Central bank buys $120m in two days to steady exchange rate

After a hiatus of nearly two months, Bangladesh Bank (BB) has resumed purchasing US dollars from commercial banks through auctions to maintain stability in the foreign exchange market and keep the exchange rate under control.Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan said the central bank bought $50 million from four commercial banks on Thursday at a cut-off rate of Tk 122.75 per dollar. This followed a purchase of $70 million at Tk 122.70 per dollar on Wednesday.With these transactions, the central bank has purchased a total of $120 million so far in April.In the current fiscal year FY2025–26, the total dollar purchase by the central bank stands at $5.61 billion.A high-ranking official of the central bank said banks were verbally instructed earlier this week to purchase remittance dollars at a maximum rate of Tk 122.90.However, by buying dollars at a slightly lower rate through the auction, the central bank sent a clear signal to the market that its goal is to stabilise the ...

Bangladesh in the age of information technology: Achievements, limitations, and the future path

Minhaz Abrar IntesurIn the current world, information technology is not just a sector but a major force in determining a country's economy, security, and global position. Bangladesh has come a long way with the goal of building a "Digital Bangladesh," but the reality is that there are some major limitations in this progress, which are preventing the country from reaching the desired heights.Thousands of students in Bangladesh complete their studies in information technology every y...

Fuel crisis unlikely in next two months: Energy Division spokesperson

The government has assured that there will be no fuel crisis in the country over the next two months.“As I mentioned earlier, the current stock of octane and petrol is sufficient to meet demand for at least the nex...

Community policing must be strengthened for better legal services: DMP acting commissioner

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Acting Commissioner Md Sarwar on Thursday stressed the need to strengthen community policing to build a people-friendly police force and ensure that citizens receive their expected legal services from police stations.He made the remarks while addressing senior DMP officials at the monthly crime review meeting for March 2026 held at the DMP headquarters conference room.The acting commissioner said the overall law and order situation in the capital remains stable at present and urged all concerned to remain alert to maintain this stability.He directed police officers to intensify foot patrols and conduct drives to recover drugs and arrest warrant-listed accused.He also instructed them to stay vigilant to prevent any crime within police station jurisdictions.Ad...

Bishwo Shahitto Kendro’s Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed meets PM

Politicisation of cricket looks set to continue under new government

In Bangladesh, cricket is far more than a national obsession. Combined with its enormous commercial appeal, the game has been converted into the ultimate political currency.The recent dissolution of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the lightning-fast installation of a politically connected ad-hoc committee exposes a harsh reality: governments may change, but the state or ruling dispensation's suffocating grip on the country's most popular sport remains completely unbroken.For decades, ruling regimes have understood that controlling cricket is a way to control the masses. During Sheikh Hasina's long period of rule, which is often called an authoritarian regime by political analysts, the BCB functioned as little more than a direct wing of the state machinery.The partisan dominance was absolute. It spread into every level of the administration, from the high-level boardroom decisions down to the stadium gates. It reached a point where the national team was actually led by sitting members of parliament. This wasn't a coincidence; it was a strategy to use the sport as a populist tool, designed to unify a fractured public under the ruling party's banner while masking the government’s deeper failures.When the Awami League government collapsed in August 2024, the BCB naturally fell into chaos.The power vacuum led to the emergence of a new board headed by Aminul Islam Bulbul, formed under the watch of the interim government. It was sold to the public as a necessary transition to keep the sport stable. However, in the tough landscape of Bangladeshi spo...

Fear of fertilizer crunch must be allayed

Bangladesh is striving hard to secure urea imports after an international tender floated last month failed to attract any bidders. The urgency follows the shutdown of five of the country’s six u...

WASA plan to use groundwater warns of long-term risks.

Dhaka WASA is set to seek the approval of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for a TK920.85crore “emergency” water supply project that will rely absolutely on groundwater extraction. Titled ‘Emergency W...

KFC's 'Eidi for Angels' Spreads Eid Joy to Underprivileged Kids

To stem the scourge of smoking, follow the science, not the dogma

Benefits of Having an Oven in Your Kitchen