Views / Columns

Water conservation is key

Water conservation is key

March 22 (Saturday) was this year's World Water Day and the theme of the day is Glacier Preservation. But what has a tropical country, Bangladesh, to do with glacier, which is a big mass of dense ice very slowly sliding downhill under the pull of gravity over the millennia in the cold parts of the


Eid an example of unity in diversity

Eid an example of unity in diversity

Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two main religious festivals of Muslims across the world, is knocking on the door to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The festival was first observed at least 1,400 years ago in Madinah during the second year of the migration of  Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from M

The vanishing profit from agriculture

The vanishing profit from agriculture

The alluvial soil of Bangladesh is so fertile and abundant in fresh water that it sustains more than 160 million people. However, with such a dense population comes the need for housing and urban expansion, which is pushing the boundaries of cities and towns. An inevitable outcome of this is the co

Bangladesh's independence is unique but grossly undermined

Bangladesh's independence is unique but grossly undermined

The usual fervour and euphoria have been missing to some extent from the celebration of the Independence Day this year. This is because of the confusion about and uncertainty over the future of the country. Controversial narratives about relations between the liberation war of 1971 and the July-Aug

Parenting in the digital age

Parenting in the digital age

The growing addiction to smartphone use, video games, and internet-based lifestyles, particularly among children and young adults, poses an unprecedented threat to the family as a cohesive unit and its integral role within the broader society. Apparently, the surge of smartphones has caught society

Strategic growth for thriving cottage industry

Strategic growth for thriving cottage industry

The country's cottage industry, recognised as the backbone of small entrepreneurs and rural employment, has long suffered due to various challenges, primarily stemming from a lack of structured data. Until recently, there was no comprehensive database detailing the sector, which hindered effective

Can Bangkok Summit revamp BIMSTEC?

Can Bangkok Summit revamp BIMSTEC?

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has long been regarded as a promising regional organisation, bringing together seven nations-Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan-around the Bay of Bengal. Despite its potentia

Global call for debt reform

Global call for debt reform

Debt, while essential for development finance, can become a burden if not managed appropriately. The management of debt is influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors are typically within the control of the nation, while external factors are beyond the debtor country's contro

Securing Bangladesh's export sector against fraud

Securing Bangladesh's export sector against fraud

For many years, dirty money has been drained from Bangladesh to various international locations. A businessman from Chattogram, known for taking over multiple banks and channelling substantial amounts as loans, selected Singapore as the sanctuary for his laundered money where he established a billi

World community leaves Palestinians and Rohingya in the lurch

World community leaves Palestinians and Rohingya in the lurch

Even in a bipolar world during the cold war, the international order was comparatively soberer and better balanced. Engagements of superpowers or their closer allies in armed conflicts on foreign soils or their open or clandestine support notwithstanding, the rivals stopped crossing each other's pa

Efficient use key to energy security

Efficient use key to energy security

Bangladesh is facing a looming electricity shortage this summer as demand is expected to rise from 9,000 megawatts in winter to as high as 18,000 megawatts. To mitigate the impact of this impending crisis, which threatens to severely affect household, commercial, and industrial users, the governmen

LDC graduation in 2026

LDC graduation in 2026

Now that the government has made it known that deferring the country's   graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is not in its thinking, businesses should get the message straight. For years, policymakers, businesses, and economists have deliberated on strategies to mitigate

Ensuring smooth journey during Eid-ul-Fitr

Ensuring smooth journey during Eid-ul-Fitr

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest and most cherished festival of the Muslim community, is just around the corner. Marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, this joyous occasion is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion across the globe. In Bangladesh, the festival holds a special place in the hea