Sudhirendar Sharma Sultry weather made me realize that soaking dress in sweat alone should suffice, why either of the hapless inner wears face the same ordeal. It occurred to me later that I was being water wise, letting one apparel…
Category: Opinion
A woman’s place is in the leadership of her union
by Frances O’Grady on 25th July 2019 As the workforce is feminised and women come to predominate among union members, the next step is assuming leadership roles in the trade-union movement.
Creating social legitimacy in the EU
by Christian Schweiger In our ‘Europe2025’ series, Christian Schweiger argues the EU will only survive long-term if it builds its future agenda on broad public support through open dialogue and innovative consultation. Throughout the past decade the European Union has…
Is there a co-relation between human development & SDGs?
By Pedro Conceição UN, Jul 1 2019 (IPS) – “People are the real wealth of nations,” began the first Human Development Report (HDR). That 1990 report marked a turning point in the global development debate. During the second half of…
Time for postcapitalism
by Paul Mason Paul Mason continues his sketch of a postcapitalist world by drawing out its implications for something in increasingly short supply—time. If we are lucky, the world stands on the brink of a rapid transition beyond carbon. We…
Investigate Morsi’s death
By Chandra Muzaffar Immediately after Dr Mohammed Morsi’s death on the 17th of June 2019, a number of organisations and individuals had called for a thorough, independent investigation into the cause of his death while on trial in a Cairo…
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…
The re-awakening of compassion
If all youth were to work together with similar mind, similar heart, similar compassion, as the young members of Revolution to Improve Bangladesh are doing, there is no doubt an enormous difference would be made Sir Frank Peters A revolution…
This time is different
by Branko Milanovic Marx once wrote of the temptation, confronted with a new historical situation, to summon up the ‘borrowed language’ of the past. He’s still right, writes Branko Milanovic. Le hasard ne profite qu’aux esprits préparés (Chance favours only…
Hearing: Subscribers vent anger at cellphone operators
Dhaka, June 12 – Subscribers on Wednesday vented their anger at the poor services provided by different mobile phone companies in the country. At a public hearing arranged by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) at the Institution of Engineers,…
China should lead on air pollution
by Kris Hartley, Asit K. Biswas Singapore/Hong Kong – The United Nations expects 68% of the world’s population to live in urban areas by 2050. As governments scramble to manage this flood of urban migration, they must address not only…
Japan’s government must exit coal
by Jan Erik Saugestad OSLO – Following the abdication of Emperor Akihito, Japan announced that its new imperial era would be called Reiwa (“beautiful harmony”). But if the Reiwa era is to live up to its name, Japan’s government must…
Populists, greens and the new map of European politics
by Sheri Berman In light of the gains by green parties and right-wing populists in the Euro-elections, Sheri Berman explores how the traditionally dominant parties respond to such challenges. ‘Peak populism’ and the ‘green wave‘ was how many observers summarised…
Reflections from a mother on Menstrual Hygiene Day
Ruth Kennedy-Walker I recently returned to work after six months of maternity leave with my second child. Transitioning back to my ‘original’ role as a Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist at the World Bank, alongside my new role as a…
BNP seeks EC decision on using Khaleda image on posters
Dhaka, Dec 13 – BNP has sought Election Commission’s decision on using its jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia’s portrait in posters of the candidates of its 10 allies, who are contesting the 11th parliamentary elections with the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol.
AL to win 168 to 220 seats in Dec 30 election: Joy
Dhaka, Dec 13 – Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said the ruling Awami League will win in between 168 to 220 seats on its own in the next parliamentary elections billed for December 30.
Memory of Professor Wahiduddin Ahmed
MA Taher Khandakar A convoy of five vehicles started at 11:26 hours on 05/11/2018 (Monday) from the BUET campus, Dhaka, for Motlab of Chandpur District. The lead vehicle was an Ambulance of the Anjuman-e Mafidul Islam. Mr Anwar Hossain, Driver,…
California, here we come!
by Nate Engle “California, here we come!” I was singing this phrase in my head all morning a few weeks ago as I flew from Washington DC to Los Angeles to accompany a Government of Botswana study tour delegation. The…
A Bangladeshi remembers President George Bush Sr
by Ali Khan Republican Party Campaign Director Paul Manafort first introduced Bangladeshi Dr Prince Moosa bin Shamsher, PhD, to former President George W. Bush Sr. That was in San Diego on August 15, 1996, and Dr Prince Moosa remembers it…
Why I became a disaster expert
By Armen Grigoryan Nov 26 2018 (IPS) – Thirty years ago, a powerful earthquake ripped through my home country of Armenia, leaving 25,000 dead, 500,000 homeless and annihilating an estimated 40 percent of the national economy.
Bangladesh: Protests, arrests and their aftermath
By Nava Thakuria Bangladesh is a land of happenings. As the populous country is approaching the next general (national) elections by the end of this year, we can expect more public chaos, protest demonstrations, media outburst followed by government crackdowns…
Tribute to Indian environmental activist Latha Anantha
Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India Latha, well known environmental activist and researcher from Kerala, is no more with us physically. Though many of us knew that she was battling with cancer for the last 3-4 years,…
Opinion: Giving capitalism a social conscience
David Bornstein For more than 40 years, Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi founder of the Grameen Bank and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, has been asserting that the most powerful way to eradicate poverty is to unleash the untapped…
Great development!
The size of the budget for 2017-18 fiscal year will cross the Tk 4 trillion mark, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said. This is really a great achievement.
Journalism as propaganda
by Simon Wren-Lewis A few days ago I took part in a Royal Economic Conference session on the implications of the Brexit vote. There is no need for me to describe how it went, as there is a good write…
Bikalpa Dhara for law to appoint CEC, commissioners
Dhaka – Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh on Monday proposed enacting a law as per the Constitution to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners. The party made the proposal at a meeting with President Abdul Hamid over the formation…
Public universities recruit teachers through ‘unfair means’: TIB
Dhaka – Recruitment of teachers to public universities are these days done based on political affiliation, nepotism, religious identities and illegal exchange of money, depriving meritorious applicants, reveals a new TIB study.
EC’s views-exchange meeting with candidates in N’ganj Thursday
Dhaka – The Election Commission (EC) is going to hold a views-exchange meeting with mayoral and councillor contestants of the upcoming Narayanganj City Corporation election on Thursday.
Khaleda also offer election-time govt formula
Dhaka – After unveiling the proposals for forming a stronger Election Commission, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday said she will come up with a framework of a neutral election-time government at the right time. UNB news agency reported
SAARC is dead; long live SAARC
Why the cancellation of the 19th SAARC summit could mean new life for the regional grouping. By Manjari Chatterjee Miller and Bharath Gopalaswamy In less than two weeks, Pakistan was scheduled to host the 19th annual South Asian Association for…