Challenge remains in minimising urban-rural disparity
The proposed national budget for 2016-17 has seen a slight rise in allocation for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector, however, the challenge remains in minimising urban-rural disparity. Per capita allocation in urban area is Tk 1,121 against Tk 55 for the rural. A massive 86% of the WASH allocation has been earmarked for big cities.
Good news is a project amounting Tk 500 crore has been proposed for hard-to-reach areas, however, it is yet to be funded. Although three new special projects for remote and disadvantaged communities and arsenic-prone areas has been proposed but no allocation has 
67.5pc budget for non-dev expenditure frustrating
The International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB), one of the leading organizations of the business leaders and civil society members, organized a press conference on “Reaction of IBFB on National Budget 2016-17” on June 8, 2016 at the VIP Lounge of the National Press Club, Dhaka. Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan, President of IBFB, presented the IBFB’s reactions at the press conference, where, among others, Mr. Humayun Rashid, IBFB Vice President (Finance), Ms. Lutfunnisa Saudia Khan, IBFB Director; Mr. M. S. Siddiqui, IBFB Director; Mr. Md. Ali Deen, IBFB Director; Mr. Md. Ershad Hussain Rana, IBFB Director; Mr. Syed Mustafizur Rahman, IBFB Director, Dr. Md. Mozibur Rahman, IBFB Director and former Chairman of Bangladesh Tariff Commission; Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid, Chairman of IBFB Finance Comm...
15 lakh Bangladeshis living like ‘slaves’: Report
Over 15 lakh people in Bangladesh are living like slaves with nearly half the population vulnerable to be exposed to it, a report of Australia-based Walk Free Foundation said today.
Global Slavery Index for 2016 placed Bangladesh 10th among 167 countries in prevalence ranking with an estimated 15.3 lakh people living like slaves with over 44 percent of the population at risk of being exposed to it.
Last reported in 2014, the index placed about 6.8 lakh Bangladeshis living in conditions of modern da...
Last reported in 2014, the index placed about 6.8 lakh Bangladeshis living in conditions of modern da...
Insiders may be involved in BB cyber theft: Probe officials
Officials of Bangladesh Bank may have been involved in a brazen theft of $81 million from its account with the New York Federal Reserve Bank in February, the head of a government-appointed panel investigating the cyber heist told reporters on Monday.
Hackers broke into the computer systems of the Bangladesh central bank and issued instructions through the SWIFT network to transfer $951 million of its deposits held at the New York Federal Reserve Bank to accounts in the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Most of the transactions were blocked but four went through, amounting to $81 million, 
Fishermen to turn dolphin saviours in Bangladesh
Akkas Ali is a fisherman from Dublar char, a remote island located off the coast in Bangladesh’s Bagerhat district. He has been fishing in the Bay of Bengal for almost 20 years and has been a witness to the slaughter of dolphins. Most of these deaths were accidental – the dolphins became entangled in the nets of fishermen, and died. In the last two years three dolphins were killed after being trapped in Akkas Ali’s own fishing nets.
At least five species of dolphins and several species of whales can be found between the coast of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, and the Bay of Bengal. The rivers of the mangrove forest are the habitat of Gangetic river dolphins and Irrawady dolphins.
According a 2010 joint survey conducted by the US-based Wildlife Conservation So...
WB to provide $ 176m fund to help poor farmers
The government on Tuesday signed a $176-million deal with the World Bank (WB) to help more than a million of its poor farmers boost output and gain better access to markets. Funding from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) will increase and diversify the productivity of crops, livestock and fisheries, 
besides enhancing market access, the World Bank said in a statement.
"This project will help achieve food security, improve resilience to climate change, and enhance nutrition through safer and ...
besides enhancing market access, the World Bank said in a statement.
"This project will help achieve food security, improve resilience to climate change, and enhance nutrition through safer and ...
