A Closer Look
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.
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.
Biman’s frustrating legacy of misadventures
That Biman is a highly corrupt institution that thrives on shameless plundering of public money is no secret.
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.
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
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.
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.
Women breaking the glass ceiling? Not so much in sports
In Bangladesh, we have a long way to go in encouraging, promoting and creating a conducive ecosystem for the inclusion of more women in sports.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How the world is failing Palestine
May 21, 2021, Friday, 2 AM Israeli local time: an Egypt-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect, ending the recent 11-day Israeli bombardment of Gaza. All told, the attack on the besieged Palestinian strip claimed the lives of 248 Palestinians, including 66 children.