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Koilain is a remote village in Chandina upazila of Cumilla. Pandit Shilbhadra, the chancellor of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara University, was born in this village in the upazila's Joag Union. The country's first artificial intelligence village (AI Powered Village) is going to be built in that village.
In the 1970s, an American development economist visited Bangladesh. At one point, he gave a speech to the faculty members of Dhaka University. The economics department’s professors were notably present at this event. During his address, the American economist presented his views on why Bangladesh’s economic development was not progressing to the desired level. The professors in attendance listened intently to his words. At that moment, a young economics professor from Dhaka University stood up and said to the American economist, "The reason we are unable to achieve the desired level of development is because you are intervening in our economy in various ways." After a brief pause, the American economist replied to the young professor, saying, "If 80 percent of the funds for your country's development activities come from us, whose economy is it? If you were able to finance your development from domestic sources, we would not need to offer any advice." Hearing this, the young professor remained silent and sat down.
It is natural for people to be curious about what may happen in the world economy and trade in the coming year. Particularly, with Donald Trump being re-elected as the President of the United States, there is speculation about whether the situation will worsen. The question being raised is whether Trump will launch a full-scale trade war. According to a report by the Financial Times, there is a possibility of a full-scale trade war, but it is not guaranteed. The FT refers to a full-scale trade war as a scenario where, by the end of the year, the United States will impose at least a 10 per cent tariff on all imported goods. Trump has threatened to impose up to a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, excluding China. These two countries account for 30 per cent of US imports. They, too, will continue to exert pressure on Trump in various ways. However, FT suggests that due to the additional tariffs, Trump is likely to continue the tariff battle. Hence, they do not believe that these tariffs will be withdrawn by the end of the year.
Donald Trump is set to take the oath as the elected president of the United States. In the current era, nearly every country in the world has some form of relationship with others. These relationships can be either friendly or adversarial, meaning that every country, especially major powers, has interests intertwined with others. Accordingly, the United States, the world’s largest economy and military power, has commercial, military, and even ideological ties or conflicts with nearly every country. These relationships also experience ups and downs. It is important to note that those who believe that US foreign policy does not change regardless of which party forms the government are influenced by outdated thinking. Such thinking is old-fashioned, a relic of the Cold War era, when the US maintained consistent policies toward the Soviet Union and the countries in the socialist bloc, regardless of which party was in power. However, that bloc has now collapsed, and even large socialist countries like China are now operating under free-market principles.
There is a popular saying in rural Bengal on the chest of gold jewellery. The question is, which is more valuable—the gold jewellery or the chest that holds it? This saying reflects the idea that if the chest is not secured, there is a risk of the jewellery being stolen. Similarly, in a country where forests are as valuable as gold, forest guards are just as important as the chest that holds the treasure. These guards risk their lives to protect the forest from thieves and poachers. However, if these guards are sent into the forest without any means of self-defense, it is like sending someone into a river filled with crocodiles and sharks with their hands tied.
Donald Trump is set to take the oath as the elected president of the United States. In the current era, nearly every country in the world has some form of relationship with others. These relationships can be either friendly or adversarial, meaning that every country, especially major powers, has interests intertwined with others. Accordingly, the United States, the world’s largest economy and military power, has commercial, military, and even ideological ties or conflicts with nearly every country. These relationships also experience ups and downs. It is important to note that those who believe that US foreign policy does not change regardless of which party forms the government are influenced by outdated thinking. Such thinking is old-fashioned, a relic of the Cold War era, when the US maintained consistent policies toward the Soviet Union and the countries in the socialist bloc, regardless of which party was in power. However, that bloc has now collapsed, and even large socialist countries like China are now operating under free-market principles.
The Constitutional Reform Commission has recommended equality, human dignity, social justice, pluralism, and democracy replacing nationalism, democracy, socialism, and secularism.
In July and August, the anti-discrimination students' victory is being claimed by both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. While the anti-discrimination students have recognized Jamaat, they are less inclined to give credit to the BNP. As a result, occasional verbal conflicts arise between the two factions. The BNP believes that their continuous struggle against the Awami League government for 15 years was crucial; without their efforts, the fall of the Awami League government in the July-August popular uprising would not have been possible. This statement is not entirely false. On December 6, 1971, India recognized Bangladesh as an independent nation, and the direct involvement of Indian forces led to the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers on December 16, marking Bangladesh’s victory.
The rice market in Bangladesh has been volatile for some time now. Prices initially saw a slight decline but have surged again post-elections. Currently, coarse varieties like Swarna and China are being sold at BDT 55-60 per kilogram, medium-grade BRRI Dhan 29 at BDT 61-65, and finer Miniket at BDT 70-75. The premium Nazirshail variety ranges between BDT 75-85 depending on the market, while aromatic rice varieties like Kataribhog are even pricier. This price hike during the peak Aman harvesting season is unusual and suggests that traders are exploiting consumers for undue profit, causing immense hardship to the poor.
Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaks articulately, and his speeches are heard worldwide. Upon assuming power, he urged everyone to highlight the government's mistakes. He believes in unrestricted freedom of speech. He expressed a desire to free the people of the country from the closed environment of previous party governments. Not only the Chief Advisor but also the interim government has repeatedly reaffirmed this commitment. Moreover, one of the main promises emerging from the August 5 uprising is media freedom. However, the reality in the country is quite different, and it is unlikely that the Chief Advisor is unaware of it. Despite the strong call to criticize the government, the media has been more restrained than necessary in presenting true information. Fear of being attacked by 'mob justice' or labeled as 'dictator’s ally' has led the media to ensure their safety by speaking sycophantic words, much like the past 15 years. The editorial council feels that media freedom is still under attack.
Justin Pierre James Trudeau's political life began in the cradle. Born Christmas Day, 1971, to Margaret Sinclair and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada's 15th prime minister, their eldest son grew up in the spotlight and an atmosphere of privilege. Now, he's out in the cold, abandoned by his closest allies and maligned by his opponents as Canada, too, joins the global anti-incumbent mood.
In an effort to reform the electoral system, the Election System Reform Commission has proposed nearly 150 recommendations across 18 areas, including significant relief for independent candidates. The commission recommended replacing the requirement for 1% of constituency voters' signatures with the support of 500 voters for independent candidates.
Once considered a condition primarily affecting adults, Type 2 diabetes is now alarmingly increasing among children. According to the latest statistics from 2019, 20% of children diagnosed with diabetes were found to have Type 2 diabetes. Data from BIRDEM General Hospital in Dhaka reveals that approximately 8,000 children there are living with diabetes, of which around 1,600, aged 0–16 years, have Type 2 diabetes.
When people hear the word “animation,” they often think it’s something made for children. However, that’s far from the truth. Many animated films deliver profound messages that make viewers think differently about life. Japanese animators have taken the medium to extraordinary heights, and when discussing Japanese animation, Hayao Miyazaki is the first name that comes to mind. His works are admired by audiences of all ages due to their unique storytelling, artistry, and depth. Once you start watching one of his creations, it’s impossible to take your eyes off the screen.
A man fatally shot two prominent hard-line judges in Iran’s capital Saturday, officials said, both of whom allegedly took part in the mass execution of dissidents in 1988.
An Indian court on Saturday found a 33-year-old man guilty for the rape and murder of a doctor, a crime that sparked nationwide protests and hospital strikes last year.
Israel's cabinet voted to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal on Saturday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ending days of uncertainty about whether the truce would go into effect this weekend.
Colombian authorities on Friday reported that at least 39 people have been killed in violence involving a guerilla group near the Colombia-Venezuela border.
The statistics grab headlines effortlessly: “Mobile internet subscriber base declines by 4.4 million.” As the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) regularly publishes data on mobile telecommunications and broadband subscribers, journalists have easy access to these numbers. By comparing data month over month, crafting a market report becomes straightforward. Mobile operators’ officials often provide insights into the business impact of subscriber fluctuations, and at times, analysts react emotionally to the figures without deeper understanding. When such reports make headlines, even the general public, regardless of comprehension, starts worrying about the market’s trajectory.
Koilain is a remote village in Chandina upazila of Cumilla. Pandit Shilbhadra, the chancellor of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara University, was born in this village in the upazila's Joag Union. The country's first artificial intelligence village (AI Powered Village) is going to be built in that village.
In the 1970s, an American development economist visited Bangladesh. At one point, he gave a speech to the faculty members of Dhaka University. The economics department’s professors were notably present at this event. During his address, the American economist presented his views on why Bangladesh’s economic development was not progressing to the desired level. The professors in attendance listened intently to his words. At that moment, a young economics professor from Dhaka University stood up and said to the American economist, "The reason we are unable to achieve the desired level of development is because you are intervening in our economy in various ways." After a brief pause, the American economist replied to the young professor, saying, "If 80 percent of the funds for your country's development activities come from us, whose economy is it? If you were able to finance your development from domestic sources, we would not need to offer any advice." Hearing this, the young professor remained silent and sat down.
On January 14, 2025, at the main auditorium of the National Museum during the 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival, I watched Shoroter Joba, a film directed by popular television actress Kusum Sikder. This film marks Kusum Sikder’s debut as a director. She also wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogue for the film. Shoroter Joba was produced under the banner of Impress Telefilm Limited and Pahardanga Pictures, jointly by Kusum Sikder and Faridur Reza Sagar.
It is reported that the Bangla Academy has allocated stalls to 86 new publishing houses without verification, excluding many regular participants.
