Morning fog is quite natural but certainly not at this time of the rainy season. But recently the residents of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have been experiencing fog that envelops roads and alleys for a while. This fog is, however, not natural and moist. It is the fumes that are released fr
AI is now the latest global craze. It appears to be the solution to everything. It is, no doubt, a good helping hand in every branch of scientific research. It is also replacing humans in doing many tasks that are repetitive such as data entry, customer service, bookkeeping, manufacturing assembly
At a different type of fair hosted by the Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association under the title, "Animal and Life Fair" held in the city, speakers waxed eloquent about the need for saving animals including the wildlife. So far as the principle goes, rights activists working for preserving th
Women's development, their empowerment and improved standing in society and family are the key issues of social advancement. Progress in increasing women's representation in different sectors including employment achieved over the last few decades can be called a success story of Bangladesh and it
A fruit cake costs quite a bit more than a plain cake in Bangladesh, whether it is purchased from an ordinary bakery in the neighbourhood or from a posh hotel. It seems logical that adding fruits to cakes would raise their price. Because quality dried fruits, cherries and nuts are imported products
There is nothing like being on top, if it is not for the wrong reason. But Bangladesh has indeed made it to the top as home to the worst loan defaulters in Asia. A recent report of the international multilateral lending agency, Asian Development Bank (ADB), says Bangladesh has topped the list of c
Is it fatal attraction or addiction or both? Screens of various shapes and sizes are taking control of most people -- not just the young generations but even adults and senior citizens of society. People who are professionally highly busy can count themselves lucky because their occupations hardly
Celebrating a birthday or observing a death anniversary is generally not encouraged in Islam. There are also no ample historical records showing that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself ever observed his own birthday or encouraged his companions to observe the occasion. Nevertheless, the Muslims in
Shiabur Rahman The construction of the metro rail in Dhaka, a city notorious for its chaotic traffic for a long period, was considered one of the milestones in the urban transport system of Bangladesh. The modern mode of commuting brought a sense of pride to Bangladeshis as the metro rail
Bangladesh Bank has recently tightened its rules for appointing Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers (MD/CEOs) of banks. Among the new requirements, one stands out: a minimum age of 45 years. While well-intentioned, this restriction raises serious questions. Is age really the best proxy
The World Bank (WB) made a forecast in April last that more 3.0 million people would join the ranks of the extreme poor by the end of this year. Attributing this development to the economic slowdown following August 2024 political change, the global lender added that the development would contribut
The interim government is all set to replace the existing "Control of Essential Commodities Act 1956" with a new one titled "Essential Commodities Act 2025" with the express aim of stabilising market. Mere change in the name of any law does in no way guarantee that the stated purpose will be served
Every morning, the streets of Dhaka are crammed with a multitude of private cars, motorcycles, CNG-run three-wheelers, battery-run rickshaws, pedal rickshaws, a large number of them crowding the entrances of hundreds of schools. This daily influx exacerbates the already severe traffic congestion in
