India says trade discussions with US 'positive,' 'forward looking'
India says trade discussions with US 'positive,' 'forward looking'FILE PHOTO: Indian flag, 3D-printed miniature model depicting US President Donald Trump and the word "Tariffs", are seen in this illustration taken Aug 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoTrade discussions between Indian and US officials on Tuesday were "positive" and "forward-looking", New Delhi said, after President Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory tone following punitive tariffs on India over its Russian oil purchases. A US delegation led by Brendan Lynch, assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia, met Indian trade officials headed by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal in New Delhi. Talks covered bilateral trade ties, including a possible India-US trade deal, it added. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Source:bd News24
September 17, 2025 03:30 UTC
‘Okay’: Hasnat’s flashback post on Asif Nazrul’s 2020 anti-elite rant sets off viral storm
The original post, published by Nazrul on Jul 12, 2020, highlighted irregularities among government officials, including seeking medical treatment abroad, and suggested tough restrictions. He wrote, “I would make a law if I had the power.”Hasnat shared the post on Tuesday at 3:54pm, bringing it back into the spotlight. By 1:30am on Tuesday night, before this report was compiled, Hasnat’s post had been shared 8,300 times and received 198,000 reactions. In his old post, Nazrul proposed strict restrictions on those in power seeking medical treatment abroad. I would make life hell for those who are thieves, robbers, or criminals.”Hasnat’s viral post has attracted 27,000 comments, with a variety of reactions.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 21:12 UTC
Bangladesh weighs Tk 4 billion price tag against uncertain turnout in expat postal vote
He emphasised that despite low voter turnout in many countries with postal voting systems, providing expatriates with the opportunity to vote is necessary. EC’S RECENT MOVESCEC Nasir visited Canada in early September to hold discussions on NID services and postal voting for expatriate Bangladeshis. COUNTRY-WISE OUTREACHUnited Arab Emirates: In May 2023, administrative and technical teams visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi. United Kingdom: Technical teams visited Birmingham and Manchester in November 2023. Japan: Technical teams worked in Tokyo, and NID services were inaugurated in August 2024 by the EC secretary.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 20:33 UTC
Demands to ban Jatiya Party are ‘undesirable, wholly undemocratic’, says Anisul Islam
Anisul Islam Mahmud, chairman of a faction of the Jatiya Party (JaPa), has described calls to ban the party’s activities as “undesirable and wholly undemocratic”. He said such demands are “dangerous” for Bangladesh’s political culture. One of their key demands was a ban on the activities of the JaPa and the allies of the Awami League-led 14-Party Alliance. The former minister said, “At no point in Bangladesh’s political history has the Jatiya Party engaged in any political crime or participated in any activity that would justify a ban. He said, “Demands to politically ban any party weaken the democratic process and silence the public voice.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 20:01 UTC
Number of million-taka bank accounts jumps by 6,000 in three months
In the midst of ongoing reforms by the interim government, the number of bank accounts holding balances of over a million taka has risen by nearly 6,000 over the past three months. With the rise in the number of million-taka accounts, the total deposits in these accounts have also grown. By June, the deposit amount stood at Tk 8.88 trillion, compared with Tk 7.83 trillion three months ago. The report also reveals the total number of bank accounts in the country reached 169.02 million by the end of June, with a rise of 3.3 million accounts in the past three months, from 165.77 million in March. However, Bangladesh Bank has not disclosed how many individuals, institutions, or government agencies own these accounts, nor has it released data on the total number of unique customers, as one individual or institution may hold multiple accounts.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 18:41 UTC
Commuter train derails in Rangpur, halting rail service in three dists
Six carriages of the "Padmarag Commuter" train have derailed in Rangpur's Pirgacha Upazila, cutting off inter-city, local, and mail trains in three districts in the Rangpur region, reports bdnews24.com. The accident occurred near the out signal at Pirgacha Railway Station at around 12:40 pm on Tuesday, according to Station Master Genarul Islam. Another train has set off from Lalmonirhat to retrieve the coaches, according to the rail station authority. The Lalmonirhat-bound "Padmarag Commuter" was waiting at the Pirgacha Railway Station's Line No. After the other train crossed, the Padmarag set off for Lalmonirhat, but a connection on the train broke as the line was being changed, derailing six carriages.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 18:03 UTC
Religious festivals shouldn't require security cordon: CA
— Focus BanglaChief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has outlined his vision of a Bangladesh where religious festivals do not require extensive security arrangements, reports bdnews24.com. "We don't want to practise our religion under a security cordon. Whatever the religious or ideological differences may be, the state has no right to discriminate among citizens, he said, adding the state is duty-bound to ensure equal dignity for all. Highlighting the importance of citizen rights, Yunus said: "We are repeatedly humiliated, insulted and discriminated against in different ways. The most important goal of the new Bangladesh is to ensure equal rights for all citizens."
