BANGLADESH is currently grappling with a significant threat to its rural electrification program, one that strikes at the heart of national stability. A vernacular newspaper on Saturday reported since January 28, a faction of officials and employees from various Palli Bidyut Samitis (PBS) under the guise of a central committee has been conspiring to destabilize the emergency electricity sector. The report added in collusion with domestic and international groups and backed by former deposed ministers and MPs from past dictatorships,...
Editorial
Dr. Md Asadul Islam : In Bangladesh, the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), commonly known as vaping, has increased incrementally. A vape is a device that mimics the effects of...
It is utterly outrageous, unpatriotic, shameful and ridiculous that the Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal should be calling for the Government of Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus “to do the basis reforms of the state needed to hold free and fair election and leave the details to be decided by the next elected government”. It is utterly disgraceful and they ought to be ashamed of themselves. The Interim government is doing a fantastic job at weeding out the crooks and thieves who...
We welcome the recent call by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) to the interim government for immediate action in floating tenders for 37 renewable energy projects. We’ll need to say it both timely and necessary. Our newspaper reported yesterday that the interim government’s cancellation of these projects, along with five others, after the political transition in August, has cast doubt on Bangladesh’s commitment to expanding its clean energy sector. With a combined capacity of 3,102 megawatts (MW), these renewable...
Jannatul Naym Pieal : On August 2 of this year, after attending a student-led protest at the Central Shaheed Minar on the Dhaka University campus, I took a rickshaw home...
THE persistent rise in cash circulating outside the banking system is a concerning trend that demands urgent attention. An English newspaper on Thursday reported that since early 2024, the volume of money kept outside banks has surged by Tk 44,000 crore, a 17 per cent increase in just nine months. The reasons behind this troubling development are multifaceted, but they all point to one underlying issue: almost zero crisis of confidence in banks under an autocratic rule. However, political uncertainty,...
BANGLADESH’S financial sector stands at a critical juncture, as defaulted loans continue to surge, threatening the stability of both banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), reports this newspaper on Wednesday. The latest data from Bangladesh Bank paints a worrying picture, with ten banks reporting a provision shortfall of Tk 31,549 crore and sixteen NBFIs falling short by Tk 1,954 crore as of June 2024. With defaulted loans now accounting for 12.56 per cent of total loans in the banking sector...
Our newspaper on Tuesday reported that the country is facing a surge in crime, with drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, murder, and rape on the rise, particularly in Dhaka. The recent data from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), showing an alarming increase in crime compared to the previous year, paints an alarming picture of the deteriorating law and order situation. The real concern, however, lies in the deeper issues contributing to this spike — chief among them is a weak legal framework,...
We are appalled with the recent revelation by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) that commission agents, or aratdars, are manipulating vegetable prices to artificially inflate the market. This distortion of the market dynamics, done in collusion with wholesalers, dealers, and retailers, has left consumers grappling with soaring prices for essential commodities, including vegetables. Despite government initiatives to stabilize the market, such as the formation of a special task force, the grip of middlemen continues to wreak havoc...
A newspaper on Sunday reported that Bangladesh’s agricultural sector, employing over 40 per cent of the nation’s workforce, is increasingly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change. Yet, despite bearing the brunt of disasters like cyclones, floods, and droughts, our farmers remain without the safety net of widespread crop insurance, said the report. Recent data is sobering: from 2019 to 2024, agricultural losses due to major weather events totalled an estimated $ 700 million. Over the longer term, the...
The recent political upheaval in Bangladesh, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was toppled following widespread student protests, has sparked significant debate across South Asia. This unexpected shift in power has not only altered Bangladesh’s political landscape but also has implications for regional stability, especially for Pakistan. Sheikh Hasina’s administration was known for its strong anti-Pakistan stance, often used to consolidate domestic power. The fall of her government could lead to a recalibration of Bangladesh’s foreign policy, possibly opening avenues...
Dhaka’s roads are once again in the spotlight, not for progress, but for the chaotic conditions caused by unfit and unauthorised vehicles. A report published in an English daily on Saturday said, buses, trucks, and battery-run rickshaws — many well past their serviceable lives — are not only clogging city streets but also contributing to severe air pollution. The persistent sight of buses picking up passengers from the middle of the road, battery-run rickshaws darting through congested areas, and clouds...
Despite large-scale efforts involving 2D, 3D, and multi-client surveys covering approximately 50,000 kilometres of gas lines across land and sea, Bangladesh has seen minimal success in discovering new gas reserves over the past 15 years. A vernacular Bangla daily reported yesterday that, aside from Bhola, no significant gas finds have been made on the mainland, raising critical questions about the effectiveness of current exploration strategies and the future of Bangladesh’s energy security. The report said, that while the number of...
The uphill battle to restore confidence among the business community is reportedly progressing slowly though the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus completes its second month in office. Businesspeople say they are still optimistic that the situation will improve soon. According to a newspaper report, business expansion, foreign direct investment (FDI) and new local investment plans at the moment remain on hold. As reported the interim government has inherited at least half a dozen business challenges, such as corruption,...