The day before his assassination
15 August 2026
It was like any other day.
On August 14, 1975, the president’s office carried out its routine functions. Officials exchanged pleasantries, ministers held meetings, decisions were taken and instructions were given.
15 August 2026
SSC pass rate hits 19-year low
11 August 2026
This year’s SSC results painted a grim picture, with the pass rate across the nine general education boards hitting a 19-year low and GPA-5 achievers falling to their lowest level since 2020.
11 August 2026
Teacher shortages strain government primary schools
8 August 2026
Government primary schools across Bangladesh are struggling to keep lessons on track as headteacher posts remain vacant in more than half of the institutions while thousands of assistant-teacher positions also remain unfilled, putting extra pressure on teachers and disrupting classes.
8 August 2026
Presidential election: A process shackled by provisions
8 August 2026
When Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as president on July 24, the spotlight immediately shifted to who would succeed him at Bangabhaban.
8 August 2026
Analysis / How Sheikh Hasina's iron grip unravelled
5 August 2026
From electoral controversies to student protests, the events that brought an end to Hasina's 15-year rule
5 August 2026
Looking back at July: Road to one-point demand
4 August 2026
It began with a question that resonated with millions of young Bangladeshis competing for scarce government jobs: should merit take a back seat to quotas?
4 August 2026
Poll campaigns cost nothing for most parties
1 August 2026
Twenty-seven of the 50 parties that contested February’s general election reported zero campaign expenditure, according to filings submitted to the Election Commission (EC).
1 August 2026
BNP violates polls pledges with 12 government appointments
29 July 2026
The government has handed out contractual appointments to 12 BNP leaders and activists across key entities, including the Election Commission, despite its manifesto pledge to prevent the politicisation of institutions and strengthen their independence.
29 July 2026
EVM use in 150 seats max
The Election Commission has decided to use EVMs in up to 150 parliamentary seats in the next general election though major opposition political parties still have no confidence in the voting machine.
23 August 2022
EC set to use EVM in JS polls
The Election Commission is going to use electronic voting machines in the next parliamentary polls when almost all major opposition political parties are dead set against it.
21 August 2022
Electoral law amendment: EC ignores most reforms proposed by parties
Ignoring many of the major recommendations put forward by political parties during the recently held talks, the Election Commission has proposed amendments to electoral law.
18 August 2022
Child marriage, labour: Schoolgirls bore heavy blow in pandemic
While the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on almost every sphere of life, one of the heaviest blows was to female secondary school students in the country.
16 August 2022
A grief they can never forget
When Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana returned to the then West German city of Karlsruhe on August 18, 1975, they were still in the dark about the full scale of the tragedy that befell their family in Bangladesh.
14 August 2022
Nothing can happen unless the govt wants
Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain is an author, analyst and a former election commissioner. Recently he has talked to Mohiuddin Alamgir of The Daily Star on different issues including electoral reforms and proposals placed by political parties during the EC talks.
12 August 2022
Call for electoral reforms comes to the fore
From a staggered national election to a proportional representation system -- the Election Commission has been flooded with a whopping number of proposals placed by 28 political parties on the electoral reforms during the recently concluded dialogue.
12 August 2022
National polls: Almost half the parties oppose EVM
Differences of opinion on the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next national polls are widening among political parties with almost half of the registered ones opposed to electronic voting.
1 August 2022
EC talks with parties: Supervisory govt sought for polls
Nearly half of the 39 registered political parties are in favour of a polls-time government under interim, caretaker or all-party system for ensuring a participatory and credible parliamentary election.
1 August 2022
9 parties skip talks with EC
Nine opposition political parties, including the BNP, have skipped the ongoing talks with the Election Commission, saying that they have no confidence that the commission would be able to hold a free, fair and participatory national polls.
29 July 2022
EC’s dialogue hits a snag as BNP skips it
The BNP yesterday skipped Election Commission’s dialogue seeking recommendations of political parties on how to hold a free and fair general election.
20 July 2022
‘PEC, JSC exams are making for increased memorisation’
The PEC and JSC exams have economic repercussions, too.
20 July 2022
Parties can’t be forced to join nat’l polls: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal yesterday said it’s not possible to force any political party to take part in the next national election.
19 July 2022
Children to get 2yrs of pre-primary education
The government is going to introduce two-year pre-primary education at primary schools next year despite the fact that the pre-primary training programme could not prepare teachers for effectively teaching students in classrooms, especially considering the play-based approach towards education.
16 July 2022
Bangladesh first in South Asia in secondary education
Bangladesh has the lowest proportion of youths aged between 15 and 24 without secondary education level skills in South Asia, found a recent study.
14 July 2022
Almost no designated areas for sacrifice
To keep the capital clean during the sacrificial rituals of Eid-ul-Azha, the two city corporations fixed 535 designated spots to sacrifice animals during Eid in 2015.
7 July 2022
North South University Scams: When trust takes a back seat
Thirty years ago, the university was established as a non-profit with the vision to become a centre of excellence in higher education. But some of the trustees allegedly used the North South University to make a quick buck, tarnishing the image of one of the country’s best seats of learning.
6 July 2022
Opposition to EVM hardens
With the next parliamentary election a year and a half away, major political parties, except for the ruling Awami League, are toughening their stance against the use of Electronic Voting Machines in the polls.
28 June 2022
Floods take heavy toll on education
Floods in the north-eastern region are taking a heavy toll on education with at least 5,000 primary and secondary schools in 18 districts closed down.
27 June 2022
Draft education act: Blitz against notebooks, private tuition
Bangladesh’s first education act, which will be sent to the cabinet division next week for approval, orders a ban on printing, publishing and marketing notebooks and guidebooks -- a menace to the country’s education system.
23 June 2022