Bangladesh’s 2013 demutualisation of stock exchanges—intended to separate ownership from management and strengthen transparency, accountability and corporate governance—has not produced the anticipated gains for investors, market participants say. The reform was

Bangladesh’s retail food prices have spiked again just as the interim government marks one year in office, with households reporting steep increases across rice, pulses, eggs, chicken, fish and vegetables despite adequate supplies.  Shoppers and traders in Dhaka’s

Law enforcement agencies have yet to recover a significant stock of weapons and ammunition looted from police stations and outposts during the July uprising and the fall of the government on 5 August.  While most items have been retrieved in nationwide raids, authorities

Failure to arrange prompt national elections in the current situation will push the country into a deeper crisis, according to Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB) President Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan.  The CPB considers the much-debated referendum unnecessary, Chandan added in an

From homes washed away by flooding in Sunamganj, to saline-scarred fields in Khulna, to river erosion in Bhola, thousands of women are streaming toward the cities. The ready-made garment factories that have sprung up across urban areas are fast becoming their new refuge. But this

When Auwal Sheikh, a private sector employee, paid Tk 2,400 for hilsa fish at the market, it was not out of habit or luxury — but to satisfy his two children’s craving for Bangladesh’s most iconic delicacy. Yet, the 37-year-old said the taste wasn’t what it used

If all goes as planned, Bangladesh is expected to graduate from the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to that of developing nations in November 2026. While this transition will mark a major milestone and a source of national pride, it also brings economic challenges. Once the

The name Mohammadpur in the capital now conjures images of theft, snatching, robbery and various other crimes for city residents. The situation there is so fragile that police officers themselves say Mohammadpur tops the list of crime among Dhaka’s 50 police stations. At the

With the 13th National Election approaching, Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) faces a new and complex challenge — the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in the electoral process. Experts warn that AI-driven misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes could be used to

The growing involvement of adolescents in criminal activities has become an alarming concern in the capital. Teenagers are increasingly engaging in offences such as mugging, illicit garment scrap trading, extortion in the transport sector, drug trafficking, land grabbing, and even

The presence of anthrax bacteria has been detected in 11 people across three upazilas of Rangpur. The infection was first identified in Pirgacha upazila before spreading to the neighbouring Kaunia and Mithapukur upazilas. Of the 11 infected patients, eight are from Pirgacha, two from

Applying for asylum in Europe is becoming increasingly difficult for Bangladeshi nationals. In April this year, the European Union (EU) designated Bangladesh, along with five other countries, as a “safe country.” This means that asylum claims from citizens of these

The Election Commission (EC) is preparing legal provisions to cancel candidacies and impose fines and prison sentences for spreading disinformation in election campaigns using artificial intelligence (AI). Political parties will also be held accountable if found complicit. Artificial

Five months pregnant, Purnima Munda has joined others under the scorching midday sun to worship in remembrance of the Karam tree. Yet, a question lingers in her mind: will the ritual even be successful? Instead of a Karam tree, she is praying before a Peepul tree — similar in

The Election Commission (EC) aims to bring 50 lakh expatriates into the fold for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary elections. To achieve this, the commission has estimated an expenditure of Tk 400 crore, with an allocation of Tk 700 per voter. Officials at the EC confirmed the

A surge in foreign tours by top officials at Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has raised eyebrows, with commissioners and bureaucrats frequently travelling abroad under the banner of overseeing expatriate voter registration and NID distribution activities. Sources at the EC

Rising soil salinity caused by climate change and the pressure to boost yields on limited farmland have driven many farmers to adopt hybrid seeds from foreign companies. While these seeds provide higher yields in the short term, farmers are facing long-term consequences — including

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) is bringing encouraging news for expatriate Bangladeshis living in the United States, as it prepares to launch National Identity (NID) registration services in the US capital and three other states. The Commission is considering commencing

Although remittances have increased compared to the previous year, overseas employment continues to show stagnation. Major markets such as Malaysia and Oman remain closed, while instability in the United Arab Emirates affects the overall flow of foreign employment. According to the

The house of Bhakta Munda stands adjacent to a river bordering the Sundarbans. His great-grandfather also lived on this very land. Within the river grow various trees, among them the Keora tree (Sonneratia apetala). Bhakta Munda is seen picking its fruits, which are used in his