The worrying contraction of manufacturing sector

Bangladesh's manufacturing sector appears to be undergoing a structural shift -- one that raises concerns about the country's long-term industrial trajectory. The recently released Economic Census report highlights a complex transformation in the economy, marked by rapid expansion in the...

Rohingya as a test case of global moral failure

There is a concept in political philosophy that the Italian theorist Giorgio Agamben spent decades developing — one that, read in a library or a seminar room, feels like an intellectual exercise, but read against the daily dispatches from Cox’s...

War against Iran: the end game

The Biblical Armageddon between good and evil was set to take place on 7 April, the deadline set for Iran to acquiesce to Donald Trump's peremptory directive to open the Strait of Hormuz. His profanity-laden message on social media, replete...

Court seizes tax files of Asaduzzaman Noor

A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered the seizure of tax files of former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, reports BSS.Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judgr Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order, allowing a plea of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).The petition stated...

UPDF man shot dead in Khagrachhari-

KHAGRACHHARI, Apr 08 (UNB): A member of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was shot dead by miscreants over establishing supremacy at Akbari on the Khagrachhari-Rangamati road in Sadar upazila of Khagrachhari district on Wednesday.The deceased was identified as Newton...

Adviser Kobir hands over PM's letter addressed to BJP leader

Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir has met Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, in-charge, Department of Foreign Affairs, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi, reports UNB.During the meeting, Adviser Kobir handed over a letter to Dr Vijay from Prime Minister...

Tulip 'flat graft' case ready for trial

The "flat corruption" case against Tulip Siddiq, the British MP and niece of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and two others is ready to head to trial, reports bdnews24.com.On Wednesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz ordered the...

Rumeen vocal against measles deaths, scarce vaccines in parliament

Rumeen Farhana, an independent MP from Brahmanbaria-2, has raised the issue of child deaths from measles, vaccine shortages, unpaid salaries of health workers, and field-level preparedness in parliament after a deadly outbreak across Bangladesh, reports bdnews24.com.In response, Health and Family...

EC announces polls schedule for reserved women's seats

The Election Commission (EC) has announced the schedule for the reserved women's seat elections to be held on May 12, reports BSS.Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed announced the schedule at Nirbachan Bhaban in city's Agargaon area on...

Govt considering nationalising one women's college in every upazila: PM

Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government is considering nationalising one women's college in each upazila as part of its efforts to expand women's education and ensure their empowerment and equal access to education, reports UNB."The present...

Emergency services at Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Emergency services at Dhaka Medical College Hospital were suspended on Wednesday afternoon after a clash erupted between its doctors and students of Dhaka University, raising serious security concerns on the hospital premises. — FE Photo

State to appeal against HC verdict on separate SC secretariat: AG

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal on Wednesday said the state will file an appeal against the High Court (HC) verdict directing the establishment of a separate secretariat for the Supreme Court (SC), reports BSS."The decision to appeal was taken...

DMP takes security measures for Pahela Baishakh

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken adequate measures to ensure utmost security and smooth traffic management across the capital during the upcoming Pahela Baishakh celebrations marking Bengali New Year 1433.To this effect, the DMP held a high-level coordination meeting...

60,295 posts of teachers vacant in MPO-listed schools, colleges

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Wednesday told Parliament that a total of 60,295 posts of teachers are currently vacant in MPO-listed schools and colleges across the country, reports UNB."Altogether, there are 60,295 vacant teacher posts in MPO-listed schools...

Road accidents kill 231 children in three months

At least 231 children aged one month to 17 years were killed in road accidents in the last three months since January across the country, according to a rights group's report published on Wednesday.Children are being killed in road accidents...

DSCC conducts drive to evict illegal bus counters

The authorities of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) conducted on Wednesday a major eviction drive against illegal bus counters and structures around the Sayedabad inter-district bus terminal to improve traffic flow and restore road discipline. Executive Magistrate of DSCC Aminul...

Govt's co-op sought to pilot franchise bus service in city

Blaming successive governments for not providing any kind of support for the private sector bus services, transport leaders have demanded the present government's cooperation to introduce first franchise-system bus service in the city by them on pilot basis with some...

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister

Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday. — PID photo

WASA amendment bill passed, govt empowered to appoint, remove officials

In a move to overhaul the management of water and sewerage authorities in the country, a bill titled "Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026" was passed in the Parliament on Wednesday, reports UNB.The bill, introduced and moved by...

3 Bangladeshis among 4 killed in NY crash

A deadly head-on collision between two cars in New York has claimed the lives of three Bangladeshis among four victims, casting a pall of grief over the diaspora community.The crash occurred around 7pm on Monday on Highway 9H, about 48km...

Bangladesh welcomes ceasefire in Middle East

Bangladesh has welcomed the temporary ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East describing it as an encouraging step towards de-escalation in the region, reports UNB."Bangladesh hopes that all parties involved will respect the ceasefire and utilise this opportunity...

Master plan made to tap BD's plentiful tourism potential

A master plan containing integrated initiatives and a strategic roadmap has been formulated for developing the country's tourism industry over next two decades, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament Wednesday. He presented the plan outlines and promises while responding to...

JS passes Public Accounts Audit Bill

The "Public Accounts Audi Bill 2026" was passed in Parliament on Wednesday aiming to enhance transparency, accountability and the optimal use of public resources in alignment with the Constitution of Bangladesh, reports UNB.The bill, placed and moved by Finance Minister...

Banglar Joyjatra nearing Hormuz

Bangladeshi flag-carrier vessel "MV Banglar Joyjatra" has set sail from Ras Al Khair port in Saudi Arabia to cross the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reports bdnews24.com.As of the latest updates...

No respite from long queues at petrol pumps

Motorists across the city faced another day of frustration on Wednesday as there is no let-up in long queues of vehicles waiting at petrol pumps to refuel amid a lingering supply strain triggered by Middle East conflict.Cars, motorcycles, pick-ups and...

Govt borrows Tk 50b to meet budget deficit

The government borrowed Tk 50 billion in a single day on Wednesday through a special auction of 91-day treasury bills (T-bills) to partially meet its budget deficit.The yield on the T-bills rose to 10.04 per cent on the day, up...

Ordinance granting immunity to July protesters ratified

Parliament passed a bill ratifying an ordinance granting legal immunity to participants in the 2024 mass protests, while setting out a mechanism to investigate allegations of serious crimes committed during the upheaval.The legislation, titled The July Mass Uprising (Protection and...

Saifuzzaman's UK assets being put on sale

Former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury's assets are already being put on sale in the UK market as he has not defended allegations of siphoning money from Bangladesh.Sources involved in stolen asset recovery say Chowdhury has refrained from appointing any lawyer...

Cabinet body okays import of 0.3m tonnes of diesel under direct purchase method

The government on Wednesday decided, in principle, to approve proposals for importing 0.3 million tonnes of diesel and procuring EPI vaccines through the UNICEF under direct-purchase method.A meeting of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Finance Minister Amir...

10 more die of measles-like symptoms

At least 10 more children have died of measles-like symptoms across the country in the past 24 hours, raising the total death toll to 159, including 21 confirmed cases, health authorities said on Wednesday.Of the latest suspected deaths, six were...