Holiday Notice (2025-02-21)

Now no VAT on purchases at supershops

Customers will no longer have to pay Value-Added Tax (VAT) for purchases at superstores.The retail price of the products will be the final price to pay, reports UNB quoting a release of National Board of Revenue (NBR).The NBR's VAT department...

1,137 get back jobs

As many as 1,137 qualified candidates of 27th BCS exams have got back their jobs as the Appellate Division on Thursday restored a High Court verdict that declared illegal the cancellation of the results of their first viva voce.The apex...

Nation pays homage to language martyrs

The nation observes today the 'Amar Ekushey' commemorating the supreme sacrifice of the language heroes for upholding the dignity of mother-tongue Bangla — this time amid a new spirit.The Language Martyr's Day is observed around the world as the UNESCO...

A brief account of Language Movement

Language Movement began in 1947 and reached its climax in the killing of 21 February 1952, and ended in the adoption of Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan. The question as to what would be the state...

Evolution of Bangla from Indo-European language-family

The Indo-European language-family is considered to be the largest in the world. This language-family flourished in vast regions of Europe and some regions of Asia including Persia and India since the ancient era. Its original place of birth extended from...

WB to provide $200m to strengthen SSNPs

The World Bank (WB) is set to provide US$200 million worth of assistance to ensure accountability and transparency in Bangladesh's social safety-net programmes (SSNPs), officials said, after completing the negotiations on Thursday.The Department of Social Services (DSS) will spend US$75...

Deposits with banks rising in a rebound

Deposits with Bangladesh's 61 banks increased during July-December in a rebound from a crunch amid initial panic-driven withdrawals triggered by the student-mass uprising and subsequent uncertainty.According to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank, the aggregate deposits with the banks rose...

Youths want to build a new civilisation, says CA

This year's Amar Ekushey has come with a new significance in the changed circumstances of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said, bdnews24.com.Extending his congratulations to the recipients at the Ekushey Padak 2025 award ceremony at Dhaka's Osmani Memorial Auditorium...

Proposals for full BB autonomy, law to resolve problem banks' issues underway

Bangladesh Bank will submit a package proposal for transforming the central bank into a fully autonomous body within four months to the head of interim government, as part of full-course reforms in the banking sector Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan...

Most companies lack corporate governance

A majority of companies operating in Bangladesh significantly lack corporate governance, which often leads to institutional failure, speakers observed at a programme on Wednesday.Keeping this in view, they noted that professionals like company secretaries can play a vital role in...

Dhaka metro rail staffers postpone strike

The staff of Dhaka metro-rail company has backtracked on their decision to go on strike from today after receiving assurance that their demands for service-rule approval with necessary correction will be fulfilled within 30 days.Earlier, officials and employees of grades...

2 killed in 'shootout' with joint forces

Two men were killed on Thursday in a reported shootout with joint forces of the police and army in Mohammadpur area of the city.Five individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.The identities of the deceased could not be immediately...

24 senior bureaucrats sent on forced retirement

The government has sent two secretaries, one additional secretary and 21 deputy commissioners (DCs) on compulsory retirement due to their roles during the previous Awami League government, reports UNB.The Ministry of Public Administration issued two separate notifications regarding secretaries, additional...

Dr Atiur, Dr Barkat among 23 sued by ACC

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 23 people, including former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman and economist Dr Abul Barkat, for allegedly embezzling TK 2.97 billion under the guise of the Enontex Group, report agencies.Deputy Director...

ICT finds evidence of serious crimes against Alep, another police official

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has found evidence of enforced disappearance, rape, and torture against former Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohiuddin Faruki and RAB Company Commander Alep Uddin, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has said.The tribunal has ordered that Alep Uddin...

Microcredit interest rates in rural Bangladesh declining

Microcredit-interest rates in the rural areas are declining due to increasing competition, driven by the presence of a substantial number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), experts and economists said on Thursday.They noted that NGO-led microfinance institutions have played a crucial role...

Huge food items arrive at Ctg port

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 20: A huge amount of essential commodities has already arrived at Chittagong Port ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, with more shipments in the pipeline.Additionally, a substantial quantity of food items are waiting at the outer anchorage...

Import of essential commodities rises up to 85pc in Oct-Jan

The imports of many key essentials necessary in the holy month of Ramadan increased by up to 85 per cent in the October-January period of FY25, shows the latest data from the Bangladesh Bank's import- monitoring division.Despite the tectonic rise...

People won't suffer during fasting: Govt

Finance adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has said the interim government will take necessary measures so that people do not suffer due to high prices of essential commodities during Ramadan."We will ensure that people don't suffer from food related problems during...

A pickup carrying TCB products drives away

A pickup carrying TCB products drives away under the pretext that the low-income people who waited in a long queue to buy food items at subsidized rates created chaos. The picture, taken at Segun Bagicha on Thursday, shows people running...

Weather (2025-02-21)

Rain/thunder showers is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Friday), according to the Met Office. Weather may remain mainly dry with...

BD most credible, influential voice in global climate negotiations: Australia

Australia's Ambassador for Climate Change Kristin Tilley has acknowledged the efforts and investment of Bangladesh for its adaptation and mitigation initiatives which positioned Bangladesh as the most credible and influential voice in global climate negotiations, reports UNB.She agreed with Foreign...

Students' class boycott enters day 4

BARISHAL, Feb 20 (UNB): Students of Barishal Medical College continued the class boycott for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, demanding immediate end of teachers' shortage to ensure smooth operation of academic activities.Meanwhile, the protesting students rejected a government notification...

Six trainee ASPs removed

Six trainee assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) from the 40th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) batch have been removed, one of whom came first in the police cadre, reports bdnews24.com.Their removal was announced in a notice from the Ministry of Home...

Biman's Dubai flight lands in India due to tech glitch

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight bound for Dubai was forced to make an emergency landing in Nagpur, India due to a technical issue.The plane, with 395 passengers and 12 crew members on board, landed in Nagpur around midnight on Wednesday...

‘Tk 1.0tn Zakat can be collected a year’

Bangladesh has the potential to collect Zakat worth Tk 1.0 trillion per year, as informed by a speaker at a press conference of the Center for Zakat Management (CZM) on Thursday.CZM will be organising a two-day Zakat fair starting tomorrow...

TIB objects, as draft bill not accessible to stakeholders

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Thursday expressed concern over alleged secrecy surrounding the draft of the Public Audit Bill 2024.The anti-corruption watchdog urged the government in a statement to make it public immediately to gather feedback from relevant stakeholders and...

Law and order in capital better now: DMP chief

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjad Ali said on Thursday that the overall law and order situation in the capital is better now (than before), except a few small and isolated incidents. "You couldn't say anything about big...

IFPRI to study inflationary impacts on safety net progs

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Thursday emphasised the need to address the ongoing pressure of inflation on safety net programmes. Such programmes include vulnerable group feeding, food for education, cash transfers for vulnerable people, and others. IFPRI announced...