Under the retracted order issued on Aug 29, 2024, 100 percent of export-oriented industries with customs bond licences were allowed to import yarn via these land ports. Imports through land ports were still restricted for other businesses. With the latest order, the NBR has now imposed a blanket ban on all yarn imports via the land ports. Previously, yarn imports from India were only routed through these five land ports. The move comes in response to demands from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), which first sent a letter to the commerce ministry and then to the NBR.

Bangladesh: Chittagong DC Hills Poila Baisakh celebration cancelled for first time in 47 years after miscreants attack event venueOrganizers were forced to cancel the Poila Baisakh, or Bengali New Year, event in Chittagong's DC Hill region in Bangladesh after unidentified people destroyed the stage and banners, disrupting the preparations for the annual celebration. According to reports, this was the first time Poila Baisakh was not celebrated in DC Hill region in the past 47 years. The 'Mongol Shobhajatra' is an integral part of the Bengali New Year celebration in the South Asian country. Earlier this year, Islamic radical group Hefazat-e-Islam had described Mongol Shobhajatra a "Hindu ritual" and urged the government to change its name. UNESCO RecognitionUNESCO had recognised the 'Mongol Shobhajatra' as an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'.

REUTERSMuslims pray during Jumat-ul-Vida or the last Friday of holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar March 28, 2025. The unrest began in the Murshidabad district, where Muslim protesters set fire to shopping malls, attacked a Hindu home and stabbed two people on Saturday, police said, forcing authorities to suspend internet services in the area. Muslim groups and political parties say the law, like many of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, aims to alienate and discriminate against Muslims. Modi and officials in his party deny the allegations, and have said the law is a "pro-Muslim reform". Modi's party has accused the Trinamool Congress, its bitter rival which rules West Bengal, of appeasing Muslims in order to win votes.

The interim government has relaxed certain land-related conditions for the registration of private primary schools or kindergartens. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education issued a gazette notification on Mar 25 announcing these revisions to the Private Primary School Registration Rules 2023. Among them, 65,567 are government primary schools while more than 49,000 are private primary schools — the majority of which remain unregistered. As per the Private Primary School Registration Rules, 2023, all kindergartens and private primary schools providing education at the primary level must be registered. The qualification for teachers at these institutions must match that of government primary school teachers.

Actor couples Pijush Bandyopadhyay and Jayosree Kar Jaya, as well as Shahiduzzaman Selim and Rosey Siddiqui, were among the guests.On the first day of Boishakh, showbiz industry celebrities grace bdnews24.com’s Bengali New Year bash with their presence. .On the first day of Boishakh, showbiz industry celebrities grace bdnews24.com’s Bengali New Year bash with their presence. On the first day of Boishakh, celebrities from the showbiz industry graced bdnews24.com’s Bengali New Year bash with their presence alongside leading figures from diverse spheres, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Actor Azad Abul Kalam and his family also joined the festivity. Zeenat Hakim said, “It was a busy day but I really enjoyed meeting everyone."

Amidst convivial chatter and the open exchange of thoughts, bdnews24.com has celebrated Pohela Boishakh, bringing together leading figures from diverse spheres. Between exchanges, servings of traditional and delectable Boishakhi delicacies lent a sense of culinary fulfilment to bdnews24.com’s cherished annual gathering. The table featured Boishakhi classics such as parched rice, Batasha (sugar buttons), Nadu (Coconut jaggery ball) and the signature Panta-Ilish (fermented rice with hilsa fish). Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma came with his wife Manu Verma, both dressed in traditional Boishakhi attire. German Ambassador to Dhaka Achim Tröster and his wife Bettina Tröster joined the festivities in colourful Boishakhi outfits.

Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has declared that Pohela Boishakh is a celebration of the “lives of Bangladesh” from now on. Speaking after the Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra on Monday, he said the Bengali New Year festivities had long been observed as a Bengali celebration but would “no longer” continue to be so. The Pohela Boishakh parade to welcome the new year began with the title “Ananda Shobhajatra” at Charukola, also known as the Faculty of Fine Arts, in 1989. It was later renamed to “Mongol Shobhajatra” in 1996.This year, The Dhaka University administration has renamed it to “Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra”, reverting it to its roots. When it was brought to Dhaka, it was named Ananda Shobhajatra,” Farooki said.

Several youths have been accused of publicly abusing three women and cutting off their hair over theft allegations in Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura Upazila. The detained suspect, Sumon Das, is the owner of Messrs SM Electric Corner. According to police and witnesses, several young men beat the women with plastic pipes and iron rods, accusing them of theft.At one point, Sumon and his associates removed the women’s burqas and began cutting their hair in public. A child who was accompanying the women screamed in fear during the assault. "No one involved in the incident will be spared.

