Bangladesh receives Russian uranium to join world’s elite club of nuclear power producers

Bangladesh on Thursday officially received the first batch of uranium for its Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) to become the 33rd nuclear power-producing country in the world. The dream project’s Russian contractor, Rosatom, handed over the radioactive fuel to the RNPP authority at a formal “Graduation Ceremony,” a milestone...

Will US Visa Policy Have any Significant Impact?

Dr. Pranab Kumar Panday: In recent months, the spectre of US visa sanctions has cast a long shadow over Bangladesh's political landscape. Both the Bangladeshi government and representatives of the US government have engaged in a heated exchange of arguments and counterarguments, leaving many to ponder the effectiveness of such measures in influ...

A call for unity

Dr. Pranab Kumar Pandey: At the core of liberal democratic values lies the principle of inclusivity and respect for individual rights, irrespective of one's faith. Interfaith friendships serve as a living testament to these principles by transcending religious boundaries and fostering mutual understanding. They encourage dialogue, empathy, and...

India-Bangladesh Relations on a New Height for Sheikh Hasina

Hiren Pandit:  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in a bilateral meeting at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi recently on the occasion of G20. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a whole-hearted meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting was held at Narendra Modi's residence. At the end of ...

Economist Intelligence Unit sees Bangladesh among the top 20 economies by 2040

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has forecast that Bangladesh will be among the top 20 global economies by 2040, based on market size, economic growth and the potential of some other sectors. In a recent report, the think tank also predicted that Bangladesh might be an attractive destination for Chinese investments in the coming days. The ...

IRI Survey: What accounts for Sheikh Hasina’s sustained popularity?

DR. PRANAB KUMAR PANDAY:  The recent release of a report by the Washington-based International Republican Institute (IRI) – a non-profit organisation funded and supported by the United States federal government – has sparked considerable debates and discussions within Bangladesh’s political sphere. This dynamic discourse ...

We are working to upgrade people's lives: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government wanted Bangladesh to continue journey towards development and prosperity. "Despite Bangladesh is having to face natural and man-made disasters like arson terrorism, we want country's continued journey towards development," she said while inaugurating the newly constructed 15-storey Banglade...

Universal Pension Scheme: Everything you need to know

Bangladesh has rolled out a latest social safety program for people of all aspects of the society. Any citizen aged 18-50 years can subscribe to the Universal Pension Scheme and reap benefits after reaching 60 years of age. Interested citizens can join four schemes: "Probas" for expatriates, "Progoti" for private employees, "Surokkha" for infor...

Looking back at Aug 17, 2005 Series Bomb Blasts

In an unprecedented scale of terror attacks, the banned Islamist militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) simultaneously blasted at least 459 time bombs in 63 out of 64 districts across the country on August 17, 2005. The 30-minute mayhem killed one in Chapainawabganj and injured over 100. Another boy was killed in a blast at Savar ...

US Congress Members’ Orientalist Discourse on Bangladesh

Dr. A J M Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan: Recently some American Congress Members indulged in an exercise of producing orientalist discourses on Bangladeshi politics. Two instances of such acts are prominent. In the first instance, a group of six members wrote a letter to President Biden “to stop human rights violations by the Sheikh Hasina Governm...

Controversy with Gayeshwar: Awami League's Political Etiquette vs BNP's Brutal Terrorism

Do you remember the moment when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to mourn the death of Khaleda Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko, who fled to Malaysia because of corruption? But BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia did not allow the Awami League president to enter the house. As a result, she was forced to wait in front of the house and come back. Th...

Hawa Bhaban Used to Control PSC: No Jobs Without Money, Promotions based on Lobby & List

During the BNP-Jamaat regime from 2001 to 2006, government job without money was quite impossible. Each job would cost Tk 3 to Tk 15 lakh with some discount for party activists of Chhatra Dal or Shibir. Meritorious students from ordinary families were plunged into extreme misery due to the recruitment trade through PSC. But after the formation o...

HPM Sheikh Hasina offers Nepal use of Payra Port

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has offered Nepal the use of Payra port at a bilateral meeting with her Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit in the FAO headquarters. "Bangladesh already opened the Chalna and Chattogram ports for Nepal. Nepal can use the newly constructed Payra port as well," Foreig...

Politics of Lies

Prof. Dr. Mizanur Rahman: Democracy survives and thrives on various opinions provided by and debates by political parties, civil society organizations, and individuals. However, if the opinions contain misinformation and disinformation with the intention to malign the opponent, it cannot help democracy flourish. Unfortunately, this is exactly w...

UN officials highly praises Bangladesh peacekeepers

The United Nations Under-Secretaries General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Catherine Pollard jointly paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.  They highly praised Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their contribution to maintain peace in the trouble-torn UN member countries.&...

HPM Sheikh Hasina seeks more Swiss investment in Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the President of Swiss Confederation Alain Berset for more investment in Bangladesh as her country has created ample opportunity for new investment. The Bangladesh Premier made the urge as she called on President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset at the bilateral meeting room in Palais des Nations. ...

Bangladesh: The Paramount Achievement of Awami League on its Journey so far

Bangladesh Awami League is the root of all achievements the country has – from the rise of nationalism among the people, mass movements against the thousand-years slavery with the spirit of the national slogan ‘Joy Bangla', to the people’s trust in boat symbol and the ultimate victory over colonial rule through nine months of Liberation War.

A Decade of Progress and Prosperity for Bangladeshi Women

Pranab Kumar Panday: Sustainable development relies on several factors, one of the most important of which is the advancement and prosperity of women. Despite making up roughly half of the world's population, females experience higher rates of social isolation, discrimination, and poverty than their male counterparts. As a result, promoting gen...

No external force will put BNP in power: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said no external force will put BNP in power on a merry-go-round, but they would rather use the party against her government. “They think someone, coming from somewhere else, will put them in power riding a merry-go-round. No one will do that. It will use (them), but won't give them power,” ...

Zia's yes/no referendum is a shameful chapter of killing democracy: Sajeeb Wazed

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said General Ziaur Rahman's yes/no referendum is the shameful chapter of killing democracy in Bangladesh. "General Zia, after the tragic murder of Bangabandhu's family, illegally seized state power through a ‘yes or no’ vote without any prior meetings, processions, or...