A Closer Look

Feeding the underground economy

In the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year, Tk 14,459.40 crore of undisclosed wealth was legalised in the country—as reported by The Daily Star citing data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR)—which, the government says, will play a big role in kick-starting the economy by injecting cash flow amidst the pandemic-induced financial struggles.
A budget is only as good as its implementation

As another proposed national budget (of Tk 603,681 crore) has been placed in the parliament amidst a global pandemic, the biggest concern for the government and all other stakeholders is how well it can be implemented, as there are many new challenges to tackle. The aspirations of the budget—especially the economic growth target of 7 percent—are already being viewed by many as ambitious, and we must keep in mind that the budget will not yield a positive result for the nation unless the government takes immediate measures to ensure its adequate and timely implementation.
Israel-Palestine Conflict: Ireland lights the fire.Will it catch on?

In a historic move, the Irish parliament has passed a motion that condemns Israel’s “de facto annexation” of Palestinian territories, after the recent bombardment of Gaza by Israel. Ireland has become the first EU member state to pass such a motion.
How the world is failing Palestine

May 21, 2021, Friday, 2 AM Israeli local time: an Egypt-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect, ending the recent 11-day Israeli bombardment of Gaza. All told, the attack on the besieged Palestinian strip claimed the lives of 248 Palestinians, including 66 children.
Political impasse, self-defence and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza

Israeli bombardment of the besieged Gaza strip continues.
As Covid-19 relief starts rolling out, the urban poor find themselves in a grey area

As the government rolls out a financial assistance scheme in the country to support the poor in the face of the economic fallout of the pandemic, the urban poor are finding themselves in a tight spot.
TMC sweeps West Bengal assembly polls, but BJP gains ground

The 2021 West Bengal assembly polls have been a tussle for power between the centre and the state government.
How West Bengal is being won and what it means for Bangladesh

With the assembly polls ongoing in West Bengal, the state—currently being ruled by the strong matriarch Mamata Banerjee—has turned into a battleground for Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the power at the centre, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bangladesh’s Covid lockdown conundrum

As Bangladesh started a new phase of lockdown on April 14, 2021—apparently a more stringent one—the country was faced with a grim milestone. On the first day of the Bengali New Year, the country recorded 96 deaths, the highest till then, since the pandemic hit the country.
Bangladesh’s Covid emergency needs to be recognised as one

Bangladesh has been under lockdown since 6am April 5, 2021. This is the first time the nation is under lockdown to curb the spiralling spike in Covid-19 cases.
Modi spreads neighbourly love, but key challenges rumble on

Narendra Modi’s recent visit to mark 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence has been dominated by his narratives of shared ties between the two friendly neighbours,
10 years on, the birds of prey circle over Syria

Torture, forced disappearance, displacement, chemical attacks, butchery, loss of lives and limbs, death of family and friends, mass murder: the Syrian people have been through it all in the last 10 years.
Are Afghan peace talks stoking the targeted killing of journalists?

Mursal Wahidi, Sadia Sadat and Shahnaz Roafi were aged between 18 and 21 when they died. They were journalists, working at the dubbing wing of a privately-owned TV station called Enikas, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Inclusion of minorities can strengthen the movement

Myanmar is burning: with rage, with demonstrations, with the fierce determination of the civilians to end the newly imposed military rule.
Ill-planned, if planned at all!

On the face of it, it seems to be a logical move. An internal survey by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is said to have found only 200,000 of the about 600,000 rickshaws plying the DSCC areas suitable for operation.
Myanmar’s military-commercial complex

Myanmar’s mighty military overthrowing the country’s democratically elected government to take full control of power was a well-planned move.
In Yemen, peace remains as elusive as ever

Joe Biden’s recent announcement to pull out of the Yemen war comes as no surprise.
Myanmar Military Coup: Uncertainty looms over Rohingya repatriation

The United Nations has rightly expressed fears that the recent military coup in Myanmar would exacerbate the plight of the Rohingya still remaining in the country.
To move or not to move

For those who had expected a quick rapprochement initiative from the Biden administration with regard to Iran, especially a return to the 2015 landmark Iran nuclear deal, the recent comments by the new US top diplomat, Antony Blinken, may have perhaps been a little disappointing.
US designation of Houthis as terrorists: A wrong move at a wrong time

As the lights were about to go out on Trump presidency, the outgoing US administration made two major announcements about the Middle East—terming Iran a home for Al Qaeda, and designating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as “terrorists”.
Pompeo’s Iran claims

A desperate Mike Pompeo unconvincingly claiming, “Al-Qaeda has a new home base.
Qatar Diplomatic Crisis: A warm embrace or just a photo op?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warmly embracing Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar on January 5 at the Saudi Al Ula airport made for a picture-perfect scene of brotherhood.
Money without a trail

While Bangladesh’s economy has grown, the Swiss coffers of the super wealthy have easily outpaced and inevitably outgrown that growth.
Covid-19: How vaccine-ready are we?

With the grim reaper back for the second wave of Covid-19, people around the world are desperately looking for a shield.
Sexual violence is an emblem of patriarchy in the guise of tradition

A Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (Banbeis) report from last year suggests that in 2018, girls formed 54 percent of the total number of students at the secondary level.
Crisis of opportunities feeds Bangladesh’s human trafficking problem

We all aspire to “a better future”. While the idea of a better future and what it entails varies from people to people, dreamer to dreamer, what remains constant is the aspiration.
Have we forgotten the Bangladeshis trapped in Velika Kladusa?

If someone looks up Velika Kladusa on Pinterest, they’ll find lovely photos of the town and its beautiful landscape.
Journalism remains fraught with risks and persecution

For 45-year-old Ilias Hossain, there was nothing unusual about October 11—until things took a deadly turn.
The prodigal son’s return and the uncertain future of Lebanon

In a scene reminiscent of last year’s massive protests that had led to the downfall of Saad Hariri, Lebanon’s prodigal son, the streets of Beirut were filled with protestors on October 17, 2020.
Sexual violence and the misfortune of our children

Sexual violence against women, unfortunately, has always been a pressing concern for our society.