Special - The Daily Ittefaq

Bangladesh faces rising Dengue risk

Abul Khayer — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 09:40:36 +0600

Entomologists and public health experts have warned of the possibility of a severe nationwide dengue outbreak. At the same time, hospital authorities are concerned about their ability to manage the treatment of dengue patients. According to hospital officials, admissions for various illnesses have been increasing at nearly twice the usual rate every day. Hospitals are treating about twice as... Details

Everything you need to know about blue moon

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 30 May 2026 18:47:58 +0600

You’ve probably heard the phrase “once in a blue moon.” Maybe you’ve even used it to describe an occasional occurrence in your life — the frequency with which you buy a new cellphone, for example. But this weekend will bear witness to a true blue moon: the second full moon to appear in the sky in a single month, CNN reports. The celestial event comes around seven... Details

Messi to lead Argentina squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

UNB — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:11:23 +0600

Argentina have announced their final 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Lionel Messi set to lead the defending champions once again. The veteran forward is preparing for his sixth World Cup appearance, extending his national record.Head coach Lionel Scaloni has largely retained the squad that secured the title in Qatar in 2022, showing confidence in the experienced core that guided... Details

Soybean oil shortage deepens ahead of Eid

Munna Raihan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:58:02 +0600

The supply crisis of soybean oil in the market is gradually worsening. Where retail shops once displayed rows of bottled soybean oil, now only a handful of bottles can be seen. In many cases, there are allegations that oil is being supplied at the dealer level on the condition that other products are purchased. At the same time, loose (unpackaged) oil is being sold at prices higher than the... Details

Times PR goes global

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:39:32 +0600

Times PR (www.timespr.com) has officially launched its global PR services, enabling brands to distribute news and communications across international media platforms from a single, integrated hub. Founded in Bangladesh in March 2011, Times PR brings over 14 years of experience supporting both local and international brands, according to a statement. The company expanded its operations to... Details

Artemis II is in orbit - what happens next?

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:41:54 +0600

You could almost hear a sigh of relief from Nasa on Wednesday as its Artemis II rocket finally blasted off. There's a lot riding on this mission - the safety of its four astronauts, Nasa's reputation, and the credibility of America's claim to be leading the new global space race. There are mundane questions too: Could the onboard toilet break again? When can the crew nap? Here's what the... Details

Moon is more geologically active than previously thought

UNB — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:19:36 +0600

Recent studies reveal that the Moon is tectonically active, challenging the long-held view that its geology has been largely static for billions of years. While the Earth has a crust divided into moving plates that create mountains, ocean trenches, and volcanoes, the Moon lacks plate tectonics. Yet internal stresses in the lunar crust still generate distinctive landforms. One of the most... Details

Gender pay gap won't close for another 30 years: TUC

Click Ittefaq Desk. — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:05:10 +0600

Moves to close the gender pay gap will not be successful until 2056 if progress remains at its current rate, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). The disparity between average wages for men and women is 12.8%, or £2,548 per year, according to TUC analysis of official pay data. It is widest in the finance and insurance industry, at 27.2%. In the leisure service sector it was only... Details

Saudi Arabia lifting alcohol ban for wealthy foreigners

Click Ittefaq Desk. — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:10:03 +0600

Saudi Arabia has quietly started to allow wealthy foreign residents to buy alcohol, a huge change after a 73-year ban. Commentators expect that the relaxation will eventually be extended to tourists, as Sameer Hashmi reports from Riyadh. For decades, Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter has stood apart from the rest of the capital city – an affluent enclave of embassies and upscale residences,... Details

Power cuts likely to return this summer

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:24:24 +0600

The gap between demand and supply of fuel gas in the country has taken on an acute form. Meanwhile, the irrigation season, Ramadan, and the summer are approaching. As temperatures rise, electricity demand will increase. But despite having power plants, a large portion of their capacity will remain unused due to fuel shortages. Along with electricity demand, gas demand will also rise.... Details

Major science discoveries mark 2025

UNB — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:41:38 +0600

From massive dinosaur footprints to new clues about early human fire use, 2025 delivered several major scientific discoveries across archaeology, astronomy and wildlife research. One of the year’s most striking finds came from an Oxfordshire quarry in the UK, where researchers uncovered one of the world’s largest dinosaur trackway sites. Around 200 giant footprints, dating back... Details

Under the dying yellow bulb: Rakib Hasan, our mentor of courage

UNB — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 10:33:22 +0600

When the restless heart that once beat with curiosity, mystery and endless imagination suddenly fell silent, it left more than just grief. It carved an untreatable wound where nostalgia of teenage years used to dwell with sweet melancholia. This Wednesday, Rakib Hasan, the revered author of the Tin Goyenda series, breathed his last at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital during dialysis. He had... Details

Poision on our plates

Munna Rayhan — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:13:19 +0600

In addition to increasing production, farmers have become overly dependent on excessive pesticides and chemical fertilizers to protect crops from diseases and pests. The uncontrolled use of pesticides is, on one hand, depleting soil fertility, and on the other hand, polluting water sources. The biggest damage, however, is to human health. Long-term consumption of food mixed with these... Details

Is the Nobel Prize still relevant today?

