A Closer Look

A Closer Look

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists / A moment for self-reflection

Journalists today must be both defenders of truth and advocates for change within the profession and in the wider society.

4w ago

Opinion / Unbridled corruption and a minister’s reckless comment

The ruling regime should focus less on talking and more on actions, to create a conducive environment that truly eliminates corruption.

4m ago

Civil war in Myanmar: Bangladesh should revisit its national security strategy

It is high time Bangladesh revised its national security strategy and worked in close collaboration with the other key regional players.

5m ago

Biman’s frustrating legacy of misadventures

That Biman is a highly corrupt institution that thrives on shameless plundering of public money is no secret.

5m ago

FY2024-25 Budget / Whitening black money, raising taxes won’t fix our economic ails

These measures are a slap in the face of honest taxpayers who diligently pay taxes on their legitimate income every year.

5m ago

Children must be protected from abuse and torture

We have become a society in which children have become a tool to satiate the filthy desires of the stronger

6m ago

How are electrolyte drinks regulated in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has recently sued the owners of seven companies for selling five popular brands of electrolyte drink without necessary approvals.

6m ago

Dhaka's toxic air: An invisible killer on the loose

Dhaka's air did not become unbreathable overnight, nor is there any instant solution to it.

6m ago

Vaccine procurement and a lack of transparency

Bangladesh’s Covid-19 cases are on the rise again. On July 27, the country registered the highest number of daily Covid-related deaths so far: 258.

3y ago

What awaits Afghan women?

They have endured horrific floggings and beatings in public, they have endured violence at home, their access to education and healthcare have been restricted, and they have even been stoned to death—not too long ago.

3y ago

Dengue: an added worry amidst the pandemic

Dengue cases in the country are on the rise again—since June, there has been a surge in the number of dengue patients seeking treatment in various hospitals.

3y ago

COVID-19 Pandemic: What’s wrong with our oxygen supply?

Abdul Matin, retired headmaster of Badshail High School, died at Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogura on Friday morning.

3y ago

Can we make lockdown work this time around?

As the country scrambles to curb the spread of Covid-19, we will be entering yet another lockdown. The current infection rate stands at 23.86 percent, with specific regions crumbling under surmounting pressure to contain the disease.

3y ago

Fighting the Delta variant: Do we have a plan?

Covid-19 cases in the country are on the rise again. While infections had seen a drop in May with the infection rate coming down to 7.91 percent on the 29th of that month, the infection rates are back on an upward trajectory: as of June 21, 2021, it stands at an alarming 19.27 percent, as reported by this daily.

3y ago

Don’t let Purbachal be a squandered opportunity

The Purbachal Residential Model Town, spanning around 6,227 acres of land, was supposed to have been an extension of Dhaka city—to support its growth momentum and accommodate its ever-growing population.

3y ago

Feeding the underground economy

In the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year, Tk 14,459.40 crore of undisclosed wealth was legalised in the country—as reported by The Daily Star citing data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR)—which, the government says, will play a big role in kick-starting the economy by injecting cash flow amidst the pandemic-induced financial struggles.

3y ago

A budget is only as good as its implementation

As another proposed national budget (of Tk 603,681 crore) has been placed in the parliament amidst a global pandemic, the biggest concern for the government and all other stakeholders is how well it can be implemented, as there are many new challenges to tackle. The aspirations of the budget—especially the economic growth target of 7 percent—are already being viewed by many as ambitious, and we must keep in mind that the budget will not yield a positive result for the nation unless the government takes immediate measures to ensure its adequate and timely implementation.

3y ago

Israel-Palestine Conflict: Ireland lights the fire.Will it catch on?

In a historic move, the Irish parliament has passed a motion that condemns Israel’s “de facto annexation” of Palestinian territories, after the recent bombardment of Gaza by Israel. Ireland has become the first EU member state to pass such a motion.

3y ago