Vision 2021, Bangladesh’s development strategy, sees the country becoming a middle-income nation by 2021, in large part by super-charging its science and technology (S&T) sector to drive economic growth.
A ‘digital Bangladesh’ revolution is already underway with the introduction of machine-readable passports; electronic voting cards; driving licences and vehicle number plates; online public services for checking exam results; registering land and tax and using mobile phones to buy train tickets.
In 2010 Parliament passed a new S&a...
A new World Bank Group report finds that four of eight economies in South Asia implemented at least one regulatory reform making it easier for local entrepreneurs to do business in 2013/14. Three countries, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, focused their efforts on adopting modern electronic systems to facilitate business activity.
‘Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond Efficiency’ finds that since 2005, all economies in the region have taken steps to improve the business environment in areas measured by the report. India implemented the region’s largest numb...
Imagine your life if you were married at 15, against your will, to an abusive husband. It’s the same for almost all the women you know. Your education came to an abrupt end once you were married, and you’re not allowed to have a job – other than having babies, that is. And because you got married young, you’re probably experiencing some sexual and reproductive health problems.
This is the reality for most women and girls in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has the fourth highest rate of child (under-18) marriage in th...
A nationwide power blackout hit Bangladesh on Saturday when a transmission line supplying electricity from India broke down.
The interconnection line used for transmission of 450 MW at Bheramara in Kushtia district tripped at 11:30 am, a source at the Power Development Board (PDB) said.
The sudden vacuum caused disruption of power generation at all power plants across the country, the Daily Star reported.
Some power plants resumed generation at around 1:00 pm.
State Power Minister Nasrul Hamid Bipu said power generation is expected to return to ...
Bangladesh’s history, culture and religion is symbolised by water. The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin and 230 inland rivers act as lifelines for food, transport and livelihood for the majority of the population in Bangladesh.
In 2014 Bangladesh experienced the highest temperature in 54 years, which has led to an acute water shortage in rivers and low lying areas. It is not only the dry season affects the country; heavy rainfall within short periods also causes severe floods and river banks to erode and overflow. Due to the extremely flat topography, the country often has too much water flowing in its 57 transboundary rivers connected to the upper riparian country. These heavy changes - flooding in monsoon and drought in dry season – are causing a socio-economic disaster for Banglade...
The advantage enjoyed by Bangladesh in readymade garment (RMG) sector cannot be taken for granted, and the country’s competitiveness in the apparel export market may erode in the long run if working conditions do not improve, says the World Bank (WB) in its Bangladesh Development Update October 2014.
In the immediate future, stronger attention is needed to swiftly complete the transition in the Bangladesh garment industry, feel authors of the report. According to them, “much more needs to be done for effective implementation of wage increases and the new labor legislations, recruiting more factory inspectors and complete building inspections followed by swift remediation measures such as relocation of closed factories.”
In 2010 Parliament passed a new S&a...
