Biru Paksha Paul

The recent quota movement, which was somehow quelled defying the logic of merit-based competition and fundamentals of a market economy, portrays a pathetic lack of skills among the youth of our nation.

Once the Huang He river was known as the river of sorrow in China and the river's deadly floods were seen as acts of God. But the Chinese regime changed this narrative through its long-term planning and by transforming the threats into irrigation opportunities.

When I approached a car insurance company to discuss ways to reduce my insurance cost, the manager advised me to take a study course on defensive driving,

Had Shakespeare been alive and the opportunity to visit Bangladesh, he would have withdrawn his poem, “Crabbed Age and Youth.” Instead, seeing Bangladesh's politicians, he would have written a new poem, “Shining Age and Subdued Youth.” Rabindranath too would disown his poem, “Expedition of the Youth (Taruner Abhijan).”

While the prime minister's statement on quota abolition in public services has prevented a volcano from erupting, many are shedding crocodile tears to keep the unfair quota system with some temporary treatments; and so the call for reform continues.

Matern-al uncle, or mama, is an affectionate character in the lives of Bengalis. A typical mama is expected to indulge every whim of his nephews and nieces.

There aren't many moments in my life as an ordinary writer where my writings on banning the quota system have gone in vain. I had come to my workplace in the morning and finished the piece in three hours.

When I was a village boy, I learned from one of my grandparents that if I ever see a black cat, I shouldn't leave home to begin a journey for an auspicious cause. Later I realised that black cats are commonly visible in all villages and they come out of their dens particularly in the morning when most journeys are begun.

Shouldn't people derive delight from travelling? Then why is it such a nightmare for people who use public transport in Bangladesh? My short story of a journey by bus from Dhaka to Nalitabari may give readers a glimpse of why.

As a Bengali saying goes, “Don't dig a canal to let the crocodile enter.” Never has this been more fitting than now for Bangladesh Bank (BB) that is voluntarily inviting the interference of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) into all banking affairs, severely damaging the image of a fairly independent central bank.

Martin Luther King once said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Anyone who visits Dhaka for the first time may be excused for thinking that Bangladesh is a rich country with millions of automobiles.

The latest monetary policy testifies that the central bank is behaving like the Germans who once regarded inflation as more dangerous than a bomb.

When I, along with another colleague of mine, went to Philadelphia to interview jobseekers, the findings of one interviewee's dissertation reminded me of something: the recent news on bank directors in Bangladesh.

We can reduce this kind of political setback on the economy only by channelling the political exuberance in a positive way. Whatever control the election commission brings on the size of the spending by candidates, the political nominees will spend the most anyway.

Bangladeshis relish drama and nothing is more drama-filled than election time. The atmosphere will be one of excitement and uncertainty this year.

History repeats itself, though not fully, but history is the best educator. As we approach 2018, we can take lessons from the economic successes and failures of 2017.

It is my great pleasure to be back in Dhaka for professional purposes after having lived overseas for two decades.

The government is again contemplating building the nation's largest airport somewhere in the southwest part of the country.

Pet doors are small portals at the bottom of doors to let pets move in and out of the house. Sir Isaac Newton once made one big hole for a cat and one small hole for its kittens in the same door.