By Samira Sadeque UN, Feb 13 2020 (IPS) – When society doesn’t act to prevent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) it has a massive economic cost — over $1 billion — on communities globally. And while the practice is starting to…
Category: Feature
Valentine’s Day, Pahela Falgun coincide; add new flavour
People are set to witness a more colourful and joyous day on Friday as this year both Pahela Falgun, the first day of Spring, and the Valentine’s Day will be celebrated on the weekend. The festival-loving Bangladeshi people are ready…
All senior BD citizens to get old-age allowance by 2025
The government has a plan to bring the country’s all senior citizens under old-age allowance in phases by 2025, Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed told Parliament on Tuesday.
AI and predictive justice in our courts
By Dr Jaspal Kaur Sadhu Singh Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Talking to Strangers, wrote of the difficulty faced by a judge whether to allow bail to an accused. Gladwell, in essence, highlights that being human, there is a propensity…
9th BCS Forum – Tofazzel President Shoaeb – Secretary-General
Dhaka, 6th February 2020 – The 9th BCS Forum got its new Executive body with Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office as President and Shoaeb Ahmed, Commissioner of Taxes as Secretary-General for the year 2020-2021.
Politics of a just transition: avoiding fallacious arguments
by John Weeks on 4th February 2020 @johnweeks41 John Weeks argues in our ‘just transition’ series that its success is linked to a political message of hope. In December Social Europe launched its just-transition series, which has transformed the discussion…
PM opens Ekushey Book Fair 2020
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2020, a yearly event of booklovers and publishers.
Saraswati Puja observed on RU campus
Rajshahi, Jan 30 – Saraswati Puja, the festival for worshipping Devi Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and of the Hindu community, was observed at Rajshahi University (RU) campus through a socio-religious programme and rituals on Thursday.
ধর্মান্তরিত ১২ সদস্যের পরিবারটিকে ভারতে ফেরত পাঠানোর নেপথ্যে
বিবিসি বাংলা, ঢাকা বিতর্কিত ধর্মীয় বক্তা মিজানুর রহমান আজহারীর ওয়াজ মাহফিলে যে পরিবারটির ধর্মান্তকরণ নিয়ে বিতর্ক চলছে, তাদের সবাইকে ভারতে ফেরত পাঠানো হয়েছে। গত ২৪শে জানুয়ারী লক্ষীপুরের রামগঞ্জ উপজেলার পানপাড়া গ্রামে এই ঘটনা ঘটেছিল। সেখানে একই পরিবারের মোট ১২ জন…
Coronavirus: All you need to know
A virus – previously unknown to science – is causing severe lung disease in China and has also been detected in other countries, reports BBC.
Selling .ORG puts civil society at risk, say Int’l NGO leaders
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND — Today, the executive directors of 11 international NGOs released an open letter calling on the leaders of Internet Society (ISOC) and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to stop the sale of the .ORG top-level…
Ending bullying and humiliation over Menstruation
By Mantoe Phakathi MBABANE , Jan 21 2020 (IPS) – When 14-year-old Nomcebo Mkhaliphi first noticed the blood discharged from her vagina, she was shocked. Confused, she turned to her older sisters for advice. “My sisters told me that they…
Couple together for nearly 65 years die on the same day
A couple who had been together for nearly 65 years have died on the same day at a St. Louis-area nursing home.
BD High Court wants commission to fight rape, violence
Dhaka, Jan 19- The High Court on Sunday asked the government to form a commission within 30 days under the Law Ministry to stop rape and violence against women.
Thousands gather for Women’s March rallies across the US
Washington, AP/UNB, Jan 19 – Thousands gathered in cities across the US Saturday as part of the nationwide Women’s March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity, reproductive rights and immigration.
Biswa Ijtema 2nd phase Akheri Munajat Sunday
The 2nd phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj, is set to end on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi on Sunday through Akheri Munajat (final prayers).
Feminists press for ‘bodily Autonomy’ as 19 nations dissent
By Thalif Deen UN, Jan 17 2020 (IPS) – The United States and 18 other UN member states have come under fire for denying a woman’s legitimate right to “bodily autonomy”—the right to self-governance over one’s own body without coercion…
Tablig Jamaat Biswa Iztema second phase begins in Tongi
Dhaka, Jan 17 – The second phase of the 55th Biswa Ijtema, the second-largest annual congregation of the Muslims, began yesterday morning on the bank of Turag River at Tongi, on the outskirts of the Dhaka city, amid tigh t…
Rasulpur Liberation War memorial deserves special attention
During the Liberation War in 1971, more than 500 men and women were hauled in a group and forced to dig their own graves before they were shot dead by the Pakistani occupation force.
Where Imams say thru radio, child marriage is against Islam
Selibabi, Mauritania, Jan 2 2020 (IPS) – “I refused to marry off my daughter for a simple, good reason: I want my daughter to be empowered,” said Lemeima mint El Hadrami, 49. “I don’t want her to go through the…
HC rule against Bangladesh Bank circular for gender bias
Dhaka, Dec 31 – The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to explain why its circular issued on December 1 that imposed restriction for married women candidates to give their husband’s address as their permanent address should not be…
Sanjeeb Utshab held at DU
A memorial concert titled ‘8th Sanjeeb Utshob 2019’ was held on Dhaka University (DU) campus on Wednesday evening commemorating the famed singer and journalist Sanjeeb Chowdhury.
The evolution of Chinese corporate social responsibility
By Asit K. Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada Glasgow/Singapore – Over the last decade, Chinese businesses have made significant strides in incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues into their decision-making. But they still have a long way to go, and…
Pope Francis: God still loves us all, even the worst of us
Pope Francis has ushered in Christmas by saying God loves everyone – “even the worst of us”. He was speaking to thousands of people during Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. “You may have mistaken ideas,…
Thakurgaon students angry for rape-murder of fellow Sumona
Thakurgaon, Dec 21 – Students of different schools and colleges on Saturday staged demonstrations and blocked Chaurasta intersection area for two hours in the town demanding justice for their one of their fellows Sumona Haque who was murdered allegedly after…
Woman held while ‘selling toddler’ in Barishal
Barisal, Dec 21- Police arrested a woman while she was allegedly trying to sell a two-month old kid at Tk 50,000 in Dotteshor village in Wazirpur upazila here on Friday afternoon.
Suhrawardy Udyan took festive look as AL’s 2-day council begins
The 21st triennial national council-2019 of Bangladesh Awami League kicked off amid much enthusiasm and festivity at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on Friday afternoon.
Jessore college student allegedly raped promising marriage
Benapole (Jessore), Dec 20 – A Jessore college student has been allegedly raped at Bagachra of Sharsha Upazila of Jessore after being led on with the lure of marriage.
Woman offers $7K reward, hires plane in search of stolen dog
Sanfrancisco, AP/UNB, Dec 20 – A San Francisco woman is offering a $7,000 reward and has hired a plane to fly over the city to search for her blue-eyed miniature Australian Shepherd stolen from outside a grocery store last weekend.
Sohorbati’s Winter Pitha Mela begins Friday
Zahira’s Nimontron, on behalf of Sohorbati, is going to arrange its 3rd Winter Pitha Mela (fair) in the city on Friday (December 20).