By Syed Badrul Ahsan :: It is time to sit back and reflect on Bangladesh’s diplomacy and the men and women sent abroad to articulate such diplomacy. The degree to which our ambassadors and high commissioners have since the early 1970s been able to speak forcefully and persuasively for the country abroad calls for a serious and purposeful rethink. The ...

By Shibabrata Barman ::  A quick bail prematurely ending an earlier remand order and the release of a journalist may settle the dust for now. But there is an element of grave concern the Probir Sikdar whirlwind has brought to our attention and we should not overlook it. The legal procedures followed in the ICT lawsuit against this journalist might ...

Summer’s lease has all too short a date — and the last week of August is the time it starts to run out. Thoughts of pinot grigio and finishing Elena Ferrante novels give way to anxiety about the lack of a career plan, dearth of school shoes and that unfinished piece of work you started in July. Fortunately, the Prime ...

European leaders should do more to open up and help migrants instead of using language that dismisses their rights, a UN expert on migrant rights has said. Talking about “marauders” and “swarms” was an unsubtle way of dismissing their legitimacy, said Francois Crepeau. European countries should open official channels and their labour markets to migrants because building fences would not ...

Police in Germany say a school sports hall intended as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers has burned down in a suspected arson attack. Investigators believe the fire in Nauen, west of Berlin, was started deliberately. No-one was injured. Far-right protesters have demonstrated against asylum seekers in the area. German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier condemned violent protests at an asylum ...

A British man caught up in the foiled train attack near Arras in northern France has criticised the actions of the train’s staff. Jamie Robinson, a medical researcher, told the BBC’s World Have Your Say programme that passengers were abandoned by the staff, who ran and locked themselves away in a service room. His experience tallies with that of French ...

Kolkata’s historic homes reflect a rich architectural heritage – where European styles are blended with mix of colonial and Indian influences. But they are now under threat, as Divya Guha reports. I’m standing on the roof terrace of a 150-year-old bungalow in India’s eastern city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta): a rambling establishment, beautiful but unkempt and sadly disintegrating in places. ...

Islamic State (IS) has published images of what appears to be the destruction of the Temple of Baalshamin at the ancient ruins of Palmyra in Syria. The photos showing militants rigging the temple with explosives and a large explosion were circulated by the jihadist group’s supporters. Syrian officials and activists said on Sunday that it had been blown up. The ...

China has cut its main interest rate to boost growth in its economy. The People’s Bank of China cut its main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.6% in an effort to calm stock markets after two days of turmoil. It is the fifth interest rate cut since November and will take effect on Wednesday. The move has boosted ...

Emdad Rahman Ashraful Islam scored 105 as Scintilla CC stormed back to beat rivals Redbridge. Redbridge won the toss and chose to bat first. On a good batting pitch at Parmiters Sports Ground the home side reached 263/8 after 45 overs. Imran was in sensational form and blew the Scintilla pace attack open to reach 120. His team mate Haroon ...