Dhaka, July 1 (UNB) – The High Court has observed that Bangladesh’s existence depends on the protection of rivers. “The country will survive, beloved Bangladesh will survive if the rivers are protected,” it said. The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul…
Category: Feature
Indigenous rights approach a remedy to climate change crisis
By Friday Phiri Jun 29, 2019 (IPS) – The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) was held in Bonn, Germany to rally behind a new approach to achieving a future that is more inclusive and sustainable than the present – through the…
Remove Ex-President Zia’s grave from JS area: BD minister
Dhaka, Jun 29 (UNB) – Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Saturday asked the authorities concerned to remove Ziaur Rahman’s grave, constructed going beyond the original design of Parliament areas, from the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad. “Some…
Vatican to honour Prof Yunus with ‘Lamp of Peace’ award
Bangkok, June 29 (UNB) – Vatican will honour Prof Muhammed Yunus with the ‘Lamp of Peace’, an award exclusively given to honour those who work towards promoting peace and harmony. Pope Francis has invited Nobel Laureate Prof Yunus to the…
15 inspiring women leading in the AgTech Sector
From Danielle Nierenberg Women in the food system and technology sectors face a lot of obstacles. The agriculture sector is rapidly incorporating new technologies and innovations, but the sector often falls flat in incorporating women into AgTech. Women in the…
ILO’s Non-binding treaty to end harassment at workplace?
By Thalif Deen UN, Jun 26, 2019 (IPS) – Against the bbackdropof widespread charges of sexual abuse and harassment at workplaces– including the United Nations– the International Labour Conference (ILC) last week adopted a “Convention” and a set of “Recommendations”…
Narsingdi fire-attack victim Fulan Rani loses battle for life
Narsingdi, June 26 (UNB) – Teenage girl Fulan Rani Barman, who was set afire by miscreants here on June 13, died on Wednesday morning after fighting for her life for 12 days. She succumbed to her burn injuries at Dhaka…
Ending colonial injustice: Chagos Islands back to natives
By Dr Jaspal Kaur Sadhu Singh The correction of this injustice has been achieved through a long drawn fight, somewhat of a David and Goliath contest. The outcome, culminating in a spectacular opinion and vote, has a number of consequences…
A case for 5-day school week
Teaching is more than a ‘job’: no one should teach who is not passionate about teaching When you weigh it all up, the five-and-a-half-day school week just isn’t worth the trouble and inconvenience Why are heavy children’s schoolbooks not produced…
AL celebrates 70th founding anniversary Sunday
Dhaka, Jun 23 (UNB)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that Awami League was formed on this in 1949 to bring back the independence of Bangladesh which was lost in Amrakanon on June 23, 1757 through the defeat of…
AL formed to bring back independence lost in 1757: Hasina
Dhaka, Jun 23 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that Awami League was formed on this in 1949 to bring back the independence of Bangladesh which was lost in Amrakanon on June 23, 1757, through the defeat of…
‘Born a refugee, I dream of a place called home’
By Mohammed On World Refugee Day, personal reflections of a young Palestinian from the Gaza Strip CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, USA, Jun 20 2019 (IPS) – I am a refugee, born to a refugee family. I was granted that status…
Put gender violence survivors in front and centre
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Jun 20 2019 (IPS) – Sexual violence is still all too common and continues to threaten peace and security worldwide. How can we do better? Put survivors at the centre. Marking the International Day for the…
New UK rules to end gender stereotypes in ads may go further
by Magadlena Zawisza Advertisers still often hit consumers with gender stereotypes. And do they often miss—at their own business expense. Remember the infamous ‘beach body ready’ campaign from 2015 for the supplement brand Protein World? It’s the one that challenged…
Fish skin, new source for leather industries
Steinunn Gunnsteinsdóttir admits that it took her family more than a few attempts to be able to make leather from fish skins. “The first 200 times we just made smelly fish soups,” she says. Ms Gunnsteinsdóttir is the sales manager…
