Abrar Hussain: The government should increase the tax for tobacco products in the proposed national budget for the fiscal 2018-19, demanded by Anti-tobacco platforms yesterday. They also demanded the restructuring of the four-level price slab for cigarettes into two levels. Nadira Kiron, co-convener of Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), said the proposed tax structure for tobacco…
Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam, Professor of English , Dhaka University: The budget allocation for the education sector is inadequate. It has to be increased, even though education sector budget is based on investment, not thought. We have to get out of the ‘thought’ of education budget and into ‘investment’. Teachers’ salaries will have to be…
Wali-ur Rahman, Former Ambassador : Procrastination and disinterest from Myanmar appears to be an obstacle to repatriate Rogingyas from Bangladesh. Despite being an optimistic person, I can see that there is a static or back affection from Myanmar in this regard. What can Bangladesh in this case? The entire world and the UN are concerned about…
Abu Ahmed, Professor of Economics , Dhaka University : The interest rate of the banks has to be reduced as their authorities have promised the promised the prime minister to do so. I also support the need of reducing the interest rate, but this is not easy. There are no other alternatives than to reduce interest…
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed, Former Deputy General and Commandant, Ansar VDP Academy: Negotiation is termed “the process by which at least two parties with different needs and viewpoints try to reach a consensus on a matter of mutual interest “. People negotiate all the time. In some ways, an individual negotiates at home, in the…
Sayeed Muhammad: The UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng said the Security Council is taking steps to contain terrorist and militant activities in Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar. An ‘Action Plan’ is being prepared from the Security Council in this regard, which is designed plan will be able to avert…
Sofian Khan: Awami League is set to celebrate its 70th founding day today by inaugurated its new central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. The inauguration of the party’s new 10-storey central office will be done by the party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the founding day of the party.The…
Abrar Hussain: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is to visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on July 2 to observe the refugee situation on the ground and the UN agencies’ engagement firsthand, reports UNB. Guterres is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on July 1. On April 6, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited the UN Secretary-General to…
Sofian Khan: With dem-and of immediate release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, a sudden procession was carried out by the party leaders and activists, led by its Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The procession was brought out in Kalyanpur of the capital during the wee hours yesterday. According to BNP Central Executive Committee member…