Minimum wage protests halt output at Savar tanneriesA workers' strike to press for the immediate implementation of the minimum wage declared by the government has disrupted production in Dhaka’s Savar Tannery Industrial Zone. From 8:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday, tannery workers gathered outside various factories in the BSCIC Leather Industrial City, observing a work stoppage under the banner of the "Tannery Workers’ Union". "In other industries, the minimum wage was implemented right after it was announcement. But even though the government has set the minimum wage for tannery workers at Tk 18,001, factory owners have yet to enforce it," said Arif Molla, a tannery worker. The strike was part of a growing push for minimum wage implementation, with protesters gathering outside factories across the industrial zone.

OpenAI and Elon Musk have agreed to fast-track a trial over OpenAI's for-profit shift, the latest turn in a grudge match between the world's richest person and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman playing out publicly in court. Billionaire Elon Musk and OpenAI jointly proposed a trial in December, according to a federal court filing on Friday. "We welcome the court's Mar 4 decision rejecting Elon Musk's latest attempt to slow down OpenAI for his personal benefit," OpenAI said in a blog post on Friday. Musk cofounded OpenAI with Altman in 2015 but left before the company took off and subsequently founded the competing startup xAI in 2023. OpenAI and Altman have denied the allegations, while Altman alleges that Musk has been trying to slow down a competitor.

Two construction workers have died after a wall collapsed on them in Sirajganj. "Workers were digging nearly five feet underground for drain construction when a six to seven-foot-high wall from a nearby house suddenly collapsed, burying five of them under the rubble," said Rahman. The trapped workers were rescued and taken to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital. Doctors subsequently declared two of them dead, while another critically injured victim was transferred to Bogura for further treatment. We are working to identify all the victims and gather more details about the incident," Sirajganj Sadar Police Station chief Humayun Kabir said.

Eight leftist organisations have called off a planned march in Dhaka to demand justice for murders and rapes, along with the removal of the home affairs advisor. In light of the "overall situation", they decided to hold a brief rally instead. The rally began at 11:30 am on Saturday and lasted for about half an hour before Bangladesh Students' Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza announced the cancellation of the procession. The organisations involved in the event include the Bangladesh Students’ Union, Bangladesh Youth Union, Socialist Students' Front, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Hill Students' Council, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Charan Sanskritik Kendra, Central Khelaghor Asor, Socialist Women’s Forum, Bangladesh Khetmajur Samity, and Bangladesh Trade Union Centre. At the rally, Students' Union chief Reza demanded justice for the killings that occurred during the mass uprising in July and August last year.

The second day of advance Eid ticket sales in Bangladesh has seen little crowd at counters for buses heading to the northern and southwestern regions, as more passengers opted for online purchases. No one was found purchasing advance Eid tickets at that time. Transport operators said ticket sales were mostly taking place online, reducing the rush at counters. A review of online ticket platforms showed that demand for buses from Dhaka to Rangpur and other northern districts surged from Mar 28 onwards. “Passengers will be able to buy bus tickets both online and at counters from Mar 14,” he said.

On Saturday, security was beefed up outside the CPB’s central office, "Mukti Bhaban", in Purana Paltan. Law enforcers had been stationed around the CPB office since the morning to prevent any untoward situation from arising out of duelling programmes, as per a bdnews24.com report. At 10:30 am, CPB leaders gathered in front of the office to deliver speeches condemning rape and violence against women. “As part of the programme, black flags will be hoisted at the central office and nationwide. However, Udichi, the Students' Union and the Socialist Students' Front issued separate statements on Friday, distancing themselves from the event.

He allegedly entered the temple using a handkerchief to cover his face and damaged an idol on ThursdayFather hands son over to police for 'vandalising idol' at Lakshmipur templeA man who allegedly vandalised an idol inside a temple in Lakshmipur has been handed over to the police by his father. The incident took place at the Shri Shri Mahamaya Temple on Thursday. Jamilul said that Zakir entered the temple in the Genjihata area of the municipal town that night and damaged an idol. Later that night, local Hindu community members discovered the damaged idol. CCTV footage revealed a man with his face covered by a handkerchief entering the temple, breaking the idol, and then leaving.

