Opinion - Dhaka Tribune

Reclaiming our rivers

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:39:24 +0600

The identification of 224 pollution outlets discharging waste into the Buriganga and Turag rivers should alarm and anger us, yet it is an important and overdue step that also deserves credit. That the authorities concerned can finally see a clear map of where the damage is happening to two of our most important rivers is a step in the right direction. Acknowledging the problem with precision... Details

Preserving access to justice

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:38:10 +0600

The decision to restrict journalists from entering Supreme Court courtrooms is deeply concerning and warrants immediate reconsideration. Since January 7, journalists have reportedly been denied access to various courtrooms, including the Appellate Division, preventing them from directly observing proceedings and reporting on cases of immense public importance. The judiciary is one of the most... Details

Between departure and the hope of homecoming

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:36:07 +0600

Colourful toy boxes peeked out from the shopping bags they clutched. They wore impatient smiles, eager to board the flight. The heavy backpacks and carefully packed shopping bags caught my attention first. Then there were the vibrant fleece blankets. Somehow, they too had become part of the journey home for Bangladeshi migrant workers. Watching them, I found myself rewinding to where their... Details

Are India and Bangladesh finally building the right kind of momentum?

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:30:59 +0600

There are moments in diplomacy when individual meetings matter less for what is said behind closed doors than for the pattern they collectively create. India and Bangladesh may be entering precisely such a moment. On Monday, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. Rahman spoke of creating a conducive environment for improving bilateral... Details

The digital you

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:39:33 +0600

Niloy is a cheerful and friendly student, yet some of his classmates always seemed to avoid him. He never understood why. One semester, they were assigned a group project together. As they worked closely, his teammates realized that Niloy was kind, helpful, and easy to get along with. Curious, Niloy asked, “Why did you avoid me before?” Their answer surprised him. “We... Details

Bangladesh cannot continue to rely on imports

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:04:00 +0600

Bangladesh’s trade deficit has climbed to a three‑year high of $27.3 billion, according to the latest data. This is a figure that should prompt serious reflection even if it is not yet a cause for immediate alarm. We have long relied on imports to sustain our energy needs, industrial inputs, and consumer demand, and this will not change any time soon. However, when imports continue... Details

Addressing the cost of living

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:00:03 +0600

While the latest data may show inflation is easing, which is certainly welcome, it does not change the reality facing most Bangladeshi households. Prices of most essentials remain stubbornly high, and families continue to struggle with the cost of living. When inflation cools on paper but daily expenses do not, it signals a deeper problem: The benefits of macro‑level stability are not... Details

Unlocking Barisal’s agrarian wealth: Why connectivity alone isn’t enough

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:38:46 +0600

Following a tour in 2017, I returned this past week for an extensive visit to several districts in the Barisal division. My journey this time brought me to the famous floating market in Bhimruli, Jhalakathi. Every morning, hundreds of farmers arrive by boat laden with guavas, selling them to bulk buyers who transport the fruit through riverine routes before shipping it by land to Dhaka and... Details

Taking waste management seriously

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:27:11 +0600

Dhaka’s waste management system is failing to keep pace with its growing needs, and our roads and footpaths turning into dumping grounds is yet another indication of just that. Overflowing bins, exposed garbage, and poorly located secondary transfer stations are not merely an eyesore; they obstruct pedestrians, worsen traffic congestion, and expose residents to foul odours, wastewater,... Details

Can we fix bad loans?

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:25:22 +0600

Bangladesh Bank’s decision to adopt an 18-month action plan to tackle the country’s alarming non-performing loan (NPL) problem is both necessary and long overdue. With roughly 36% of the banking sector’s total loans reportedly classified as non-performing, the scale of the crisis poses a serious threat -- not only to banks but to the wider economy. The immediate priority... Details

Rising heat in Asia: The toll it takes on your organs

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:46:46 +0600

Thirty-year-old Vaishnavi Sharma works at an advertising agency in Gurugram and travels nearly 90 kilometres daily to reach her office from her home in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. She says travelling doesn’t drain her as much as the heat does. Detailing a recent incident, Sharma tells Asian Dispatch: “It was around 8:30 in the night, I left the office and reached the [Sikanderpur] metro... Details

The quiet geometry of a balancing act

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:24:57 +0600

For weeks, speculation over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's first foreign trip ran through Dhaka's political class with much intensity. India, Turkey, and the United Kingdom were all floated in turn, fed by nothing more than the silence of those who actually knew. The travel date itself was disclosed only two days ahead of departure, and when the delegation was finally named, it was pointedly... Details

