Source: CollectedAs COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reduced the fees for RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests at private hospitals. From now on, private hospitals and clinics will not be allowed to charge more than Tk 2,000 for RT-PCR tests and Tk 500 for rapid antigen tests, reports bdnews24.com. Until now, private hospitals and diagnostic centres had been charging Tk 3,000 for RT-PCR and Tk 700 for antigen tests. The new directive was issued on Wednesday by Dr Halimur Rashid, line director of the Communicable Disease Control unit at DGHS, and sent to all private hospitals and clinics in the country. The decision to revise testing fees at private facilities was made at a meeting of the committee on COVID-19 diagnostics and laboratory management on Tuesday.

The victim later filed a case against Fazor, accusing him of rape. So far, six people, including Fazor and Shah Poran, have been arrested in connection with the case. But the main instigator, Shah Poran, had been evading capture until now.”He added that both Shah Poran and Fazor had been harassing the victim for a long time. “As a result, Shah Poran began plotting revenge against his elder brother,” said the RAB officer. On the day of the incident, Fazor had gone there for the same reason.

Source: CollectedAs many as 64,864 Bangladeshi pilgrims have returned home after performing Hajj this year. A total of 176 return flights have brought the pilgrims back to the country. Among them, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has operated 82 flights carrying 29,860 pilgrims, Saudia Airlines has brought back 26,228 pilgrims on 71 flights, and another Saudi airline, Flynas, has returned 8,776 pilgrims on 23 flights. According to the ministry‍‍`s data, 79 percent of the scheduled return flights have already been completed, and 76 percent of all pilgrims have returned to Bangladesh so far. Among the 42 Bangladeshi pilgrims who died during the Hajj season, 31 were men and 11 women.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Bangladesh, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has reduced the fees for RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests at private hospitals. From now on, private hospitals and clinics will not be allowed to charge more than Tk 2,000 for RT-PCR tests and Tk 500 for rapid antigen tests. Until now, private hospitals and diagnostic centres had been charging Tk 3,000 for RT-PCR and Tk 700 for antigen tests. The new directive was issued on Wednesday by Dr Halimur Rashid, line director of the Communicable Disease Control unit at DGHS, and sent to all private hospitals and clinics in the country. The decision to revise testing fees at private facilities was made at a meeting of the committee on COVID-19 diagnostics and laboratory management on Tuesday.

Taliban soldiers celebrate on the second anniversary of the fall of Kabul on a street near the US embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 15, 2023. REUTERSRussia said on Thursday it had accepted the credentials of a new ambassador of Afghanistan, making it the first nation to recognise the Taliban government of the country. In March 2024, gunmen killed 149 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in an attack claimed by Islamic State. The Taliban says it is working to wipe out the presence of Islamic State in Afghanistan. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev pulled his army out in 1989, by which time some 15,000 Soviet soldiers had been killed.

Quatre buts en première mi-temps, dont deux dans les sept premières minutes : l'Espagne a démarré pied au plancher son Championnat d'Europe 2025 ce jeudi face au Portugal (5-0). Largement supérieures, la double Ballon d'or Alexia Putellas et ses coéquipières en profitent pour prendre la tête du groupe B avec trois points, autant que l'Italie qui a battu la Belgique plus tôt dans la journée (0-1). Très en vue sur la pelouse du Wankdorf Stadion de Berne, Esther González a inscrit les premier et quatrième buts de son équipe. Et le premier, inscrit dès la deuxième minute, postule déjà au titre de plus beau but du tournoi. Sur un long ballon en profondeur d'Olga Carmona, l'attaquante de 32 ans a parfaitement contrôlé de la poitrine avant d'ajuster la maheureuse Inês Pereira d'une talonnade aérienne du pied droit (1-0, 2e) !

Army reports cache of arms recovery in operation against KNA in BandarbanThe Bangladesh Army has reported the recovery of more weapons and ammunition following an operation against the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) in a remote area of Ruma Upazila in Bandarban. Initial reports said three submachine guns (SMGs), one rifle, and other arms and ammunition were seized at the site. “Our operation is aimed only at armed groups. The second deceased was also believed to be a member of the group’s armed wing, according to preliminary information. Many of them have recently begun returning to their homes with support from the Army and the Bawm Social Council.

