Trucks transporting shipping containers wait in line outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai, India, Aug 11, 2025. REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasTrucks transporting shipping containers wait in line outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai, India, Aug 11, 2025. REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasA planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been cancelled, delaying talks on a proposed bilateral trade agreement, Indian business and financial news network NDTV Profit reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. India's Foreign Ministry has said the country is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil while the United States and European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia.

Floodwaters recede after three days leaving Amon crops ravaged in LalmonirhatAs the floodwaters of the Teesta River slowly recede after three relentless days, the scars left behind across Lalmonirhat’s riverbanks have begun to surface -- raw and unforgiving. This season, two phases of transplanted Amon crops have already been damaged by floods, leaving Teesta-side farmers anxious. The third wave inundated low-lying areas along the river’s left bank, leaving thousands stranded. He said, “I planted two rounds of paddy seedlings on three bighas. We have no seedlings left.

Fire Service have recovered the bodies of three workers from a septic tank of an under-construction house in Dhaka's Bashundhara residential area.The bodies were retrieved on Saturday and later handed over to police.The dead have been identified with single names Rabbi, 20, Liton, 35, and Foridul, 40 -- all hailing from Lalmonirhat District.Fire Service officer Rashedul Khalid told bdnews24.com that one of the men had first entered the tank to clean it. When he did not return, two others went in to rescue him. None of them came back up, prompting calls to the Fire Service. "By the time we arrived, locals had already pulled them out, but they were dead. Their bodies have since been handed over to police," he said.He added that methane gas forms in septic tanks that have been sealed for a long time, and the three are believed to have died from inhaling it.Vatara police Sub-Inspector Hasanuzzaman said that toxic gas is suspected to have caused their deaths, but the exact cause will be confirmed after postmortem examinations.

The Election Commission (EC) is aiming to complete all core preparations for the general election within October, before the formal schedule announcement in December. The commission has said the official schedule will be released in early December, around 50 to 60 days before polling. Before that, the EC plans to publish its election roadmap -- likely within this week -- outlining the steps leading up to the vote. “All electoral tasks will be completed according to plan,” Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told bdnews24.com on Thursday. “The major work will be done within October, and we’ll be ready for the election,” he added.

Advisor Farooki flown to Dhaka after stomach pain in Cox’s BazarCultural Affairs Advisor and filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has been flown to Dhaka by helicopter after suddenly falling ill in Cox’s Bazar. Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin told bdnews24.com that Farooki began experiencing abdominal pain in the evening. Cox’s Bazar police spokesperson Additional Superintendent Md Jashim Uddin Chowdhury said: “The advisor returned to Dhaka due to health issues. From there he was taken by an ambulance to Cox’s Bazar airport. According to the district administration, the advisor had arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Friday afternoon on a four-day official tour.

On August 1, 2025, Kala Kendra in Lalmatia inaugurated "Opulence of Stone", the fifth solo exhibition of Maynul Islam Paul, a Bangladeshi sculptor born in the mid-sixties. Initially, his primary mediums were wood, clay, and metal, which were common among carving artists. Later, during his PhD at Rajshahi University, he had the opportunity to experiment with stone carving. The stone sculptures in this exhibition also offer a modern take on traditional subjects of three-dimensional art. In short, "Opulence of Stone" is a remarkable example of modern stone carving and sculpture.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has purchased another $176 million from commercial banks in its latest effort to stabilise the foreign exchange market amid signs of excess supply.Spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan told bdnews24.com that the central bank bought the dollars at Tk 121.5 each. "Bangladesh Bank will continue to play a role in keeping the dollar market stable. When rates drop, we intervene through auctions to absorb the surplus and prevent volatility," he said. "Thursday's auction marked the sixth such intervention by the central bank since July, bringing the total dollar purchase during this period to $764 million.Pubali Bank Managing Director Mohammad Ali welcomed the central bank's action, calling it "a stabilising force" for the currency market. "This is part of a strategy to prevent further depreciation of the dollar.

Chattogram-to-Dhaka fuel oil pipeline finally goes live Saturday bdnewsFuel oil is set to begin flowing from Chattogram to Dhaka through pipeline from Saturday, as Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) formally launches the project following successful trial operations. Officials believe pipeline transport, especially for diesel, will not only reduce costs but also ensure quicker delivery. The BPC initiated the pipeline project in 2016 to facilitate direct oil transport from Chattogram to Dhaka. The full project cost could be recovered within 16 years.”Project Director Aminul said pipeline transport would be much cheaper than current road and river options. Initially estimated at Tk 28.61 billion, the project’s cost eventually rose to Tk 36.99 billion following several revisions.

