Dhaka is eerie quiet, much like most capitals and countries around the world as they grapple with a common enemy -- the spread of the coronavirus. Bangladesh is currently in the midst of a country-wide shut down that has been in force from March 26 and will extend till April 4. Daily income of rickshaw-puller Aminul, who operates in Farmgate, in normal times the capital's busiest area, has almost dwindled to nothing. Like millions who depend on their labour and the city being the vibrant one

The Supreme Court today ordered Grameenphone to give Tk 2000 crore in three months to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BRTC) as the govt agency claimed due Tk 12,580 crore. The apex court said that if GP does not give Tk 2000 crore in three months it will stay the High Court order that issued injunction on BTRC's move to realize 12,580 crore due, Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, a lawyer for GP, told The Daily Star. A seven member bench of the Appellate Division headed

Terming the crisis artificial, senior treasury and opposition bench lawmakers yesterday came down heavily on the government in parliament for failing to check skyrocketing onion prices. They said people were suffering and the government’s failure to bring down the prices of the daily essential would trigger negative reaction from the people. The MPs, taking the floor on points of order, said there was “no shortage” of onions in the market and the crisis was artificially created. T

Onion prices went beyond the capacity of general people as the prices of the essential cooking ingredient have already broken the previous records. The prices of the variety climbed at Tk 150 per kg kitchen markets in Dhaka on Thursday despite government’s measures to pull the reins. Many people alleged that the prices are soaring as the wholesalers jacked up the price despite having no shortage of onion supply due to recent import of the ingredient. Multiple traders and consumer asso

Traders have hiked onion prices exponentially within a day, capitalizing on India’s export ban on the essential spice. Retailers sold each kg of onions for up to Tk 120 at kitchen markets in the capital’s Palashi and Mohammadur areas. It was about Tk 80 the previous day. “They are selling from their old stock, but they raised prices overnight,” said an elderly shopper at Mohammadpur Town Hall kitchen market after buying 500gm of the locally grown onion at Tk 55. The traders hike