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
Much as the nation strives to bring an end to child marriage, the unlawful matrimony continues in this country. The consequences of such premature marriage for underage girls with adult youths or men are devastating. It is the brides who pay the heaviest price. The girls given off to such marriage
After showing a downward trend for a month or two, inflation rose again in September, renewing concerns among consumers who have been severely affected by high prices over the past three years. Taming this persistent inflation has been one of the top priorities of the interim government. In pursuit
Private tuition or coaching has been an essential part of the country's mainstream primary and secondary education for a long time. A large section of guardians has developed the notion that only coaching centres can help their children/wards to do better results in examinations. The shadow or para
Every year, there are reports galore on people in rural areas losing their lives from snakebites. Lack of anti-venom leaves the victims and their families devastated and helpless, as they can do nothing but wait for their inevitable death. Blessed with vast wetlands, fertile plains and a tropical
Anthrax has been in the news in Bangladesh for nearly a month. There are reports of anthrax infection in Pirgachha upazila of the northern district of Rangpur. Though ruminating, hooved and grazing animals like cow, goat, lamb, etc., are usually infected by anthrax, humans can also contract the dis
The breeding season ban of 22 days on catching of hilsha has become effective from October 4 last. This yearly legal restriction was introduced in 2008 for 11 days covering a pre- and post-full-moon period. But a study found that hilsha is used to spawning during the new moon or dark moon too. This
The Bangla Academy's decision to reschedule the upcoming Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026, which has traditionally been held throughout the month of February, has sparked controversy and caused profound dismay among booklovers and publishers. The row began when the Academy proposed holding the fair from
A news report, carried in a vernacular daily, revealed that approximately 60 per cent of the seats in the country's state-owned technical schools and colleges remain vacant each year. This situation, while disappointing, also presents an opportunity for improvement in the country's overall technica
Residents in Dhaka woke up to find the city under water on October 1 when there was a staggering 132 millimetres of rainfall in just six hours between midnight and 6:00 am. By the end of the day, the total rainfall reached 203 millimetres, the highest recorded in the country during this period. Oct
Is hilsa really leaving the shores of Bangladesh? Reports of constantly falling hilsa catch during the peak monsoon breeding season (July to October) is indeed concerning. Though hilsa's share of the nation's total fish production is only 12 per cent, yet hilsa, which is Bangladesh's national fish
Of the 106 private universities in Bangladesh, 28 had no allocation for research. The annual report of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh for the year 2023 has revealed this disquieting development. Even the funds other varsities set aside for the purpose were too little. Some of
In a country where agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy, the steady erosion of farmland is a cause for serious concern. An increasing number of farmers are losing their land and livelihoods as arable areas shrink under the combined pressures of climate change, rapid population growth, un
