Schools reopen after holidays, students reluctant to follow health protocols
Classes have resumed at the lower secondary, secondary and technical educational institutions on Sunday. However, teachers say students were reluctant to follow health protocols on Sunday, the first day schools resumed classes. The DGHS asked everyone to wear masks and follow other health protocols. Educational institutions have been asked to follow health protocols as infections are increasing in neighbouring countries.”"If the infection rate increases significantly, the government will decide to close schools, in consultation with the DGHS. In addition, we are asking them to follow the health protocols and hope they will wear masks in future."
Source:bd News24
June 22, 2025 06:45 UTC
Middle East tensions put investors on alert, weighing worst-case scenarios
"I think this will help oil prices stay higher; the easy direction for them right now is up at this point," Spindel added. In the most severe case, global oil prices jump to around $130 per barrel, driving US inflation near 6% by the end of this year, Oxford said in the note. OIL IMPACTThe biggest market impact from the escalating conflict has been restricted to oil, with oil prices soaring on worries that the Iran-Israel conflict could disrupt supplies. STOCKS UNPERTURBEDUS stocks have so far weathered rising Middle East conflict with little sign of panic. Economists warn that a dramatic rise in oil prices could damage a global economy already strained by Trump's tariffs.
Source:bd News24
June 22, 2025 02:24 UTC
Photographer Chanchal Mahmud passes away
Chanchal Mahmud, a familiar name in Bangladeshi fashion photography, has died at the age of 66.He passed away at 9pm on Friday at Labaid Hospital in Dhaka's Dhanmondi, photographer Shahadat Parvez told bdnews24.com.Chanchal had been suffering from health issues for several years and was hospitalised four days ago. "His [Chanchal's] kidneys and heart were in poor condition. He had suffered five heart attacks earlier. [On Friday], he had two more, making it seven in total," said Shahadat, who is his student.Chanchal was buried at the Banani Graveyard after Zohr prayers on Saturday, he added.Born on Mar 12, 1959 in Karachi, he spent over four and a half decades in photography and became a prominent figure in Bangladesh's fashion industry. He ran a photography training centre named "Chanchal Mahmud Photography".His work has been featured in several exhibitions, and he was also associated with the Bangladesh Photographic Society.�"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 18:29 UTC
Balance of short-term foreign loans drops by 8pc
As a result, foreign debt has dropped.The short-term foreign debt balance dropped by $890 million year-on-year, or 7.99 percent in April, according to updated data by Bangladesh Bank published on Wednesday.The short-term foreign debt balance stood at $10.25 billion at the end of April this year. Everyone is repaying their previous loans with the dollars they currently have.Short-term foreign loans are those taken from foreign sources for a period of less than a year. The balance was $11.25 billion in January 2024.In February and March 2025, the foreign loan balance was $10.03 billion and $10.13 billion, respectively. From January to April, short-term foreign loans worth $6.99 billion were taken out. This was a positive aspect and if this continues, foreign loans and investment would increase, they added.
