Special Content
NESCO knows nothing about unusual electricity bills
Every household has its lights turned on. Fans are operating, refrigerators are cooling, televisions are playing, and air conditioning units are functioning. Electricity serves numerous purposes. However, the consumption of electricity varies across different institutions. A standard calculation underlies this electricity usage, specifically the computation of electricity bills at the end of each month.
'Bribe syndicate' active at Bogura's SZMCH, patients forced to pay for services
A culture of bribery and extortion is allegedly rampant at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura, where patients and their families are being forced to pay bribes at nearly every stage of care. From securing a bed to obtaining test reports and even using a stretcher, the 'bribe syndicate' thrives on the desperation of the sick, a recent investigation has found.
Let children's education not be interrupted by floods
The people of Bangladesh are no strangers to floods. Every monsoon, rivers swell, sandbars disappear beneath rising waters, roads are cut off, and thousands of families seek refuge in emergency shelters. Yet behind this familiar scene unfolds another silent crisis every year—one that receives far less attention. It is the disruption of children's education. When schools remain closed for weeks or even months, the damage extends far beyond missed lessons. It undermines an entire generation's ability to learn, erodes their confidence, and jeopardizes their future.
Sheikh Hasina's announcement to return home, death sentence, and judicial maze
A recent statement by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has reignited public debate over the possible return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death. Speaking on Sunday, he said, "There is no legal barrier preventing Sheikh Hasina from returning to Bangladesh. In fact, the prosecution wants her to come back, face the court, and challenge the verdict against her through the legal process."
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.