Iran not seeking nuclear weapons, says Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons as negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's nuclear programme continue, reports UNB."We are ready to reassure the world that we are not seeking...

Netanyahu told Trump Israel would remain free to act against threats

JERUSALEM, May 24 (Reuters): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump Israel would remain free to act against threats in Lebanon during a phone call about an emerging agreement between Washington and Iran on Saturday, an Israeli...

China coal mine blast kills at least 90

BEIJING, May 23 (AFP) - A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 90 people, state media reported on Saturday, the country's biggest mining disaster in 17 years.A total of 247 workers were underground...

Gunman killed by US Secret Service after opening fire near White House

WASHINGTON, United States, May 24 (AFP): A gunman opened fire near the White House on Saturday evening, with US Secret Service agents killing the assailant in a shoot-out during which a bystander was also struck, authorities said.President Donald Trump was...

Gun attack on BNP leader at Cox's Bazar court

COX'S BAZAR, May 24 (UNB): At least five people were injured, including two with bullets, in a clash after a gun attack on a local BNP leader on the Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Court premises on Sunday morning.Of...

'Two ICT verdicts likely after Eid vacation'

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Md Aminul Islam on Sunday said verdicts in two cases are likely to be delivered after the Eid-ul-Azha vacation, reports BSS."Twenty-two cases are currently under trial. In addition, two cases are awaiting judgment...

Govt hopeful of Hasina's return under extradition treaty: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday expressed the hope that India would return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries, reports UNB."We still expect the Indian government to return her through...

Verma underscores depth of India-BD ties despite political turbulence

In a farewell note, issued on Sunday ahead of his departure, Pranay Verma described Bangladesh as one of the "most cherished" postings of his diplomatic career, underscoring the depth of ties between the two neighbours despite periods of political turbulence...

EC circular defines field officers' roles in polls management

FE REPORTThe Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) Secretariat has issued a comprehensive circular defining the roles and responsibilities of its field-level officers to strengthen election management and voter services across the country.Issued on Sunday, the directive specifies duties for additional regional...

JU Shariatpur Students' Welfare Assoc declares exec committee

Shariatpur Students' Welfare Association at Jahangirnagar University (JU) announced its executive committee for the 2025-2026 session.Junayed Hossain, a Bangla Dept student of 51st batch, will lead the organisation as president, while Md Mejanur Rahman from Law Dept of the same...

Three killed in landmine blast along Myanmar border

COX'S BAZAR, May 24 (UNB): Three Bangladeshi nationals were killed in a landmine explosion near the Myanmar border in Naikhongchhari of Bandarban on Sunday.The deceased were identified as Leraia, 41, son of Suniong Chakma, Ongke Mong, 50, son of Neomong...

Vitamin A capsules to be procured from UNICEF through DPM

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Saturday recommended in principle a proposal to procure Vitamin A capsules through the direct procurement method (DPM) from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to ensure uninterrupted supply of the supplements across the...

DMP bans heavy vehicles for Eid

With millions expected to leave Dhaka ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the police authorities have announced sweeping traffic restrictions, including a temporary ban on heavy vehicles and one-way movement on key highways, in an effort to reduce congestion and maintain orderly travel...

BRB CABLE AND ICML SIGN AGREEMENT ON ISSUE MANAGEMENT SERVICES-

BRB CABLE AND ICML SIGN AGREEMENT ON ISSUE MANAGEMENT SERVICESBRB Cable Industries Limited and ICB Capital Management Limited (ICML) signed an agreement on advisory and issue management services at the head office of the BRB Cable in Kushtia on Sunday....

Jamaat-e-Islami organises views-exchange meeting on National Budget

Jamaat-e-Islami organises views-exchange meeting on National Budget Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Parwar speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting with Economic Reporters on "National Budget Thinking" organised by his party at the Economic Reporters' Forum...

