Nepal
Graduation to the list of developing countries: Decisions must be based on reality
To qualify for graduation to the final list of developing countries, a nation must meet three essential criteria. Bangladesh has successfully met all of these conditions. After being under observation for several years, Bangladesh is set to officially graduate to the developing country category in 2026. This will be the most significant economic achievement for the country since its independence. No nation wants to remain a least developed country (LDC) indefinitely. Every country aspires to graduate to the developing nation category as quickly as possible. While LDCs receive certain benefits from developed nations, these privileges are often granted out of a sense of charity rather than respect. Thus, achieving developing country status is a matter of national pride.
Ask yourself once, please
Vandalism in Bangladeshi politics is nothing new. Since the 1990s, we have repeatedly witnessed destruction in various movements, demands, strikes, blockades, and protests. Over the past three decades, we have even seen fires set to moving passenger buses and trains, causing casualties. Yet, we have failed to establish a political culture free from such destruction.
Crisis hits women's football in Bangladesh
For any footballer, qualifying for the World Cup is a dream. The Zambian footballers had dreams too. In the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, the country was playing outstanding football. On April 27, 1993, the Zambian national football team was traveling by special flight to Senegal for an away match. A horrific accident occurred, and all passengers aboard the plane perished, causing the loss of a generation full of football talent. Zambia, which had defeated Italy by 4-0 in the 1988 Olympics, still has not tasted the World Cup experience.
Ensure women footballers receive their dues
Our women's football team has won the SAFF Championship title for the second consecutive time. As they paraded in an open-top bus from the airport through the streets of the capital to the BFF office in Motijheel, the people of the city showered them with congratulations. Such success in sports has been rare for Bangladesh in recent years. They first won the SAFF Championship in 2022, and back then too, the girls celebrated in an open-top bus.
Bangladesh Women's Football Team: Best in South Asia despite facing discrimination
In 2022, at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Bangladesh secured their first SAFF Championship title, beating Nepal 3-1. In 2024, they again claimed victory over Nepal with a 2-1 scoreline in the final, marking their second SAFF Championship win. What the men's national team couldn’t achieve, the often overlooked, neglected, and discriminated-against women's team has now accomplished, challenging the nation's perception of football. The light for Bangladesh's football lies within a shift in outlook and mentality, keeping alive the dreams of women’s football.
Men’s football disappointments, women’s persistent victories
It was like a wedding—grand festivities, vibrant celebrations. But the end was marked by heartbreak, like the sorrowful farewell of giving away a daughter. After the curtains fell on the SAFF Championship, the scene was fittingly similar in both Nepal and Bangladesh camps.