Need for a unified agro-processing regulatory body

That Bangladesh's agro-processing industry remains mired in layers of regulatory hurdles is no secret. The sector, despite its immense potential to drive export growth, rural employment, and value addition to agricultural produce, continues to struggle with a host of compliance...

From newsroom to newsfeed

There was a time when newsrooms set the rhythm of public life. The editor decided what mattered, the reporter chased the facts, and the printing press or the evening bulletin carried the collective heartbeat of a society. But that order...

Messi return 'unrealistic', says Barca chief Laporta

BARCELONA, Nov 12 (AFP): Barcelona all-time great Lionel Messi returning to the Catalan giants is "unrealistic", the club's president Joan Laporta said Wednesday.The 38-year-old Argentine superstar made a surprise appearance at Barca's Camp Nou stadium on Sunday night and said...

Alcaraz beats Fritz, moves within one win of year-end No. 1

TURIN, Italy, Nov 12 (AP): Carlos Alcaraz is one win away from securing the year-ending No. 1 ranking.Alcaraz rallied past Taylor Fritz 6-7 (2), 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday at the ATP Finals and now needs to either win his final...

Nahid Rana fined for breaching ICC Code of onduct

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for his misconduct during the opening day of the first Test against Ireland in Sylhet on Tuesday, reports BSS.The incident occurred in the 27th over of...

4th Sony-Smart National Shito-Ryu Karate Competition-2025 held

The 4th Sony-Smart National Shito-Ryu Karate Competition-2025 held at the Mehfil Convention Hall in the city recently. The official distributor of Japan's world-famous brand Sony in Bangladesh Smart Electronics Limited (Sony-Smart) sponsored the competition. Smart Sports Academy in Agargaon, a...

Joy leads Tigers' batting dominance

Bangladesh tightened their grip with a commanding batting display, reaching 338 for 1 at stumps in the first Test on the second day after dismissing Ireland for 286 at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on Wednesday, reports UNB.Opener Mahmudul...

Shipping Corp's profit up 23pc on vessel sale, higher freight rates

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation's annual profit jumped 22.8 per cent year-on-year in FY25 to Tk 3.07 billion, driven by a one-off income from selling two vessels and higher freight rates.It earned nearly Tk 0.5 billion from the sale of two fire-ravaged...

Weather (2025-11-13)

Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Thursday). Night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged. The highest temperature in the country on Wednesday was recorded...

Man shot dead at Badda

A man was shot dead by miscreants in the capital's Middle Badda in the early hours of Wednesday.The dead was identified as Mamun Shikder (39), hailing from Algi village under Dumki in Patuakhali.A few miscreants shot at him inside a...

Gulshan Youth Club, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Foundation sign MoU

Gulshan Youth Club and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Foundation Bangladesh have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at empowering young people through skill development, physical fitness, and holistic growth, says a statement.The partnership was formalised with the signing of...

MPs' unreleased cars handed over to govt pool

Thirty-one luxury vehicles imported duty-free by members of the now-dissolved 12th National Parliament have been officially handed over to the government's transport pool, following a directive from the National Board of Revenue (NBR).The cars, which remained unreleased at customs ports...

Govt to cancel six types of land deeds in June 2026

The government is set to cancel six types of land deeds in June next year, aiming to ensure a land management system with transparency and accountability. A high official at the land ministry has told The Financial Express the deeds...

Child protection investments drive major social, economic gains in BD: UNICEF

Investments and early interventions in child protection systems have resulted in significant social and economic returns, including reducing violence, preventing early marriage, and lowering school dropout rates, according to UNICEF. Over the past five years, at least 12,000 child marriages...

Dhaka protests Indian media access for fugitive Hasina

Bangladesh has formally urged India to bar former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is reportedly residing in New Delhi after fleeing the country, from giving interviews or making statements to the Indian mainstream media - describing such exposure as "not...

EC issues circular outlining documents for expat voter reg

The Election Commission (EC) has issued a circular specifying documents needed for registering expatriate voter registration, reports BSS.The circular states that an online filled application form (Registration Form 2A), a copy of Bangladeshi birth registration certificate (online verified), a copy...

SC chamber judge stays HC bail to ex-mayor Ivy

The Supreme Court (SC) has stayed a High Court (HC) order that granted bail to, former Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in five separate cases.The Appellate Division's Chamber Court has also sent the matter to its regular...

GOP urges EC not to invite JaPa, 14-party alliance to its dialogue

Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) has urged the Election Commission (EC) not to invite the Awami League (AL), Jatiya Party (JaPa), 14partt alliance and those who pushed the country towards destruction by taking part in the 2024 'dummy' elections under what...

BCL activists lock gates of five DU buildings

The gates of five academic buildings of the Dhaka University (DU) were found locked with chains on early Wednesday. Later, Leaders of the banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) admitted on Facebook to locking the gates. After this incident, five...

No one can disrupt election through violence: Khasru

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has urged the government to go tough stance on maintaining law and order, stressing that no one should be allowed to disrupt the upcoming election through violence, report agencies."There is no reason...

Many street children, homeless youths and slum dwellers are now addicted to glue sniffing

Many street children, homeless youths and slum dwellers are now addicted to glue sniffing, popularly known as Dandy, which causes a temporary sense of euphoria, dizziness or numbness. In the photo taken on Wednesday, a person, believed to be addicted...

Missing BB Deputy Director Nayeem rescued after two days

Police have rescued the missing Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Director (DD), Nayeem Rahman, from a residential hotel in Madaripur district. He was rescued around 10:00 pm on Tuesday (November 11) from the Royal Rest House in the Purana Bazar area...

Feud between 2 underworld rivals behind Old Dhaka killing: DB

Detective Branch (DB) of police on Wednesday said the murder of Tarik Saif Mamun in Old Dhaka was the result of a long-standing feud between underworld rivals Imon and Mamun, reports UNB.Five people including two shooters have been arrested over...

BB eases import rules to ensure Ramadan supply

In a move aimed at stabilising the domestic market ahead of Ramadan, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) has allowed the commercial import of key food commodities under deferred payment terms. The measure seeks to ensure an adequate supply of essentials such...

Protesters storm COP30 blue zone

A group of activists, including indigenous and non-indigenous people, stormed the blue zone of COP30, the diplomatic centre of the United Nations (UN) climate conference in Brazil's Belém, on Tuesday night.Following the incident, the main entrance to the venue was...

DMTCL not working on scrapping any project

The Dhaka metro rail company is not working on scrapping any metro rail project, nor has conflicts with any development partner, its managing director has said. Rather, it was working on developing its own parameters of standards to ensure safe...

Efforts to transform child nutrition, maternal health services

As Bangladesh's economy continues to grow, certain public health challenges persist -- particularly in child health, nutrition, maternal health, and adolescent well-being. To ensure lasting and sustainable progress in these sectors, donor-dependent interventions alone are no longer sufficient; innovative, market-driven,...

Central bank orders strong action to rein in soaring default loans

Bangladesh Bank has directed commercial banks to take immediate and forceful measures to rein in the rapid growth of non-performing loans (NPLs), which have become a critical concern for the country's financial stability.At a meeting held at the central bank's...

Prayer Timings (2025-11-13)

One-third of youths undecided about whom to vote

Around 30 per cent of interviewed youths are undecided about who they would vote for in the upcoming 13th national election while 20 per cent others say they would cast their votes for Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a survey has...