Sit-in protests to continue until mayoral charge given: Ishraque

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor-elect Ishraque Hossain, also a leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said on Sunday that their ongoing sit-in programme in front of the Nagar Bhaban, headquarters of the DSCC, will continue until mayoral charge is...

Adolescent birth rate remains higher in BD -

Adolescent birth rate or childbirth by women aged between 15 and 19 remains higher in Bangladesh, a recent report by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed.According to it, every 1,000 teenage girls give births to over 60 children each...

Though government offices reopened

Though government offices reopened on Sunday after a 10-day Eid holiday, the usual hustle and bustle of people was absent from workplaces. The photo taken at Sonali Bank’s local office in Dhaka's Motijheel commercial area shows a thin presence of...

'No Kings' protest against Trump floods streets across US

NEW YORK, June 15 (AFP): A giant orange balloon depicting Donald Trump in a diaper towered over one "No Kings" protest Saturday, as hundreds of thousands thronged streets across the United States to decry the president's policies.Protest organizers expected rallies...

Power import from Nepal resumes

Bangladesh has resumed importing electricity from Nepal through India's grid line, following a multilateral agreement that also involves India, reports bdnews 24.com.Zahurul Islam, a member (generation) of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), confirmed that the electricity supply from Nepal...

Son stabbed to death allegedly by father in Hazaribagh

A young man was stabbed to death allegedly by his father following a family dispute in the capital's Hazaribagh area on Saturday night.The deceased was identified as Rahabul Islam Russel, 20.Critically injured, Russel was rushed to the emergency department of...

No discussion with govt yet about polls date: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Md Nasir Uddin on Sunday said the Election Commission must remain prepared regardless of when the next national election is held, reports UNB. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after exchanging Eid greetings...

T-bill yields rise further as banks hold back ahead of June closing

The upward trend in yields on treasury bills (T-bills) continued on Sunday as banks showed reluctance to invest their excess liquidity in the risk-free securities.The cut-off yield-generally referred to as the interest rate-on the 91-day T-bills rose to 12.10 per...

Stuck in limbo Tk 1.47t new MRT works

Large-haul rapid travel leapfrogging the gridlock in Dhaka remains an unfulfilled dream as Tk1.47-trillion new metro-rail works miss takeoff for endorsement procrastination. Sources have said anomalies in implementing the already-running metro rail on the designated line 6 derailed three more...

Stakeholders' meet to raise Ctg seaport tariffs inconclusive

CHITTAGONG, June 15: A meeting of the relevant stakeholders on a proposal to increase the charges of Chittagong port ended here without any decision recently.The meeting with participation of representatives from about 28 government and private organisations, including Chittagong Port,...

Prayer Timings (2025-06-16)

EU urges 'restraint' as Erdogan sees war devastating

BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 15 (AFP): The European Union on Saturday voiced "deepest concern" at the escalation of conflict between Iran and Israel, calling for restraint to avoid dangers such as a leak of radioactive material.Their statement came as Israel targeted...

Israel, Iran trade strikes for 3rd day as nuclear talks called off

DUBAI, June 15 (AP): Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses to strike buildings in the heart of the country. Planned talks on...

Tk 80b SPM idle as BPC delays contractor hire

The country's maiden single-point mooring (SPM) project faces further delays in starting formal operations as the authorities continue to defer the process of selecting a contractor for operations and maintenance (O&M), sources said.The Tk 80 billion energy infrastructure has remained...

Economy poised on higher trajectory of pickup

Bangladesh's economy recorded a stronger performance in May as the country's purchasing managers' index (PMI) climbed to 58.9-up six points from April by official count.The PMI rise indicates a faster pace of economic expansion across key sectors, in a rebound...

Govt plans to open hotlines for Bangladeshis in Iran, Iraq

The government is planning to open helplines for Bangladeshis living in Iran and Iraq in its missions in case the ongoing conflict between Iran and Iraq escalates further, concerned officials of the foreign ministry told the FE on Sunday.The decision...

