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Articles by Saddif Ovee
Saudi crisis exposes Bangladesh’s migrant labour vulnerability
Bangladeshi migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are facing a deepening livelihood crisis as missile attacks and flight disruptions compound existing problems of unpaid wages, shrinking employment opportunities and difficulties renewing residency permits, raising concerns over the future of Bangladesh’s largest overseas labour market.
Bus owners step in to tackle Dhaka’s traffic chaos
Bus owners and workers have taken to the streets at 20 points across Dhaka in a bid to bring order to the capital’s chaotic traffic, enforcing designated bus stops and preventing passengers from getting on and off buses at random spots. The drive, launched on Sunday by the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, also aims to improve road discipline and prevent the operation of unfit, dilapidated and permitless buses.
Repatriation deadlock pushes Dhaka to rethink Rohingya policy
Nine years after the mass Rohingya exodus into Bangladesh, hopes of returning home have faded into deepening uncertainty, with repatriation stalled, violence continuing in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and a worsening humanitarian crisis pushing growing numbers of refugees towards dangerous sea journeys. More than 1.2 million Rohingya are now living in 32 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf, nine years after hundreds of thousands fled Myanmar following the military crackdown that began on August 25, 2017.
PM Tarique’s India visit remains uncertain amid diplomatic tensions
Dhaka and New Delhi have been in communication over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India since before August 5, with discussions covering a bilateral meeting between the two prime ministers and the agenda for the visit. The date was close to being finalized, but former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s August 5 press conference in Delhi, following her conviction for crimes against humanity, created uncertainty over the planned visit.
Thailand eyes FTA, shipping link to cut transit to 3-5 days
Thailand is pushing to revive free trade agreement negotiations with Bangladesh while working on a direct maritime route that could slash shipping time between the two countries from around two weeks to as little as three to five days, Thai Ambassador Thitiporn Chirasawadi said. The proposed route would connect Thailand’s Ranong Port with Chittagong through the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, bypassing the longer existing route through the Strait of Malacca.
Bangladesh-India ties: Which way forward?
Since the fall of the Awami League government following the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in 2024, Bangladesh-India relations have remained strained despite several attempts to reset ties. Efforts during the interim government’s tenure failed to break the deadlock. Even before the formation of the new government after the February 2026 election, India had begun efforts to reset relations.
Dhaka now lives by the ‘gas clock’
Thousands of families across Dhaka are setting alarms for 2am, 3am and 4am, not to begin their workday, but to catch a few fleeting hours of gas supply before it disappears again, as Bangladesh’s worsening energy crisis forces households to reorganize their lives around empty pipelines.
How traffickers use Facebook to lure Bangladeshis into deadly Europe journeys
Polished Facebook videos showing Bangladeshis arriving on Italian beaches, walking through European streets and shopping in supermarkets are being used to lure people into dangerous Mediterranean crossings, with traffickers presenting the journey from Libya to Europe as a guaranteed “game.” Behind the carefully curated videos is a far more dangerous reality: deaths at sea, detention and torture in Libya, and ransom demands of up to Tk30 lakh from migrants’ families.
Gas crisis deepens as LNG disruption hits homes, industries
Bangladesh is facing a worsening gas crisis as a technical failure at an LNG terminal has triggered a major supply shortfall, disrupting households, industries, power generation and transport services. Natural gas remains a key driver of the country’s economy, powering industrial operations, electricity generation and daily household needs. However, the disruption has forced Petrobangla to meet only around 56% of national demand, intensifying pressure on consumers and businesses.
LNG terminal disruption chokes gas supply
A prolonged gas crisis in the capital has taken a turn for the worse, with many neighbourhoods now receiving no gas even during scheduled supply hours, leaving households unable to cook and forcing motorists into hours-long queues at CNG filling stations. The nationwide shortage follows a technical fault at a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which has significantly reduced gas supply.
Maldives looks beyond labour, eyes skilled Bangladeshis
The Maldives is looking to transform its relationship with Bangladesh from one centred largely on migrant labour into a broader economic partnership, while seeking more skilled Bangladeshi professionals to support the island nation’s expanding healthcare, tourism and infrastructure sectors.
Bangladeshi leaders’ China visits: Strategy or foreign policy reset?
Since the ouster of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh’s relations with neighbouring India have shown visible strain. Against that backdrop, China has moved to draw Dhaka closer. Bilateral engagement, across economic cooperation, trade and people-to-people exchanges, has grown more than at any previous time. A particularly noticeable trend is the rise in visits by Bangladeshi political leaders to China.
