Mobile operators can now accept taka payments for int'l roaming services

Bangladesh Bank has issued a circular allowing mobile network operators to accept payments in local currency for international roaming services in a bid to simplify such services for Bangladeshi travellers. The directive, issued on Thursday, is expected to ease the...

Asiatic’s bank accounts frozen over tax evasion

The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has frozen all bank accounts of Asiatic Marketing Communications Ltd (Asiatic MCL) on tax-evasion charges.CIC officials said it has recently instructed all commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions...

BD needs diversification, stronger investment climate

Bangladesh needs economic diversification, greater public financial resources, a stronger investment climate, and improved governance to nurture its economic resilience and competitiveness, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).The Manila-based multilateral lender made the suggestions in its Annual Report 2024...

Biman to operate 118 pre-Hajj, 108 post-Hajj dedicated flights this year

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier of the country, will operate a total of 118 pre-Hajj and 108 post-Hajj dedicated flights this year, bringing the total number of flights to 226.Boshra Islam, general manager (public relations) of the Biman...

Signalling system to be restored in over 100 crossings in Dhaka

A fresh initiative has been taken to restore operation of signalling system in the city's over 100 crossings which remained almost stopped for a long time even after taking different projects spending more than Tk1.5 billion during the last two...

Renewables sector needs long-term financing roadmap

Bangladesh urgently needs a long-term financing roadmap to promote renewable-energy projects and reach the country's target of net-zero carbon emission by 2050, experts suggested Thursday.To achieve the goal, they said, the country that is extremely vulnerable to global warming requires...

12,000 acres forestland in Cox's Bazar to be returned to forest department

The government has announced that nearly 12,000 acres of forestland in Cox's Bazar, previously allocated to various agencies, will be returned to the Forest Department.Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan disclosed it on Thursday, warning that public land will be cleared...

WB to give $850m to develop Bay Terminal, create jobs

Bangladesh and the World Bank have signed two financing agreements totaling $850 million to help the country develop the Bay Terminal deep-sea port and modernize the national social protection system to accelerate job creation and inclusive growth.Two separate financing agreements...

IsDB to lend $167m for 220MW solar plant

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has agreed to provide $167 million in loans - roughly Tk 20.10 billion - to develop a 220MW solar power plant in the Sonagazi area of Feni district, a facility with the highest solar capacity...

Prayer Timings (2025-04-25)

Govt forms body to probe ICT sector graft allegations

The government has constituted a six-member task-force to probe allegations of irregularities and corruption across various initiatives in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, and prepare a detailed Whitepaper based on the findings.Development economist Professor Dr Niaz Asadullah will...

Pak FM's Dhaka visit postponed

Hot on the heels of delirious tensions between Delhi and Islamabad, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has postponed his Bangladeshis visit, scheduled for April 26-28."We have requested the deferment, and new date is yet to be...

India, Pakistan cancel visas for each other’s nationals

SRINAGAR, India, Apr 24 (AP): India and Pakistan cancelled visas for their nationals to each other's countries Thursday amid rising tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbours after India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack by gunmen that killed 26...

Staff-level deal on IMF loan release to BD hits two snags

A much-cherished staff-level deal on IMF loan release to Bangladesh hit two main snags that Fund officials mentioned as lacking in greater exchange-rate flexibility and improvement in revenue mobilisation. The disclosure came Thursday when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) unveiled...

Host nods as CA seeks support for building new Bangladesh

Qatar extended unqualified support as Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus sought full diplomatic, financial and investment support of the wealthy Gulf state for building a "new Bangladesh" to unlock opportunities for nearly 180 million people. The assurances came from Prime...

3-day state mourning in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government declared a three-day state mourning beginning Thursday on the death of Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church.The Cabinet Division issued a notification to this end on Wednesday night, reports BSS.During the period (from Thursday to Saturday),...

Weather (2025-04-25)

Rain/thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Friday), according to the Met Office....

Youngone declares Tk 10m scholarships for CIU students

CHATTOGRAM, Apr 24: Youngone Corporation, one of South Korea's largest industrial companies, has launched a Tk 10-million scholarship programme for students of BBA, BSc in Computer Science and Engineering and BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering of Chittagong Independent University...

Five abducted CU students freed

KHAGRACHHARI, Apr 24 (UNB): Five students of Chittagong University (CU), who were abducted a week ago, have been released, according to the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP).Although the five students from various ethnic communities were reportedly freed on Wednesday, the matter...

Bangladesh to host ESMO exam

Bangladesh has been selected to host a local session of the ESMO Examination 2025, a globally recognised assessment conducted by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). This marks the first time that the exam, widely regarded as the international...

Jt forces arrest 22 brokers for shifting MMCH patients

Joint forces on Thursday arrested 22 brokers from Mugda Medical College Hospital (MMCH) in the capital, as they are involved in transferring the hospital's inpatients to other facilities with false promises. A joint forces team comprised by National Security Intelligence...

RAB nabs 'human trafficker' in city

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested one human trafficker - Golam Mollah (39) - for his alleged involvement in alluring people of sending to Italy at a nominal cost. Senior assistant director of RAB-2 Khan Asif Topu said the arrestee and...

Campaign launched to ensure harassment-free transport for women

A new campaign titled "Hold The Bar - Not Her Space" was launched on Thursday to promote harassment-free public transport for women in the capital. Sheikh Moinuddin, special assistant to the chief adviser on road transport and bridges, launched the...

Lack of SPP policy awareness hinders long-term dev goals

Lack of awareness of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) and the absence of a concrete action plan are hindering long-term development goals, causing inefficiencies, and sidelining women entrepreneurs, according to a recent survey and stakeholders' observations.To ensure effective implementation of the...

Palak faces legal heat in Natore arms case

NATORE, Apr 24 (UNB): Police filed a case against former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak in Natore's Singra upazila under the Arms Act for failing to deposit his licensed firearms as per a government directive.Sub-Inspector Abul Kalam Azad...

Ishraque meets CEC to know update over mayoral gazette

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Thursday met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin to know the update over the publication of the gazette notification declaring him as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), reports UNB.He met the CEC...

Students of Primeasia University formed a human-chain

Students of Primeasia University formed a human-chain in front of the CMM Court in the capital on Thursday, protesting the killing of their fellow student Parvez. — Focus Bangla

Taking preparations for polls possible within EC's jurisdiction, says CEC

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday said the Election Commission (EC) is now carrying out the election preparation tasks that are necessary and possible within its jurisdiction, reports UNB."We're working on those things that we think are within...

Fascism emerged from democratic void: Ali Riaz

Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz on Thursday blamed the erosion of democratic values for the rise of a fascist regime, urging unified efforts to restore true democracy, reports UNB. "We witnessed the lack of democracy in...

AL threats, arrogance at court result of 'negligence': Rizvi

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has alleged that the fallen Awami League (AL) were showing arrogance at courts and threatening police due to interim government's 'negligence'.BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the Awami League leaders are...