Helemul Alam

After decades of delays, the National Urban Development Policy-2025 has finally been approved, which aims to guide the country’s rapid urbanisation in a more planned and sustainable manner.

With 68 new dengue cases reported in the last 24 hours till yesterday, the total number of cases this year reached 1,02,861, the second-highest tally recorded in Bangladesh over the past 25 years.

Although dengue cases have declined significantly due to the current cold weather, the country has already recorded 412 deaths and 1,02,673 cases as of December 29 this year.

With 70,402 dengue cases reported from divisions outside Dhaka out of a total 101,597 nationwide as of December 20, the mosquito-borne disease has spread far beyond the capital this year.

With three more dengue deaths reported yesterday, the total number of fatalities this year has risen to 401 – the third-highest since Bangladesh began recording dengue deaths in 2000.

Fifteen-year-old Rahat Miaji, who was recovering from severe electrocution near a madrasa in Chauddogram, Cumilla, has fallen into danger once again after contracting dengue.

The urgency of a central authority heightened after a recent 5.7-magnitude earthquake

Twelve-year-old Nuhas and his two-and-a-half-year-old sister Najat are sharing a single bed at the children’s ward of Mugda Medical College and Hospital, both diagnosed with dengue.

Yesterday, around midnight, a 50-year-old day labourer stood near the fire-ravaged Korail slum, a single suitcase balanced on his head.

Families who have already rebuilt their worlds twice now sift through the debris a third time

Friday's tremor laid bare not only the vulnerability of these structures but also the failure of authorities to act despite repeated warnings.

Experts warned that far greater losses await if the authorities fail to act now

Fourteen-year-old Akash Khan has been lying in critical condition in the dengue ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) since November 18.

No recent quake has been felt as strongly in Dhaka and its surrounding areas as yesterday’s tremor. The shallow 5.7 magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre in Madhabdi just around 13km from the capital’s Agargaon, forced residents onto the streets, fearing aftershocks.

Residents from Dhaka to Narsingdi recount the moment the ground shook beneath their feet

Posters and flyers of nomination aspirants from political parties have become a nuisance in the capital ahead of the national polls expected in February, violating existing laws.

Eleven-year-old Mrinmoyee Hridita of Jurain recently recovered from dengue after week-long treatment at a city hospital. Her family considers it a stroke of luck, as this was her third dengue infection in two years.

Residents of Dhaka’s Purba Jurain continue to suffer as the Titas Gas Khal Road remains in a battered state, forcing many to walk instead of taking rickshaws.

Anyone visiting the southern part of Pipe Road area will first encounter a filthy, muddy stretch of road. Only a few years ago, the area was busy and vibrant. Now, the road has become a nightmare for residents of Munshirbari in Mir Hazirbagh under DSCC ward-54, as it remains submerged in knee-deep dirty water for months.

Residents of several parts of Jurain have been enduring an acute water crisis for the past four days, as a Wasa pump failure has halted water supply through its pipelines.