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has said some of the 36 Bangladeshis detained on charges of militant involvement will be tried in a Malaysian court, while the rest will be sent back to home. “I believe specific charges have been filed against some of them, and those cases will be tried in court. The situation remains somewhat fluid.”On the repatriation process, he said: “Several of the detainees will be returned to Bangladesh. “If we take the right steps, hopefully, the impact can be reduced.”“We must verify whether those involved committed specific offences. The Malaysian authorities have ordered 15 of the detainees to be deported, while investigations are still ongoing for the remaining 16, statement read.

The attack and murder of three in a house in Cumilla’s Muradnagar Upazila was premeditated, according to claims made by the victims’ family. Some local residents, however, said the family has long been involved in drug-related activities and several members have pending drug cases against them. Given their influence in the area, locals believe the attack could also have been linked to these alleged criminal ties. Speaking at the residence, Rasel’s wife, Meem Akhter, denied the allegations of drug involvement against their family. Meem said, “They planned the attack on Wednesday evening, and they carried it out the next morning.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a ceremony opening youth centres in Russian regions via a video link at his residence outside Moscow, Russia, Jun 28, 2025. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERSRussia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a ceremony opening youth centres in Russian regions via a video link at his residence outside Moscow, Russia, Jun 28, 2025. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERSUS President Donald Trump pushed for a quick halt to the Ukraine war in a Thursday phone call with Vladimir Putin, while a Kremlin aide said the Russian president reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes." The two leaders did not discuss a recent pause in some US weapons shipments to Kyiv during the nearly hour-long call, according to a readout provided by Putin aide Yuri Ushakov. Ushakov, the Kremlin aide, said the issue of weapons deliveries to Ukraine did not come up during the Trump-Putin phone call.

Three members of a family – a mother, her son, and her daughter - have been beaten to death in Cumilla’s Muradnagar over allegations of involvement in “the drug trade”. The dead have been identified as Roksana Akhtar Rubi, 55, her son Rasel Mia, 28, and her daughter Jonaki Akhtar, 22. OC Mahfuzur said that locals claim Ruby has been involved in drug trafficking for a long time. Locals gathered and attacked her house at 9am, with those inside being beaten by the mob. Police have been dispatched to the scene and details will be provided at a later time, the OC added.

After months of silence and a change in government, Raihan Rafi's 'controversial' web film "Omimangshito" has finally been cleared for release by the newly formed Bangladesh Film Certification Board. Though the board did not name the Sagar–Runi case, a senior member later confirmed to reporters that the resemblance was a primary concern. Following the political transition and the establishment of a reformed Certification Board in August 2024, the film was re-evaluated. Despite this green light, director Raihan Rafi told bdnews24.com that no final release decision has been made. "Omimangshito" is among 94 films certified by the board in the past 10 months—including 38 full-length Bangla films, 29 English-language films, 12 shorts, and 15 documentaries.

Two convicts have been forcibly taken from police custody after a mob stormed the Patgram Police Station in Lalmonirhat, leaving at least 20 people injured. The incident occurred around 10:30pm on Wednesday, prompting authorities to deploy the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) outside the station, according to Patgram police chief Mizanur Rahman. The two men who were snatched away are Belal Hossain, 33, and Sohel Rana Chopal, 35. The injured were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital and other local clinics, but their identities had not been confirmed. Waliur Rahman Sohel, general secretary of the Patgram unit of the BNP, denied any party involvement in the attack or the spiriting away of the convicts.

Bandarban Press Club President Aminul Islam Bachchu said that military officials have called a press conference at the Ruma Military Zone in the afternoon to discuss details of the raid. Mohammad Suhrawardy, chief of Ruma Police Station, said: “A few military teams conducted a raid in the Pali Prangsa area early on Thursday morning. During the raid, there was a gunfight between the army and the KNA. They have recently started returning to their native land under the initiative of the Bawm Social Council, a social organisation of members from the ethnicity, and the Bandarban Military Region. The Bawm Social Council says that 300 families are facing a food crisis after returning to the area.

Bangladesh’s dominant run in Group C has earned them a maiden ticket to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals. The red and green brigade stunned hosts Myanmar, a team 73 sports ahead in the FIFA rankings, 2-1 in Yangon on Wednesday. And when Bahrain and Turkmenistan later played out a 2-2 draw, the equation was complete -- Bangladesh are through to the main stage, for the first time ever. With back-to-back wins, Bangladesh sit firmly atop the group with 6 points from 2 games. Bangladesh will play Turkmenistan the same day, but their place is already secure.