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 18:02 UTC
Chattogram customs officer, broker detained over bribery allegations
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has detained an assistant revenue officer of Chattogram Customs and a broker for allegedly taking bribes from an importer to clear goods. A team from ACC’s Integrated District Office Chattogram-1 carried out the operation at the Customs House on Tuesday afternoon. Subel Ahmed, deputy director of ACC Chattogram, told bdnews24.com: “We launched this ‘trap operation’ after receiving claims that an importer was being asked for a bribe to clear goods.”He said their special team observed the transaction in disguise and caught Assistant Revenue Officer Rajib Roy and his associate broker Mainuddin red-handed with Tk 30,000 in bribe money.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 17:07 UTC
BNP vows to deal with demand for PR system in the street
BNP vows to deal with demand for PR system in the streetIn response to a joint movement by several political parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, demanding proportional representation (PR) in national elections, BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmad has vowed that the party will take its stance to the streets. On Tuesday, he said the BNP will use its rights as a “political party” to take the response to the streets and present it to the people. We will see what the people accept,” the BNP Standing Committee member. Reaffirming the BNP's position, Salahuddin added: "We are against the PR system in both houses. Several Islamic political parties, including the Jamaat, Khelafat Majlis, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, along with a faction of Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, have announced a three-day protest against the PR system, set for Monday.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 16:19 UTC
Former chief justice Khairul denied bail in murder, forgery cases
Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque’s bail petitions have been turned down in two separate cases involving murder and verdict forgery. On Tuesday, Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Nargis Islam rejected his bail plea in the verdict forgery case filed with Shahbagh Police. Meanwhile, Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Jahangir Hossain denied him bail in the case over the murder of Abdul Qayyum Ahad, a Jubo League member, during last year’s July Uprising in Dhaka’s Jatrabari. Khairul’s lawyer, Monayem Nabi Shahin, said: “We filed bail petitions in both cases, but the courts denied them. We will appeal to the High Court and expect justice and bail there.”Khairul was arrested by police detectives at his Dhanmondi residence on Jul 24.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 12:39 UTC
Yunus envisions a Bangladesh where religious festivals require no ‘security cordon’
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has outlined his vision of a Bangladesh where religious festivals do not require extensive security arrangements. He had earlier visited the temple premises ahead of the Durga Puja, the biggest annual festival for Bengali Hindus. Highlighting the importance of citizen rights, Yunus said: "We are repeatedly humiliated, insulted and discriminated against in different ways. Sharing his personal feelings, Yunus said he did not want to miss the joy of the Durga Puja festival. This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 33,576 pavilions, with 255 of those located in Dhaka city.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 10:45 UTC
Rising heat cost Bangladesh $1.7bn and 2.5bn workdays in 2024: World Bank report
Bangladesh has lost at least 2.5 billion workdays in 2024 due to illnesses caused by rising temperatures, a World Bank study has found. According to the report, Bangladesh’s maximum recorded temperature has risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius since 1980. When the temperature rose above 30 degrees Celsius, the incidence of chronic cough increased by 22.7 percent. Compared to temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius, the likelihood of fatigue rose by 26.5 percent when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius. The likelihood of diarrhoea rose by 47.7 percent when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius compared to below 30 degrees Celsius.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 10:13 UTC
Bangladesh seeks to defer LDC graduation amid economic headwinds
The Bangladesh government has been working to postpone the deadline for the country’s transition from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing nation, according to Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman. Mahbubur made the remarks at a workshop on LDC graduation organised by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) in Dhaka on Tuesday. "I have spoken to a foreign team a few days ago to defer the graduation process. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a two-year extension, setting the country’s official graduation date for Nov 24, 2026. As an LDC, Bangladesh currently enjoys duty-free and quota-free access to European markets, a benefit that will expire once the country exits the category.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 09:50 UTC
Model Sanayee’s husband gets bail after surrendering in dowry case
A court has granted bail to Abu Saleh Musa, the husband of showbiz personality and model Sanayee Mahbob, in a case accusing him of demanding dowry, as well as physical and emotional abuse. During the hearing, he told the court: “The court took the case into consideration and issued a summons against the suspect. We’ll reach a compromise soon.”Objecting to the bail petition, Sanayee’s counsel, Mithun Saha, told the court:“Beyond demanding dowry, the defendant also took Tk 1.9 million from the plaintiff. At his insistence, Sanayee gave him Tk 1.2 million of her own money and another Tk 700,000 from her father. However, after spending that money, Musa later demanded Tk 2.2 million in dowry from Sanayee, according to the filing.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 09:17 UTC
Awami League activists use crude bombs to free detainees from Shyamoli procession: police
Activists of the Awami League, whose political activities are banned, have detonated improvised explosives to free several people detained during their latest procession in Dhaka's Shyamoli, according to police. The incident took place around 11am on Tuesday, when several hundred leaders and activists of the disgraced party rallied in front of the Shishu Mela amusement park. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Md Imamul Haque also confirmed the account, saying the detainees could not be held because of the “backup team” from the Awami League. “At the Shyamoli Shishu Mela intersection, Awami League men were preparing for a procession in the presence of several police officers. “As they were taking people away after setting off cocktails, police detained six of them along with a motorcycle,” said Imamul.
Source:bd News24
September 16, 2025 08:41 UTC