EU ambassador’s words of caution
The European Union (EU) is one of Bangladesh’s largest trade and development partners. In fact, 50 percent of the country’s exports go to the EU. And so there is all reason to take into cognizance EU ambassador Pierre Mayaudon’s concern about Bangladesh’s lack of preparation to become a GSP Plus member.
There are differences among economists as to the definition of a mid-income country. According to the World Bank, there are two types of mid-income countries, that is, lower mid-income and higher mid-income. There is no such thing as a mid-income country. Yet the 
BD elected chairman of Asia Pacific Superhighway
Bangladesh has been elected chairman of Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Working Group for next one year.
United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) countries at a high-level forum meeting in Bangkok yesterday supported Bangladesh to lead the Information Highway, a press release said here today.
State Minister for ICT Affairs Zunaid Ahmed Palak joined the forum titled “Interment of 
Opportunity in the Asia Pacific” organised by UN-ESCAP and Internet Society at the Thai c...
Opportunity in the Asia Pacific” organised by UN-ESCAP and Internet Society at the Thai c...
Get women in unions to improve worker rights
Former child laborer Nazma Akter knew she would dedicate her life to improving workers’ rights when she joined her first protest outside a garment factory in Bangladesh when still a teenager several decades ago.
From the age of 11, Akter worked 14-hour days alongside her mother on the factory floor where she says unpaid wages and verbal and physical abuse were common.
After taking part in the protest in the capital Dhaka, she was beaten by police, fired from her job and blacklisted.
But now Akter, 43, campaigns to defend workers’ rights as head of Sommilito Garments Sramik 
Yunus to speak at Pangkor Dialogue
Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof Muhammad Yunus will be among those speaking at the three-day Pangkor International Development Dialogue (PIDD) beginning Monday.
In his keynote address, Muhammad Yunus will be speaking on social business and how it can be a tool to narrow income gaps and address poverty and unemployment.
"Every country and state should achieve three zeroes - zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero carbon emission.
"And all this can be done through social businesses," said the founder of the Gra...
"And all this can be done through social businesses," said the founder of the Gra...
Kerry in city with packed schedule
US secretary of state John Kerry arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning on a nine-hour visit packed with a series of meetings to discuss bilateral and global issues that both sides expect to take the relations to ‘new heights’.
Foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali received Kerry at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his arrival around 10:15am from Geneva by a special aircraft.
Kerry will start his day visiting Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city at about 11:30am.
He will meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office at 12:00pm, reports United News of Bangladesh.
Kerry to visit Dhaka Aug 29
US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to visit Bangladesh to hold discussions to broaden bilateral ties, according to an official statement.
Kerry will travel to Dhaka on August 29 to highlight the longstanding and broad US-Bangladesh relationship, the State Department statement said on Wednesday.
"Secretary Kerry will meet with government officials to discuss our growing cooperation on global issues," the statement said.
"He also will focus on strengthening our longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, s...
global issues," the statement said.
"He also will focus on strengthening our longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, s...
