Now with the latest decision to allow people to leave Dhaka and the subsequent rush of people without showing respect for social distancing at exit points the whole exercise of lockdown from March 26 to May 30, 2020 has become meaningless, futile. Shamim A. Zahedy They ‘strutted and fretted their hour upon the stage’ and […]
Disturbing disregard for social distancing Read More »
The lack of interoperability between the rival MFS (mobile financial service) providers is holding back the equitable growth of the sector. This non-availability of much needed interoperability in the MFS sector is against competition and thereby against the business. Shamim A. Zahedy Panelists these days at webinars in charged-up voices pitch for exponential growth of
Interoperability is missing in business Read More »
As a state Bangladesh has a duty to offer level-playing field to every child and give equal opportunity to all, irrespective of their gender, religion, ethnicity and socio-economic status Shamim A. Zahedy With some 1.2 billion students worldwide, as UNESCO estimates, are affected by the closure of educational institutions due to the COVID-19 outbreak, hundreds
“Education divide” in Bangladesh Read More »
While it is assumed that proliferation of media outlets only ensures plurality of opinions, little thought was given to the quality of financial resources for media outlets until recently Shamim A. Zahedy When the news media industry in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world is already in a tailspin in the face of falling advertisement
Time to seek alternative financing for news media? Read More »
If the relevant demographic data including employment and income info are added to people’s national ID cards, the government can easily prepare a robust database for relief operations Shamim A. Zahedy When availability of data and statistics for many formal sectors is a big hurdle in Bangladesh, let alone those on informal and non-formal areas,
Govt needs to be techie to reach out to people in need of aid Read More »
The lightning speed at which the government administration and machinery are running after journalists is worrisome: is the Digital Security Act meant for justice, or for intimidation? Shamim A. Zahedy The very photographs of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajal handcuffed behind the back paint the sickness of society that everyone lives in. The manner in which
Handcuffs for journalism Read More »
The news media must now stop publishing each and everything for free in the web. They must forge a new way in the ever-growing digital space to ensure their revenue, for making media strong and viable Shamim A. Zahedy While NOAB, the short for Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh, has sought government bailout for print
New business model required for news media in the post-virus era Read More »
Shamim A. Zahedy, Dhaka In his “An Apology for Poetry,” English courtier, statesman, soldier, poet, and patron of scholars and poets Sir Philip Sidney (1554 AD-1586 AD) defended poetry in the face of severe criticism from his contemporary scholars in the middle age. Terming poetry as the “monarch” of the arts, Sidney, considered to be
An apology for print newspapers Read More »
As the country is going through the period of shutdown, it has become urgent for the government to look after the well-being of the poor and low-income group of people Shamim A. Zahedy With Bangladesh passing the fourth week of the novel coronavirus outbreak following the first confirmed case on 8 March 2020, the country
Bangladesh must intensify efforts to contain the virus Read More »
SHAMIM A. ZAHEDY, Dhaka The Independent, one of the oldest English language dailies that have been in continuous operation in Bangladesh, marks today (26 March 2020) its 25th founding anniversary amid the novel coronavirus pandemic that has so far killed 20,334 people globally including five in Bangladesh. Indeed, in a sombre mood, the newspaper, which
Thank you, readers Read More »
