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Graduation or deferral: Is Bangladesh ready for the post-LDC era?

It now needs to be decided whether Bangladesh should actively pursue a deferral of LDC graduation.

Bangladesh’s agent banking network is continuing to play a transformative role in the country’s financial system, especially through the channelling of remittances through agent outlets.

The US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are to meet at a US air base in Alaska on Friday for talks on the Ukraine war.

July charter: Commission likely to push parties for legally binding deal

Following demands from several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, the National Consensus Commission is considering a proposal to make the July National Charter a legally binding document.

Zahid Hasan’s comeback proves why he’s one of the greats: Chanchal Chowdhury

Renowned Bangladeshi actor Chanchal Chowdhury has built a career in which almost every film he has worked on has been met with a warm audience reception. His latest project, “Utshob”, has continued that streak of success.

Youthless Bangladesh, brainless future

Arif left for Australia, declaring he would “be a manager within months”. True enough, he now proudly manages the dishwashing section at a bustling café. He even has a team: two other part-timers and an industrial sink. Back home, his family tells neighbours he is in hospitality management, and technically, no one can say they are lying!

50 years on, Sheikh Mujib’s killing deserves a nuanced reading

He was a leader both loved and disliked during his lifetime.

AL govt’s secret surveillance state

From snooping devices carried in backpacks to locate people through their phones to a massive infrastructure that can intercept even end-to-end encryption from a central command centre, the Awami League government had been on an increasingly aggressive trajectory towards building a powerful surveillance state. 

Over one lakh stranded in north as rivers swell

Over 100,000 people have been stranded as the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers swelled above danger level, flooding vast areas of cropland, homes and low-lying regions in northern Bangladesh.

Afeida, Sapna off to join Bhutan’s RTC for August’s second Laos mission

Afeida and Sapna will feature for RTC Women -- the only Bhutanese club in the upcoming AFC Women's Champions League.

BB autonomy / Without political will, reforms may stay on paper

Economists have welcomed the interim government’s initiative to grant full autonomy to the Bangladesh Bank (BB) but say the reforms will remain on paper unless political parties commit to endorsing and continuing them once in power.

Bangladeshi actor Dibya Joyti had an unexpected encounter with Bollywood star Aamir Khan on the streets of Melbourne, Australia. Introducing himself, Dibya spoke about his work with acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal. Known as “Mr Perfectionist”, Aamir responded warmly—patting Dibya on the back and wishing him success.

Joint forces target ‘Bunia Sohel’ hideout in Geneva Camp; Tk 1.13cr, explosives seized

The one-hour operation by the army and police, started around 3:00am today

Four of a family found dead in Rajshahi’s Paba upazila

Quoting locals, police said the family had been struggling with debt in recent months

Crores spent, but Ctg roads still crumble

Commuters in Chattogram are enduring severe hardships due to the appalling condition of major roads, a crisis worsened by the apparent indifference of the authorities.

Bangladeshi Workers / Dhaka, KL push for transparent hiring process

Malaysia and Bangladesh have agreed to work towards establishing a more transparent recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus told Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama in an interview published yesterday.

Opinion

Opinion

A path to trauma healing for Milestone survivors

Instead of conventional class activities, children should spend more time engaging in age-appropriate games and creative art.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s unfinished reading

Hubris that had been a weapon in resistance became a liability in governance.

Business

Business

Telecom reforms revolve around efficiency, price cuts

Over the past year, the interim government has pushed reforms in the telecom sector to improve service, remove unnecessary layers, and lower costs for consumers.

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Sports

Sports

More penalty kicks on the cards in Premier League 2025-26 season

VAR could intervene in situations of "extreme non-footballing action" where a player was clearly dragging another to the ground, even off the ball.

Fortified Liverpool begin Premier League title defence

Slot, who guided Liverpool to their 20th top-flight title last term, has already overseen nearly £300 million worth of new arrivals and could yet add more before the transfer window closes.

Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh’s group and tough road ahead

In Star Explains, we break down Bangladesh’s group, their challenges, and their prospects in the upcoming Asian Cup.

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News

News

Patuakhali arrestee attempts suicide in police custody

He has been kept in duty officer’s room under close watch.

Mannan’s orchard of global delights

In the hills of Akbarpur, a green revolution is taking root -- not driven by large corporations, but by the vision and hard work of one man.

Bardia High School in Narail / School building on the verge of collapse

The main building of Bardia Bahumukhi High School in Lohagara upazila of Narail has become so dilapidated that it could collapse at any time, putting more than 600 students and 25 teachers in danger.

Rabeya Akhter passes away

Rabeya Akhter, wife of the late Md Ismail Mia, former Inspector of Kalia Chapra Sugar Mills and noted social worker, passed away on Wednesday night at her residence in Batrish, Kishoreganj.

