Editorial

MNA Editorial Desk: The prices of all varieties of rice are increasing at a rate that even the sellers call ‘unusual’, without any good reason in the markets. The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh reportedly recorded a 47 per cent hike in the prices of coarse rice this month compared to the same period last year. Rising prices of food items is a key concern for the government as nearly 31.5 per cent of its around 160 million people still live below the national poverty line. As the domestic market has again become volatile in the wake of reports that ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir celebrated Pakistan’s victory over arch-rivals India in the Champions Trophy final with defiant pro-Pakistan chants and fireworks as shocked silence reverberated across Delhi following the historic upset. One spectator at the Oval in London was spotted wearing a T-shirt saying: “Winner takes Kashmir”. Joy was palpable in both old and uptown areas of Srinagar as youths came out of their homes to celebrate the victory of Pakistan. Kashmiris, who traditionally support Pakistan in cricket, especially against India, took to the streets after the win waving Pakistani flags and chanting “Jive Jive Pakistan ...

MNA Editorial Desk: The next General Election of Bangladesh will be held at the end of the current government’s term in 2019 and the top political parties have already got busy with developing and implementing the roadmap for the election, The –Awami League regime is going through their second term as the government and they have worked with two broad plans till now — Vision 2021 and Vision 2041. Vision 2021 basically focused on development of the ICT sector of Bangladesh which was referred on the popular term of achieving the goals to make a ‘Digital Bangladesh’. Vision 2041 on ...

MNA Editorial Desk: It would not be wrong if we say that, England is now a prime target for terrorists as recently the country has witnessed several bloody terrorist attacks. Though we are concerned about the recent terrorist attacks in London, we will focus more on comparing the statement of Australian Cricket Board about security concerns in London while it was again rocked by terror on Saturday with fatal attacks on London Bridge and nearby Borough Market. This latest attack on London is the third terrorist incident in England since March. On March 22, 2017 a police officer was fatally ...

MNA Editorial Desk: With a massive influx of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what types of environmental changes our planet is facing. All across the world, people are facing a wealth of new and challenging environmental problems every day. Some of them are small and only affect a few ecosystems, but others are drastically changing the landscape of what we already know. Our planet is poised at the brink of a severe environmental crisis. Current environmental problems make us vulnerable to disasters and tragedies, now ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the dream project of 80km Cox’s Bazar – Teknaf Marine Drive on May 6, 2017. This project was much in the news due to its implication in transforming the whole zone into a tourist attraction. It has significantly improved the communication from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf and will create several small tourist spots alongside this road. Cox’s Bazar, being the longest sea beach of the world, has already been one of the greatest tourist spots of the world. This marine drive will drastically change the lives around this new road in the ...

MNA Editorial Desk: International Mother’s Day is being observed across the country as elsewhere in the world, with much affection and we all should show the utmost respect to all women. The International Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year paying tributes and gratitude to mothers around the world. The day is celebrated in Bangladesh through different programmes in electronic media and according grand reception to mothers of jewels recognizing their contributions to the family, society and nation. However, the origin of Mother’s Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. But ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Marketing has become more of a necessity rather than a supporting function during the last two decades. The corporate world in every sector and industry now seems to be obsessed with inventing different marketing techniques to reach the heart, mind and pocket of their target audience. We have seen different marketing approaches like above the line (ATL), below the line (BTL) and through the line (TTL) etc and multiple modes of implementing these strategic approaches and in today’s world, the most trending marketing concept is ‘Digital Marketing’. During the last decade, in USA and other European countries, ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Over the last 10 years, the population of Dhaka has more than doubled and the Awami League government is committed to providing better living conditions for the most populous city of the country with a proper transport service. The latest transportation crisis over ‘seating service’ in the capital forces us to write on the thorny matter. After negotiations between the government and trade unions, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), decided to stop its drive against buses overcharging in the name of “seating service” for 15 days, but these buses would comply with BRTA fare charts. The ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Bangladesh has been hit by several terrorist attacks in recent months including multiple suicide blasts which killed over a dozen people including two police officers and an intelligence wing chief of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). But can anyone see any benefits the attackers really derive from their horrific actions? Some say that these attacks are deeming the achievements of the government. Others allege militancy is prompted by the “opposition” to destabilize the government. Some also claim that the attacks have been intended to establish Islamic rule and lifestyle in Bangladesh. But no one knows for sure really ...

