A case for turning Dhaka's flyovers into rainwater harvesters

On June 12, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said Dhaka had experienced about 43 millimetres of rain in just two hours.
22 June 2026, 10:00 AM

Don’t leave Kaiputras behind in the name of development

In Dakshin Alipur of Satkhira Sadar upazila, a tragedy largely invisible to the wider public is unfolding. It’s taking place not in some remote char or forest but beside an important highway.
22 June 2026, 09:00 AM

A watchdog without teeth: The problems with the draft NHRC Act

On May 17, the law ministry unveiled the draft National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act, 2026, inviting public comments and feedback.
22 June 2026, 08:00 AM

Justice for the weak, immunity for the powerful

They also hurt diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India
21 June 2026, 11:00 AM

Budget 2026-2027: A structurally old yet inspirationally new budget

Economists may think differently, but it appears that politicians and bureaucrats think alike when it comes to framing the budget document.
21 June 2026, 10:00 AM

Are our laws doing enough to address gambling?

When Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced the launch of a nationwide coordinated drive against drugs and gambling in April, two uncomfortable yet necessary questions arose
21 June 2026, 09:00 AM

Why Bangladesh’s small producers struggle to scale, and how to help them

Bangladesh is generating economic activity faster than it is building firms.
21 June 2026, 00:00 AM

How to restore the moral compass of corporate banking

For years, corporate banking in Bangladesh has been built not simply on lending but also on stewardship.
20 June 2026, 12:00 PM

Can the climate budget be just if resilience is ‘subsidised’ by women’s unpaid care work?

The allocation for climate action in the proposed budget for FY2026-27 deserves recognition.
20 June 2026, 11:00 AM

We cannot avoid the moral questions behind the measles and Ad-din crises

Reading a recent report by The Daily Star on the number of measles victims, I could not help but link the number “666” printed in red with something ominous.
20 June 2026, 10:00 AM

Does the government really want an independent NHRC?

The people of Bangladesh have suffered too heavily for too long from abuse of power, lack of accountable governance, deficits in the rule of law and access to justice, and multidimensional violations of human rights.
20 June 2026, 09:00 AM

Five ideas to turn PM’s Malaysia visit into a strategic reset in ties

When Prime Minister Tarique Rahman lands in Kuala Lumpur on June 21, the weight of this visit will be unmistakable.
19 June 2026, 12:00 PM

What the FY2026-27 budget reveals about Bangladesh’s climate priorities

For Bangladesh, climate change is no longer merely an environmental concern. It is increasingly a development, economic, and governance challenge.
19 June 2026, 11:00 AM

In planting 25 crore trees, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture

The BNP government unveiled an ambitious plan to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years as part of its election pledge.
19 June 2026, 10:00 AM

Turning the budget’s ambitions into reality will be a major test

There is always many a slip between the cup and the lip, which reminds us of the budget’s implementation challenge
19 June 2026, 09:00 AM

Budget 2026-27 exposes gaps in renewable energy rollout

Those in power often express a strong commitment to renewable energy transition, but this commitment is not adequately reflected in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27.
18 June 2026, 12:00 PM

Countering online hate speech in Bangladesh needs a collective response

Consider what happened to dozens of women across Bangladesh during the political transition of 2024.
18 June 2026, 11:00 AM

Benazir’s arrest is only the start of Bangladesh's accountability test

Benazir Ahmed’s arrest in Dubai is significant in that it marks an important first step in a much longer pursuit of accountability.
18 June 2026, 10:00 AM

The budget has revived focus on blue economy, but there's a lot of catching up to do

On July 7, 2014, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague handed Bangladesh the second half of its maritime triumph.
18 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Why the Oxford Union’s Bangladesh ‘debate’ sparked controversy

The issue was not about who spoke, but about who did not speak.
17 June 2026, 17:00 PM