assistant superintendents was about to pass out. Many of the guests and dignitaries had already arrived in Rajshahi the evening before. They would watch 62 ASPs — all BCS recruits — march in their passing-out parade.

June 6, 2024
June 6, 2024

Spending on education falls short of expectations

For example, when the Dakar Declaration came in 2000, the country said it would spend 6 percent of GDP on education. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation recommends earmarking four to six percent of the GDP for the sector.

June 4, 2024
June 4, 2024

Falling healthcare budget forces people to spend more out of pocket

For instance, the outlay for the health sector was Tk 25,028 crore in 2021-22, representing 4.8 percent of the budget of Tk 518,188 crore. It was five percent in the previous fiscal year when the government spent Tk 21,647 crore under a Tk 460,160 crore budget.

May 2, 2024
May 2, 2024

Are schools open? Simple issue unnecessarily complicated

Are the secondary schools and colleges open today? It is very likely that no one can answer this seemingly simple question with certainty.

March 27, 2024
March 27, 2024

Reverse migration rises twentyfold in five years

A few months after his honours examinations at a college in Satkhira in 2018, Quazi Monjurul travelled to Dhaka looking for a job.

February 4, 2024
February 4, 2024

Funding for Gabtoli-Dasherkandi metro line confirmed

The prospect of having another major metro rail route in Dhaka looks bright as financing for the construction of the southern route of Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 has been confirmed.

January 9, 2024
January 9, 2024

Who will sit on opposition benches?

With the unofficial results of the 12th national polls out, the question now is what will the opposition in parliament look like.

January 7, 2024
January 7, 2024

Vote today, the outcome long known

As the nation goes to polls today for a third straight time under Sheikh Hasina-led government, the outcome is already a foregone conclusion. The 12th parliamentary election will go down in history as a race between Awami League candidates and Awami League “independents”.