Written By Mir Mosharref Hossain MNA Editorial Desk: Another year has passed and the Bengali New Year is knocking at our door as the whole country has been decorated in festive mood to welcome 1424 with PM Sheikh Hasina’s achievements. The last year was full of events with so many achievements of Bangladesh as a nation has taken us to a new height. The world has recognized us a country with lots of prospect in spite of our very large population and so many obstacles to development works. In these achievements, one name came up again and again as the ...

Written By Mir Mosharref Hossain MNA Editorial Desk: Bangladesh is surrounded by India from three sides and obviously our relationship with our greatest neighbor is of much importance as our development and welfare is much dependent on that. Good relationship with the neighboring countries can drive the economic and social welfare of a country. Our honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her three terms as the head of the government has been successful in establishing a good relationship with the influential neighbor. In spite of our achievement in gaining economic and demographic benefit, there are still several issues to be ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Film is not only a way of entertainment but also a great and very effective medium of education which many books cannot do. Our industry is stepping towards a dark phase and it will definitely fall into some deep crisis. After the independence the decades of seventies and eighties witnessed the golden time of film industry. Currently, Bengali cinema is passing through a threatening and critical period. Cinema halls in the country have been reduced to half. Releasing new cinemas has also come down to half. After all the quality of films are not satisfactory to the ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Road crash has become a nightmare to the travellers of Bangladesh as eighteen people were killed in three road accidents in Chuadanga, Khulna and Sirajganj districts on Sunday. In Chuadanga, a fatal road crash at Joyrampur Battala on Chuadanga-Jessore road in Damurhuda upazila in the early hours left 13 day-labourers and 10 others injured. The accident took place when a human hauler carrying 23-24 day-laborers collided with a sand-laden truck around 6:30am, killing eight of them on the spot and the rest injured. In Khulna, four Hindu pilgrims were killed and 20 others injured as a Satkhira-bound ...

MNA Editorial Desk: While the amount of freshwater on the planet has remained impartially constant over time—continually recycled through the atmosphere and back into our cups—the population has exploded. Every year competition for a clean, copious supply of water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and sustaining life intensifies. About 36 countries are currently facing extremely high levels of water stress, which occurs when demand for water far exceeds the renewable supply available. Some 600 million children will be living in areas with extremely limited water resources by 2040, according to a UNICEF report released on ‘World Water Day’. The poorest children ...

MNA Editorial Desk: The government has identified some mega projects as fast track projects and directed the authorities concerned to implement them with highest priority. Over the past 40 years since independence, Bangladesh has increased its real per capita income more than 130 percent, cut poverty by sixth percent, and is well set to achieve sustainable development goals. In recognition of long term development, the government under t6he leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina adopted the Vision 2021. The vision 2021 and the associated Perspective Plan 2010-2021 have set solid development targets for Bangladesh by the end of 2021. Bangladesh ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Housing is the prime need of human being for livelihood and shelter. Demographic pressure especially the unplanned expansion of housing in urban areas is contributing to a great extent decreasing the cultivating land, which considered as a great threat to environment. Bangladesh has been experiencing quite rapid urbanization during the last few decades. Bangladesh is well aware of these challenges and over the last two decades it has tried to address it through multi-sectoral development along with polices on specific themes. Providing improved living condition and better urban service to this increased population and generating employment for ...

MNA Editorial Desk: The aim of International Women’s Day is to reflect on progress made, to call for changing and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. This year theme of the day is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.” The idea of this theme is to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number. International Women’s Day is being observed on March 8 ...

