Jordan Intercepts Iranian Missiles Following Joint U.S. and Saudi Strikes in Iraq
Jordanian air defenses shot down five Iranian ballistic missiles following joint U.S. and Saudi air operations against militia positions in Iraq. The renewed clashes disrupt a short-lived pause in hostilities, putting global energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea at further risk.
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LIVEThe strange grief of seeing our parents age
SC stays HC orders barring shown arrests without specific allegations
Gas crisis strikes paracetamol API, other industries
Technology cannot compensate for the missing trust in land offices
National & Politics
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Why are we still struggling to make health insurance work?
Bangladesh has committed itself to achieving universal health coverage (UHC), ensuring that everyone can access necessary health services without suffering financial hardship. Yet, out-of-pocket payments continue to finance most healthcare, forcing families to borrow money, sell assets, or forego treatment altogether. Recognising this challenge, the government’s Health Care Financing Strategy identified health insurance as a key instrument to reduce out-of-pocket spending and accelerate progress towards UHC. More than a decade later, however, the country remains at the pilot stage.
Gazi Nazrul’s case raises bigger questions for parliament
The controversy surrounding Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam poses two questions that must not be confused. Can Jamaat-e-Islami, by expelling him, make his parliamentary seat vacant? And can parliament ignore any serious misconduct merely because no express ground for disqualification has yet arisen? Under the law, the first answer is no. In a credible democracy, the second must also be no.
3 held over alleged attempted rape on moving bus in Ashulia
Police have arrested three people, including a bus driver and his helper, in connection with the attempted rape of a woman on a moving bus in Ashulia.
Kafrul Swechchhasebak Dal leader hired hitmen to kill Jubo Dal rival: DB
A Kafrul Thana Swechchhasebak Dal leader allegedly hired a group of contract killers from Magura to assassinate a local Jubo Dal leader over a long-running turf war, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed today.
Capital markets gain momentum following the central bank's updated monetary policy guidelines and targeted export incentives.
Business & Economy
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S&P revises Bangladesh outlook to negative
1 week ago
Reports of Tk 120cr VAT evasion by Transcom unsubstantiated
1 week ago
Tottenham vs Sydney FC: How to Watch, Kick-off Time, and Streaming Details
1 week ago
Study finds microplastics in 3 out of 4 toothpaste samples
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Lifestyle & Perspective
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1 week ago
Women built the RMG might. Now they are losing ground
When Nasima got a text from her employer during the Eid holidays, she expected another routine message. Instead, it told her she had been fired.
1 week ago
The narcotics trail: Traffickers tap 105 border points across 18 districts
Bangladesh faces a growing drug crisis, with an estimated 8.2 million users. As the country does not produce narcotics, most are smuggled in from abroad. In a four-part series, The Daily Star explores the trafficking routes, the threats and the impacts of drug abuse. The first instalment looks at the key entry points.
1 week ago
Unlocking the full potential of Bangladesh's national laboratory institute
When a physician prescribes treatment, almost every clinical decision depends on one fundamental assumption—that the laboratory report is accurate. An incorrect laboratory result can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, delayed intervention, unnecessary healthcare costs, and even preventable deaths. Modern healthcare, therefore, relies on laboratory medicine not merely as a support service but as the foundation of safe and effective clinical decision-making.
Education & Career
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1 week ago
The narcotics trail: Traffickers tap 105 border points across 18 districts
Bangladesh faces a growing drug crisis, with an estimated 8.2 million users. As the country does not produce narcotics, most are smuggled in from abroad. In a four-part series, The Daily Star explores the trafficking routes, the threats and the impacts of drug abuse. The first instalment looks at the key entry points.
1 week ago
A trillion-dollar ambition needs a stronger investment climate
The other day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transforming Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy by 2034. While the ambition is welcome, there is a policy puzzle that needs to be encountered: how will the economy double in size when domestic private investment has weakened, foreign direct investment remains modest, and many existing businesses are reluctant to expand? Private investment fell to 22.03 percent of GDP in FY2024-25, its lowest level in 11 years. Net FDI recovered to $1.77 billion in 2025, but this was less than 0.4 percent of an economy estimated at around $510 billion. Even the recovery deserves to be viewed with caution, since it was driven mainly by reinvested earnings and intra-company loans, while new equity investment increased only marginally.
1 week ago
BMD forecasts five days of rain, heavy downpours
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast widespread rainfall across the country over the next five days, with moderate to very heavy downpours expected in places due to an active monsoon and a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.
1 week ago
Salinity creeps deeper into southwest
Saltwater is rapidly intruding into Bangladesh's southwestern region, with nearly 68 percent of cultivable land affected in 18 of 19 coastal districts, according to a new government study.
Tech & Innovation
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1 week ago
Tottenham vs Sydney FC: How to Watch, Kick-off Time, and Streaming Details
Tottenham Hotspur wrap up their pre-season trip in Australia with a clash against A-League side Sydney FC. Here’s everything you need to know about where to stream the action, kick-off times, and key team updates ahead of the game.
Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, data shows
Politics and religion has now gotten mixed with support for WC team: Kazi Sabir
Kafrul Swechchhasebak Dal leader hired hitmen to kill Jubo Dal rival: DB
A trillion-dollar ambition needs a stronger investment climate
Study finds microplastics in 3 out of 4 toothpaste samples
Culture & Entertainment
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Presidential election: EC to meet acting Speaker tomorrow
Women built the RMG might. Now they are losing ground
Citizens have already answered the ‘amendment or reform’ question
BRAC Bank's Q2 profit jumps 73% on higher investment income
Health & Wellbeing
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Salinity’s silent intrusion
The alarming rate of salinity intrusion in southwestern coastal Bangladesh has emerged as a serious threat to nearly 4.4 crores people living in the coastal region. According to a report published in this newspaper, the speed and extent of salinity expansion across 18 of the country's 19 coastal districts demonstrate that the crisis demands urgent attention. The findings of the government-run Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to take effective measures to address this evolving crisis.
Unlocking the full potential of Bangladesh's national laboratory institute
When a physician prescribes treatment, almost every clinical decision depends on one fundamental assumption—that the laboratory report is accurate. An incorrect laboratory result can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, delayed intervention, unnecessary healthcare costs, and even preventable deaths. Modern healthcare, therefore, relies on laboratory medicine not merely as a support service but as the foundation of safe and effective clinical decision-making.
Our forestry policy must be rooted in local evidence
The government ban on exotic tree species such as eucalyptus and acacia during the current planting season has sparked debate among the public, policymakers, and forestry professionals in both mainstream and social media platforms. Supporters argue that these fast-growing species are vital for timber production and rural livelihoods. Critics, however, see them as ecological risks that should be replaced with native alternatives.