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


Enforced disappearances: Justice must be done

Enforced disappearances: Justice must be done

The darkest chapters in a nation's history are often written not by foreign enemies but by its own ruling forces. In Bangladesh, the scourge of enforced disappearances under the previous Awami League regime has emerged as one such shameful chapter   -- a terrifying manifestation of state-spons

Focusing on export of agro-based products

Focusing on export of agro-based products

Having the requisite amount of foreign currency to meet import bills as well as external debt obligations is a constant challenge being faced by Bangladesh economy.   Aside from export of manpower and service,   commodity export is the standard affair to earn foreign currency. B

What drives BD money into Swiss banks?

What drives BD money into Swiss banks?

The news that Bangladesh-linked money in Swiss banks increased by around 23 per cent last year has drawn attention of various quarters in the country. The significant rise in deposits has triggered widespread discussions, because of the fact that the notable increase did happen during a year when t

What is the purpose of bank merger?

What is the purpose of bank merger?

Hollywood is famous for making thrilling bank heist movies, several of which have earned a place among the best ever made. However, the real-life bank heists that have taken place in Bangladesh are just as astonishing, if not more. Over the past 15 years, hundreds of billions of taka have been siph

When aggressor turns mediator of peace

When aggressor turns mediator of peace

The dark episode of the human civilisation involving the Jewish people has become darker with the descendants of the holocaust victims turning the perpetrators of the same crime. A state for the Europe's displaced Jewish was created at the initiative of former US President Harry S Truman under the

How to ensure a transparent rice supply chain

How to ensure a transparent rice supply chain

Food on the plate is the very first thing people need every day, and with rice being the staple, its price is a matter of overriding concern for the general public. When rice prices soar, the poor and low-income people become more food insecure. A steady rise in rice prices has already forced this

Decarbonisation is prerequisite for foreign funding

Decarbonisation is prerequisite for foreign funding

There is growing concern about the likely scarcity of foreign funding for non-green development projects in the immediate future. Reports from various sources, including leading multinational financiers, confirm a marked shift in the global project funding landscape, prompted by international treat

Next national polls: Are our police ready?

Next national polls: Are our police ready?

With the next national elections likely in February next year, public focus has sharply turned to the capacity and readiness of the Bangladesh Police. Can the force -- long criticised for being politicised, misuse of power, and erosion in professionalism --regain the trust necessary to play its cen

Diversifying energy sources, export markets

Diversifying energy sources, export markets

Though price of oil in the global market has not so far gone through the roof since Israel's June 13 attack on Iran followed by the latter's retaliatory missile and drone strikes, there is no guarantee that it will remain so in the coming days.  It's already unstable. Overall, the price of cru

Improving the civil registration and vital statistics

Improving the civil registration and vital statistics

Two decades ago, Bangladesh enacted a law mandating the registration of all births and deaths within 45 days of occurrence. The new law replaced the more than a century-old law administering birth and death registration. Under the new act, titled Birth and Death Registration Act 2004, local governm

Drone technology is revolutionising agriculture

Drone technology is revolutionising agriculture

In the verdant, river-laced plains of Bangladesh, agriculture remains more than just an economic sector, it is the very pulse of the nation. With over 41 per cent of the population engaged in farming and agriculture contributing around 14 per cent to the GDP, the sector's relevance cannot be overem

Hilsa threatened by microplastics

Hilsa threatened by microplastics

The hilsa is a gourmet's delight for its unique taste, distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It is not just a great delicacy but a symbol of national pride, feted as the national fish. Bangladesh takes pride as the world's largest hilsa-producing country, with this aquatic treasure largel