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 16:07 UTC
NBR trails Tk 660bn behind revenue target after 11 months
Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) has fallen Tk 660.78 billion behind its revenue target in the first 11 months of FY2025, despite mid-year hikes in duties and taxes on goods and services.To reach the revised goal of Tk 4.63 trillion, tax collectors must bring in Tk 1.36 trillion in June alone.The shortfall was discussed on Thursday at a revenue review meeting of the Customs and VAT divisions at NBR headquarters in Dhaka, presided over by Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan.A media statement was issued for the first time after such a meeting, detailing collection progress up to May.As per the statement, receipts from July to May totalled Tk 3.28 trillion against a target of Tk 3.94 trillion --meeting 83.10 percent of the goal.Year-on-year growth stood at 6 percent.Earlier in the week, a similar session reviewed direct tax collection.That meeting drew attention after some officials, protesting against the chairman, skipped attendance or joined anonymously with names such as "Donald Trump", "Elon Musk", "Mayer Doa Sanitary", and "Tejgaon Egg Traders Association".Some reports suggested bot accounts were used to inflate the attendance count.In response, Thursday's meeting required all online participants to keep their video and audio on.Officials from Dhaka, including commissioners and directors general, attended in person, while officials from outside Dhaka joined virtually.To increase direct tax collection, the previous government had withdrawn several exemptions.The interim administration has continued on that path, but revenue from this sector has yet to reflect the impact. A review of income tax and travel tax data shows a 37.27 percent shortfall against the 11-month target.From July to May, against a target of Tk 1.71 trillion, the collection stood at Tk 1.08 trillion.VAT followed, with a 26.73 percent shortfall despite mid-year hikes on over 100 goods and services.From July to May, against a target of Tk 1.71 trillion, the actual VAT collection stood at Tk 1.27 trillion.The customs sector, covering imports and exports, brought in Tk 928.34 billion, while the target was set at Tk 1.2 trillion--marking a 22.97 percent gap.The original annual target was set at Tk 4.8 trillion, but was revised down to Tk 4.63 trillion due to sluggish revenue flow.While collection growth has since returned, the tax office is still facing a significant gap heading into the final month of the fiscal year. �"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 16:07 UTC
Contractionary fiscal policy for private sector, not for government, says BNP’s Mintoo
Contractionary fiscal policy for private sector, not for government, says BNP’s MintooAbdul Awal Mintoo, business leader and vice-chairman of the opposition BNP, has criticised the government for applying austerity measures selectively in the proposed 2025-26 national budget. “We’ve also slashed the size of the budget by 7 to 8 billion under a tight fiscal policy. So I don't see a tight fiscal policy for them.”He advised the government to take all aspects into consideration and adopt a policy after judgement and analysis. For the upcoming fiscal year, operating expenditure has increased by Tk 283.46 billion to Tk 5,353.17 billion. In addition, it aims to raise Tk 125 billion from savings certificates and Tk 210 billion from non-bank financial institutions.
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 14:47 UTC
Dhaka Medical College students reject closure order, vow to continue protest from halls
Students of Dhaka Medical College have rejected the authorities’ order to vacate their residential halls, declaring they will remain on campus until their housing-related demands are met. On Saturday, the college was declared closed indefinitely, with a directive for all students to leave their halls by Sunday noon. According to the student, “He [Principal Kamrul Alam] claimed students were staying on the fourth floor even after it was marked unsafe. That is our decision.”Attempts to reach Principal Kamrul Alam for a response to these allegations were unsuccessful. It added the council agreed with the students’ demands and was working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME).
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 10:14 UTC
Israeli military says it killed two Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders
REUTERSIsrael's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that the military had killed a veteran commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' overseas arm, in a strike in an apartment in Iran's Qom province. The commander, Saeed Izadi, led the Palestine Corps of the overseas arm, or Quds Force, Katz said in a statement. The Israeli military later said that it killed a second commander of the Guards' overseas arm, who it identified as Benham Shariyari, during a strike on his vehicle overnight in western Tehran. Shariyari supplied missiles and rockets launched at Israel to Hezbollah, Hamas and Yemen's Houthis, according to the Israeli military. Katz said Izadi financed and armed Hamas during the initial attacks, describing the commander's killing as a "major achievement for Israeli intelligence and the Air Force".
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 09:18 UTC
Woman dies of COVID in Chattogram as six new cases detected
A 71-year-old woman has died from COVID-19 in Chattogram, bringing the district’s death toll to two this year, as six more cases of infection are identified. As many as six new coronavirus cases were detected in the last 24 hours in the city, according to the latest report by the authorities. With these, the total number of confirmed cases in Chattogram district stands at 62 -- 55 of them from the city and the remaining seven from different Upazilas. Among the confirmed cases so far, 33 are men, 26 women, and one is a child. Chattogram General Hospital was designated for COVID-19 treatment at the onset of the outbreak.
