45 more contestants regain candidacies on eighth day of hearings

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday approved 45 more appeals on the eighth day of hearings on challenges against returning officers' decisions on the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.A total of 112 review appeal applications...

Rapid growth gives impetus to financial inclusion: BB report

Bangladesh has made significant progress in expanding financial inclusion, driven largely by rapid growth in digital financial services, agent banking and microfinance, according to a Bangladesh Bank report.In its review of the country's financial inclusion landscape up to December 2024,...

Govt moves to overhaul sanctions regime ahead of FATF mutual evaluation

The government has initiated a sweeping overhaul of the national sanctions framework to plug loopholes in the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), sources familiar with the development said.The move is being seen as a high-priority strategic step to...

Rizwana urges stopping unnecessary honking to curb noise pollution

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Information and Broadcasting and Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Saturday urged people from all walks of life to avoid unnecessary honking as part of efforts to control noise pollution."Honking without reason has become a...

Govt seeks fast-track ADB budget support of $500 million

The government is seeking to fast-track the release of US$500 million in budgetary support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help finance a widening fiscal deficit in the current financial year (FY 2025-26), officials said on Saturday.The funds are...

Rice imports surge amid local market volatility as prices continue to climb

Rice imports surged sharply in the first five months ending November last amid persistent volatility in the staple food market, even as prices continued to climb.Imports jumped more than 1,256 per cent year-on-year to US$271.2 million during the July-November period,...

Country bears heavy responsibility for families of disappeared, says Tarique

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday expressed solidarity with the family members of victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and torture, saying the prolonged wait for missing loved ones remains a major responsibility of the state.He made the remarks while speaking...

Solidarity call voiced for free, fair journalism

A solidarity call was voiced Saturday from a media conclave for intimidation-free, fair journalism, after a number of editors, publishers and senior journalists narrated their past ordeals.Speakers there called for unity within the media profession, acknowledging past collective failures while...

Tech push, buyer taste reshaping Bangladesh's apparel industry

Apparel exporters are accelerating investment in advanced technologies to modernise production, raise productivity and strengthen long-term sustainability and global competitiveness Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) industry in the fast-changing economic milieus.From automation and robotics to AI-driven inspection and renewable energy, the...

Mirpur college student found dead at home

A 19-year-old girl was found dead at her residence in the capital's Mirpur area on Saturday morning, reports UNB.The deceased was identified as Sanjida Islam Mim, a second-year student of Mirpur (English Version) School and College and daughter of Sakhawat...

RU 'A' unit admission test held

The admission test for the Arts, Law and Social Science faculties under the 'A' Unit of Rajshahi University (RU) for the 2025-26 academic session was held smoothly on Saturday in two shifts.The first shift started at 11:00 am, while the...

Temp may remain unchanged

FE ReportThe overall temperature across the country increased by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius on Saturday and is likely to remain unchanged over the next two days.According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), dry weather with a temporarily partly cloudy...

Two killed as three buses collide in Sylhet

At least two people have been killed and 10 others injured in a collision involving three buses in Sylhet's Osmaninagar Upazila, reports bdnews24.com.The accident occurred at around 07:00 am on Saturday in the Dayamir area along the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, according...

An overwhelming crowd of visitors converge on the fairground of the Dhaka International Trade Fair 2026

An overwhelming crowd of visitors converge on the fairground of the Dhaka International Trade Fair 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal on Saturday- the second day of weekend. — FE Photo

DU authorities lodge case over attack on students

DU CORRESPONDENTThe authorities of Dhaka University (DU) have filed a case with New Market Police Station in connection an attack on DU students in the capital's Science Laboratory area of the capital on January 15.The information was confirmed in a...

Assault on intern doctor at Syhet hospital sparks work stoppage

An intern doctor has been assaulted at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, prompting junior doctors to launch an indefinite work stoppage in protest, reports bdnews24.com.The attack took place on Friday night. Police said three relatives of a patient had...