When the waters recede, inequality remains

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:22:30 +0600

The floodwater has disappeared from Satkania and Banshkhali. Roads are reopening, markets are slowly filling with customers again, and children are beginning to return to school. To many, the crisis is over. But for the families I met during a recent visit to these flood-hit communities, the real struggle has only just begun. Climate disasters do not affect everyone equally. They expose the... Details

The quest for a quieter Dhaka

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:16:26 +0600

The government’s decision to tighten noise pollution rules -- including a ban on honking in residential areas from 9pm to 6am and stricter limits across silent and industrial zones -- is certainly a welcome step. Dhaka has long been ranked among the world’s noisiest cities, and the consequences of unchecked noise pollution have never been taken into consideration - which is a... Details

Harnessing our greatest asset

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:30:16 +0600

On International Youth Day 2026, Bangladesh is reminded once again that while young people grow up in vastly different circumstances, their aspirations converge. Whether in Dhaka’s dense urban neighbourhoods or in rural districts where opportunities remain scarce, the hopes of Bangladesh’s youth are strikingly similar: Dignity, opportunity, safety, and a future they can shape rather than... Details

Sheikh Hasina’s virtual press conference, and plausible deniability

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:10:12 +0600

The textbook definition of plausible deniability is the ability of a person, often a high-ranking official, or organization, to deny knowledge of or responsibility for controversial, illegal, or unethical actions because there is a lack of clear, conclusive evidence connecting them to the act. It ensures that leaders remain officially uninformed or disconnected from risky operations. The... Details

What is the SSC result really telling us?

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:06:16 +0600

The latest SSC results tell us something that is easy to miss if we look only at the pass rate or the number of GPA-5s. They tell us less about how much Bangladeshi students are learning and more about how the country has gradually changed the meaning of examination success. This year, 62.25% of students passed the SSC and equivalent examinations, the lowest pass rate in 19 years. In 2007, the... Details

Having a plan for the golden fibre

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:36:11 +0600

The government’s decision to formulate a five-year strategic plan for reviving Bangladesh’s jute sector is a welcome and timely initiative. The “golden fibre” remains an important part of the country’s economic heritage, but its potential has long been undermined by outdated technology, weak branding, limited product diversification, and inadequate access to... Details

Remittance diversification and skills development must go hand in hand

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:34:48 +0600

Bangladesh’s record remittance earnings are certainly cause for optimism, but the latest figures also reveal a vulnerability that cannot be overlooked: In FY26, as much as 62% of the country’s remittances came from just five countries. While this concentration reflects the strength of established migration corridors, it also leaves Bangladesh exposed to economic downturns,... Details

Beyond LDC graduation: Building the next growth model

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:32:33 +0600

The low-cost, labour-intensive strategy that drove much of the country's economic success is reaching its limits in an era defined by artificial intelligence, automation, digital technologies, and intensifying global competition. Bangladesh now needs a new growth model -- one driven by productivity, technological capability, innovation, skilled human capital, and modern education. LDC... Details

Empowering Bangladesh through gender sensitivity, respect, and equality

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:16:18 +0600

Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in economic growth, poverty reduction, education, healthcare, and women's participation in the workforce over the past five decades. Yet sustainable development cannot be measured solely through economic indicators, infrastructure projects, or technological achievements. The true strength of a nation lies in how it treats its people, particularly women... Details

The independence still waiting to be completed

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:52:45 +0600

On the morning of July 31, in a hotel in Dhaka, the United States Special Envoy for South and Central Asia met India's high commissioner to Bangladesh. The conversation lasted about 90 minutes and took place the day before the envoy called on Bangladesh's prime minister, and that evening the Indian envoy flew to Delhi for consultations. Neither side described what was discussed. Nothing... Details

Deeds not words

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:33:00 +0600

Experts at a climate and nature conservation event recently stating Bangladesh to move beyond speeches and into real, measurable action could not be more accurate. While the statements were made with regard to climate action, this is a lesson that Bangladesh ought to learn across all sectors, and in the way our nation operates. Whether the issue is climate resilience, pollution control,... Details

Fixing our energy future

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:28:55 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s latest remarks -- stressing the efficient use of existing resources and a decisive shift toward energy diversity -- comes at a critical time for our nation, and must be heeded. To say that Bangladesh is navigating an increasingly difficult energy landscape would be an understatement, with recent gas shortages across the nation only the latest... Details