BNP’s senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury criticised the use of terms like “minority” in Bangladesh, calling them deliberately divisive despite the Constitution granting equal rights to all citizens. Speaking at a Janmashtami event at JM Sen Hall premises in Chattogram on Saturday evening, Khosru rejected the label outright. If the constitution grants equal civic, political, constitutional and democratic rights to all, why should this word be used? “These issues exist in our social structure, state system and democratic order. “Religion and language are personal.

Bangladesh Army chief has called for harmony among all faiths, assuring the Hindu community that they can live and celebrate their religious festivals in peace. “You will live in this country without fear, and you will celebrate your religious festivals with joy,” he told the Hindu faithful. This country belongs to everyone, and here we shall all live together in peace.”The Army chief stressed that there must be “no divisions” among people of different faiths, races, or communities. You will live here without fear, and you will celebrate your religious festivals happily. We will share this joy together.”He added: "I hope this festival will continue every year, and this procession will continue every year.

In the past 28 days alone, eight Boeing aircraft and one Dash-8 in the flag carrier's fleet have suffered faults. As the government pushes ahead with plans to buy 25 Boeing aircraft without prior consultation with Biman management, the speculation runs around.The string of malfunctions has forced Biman to cancel flights, reschedule departures, and scramble aircraft to keep to its timetable. That deal stalled.Now, with the US pressing Dhaka to reduce tariffs, the interim government has announced plans to acquire 25 Boeings. Almost immediately afterwards, the airline's Boeings began suffering fault after fault.Whether this is coincidence or something more sinister has become a topic of public debate.On Monday, two Biman aircraft failed on the same day. "Biman's fleet comprises 21 aircraft, including six Boeing 787 Dreamliners, four Boeing 777-300ERs, six Boeing 737s, and five Dash-8s.Wahidul said, "Frankly, Biman doesn't have the capacity.

A rickshawpuller was beaten by mob during tribute at Dhanmondi 32. Now he faces attempted murder chargesA rickshawpuller who was beaten by a mob on Friday while paying tribute at Dhanmondi 32 on the nation’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s death anniversary has been sent to jail in connection with an attempted murder case from the July Uprising. Metropolitan Magistrate Israt Jennifer Jerin on Saturday ordered the rickshawpuller Azizur Rahman into jail custody after police produced him in court. Speaking before being handed over to police after Friday’s assault, Azizur said he had no political affiliation and had gone only to show love for Bangabandhu. I came because I love Bangabandhu, with flowers bought with my halal earnings,” he said.

The Dhaka Theatre has launched a four-day festival in memory of the legendary playwright Selim Al Deen, staging his Liberation War-based drama "Deyal" at the Mahila Samity Auditorium in Dhaka. The festival, which began Friday (August 15), marks Selim Al Deen's 76th birth anniversary and will continue until August 18. In a statement, Dhaka Theatre described the play as "not merely a structure of brick and stone, but a powerful symbol of our nation's unwavering resistance for independence." The festival will conclude on August 18 with the staging of "Nimajjan", another Selim Al Deen classic, directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff. Selim Al Deen, often referred to as Natyacharya (master of theatre), was born on August 18, 1949, in Senirkhil village of Feni's Sonagazi upazila.

Border patrols in Meherpur have seized $51,000 hidden in a sack of grass on a farmer’s bicycle, suspecting it was being smuggled into India. Jahangir Sheikh, the rider of the bicycle, was arrested on Friday in the Anandabas border area of Mujibnagar Upazila. Naik Subedar Harun Or Rashid of the Anandabas BGB camp said guards spotted the man cycling with a grass sack in a restricted area. He noted that the real owners remain elusive, often protected by influential networks, and cases sometimes fade due to inadequate investigation. The recovered cash was deposited in the Meherpur Treasury under court orders, and legal proceedings remain ongoing.

A warehouse storing fabric scraps and a nearby plastics factory have been gutted in a fire in Chattogram city. The fire started around 2am on Saturday at a tin-roofed warehouse beside the Ahad Convention Centre on Bakalia Access Road. It quickly spread to a plastic recycling factory next door. Nine Fire Service units were sent to the scene and brought the flames under control by 4:45am, the Agrabad Fire Service Control Room said. Officials said the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage could not be confirmed immediately.