The death of Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday, December 30, is an irreparable loss to the nation at a moment when it is at a critical juncture. In fact, this is no eulogy to her memory to say that Khaleda Zia was the first elected female prime minister of the country or that she was elected prime minist
The emerging fiscal picture suggests a growing strain on public finances, one that reflects both structural vulnerabilities and the weight of immediate economic pressures. The sharp rise in allocations for interest payments, subsidies, incentives and cash loans signals not only a government attempt
The government's particular emphasis, as reported in this newspaper's April 14 issue, on boosting agro-industrial sector in the country's northern region is a step in the right direction. Already the north has proved that it is a production hub of various agricultural produce such as vegetables and
Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali as well as the ethnic communities' New Year, is an occasion for great celebration. But today's celebration is taking place against the lingering shadow of hostility far beyond our territory in the Persian Gulf. Although the warring parties are holding negotiations court
Depositors' trust is the cornerstone of any financial institution, whether a bank or a non-bank entity. Individuals entrust their hard-earned savings to these institutions with the belief that their money will remain safe and accessible whenever needed. This fundamental trust factor is the engine t
That health authorities have finally proposed building 170 city health centres across Dhaka and Chattogram is a piece of welcome news, though it speaks of how badly the urban poor have been let down for decades. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under a project estimated at Tk 11.57
Since Bangladesh met all three criteria, namely, per capita Gross National Income (GNI), the Human Asset Index (HAI) and the Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI), required to qualify for graduation from the LDC category during the 2018 and 2021 reviews, the UN finalised its graduati
Bangladesh's manufacturing sector appears to be undergoing a structural shift -- one that raises concerns about the country's long-term industrial trajectory. The recently released Economic Census report highlights a complex transformation in the economy, marked by rapid expansion in the number of
Though temporary, the Iran War truce is a relief for the world as a whole and for an oil import-dependent country like Bangladesh, in particular. Less than two hours before the expiry of the deadline set by US President Donald Trump to 'wipe out a whole civilization', Iran and the USA agreed to a c
The prices of edible oils, which are among the major essential commodities, hardly need any cogent reason to rise in the kitchen market. Their prices have already been edging up ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. The per litre prices of especially unbottled soybean and palm oils have seen a rise in the kitchen