Ex-OC of Sonagazi refused bail, sent to jail
Dhaka, June 17 – Dhaka Cyber Crimes Tribunal yesterday sent former officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi police station Moazzem Hossain to jail after rejecting his bail plea in connection with a case filed for recording Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s statement on video…
Notre Dame of Gaza: Our Mosques, Churches are also burning
By Ramzy Baroud 24 Apr 2019 – As the 300-foot spire of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris tragically came tumbling down on live television, my thoughts ventured to Nuseirat Refugee Camp, my childhood home in the Gaza Strip. Then,…
Sexual assaults in BD take horrific turn: Two held
Dhaka, June 15 – Two minor girls have reportedly been raped in Netrakona and Comilla while a bus driver and his helper arrested in Manikganj for ‘rape attempt’ on a woman in their moving vehicle. Besides, a youth has been…
An uncertain future for Palestinian refugees
By Charlotte Munns UN, Jun 12 2019 (IPS) – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been forced to justify its existence at the United Nations ahead of a pledging conference…
Place Sundarbans on ‘World Heritage in danger’ list: IUCN
Dhaka, June 15 – International Union for Conservation of Nature( IUCN), the official advisor on natural World Heritage, recommends for three natural sites, including the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, to be listed as “World Heritage in danger.” The other two sites…
Young BD girl set on fire in Narsingdi
Narsingdi, June 14 (UNB) – A young girl suffered serious burn injuries as miscreants allegedly set her on fire at Birpur in the district town on Thursday night. The victim was identified as Phulon Barman, 17, daughter of Shital Barman…
Neymar undergoes questioning by police, denies rape claim
Sao Paulo, June 14 (AP/UNB) — Brazilian soccer star Neymar spent about five hours at a police station Thursday to undergo questioning about rape allegations against him, one of the final steps in the investigation. Prosecutor Flavia Merlini told journalists…
New study busts myths on comprehensive sexuality education
Paper recommends scripted lessons, where necessary, to help teachers cover the subject correctly Paris, 12 June— Comprehensive sexuality education is an essential part of a good quality education that improves reproductive health and contributes to gender equality, argues Facing the…
Alleged dangerous killer rapist caught, says Rab
Narsingdi, June 12 – Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) claims to have cracked the rape and murder case of Sabina Akhter in Shibur upazila, saying they arrested the ‘killer’ who did sexual intercourse with the victim after killing her. At a…
In hot water? Study says warming may reduce sea life by 17%
Washington, June 11 (AP/UNB) — The world’s oceans will likely lose about one-sixth of their fish and other marine life by the end of the century if climate change continues on its current path, a new study says. Every degree…
Keraniganj Police OC among 11 sued for rape
Dhaka, June 12 – A rape victim on Tuesday evening sued Keraniganj Police Station OC of Dhaka and 10 others for kidnapping and raping her and the court directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit a report after…
Where did insects come from?
by Geetha Iyer The evolution of insects About 500 million years ago (MYA), the Earth experienced a remarkable evolutionary event. Called the Cambrian explosion, it resulted in the emergence of a plethora of life forms – some gigantic, others small;…
Botswana decriminalises gay sex in landmark case
By Cara Anna | AP Johennesburg — Botswana became the latest country to decriminalize gay sex on Tuesday, a landmark case for Africa, as the High Court rejected laws punishing it with up to seven years in prison. Jubilant activists in the…
Society: Financialisation destroys social solidarity
By Michael Lim Mah Hui and Jomo Kwame Sundaram Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Jun 4 2019 (IPS) – Finance has not stopped at dominating the real economy. The tentacles of finance have reached into significant, if not most parts of…
Mothers in the US are dying: What are we doing to save them?
By Juan Pablo Segura Washington DC, Jun 7 2019 (IPS) – The maternal mortality rate in the United States is the highest of any developed country – and the rate is rising. The US is currently the most dangerous place…