Why is there a gap between suspected and confirmed measles cases?
The measles outbreak in Bangladesh has been ongoing for more than a month, raising concerns over a significant gap between suspected and confirmed cases and deaths. As of Thursday, 34 people have died from confirmed measles, while 172 deaths have been recorded as suspected cases—bringing the total number of deaths linked to measles or its symptoms to 206. The disparity has prompted questions over whether all the deaths were caused by measles or if another disease may be circulating.
Health sector crisis deepens in Bangladesh: Who will step in?
For many in Bangladesh, the country’s strained health system is not an abstract policy issue but a daily reality measured in long waits, rising bills, and difficult choices between treatment and survival. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these weaknesses sharply, yet little has changed since. Shortages of doctors and nurses, low budget allocation, mismanagement, and soaring treatment and medicine costs continue to weigh heavily on patients and families.
Through a daughter’s eyes, Meghna recalls night her father was taken
As Bangladesh marks Independence Day, the memory of March 25, 1971, a night of coordinated killings and terror, remains one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history. Among the victims of that night was Dhaka University professor Dr Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, whose killing reflects the systematic targeting of intellectuals during the crackdown. On that night, Pakistani forces launched Operation Searchlight, a military campaign aimed at crushing the Bengali population’s demand for independence.
US wants assurances on quick implementation of trade agreement, repatriation of illegal immigration
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, concluded a two-day visit to Bangladesh on Thursday night, highlighting key US priorities in the country. During his discussions, Kapur emphasised expanding market access for American businesses, enhancing cooperation on combating illegal immigration and deepening collaboration on regional security issues.
Visa doors slam shut worldwide for Bangladeshis
The United States has announced the suspension of immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, dealing a major blow to thousands of Bangladeshis hoping to settle permanently in the country with their families. The move has effectively closed pathways for family reunification, including marriage-based immigration to the US.
Security concerns persist in diplomatic enclaves as calls grow for acceptable elections
With the 13th national parliamentary election approaching, several countries have expressed interest in sending election observers to Bangladesh, while also raising concerns over security, particularly in diplomatic areas. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam briefed diplomats at the State Guest House Padma on Thursday, assuring them of adequate security arrangements for foreign missions and election observers.
Highest costs, lowest returns: Bangladeshi migrants’ harsh reality
Year after year, migration costs continue to rise in Bangladesh. Although the government set official fees in 2016 for travel to 16 countries, prospective workers routinely spend far more than those limits. Studies and surveys show actual costs run several times higher, with a large share siphoned off by middlemen and labour-market syndicates. Earnings lag far behind expenses, leaving migrants struggling to recover what they pay.
US National Security Strategy 2025: Implications for Bangladesh, Indo-Pacific
The United States has outlined a strengthened military and strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific in its newly released National Security Strategy 2025, with potential implications for Bangladesh and the wider region. While Europe seeks stability, prosperity, and sustainable development in an open Indo-Pacific region, the United States is emphasising the expansion of military power.
Political asylum abroad: Why Bangladeshis top applications
Applications for political asylum by Bangladeshis in the UK and Europe have continued to rise, accompanied by a growing rejection rate. Immigration experts say such surges are common during periods of political uncertainty, but increased youth unemployment and tighter immigration rules are also contributing factors. They warn that the high number of falsified claims is making it harder for those who genuinely need protection.
First flight of 60 left-behind workers to depart for Malaysia Tuesday
The government has launched an initiative to send workers who could not travel to Malaysia by May 31 last year. Under this program, a flight carrying 60 workers will depart for Malaysia on Tuesday. According to the state-owned recruitment agency BOESL, these workers have been arranged jobs in Malaysia’s construction sector. A formal farewell ceremony has been organised for them at the airport.
Bangladeshis caught between poverty, propaganda in Russia’s war
Hassan (pseudonym), a young man from Mymensingh, flew to Russia on August 10 last year with a legal work visa arranged through a local travel agency. He was meant to be a welder. Instead, his family learned months later, via a secret app message from Hassan, that he had been enrolled with Russian forces and sent toward the Ukraine front. His elder brother has appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help; the family lives in daily fear.
Court digitization fails to spare litigants from bribery, red tape
After the Supreme Court, lower courts have also begun preparing daily e-dockets to help litigants track case updates. But while orders are now available online, litigants say digital access has not reduced harassment. In the Supreme Court, for instance, a single copy of an order often requires passing through more than a dozen desks — and, in many cases, bribes.