MNA Editorial Desk: The misery of a girl child laborers knows no bound. Though child labor is harmful for both boy and girl without any doubt, the situation is difficult for especially girl child labor. In Bangladesh it is not possible to ban or remove child labor from this country as the harshly necessity of child labor in our country is unavoidable. As cheap labor is one of the main assets for this country’s development and who else can be chipper than a child here! In most of the garments factories girl child laborers work whole day and night, but ...

MNA Editorial Desk: The BERC announced the 22.7 percent average hike in gas prices on Thursday. It will be effective in two phases in March and June. The decision of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to hike gas prices has triggered discomfort among different sections of consumers. A nearly 23% increase in tariff will be made effective in two phases from the first day of the next month, in a situation where gas supplies are also constrained by disruptions at many places. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Golam Rahman has said the organization is thinking about a ...

MNA Editorial Desk: The much-awaited month-long book fair “Amar Ekushey Granthamela” begins on the Bangla Academy premises and extending into the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair and a four-day international literature conference which was attended by prominent litterateurs from Austria, Germany, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Russia, China and India. The fair will remain open for 30 more minutes daily than the previous years. It will remain open for all from 3:00pm to 8:30pm on workdays, 11:00am to 8:30pm on holidays, and 8:00am to 8:30pm on February 21. This year, Bangla Academy and 409 publishing houses ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Air pollution is one of a variety of man made environmental disasters that are currently taking place all over the world. Air pollution may be defined as an atmospheric condition in which various substances are present at concentrations high enough above their normal ambient levels. Dhaka city is more than 400 years old. Over these years the population has increased many folds. Dhaka city is expanding in all direction east to west, north to south, population is increasing in geometric progression but the civic amenities cannot keep pace with the growing demand. The capacity of various utilities ...

MNA Editorial Desk: This paper covers the effectiveness of International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN system’s highest judicial body. The ICJ settles legal disputes between states, who must agree to abide by the Court’s jurisdiction before their case will be heard. The ICJ also gives advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by UN bodies and agencies. Here, particular emphasis is given to the efficiency of ICJ. I  will  do  my  best  to  be  as  crisp  as  possible  and  to  communicate  my  thoughts  about  the  International  Court  of  Justice  and  its  capability regarding use of power.  I intend ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Sundarbans, a magnificent and unique ecosystem of the world, faces an existential question today with a coal power plant to be set up at Rampal. It has been a content of discord between environmentalists and those who are pushing the plant. Both sides are giving out their own arguments in favour of and against the plant to be set up within 14km of the mangrove forest. The recent capsizing of a coal carrying ship in the Sundarbans has raised the stakes on the assessment being carried out by UNESCO on the Rampal power plant. Located on the ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Interest groups, also called special interest group or pressure group, any association of individuals or organizations, usually formally organized, that, on the basis of one or more shared concerns, attempts to influence public policy in its favour. All interest groups share a desire to affect government policy to benefit themselves or their causes. Public policy in Bangladesh is shaped by a wide variety of forces, from polls and election results to interest groups and institutions, both formal and informal. In addition to political parties, the influence of diverse and sometimes antagonistic political forces has been widely acknowledged ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Bangladesh witnessed a spate of violent attacks against secular bloggers, academics, gay rights activists, foreigners, and members of religious minorities in 2016, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2017. Referring to the attacks on Holey Artisan Bakery and Solakia eid prayers, the report reads: “Although Islamist extremist groups, including the Islamic State or ISIS, claimed responsibility for most of these killings, the government blamed domestic groups, and said some had links to the main opposition political parties. “Thousands of people were arrested, and dozens of alleged members or supporters of extremist groups are said to ...

MNA Editorial Desk: In 2016, the world is facing the prospect of more strategic competition between strong nations with conflicting interests on the one hand, and an increase in fragility and disintegration of states on the other. When these two trends merge, as they have done in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, for example, conflicts become more likely to take on regional and global dimensions. Pulling together a list of the wars most in need of international attention and support in 2016 is challenging for all the wrong reasons. For 20 years after the end of the Cold War, deadly conflict ...