Ma Taslim The governor of Bangladesh Bank seems to have come out of the early euphoria over the central bank’s rapidly increasing international reserves caused largely by remittances. Like most other people he was convinced of the virtues of an ever-increasing flow of remittances and large reserves. But the balance sheet of his bank, and ... Read more
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Maoists returning to power in Nepal?
Shamsuddin Ahmed Are the Maoists returning to power or taking over power in Nepal? UCPN Maoist supreme leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda has claimed Tuesday his party will soon form a national government. He did not elaborate how UCPN (Maoist) will form the national government. Will he succeed to rally support of the majority ... Read more
Poison River Threatens Millions in Bangladesh
It was once the lifeline of the Bangladeshi capital. But the once mighty Buriganga River, which flows by Dhaka, is now one of the most polluted rivers in Bangladesh because of rampant dumping of industrial and human waste. “Much of the Buriganga is now gone, having fallen to insatiable land grabbers and industries dumping untreated ... Read more
Polluted rivers, risky water
Prof Mustafizur Rahman Tarafdar The water of Buriganga, Balu, Sitalakhya and Turag are severely polluted. No biological survival can occur there as oxygen is depleted and might have reached nearly O level! Oxygen level in fresh river water is 9mg/l at 20ºc and 7.6mg/l at 30ºc (Summer). BOD5 (consumption of oxygen for decomposition of microbs) ... Read more
Recession phobia
Md. Shairul Mashreque AT the beginning of the new millennium the world has been beset by an insurmountable challenge in the wake of global recession. Economic downhill-slide in major capitalist countries in the north, which boast of having strong economies, threatens to affect countries in the south — especially the least developed countries (LDCs). The ... Read more
Singh is King: Lessons for Bangladesh
Hassanuzzaman DR. Manmohan Singh has indeed proven himself to be the king of South Asian leaders by repeating history after nearly five decades. The Indian National Congress (INC) won a landslide victory in which it, along with its allies, now holds 262 seats in the parliament. Singh’s entry in 1991 as the finance minister of ... Read more
Climate change impact: Unplanned shrimp cultivation threatens environment
In view of the economic recession, particularly in the USA and European countries, the prices of frozen food in the international markets has fallen up to 40 to 45 percent posing a threat to the industry in Bangladesh. “A red alert hovers over the frozen foods industry,” said Sheikh Abdul Baki, Vice President of Bangladesh ... Read more
Why are ministers denouncing army inquiry report?
Sadeq Khan The representative government of Sheikh Hasina, brought to power by a landslide election victory of its grand alliance at the end of two years of emergency rule, is not yet faced with any serious civic challenge to its lackadaisical style of governance. The Prime Minister enjoys blind loyalty of a countrywide network of ... Read more
Ruling party members blamed for the trouble
RED ALERT IN GARMENT SECTOR Ruling party members blamed for the trouble Abdur Rahman Khan County’s export oriented garments industries have been facing grave uncertainty posing a threat to the vital foreign currency earnings and job opportunity of the huge female workers. It is the law and order situation that has been causing concern for ... Read more
Woman hunter kills elephant with bow and arrow
Female hunter Teressa Groenewald-Hagerman has become the first woman in the world to shoot an elephant dead with a bow and arrow. Groenewald-Hagerman, 39, she sneaked into the animals herd and killed the creature with one shot from just 12 yards. The woman, from Kansas, was inspired to go on the safari after being challenged ... Read more
Human Rights Violated by Climate Change
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution proposed by the Maldives to hold a panel discussion on the relationship between human rights and climate change. The resolution states that “Global warming violates human rights of millions of people, especially in countries vulnerable to climate change such as the low-lying island state of the ... Read more
Bangladesh needs three-fold increase of food grain production
GLOBAL AVERAGE 2 TONS PER ACRE; OURS 0.7 Bangladesh needs three-fold increase of food grain production Abdur Rahman Khan Bangladesh has got the lowest productivity among the world’s rice producing countries. She can produce a maximum of 0.7 metric tons of paddy (not rice) per acre, against the global average of two tons per acre. ... Read more
ILO observes its 90th anniversary
Holiday desk Amid the worst financial and jobs crisis, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is marking its 90th anniversary with a series of events across the world. The week-long programme (21-28 April) of celebration was a global convergence on the common theme of social dialogue on decent work for a fair globalization in commemorative events ... Read more
A brief history of Valentine’s Day
Mohammad Shahidul Islam Every year February 14th is celebrated as a day for love, exchange of gifts, promises of eternal passion, and more. True lovers pen poems inspired by their love and admiration for the women of their dreams while others just go to shops and buy cards with verses. Students of universities enjoy the ... Read more
Mouse bites snake to death
By Matthew Moore A mouse bit a venomous viper to death after it was thrown into the snake’s cage as a lunchtime snack. The tiny rodent killed the snake after a fierce 30-minute battle, emerging with “barely a scratch on him”, according to on person who saw the fight. Firefighters in Taiwan who were looking after the snake ... Read more
India revels in acclaim for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
Some see hope for change as the film, with four Golden Globe awards and 10 Oscar nominations, spotlights the desperation of slum life. By Anuj Chopra MUMBAI, INDIA – John D’souza hasn’t yet seen the much-feted film “Slumdog Millionaire.” But he is convinced the film has the power to transform his life. Mr. D’souza, a ... Read more
Closing Guantánamo: Will Europeans take detainees?
Europeans, who have long pushed to close the controversial facility, are hesitant to take some of its inmates. By Robert Marquand Paris – On no single issue has Europe been more in disagreement with America than the Guantánamo detention center. The camp was a focus of anti-US protest here, synonymous with the image of a ... Read more
‘Obama effect’ vis-a-vis Bangladesh
Sadeq Khan By classical military definition, the winner in a battle is the army that remains on the battlefield when the battle is over. The Hamas leadership in the Gaza strip still stands, suffering and resisting over three weeks of savage attacks, carnage and ruination by the mighty Israeli war machine. Israeli writer and peace ... Read more
Tracking reveals albatross habits
By Richard Black, BBC environment correspondent Research by UK scientists may prove vital in protecting the albatross. British Antarctic Survey researchers followed more than 40 grey-headed albatrosses as they flew around the world, identifying where they fed. All the birds which made a circumnavigation stopped for food in the same places. Banning harmful fishing methods ... Read more
Nepal proceeding towards a republic
Shamsuddin Ahmed Nepal is undergoing significant changes. Maoists, who came to power through an election last year, have recently adopted a political declaration to turn the country unto a people’s republic in line with China. They have started unification of left parties. Communist (Unity Centre) merged with the Maoist on Tuesday (January 13) and Masal ... Read more