Editorial

Urgency of constructing technical institutions

Urgency of constructing technical institutions

At a time when technical and vocational education is not an option but a sine qua non, two projects given the go-ahead in 2014 and 2020 to develop required infrastructure for students to learn such specialised knowledge and skills could be an answer to youth unemployment. Under one such programme,

Reducing inequality through higher taxes on the wealthy

Reducing inequality through higher taxes on the wealthy

In a strategic shift, the government is preparing to raise the tax incidence on wealthy or 'high-net-worth individuals' (HNWIs) as part of its efforts to address widening income inequality. This proposed approach is outlined in the Medium- and Long-term Revenue Strategy (MLTRS) for FY2025-26 to FY2

Fruit production is on a roll

Fruit production is on a roll

A quiet revolution is taking place in the country's agriculture sector. Gone are the days when an overwhelming emphasis was put on production of cereals. At least a segment of farmers are getting smarter to opt for cultivation of cash crops, mainly fruits. Apart from traditional fruit cultivation,

A fresh shot in the Karnaphuli Tunnel's arm!

A fresh shot in the Karnaphuli Tunnel's arm!

The 3.32 km Karnaphuli Tunnel, South Asia's first underwater river tunnel connecting the port city of Chattogram with Anwara upazila, aimed at increasing connectivity and boost trade, has turned out to be a white elephant. The reason is that the forecasts about the project's earning from the toll t


Ending the plight of female migrant workers

Ending the plight of female migrant workers

The sufferings of the Bangladeshi female migrant workers abroad, and the social isolation and depression many face on their return home, often hit the headlines and evoke widespread public concern.  Driven by the hope of entering the workforce, improving their economic condition, many poor wom

Clean air as a public health imperative

Clean air as a public health imperative

Long dismissed as an unavoidable cost of development, air pollution in Bangladesh has now become a serious threat to the country's future generation. A recent World Bank report shows that hazardous air exposure has reached levels where every schoolgoing child inhales air beyond safe limits, rising

Development projects for DSCC

Development projects for DSCC

The news that a substantial fund has been proposed for more than a dozen development projects under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) offers a rare moment of cautious optimism. For years, many wards under the DSCC have existed with minimal urban facilities, bearing the consequences of prolong

Healthcare system under severe stress

Healthcare system under severe stress

The United Nations World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report reveals that Dhaka City is the second largest megacity after Jakarta. Instead of celebrating this elevated status, both experts in urban development and ordinary citizens consider this sobriquet highly concerning. Not only has the capital

Post-July 2024 efforts at revamping judiciary

Post-July 2024 efforts at revamping judiciary

Bangladesh's judicial system has faced many challenges since the country's in dependence. The 1972 Constitution, for instance, established a Supreme Court and formally adopted the principle of the separation of the judiciary from the executive organs of the state. The development of the judiciary h

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