Transparency International Chair François Valérian has said Bangladesh lost an estimated $16 billion annually in stolen public funds during the 15-year rule of the Awami League, fueling what he described as the global economy of corruption. He made the remarks during a three-day visit to Bangladesh, his first since being elected to lead the Berlin-based […]
Trade analysts are urging Bangladesh and India to urgently reopen key land trade routes, saying current restrictions have increased costs for exporters and disrupted supply chains. Indian restrictions have forced Bangladeshi goods to reroute through Chattogram Port, raising freight and logistics expenses by an estimated 25 percent, according to industry estimates. The added costs have […]
Bangladesh Bank has issued Letters of Intent to five firms to establish the country’s first private credit bureaus, a step officials say will modernize lending and expand access to credit. The firms have one year to build infrastructure before applying for final licenses. The selected companies are Creditinfobd, backed by the United Kingdom; TransUnion, backed […]
Bangladesh has appointed Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam as its next envoy to the United States, filling a position that had been vacant since former Ambassador Asad Alam Siam became foreign secretary. Ariful Islam, a career diplomat from the 17th batch of the BCS (Foreign Affairs) cadre, joined the service in 1998. He currently serves […]
The Trump administration has nominated career diplomat Brent T. Christensen as the next U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh, the White House announced Tuesday. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Christensen, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of counselor, brings more than two decades of diplomatic experience to the role. He previously served […]
As concerns over violence against the press continue to grow, advocates say news organizations in Bangladesh must take stronger steps to protect their staff, starting with safety policies inside the newsroom. Media groups are being encouraged to adopt clear rules ensuring that no journalist is punished for refusing an assignment deemed too dangerous without proper […]
The recent wave of violence against journalists has intensified calls for stronger protections, with rights advocates urging concrete steps to safeguard media workers across Bangladesh. Press freedom groups say the government must enforce tougher laws, prosecute attackers and ensure swift investigations to break what they describe as a longstanding pattern of impunity. Proposals include the […]
Violence targeting journalists surged across Bangladesh in August, according to the Human Rights Support Society, which documented 39 incidents affecting at least 72 reporters nationwide. Md. Asaduzzaman Tuhin, a reporter for Protidiner Kagoj, was killed on Aug. 7 after being hacked to death in Gazipur. On Aug. 22, the body of Bibhu Ranjan Sarker, a […]
Today marks the 127th birth anniversary of Abul Mansur Ahmad, a towering figure in Bangla literature, journalism, and politics. Born on September 3, 1898, in Mymensingh’s Dhanikhola village, Ahmad went on to become one of the greatest satirical writers of his time. His works such as Aina, Asmani Parda, and Gulliverer Safarnama not only entertained […]
Architect Marina Tabassum has once again brought Bangladesh global recognition by winning the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the second time. She was honoured for Khudi Bari (“Tiny House”), a portable, climate-resilient shelter built from bamboo and steel for families displaced by river erosion and flooding. The project provides an affordable, replicable solution […]
