Disavowal is not the correct response

Five hundred and forty-four is a horrendous number of people to have gone missing, reportedly, in the last eight years since 2008. Only a few of them have returned; unfortunately 300 of them remain unaccounted for. It is a very sorry state where relatives of victims of such patently criminal acts should find themselves between the devil and the deep sea.
30 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Women workers' safety in RMG factories

The finding of a survey that 83 percent female garment workers have faced some form of sexual harassment in their workplace is shocking. The survey also found that many of the garment factories do not have any committee for lodging complaints of sexual harassment which is mandatory as per the direction of the High Court.
30 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Putting the cart before the horse

The Election Commission's plan to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next general election is surprising, given the very little time at hand to handle a logistical challenge of this scale.
29 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Little progress on road safety

As we take stock of measures taken after a month since the school students came out on to the roads demanding safer roads, there is nothing to write home about.
29 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Killing people with impunity

The chilling story of Rezaul Karim, the man allegedly pushed off a minibus by the helper and then squashed to death by the driver of the minibus he was riding, sends shivers down the spine! The incident occurred in City Gate area near the port city on August 28. Witnesses on the bus have stated that Karim had had an altercation with the helper and going by what his co-passengers have said, the manner in which the man was literally shoved out of the bus and run over is tantamount to murder.
28 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Myanmar's military must be tried for genocide

We thank the UN for exercising due diligence by issuing the strongest condemnation to date of the Myanmar military. We laud the UN fact-finding mission for holding the leadership of the Myanmar military responsible for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya population and for calling for investigation and prosecution of the security forces for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
28 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Prioritise wastewater treatment

According to American non-profit organisation, Water.org, 4 million people lack access to safe water in Bangladesh, while 85 million lack improved sanitation. The organisation's Bangladesh page points out that “overcrowded conditions and a lack of healthy ways of disposing waste in urban centers” contribute to this scenario. A report in this paper last Monday, marking World Water Week, pointed out observations from researchers which should come as a warning.
27 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Ban without enforcement is useless

We do not understand why slow moving three-wheelers and illegally modified vehicles are still plying our highways despite several government and high court orders banning them from highways. According to our report, in the last six days, at least seven road accidents have taken place involving these vehicles, killing 40 people and injuring many others.
27 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Bringing light to Jamuna's shoal

For the people living on a Jamuna River shoal in Sirajganj, dusk meant darkness. Things have changed since 2017 when a local company clinched finance from the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) and set up a Tk 5.14 crore solar power mini-grid to supply the residents with electricity.
26 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Roads and highways still anything but safe

Despite the massive student protest for safe roads, followed by numerous assurances from the authorities that the government will strictly ensure road safety, the number of deaths and injuries on roads and highways during the Eid holidays indicates that nothing has, in fact, changed.
26 August 2018, 18:00 PM

A commendable job by city corporations!

We commend the work done by both the city corporations in cleaning up the wastes of sacrificial animals in the capital within the shortest possible time.
25 August 2018, 18:00 PM

The vulnerability of indigenous girls

The rape of two minor girls from the Tripura community in Lama upazila, Bandarban where the crimes were committed, is a reminder of how vulnerable young girls, particularly from indigenous communities, are in the region.
25 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Rohingya repatriation

We don't know exactly how to respond to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi's claim to international media that it is Bangladesh that is holding up Rohingya repatriation.
24 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Why must justice remain elusive for women?

It is indeed a sad commentary on our legal system that women and children still cry out for justice in Bangladesh.
24 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Police apathy towards cases of rape

The accused in a rape case who is a member of Dhunat upazila unit of Awami League has been let off by the Officer-in-charge (OC) of
20 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Eid-ul-Azha preaches sacrifice and sharing

As Muslims in the country celebrates Eid-ul-Azha, the second most important festival in the Islamic calendar, we hope it will be an
20 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Save traders of handloom saris

Traders of traditional handloom saris in Tangail district are concerned by the lack of demand for their product.
19 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Kofi Annan, a champion of human rights

Kofi Annan, who served as UN chief from 1997 to 2006, and who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside the UN in 2001, passed away on August 18, 2018 in Switzerland, at the age of 80.
19 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Natural calamity resistant houses

A research team from Brac University's Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) has perfected the design of a floating house that is flood-resistant and made of bamboo, wood and plastic barrels.
18 August 2018, 18:00 PM

Eid journey home

Ttravelling home on Eid holidays has been an excruciating experience in Bangladesh.
18 August 2018, 18:00 PM