UK economy shrinks in April
Britain鈥檚 economy shrank more than expected in April following a tax hike on UK businesses and a record drop in exports to the United States due to president Donald Trump鈥檚 tariffs, official data showed Thursday...
Tags : EC
Challenges of social protection in budget
THE challenge of addressing extreme poverty is both urgent and complex. While Bangladesh has made significant strides in poverty reduction since the 1990s, recent economic headwinds, including persistent inflation, global commodity price fluctuations, and post-pandemic recovery pressures, have exposed vulnerabilities of millions living just above or below...
288 dengue cases recorded in 24 hours
Two hundred and eighty eight new dengue cases were reported across the country in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the number of confirmed cases to 5,303 since the beginning of this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services...
48 Rohingyas registered in India pushed into Bangladesh
The Border Security Force of India has recently pushed at least 122 Rohingyas, including 48 registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in India, into Bangladesh...
Sri Lanka raises electricity price in line with IMF bailout
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Wednesday announced a 15 per cent increase in the electricity price to shore up revenues for the state-run utility, in line with conditions imposed by an IMF bailout...
US inflation edges up in May
US consumer inflation ticked up in May, in line with analyst expectations, government data showed Wednesday as president Donald Trump鈥檚 sweeping tariffs began to ripple through the world鈥檚 biggest economy...
Nvidia marks Paris tech fair with Europe AI push
Drawing high-powered tech CEOs and a presidential visit, the Vivatech trade fair opened in Paris on Wednesday with a bang as Nvidia boss Jensen Huang announced a major push into Europe...
From economic to war-time accountability
THE people鈥檚 mandate at the general election seven months ago was for 鈥榮ystem change.鈥� The main hope of those who voted overwhelmingly for the National People鈥檚 Power was to improve the economic situation. Those who live in the north and east of the country, where the long civil war took place, voted along with their fellow citizens in other parts of the...
Brazil, Ecuador book World Cup berths, Uruguay on brink
Brazil booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America on Tuesday with a lackluster 1-0 home victory over Paraguay, the first win of Carlo Ancelotti's reign.
Govt issues 11-point directives to prevent spread of Covid-19
The Directorate General of Health Services on Wednesday issued an 11-point directive, including the avoidance of public gatherings, for people amid a rise in infections caused by new omicron sub-variants of the Covid virus in Bangladesh and a surge in Covid infections in neighbouring India...
Commonwealth offers support in Bangladesh reform process
Commonwealth secretary-general Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said on Tuesday that they were keen to support Bangladesh in political reforms ahead of the planned general election next year.
Eid-ul-Azha celebrated
The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated on Saturday across the country with due solemnity, religious fervour and zeal...
Govt working to dismantle syndicate in leather sector, says Bashir
Commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Monday said that a huge anarchy had prevailed in the country鈥檚 leather sector over the last 15 years during the previous regime, which led to a drastic fall in this sector...
World Bank cuts growth forecast on trade tumult
The World Bank slashed its 2025 global growth forecast Tuesday, citing trade tensions and resulting policy uncertainty, as US president Donald Trump鈥檚 wide-ranging tariffs strained ties and weighed on economic outlooks...
Reforming education sector
AS BANGLADESH unveils its national budget for the 2025鈥�26 financial year, the country stands at a defining moment. Despite repeated commitments, successive governments have failed to make significant increases in education funding. Public investment has consistently remained below the levels needed to deliver meaningful outcomes. With education funding...
Rebuilding capital market
BANGLADESH鈥橲 economy has earned global praise for its steady growth, rising GDP, and infrastructure development. Yet, behind this promising macroeconomic narrative lies a capital market in deep distress. Once considered a barometer of national prosperity, the stock market now reflects a grim reality 鈥� defined by persistent instability, eroded investor confidence...
Govt, BNP should also give road maps to justice, reforms
THE chief adviser to the interim government Muhammad Yunus in an address to the nation on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha has announced that the general elections would be held any day in the first quarter of April 2026, noting that the Election Commission would announce a road map to the elections at an appropriate time. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the major political...
EC to announce poll schedule in due time: LGRD adviser
Local government, rural development and cooperatives adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Monday said that the Election Commission would provide an election schedule in due time in line with the announcement of the chief adviser...
BNP terms April election plan 鈥榠mprudent decision鈥�
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday criticised the plan to hold the national election in April, describing it as an 鈥榠mprudent鈥� and 鈥榠rrational鈥� decision...
Nation doesn鈥檛 want another 鈥榪uestionable election鈥�: Jamaat ameer
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said that the nation did not want another 鈥榪uestionable election鈥� and stressed that a credible national election would only be possible if justice, reforms, the July Charter and July Declaration are ensured along with a level- playing field...
Fakhrul says April not all suitable for national election
Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said that April was not at all suitable for holding a national election, citing a number of challenges including, extreme weather, the timing of Ramadan, and overlapping public examinations.
Bangladesh鈥檚 Khudi Bari shortlisted for Aga Khan Award for Architecture
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) has announced 19 shortlisted projects, including a Bangladeshi project, for the 2025 Award cycle.
Not just BNP, entire nation frustrated over April election plan: Fakhrul
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed disappointment over the chief adviser鈥檚 announcement regarding the national election timeline, saying it has disheartened not just the BNP, but the entire nation.
Yunus鈥檚 election announcement doesn鈥檛 reflect people鈥檚 aspirations: CPB
The Communist Party of Bangladesh on Friday said that chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus鈥檚 announcement of holding the next general election in the first half of April 2026 did not reflect people鈥檚 aspirations...
No objection to election time if key reforms implemented: NCP
The National Citizen Party has said that it will have no objection to holding the national election by April next year if key reforms and constitutional changes are ensured by the time...
EU for democratic reforms in Bangladesh鈥檚 political transition
The European Union on Friday said that it had consistently supported Bangladesh鈥檚 political transition, calling for it to be underpinned by the rule of law, fundamental rights and lead to democratic elections...
Parties express mixed reactions over Yunus鈥檚 election announcement
Political leaders on Friday expressed mixed reactions over chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus鈥檚 announcement that the next national election would be held on any day in the first half of April 2026...
Jamaat expresses satisfaction over Yunus鈥檚 election announcement
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman has expressed satisfaction over the announcement of the national election roadmap by chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in his address to the nation Friday evening...
Yunus鈥檚 speech fails to fulfil nation鈥檚 expectations: Salahuddin
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday evening said that the nation鈥檚 expectations had not been fulfilled with the chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus鈥檚 speech regarding the fresh roadmap for the next general election...
Bangladesh鈥檚 next national election in first half of April 2026: Yunus
Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday said that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held on any day in the first half of April in 2026....