Religious affairs ministry tells 20 agencies to finalise housing by 8pm Monday or face licence cancellation1,358 pilgrims risk missing Hajj as agencies fail to secure housing in Makkah, MadinahThe Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a final warning to 20 Hajj agencies that have failed to finalise accommodation agreements for 1,358 pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah. According to a letter sent by the ministry on Sunday, the agencies failed to secure housing for 1,265 pilgrims in Makkah and 93 in Madinah. “In 2025, 683 agencies are participating in Hajj activities under 70 lead agencies,” the letter read. As a result, the ministry has instructed the agencies to complete all housing procedures by 8pm on Monday, Apr 14. “Most recently, yesterday, ministry officials held a meeting with Hajj agencies via Zoom,” the advisor said.

One of the injured’s left hand is almost severedOver 100 crude bombs explode as rival groups clash again in ShariatpurTwo people have suffered injuries after more than 100 crude bombs were detonated during a clash between the two rival groups in Shariatpur’s Zajira Upazila in a bid to assert dominance. Earlier, on Apr 5, a clash erupted between two rival groups and crude bombs were detonated in the Durba Danga area of the Upazila’s Bilaspur union. Police and witnesses said the recent clash was the result of an ongoing rivalry between the followers of local Union Parishad member Halim Talukder and former Chhatra League leader Mithun Dhali. On Apr 5, Tension gripped Zajira Upazila in Shariatpur after helmeted men hurled hand bombs in a show of strength, leaving the village deserted. Locals told police that the clash followed a rivalry between followers of Bilaspur Union Parishad Chairman Kuddus Bepari and Jubo League leader Jalil Madbar.

Conservation officials say they are working to prevent the herd from turning backElephant herd leaves KEPZ after days of rampage, may try to return ‘again’A herd of wild elephants that wreaked havoc in the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) area of Chattogram’s Anwara has moved back towards the forest. While sightings were reported before, residents and forest officials said it was less frequent. By late 2018, a group of elephants had taken up permanent residence in the KEPZ area. Wildlife officials said there were four adult elephants—two male and two female—in the KEPZ area. “If there were enough reservoirs in the forest, the elephants would not come to KEPZ,” he said.

Inmates were served Panta-Ilish, a traditional dish of watery rice and Hilsa fish, in the morning followed by other special events throughout the day. A special menu was arranged for lunch and dinner and inmates took part in cultural events to mark the occasion. Dhaka Division’s Deputy Inspector General of Jail Jahangir Kabir told bdnews24.com, “Panta-Ilish and different types of Bhorta (mashed dishes) were served to the inmates in the morning. It had cotton candy, bioscope and other attractions.”The jail staff enjoyed the same menu and will attend a cultural programme in the evening, the jail official said. Inmates sang and danced at the cultural programme inside the jail.

Attendees at the Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra procession gathered to celebrate Pohela Boishakh, or Bengali New Year, on the Dhaka University campus. The joyous event was held by the university’s Faculty of Fine Arts, as it is every year. Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Azharul Islam Sheikh said, "The Faculty of Fine Arts used to bring out a procession every Pohela Boishakh, which was called the Ananda Shobhajatra. But Shobhajatra organisers were able to put together a 16 feet tall replacement in a day. The Shobhajatra begins in front of the Faculty of Fine Arts on Pohela Boishakh with the national anthem after the Chhayanaut programme at Ramna.

A hint of that festive feel can also be seen at the stores for craft goods at Dhaka University’s Doel Chattar. “But when we caught sight of these craft goods, we couldn’t help ourselves.”“I bought a jute bag. Dhaka University official Mokbul Hossain has brought his wife and child to browse the wares. “The same kinds of craft goods can be found here. At 9am, the Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra set out from the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Arts.

“This is the first Pohela Boishakh of a New Bangladesh. Building an inclusive Bangladesh should be our vow this New Year.”Extending greetings to the nation, he added: “Pohela Boishakh is a celebration of the heart, a universal festival of the Bengali people. “Across districts, entrepreneurs showcase their creativity by producing traditional crafts like Shital Pati (handcrafted mats), clay pots, toys, and hand fans -- all in celebration of the day,” Yunus said. “Pohela Boishakh is a day of harmony, a day of unity. It’s a time to embrace one another.”“This is the first Pohela Boishakh of a New Bangladesh.