The anatomy of anarchy

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:23:55 +0600

When a water bottle flew through the stage lights at Manik Mia Avenue and struck Hasan, the legendary frontman of Ark, directly in the face, the collective gasp across social media felt like a moment of sudden shock. Images of the veteran rock icon -- a man whose voice carried generations through heartbreaks and youth rebellions -- wiping away the splashed water while continuing his set... Details

When seeing is no longer believing

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:12:54 +0600

A recent social media post by a Bangladeshi judge offers a revealing glimpse into the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal practice. Reflecting on his courtroom experience, the judge recounted that a lawyer had submitted a Naraji petition drafted with the assistance of AI. He observed that it was perhaps the first petition he had encountered in several... Details

India-Bangladesh relations plagued by Sheikh Hasina’s voice

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:28:42 +0600

Bangladesh’s strong demand to India was that Hasina be prevented from making political statements Details

Embracing AI for equitable progress

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:07:17 +0600

The government’s recent focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into public service delivery is one we can get behind. With public service delivery being among our most persistent challenges, the ambition to move beyond simple digitization toward a smart, automated administrative framework is a positive that could lead to enhanced efficiency, transparency, and... Details

There is no nation-building without efficient taxation

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:06:07 +0600

To say that the latest data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) regarding tax return filings for fiscal year 2025-26 is alarming would be an understatement. That only 38% of registered Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) holders actually submitted their returns is truly disappointing. Bangladesh has long had a compliance crisis when it comes to taxation, and it is one that... Details

AI will not empty our factories

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:04:43 +0600

Bangladesh's ready made garment sector employs close to four million people and earns over 80% of the country's export revenue. For four decades, it has been the country's single biggest source of formal work outside the farm. That fact has held so steady for so long that we treat it as permanent. It is not. The Centre for Policy Dialogue warned this month that up to 1.22 million RMG jobs... Details

Allow prices to do their work

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:02:13 +0600

We may not like how prices work. We may greatly prefer that the outcome was something different. But it is true that prices work. This is the point that is at the heart of free market economics. Let us have the prices -- the things that work -- and thus the economy that works. The parts we do not like about the results, we can clean up if that's what we want to do. For example, the free... Details

Bangladesh hasn't given its students a bargain worth working hard for

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:00:07 +0600

Some years ago, I travelled to Barishal for teaching purposes. That afternoon, a boy in my class mentioned, almost casually, that he had cycled three hours from a remote corner of the district to attend. Three hours one way, and three hours back that evening, and again the next day. He was not complaining. He simply wanted to learn, and this was the price, so he paid it. He is not an... Details

Rebuilding lives after disaster

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:50:04 +0600

The government’s decision to provide new homes to 100 flood-affected families is a commendable initiative. For the families that lost their homes to the recent floods, the construction of disaster-tolerant houses on their own land offers not only shelter but also a measure of stability at a time when their lives have been severely disrupted. The disaster-tolerant design of the homes is... Details

Fixing the media landscape

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:48:52 +0600

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon is right to identify misinformation as the biggest challenge facing journalism today, in addition to objective journalism slowly fading. With that said, acknowledging the problem is only the beginning, and is unhelpful without actions taken. We are now operating in a digital environment where falsehoods spread faster than verified... Details

My cross-border healthcare experience

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:47:00 +0600

On December 30, 2025, while travelling to my office, as on any other working day, I became the victim of a road accident in Dhaka which severely injured my left knee. Later, following the advice of colleagues, well-wishers, and family members, I decided to seek advanced medical treatment in India. My consultation with Dr Atul Srivastava was one of the most reassuring moments of my... Details

Hate should never replace facts

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 10:40:35 +0600

The Rohingya are one of the world's most persecuted and stateless peoples. They were forced to flee to many countries because of genocide, violence, mass killings, and the burning of their homes and belongings. Today, the majority of the Rohingya have taken shelter in neighbouring countries, especially Bangladesh which currently hosts over one million of them. "We are struggling to gain... Details

Tackling river erosion sustainably

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:55:19 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s words on the need for adopting innovative and environmentally-sustainable solutions to tackle riverbank erosion is timely and necessary, and must be heeded. Despite being among the most persistent and devastating challenges, we remain far from addressing them. In the meantime, every year, erosion destroys homes, cropland, roads, schools, and entire... Details

Getting serious with road safety

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:52:05 +0600

The latest figures are once again horrifying: As per data from the Road Safety Foundation, 416 people were killed and 1,063 injured in road accidents in July alone. Month after month, year after year, Bangladesh records numbers that would be treated as a national emergency anywhere else. Yet for us, they have become a grim routine. To say we cannot continue down this path would be a... Details

Hooked all day

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:01:11 +0600

Just the other day, a distraught parent came into my office looking for a rehab centre for their teen. The crisis was not substance abuse but smartphone addiction. The situation has reached a level where the child experiences a great deal of anxiety and panic at the prospect of sitting in an examination hall for two to three hours without a digital device. In my over 10 years of professional... Details

Where does the teaching budget go?

