Special Content
Last stand or new dawn? Can Portugal derail Spain's relentless march?
Spain and Portugal collide in the World Cup's last 16 on Tuesday (July 7) in a match that promises to be more than a contest between two national teams — it is a meeting of generations, philosophies and eras, with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal standing in the way of Spain's relentless march through the tournament.
Bangladesh loses a protector in realm of intellectual endeavors
Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq has passed away. Views Bangladesh has lost a revered guardian. He served as an endless source of inspiration since the inception of Views Bangladesh. He regularly contributed columns to Views Bangladesh and we also published an exclusive interview with him, in which he candidly discussed the state, society, and culture. He was the chief guest at the first anniversary celebration of Views Bangladesh. The family of Views Bangladesh is profoundly saddened by his demise.
Holy Artisan murder: Leave to appeal awaiting hearing even after 10 years
Today marks a decade since the terrorist attack and murder at the Holy Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, the capital. The horrific attack on July 1, 2016, in which 22 people were killed, created a huge stir in the country and abroad. After passing through the stages of the trial court and the High Court, the case is now at the doorstep of the Appellate Division. The leave to appeal filed by the six surviving convicts against the life imprisonment sentence given by the High Court is still awaiting hearing, so the case has not been finally disposed of.
Hundreds of small NGOs under threat due to new MRA conditions
Bangladesh's microfinance regulator, the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), has been accused of biased behavior. Those concerned claim that after the change of regime on August 5, 2024, the regulatory authorities made appointments to the top positions in the organization breaching the law. Moreover, the conditions those are being imposed in the new policy, will effectively shut down small NGOs and pave the way for the establishment of a monopoly by large institutions. Although, the policy later was decided to be suspended due to the efforts of various stakeholders, no notification has been issued in this regard so far.
In memoriam: Enlightened Mustafa Monwar
Mustafa Monwar's impact on modernizing and popularizing puppetry in Bangladesh is indisputable. He recognized that puppetry serves as an excellent medium for fostering children's imagination and providing moral education. The puppet shows he designed and orchestrated were not merely forms of entertainment; they were inventive lessons in human values, patriotism, aesthetics, and education. Even now, numerous individuals in Bangladesh recall his puppet characters fondly from their childhood, illustrating that an artist does not solely create art; he also cultivates a realm of human emotions.
Bangladesh in new geopolitical landscape: a new chapter of dignity, pragmatism, diplomacy
The true test of a country's foreign policy is not determined by whom it opposes, but by how effectively it advances its own national interests.
Measles outbreak: Just negligence or a wake-up call?
We thought we had beaten this enemy for good. After polio and tetanus, we had nearly said goodbye to measles too and were feeling proud about it. Nobody expected it to quietly come back and hit us this hard. Working in social development at an NGO, I follow field-level news every day sometimes it fills me with hope, sometimes with deep sadness. When I read in the newspapers that over 700 children have died from measles or measles-like illness, and nearly one lakh children are affected, my heart sinks. For those of us who work for children's health and rights, this is not just worrying it is truly frightening.
School feeding crisis: Addressing food insecurity and way out
The incident involving 18 students who fell ill after consuming food from the school feeding program at Salim Dolpara Government Primary School in Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila has once again brought to light a troubling question: why does a program intended to provide nutritional support for children repeatedly pose health risks to them?
Kingdom of notifications: Minister, ministry or the magnificent rumour
The administrative history of Bangladesh has always been marked by peculiar incidents. However, the recent occurrence involving the Ministry of Commerce stands out as a particularly unusual case, prompting the average citizen to question who is truly in charge of the state's administration.
Six-month wait for deprived officials of 27th BCS
After a long 17-year legal battle, they got jobs. They also got the opportunity to join the state service through the Supreme Court's verdict. But even after assuming office, a large portion of the deprived officials of the 27th BCS are not getting their salaries for months. As a result, the joy of getting a job through the court's verdict has faded for many due to financial uncertainty and administrative complications.