The Supreme Judicial Council has submitted a report on Information Commissioner Masuda Bhatti to the president.The report was noted on the Supreme Court's website on Thursday.It said, "The Supreme Judicial Council has sent a report to the Honourable President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh regarding an Information Commissioner. "Md Hasanuzzaman, registrar to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, confirmed that the report sent to the president was regarding Information Commissioner Masuda.Masuda was appointed to the post in the Information Commission in August 2023 in a notice issued under the Awami League government.She made headlines when she filed one of several cases against the late Barrister Mainul Hosein, a former advisor to the caretaker government, over a statement he made on a television programme. He was subsequently arrested and sent to jail in connection with the cases.When asked whether the investigation had any connection to the incident, Registrar Hasanuzzaman said: "I don't know anything about the content. However, I am aware that the report sent this week was regarding Masuda Bhatti." —bdnews24.com

The UK is a hallmark of human rights, freedom of association, freedom of speech. But the failure to stand up for these values diminishes the UK's standing in Bangladesh and beyond. "An ally of Tulip said told The Times she had "no understanding of the circumstances around the raid in Bangladesh and was not involved in any aspect. "A spokesman for Tulip said, "No evidence has been presented for these allegations. Tulip has not been contacted by anyone on the matter and totally refutes the claims."

An official of the BMD attributes the decision to restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at state expenseDespite invitation, Bangladeshi officials will not be joining the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department, or IMD, due to what they says are current restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at state expense. Mominul Islam, the acting director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, or BMD, confirmed receiving the invitation from the IMD a month ago. On Friday, Mominul told bdnews24.com: “The India Meteorological Department invited us to their 150th anniversary celebrations. Initially headquartered in Kolkata, the IMD relocated several times, moving to Shimla in 1905, Pune in 1928, and eventually Delhi in 1944. The department will officially mark its sesquicentennial on Jan 15, 2025.

Two months after the detention of "top drug dealer" Bhuiyan Sohel alias Bunia Sohel at Geneva Camp in Dhaka's Mohammadpur, his rival Selim Ashrafi alias Chua Selim has also been arrested.He was detained from outside the capital's Labaid Hospital on Thursday, said Rapid Action Battalion-2 Assistant Director ASP Khan Asif Topu.The elite force official said, "Chua Selim was hospitalised and arrested following his release by a doctor. He is accused in 35 cases, including two murder cases. "Selim was covertly receiving medical treatment after being shot by his rivals at the Geneva Camp on Sept 4. He was arrested four months after the incident.The power struggle over the drug trade at the Geneva Camp - worth billions - has been ongoing for a long time. However, clashes between the two sides escalated into constant conflict amid the unrest surrounding the July uprising.—bdnews24.com

National Bank Ltd, suffering from a liquidity crisis, has sought an additional Tk 10 billion from Bangladesh Bank in liquidity support.The bank earlier received Tk 40 billion from the central bank. Hence we are seeking Tk 10 billion more," National Bank Chairman Abdul Awal Mintu said. "The central bank asked for details on how and in which sectors the previous amount had been spent and National Bank has been preparing a presentation to explain it, said Mintu.He complained that the National Bank has been suffering due to the "corruption" of its old board. However, Bangladesh Bank has yet to approve the new amount, the chairman said.In November, Bangladesh Bank provided liquidity support of Tk 220 billion to several banks. It printed the currency to provide the support.In addition to National Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank and Exim Bank received the support.After taking office, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur had initially said the central bank would not print money indiscriminately to stabilise the banks.

The Book Fair 2025 organising committee has also decided to reduce the pavilion sizes of three publishing houses, including Anyaprokash and Agamee Prokashoni. In addition, several other publishers have had their pavilions cancelled and will instead receive 3- or 4-unit stalls, according to a decision by the organising committee. Speaking to bdnews24.com, Gani said: “The fair committee made this decision under the influence of certain publishers driven by malice. He told bdnews24.com: “My publishing house carries books by two advisors to the current government. In the context of this political shift, the month-long book fair will begin on Feb 1 with the theme: “July Uprising: Building a New Bangladesh.”Like previous years, this year’s book fair will also be held at the Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan, with preparations already under way.