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:04:37 +0600

A few days ago, I had a chance meeting with a group of schoolteachers. While travelling to a rural village in Manikganj for an entirely different purpose, I happened to enter a local government primary school during the midday meal break. As I sat in the teachers' lounge chatting with a female teacher, four of her colleagues joined us after finishing their final classes before the break. When... Details

Towards stronger ties with Saudi Arabia

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:21:55 +0600

Bangladesh's growing engagement with the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC) underscores our commitment to constructive international cooperation. At a time of shifting global economic and geopolitical realities, strengthening ties with trusted partners is a prudent course of action. Saudi Arabia has long been one of Bangladesh's allies in the Middle East. Beyond... Details

Campus violence must be nipped in the bud

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:20:17 +0600

The resurgence of violent clashes on university campuses is a deeply troubling development, and one that Bangladesh simply cannot afford. Reports of confrontations involving rival student political organizations, leaving dozens injured and disrupting academic environments, represent a step backwards from the kind of Bangladesh we aspire to build -- one where educational institutions are... Details

Rising concrete, drowned cities

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:05:12 +0600

By the time the water pulls back from the narrow alleys of Khatunganj, Chittagong's bustling wholesale commodity hub, it has already done its accounting: A grey line halfway up the shop shutters, a skin of silt across the floor. For merchants like Jalaluddin, a mid-sized trader of lentils and spices in these lanes, a heavy July downpour no longer means a temporary halt; it means a... Details

The ever-rising migration fences

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:00:25 +0600

Last week, at least 72 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco. Around 60,000 people made it into Ceuta, many of them by sea, others by climbing over border fences. Within just a few days, however, most of them had already returned to Morocco. Both Morocco and Ceuta are located in Africa. But politically, Ceuta, like Melilla, belongs to Spain and... Details

The unfinished revolution

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:50:12 +0600

Two years after the July 2024 revolution, Bangladesh continues to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives and the thousands more who were injured during one of the most consequential popular movements in the nation’s history. The commemorations have rightly celebrated the resilience of ordinary citizens who stood up against what they believed to be injustice. Yet amid... Details

Two years later

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:15:40 +0600

Two years after the events of August 5 and the July Revolution of 2024, our nation stands at a moment that demands both honest reflection and determination moving forward. What we collectively experienced will unquestionably remain one of the most monumental days in our nation’s history as we saw the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government after over a decade and a half. To... Details

A July-to-July reflection: Reimagining education after crisis

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:28:59 +0600

It is 36th July again. In July 2024, Bangladesh witnessed a student led protest turning into an uprising. Our regular class-goers called for a change, not in class schedules or in the university’s setting but in a... Details

One percent is not a policy

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:06:37 +0600

Almost every recent graduate with physical disability has a similar story to share about finding work. The certificate on the wall is not as valuable as it should be, and years of applications and exams come to an end when they lose their position for disabilities. The number tells the same story more bluntly. Fewer than one in five people with disabilities in Bangladesh are currently in any... Details

The decline of academic integrity

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:23:53 +0600

It is troubling and, frankly, embarrassing to see recent findings by the Prothom Alo that identified serious inconsistencies in research papers published by respected journals and involving authors from renowned academic institutions of the country. That such irregularities could make their way into publications associated with prestigious institutions is nothing short of shameful. Regardless... Details

Creating an inclusive nation

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:21:01 +0600

The findings of the recent election observation report, which highlighted the significant barriers faced by millions of voters with disabilities, are deeply concerning. While Bangladesh has made progress in strengthening its electoral institutions, these shortcomings demonstrate that inclusivity remains an unfinished task. The right to vote is not a privilege reserved for those without... Details