Resilient Saudi economy powers ahead on both oil and non-oil fronts

RIYADH, May 24 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia's economy is showing clear signs of resilience amid regional tensions, according to an analysis, demonstrating strong growth in the Purchasing Managers' Index, oil activities, the labor market, and equity markets.In its latest report,...

MTB signs agreement with Bangladesh Bank----

MTB signs agreement with Bangladesh BankMutual Trust Bank (MTB) has signed a participation agreement with Bangladesh Bank to implement Tk 30 billion Cluster Financing Scheme and Tk 15 billion Financial Sector Fund for the development of Micro, Small and Medium...

Personal loan tenure flexibility deserves regulatory attention

Bangladesh Bank's recent policy move under BRPD-1 Circular Letter No. 15 dated May 5, 2026 regarding consumer financing is undoubtedly a significant and timely initiative. The revised framework reflects the changing economic realities of Bangladesh, where rising income levels, increasing...

The theatre of unspoken wounds

At SHALA_Neighbourhood Art Space, silence hangs from the ceiling in the form of letters. Some are folded. Some are suspended in layers of translucent fabric. Others appear as fragments through projection and sound. As spectators slowly enter the hall to...

Canal excavation for water security and economic resilience

The history of Bangladesh's agriculture and rural life is fundamentally intertwined with its rivers, canals, and wetlands. However, over time, unplanned management, siltation of water bodies, and the over-extraction of groundwater have severely weakened our natural water systems. Consequently, despite...

Bangladesh's digital internet investment opportunity

Bangladesh's growing focus on ICT and connectivity as a foundation for future economic development is both timely and well placed. Reliable, high-speed internet is central to productivity, innovation, and long-term growth. As this foundation expands, the next challenge is ensuring...

AI in Islamic finance: Bangladesh must act before the future arrives

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer merely a technological development. It is rapidly becoming a transformative force reshaping banking, business models, risk management, regulatory supervision, and customer relationships. Islamic finance cannot remain outside this transformation. With global Islamic financial assets...

To fight inflation, address corporate greed

The Federal Reserve's interest rate policy and the blunt instrument of demand suppression dominate discussions on prolonged inflation, yet they offer only limited solutions. This strategy treats inflation as a macroeconomic imbalance to be corrected by raising borrowing costs and...

AMR: A growing public health threat

According to media reports, nearly 4 out of every 10 ICU patients, approximately 41 per cent, are not responding to antibiotics, which is deeply alarming. One major contributing factor is that many ICUs are not adequately hygienic or germ-free. In...

The rise of CJP and its implications for mainstream politics

The exponential proliferation of followers of the satirical "Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)" on social media sites is a clear sign that people, particularly the young generations, are not happy with the existing system of governance in India. This parodic imitation...

Making Eid travels safer

Security of travellers bound for their ancestral homes during this Eid-ul Azha holidays should be of utmost concern for the government, the home ministry to be particular. So, the home minister, who has already been grappling with the ever-worsening law...

Tapping the potential of wind energy

The war in the Middle East has exposed deep vulnerabilities of Bangladesh's energy sector, which remains overwhelmingly dependent on imported fossil fuels to meet nearly 95 per cent of its energy demand. The global volatility in fuel prices triggered by...

Digital payments gain momentum as Eid spending surges in Bangladesh

Eid-ul-Adha in Bangladesh has long been more than a religious celebration; it is a powerful economic moment that sets the rhythm of consumption, trade, and financial activity across the country. This year, that rhythm is shifting in a way that...

Bangladesh on cusp of transition to cashless economy

Bangladesh is undergoing a major transformation in its financial system as mobile financial services (MFS) increasingly replace cash-based transactions. Over the past decade, digital financial platforms such as bKash, Nagad, and Rocket have expanded financial access to millions of people,...

Plastic money boom amid Bangladesh's uneven cashless shift

From supermarket checkouts and online shopping carts to utility bills, overseas travel and freelance payments, plastic money is rapidly reshaping how Bangladeshis spend, save and transact. And this transition signals a major shift toward a more digitally connected and cashless...