Editorial

Who empowered millionaire DGHS driver?

The story of driver Abdul Malek of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly accumulating
Antigen test at last

For the last two days, newspaper headlines were dominated by dire warnings of a second Covid-19 onslaught. The PM’s caution was fully backed up
Hillocks ravaged in Sylhet under the guise of night

A recent report published in this daily sheds light on the serious environmental disaster brewing across Sylhet. In order to meet the high demand for
PM warns of second wave in winter

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned that the Covid-19 situation will likely deteriorate in the upcoming winter, and urged all involved to
Saving project money praiseworthy

At a time when cost escalations and time extensions of various infrastructure development projects in the country have become common phenomena,
Gruesome torture and death of child migrant worker

A report in this daily yesterday revealed the horrific sexual abuse and torture that is faced by female Bangladeshi migrant workers, some of them
India’s special permission to export 25,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh

Coming on the heels of the ban on onion exports from India, the report that the Indian government is likely to grant special permission to export
Irregularities in land acquisition in Cox’s Bazar revealed

An investigative report in The Daily Star on September 19 revealed that a nexus of district land officials, politicians, journalists and middlemen are
Finally a waste-based power plant

We welcome the government’s decision to set up the country’s first ever waste-based power plant in Jalkuri in Narayanganj district. It was decided in a
Covid-19 testing expansion policy lost in bureaucracy

Almost six and a half months after the first novel coronavirus case was reported in the country, the Covid-19 testing expansion policy of the
Can public procurement process be freed of corruption?

The departments that provide public service are particularly the targets of public contactors out to make a quick buck, most often than not, at the cost
Reduce the stress on children

Six months of lockdown has left hundreds of thousands of children stuck at home, harming their education and leading to various psychological
Pay jute mill workers their dues and other benefits

We welcome the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) for starting the disbursement of due wages and other benefits of the laid-off and retired
Indian onion export ban already making prices skyrocket

India’s decision to suspend the export of onions, which was announced on Monday evening, has triggered a steep rise in onion prices in
A well-deserved rebuke for Wasa MD

A report published in this daily brings to our attention the High Court’s observation that the managing director of Dhaka Water Supply and
Biman’s fate unlikely to change without considerable autonomy

Can you solve a problem using the same method and style of thinking that created the problem in the first place? The administration seems to think
Most rural households lack digital access

Despite the government’s enthusiastic approach towards a digital Bangladesh, it appears we still have a long way to go. It is concerning that nearly
International Day of Democracy

The International Day of Democracy has been observed around the world on this day since 2007 to promote and uphold democratic principles,
Regional cooperation more important than ever

At the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which was recently held online, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen expressed his worries over the
Prices of daily essentials going up

As the prices of essentials continue to go up in the city’s kitchen markets, lower- and middle-income people, already grappling with the fallout of the
Easing of entry ban for Bangladeshis

We welcome the Malaysian government’s decision to lift the entry ban that was imposed on citizens of Bangladesh and 22 other countries.
Government functionaries in distress

The dastardly attack on Wahida Khanam, UNO of Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur, has brought to the fore the dangerous working environment that
Covid-19 poses risk to progress made in child mortality

Six critical months into the pandemic, yet it remains far from over. A report recently published warns that while the number of under-five deaths
Promises are not meant to be broken

We are deeply saddened and outraged at the death of yet another Bangladeshi national near the Beurjhari border in Baliadangi upazila of Thakurgaon
Titas Gas must compensate Narayanganj mosque blast victims

We appreciate the High Court’s directive to Titas Gas Ltd to give Tk 5 lakh as initial costs in seven days to each family of the Narayanganj mosque blast
A monumental verdict for human rights and dignity

In what is now a landmark case, a Dhaka court on Wednesday gave the first ever verdict in a lawsuit filed under the Torture and Custodial Death
An unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters

We stand with the civil society members who have condemned an attack on a photography exhibition on extrajudicial killings organised by Drik Gallery
Health guidelines for reopening primary schools finalised

The ministry of primary and mass education has finalised a plan for reopening primary schools across the country—which have remained closed
Stronger commitment needed to address adult illiteracy

It is disheartening to know that the government’s literacy campaign targeting people aged 15 and above has been consistently failing to deliver results, despite several deadline extensions.
Six months into the pandemic

It has been six months since Bangladesh was struck by the worst disaster of the century by any definition, and it is time to assess if we are heading in the right direction and how we have fared during this rather traumatic period.