Low levels of testing are hampering our Covid response
It has been more than a year since Covid-19 was first detected in Bangladesh. Much has been, and continues to be, said about the country’s handling of the pandemic.
Can quarantine be a solution in a country like Bangladesh?
The words “quarantine” and “isolation” have now become synonymous with the coronavirus outbreak. Social media has exploded with status updates,
Coronavirus and the dark side of globalisation
The coronavirus outbreak—which seems straight out of the sci-fi thriller Contagion—has led to over 7,989 deaths and 198,736 cases worldwide. As we try to make sense out of truths that seem stranger than fiction, the WHO-declared pandemic has laid bare the fact that in an era where globalisation reigns supreme, infectious diseases no longer simply pose the risk of transnational movement of bacterial and viral infections.
Why focusing on ‘rural development’ is a must
Post-WWII, Bangladesh, along with countries which had been freed from the shackles of colonisation and had gained their independence, embarked upon the journey of “development”.
A recipe for a public health disaster
Going by numerous recent news reports, we have good reason to be worried about the state of food safety in the country.
Development for whom?
A particular finding in the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) blows the illusion of GDP growth being the “be all and end all” of development into smithereens.
Waiting to be heard
Contrary to popular belief, it's not entitlement or narcissism or laziness that defines millennials. If anything, it's probably a sense of disillusionment that's a defining characteristic of this generation.
How can we make our buildings safe?
Defiance of the BNBC stems from the ways that it can provide immediate benefit to owners and often the users and the developers of buildings. For example, rules are violated to achieve maximum use of space when land itself is costly.
March 21, 2019
Jacinda Ardern: What leadership should look like
The horrific Christchurch attack that took away at least 50 lives was one of New Zealand's darkest days.
March 18, 2019
Christchurch and the 'mass dissemination of hate' in the media
I woke up to the news of the horrific attack in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, like millions around the world. I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed on Friday morning
February 23, 2019
No, Chawkbazar fire won't be our 'wakeup call'
Yet another tragedy has struck Bangladesh. Suddenly, everyone has woken up to the danger of chemical factories in Old Dhaka which this daily, along with other newspapers,
February 21, 2019
Changing the way we think about poverty and development
There are some words in the popular lexicon that we hear and read about every day but very few appreciate or understand the depth of these words. “Development” and “poverty” are two good examples.
January 22, 2019
The crumbling pillars of the fourth estate
The year 2018 was not a good one for journalists, to put it mildly. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), at least 63 professional journalists were killed around the world in 2018, a marked increase by 15 percent since 2017.
January 11, 2019
Basic wage as a proportion of total wage for RMG workers has been falling
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, talks to Nahela Nowshin of The Daily Star about the recent demonstrations of RMG workers and the underlying reasons behind them.
December 28, 2018
Unjustified restrictions on media and observers
A number of extraordi-nary restrictions have been placed on journalists by the Election Commission ahead of Election Day and the extent to which the media can cover the election on December 30 remains unclear.
December 6, 2018
Aritry's deafening cry for help
Aritry Adhikary—a young life cut tragically short. Her parents probably had never imagined that their daughter would make headlines for the reasons that she did.
November 13, 2018
The charade of Myanmar's 'political will'
The atmosphere filled with outrage and calls for justice for the Rohingya people a year ago seems to have largely subsided.
October 28, 2018
Dissolution of separate children's tribunals is a severe blow for children's rights
Last week a certain develop-ment seemed to have gone largely unnoticed amongst the flurry of news about political rallies, the drama unfolding on the world stage over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi,
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