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:53:34 +0600

Every October, a handful of scientists get woken up by a phone call to find out they've won a Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, physics or chemistry. Startled and bleary-eyed, they throw a shirt on over their pajamas, join a video call to Stockholm and try to explain a lifetime's worth of research to the world's media in a few short minutes, according to the Deutsche Welle. Journalists... Details

Bangladesh pays, West gains

Mehadi Hasan — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 11:46:52 +0600

Brain Drain Rising at an Alarming Rate Brain drain from Bangladesh is increasing at an alarming pace. In the past two decades, the number of students going abroad for higher education has tripled. Every year, on average, more than 50,000 students leave the country to pursue higher studies. Their destinations include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and at least 57 other... Details

Gold Investment in Bangladesh in 2025: Safe Haven or Risky Bet?

UNB — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 16:51:37 +0600

For generations, gold has been viewed as a reliable way to hold value. In Bangladesh, 2025 is turning into another pivotal year for this metal’s role in personal finance. With prices showing an upward trend, profit in gold investment is rising among both cautious savers and ambitious investors. Its promise is stability, though it does not come without trade-offs. Let’s evaluate... Details

Growing threat for coasts, Potential bio remediation through microbial research

Rimu Das — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 20:57:31 +0600

Bangladesh’s southwestern coast, especially Kuakata sea beach, is facing a severe threat from rapidly increasing plastic pollution. A recent study has, for the first time, detected microplastics up to 30 centimeters deep in the beach sediments. Researchers say the main sources are tourism, river-borne plastic waste, and the widespread use of single-use plastics. Context of the global... Details

Beloved by bands and bank robbers, the Ford Transit turns 60

Click Ittefaq Desk. — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 11:02:15 +0600

Climbing into a 1965 Ford Transit is like stepping into a time capsule on wheels. Forget your modern high-tech nicknacks like satnavs and touchscreens. All you get here is a steering wheel, a big chrome-lined speedometer dial and a chunky heater control. There isn't even a radio, reports the BBC. Out on the road, it rattles and bangs and occasionally jumps out of gear. Disconcertingly,... Details

US inflation rises as tariffs drive up prices

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 23:14:33 +0600

US inflation jumped last month as President Donald Trump's tariffs took hold, pushing up prices for items from clothing to coffee. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in the year to June, up from 2.4% the previous month, with prices rising at the fastest pace since February, the Labor Department said, BBC reports. Higher energy and housing costs, such as rents, were the major drivers of the increase.... Details

Scientists detect most massive black hole merger ever recorded

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:30:05 +0600

Scientists have observed the largest black hole merger ever detected, marking a historic breakthrough in astrophysics. The colossal event occurred around 10 billion light-years from Earth and was observed through powerful gravitational waves picked up by detectors like LIGO. According to The Guardian, two black holes, each more than 100 times the mass of the sun, spiraled toward one another... Details

Earth's rotation speeding up, leading to slightly shorter days

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:21:52 +0600

Earth is expected to experience slightly shorter days in the coming weeks as the planet spins faster due to the changing position of the moon, according to a report by Live Science. On July 9, July 22, and August 5, 2025, the moon’s position is forecast to influence Earth’s rotation, reducing each day’s length by approximately 1.3 to 1.51 milliseconds from the standard 24... Details

New Hajj regulations explained

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 09:59:44 +0600

Starting Wednesday, April 23, (25 Shawwal 1446 AH), all residents seeking to enter the holy city of Mecca must obtain official entry permits, as Saudi Arabia begins enforcing its annual Hajj access regulations, the Public Security Directorate has announced. This directive is part of broader efforts by Saudi authorities to ensure the safety and organisation of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The... Details

NASA digs up new clue in search for life on Mars

Click Ittefaq Desk — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:45:17 +0600

Scientists studying soil samples from NASA's Curiosity rover have discovered that a carbon cycle similar to the one that sustains life on Earth once played out on the red planet. While it's unclear whether Marsever supported life, its current harsh environment may be due to an "imbalanced" carbon cycle, according to the Deutsche Welle. "Mars seems to have been habitable for its first billion... Details

'High taxes, policy gaps hurt foreign investment in Bangladesh'

Samir Kumar Dey — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 13:29:44 +0600

