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WHO places Saima Wazed Putul on indefinite leave
WHO places Saima Wazed Putul on indefinite leave

by VB Desk

WHO places Saima Wazed Putul on indefinite leave

Saima Wazed Putul, Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), has been placed on indefinite leave starting yesterday (July 11), following the filing of fraud, forgery, and abuse of power cases against her by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) several months ago.

Sports

Ritu and the World Cup: Dreams and reality

Sports

by Mahbub Sarkar

Ritu and the World Cup: Dreams and reality

Another achievement. The women’s football team has qualified for the Asian Cup for the first time. Following this historic success, the female footballers are overjoyed. Amidst the emotions and excitement, many are already dreaming of Rituparna Chakma and her teammates playing in the World Cup. But is Bangladesh really in a position to think about the World Cup?

Ritu and the World Cup

Trending Views

How are AL leaders spending time in prison?
How are AL leaders spending time in prison?

Report

by Emranul Azim Chowdhury

How are AL leaders spending time in prison?

From positions of political power to the isolation of prison cells—it’s a dramatic shift of fate. Once influential figures shaping key decisions in national politics, several top Awami League leaders now find themselves confined within the walls of Kashimpur Central Jail. Among 26 VIP inmates held there, a number are prominent Awami League politicians whose past affluence and current solitude form a striking contrast.

Why debate over party symbols of water lily and sheaf of paddy?
lily and sheaf of paddy

State and Politics

by Amin Al Rasheed

Why debate over party symbols of water lily and sheaf of paddy?

Before the 10th National Parliamentary Election held in 2014, in October 2013, the Bangladesh Nationalist Front–BNF, which was seeking registration with the Election Commission, applied for the symbol of ‘sheaf of wheat’. BNP opposed this, saying that the sheaf of wheat and the sheaf of paddy look similar. Therefore, voters for the sheaf of paddy might mistakenly vote for the sheaf of wheat. The reverse could also happen. In this reality, BNF applied for the ‘paddy plant’ symbol instead of the sheaf of wheat. However, they were not given either ‘sheaf of wheat’ or ‘paddy plant’; instead, they were told to keep their eyes on the television screen! That is, BNF was given the symbol of a television. On 18 November 2013, they were registered with the Election Commission. Their registration number is 42. However, on 16 February 2023, the newly registered Trinamool BNP was given the symbol of golden fibre.

Magazine

magazine

Opinion

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Is changing the telecommunication policy needed at this moment, what is your opinion?
Is changing the telecommunication policy needed at this moment, what is your opinion?

Is changing the telecommunication policy needed at this moment, what is your opinion?

17

Shared This Opinion

Coerced statements do not hold up in court

State and Politics

Why debate over party symbols of water lily and sheaf of paddy?
lily and sheaf of paddy

State and Politics

Why debate over party symbols of water lily and sheaf of paddy?

Before the 10th National Parliamentary Election held in 2014, in October 2013, the Bangladesh Nationalist Front–BNF, which was seeking registration with the Election Commission, applied for the symbol of ‘sheaf of wheat’. BNP opposed this, saying that the sheaf of wheat and the sheaf of paddy look similar. Therefore, voters for the sheaf of paddy might mistakenly vote for the sheaf of wheat. The reverse could also happen. In this reality, BNF applied for the ‘paddy plant’ symbol instead of the sheaf of wheat. However, they were not given either ‘sheaf of wheat’ or ‘paddy plant’; instead, they were told to keep their eyes on the television screen! That is, BNF was given the symbol of a television. On 18 November 2013, they were registered with the Election Commission. Their registration number is 42. However, on 16 February 2023, the newly registered Trinamool BNP was given the symbol of golden fibre.

Nature of corruption in mega projects
mega projects

State and Politics

Nature of corruption in mega projects

Adviser on Women and Children Affairs Sharmin S Murshid has said that during the tenure of the previous government, corruption devoured all our progress like termites; every project during that time was marred by corruption. On the other hand, the interim government is following a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards corruption. Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin remarked that past governments indulged in a spending spree. Brigadier (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, refered the ministry during the Awami League’s tenure as the ‘Pacific Ocean of theft.’ During the Awami League’s rule, opposition parties, including the BNP, alleged massive corruption in mega projects. If project cost estimates are set high, it becomes easier to embezzle.