Invest in the real talent

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:05:32 +0600

The FIFA World Cup 2026 left a sobering message: -- the euphoria surrounding football and stardom was overshadowed by parochial nationalism, hostile fan culture, and highly controversial decisions. Exorbitant broadcasting fees and ticket prices exposed the organizers' blatant commercial greed. So, the largest sporting event in the world no longer offers recreation; neither does it promote the... Details

Ownership, arrogance, and the spirit of July

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:04:54 +0600

A video has gone viral in the last 48 hours from Uttarkhan, Dhaka, on the night of August 2, 2026. The administrator and his companion, introduced as a local government official, confront an aged person in grey hair in front of a garment factory. The gentleman, on their insistence, identifies as a partner of the factory and introduces himself as Col Zakir. The two gentlemen charged Col Zakir... Details

Reviving our waterways

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:56:18 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive to take coordinated steps to curb pollution in Dhaka’s rivers, improve drainage, and ensure normal water flow by maintaining navigability is timely and goes straight to the heart of an all-too-familiar problem. Thus, while the government is deciding to allow interested private companies to operate water bus services on waterways around... Details

For better public service delivery

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:55:16 +0600

The High Court’s order for the disposal of all pending applications for new passports and passport renewals filed by Bangladeshi expatriates within 60 days is certainly a welcome intervention but also exposes a much larger, persistent problem. Whether it is passports, land records, utility services, welfare benefits, or any other basic documentation, our public service delivery,... Details

The July Revolution and the reinvention of national purpose

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:14:51 +0600

Every generation inherits a defining historical moment. Some inherit liberation wars. Others inherit economic transformations or constitutional crises. The generation of Bangladesh that came of age in 2024 inherited something different: A civic uprising that fundamentally challenged the relationship between the citizen and the state. Two years after the July Revolution, political debates... Details

Are social norms holding us back?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:45:36 +0600

In any society, laws and social norms function together to control individual behaviours, maintain societal order, and uphold the rights of the citizen. Despite their coexistence in society, they function differently and under separate forms of authority. Law is generally a binding, formally defined set of rules backed by a controlling authority, whereas social norms are common standards of... Details

Some food for thought

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:42:53 +0600

Walk down the lit avenues of Banani, Dhanmondi, Uttara, or Khilgaon on a Friday evening, and you will witness a city consumed by an insatiable appetite. Neon signs flash promises of Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, sizzling Korean barbecues, fiery Thai Tom Yum, Japanese sushi platters, and Turkish donor kebabs. Young couples snap photographs over creamy fettuccine, while families gather around... Details

Addressing medical issues in prisons

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:44:44 +0600

The revelation that 54 prisons across Bangladesh lack ambulances is nothing short of shocking. At a time when our country should be trying to modernize its justice and correctional systems, the fact that thousands of inmates have no access to emergency transport exposes a severe and dangerous gap in basic state responsibility and an utter disregard for humanity. Prisons house some of... Details

Creating a reliable railway system

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:42:51 +0600

The announcement of more trains on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route to address demand is undeniably positive. Rail connectivity to Cox’s Bazar has already transformed travel for millions, and adding another pair of trains will ease pressure on existing services, improve accessibility, and strengthen economic links between the capital and our most significant tourism hub. With that... Details

The battle between equity and efficiency

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:05:46 +0600

Sometimes giving something away -- even, paying people to take something away -- makes a profit for the rest of us. This is obvious when we think about it. We happily pay people to take our rubbish away. When we don't just throw it in the street that is. The whole idea of a sewage system is that we're paying someone to take our rubbish away and we're better off for doing so. How far that idea... Details

Social protection needs smarter reforms

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:03:51 +0600

Bangladesh's social protection system has been one of the country's quiet success stories. Over the past several decades, it has helped millions of poor and vulnerable households cope with poverty, natural disasters, food insecurity, and economic shocks. The government now spends more than Tk 120,000 crore annually on social protection -- one of the largest components of public expenditure.... Details

Tackling our mosquito woes

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:09:00 +0600

The Dhaka South City Corporation’s decision to allocate Tk 50.5 crore for mosquito control is, on paper, a welcome move. That a pre-monsoon survey found Aedes mosquito larval density above the prescribed index in 63 of its 75 wards, with 27 wards identified as high-risk areas, shows that we must take mosquito control seriously. Indeed, after years of rising dengue cases, public... Details

Moving up the value chain

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:06:52 +0600

Despite Bangladesh's ready-made garment industry's long history of being the backbone of the country's export economy, it is unfortunate that the sector is still viewed primarily as a source of inexpensive clothing rather than a producer of quality, value-added apparel. Remaining trapped under the "cheap clothes" label has visibly limited export earnings, weakened competitiveness, and left... Details