Access to the Internet means that people will get better and more affordable services. So that their business can be easier. But in Bangladesh the authority collects 70 percent tax from mobile operators in various ways. They pay for spectrum pricing, minimum tax, excise tax, VAT, corporate income tax and they also pay social obligation funds. Veon Telecom Group CEO Kaan Terzioglou thinks these... Details

Paper shortage delays printing of 30mn textbooks

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:48:39 +0600

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has failed to meet its commitment twice, leaving around 30 million textbooks unprinted. Even among the printed books, another 30 million are awaiting binding, quality checks, and approval. Many students have received only partial textbooks, and with the academic year already in its third month, students and parents are struggling. To make... Details

Freelancers face job losses, financial hardships

Click Ittefaq Desk — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:28:17 +0600

Shariful Islam first learned about freelance outsourcing during his high school years. He took training and started working as a freelancer in digital marketing and web design during the idle time of the pandemic. In his first month, he earned 10,000 BDT. From there, he started working for various European companies. Within six months, his earnings reached an average of 100,000 BDT per month.... Details

Soybean oil disappears from market ahead of Ramadan

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:22:11 +0600

Now, the international market for edible oils such as soybean and palm oil remains stable. Given the amount of soybean and palm oil imported and in the supply pipeline, there should be no shortage during the upcoming Ramadan. However, traders have begun raising soybean oil prices following their usual trend, even a month before Ramadan. According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh... Details

Bishwa Ijtema 2025 to be held in three phases

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:01:47 +0600

The second-largest religious gathering of the Muslim world, the ‘Bishwa Ijtema,’ will be held in three phases this year. Deputy Police Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, N M Nasiruddin, has stated that special security measures have been taken in preparation for the Ijtema. According to the police, this year’s Bishwa Ijtema will be conducted in three phases. The... Details

Parents forced to buy free textbooks at high prices

Click Ittefaq Desk — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 10:25:24 +0600

Schools across the country are grappling with an acute shortage of textbooks for the new academic year, affecting both primary and secondary classes. The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has yet to provide a clear timeline for resolving this crisis. While schools struggle to supply free textbooks, these books are paradoxically more readily available in local markets. Vendors in... Details

Rice prices surge despite Aman harvest

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:25:42 +0600

The rice market remains volatile, even during the peak monsoon season. Over the past two days, the price of coarse rice has risen by 4 to 5 taka per kilogram, while prices for fine and medium-quality rice have also increased. This upward trend has persisted for over a month, significantly impacting low-income households. Rising rice prices contribute heavily to inflation, which was nearly 11%... Details

Syrian mom opens special 'school' for kids in Dubai

Click Ittefaq Desk — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:11:46 +0600

A Dubai-based mum, whose autistic son was denied a seat by 22 schools, today runs a special needs centre, so no child meets with the same fate as her boy. Sharing her inspiring story Rana Akkad, a Syrian expat, said, “Yes, my son Jad Atassi got rejected from 22 schools in Dubai. I tried it all, the cheap, expensive, high quality, and the low. I even tried putting him in a special needs... Details

Classes to begin despite textbook shortage

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:29:53 +0600

The new academic year for primary and secondary schools across the country will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, following the national curriculum. However, as in previous years, there is a substantial shortage of textbooks. A total of 400.16 million textbooks are required to provide all students with their books on the first day. According to the Printing Industry Association, the National... Details

‘Shantirakshi’ shines globally in Niaz’s translation

Click Ittefaq Desk — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 23:46:53 +0600

"Keeping Peace in a Turbulent World: Reflections from the Field," a book showcasing the courageous narratives of 33 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, has garnered global attention. Within its 567 pages, this book unveils the challenging experiences, unwavering dedications, and unconditional sacrifices of Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers in their pursuit of establishing peace on the global stage. The... Details

The new BRAC University building: A place of learning that dares to dream

Abu Saleh — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 01:20:34 +0600

I went to see the newly constructed BRAC University (BRACU) building in Badda, Dhaka, designed by the Singapore Architect WOHA on my recent visit to Bangladesh. In the following paragraphs, I will try to capture some of my observations about the ideas that I saw materializing in this project. Our response to Architecture is based on what we have experienced before (i.e. current trends of... Details

Eid-e-Miladunnabi today

BSS — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:46:02 +0600

The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the anniversary of the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM), will be observed across the country today with due religious solemnity. The decision was taken at the National Moon Sighting Committee's meeting held at the Islamic Foundation (IF) Conference Room at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on September 15 with Secretary of the Ministry of... Details

16 journalists from different countries received disaster journalism training in Turkey

Click Ittefaq Desk — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 23:40:46 +0600

A training program on disaster journalism was held in Turkey with media representatives from 16 countries including Bangladesh. The program was held in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, from July 16 to 22, as a joint initiative of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Turkey's state media Anadolu Agency. The objective of this training was to enhance the skills of news... Details