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.

If our infrastructure is a threat, the ground beneath is a ticking clock, too.

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.

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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds a lot of promise but also carries enormous risks.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

For Bangladesh, exporters should plan for possible delays, even where the scheduled transit time is unchanged. When ocean schedules become volatile, brands often push urgent top-ups by air or at least move samples and approvals by air. But air is also being hit.

Unless Bangladesh makes efforts to control power generation costs, price hikes alone will not significantly minimise the subsidy burden.

Banks do not assess whether the goods are satisfactory; they assess whether the documents comply exactly with what the buyer’s bank has stipulated. Even a minor inconsistency can turn a clean transaction into a delayed one.

As Bangladesh’s women prepared to face China at the AFC Women's Asian Cup, pride did not feel rhetorical.

Prior to cultivating any crop, farmers naturally wonder whether they can earn a profit from it or not. In other words, the prospect of profit is what motivates them to cultivate a certain crop.

Our current image, built on resilience under difficult conditions, is admirable but insufficient for the next chapter.

When perpetrators act with confidence, it is often because consequences appear uncertain, distant, or negotiable.

Bangladesh’s export success has never been just about competitive labour or entrepreneurial energy.

Many expected Dr Ahsan H Mansur to complete his full term, till August 2028.

The removal of Ahsan H Mansur as Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor has been an entirely avoidable drama.