Five Islamic banks to merge in months

Five private Islamic banks are on the verge of being consolidated into a single entity as part of sweeping reforms aimed at stabilising Bangladesh's banking sector.Governor of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) Dr Ahsan H Mansur made the announcement at a...

Classified bank loans balloon fast to a record high

Classified loans in Bangladesh's banking industry made a quantum leap by around Tk 750 billion in just three months to a record high as of March, stoking concerns across the sector.With such leaps in the volume of non-performing loans (NPLs),...

Almarai to acquire Pure Beverages Industry Co. in $277m deal

RIYADH, June 15 (Arab News): Saudi dairy giant Almarai has signed an agreement to fully acquire Pure Beverages Industry Co. for SR1.04 billion ($277 million), aiming to diversify its offerings and enhance its market position. Pure Beverages Industry Co. is...

UAE posts 4pc GDP growth in 2024

JEDDAH, June 15 (Arab News): The UAE's gross domestic product reached 1.77 billion dirhams ($481.4 billion) in 2024, recording 4 per cent growth, with non-oil sectors contributing 75.5 per cent of the total, highlighting diversification progress.The Central Bank of the...

Amazon to invest $13b in Australia's data defence infrastructure

SYDNEY, June 15 (Reuters): Amazon will invest A$20 billion ($12.97 billion) from 2025 to 2029 to expand, operate and maintain its data defence infrastructure in Australia, bolstering the nation's artificial intelligence capabilities, it said in a blog post on Saturday.The...

Gulf markets fall as Israel-Iran conflict escalates

DUBAI/BANGALORE, June 15 (Arab News): Stock markets across the Gulf fell on Sunday morning after Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other overnight, sparking fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East.Israel said it had targeted Iran's...

Investors on edge over Israel-Iran conflict, anti-Trump protests

NEW YORK, June 15 (Reuters): Dual risks kept investors on edge ahead of markets reopening late on Sunday, from heightened prospects of a broad Middle East war to US-wide protests against US President Donald Trump that threatened more domestic chaos.Israel...

US-China trade truce leaves military-use rare earth issue unresolved

BEIJING/SINGAPORE, June 15 (Reuters): The renewed US-China trade truce struck in London left a key area of export restrictions tied to national security untouched, an unresolved conflict that threatens a more comprehensive deal, two people briefed on detailed outcomes of...

BRAC BANK PROMOTES 'PROBASHI PORIBAR' ACCOUNT

BRAC Bank has organised a customer engagement event in Daudkandi, Cumilla, aimed at raising awareness among remittance beneficiary families about the benefits of using formal banking channels, with a focus on the bank's specialised remittance products, such as 'Probashi Poribar'...

Bagerhat’s women weave global impact with eco-friendly crafts

BAGERHAT, June 15 (UNB): In a quiet corner of Bagerhat's Basabati area, the hum of sewing machines, the rustle of coconut husks and the steady hands of women workers are quietly shaping a story of empowerment, innovation and global reach.Here,...

MUTUAL TRUST BANK LAUNCHES 'MTB NRB ACCOUNT'

Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) has recently launched the MTB NRB Account, a revolutionary financial solution tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) at MTB head office. This innovative...

Four more apparel units get LEED certification

Four more readymade garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh have secured Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).Obtaining of such LEED certification gives a clear indication of the sector's growing commitment to green...

Stocks edge up as tension over next polls eases

Stocks extended the winning streak for the second straight session on Sunday, the first trading day after Eid holidays, driven by investors' buying interest in selective blue chip shares.Market analysts said the market reacted positively to the recent developments on...

Drug makers' growth hinges on whether they can raise money

The country's pharmaceutical industry has great potential to grow further, with the rising income and aged population and expansion of export markets, but it has not yet built capacity to explore fund-raising options, including IPO. Of as many as 200...