Thursday, 09 Oct, 2025

Special

Farakka to Payra: Hilsa production and taste trapped in chars and dams

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

Drug prices set to rise by 10pc after end of patent waiver

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

Dhaka’s crime hotspot Mohammadpur — Geneva Camp at its core

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

AI challenge ahead of elections: How prepared is EC?

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

Juvenile crime on the rise in Dhaka

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

Anthrax: Awareness needed, not panic

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

Asylum in Europe growing harder for Bangladeshis

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

AI Threat: EC to cancel candidacy, impose jail terms, fines for misuse

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

Losing tree, losing faith: Mundas' Karam Puja fading into memory

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

EC targets 50 lakh expatriate voters for 13th national elections

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

Foreign tours surge as Bangladesh expands expatriate voter drive 

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

Local seeds require no pesticides in fields

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

EC to launch NID services in Washington, among three US states

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

Remittances rise but overseas employment remains stagnant

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

Snails-Shaluk lost to saline water, Munda livelihoods in peril

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

Unfit vehicles: Moving death traps on Bangladesh roads

In Bangladesh, buses, minibuses, human haulers and auto-rickshaws are the most widely used means of transport for daily commuting. However, most of these vehicles lack fitness certificates, turning them into moving death traps for passengers on the roads.  A study by the

Lower US tariffs offer Bangladesh opportunities amid exporters’ caution

From this August, Bangladesh is required to pay an additional 20 percent tariff, along with the existing 15 percent, on its exports to the United States. Vietnam faces the same tariff rate. In contrast, China must pay the highest tariffs, while India is subject to an additional 50

Foreign bloggers’ risky filming on moving trains raises alarm

In recent years, with advancement of information technology, video content creation and vlogging have become a popular trend. Thousands of youth, along with individuals of all ages, have chosen content creation or vlogging as their profession. Alongside local creators, many foreign

Visible gains in Bangladesh’s financial sector in a year: Dr Zahid Hussain

The interim government assumed office at a time when the financial sector was in its worst state. A year has now passed since it took charge. To revitalise the banking sector, the interim government has already undertaken several initiatives. Speaking to Banglanews, former lead

UAE leads as 50k Bangladeshi expatriates apply for voter registration

Around half a lakh Bangladeshi expatriates from various countries have applied to become voters, with the highest number of applications coming from the United Arab Emirates. Election Commission (EC) officials said the process of registering expatriates as voters is currently underway