Nepal election: A lesson in honouring a people's uprising

Nepal's election results point to a landslide for rapper Balendra Shah, anticipated by a few in Nepal's political establishment.
9 March 2026, 17:15 PM

Social media echo chambers and the deepening of sociopolitical polarisations

Social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook primarily aim to increase users’ views, likes, comments, and shares.
9 March 2026, 12:38 PM

Balancing the scales for women begins with being seen

One such pause came recently when I opened an invitation in my inbox marking the International Women’s Day celebration.
9 March 2026, 00:28 AM

Middle East shipping risk: The insurance chokepoint Bangladesh cannot ignore

When drones began striking energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf, most observers focused on the missiles. But what actually stopped the ships was not the weapons—it was the insurance paperwork.
9 March 2026, 00:25 AM

Strengthening research in science and engineering in the post-LDC era

Bangladesh is on its way to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. However, to become a prosperous nation, it must adopt new strategies for accelerated economic growth.
9 March 2026, 00:20 AM

Keep politics out of school textbooks

Few aspects shape a nation’s future as profoundly as what it teaches its children. That is why Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon’s pledge to revise textbooks with the help of “high-quality experts,” and without any party consideration, carries particular significance.
9 March 2026, 00:17 AM

Global crises demand feminist lens on global governance

The current system of global governance has long been built on militarised, state-centric notions of power that marginalise the experiences of those most affected by conflict and inequality and women and girls bear disproportionate burdens during crises
8 March 2026, 17:18 PM

Women must lead, not just participate, in the labour force

Bijly Baroi is the sole breadwinner for a family of six. A caregiver in Barishal, Bijly entered the healthcare workforce after her father, a former carpenter, became unable to work due to illness.
8 March 2026, 01:40 AM

Six years on, have we learnt our lessons from Covid?

The memory of the pandemic crisis should serve as a reminder that pandemics do not just test hospitals; they also test the preparedness, coordination, and foresight of entire systems.
8 March 2026, 01:35 AM

The journey from presence to power

The Daily Star recently invited women candidates who participated in the 13th parliamentary election to share their thoughts about their campaigning experience, the challenges they each faced, and what inspired them despite all the hurdles.
8 March 2026, 00:30 AM

Let history breathe

The Liberation War of 1971 was not the work of one man. It was the product of millions of freedom fighters, political leaders, student activists, cultural organisers, rural villagers, defecting officers, and ordinary citizens who bore extraordinary costs.
7 March 2026, 01:22 AM

We must collectively stop tolerating preventable deaths

If our infrastructure is a threat, the ground beneath is a ticking clock, too.
7 March 2026, 01:19 AM

When our indifference breaks our children

The posthumous Swadhinata Padak for Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher who died saving at least 20 students from the burning remains of Milestone School and College after it was hit by a fighter jet last year, brought back sad memories of losing children and teachers in a single tragic blow.
7 March 2026, 01:16 AM

The speech that emboldened us all

Those of us who were there at the Ramna Race Course on that day have our own personal memories. Reminiscing them still warms our blood and generates that special feeling of pride that automatically holds our heads high.
7 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Will artificial intelligence widen inequality?

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds a lot of promise but also carries enormous risks.
6 March 2026, 01:00 AM

Fate of 133 ordinances: The 30-day test of the new parliament

When the interim government assumed office following the upheaval of July-August 2024, it took on a nation still trembling from shock.
6 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Gangster imperialism and the threat to global peace and security

The way a neighbourhood thug flaunts his power, boasts about violence, bullies at will, harasses, assaults, or kills—while proudly disregarding any law or rule—is eerily similar to what we are now witnessing from the president of the world’s most powerful state and his allies.
6 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Can the new government break Bangladesh's energy paradox?

The new minister of power, energy and mineral resources is facing his first test to ensure energy security as the whole world reels from the shock of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
6 March 2026, 00:00 AM

The dangerous normalisation of brutality in Bangladesh

A society does not wake up one morning and discover that it has become violent. It drifts into that state gradually, much like how dampness spreads inside walls. By the time the cracks become visible, the foundation has already weakened.
5 March 2026, 15:04 PM

Deregulation, yes, but we also need smart regulation

When undertaken thoughtfully, deregulation can indeed reduce compliance costs and delays, lower barriers for small and medium enterprises, improve transparency and predictability, and enhance competitiveness and investment. But that is only one side of the story.
5 March 2026, 00:16 AM