2 beaten, handed over to police near Dhanmondi 32

'The two were brought in by protesters who suspected them to be affiliated with Awami League or the banned organisation Chhatra League. We are interrogating them,' says police

Entertainment

Entertainment

Tawsif Mahbub shoots ‘Khowabnama’ scene with six live snakes

Actor Tawsif Mahbub endured a nerve-racking challenge for director Vicky Zahed’s upcoming drama “Khowabnama”, which blends thriller and supernatural elements. The newly released poster shows Tawsif lying in a grave, his body draped with snakes — a striking image that sparked disbelief among fans. To prove it was real, the actor shared behind-the-scenes footage showing live snakes being placed on him during the shoot.

Taylor Swift’s ‘New Heights’ podcast episode smashes records with 10 million views

Taylor Swift’s surprise appearance on “New Heights” — the popular podcast hosted by NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce — has set a new record for the show, racking up over 10 million YouTube views in under 20 hours and drawing unprecedented streaming numbers across platforms.

Taylor Swift unveils first-look posters for upcoming album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has revealed the first-look posters for her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl”, offering fans a glimpse into what she describes as one of the most vibrant periods of her life. The album is scheduled for release on October 3.

Life & Living

Life & Living

#Women Empowerment / How Dhaka’s female fitness instructors are redefining wellness

Female fitness instructors in Dhaka are transforming wellness by challenging norms, empowering women through strength training, and promoting accessible, holistic health. Their rise signals a growing, inclusive fitness culture reshaping the city's perception of health.

Feeling sad after a trip? You’re not alone

Travel depression is the emotional low that follows a trip, marked by sadness, fatigue, and lack of motivation. Caused by high expectations and routine shock, it’s eased through self-care, routine, reflection, and goal-setting.

Floral sarees: A tribute to mothers, memories, and style

Floral sarees blend timeless elegance with cultural heritage, evoking nostalgic memories and romantic charm. Crafted in chiffon, georgette, cotton, and muslin, these versatile drapes suit every occasion, from summer lunches to festive gatherings, effortlessly enhancing feminine grace and style.

Youth

Youth

Apply: Chevening Scholarships for Bangladeshi students to study in the UK

Applications for the 2026–27 Chevening Scholarships were opened on August 5, 2025.

Pirate flag from One Piece anime is Indonesia’s newest protest symbol

Students and activists in Indonesia have put up the One Piece pirate sign as a symbol of protest against several government policies.

In our algorithm-centric lives, we must extend our empathy

Sometimes we simply must observe and keep up, even if it's uncomfortable.

Tech & Startup

Tech & Startup

You can now have private chats with Google Gemini

Google has introduced a new Temporary Chat feature to its Gemini app, allowing users to have private conversations that won’t be saved or used to personalise future responses. These chats will not appear in recent chats or Gemini Apps Activity, and Google says they also won’t be used to train its AI models.

Threads hits 400 million monthly users

Meta’s microblogging app Threads now has more than 400 million monthly active users, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced on Tuesday. The figure is up from over 350 million in late April, when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg last shared user numbers.

Press Release / Asus launches Vivobook S14 in Bangladesh

Asus has recently introduced the Vivobook S14 in Bangladesh.

Star Multimedia

Star Multimedia

News Analysis / Governed by Facebook posts, ruled by confusion

It was just about 7:00am on Monday. A mother sat with her daughter at a bus counter in Dinajpur, set for a two-hour commute to Rangpur for the daughter’s HSC exam three hours later.

Watch / Plenty of promises, but where’s the action?

This episode of The Daily Star podcast "Pitch Perfect" seeks answers to these pressing questions.

Who, how, and under what rules gets a firearm license?

A gun magazine was found in Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan's bag during a recent search at the airport.

WATCH / 25 years since Test status: How far have Bangladesh come?

On June 26, 2000, Bangladesh became the 10th nation to gain Test status from the ICC -- a historic milestone that sparked hope and pride across the country.

Environment

Environment

Waltzing in the wetlands

A pheasant-tailed jacana, known as ‘jol moyur’ in Bangla, soars over a tranquil wetland in Chuadanga.

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Looted stones being restored at Sada Pathor

The district administration, during a joint operation in Bholaganj of Sylhet’s Companiganj upazila and parts of Sylhet city, has recovered over 35,000 cubic feet of stones previously looted from the Sada Pathor tourist spot.

15h ago

Drive underway in Demra to recover Sada Pathor looted from Bholaganj

Rab claims to have found Bholaganj’s white stone stored in seven warehouses

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Contractual workers of BPC companies stage protest in Ctg

Contractual workers of oil companies under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) staged a protest in Chattogram today to press home their five-point demand..The demonstration took place from 11:00am to 2:00pm in front of the BPC head office in the Saltgola area..Over a hundred w

22h ago

Climate change made Nordic heatwave 2C hotter: study

The heatwave was intensified by the burning of fossil fuels, which release planet-heating carbon emissions, they said.

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Sada Pathor stripped bare

Bholaganj’s Sada Pathor, a broad, shallow stretch of the Dholai River where smooth white stones once lay against the backdrop of Meghalaya’s hills, has long been one of Sylhet’s top tourist attractions.

1d ago

Heavy rain, cautionary signals issued as low pressure forms over Bay

All fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to shore and proceed with caution until further notice

2d ago

Teesta, Brahmaputra, other rivers swell, threatening floods in northern districts

Chars, riverside villages in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari inundated

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