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 09:13 UTC
Non-MPO teachers threaten nonstop sit-in
Teachers from non-MPO educational institutions have threatened to launch a relentless movement if the government fails to bring all recognised non-MPO institutions under the Monthly Pay Order scheme. The warning came on Saturday during a sit-in organised in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka by the ‘Combined Non-MPO Unity Council’, reports bdnews24.com. We will return only as corpses.”Calling on fellow teachers across the country, he urged: “All non-MPO teachers must gather in every lane and alley around the Press Club from Sunday morning. Since the government is not listening, we will now occupy Dhaka’s streets wearing shrouds,” he declared. The teachers also said that ensuring salaries for educators in non-MPO institutions must be treated as the state’s top priority.
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 07:50 UTC
UIU students block Natun Bazar road
Students of United International University (UIU) have blocked the Natun Bazar road, demanding the withdrawal of “unjust expulsions,” accountability from the “repressive” syndicate, and the restoration of democratic practices in their institution. The demonstration began around 8:30 am on Saturday as part of a programme dubbed the “Natun Bazar Blockade,” resulting in the complete closure of one side of the road, according to police. “The students have occupied one side of the road, halting traffic from Kuril to Badda,” said Vatara police chief Rakibul Hasan. We’re trying to convince the students to leave the road. University authorities are here and talking to them.”Over 50 students participated in the protest, shouting slogans and holding placards.
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 06:13 UTC
Death toll in Mymensingh bus-Mahindra collision hits 8, 3 more killed in separate crash
Meanwhile, three people died when an ambulance collided head-on with a CNG-run autorickshaw in Tarakanda's Ramchandrapur area around 5:30pm the same day. In Tarakanda, the victims were Jebeda Khatun, 85, Rakibul Hasan, 15, and autorickshaw driver Mohammad Alam, 35. One died at Phulpur Upazila Health Complex and two more at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Following the crash, the bus driver and his assistant fled. Autorickshaw driver Mohammad Alam later died while undergoing treatment.
Source:bd News24
June 21, 2025 04:57 UTC
As another flood season looms, ground realities buck official preparedness claims
As another flood season looms, ground realities buck official preparedness claimsThe monsoon clouds are gathering once again to reignite fears for many like Arman Hossain of Cumilla, who still shudders recalling the devastation of last year’s sudden floods. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said heavy rainfall across Tripura and nearby Bangladeshi districts from Aug 21 had caused a natural overflow at the dam. Being prepared can save lives.”Prof Mohammad Moniruzzaman Khan of Dhaka University’s Institute of Disaster Management told bdnews24.com that no relevant government ministry or department has sought advice or consultation from disaster management experts. “If a flood of the same scale hits again, the outcome could be devastating.”He criticised the lack of training, awareness, and research following the Feni flood. KM Abdul Wadud, additional secretary of the disaster management and relief ministry, told bdnews24.com: Floods don’t happen suddenly --there’s always a forecast.
Source:bd News24
June 20, 2025 21:11 UTC
Factories, households reel from gas supply disruption across Bangladesh
As such, a gas supply crunch was still felt in Dhaka. Sadia Akhter, a resident of Shantinagar, said: "There was no gas supply problem for a long time. After suffering due to no gas supply for a day, I found the stove yesterday." Calling the gas supply crisis an additional difficulty, she asked about the reasons for the supply crunch and queried whether it would be resolved soon. Later, I heard that many people could not cook at home due to the gas supply shortage.”WHY THE SHORTAGE?
Source:bd News24
June 20, 2025 21:11 UTC
Jaiswal salutes 'special' hundred
Photo: AFPIndia's Yashasvi Jaiswal was proud of a "very special" innings as he inflicted yet more pain upon England with a fine century in the first Test at Headingley on Friday. Not that 23-year-old left-hander Jaiswal, who last year scored a mammoth 712 runs in a home series win over England, was complaining. Reflecting on Gill's hundred -- his first innings at this level since succeeding Rohit Sharma as Test captain, Jaiswal said: "He played amazingly. "I was staggered when he (Stokes) said he was going to bowl," added Vaughan, commentating on the match for the BBC. But credit to the Indian batsmen, in particular Jaiswal and Gill, they played a couple of great hands."
Source:bd News24
June 20, 2025 21:00 UTC