China fills the gap as Dhaka recalibrates post-Hasina diplomacy
Since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, Bangladesh’s regional diplomacy has undergone a striking realignment. As ties with India cooled following the student-led uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s long rule, Beijing has moved swiftly to strengthen its position - deepening political, economic, and cultural links with the new interim administration and a range of political parties.
CA Yunus to appeal to UAE president for release of 24 Bangladeshi workers
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will send a letter to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan requesting a general pardon for 24 Bangladeshi citizens detained last year during protests linked to the anti-discrimination student movement, said the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. A senior ministry official told Dhaka Tribune that the draft of the letter is being finalized and will soon be sent from the ministry to the chief adviser’s office.
‘Many were jumping off the roof to survive’
Mojahidul Islam Jobair has been working at Khana's restaurant on the fourth floor of Green Cozy Cottage on Bailey Road for the last five months. On Thursday night, after a fire broke out at the building, Jobair went to the rooftop and jumped off, assuming that it would save his life. Although he has survived, he is currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for injuries. Doctors say he needs surgery on his spine and legs.
Malaysia taking action against agencies over human trafficking
A young man named Saiful (pseudonym) broke into tears while sharing his experience of going to Malaysia to change his fate with the help of a middleman. “The broker sent me abroad, saying he would provide me with a decent job. Now here we are kept in captivity. My father had a brain stroke; now he is bedridden due to paralysis,” he told this correspondent. This story is not only about one Saiful.
Report: 13,000 Bangladeshis brave Mediterranean risks for European dream
Reports frequently emerge of Bangladeshis disappearing or perishing while attempting to cross the perilous Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of a better life in Europe. This perilous journey not only exposes Bangladeshi youth to inhumane conditions and brutal treatment but also subjects them to life-threatening risks in their quest for a brighter future on the continent.
How smart card frauds are harming the manpower sector
The manpower sector of the country is experiencing frequent threats from smart card fraudsters that the migrant workers have to collect from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) while going abroad. These migrant workers are suffering financial losses and are not getting work abroad. This ring has defrauded hundreds of workers going to the UAE, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, no one has any information about smart cards being issued illegally in other countries either.
Death after endoscopy: Family alleges negligence, doctor blames missing records
A man named Raahib Reza passed away from cardiac arrest during an endoscopy procedure at Lab Aid Hospital in Dhanmondi, Dhaka on Monday. He was employed at an IT company in the capital. His family members allege that Raahib Reza was given anesthesia without a prior examination of his test reports at Lab Aid Hospital. They claim that the endoscopy was conducted despite his existing physical complications, leading to a heart attack and his subsequent death.
Covid-19 patients may go up in summer
The new variant of Covid-19 named "JN.1" has spread to more than 45 countries around the world, including Bangladesh. In January, the strain was found in five samples, while it has been found in at least 32 samples so far. Experts fear that the number of Covid-infected patients may increase if the temperature increases at the end of the winter. For this reason, they have called for increasing surveillance from now on.
What is the actual number of Bangladeshi migrant workers?
There is considerable confusion and discrepancy regarding the actual number of Bangladeshi workers currently employed overseas. Various sources provide conflicting figures, raising questions about the accuracy of data collection and hindering effective policy and planning. In July, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament that more than 14.9 million workers are currently working in 176 countries worldwide.
Big dragon fruits not toxic, say experts
Dragon fruit is considered a super food that became popular in Dhaka eight to ten years ago when it was affordable only to the wealthy and upper-middle class. At that time, big-size dragon fruits—red and white varieties—were imported from Thailand. Later, several farms were set up in the country’s southeast and northern districts, and prices were lowered significantly in 2019-2020.
Eid rush spikes Covid cases in 7 border districts
Of them, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj have seen the highest number of infections Seven of Bangladesh’s 30 border districts with India have seen a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases and officials think this happened because Eid holidaymakers travelled violating the health safety rules. However, the civil surgeons of these districts have said that they are yet to determine whether these were cases of the Indian variant of the deadly disease.
PEC maths test matches with leaked question papers by 70% | Dhaka Tribune
Two sets of question papers for the mathematics test of the ongoing Primary Education Completion (PEC) examinations for both general and English versions were leaked on different social media platforms on Thursday night. The questions apparently matches with the question papers provided at the exam on Sunday morning by 70%.
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