Porimol Palma

When over 1.5 lakh applications for machine-readable passports are pending for some two months, the authorities have yet to come up with any official explanations about what led to this situation and when and how it is going to be addressed.

The passport authorities sat on upgrading the MRP server that had crossed the 30-million limit in early June, causing delay in reissuing passports to tens of thousands of Bangladeshis, mostly migrants in the Gulf and Southeast Asian countries.

The government will begin vaccinating around 66,000 Rohingya refugees living in the camps of Cox’s Bazar from August 10.

Abdul Kader Parash lost his income three months ago due to sheer lack of clients at the motor garage he worked for in Kuala Lumpur.

Bangladesh does not want any measures that promote integration of the Rohingyas into the local society.

The government and the United Nations are close to finalising a protection policy for the Rohingya management in Bhasan Char, with a deal expected by the middle of next month.

When Harry Verweij arrived as Dutch ambassador three years ago, he had little idea about Bangladesh’s dynamism and thriving businesses. During his tenure, he discovered the immense potential the country holds. He shared thoughts on the future and challenges while talking to The Daily Star before he leaves Dhaka tomorrow.

As the pandemic continues to put people in misery the world over, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending sweet mangoes to India and several South Asian and Middle Eastern countries recognised to be friends.

Bangladesh's abstention from voting the UN General Assembly resolution on Myanmar, which condemned the country's February 1 military coup and called for restoring democracy and preventing arms flow, has raised questions if Bangladesh is supporting Myanmar military regime.

Coming out of Trump’s “America First” policy, US President Joe Biden is robustly engaging his allies in his global vision. After the virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April, three months after taking office, he joined the G-7 summit in Cornwall, UK on June 11-13.

With a civil war brewing in Myanmar, Bangladesh has much to worry about, as the face-off between the junta and the National Unity Government and its allies could result in a refugee influx once again, according to security and international relations analysists.

In a significant development, Myanmar’s National Unity Government has announced drafting a new constitution and committed to ensuring citizenship and fundamental rights of all ethnic groups, including the Rohingyas.

The budget has not proposed any direct cash support to revive the cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) sector, where millions of workers lost jobs, though the government proposed some short tax-relief measures.

After at least 1,000 migrants missed their flights to Saudi Arabia failing to book or pay for their mandatory quarantine in hotels, Bangladesh yesterday decided to help KSA-bound migrants with hotel bookings and subsidy.

Bangladesh has failed to achieve its target to raise the share of renewable energy to the total power generation to 10 per cent by 2020 amid constraints of resources, technologies and policies.

Bangladesh has taken an initiative to buy two million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the private sector, after appeals to the US and UK governments for Covid-19 shots yielded nothing.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi wants to use funds for the Rohingyas judiciously and create livelihood options for them.

Over the last decade, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been widely known in Bangladesh for her last-minute opposition to the Teesta water-sharing deal that could not be signed during the then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in 2011.

Bangladesh is eagerly waiting for US response over obtaining Covid-19 vaccines as its stock of AstraZeneca vaccine doses purchased from India will run out soon.

Concerned over the steep rise in coronavirus cases in India, the government mulls imposing more Covid-19 restrictions in Bangladesh in the coming days.