What looks good, and what actually works

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 11:04:17 +0600

Every year, millions of dollars flow through international development channels with the best of intentions, yet remarkably little of it sticks to the soil. The structural flaw begins long before a shovel hits the dirt. In the traditional aid pipeline, the power dynamic is inherently top-down: An international donor publishes a rigid call for proposals, and local NGOs rush to design programs... Details

The trillion taka enterprise opportunity we aren’t seizing

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 10:56:49 +0600

Every Bangladeshi family knows this scene: A relative falls ill, and while public hospitals remain the backbone of care for millions, they often operate under intense demand. Private care, meanwhile, is generally faster but financially difficult for ordinary households. In between these two worlds sits a gap that Bangladesh has not yet learned to see as what it is: A market waiting for... Details

The climate finance paradox

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:21:08 +0600

Climate finance has become one of the central topics in the global climate change discourse. Every Conference of Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) discusses billions of dollars in climate finance and announces new commitments, making pledges and debating on how financial resources should be mobilized. From COP15 in Copenhagen to COP30... Details

Treating e-waste as an opportunity

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:02:36 +0600

That Bangladesh generates an estimated three million metric tons of electronic waste annually, and that it recycles less than 10% of that waste through formal channels, is an extremely concerning reality for a nation that has aspirations of a more sustainable future. That the majority of our e-waste ends up in informal scrapyards, landfills, and waterways, where toxic materials contaminate the... Details

Heat resilience must be a national priority

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:52:02 +0600

The World Bank’s latest findings should alarm every policy-maker in Bangladesh: As per the the report, “A Livable Future: Protecting Jobs and Growth from Extreme Heat in South Asia's Cities,” extreme heat cost our nation $18 billion in lost labour productivity and wiped out 465,000 jobs in Dhaka alone in 2024. That this is projected to double in about 50 years is a... Details

Poison on our plates

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:41:09 +0600

Food safety and environmental protection are inseparable pillars of sustainable development. A nation cannot claim genuine progress while its citizens are exposed to contaminated food and its natural environment continues to deteriorate. Unfortunately, Bangladesh faces serious challenges in both areas, demanding stronger governance, institutional accountability, and unwavering political... Details

Saving our tigers

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:15:32 +0600

The revelation that Bangladesh has only 189 tigers left should be treated for what it is - a national tragedy. The Royal Bengal Tiger is the most iconic species we have as a nation, it is quite literally the symbol of our natural heritage. That its numbers keep dwindling, and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin warning that the current situation is not sufficient... Details

Winning the fight against trafficking

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:13:27 +0600

Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and is a reminder that human trafficking remains one of the most persistent and damaging crimes. Every year, thousands of Bangladeshis fall victim to traffickers. Yet, trafficking is no longer confined to borders, brokers, or physical coercion. Much of it has moved online, and we are now facing a new generation of threats that exploit digital... Details

When childhood becomes the first casualty of climate change

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:11:50 +0600

There was a time when climate change in Bangladesh was discussed through the language of infrastructure. The conversation revolved around embankments, cyclone shelters, flood control projects, adaptation funds, and carbon emissions. Success was measured by the number of kilometres of embankments built or the amount of international climate finance secured. Children appeared in these discussions... Details

Trapped behind the scam

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:09:15 +0600

In November last year, a young man named Abdullah Molla left Bangladesh for Cambodia, believing he had found a proper office job. What he found instead was captivity. He was pushed into an online scam compound, stripped of his documents, and held until his family, back home, borrowed heavily to buy his freedom. Another Bangladeshi, Shafiqul Islam Hridoy, was promised $800 a month for data... Details

Hawkers need solutions beyond evictions

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:45:19 +0600

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive to swiftly rehabilitate hawkers evicted from Dhaka’s streets is a necessary intervention in a problem that has dragged on for far too long. Hawkers are not criminals but workers, and a key part of our informal economy. When they are evicted without a plan, the consequences are immediate and severe. Creating a situation where they... Details

Supporting medical innovation

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:44:18 +0600

We are encouraged by the support for locally developed medical devices -- and one that Bangladesh’s health sector has needed for a long time. For decades, the country has relied heavily on imported medical equipment, from diagnostic tools to surgical instruments to hospital monitoring systems. That dependence has made our already fragile healthcare facilities costlier, slowed down... Details