He was scheduled to appear before court on ThursdayFormer chief of Uttara East Police Station escapes police custody after arrestShah Alam, former chief of the Uttara East Police Station in Dhaka, has escaped from police custody, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, or DMP. Alam had been under arrest in connection with a murder case tied to mass protests that took place during July and August. He was brought to the Uttara East Police Station ahead of a planned court appearance on Thursday after being detained from Kushtia on Wednesday. DMP spokesperson Talebur Rahman said, "Efforts are under way to arrest Shah Alam, who escaped from police custody." He had joined the Uttara East Police Station as its OC on Aug 1, 2024, during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

The National Board of Revenue, or NBR, issued related instructions on the same evening, making the tax and duty hikes effective immediately. Analysts suggest that the increased value added tax, supplementary, and excise duties on these goods and services, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, may lead to price hikes. Despite these assurances, experts analysing the list of affected goods and services indicate that most of these are essential in the current context, potentially fuelling non-food inflation. The government had to use ordinances to increase taxes and duties due to the absence of a national parliament. This prompted the government to suddenly increase VAT midway through the fiscal year.

The families of BDR members ‘accused’ in the Pilkhana massacre demonstrated at Shahbag in the capital on Thursday. —FE PhotoThe families of BDR members "accused" in the Pilkhana massacre, held a sit-in demonstration at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar for a second consecutive day, to push for a three-point demand, including a reinvestigation of the massacre and the release of "innocent jawans", reports bdnews 24.com. Molla Nabiullah, father of imprisoned BDR member Molla Sayeed Hasan, told bdnews24.com: "There are 824 people in prison. We are demanding the release of the prisoners, the reinstatement of their jobs, and the rehabilitation of those dismissed." The programme by the relatives of the arrested BDR members began on Wednesday morning.

Despite outrage, government promises of action against such incidents have faded within a few monthsAdvisor Mahfuj says attackers of music festivals, shrines won't be spared after demolitionAdvisor Mahfuj Alam has once again spoken about taking “strict action” against those involved in any attack on music festivals or shrines. From now on, any attack on a music festival or shrine will lead to action, and no one will be spared. Amid a wave of criticism and outrage, the government continued to talk about taking action to stop these incidents, but the issue subsided in the next few months. When asked about the incident in Mymensingh, Mahfuj said, “We have collected information about the incidents that occurred after Aug 5. “Therefore, the chief advisor proposed that holding local government elections could provide citizens with better access to services.

Witnesses say around 11pm, hundreds of students from the nearby Jamia Faizur Rahman (RA) Momenshahi Boro Masjid Madrasa attacked the Sama Qawwali programme in the city's Thana Ghat area. Around 3am, the madrasa students left after attacking, vandalising, and setting fire to the shrine. “Following the Milad, a Sama Qawwali was arranged in a tent in front of the police station gate, drawing many devotees and supporters. "Moments later, hundreds of madrasa students arrived, destroyed everything, and then left. Let justice be served—that is our demand.”Alam Chishti, the organiser of the shrine’s festival, added: “We have been holding Sama Qawwali events for many years.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday. "In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," the statement from Afghanistan's foreign ministry said late on Wednesday. India's foreign ministry said after the Dubai meeting that India was considering engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and looking to boost trade ties. Regional players including China and Russia have signalled they are willing to boost trade and investment in Afghanistan. The Delhi meeting could ruffle Pakistan, which borders both countries and has fought three wars in the past against India.

Selectors have instead opted for uncapped all-rounder Cooper Connolly as another spin option, joining Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann. Teenage opener Sam Konstas and all-rounder Beau Webster have been retained in the squad following impressive Test debuts against India. Uncapped quick Sean Abbott joins Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland among the pace options. Australia, who beat India 3-1, have already sewn up their place in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's in June. Squad:Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

She will join the US embassy in Dhaka as chargé d’affaires ad interim on Jan 11Diplomat Tracey Ann Jacobson has been named the new acting US ambassador to Bangladesh. Jacobson, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, will join the US mission in Dhaka as chargé d’affaires ad interim on Jan 11, a statement issued by the embassy said on Thursday. Most recently, Jacobson served as a senior advisor to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Prior to that assignment, she served as chargé d’affaires ad interim at the US embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With Jacobson’s arrival as chargé d’affaires ad interim, Megan Bouldin will resume duties as the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Dhaka.

REUTERS/StringerFirefighters work at the site of an administrative building damaged by Russian air and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Jan 8, 2025. REUTERS/StringerA Russian guided bomb attack on Wednesday killed at least 13 people and injured 63 in Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, authorities said. Russian troops had used two guided bombs to hit a residential area, the regional governor Ivan Fedorov told reporters. Fedorov said Russian troops shelled the town of Stepnohirsk, south of Zaporizhzhia, killing two people. Russia regularly carries out air strikes on the Zaporizhzhia region, which its forces partially occupy, and its capital.