Division among the left: Clash of ideology and lust for leadership, or a reality of power?
deology

State and Politics

Division among the left: Clash of ideology and lust for leadership, or a reality of power?

Some days ago, the leftists organised a road march from Dhaka to Chattogram under the banner of “Anti-Imperialist Patriotic People,” demanding the protection of national resources and sovereignty. The main slogan of the campaign was: “Mother, land, and estuary—we will not hand them over to foreigners.” Leftists played an important role in movements to protect national resources earlier too. The issue requires extensive discussion. It has often been said that during the Liberation War, political leadership was solely in the hands of the Awami League. You may call this an “Awami narrative” if you like, but this is not the only truth of history. The provisional was mainly formed with Awami League leaders, but alongside that government was an advisory committee headed by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. The committee also included Comrade Moni Singh, Mozaffar Ahmed, and Congress leader Manoranjan Dhar. All of them were leftists except Manoranjan Dhar. This clearly shows that ignoring the position of leftists would be an injustice to history.

Sweden’s proportional election and reality of Bangladesh
Sweden

State and Politics

Sweden’s proportional election and reality of Bangladesh

Democracy in Bangladesh stands today at a difficult crossroads. On the one hand, we move forward with a constitutional promise of democracy; on the other hand, in reality, political occupation, dynastic rule, party extortion, and one-party authoritarian governance obstruct our path. Elections are no longer a reflection of public opinion—they have become a cruel strategy for consolidating power. To resolve this crisis, structural reform of the electoral system is now the demand of the time. The Proportional Representation (PR) system, used in many democratic countries around the world, is now a timely and realistic alternative for Bangladesh. In my four decades of experience as a citizen, researcher, and voter in Sweden, I have seen how a PR-based parliamentary democracy can lead a society towards justice, peace, and progress.

Proliferation of nuclear weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency
Proliferation of nuclear weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency

Diplomacy

Proliferation of nuclear weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency

The nearly seven-decade-old International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) works to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide. At the same time, one of its responsibilities is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Interim government: Breakdown of trust and crisis of accountability
Interim government

State and Politics

Interim government: Breakdown of trust and crisis of accountability

Following the mass uprising last August, the interim government of Bangladesh came to power with promises to restore democratic order and alleviate the suffering of ordinary people. It presented itself as a reform-oriented and good-governance-committed transitional caretaker government. But nearly a year later, the country is now plunged into deeper uncertainty—where extreme mismanagement, growing inequality, and a widening gap between state power and citizen welfare are becoming increasingly evident. What was supposed to be a bridge to stability is now turning into a fall into the abyss of uncertainty.

Special Content

Interim Government's first DC conference: What new directions are expected?
Interim Government's first DC conference: What new directions are expected?

Report

by Manik Miazee

Interim Government's first DC conference: What new directions are expected?

The first District Commissioners (DC) conference of the interim government holds significant importance in the current administrative context. This conference will involve discussions between the DCs and various ministries, where important directions will be given. In light of the changed political scenario, special policy decisions and administrative directions are expected to emerge from this conference.

How are AL leaders spending time in prison?
How are AL leaders spending time in prison?

Report

by Emranul Azim Chowdhury

How are AL leaders spending time in prison?

From positions of political power to the isolation of prison cells—it’s a dramatic shift of fate. Once influential figures shaping key decisions in national politics, several top Awami League leaders now find themselves confined within the walls of Kashimpur Central Jail. Among 26 VIP inmates held there, a number are prominent Awami League politicians whose past affluence and current solitude form a striking contrast.

Nurjahan Mosque: 300 years without a single call to prayer
Nurjahan Mosque: 300 years without a single call to prayer

Report

by Manik Miazee

Nurjahan Mosque: 300 years without a single call to prayer

As the sun leans westward and prepares to set, marking the beginning of Maghrib prayers, silence blankets the aged structure of the Nurjahan Mosque. No call to prayer echoes from within, no congregants gather to worship. For three hundred years, not once has this mosque resounded with the azan, nor has a single rak’ah of salat been performed within its walls. Built from lime, surki, and burnt bricks, this eerie, silent monument stands as a haunting witness to a forgotten history. Officially known as the Nurjahan Mosque, locals more commonly refer to it as “Nati Bibi’s Mosque.”

