Bangladesh’s dreams of high-paying foreign jobs are facing a reality check. The number of Bangladesh workers finding jobs abroad dropped by 20 percent in the first four months of 2024 compared to last year. This raises concerns for a key sector of Bangladesh’s economy, with remittances from overseas workers a significant source of foreign exchange. The drop is largely due to slumping demand in two major destinations – Malaysia and Oman. Malaysia, a former top choice for Bangladeshi workers, closed...
Eid-ul Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, will be celebrated tomorrow (Monday) in Bangladesh. Hajj is one of the five mandatory practices in Islam. It’s compulsory to perform hajj for every capable Muslim. And a prominent part of hajj is the rite of qurbani or sacrifice. Eid stands for joy while qurbani means sacrifice. Allah had ordered Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice most favourite thing. Hazrat Ibrahim then took his beloved son Ismail (AS) out to sacrifice....
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed : Eid means joy and delight. Azha means sacrifice. So, the meaning of Eid-ul-Azha is the...
A new World Bank report paints a grim picture for Bangladesh’s future, with climate change threatening to devastate the nation’s agricultural sector. The “Framework for Implementing Green Growth in Bangladesh” report warns that by 2050, the country could lose a staggering one-third of its agricultural GDP. This potential food crisis isn’t a distant threat. By 2040, the report predicts a 6.5% loss of cropland, with southern Bangladesh facing an even more dire situation, potentially losing 18% of its arable land....
Dr. Matiur Rahman : In recent decades, the global political economy has increasingly incorporated environmental considerations, leading to the emergence...
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) analysis has revealed that 30.41 percent of the elected chairmen are multi-millionaires. Immovable assets of 51 candidates’ inflated by more than Tk 1 crore in five years while the same happened with another 41 candidates in ten years. The question that pops up naturally is how did the local public representatives of a poor country become so rich? According to the analysis, Jhalakathi sadar upazila parishad chairman Arifur Rahman’s wealth has increased by 11,666 percent. Around...
Md. Shah Alam : The recruitment agencies in Bangladesh seem notorious for their exploitative practices, posing significant obstacles for unemployed...
Md. Sazedul Islam : Though a national health problem in the country, leprosy causes physical, social, economic and mental sufferings...
The recent deaths caused by a landslide in Sylhet highlight the dangers posed by illegal hill cutting, a practice that continues unabated. Environmentalists warn that this unsustainable activity increases the risk of landslides during monsoons, threatening the lives of thousands residing on Sylhet’s hillsides. While the Department of Environment (DoE) acknowledges taking action against violators, critics allege a lack of enforcement and potential collusion with perpetrators. The urgency of the situation demands stricter measures to curb illegal hill cutting and...
Bangladesh is in the throes of a crippling gas crisis, affecting homes, industries and vehicles that run on compressed natural gas. This two-week ordeal began when a vital Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Cox’s Bazar was shut down due to Cyclone Remal. The impact is undeniable – residents struggle to cook meals, long queues clog CNG stations, disrupting commutes for auto-rickshaw drivers, and factories face closures due to gas shortages. Businesses, already grappling with rising inflation, are now forced...
Badrul Huda Sohel : Among many, two recent reports on banking arena published in different media have deepened our concern...
Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026 is a cause for celebration. Yet, beneath the confetti lurks a hidden threat – billions in lost exports due to eroded trade preferences. The government’s proposed duty reductions on 282 products are a welcome first step, but they resemble a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The real issue lies with Bangladesh’s sky-high customs duties compared to the global average. This discourages major trading partners from signing the free-trade agreements (FTAs)...