South Asia

Protect vultures from extinction in S Asia: experts

Experts have stressed the need for strengthening regional cooperation to protect vultures from extinction in South Asia.
‘If law is being used against humanity, it must come to an end’

The social fabric across South Asia is made up of class, caste and gender, resulting in an unequal system. So, how much healthcare, livelihood, shelter and justice are accessible depends on a person’s identity defined by society.
Gender Gap Index: Bangladesh stays top in S Asia

Bangladesh has topped the South Asian countries in gender equality for the third consecutive year, ranking 47th among 144 nations.
It can destabilise entire South Asia

Bangladesh yesterday said presence of nearly one million Rohingya refugees in its territory has the potential to destabilise South Asia
Is South Asia the new Middle East?

The Middle East is often viewed as a region waylaid by feelings of collective humiliation and violent rivalries, both between and within countries.
People fork out most

Two out of every three Taka of health care costs in Bangladesh is borne by the people while the rest by the government, NGOs and others.
Floods affect 16m people in South Asia

Over 16 million people in Bangladesh, Nepal and India are affected by the monsoon floods ravaging parts of South Asia and unfolding
Southeast Asia's Grab to get $2.5b extra firepower in Uber battle

Southeast Asian ride-hailing service Grab expects to raise $2.5 billion in a record round of fundraising to cement its lead over Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] in the region and grow its payments platform.
Women in parliament: Bangladesh 4th in South Asia

Among the South Asian countries, Nepal tops the index of women in national parliaments with Bangladesh obtaining fourth position, according to data released by Inter-Parliamentary Union.
India's foreign secy to visit Dhaka Wednesday

India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday on a two-day official visit to meet the government high officials to discuss Bangladesh’s security and other bilateral issues.
Strong earthquake shakes Asian cities

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake is felt across a number of major cities across south-west Asia today.
Trade in a Time of Protectionism

Today, intra-regional trade accounts for just 5 percent of South Asia's total trade, compared to 25 percent for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This vast untapped potential presents the region with an opportunity for growth that does not rely on the strength of the world economy.
'Attempt to crush independent media' in Bangladesh

Without free access to information, backed up by journalists who are willing to dig down and get to the truth, all the other liberties celebrated in democracies are endangered. That's why the world should be worried by the concerted attacks on one of the leading newspaper editors in South Asia, Mahfuz Anam of Bangladesh's Daily Star.
US intel warns of expansion of terror groups in Bangladesh

The US intelligence chief has said efforts by Bangladesh's prime minister to undermine the political opposition will probably provide openings for transnational terrorist groups to expand their presence in the South Asian country.
Govt to bear treatment cost if anyone is found with Zika virus

If anyone is detected with Zika virus, the government will bear the cost of their treatment, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim says. Bangladesh government has taken all necessary steps to control the spread of the Zika virus, he tells reporters at the health ministry.
Parliaments of S Asia must work jointly

Collaboration between the national parliaments is crucial to advancing a poverty-free South Asia in pursuance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Speakers of South Asian countries said yesterday at a summit in the city.
‘Parliaments’ collaboration crucial for poverty-free S Asia’

Collaboration among national parliaments is crucial in advancing the vision of a poverty-free South Asia pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Speakers of South Asian countries at a high-level meeting in Dhaka today.
Bangladesh 13th most corrupt country: TI

Bangladesh slips one place to rank as the 13th most corrupt country in the world, Transparency International reveals in its global graft index. In South Asia, Bangladesh stands as the second most graft affected country.
Will Pathankot derail Indo-Pak dialogue?

No one had expected that the Modi-Sharif Lahore dialogue on December 25, 2015 would be challenged so soon.
Economist Dr Mahabub passes away

Dr Mahabub Hossain, one of the best known agricultural and development economists in Bangladesh and South Asia, passed away at a US hospital on Sunday after a battle with heart disease. He was 71.
6 killed in India air force base attack

Four gunmen and two guards are killed when unidentified militants attack an Indian Air Force base near the Pakistan border in an apparent challenge to attempts to revive a dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
110 journalists killed in 2015, says Reporters Without Borders

A total of 110 journalists are killed around the world in 2015, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Tuesday, warning that more were being deliberately targeted for their work in supposedly peaceful countries.
Bangladesh static in Human Development Index

Bangladesh’s position remains unchanged in the Human Development Index, according to the 2015 Human Development Report launched by UNDP.
Quader for borderless connectivity among BBIN

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has batted for “borderless connectivity” with Bhutan, India and Nepal to “achieve fruit of the transport corridor” among these nations.
Bus services to connect 3 countries with Bangladesh soon: FM

Four South Asian countries -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) -- are planning to launch a new passenger bus and cargo service soon, announced Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.
Business climate ranking: Bangladesh slips 2 notches

Bangladesh went down two positions to 174 in the international ranking of World Bank’s (WB) Ease of Doing Business 2016 report.
Google Person Finder tracks South Asia earthquake victims

Google re-launches its Person Finder tool to help identify earthquake victims in South Asia.
Rescue efforts expanded as Afghan-Pakistan quake toll tops 360

Rescue efforts are being stepped up to help those affected by the magnitude-7.5 earthquake which hit remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday. More than 360 people are known to have died, most of them in Pakistan, and at least 2,000 were injured.
Obama to Pakistan: Avoid raising nuclear tensions

U.S. President Barack Obama urges Pakistan to avoid developments in its nuclear weapons programme that could increase risks and instability.
India-Pakistan: The madness of spy vs spy

While the old Cold War enemies have called a truce, the historical animosities in our patch of the world seem unlikely to let India and Pakistan to come in from the cold.