Hasty diagnosis is derailing autism care

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is not a disease, but a complex neuro-developmental condition. Over the last decade, social awareness regarding autism has grown significantly in Bangladesh.
9 April 2026, 12:00 PM

Iran war and the long shadow of oil colonialism

We are separated, the UK and Bangladesh, by a war zone. It is affecting us both, especially through a rise in energy costs, though not with equal effects across the different classes and groups that make up our respective societies.
9 April 2026, 09:00 AM

The High Court has spoken: Repeal cannot undo judicial independence

With regard to the preservation of our judicial autonomy, the real question was never whether Bangladesh would aspire to achieve it, but whether the state was prepared to surrender the administrative levers through which the courts are quietly managed.
9 April 2026, 08:00 AM

Will the promise of judicial independence elude us again?

When reflecting on broken promises, people sometimes refer to Sunil Gangopadhyay’s poem “Keu Katha Rakheni” (Nobody kept their promise), whose protagonist received numerous assurances and pledges over his 33 years of life but none were apparently kept.
8 April 2026, 13:00 PM

Lifting ban on vaping is not the reform Bangladesh needs

Bangladesh had the opportunity to set a good example by banning the production and sale of e-cigarettes through the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
8 April 2026, 12:00 PM

Will the Iran war create a new world order?

Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28, 2026, and struck at a moment when the post‑Cold War international order was already trembling, leading the world to sense that something irreversible had begun.
8 April 2026, 11:00 AM

Bangladesh must adapt as AI transforms diplomacy and state power

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant technological frontier. It is already shaping how governments make decisions, information circulates, borders are managed, and how citizens interact with the state.
8 April 2026, 09:00 AM

How hoarding and panic buying are deepening the fuel crisis

There is a well-known concept in economics called the “tragedy of the commons.” To understand this, let’s imagine a village with a common well.
7 April 2026, 13:00 PM

Why the Ganges water treaty needs a climate-ready reset

The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty (GWT) is approaching the end of its life cycle, with the 30-year treaty set to expire in December 2026.
7 April 2026, 12:00 PM

Energy, ports, and logistics: Rethinking Bangladesh’s supply chain

Persistent tensions in the Middle East, the resultant disruptions in key shipping routes, and the volatility in fuel access and prices are once again reminding the world of a hard truth: that energy security is no longer just about supply but also about having durable systems and structures in place.
7 April 2026, 11:00 AM

For Rohingya camps, measles control requires tailored interventions

Bangladesh is once again facing a public health threat that is both familiar and preventable. Since early January 2026, the country has seen a surge in measles cases, with thousands of suspected infections and a rising number of deaths.
7 April 2026, 09:00 AM

Rethinking counterterrorism beyond crackdowns

The multiple amendments and expansion of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 created scope for mass arbitrary arrests and detention of suspects, which often led to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
6 April 2026, 18:24 PM

How 'middle powers' are leaving the Global South behind

Europe often touts itself as a “development partner.” Where was Europe as a partner when Trump was hammering the LDCs with tariffs?
6 April 2026, 13:00 PM

Frugality is key to withstanding the energy and economic shocks

Frugality begins at home. Simple actions such as turning off lights and appliances when not in use, choosing energy-efficient devices, and minimising water wastage can reduce household energy consumption and contribute to broader resource conservation.
6 April 2026, 12:00 PM

Repealing Supreme Court ordinances may return courts to political captivity

The real question before parliament now is brutally simple. Does it want an independent judiciary, or merely a friendlier one?
6 April 2026, 11:00 AM

When reform becomes more power, less accountability

With the parliamentary politics once again becoming vibrant and engaging, a clear fault line is gradually emerging between the ruling party, BNP, and the opposition, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
6 April 2026, 09:00 AM

EU's changing apparel market and Bangladesh's export challenges

Bangladesh’s garment industry has faced some serious challenges of late. In the first eight months of FY2025-26, the country’s ready-made garment exports fell 3.73 percent year on year to $25.79 billion, against $26.79 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
5 April 2026, 13:00 PM

The missing link in our renewable energy transition lies in quality assurance

Geopolitical crises have repeatedly exposed Bangladesh’s excessive dependence on imported fossil fuels, driving up energy prices and depleting foreign exchange reserves.
5 April 2026, 12:00 PM

‘Zone-based school timings could ease Dhaka’s morning traffic nightmare’

One of the main reasons for traffic congestion during school hours is that guardians in private cars drop off and pick up students directly in front of school gates. Since our road capacity is limited, the pressure spills onto the main roads.
5 April 2026, 11:00 AM

Times are changing, so too must the way the state communicates

Communication is now one of the most decisive forces governing the state in Bangladesh. Policymaking, administrative control, and conventional political management remain as necessary as ever, but they are no longer enough on their own. Today, a rumour can spread faster than an official instruction.
5 April 2026, 09:00 AM