International

Israel sees potential uranium recovery from Iran’s struck nuclear site

Israel sees potential uranium recovery from Iran’s struck nuclear site

Israel sees potential uranium recovery from Iran’s struck nuclear site

Israel has voiced concern that Iran could attempt to retrieve enriched uranium from one of the three nuclear facilities targeted during a US strike last month. A senior Israeli official stated that recovering the uranium buried beneath Isfahan would be extremely challenging. He warned that any such move by Iran would prompt another military response from Israel.

Passengers abducted, shot dead in Balochistan

Passengers abducted, shot dead in Balochistan

Passengers abducted, shot dead in Balochistan

Terrorists have abducted and shot dead nine bus passengers in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. On Thursday night (July 11), several buses traveling from Balochistan to Punjab were stopped, and passengers were forcibly taken away, according to provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rindh.

150,000 new Rohingya took shelter in Bangladesh in past 18 months: UN

150,000 new Rohingya took shelter in Bangladesh in past 18 months: UN

150,000 new Rohingya took shelter in Bangladesh in past 18 months: UN

Ongoing violence and human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State have forced an additional 150,000 Rohingya to seek refuge in Bangladesh over the past 18 months, according to a report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday (July 11).

Industry

Is AI technology a companion of truth or its competitor?
Rahman Mridha

by Rahman Mridha

Is AI technology a companion of truth or its competitor?

The advancement of AI technology has revolutionized every aspect of our lives. However, alongside this progress, an invisible crisis is also unfolding—the line between truth and falsehood is becoming increasingly blurred. We now live in a reality where what we see, hear, or even receive from trusted sources can no longer be taken at face value. AI has made it possible to present lies as truth, and even distort the truth so convincingly that it creates dangerous confusion.

National

WHO places Saima Wazed Putul on indefinite leave
WHO places Saima Wazed Putul on indefinite leave

by VB Desk

WHO places Saima Wazed Putul on indefinite leave

Saima Wazed Putul, Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), has been placed on indefinite leave starting yesterday (July 11), following the filing of fraud, forgery, and abuse of power cases against her by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) several months ago.

Economics

Trend of reduced high inflation must be maintained
Inflation

by M A Khaleque

Trend of reduced high inflation must be maintained

In recent years, the issue that has raised the most concern in Bangladesh’s economy is the trend of high inflation. There seemed to be no way to curb this trend of high inflation. Just as the post-COVID global economy was recovering, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. This unexpected war caused major disruptions to the global economy. The global supply chain nearly collapsed. As a result, due to transportation crises, the prices of various products around the world rose abnormally. In the year the Russia-Ukraine war began, food and other product production worldwide were normal. Therefore, there was no opportunity to identify the trend of high inflation as a problem caused by a shortage in production.

Art and Culture

Charyapada Revival Festival kicks off

Charyapada Revival Festival kicks off

Charyapada Revival Festival kicks off

To celebrate a decade of reviving Charyapada songs, Bhavanagar Foundation is hosting a three-day "Charyapada Revival Festival 2025" from July 9 to 11 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s seminar hall and studio theater. This marks the festival’s second edition, featuring devotees, researchers, and musicians from Bangladesh and abroad.

Visiting the playground of natural beauty, Darjeeling

Visiting the playground of natural beauty, Darjeeling

Darjeeling

Darjeeling is known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’. Last year I went to Darjeeling with my family. First, we travelled from Dhaka to Kolkata. After reaching there, we arrived at Howrah Railway Station very early in the morning and took the train named Vande Bharat to Jalpaiguri. It is known as the fastest train in West Bengal. Our train started its journey at 6:30am. There was a lunch and breakfast package on the train. They served breakfast at 7am. The breakfast menu included bread, butter, vegetables, eggs, tea, and juice. During the train journey, we enjoyed the surrounding natural scenery.

Diplomacy

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