Special Feature
Book publishing in tatters
Shahbagh, the intellectual heart of Dhaka, becomes a meeting place for renowned and promising authors, scholars, poets, journalists, readers, and intellectuals from far and wide, at least twice a year.
Bangla natok and chill
There are over 40 privately run TV channels in the country, of which four are news channels, one music channel, and one is for
Is Bangladesh’s remediation programme ready to take on Accord’s work?
After the fateful Rana Plaza disaster on April 24, 2013, a legally binding agreement between European buyers, retailers, and labour unions was signed to maintain structural safety and safe working environment in Bangladeshi RMG factories which is now known as
Special Feature / Old wine in a new bottle
This is a story of how “recruiting” companies lure people with promises of jobs that don't actually exist, and skive off money from them in exchange.
Solidarity through Social Media
When women find solace, support and strength in each other through Facebook groups
In quest of enlightenment
December 17, 1978. A study circle, comprising only 15 members, was formed at an auditorium of the then Bangladesh Education Extension Department (now National Academy for Educational Management).
First-time voters: failed by technology or the system?
The results of the 11th Bangladeshi general election was supposed to be determined by the Bangladeshi youth who constitute roughly one-fourth of all voters.
Special Feature / Life after the attacks
90-year-old Kamini Bala is one of the oldest victims of the brutal arson attack that destroyed homes of 11 Hindu families in Rangpur's Thakurpara village last November.
The Bengali tradition
Sati, the consort of Shiva was the daughter of Daksha Prajaapati a descendant of Bhrama. Sati had married Shiva against the wishes of her father. Daksha was sponsoring a sacrifice and attendees came from various parts of the universe. He invited all of the gods and goddesses except his son-in-law Shiva. Against Shiva's wishes, Sati attended this sacrifice and was insulted by her father. Unable to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself....
The mythology
According to Hindu mythology a demon named Mahishasura, earned the favour of Lord Shiva after a long and hard penance. Lord Shiva, impressed with his devotion, blessed him that no man would be able to kill him and that only a woman can kill him. Mahishasur was very pleased with this boon as he thought that a woman can never defeat him. Arrogant Mahishasura started his reign of terror over the Universe and killed many mercilessly. He even attacked the abode of the gods and conquered the heavens and became their leader....
A symbol
A symbol of love
And bridge of harmony,
Irrespective of colour, caste,
Country, race and religion....
Celebration of Vijoya or Dussera
Lord Rama
This festival has immense mythological significance. As per the great epic Ramayana, Ram did "chandi-puja and invoked the blessings of Durga to kill Ravana, the ten-headed king of Lanka who had abducted Seeta. Durga divulged the secret to Rama how he could kill Ravana. Then after vanquishing him on the Vijayadashami or Dassera day, Rama with Seeta and brother Laxmana returned victorious to his kingdom of Ayodhya on Diwali day....
The festival of fraternity
Durga Puja is the greatest socio-religious event of the Bengali Hindu. The concept of Durga as Supreme Goddess symbolising 'Sakti' took a long time to evolve out of many ancient religious texts and traditions. The Skanda Purana says that the Goddess got her name after killing a demon called Durgam. Who had been harassing the gods and had stolen the Vedes from them with a view to destroying religion. When the gods unitedly sought her intervention, the Supreme Goddess destroyed the demon and restored the Vedas. She also incorporated the Vedas into her person to ensure that these were not stolen again. That is why Durga is also called Vedamoyee. She destroys all the evil forces represented by the six Ripus: lust, anger, greed, delusion, arrogance and jealousy....
Capital market transaction in regional emerging economies
Emerging economies are in the investment radar of investors worldwide chasing new growth opportunities. There are many drivers of this phenomenon. High personal debt in U.S., near saturated levels of personal consumption in the West, ageing population in the West etc. Thought leaders world wide are recognizing that this century is going to be the Asia century....
Role of regulators in improving corporate governance
More than two hundred years ago, Adam Smith, in his classic essay 'Wealth of Nations', wrote the following:...
Message
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Asian bond market for development of regional stock exchanges
The ASEAN have launched the Asian Bond Markets Initiative (ABMI) since December 2002. Many efforts have been pursued under six working groups. Among these six working groups, the working group 1 is chaired by Thailand. There are a number of progresses. WG1 has continued to take a three-pronged approach toward its goal of creating new securitized debt instruments. At the same time, the efforts have also been put to increasing the supply of local currency bonds as well as the withholding tax issues....
Role of Singapore Exchange in the regional economy
The development of capital markets is an important aspect of any modern economy. The direct correlation observed in economic development and the state of capital markets in many countries across the globe is telling that they progress in tandem. As the world becomes more integrated, capital markets play a critical role not just in providing liquidity and investment instruments, but also in maintaining global financial stability....