Candidates concerned over illegal firearms in Kushtia

KUSHTIA, Jan 17 (UNB): Candidates contesting from Kushtia-4 constituency have expressed concern over looted and illegal firearms ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum, urging authorities to ensure a peaceful and fair vote.The concerns were raised at a views-exchange...

Govt appoints Hadi's brother as second secy at UK mission

The interim government has appointed Omar bin Hadi, the brother of murdered Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman bin Hadi, as Second Secretary at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Birmingham, United Kingdom, reports UNB.The Ministry of Public Administration issued a...

Seven-college students to form 'Adhyadesh Mancha' at Shahbagh

FE REPORT Students of seven government colleges in the capital announced on Saturday that they would form "Adhyadesh Mancha" (Ordinance Stage) at Shahbagh on Sunday (January 19) to press for their demand for issuance of the Dhaka Central University Ordinance-2025.The...

Three-wheelers ruin orderly traffic flow on Dhaka roads

SM NAJMUS SAKIBUnsafe battery-run three-wheelers reign supreme on the roads in Dhaka destroying the traffic order for other formal vehicles, taking opportunity of a lack of regulation, oversight, or intervention by the authorities, observed experts and sufferers. The locally-modified and...

EU mission deploys 56 election observers in 64 districts

European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase has said it is very important to see the whole picture of electoral process holistically to present its report impartially, stressing that this is a historic moment for...

EC revokes candidacy of BNP's Munshi, upholds NCP's Hasnat in Cumilla-4

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday cancelled the candidacy of BNP's Monzurul Ahsan Munshi and upheld that of National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah, in Cumilla-4, report agencies.The decision came after the EC, led...

CMP bars ex-ministers, mayors, BNP leaders from port city, labels them 'miscreants'

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has identified 330 individuals as "miscreants" and imposed restrictions on their entry and presence within the city.The list includes former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, ex-city mayor AJM Nasir, and different leaders of the Awami...

July Charter could shape a new Bangladesh: Ali Riaz

Prof Ali Riaz said the July Charter, which the government plans to put to a referendum, was drafted through sacrifice and loss and could help shape a 'new Bangladesh,' reports bdnews24.com.Prof Ali Riaz has said the July Charter, which the...

BNP announces 2-day prog on Zia's birth anniv

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will observe the 90th birth anniversary of its founder, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, with a two-day programme beginning January 19, marking the occasion with due respect, reports BSS.Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman is remembered as the proclaimer...

A party is trying to tactically withdraw from polls

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said a political party is attempting to withdraw from the upcoming elections in an effort to hinder the democratic transition, reports BSS. He, however, warned that such attempts would be futile."Those who are...

Nepal's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanashyam Bhandari, presents a picture featuring 'Mount Everest' to BNP

Nepal's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanashyam Bhandari, presents a picture featuring 'Mount Everest' to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman during a courtesy meeting at the latter's Gulshan office in the capital on Saturday. — — Focus Bangla

Taiwan aims to be strategic AI partner in US tariff deal

TAIPEI, Jan 16 (Reuters): Taiwan aims to become a close strategic partner with the United States in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) after striking a deal to cut tariffs and boost its investment in the country, Vice Premier Cheng...

SHAHJALAL ISLAMI BANK HOLDS ANNUAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE

SHAHJALAL ISLAMI BANK HOLDS ANNUAL BUSINESS CONFERENCEShahjalal Islami Bank PLC organised its 'Annual Business Conference-2026' at a resort in Gazipur on Saturday. The conference was presided over by its Managing Director Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, while Vice-Chairman of the Board of...

SOUTHEAST BANK HOLDS ANNUAL AGENT BANKING CONFERENCE FOR DHAKA

SOUTHEAST BANK HOLDS ANNUAL AGENT BANKING CONFERENCE FOR DHAKASoutheast Bank successfully organised the "Annual Agent Banking Conference 2026" for its Dhaka zone recently. MA Kashem, chairman of Southeast Bank, graced the conference as the chief guest. Md. Khalid Mahmood Khan,...