Editorial
How much longer will government oil be stolen
Oil theft from government supplies in Bangladesh is a well-known fact. Despite such incidents occurring year after year, the government shows little concern. Oil thefts are uncovered regularly, and investigation committees are often formed, yet the theft never stops. Once, oil was stolen from depots and tankers; now, it is even being stolen from ships.
Urgent investigation, preventive measures needed to address repeated fire incidents
A wave of fire incidents in different parts of the country in recent days has caused widespread public alarm. It began last Tuesday (14 October) with a devastating fire at a chemical warehouse in Mirpur’s Rupnagar Shialbari area of the capital, killing 16 people. Then on Thursday (17 October), fires broke out at the warehouses of Adams Caps & Textile Ltd and Jihong Medical Company in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ). It took 17 hours to bring those fires under control. The very next incident occurred on Saturday (18 October) around 2:30pm, when a fire erupted at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. It took six hours to extinguish that blaze, and flight operations at the country’s main airport were temporarily suspended.
Clear doubts surrounding July Charter
At yesterday’s signing ceremony of the July National Charter, leaders from 25 of the 52 parties registered with the Election Commission took part.
Who is responsible, who will be held accountable
Yesterday, Thursday (16 October), the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations were published simultaneously across all education boards. This year, 508,701 students have failed in the HSC and equivalent exams — 41.17 per cent of the total examinees. According to media reports, the nationwide average pass rate for the 2025 HSC and equivalent exams stands at 58.83 per cent, which is 18.95 per cent lower than last year. The pass rate in the Madrasa Education Board is 75.61 per cent, and in the Technical Education Board, it is 62.57 per cent. This year’s HSC results mark the worst performance in the past 20 years.
How long will these tragic deaths in fires continue?
In Bangladesh, people being burned to death in warehouses or factories has become a routine matter. The loss of hundreds of lives no longer leaves any mark on our minds! After people die in fires, when the government or political parties announce some compensation, we go to sleep in peace, thinking that something has been done. But almost every government has shown consistent negligence in finding a permanent solution to prevent such deaths. Last Tuesday, a fire at a garment factory in Mirpur, Dhaka, reportedly killed 16 people so far. The death toll is feared to rise further. Many are still missing, and the condition of several injured victims remains critical.
Find ways to end spousal violence against women
Violence by husbands against their wives in Bangladesh is nothing new; it has existed in varying degrees since ancient times. In recent years, however, it has increased manifold. A recent survey has found that three out of every four married women are subjected to violence by their husbands. In other words, 76 per cent of women in the country have faced violence at least once in their lives. This violence includes physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse, as well as controlling behaviour, according to a joint survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Eliminate conflict among cadres thru public administration reform
In the changed context following the July uprising, several reform commissions were formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, with the aim of carrying out fundamental reforms of the state.
Stopping movement of illegal battery-operated vehicles urgent in capital
The streets of the capital Dhaka and across the country are now overrun with battery-operated rickshaws and easybikes. Yet the government has failed to remove these illegal and expired vehicles from the roads. Although in 2021 the High Court ordered a ban on 4 million battery-operated vehicles, and the interim government also took initiatives to enforce that ruling, these vehicles continue to operate in the city’s lanes and even on major roads, in violation of the court order. As a result, accidents and fatalities occur frequently, which is alarming for the country.
Resolve disputes through dialogue
Teachers shape the conscience of the nation. For that reason they occupy a distinct and respected place in society. Yet in our country teachers are humiliated and insulted at every turn. On the one hand their incomes are extremely limited; on the other, when they take to the streets demanding higher pay, they are beaten and driven away by the state’s police force.
Stop attacking Dhaka’s ‘lungs’
At the very heart of the capital lies a patch of greenery — Osmani Udyan — known as the “lungs of Dhaka.” Surrounded by countless high-rise buildings, this little stretch of green still stands tall. Yet even this lung of the city is now under assault, with “development projects” underway.