THE phrase work鈥搇ife balance was coined in Britain in the late 1970s and popularised in the United States during the 1980s, propelled by the Women鈥檚 Liberation Movement, which pressed for a fairer division between career and domestic responsibilities. Historians link its early usage to British campaigners lobbying for workplace reforms for working mothers. Since...
CHITTAGONG Port, officially the Port of Chattogram, is Bangladesh鈥檚 largest and most strategically important maritime gateway. Handling more than three million TEUs annually and facilitating more than 90 per cent of Bangladesh鈥檚 maritime trade, it serves as the nation鈥檚 primary hub for import and export. The port directly underpins roughly $75 billion in annual..
THE principle of state sovereignty has long been the bedrock of international relations, guaranteeing nations the right to exercise authority free from external interference. Yet, history has repeatedly shown that this principle is fragile when confronted by sheer military might. The latest example came on September 9, 2025, when Israel conducted a coordinated air attack...
THERE was a political vacuum after the collapse of Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 15-year dictatorial regime in August 2024. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party had a golden opportunity to step in, claim leadership and shape the future of the country. Unfortunately, it squandered that moment. Instead of leveraging the momentum, the party chose to distance itself, spending its energy...
BANGLADESH鈥橲 criminal justice framework has undergone a significant shake-up in 2025. The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898, has been amended twice within a month 鈥� first in July and again in August 鈥� introducing both procedural refinements and major changes affecting arrests, trials and penalties. At first glance, these amendments seem to strengthen...
IN BANGLADESH鈥橲 ever-evolving political drama, few arenas carry the weight of Dhaka University. For decades, it has served as the crucible of revolutions, the incubator of national leadership and the most sensitive barometer of public mood. The 2025 Dhaka University Central Students鈥� Union (DUCSU) elections, therefore, drew the nation鈥檚 hawk-eyed attention, and...
IN A viral YouTube clip, a young boy was asked why Bangladesh cannot recover from economic crisis if Sri Lanka, after bankruptcy, managed to rebound. His response was disarmingly sharp: 鈥楽ri Lanka鈥檚 government was corrupt, but its citizens were decent people. That is why the country managed to recover.鈥� He then added with brutal candour: 鈥業n Bangladesh, the...
Exhaustion, irregular periods, sudden weight gain and persistent acne 鈥� these signs are often dismissed as 鈥榡ust part of life.鈥� For a female student balancing studies and part-time work, or a mother managing a household from dawn to dusk, enduring discomfort becomes routine. Yet what if these symptoms refuse to subside? What if they are not simply stress or fatigue?...
THERE is a strange kind of comfort in the scroll. One minute you intend only to check the weather, and suddenly 45 minutes have passed. You find yourself knee-deep in a reel about the collapse of democracy, another about a looming recession, one more about an influencer鈥檚 petty drama and then a final clip of tragedy from halfway across the globe. You pause, your...
TRADEMARK is regarded as the primary method by which the products of one entity are distinguished from those of others. However, in today鈥檚 global trade, a trademark serves four purposes. It provides source identification, ensures product authenticity, advertises the product and shapes consumer perception. Trademark law plays a crucial role in protecting an...
THE Bangladesh Civil Service examination, often dubbed the 鈥榗ivilian lottery,鈥� has for decades been a defining gateway to public service. The three-stage test is known for its unforgiving rigour, shaping the destinies of thousands each year. Successful candidates secure coveted cadre positions, posts carrying prestige, authority and long-term security. For those who...
THE July uprising stirred a renewed sense of hope that Bangladesh鈥檚 damaging political cycle might finally be broken, paving the way for a governance system that genuinely serves its citizens. 鈥楻eform鈥� quickly became the national watchword. In response, the interim government formed several commissions to draft proposals on constitutional changes, elections...
I ONCE asked Shahriar Kabir: 鈥楢s children, you were our favourite fiction writer. How did such a creative soul become entangled in such barren, uncreative circles?鈥�...
BENEATH Bangladesh鈥檚 rivers and canals lies a latent economic promise capable of reshaping how the nation moves, feeds, energises and sustains itself. Inland water resources 鈥� including rivers, streams, and canals 鈥� function not only as lifelines for transport but also as engines of growth, yet their full potential remains constrained by neglect, mismanagement...
INTERNATIONAL Literacy Day 2025 was observed on September 8 under the theme 鈥楶romoting literacy in the digital era.鈥� This theme resonates deeply with Bangladesh鈥檚 aspirations of becoming a Smart Nation by 2041. Literacy is no longer confined to the ability to read and write words on paper. In the 21st century, it encompasses the skills required to critically engage...
