An alarming lapse in data security protocols
NTMC's revelation about illicit sale of private data raises concerns
We are not taking care of our young generation
One significant factor behind young people’s feeling of disillusionment is the pervasive corruption committed by businessmen, politicians, government officials, and influential figures, among others
Who was Raisi and what does his death mean?
Given the turbulent state of the Middle East at the moment, the repercussions of Raisi’s death could have effects in not only Iran but also the wider region.
Editorial
Dhaka can only be saved by decentralisation
Authorities must listen to experts to ensure sustainable development
We need more parks, not more malls
Metro rail authorities have no right to commercialise Anwara Park
What 'success' is the mayor talking about?
DSCC mayor’s claim about dengue prevention in 2023 raises questions
Views
VAT on metro fare / Don’t turn metro rail into a status symbol
Imposing VAT on metro fares and taking the service further away from the poor, it risks becoming more like a status vehicle—which rich commuters already have plenty of.
Humanitarian funding: A crisis within a crisis
The people affected by crises and destitution must be at the centre of our collective decision-making on humanitarian actions.
Banning rickshaws may not be the big traffic solution
Dhaka’s traffic is a complicated problem that needs multifaceted efforts to combat it.
Geopolitical Insights
In Focus
Steam Power and Scientific Knowledge in Early British Bengal
In Europe, steam power evolved gradually and uncertainly over the course of the eighteenth century, with innovative peaks and long plateaus, from Thomas Savery’s steam pump (1698) via Thomas Newcomen’s reciprocating atmospheric engine (1712) to James Watt and Matthew Boulton’s double-acting rotative steam engine with a separate condenser (1765-90).
Rabindranath Tagore and the creation of national identity
Rabindranath Tagore is perhaps the only poet whose songs were chosen as the national anthems of two countries: India and Bangladesh.
Silencing the subaltern voice
Historian Willem van Schendel divides the historiography of the War of 1971 into two broad categories: i) first-generation historiographies and ii) second-generation historiographies.
Letters to the Editor
NHRC response to The Daily Star editorial
The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh responds to an editorial by The Daily Star.
Destruction of Hargazi Canal
There are no visible changes yet.
Who will listen to the woes of trainee doctors?
The trainee doctors at BSMMU have been demanding an increase of monthly allowance from Tk 20,000 to Tk 50,000 – a demand which is justified.
Views Multimedia
Tackling the causes behind fire incidents
Dr Syeda Sultana Razia speaks to The Daily Star Opinion regarding the causes behind frequent fires and some possible solutions.
Our reality versus government's narrative
Why is there so much difference between the reality of common people and that which the government wants to see or project?
Poor policy and market management have caused price hikes
Why is the government failing to manage the market as they should?
Sued under DSA, woman dies in Rab custody
According to family members, Rab said the 38-year-old Sultana Jasmine suffered a stroke in their custody, but her relatives insisted that she had no medical issues
Have we been able to establish a state different from Pakistan?
Through the Liberation War of 1971, the people of this region wanted to establish a state that would not be built in the model of Pakistan. Fifty-two years later, can we say we have achieved that goal?
Previous 
Planning for Dhaka's new night
Dhaka should be readied for a nighttime culture that offers a potpourri of entertainment options to people.
Column by Mahfuz Anam: What constitutes hurting religious sentiments?
The issue of religious tolerance have become a matter of great concern as we see a global rise in narrow-mindedness, prejudice and hatred.
Reimagining primary and compulsory education in Bangladesh
It is believed that education, in the midst of global advances and challenges, remains the critical vehicle of empowerment.
Planting trees during heatwaves is not a good idea. Here's why
We should plant trees, but the right tree at the right time and place.
Time for a cautious approach to managing Bangladesh's external debt
A key factor driving the rising debt-servicing obligations of Bangladesh originates from the country’s middle-income graduation.
Right to information takes centre stage in Indian elections
The Indian Supreme Court's recent decision on electoral bonds underline the importance of citizens' role in exercising their right to information as watchdogs of good governance.
The 20-20-20 rule and other digital detoxes
Digital stress typically stems from being bombarded with too much information or feeling obligated to be available 24/7, particularly sometimes for job-related tasks.
An inexplicable delay by law ministry
Why is it defying the HC ruling on removing “kumari” from Kabinnama?
Why the global dialogue on demographic diversity is critical
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
Regulating Dhaka traffic: Are ‘gate lock’ and speed caps all that it takes?
Unless things change on the street level, no rules or infrastructure can efficiently resolve Dhaka's traffic gridlock.