The shovel and the sword

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:37:37 +0600

A vanished shrine in a mango orchard. A name scratched off a signboard. A silence where a song used to be. In post-August 5 Bangladesh, what tools do we possess to understand what is being unmade? The answer may lie not in a single book, but in the unexpected conversation between two: a historian’s thesis and a novelist’s hymn. The delta's counter-narrative There is a comforting... Details

Beyond duty-free trade

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:32:45 +0600

As Bangladesh too prepares to graduate from the LDC category, it does not have to wonder what comes next. Since 1994, eight countries have completed the transition. Their experiences show what worked and what did not, and what Bangladesh can expect. Bhutan, one of Bangladesh’s neighbouring counties, lost their duty-free trade benefits soon after graduating. Their experience is an open... Details

Doing more for the tea industry

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:15:42 +0600

The government's renewed commitment to reviving Bangladesh's tea industry is a welcome and timely development. As one of the country's oldest export-oriented sectors and a major source of employment, particularly in the northeast, the tea industry has long been in need of sustained attention. The chief adviser's pledge of full support therefore offers an opportunity to address long-standing... Details

Ending the impunity on our roads

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:20:16 +0600

The death of yet another pedestrian after a bus ploughed into people in Kurmitola is yet another devastating reminder of a crisis that Bangladesh has tolerated for far too long. Every such incident leaves behind grieving families and shattered lives, yet the cycle of outrage, promises, and eventual inaction continues with alarming regularity. For years, our roads have been populated by buses... Details

What will save the middle class?

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:36:10 +0600

The husband works as a marketing executive with a mobile network operator; the wife works as a retail credit officer in a commercial bank. They rent a 1,450 square feet flat in Mirpur. They have two children going to an English-medium school. The children take extracurricular lessons with a self-learning program in the afternoon. The grandparents who have now retired stay with the family to... Details

Popularity over pedagogy

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:34:36 +0600

In line with the recent emphasis of the University Grant Commission to run mandatory IQACs and consistent assessment in multiple aspects of higher education, faculty evaluation systems have now become an integral component in most of the private universities. Unlike public universities which largely depend on government allocated funding, private universities operate almost entirely on... Details

Bangla QR: The printed square that could outrun cash

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:33:31 +0600

Walk up to a super shop in a district town this month and you may notice something taped beside the counter: A single printed square that any banking app or wallet can read. Since July 1, when Bangladesh Bank made its interoperable standard mandatory at every merchant point, the old jumble of a dozen rival codes has folded into one. One country, one QR. I am an economic analyst, so... Details

Bangladesh's digital progress

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:43:59 +0600

The recent findings from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) offer encouraging evidence of the country's steady digital transformation. According to the survey, over 57% of Bangladeshi households now have internet access -- a significant milestone that reflects years of investment in telecommunications infrastructure, expanding mobile connectivity, and increasing digital... Details

Primary healthcare services must be strengthened

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:41:40 +0600

Bangladesh's public hospitals are buckling under an unsustainable burden, and the latest figures should serve as a wake-up call. According to official data, the average bed occupancy rate in 59 district hospitals reached an alarming 178% in 2024, while public medical college hospitals recorded an average occupancy of 164%. Simply put, hospitals designed for 100 patients are routinely... Details

Growing hope

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:39:26 +0600

In a country that has made remarkable progress in food production, a troubling reality still persists: Many children do not eat a sufficiently diverse and nutritious diet. According to Unicef, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshi children under five live in food poverty, consuming fewer than the minimum recommended food groups needed for healthy growth and development. At the same time,... Details

When public data becomes a fraudster's paradise

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:38:50 +0600

The caller on the other end spoke with the crisp, measured cadence of a senior bureaucrat. He introduced himself as a "deputy secretary" from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Had he offered general pleasantries or vague institutional jargon, I would have ended the call within seconds. But he didn’t. Instead, he casually reeled off specifics that made me pause: The exact month... Details

A crisis we can’t ignore

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:49:12 +0600

The deepening gas crisis -- and the country’s growing reliance on imported fertilizer as a result -- should be treated as a structural alarm bell. That Bangladesh has to import more than two-thirds of its fertilizer requirements, according to data from the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and the agriculture ministry as a result of chronic gas shortage is truly alarming.... Details

This will not fix the capital market

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:47:44 +0600

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) recently released the draft amendment of ‘Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (Margin) Rules, 2025’ and invited the views of the stakeholders in this regard. Now, public opinion adoption is a positive initiative. However, some proposals for the draft amendment have already started to have a significant impact on the... Details

What to do with excess cash in hand?

