The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), has identified a series of critical structural and engineering faults in several buildings across Dhaka that were damaged in the recent earthquake, raising fresh concerns about construction quality, building code compliance, and Dhaka’s long-ter
An evolving global order is disrupting supply systems across countries, prompting a shift from a bipolar world to a multipolar framework, when nations can no longer rely solely on the West and must widen their focus. Speakers at a function in Dhaka Sunday sounded the alert, and recommended d
The government is mulling over introducing an app for providing early warning of earthquakes in the country, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday. He said several countries have developed applications, capable of issuing alerts around 10 seconds before tremors
Economists and business leaders have cautiously hailed the selection of reputed foreign companies by the interim government to develop and operate two Bangladeshi ports, saying this will uplift the country's capacity. Experienced and well-known foreign firms handling the ports will not only boost
The yields on treasury bills (T-bills) showed a mixed trend on Sunday as banks appeared reluctant to invest their excess liquidity in risk-free government securities ahead of the year-end closing. The cut-off yield, generally regarded as the interest rate, on 91-day T-bills rose to 10.14 per cent
Bangladesh's foreign policy is increasingly defined by the challenge of navigating great-power rivalry while managing domestic political pressures, analysts said at a major policy forum on Sunday. They argued that Dhaka's engagement with India, China, and the United States reflects not a single al
Rising consumption of goods spurs economic activity and demand-driven imports particularly amid some spending splurge on upcoming national elections, in a rebound from persisting slumps. Consumption contracted in fiscal years 2023 and FY 2024 consecutively amid persistent high inflation, but indus
Edible-oil refiners have proposed increasing the prices of soybean and palm oils by Tk 10 and Tk 19 per litre respectively, citing rising import costs and international market volatility, sources said. The Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (BVORVMA) has subm
When the authoritarian government of Sheikh Hasina was challenged in the summer of 2024, the largest demographic that was at the forefront against it was the youth of the country. The frustration that gave rise to their heroic stand against tyranny has definite links with the lacklustre economy of
Bangladesh is currently experiencing a wave of crucial financial sector reforms, moving its banking system closer to global standards. The central bank, the Bangladesh Bank (BB), is spearheading a massive overhaul focussing on fixing bad loans, professionalising management, and preparing for the di
Bangladesh today stands at a demographic crossroads. With a substantial youth population, it holds a promise of a new generation that can lead the country into an era of creativity, innovation, and social progress. And yet, that promise remains only partly fulfilled. Thousands of young graduates ar
It is indeed an affront to Bangladesh that hundreds of its citizens, deceived by false promises of jobs abroad, end up on battlefields in Ukraine, get trapped in brothels in India, suffer sexual abuse in Middle-East countries or meet a tragic death in the Mediterranean. Such incidents, occurring wi