The foreign ministry claims his post suggests a “hidden agenda” and was intended to “gain sympathy abroad”. In an official statement on Friday, the ministry said Harun ignored direct orders to return to headquarters and instead travelled to Ottawa. The ministry warned that it will not tolerate similar behaviour from any other officials in the future. CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTIONIn his post, Harun urged the global community to act against Yunus. The foreign ministry’s statement detailed that Harun had been ordered to return to Bangladesh in December but failed to comply.

GAZIPUR, Mar 14: A man in Gazipur's Sreepur Upazila has allegedly killed himself by jumping under a train.Before jumping, he wrote a post on Facebook saying: "Live a happy life, princess. "In another Facebook status, he wrote: "Sreepur Railway Station! "The incident occurred around 6:30pm near the South Outer Signal of Sreepur Railway Station on Thursday, said Station Master Shamima Jahan. In one post, he wrote, "Live a happy life, princess. Sujon told her he was at the Sreepur Railway Station.After a while, Sujon called his wife and said, "Goodbye.

Ukraine's Zelensky says there is now a good chance to end warUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to Ukrainian Muslim service members before sharing an iftar with them, a meal to break their fast at sunset, during the holy month of Ramadan, in a mosque in Kyiv, Ukraine Mar 13, 2025. REUTERS/Alina SmutkoUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he saw a good chance to end the war with Russia after Ukraine accepted a US proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire and Moscow said it would only agree if certain conditions were met. "Right now, we have a good chance to end this war quickly and secure peace. "The issue of territories is the most difficult after the ceasefire," Zelensky said at a media briefing. And the territories ... will be the point that makes it possible to end the war after this issue is resolved," the Ukrainian president said.

She is now at risk again due to the budget cuts, reports the BBC.Kajol, 17, is the only earning member of her family. NGO worker Dipa Halder helped Kajol with free treatment, which has finally brought a sense of relief for the family. "Bangladesh was given $500 million in foreign aid in 2024. Being unemployed is a devastating situation," she told the BBC.The BBC revealed that 113 programmes in Bangladesh were funded by USAID, all of which have now stopped. USAID alone contributed half the amount required to run the refugee camps, as well as funding the water sanitation projects.

A mild heatwave is sweeping over six districts in Bangladesh and it is not likely to cool down anytime soon, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department says.The heatwave was passing over the Faridpur, Rajshahi, Ishwardi, Khulna, Jashore and Chuadanga districts, Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir said after the release of the BMD's 72-hour forecast.The forecast said a low-pressure area extended to West Bengal and adjacent areas while the seasonal normal low-pressure area was located south of the Bay of Bengal.Additionally, temporary gusty or stormy winds along with showers or thunderstorms might occur in one or two places in Sylhet over the 24 hours from Friday 9am.The weather is likely to remain primarily dry with overcast skies in other places of the country, while the day and night temperatures might remain unchanged. �"bdnews24.comOn Saturday and Sunday, the skies could temporarily be overcast but the weather could remain dry. However, at the end of the three-day phase, showers of thundershowers may occur, according to the forecast. �"bdnews24.com

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A man reacts next to ambulances carrying the bodies of victims, who were killed after a train was attacked by separatist militants in Bolan, in Quetta, Pakistan, Mar 13, 2025. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroA man reacts next to ambulances carrying the bodies of victims, who were killed after a train was attacked by separatist militants in Bolan, in Quetta, Pakistan, Mar 13, 2025. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroPakistan's military spokesman said on Friday the death toll in a train hijacking in the country's southwestern mountains had risen to 31 and he repeated accusations that neighbouring India and Afghanistan backed the militants who carried it out. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express on Tuesday. The insurgents have said they still held hostages but Chaudhry said there was no evidence to suggest this was the case and the military has said the siege has ended.

Federal agencies faced a Thursday deadline to submit reorganisation blueprints for what Trump last month termed "large-scale reductions in force." The IRS had about 100,000 workers when Trump took office, meaning up to 25,000 are set to lose their jobs. The Social Security Administration, the agency that provides benefits to tens of millions of older Americans, plans to cut 7,000 workers. After Alsup's ruling was handed down, a federal judge in Maryland also directed the administration to reinstate tens of thousands of recently hired federal workers. The two rulings were the largest legal setbacks for Trump and Musk's downsizing plans yet.