Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Bangladeshis living in Khartoum, the capital of a strife-torn Sudan, are facing a severe shortage of food and also do not have enough money to buy any, as the prices of essentials have shot up amid a supply crisis.

Unplanned urbanisation over the last decade has worsened fire risks in the cities, but firefighters have not been given additional training and proper equipment so they can deal with the heightened threats and the changing nature of fire incidents.

Just as BNP was about to come up with fresh programmes, Ramadan arrived, rendering all politics to the confines of the iftar table.

It was raining bullets for most of two days near the shop in Khartoum where Monowar Hossain works. He was stuck inside the shop for three days.

It was raining bullets for most of two days near the shop in Khartoum where Monowar Hossain works. He was stuck inside the shop for three days.

The BNP will go tough on its leaders and activists who will run for councillor in the city polls and those who will patronise them.

The upcoming city elections are likely to be less challenging compared to those of 2013 and 2018.

The hot and dry weather during the day and plummeting mercury during the night are highly unusual phenomena in Bangladesh, said experts, blaming urbanisation and a set of weather conditions for the heatwave.

The BNP has sent a message to the party’s rank and file that if anyone joins the mayoral election in the five city corporations, stern actions like expulsion and relief from all party posts.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader speaks to the media almost every day, and the BNP, quite predictably, is one of the key topics he addresses.

A genuinely inclusive election depends on a wide range of factors, many of which the Election Commission cannot even begin to address

Though the BNP has said it will not take part in the coming elections to five city corporations, the party fears that some of its leaders may run in the polls violating its directive.

This sudden move by the Election Commission seems to be for lip service.

BNP leaders think there is an ulterior motive behind the Election Commission’s sudden invitation to the party for talks about the next general election.

The problem in Bangladesh is that politicians consider compromise as a weakness and a sign of defeat

The BNP’s grassroots leaders have suggested the top leadership that the party should not take part in any polls under the incumbent government.

A BNP delegation told Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma that without a non-partisan interim government in place, it would not join any polls.

If government officials were held responsible and accountable for every incident, things would have been corrected much earlier.

After every fire and blast incidents, all fingers are pointed at the building and factory owners.

The recent incidents are similar to other cases seen over the years. The causes were electric short circuit, accumulation of gas in a confined space, and poorly maintained air conditioning units