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


Trump out to reset the global trade

Trump out to reset the global trade

Notwithstanding the tariff blitz initiated by the United States (US) President Donald Trump three months ago, global trade registered a modest growth in the first half of the current year. It remains uncertain whether the pace of growth will continue in the second half of the year, as Trump has esc

Why viva voce for secondary education is needed

Why viva voce for secondary education is needed

How profoundly examination systems shape students' intellectual and personal growth is no common knowledge. But meaningful reforms in student assessment can work wonder. Today's education system in Bangladesh is the last thing to produce confident, articulate individuals. As students graduate from

Trump's aggressive reciprocal tariff may backfire

Trump's aggressive reciprocal tariff may backfire

Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy smacks of a could-not-care-less attitude. In a way he has antagonised the rest of the world except perhaps Israel. No American president has ever flaunted his country's superiority so blatantly although its military might and economic strength was unchallenge

Understanding what youths want

Understanding what youths want

There is apparently a broad agreement in the country that some of the most insurmountable obstacles to good governance are corruption, political nepotism and cronyism, and deteriorating law and order. This is what the citizen realise in everyday life and feels terribly frustrated about. A recent su

The menace of unabated drug trafficking

The menace of unabated drug trafficking

One of the most alarming and persistent challenges confronting the nation today is the scourge of drug abuse and the illicit trafficking of narcotic substances, threatening public health, law and order, and the very fabric of society. Despite repeated calls for effective action and the observance o

Hilsa scarcity: A wake-up call

Hilsa scarcity: A wake-up call

Hilsa -- our national fish -- is not merely a delicacy or a market commodity; it is deeply embedded in Bangladesh's cultural identity, folklore, festivals, literature, and rural life. A plate of steaming rice with mustard Hilsa curry has long been a symbol of Bengali culinary pride. Yet, today, the

Economy in a new fiscal year

Economy in a new fiscal year

Another fiscal year, 2025-26, to be precise, began on Tuesday with a mix of legacy burdens and achievements in the country's economy.  Moving forward and achieving the desired economic growth and inflation targets by the end of the year will not be easy since there are a number of challenges.

The unbearable cost of living in Dhaka

The unbearable cost of living in Dhaka

The victory of 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic Party primary for the 2025 New York City mayoral election has sent shockwaves through the American political establishment. He was up against a wall of prejudice due to his faith, skin colour and opposition to the slaughter of Palestinians

When low-income people skip meal

When low-income people skip meal

The findings of a survey conducted by the Youth Network Policy (YNP) are highly concerning and should have triggered matching socio-political reactions. But nothing of this order happened. The survey titled "Food Security and VAT for Marginalised Communities" made some chilling revelations. People

Imperative of revitalising logistics sector

Imperative of revitalising logistics sector

It is time to prioritise the development and seamless operation of inland waterways and railways as key components of a balanced and efficient  multimodal logistics network   writes Atiqul Kabir Tuhin   At a recent seminar hosted by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (D

Dengue's return: A public health crisis revisited

Dengue's return: A public health crisis revisited

With the advent of the monsoon, the prevalence of dengue fever in the capital and other regions of the country has once again emerged as an all-too-familiar concern. Regrettably, this recurrence is not merely seasonal -- it is symptomatic of the persistent lack of a systemic and sustainable strateg

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