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:45:48 +0600

A lot of what people will claim as economic problems are not, in fact, economic problems. They are, rather, attempts to get the rest of us to do what the people doing the claiming want us to do. On the other hand, some things that people don't pay much attention to actually are economic problems. Which we need to take note of and even do something about. People are taking their money... Details

Citizens should not be forced to do the government’s work

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:59:28 +0600

We must marvel at and admire the residents of the Sreepur upazila in Gazipur. Faced with two decades of waterlogging, blocked drains, and official indifference, they came together, pooled their own money, and built a functional drainage system themselves. This is a testament to community spirit, resilience, and the determination of ordinary citizens who have stood up and refused to live... Details

Stopping preventable accidents from claiming more lives

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:58:06 +0600

As the world observes World Drowning Prevention Day today, the theme "Unite to turn the tide" is especially relevant for Bangladesh, where drowning remains one of the leading causes of death among young children. Every year, thousands of lives are cut short by drowning -- a tragedy that is both devastating and, in most cases, entirely preventable. The scale of the challenge cannot be ignored:... Details

No child should be drowning

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:55:50 +0600

For thousands of families in Bangladesh, an ordinary morning can turn into an unimaginable tragedy. A young child wanders out of sight for only a few minutes and is later found dead in a nearby pond, canal, or ditch. Such incidents are heartbreakingly common, yet they are also largely preventable. Despite remarkable progress in child survival over the past two decades, drowning remains one of... Details

A tribute to Prof Dr Abul Karim

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:56:13 +0600

Born on Friday, June 1, 1928, in Banshkhali, Chittagong to father Syed Wise Uddin and mother Syeda Rashida Khatun, Prof Dr Abdul Karim was a distinguished person with a professional portfolio highly enriched with the composition of academician, education administrator, and former vice-chancellor of Chittagong University. He was widely prominent as an international historian, epigraphist,... Details

Does the government have a concrete plan for child safety?

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:33:29 +0600

Last month, in my opinion article, “Child Safety: Beyond Ideological Polarization,” published in the Dhaka Tribune, I argued that the sexual abuse of children -- including cases occurring within madrasa settings -- is fundamentally a structural governance challenge rooted in weak accountability mechanisms, regulatory failures, and institutional neglect. The urgency of this argument... Details

The need for security

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:42:32 +0600

Any nation looking to take the next step in its development journey cannot do so without having the defense architecture that keeps pace with the growth. To that end, we must heed the warning from security and technology experts who have made it clear that Bangladesh’s critical infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable. In particular, given the exponential expansion of technology... Details

Better healthcare for a better nation

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:40:49 +0600

The government’s plan to launch door‑to‑door healthcare services is exactly the kind of proactive, people‑centred initiative Bangladesh needs. For too long, access to healthcare has depended on geography, income, and the ability to navigate overcrowded facilities. Taking essential services directly to citizens - especially the elderly, the poor, and those living with chronic... Details

How to solve groundwater depletion

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:39:21 +0600

Bangladesh’s geography includes the extensive river deltas formed by major rivers like the Ganges and Brahmaputra, alongside a network of hundreds of small rivers. The monsoon season, occurring from June to September, contributes to 70-80% of the annual rainfall, while the dry winter months last from December to February. The annual rainfall distribution varies regionally, with the west... Details

Turning the tide on child drowning

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:51:49 +0600

If memory serves me right, I was barely five years old when I narrowly escaped drowning in a village pond. I had not yet learned to swim, but during one of our year-end family vacations, my ego as a city boy got the better of me. Watching local children dive effortlessly into the water, I felt challenged and foolishly jumped in after them. Fortunately, an older cousin happened to pass by,... Details

Taking our ties with the Maldives further

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:18:57 +0600

The Maldives' growing interest in recruiting more skilled Bangladeshi professionals while broadening bilateral cooperation beyond traditional labour migration is certainly a promising development for both countries. For decades, Bangladeshi workers have played an indispensable role in supporting the Maldivian economy, particularly in construction and hospitality. Now, as the island nation... Details

The push for export diversification

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:12:52 +0600

The government's ambition to achieve double-digit export growth in promising sectors such as leather, agro-processing, and light engineering is an encouraging sign for Bangladesh's economy, but only if it translates into reality. At a time when the country is preparing for its post-LDC future, broadening the export base is no longer merely desirable -- it is essential. The Commerce Ministry's... Details