Ukraine voices concern as US halts some missile shipments
US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attend a meeting on the sidelines of NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025. Ukraine said it had called in the acting US envoy to Kyiv to underline the importance of military aid from Washington continuing, and cautioned that any cut-off would embolden Russia in its war in Ukraine. Trump said last week he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, said the decision to halt shipments was "very unpleasant for us". In an email, the Pentagon said it was providing Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine in line with the goal of ending the war.
Source:bd News24
July 03, 2025 03:30 UTC
3 NBR members, 1 commissioner sent on forced retirement
The interim government has sent four senior officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into compulsory retirement, citing "in the interest of the public".The officials are Hossain Ahmed, member (Customs Policy & ICT), Md Alamgir Hossain, member (Tax Audit Intelligence & Investigation), Md Abdur Rouf, member (VAT Policy), and Md Shabbir Ahmed, commissioner (Income Tax).Separate notifications issued by the Internal Resources Division on Wednesday said the officials were being retired as they had completed 25 years of service.The move came a day after the suspension of Md Zakir Hossain, commissioner of Chattogram Customs House, who was made an officer on special duty (OSD) on Tuesday midnight.He was accused of defying government orders by keeping the customs house closed during the "complete shutdown" programme enforced by NBR officials and employees demanding the removal of their chairman.A separate order signed by NBR chief Md Abdur Rahman cites "disobedience" of government directives as the reason for his removal.The protest began after the government issued an ordinance in May bifurcating the NBR into two divisions, Revenue Policy and Revenue Management.But discontent persisted. Officials continued demanding the resignation of the NBR chairman, eventually launching a "complete shutdown" of customs and VAT offices from Saturday under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council.The government later suspended the ordinance and opted for dialogue-based reform instead.By the final stages of the movement, all members of the board, including Alamgir, Hossain, and Rouf, had joined.Shabbir had been particularly active in building public support for the reform movement.He delivered seminar presentations on international tax systems and frequently shared his views on social media.On Sunday, the government declared revenue services "essential" and warned of disciplinary action against those who failed to return to work.Amid the crisis, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched investigations into alleged corruption by six protesting NBR officials.On Tuesday, five more were added to the list of those under ACC scrutiny.�"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
July 03, 2025 00:55 UTC
Fled the war, but now they starve. Hundreds of Bawm families return to ruin from India's Mizoram
Hundreds of Bawm families return to ruin from India's MizoramAfter a year in exile in India’s Mizoram state, 70-year-old Damun Bawm and his family returned to Bangladesh hoping to reclaim their lives. Damun is among nearly 300 displaced Bawm families who have returned in recent months from hiding in forests and refugee camps in Mizoram, according to the Bawm Social Council. In the months that followed, more Bawm families reportedly fled their villages. FEAR, TRAUMAMany Bawm families still fear returning from hiding in forests or staying with relatives, said Lal Zar Lawm. Fearing violence, hundreds of Bawm families fled to neighbouring Mizoram in India.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 21:17 UTC
Quad ministers condemn April attack in Indian Kashmir without naming Pakistan
The Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia called on Tuesday for the perpetrators of an Islamist militant attack that killed 26 in India-administered Kashmir to be brought to justice without delay. The April 22 attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry as India blamed it on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. The US State Department issued a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the grouping, who met in Washington, but stopped short of naming Pakistan or blaming Islamabad. On Monday, India's foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, restated its position that trade was not a factor in the ceasefire. "Relationships will never be free of issues," he said, referring to the United States, adding, "What matters is the ability to deal with it and to keep that trend going in the positive direction."
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 18:39 UTC
Government retires three NBR members, one commissioner
The interim government has sent four senior officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into compulsory retirement, citing “in the interest of the public”. The officials are Hossain Ahmed, member (Customs Policy & ICT), Md Alamgir Hossain, member (Tax Audit Intelligence & Investigation), Md Abdur Rouf, member (VAT Policy), and Md Shabbir Ahmed, commissioner (Income Tax). The protest began after the government issued an ordinance in May bifurcating the NBR into two divisions, Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. Officials continued demanding the resignation of the NBR chairman, eventually launching a “complete shutdown” of customs and VAT offices from Saturday under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council. Amid the crisis, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched investigations into alleged corruption by six protesting NBR officials.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 15:20 UTC
Mostofa Mahmud Siddique named as new CAAB chairman
The Air Force’s Air Vice Marshal Mostofa Mahmud Siddique has been named as chairman of the Civil Aviation Association of Bangladesh (CAAB). The appointment was announced in a notice from the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday, as per a bdnews24.com report. Monjur had taken up the post on August 9, after the Awami League government fell in the face of a mass uprising, replacing Air Commodore Sadikur Rahman Chowdhury, who was removed on July 26, only six weeks into his tenure. Then, on Jul 26, Monjur was rather abruptly recalled during a trip to Cox’s Bazar. Now, the post is being filled by Mahmud.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 14:17 UTC
Dhaka stocks charts steady climb as fresh capital enters market
Equity trading in Bangladesh has turned a corner, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) posting steady gains in index and turnover after months of sustained decline and thin volumes. Turnover has climbed to Tk 4.79 billion, compared with Tk 4.64 billion a day earlier. Market capitalisation has climbed by Tk 160 billion since Eid, reaching Tk 6.66 trillion from Tk 6.51 trillion. The banking sector led with Tk 643 million in turnover, contributing 13.49 percent of the day’s total. The food and allied sector followed with Tk 599 million, or 12.5 percent, while pharmaceuticals and chemicals posted Tk 568 million, or 12 percent.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 13:39 UTC
Mugging of 500,000 riyal was staged, police say
Police have taken six people involved in the mugging of 500,000 Saudi riyal, approximately Tk 17.5 million, in Dhaka into custody, and uncovered that the incident had been staged. On Wednesday, an employee of a foreign currency trader was allegedly robbed of 500,000 Saudi riyal at the Sat Rasta intersection in the city. Following the incident, police conducted an overnight raid, recovered about half of the amount, and took six people into custody. The deputy commissioner said that after he was taken into custody, Tuhin confessed that he orchestrated the incident with his accomplices. “After that, we, along with the DB team, conducted raids at different places in Dhaka and took six people into custody.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 10:19 UTC
Police start case 11 months after child Ria Gope’s death by gunfire
Police have filed a case over the death of 6-year-old Ria Gope, who was shot dead while playing on the rooftop of her home in Narayanganj during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. More than 11 months after the incident, Sub-Inspector Abu Raihan of Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station initiated the case against up to 200 unidentified individuals on Tuesday night, confirmed the station’s chief Nasir Ahmad. Ria was the only child of Deepak Kumar Gope, a resident of Nayamati near Bangabandhu Road in Narayanganj. 2 area under the Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station in support of the quota reform movement on July 19 last year. During this time, Ria, who was playing on the rooftop of the four-storey building, was shot in the head.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 08:58 UTC
As US and European aid cuts deepen, Ukraine's humanitarian lifelines fray
Other leading donors, including Britain, are also paring back humanitarian aid as they seek savings to boost defence spending. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to European allies for help, but far from stepping up to fill the gap, they have also cut back humanitarian aid funding. Britain plans to cut its aid budget to 0.3% of gross national income from 0.5% by 2027. Germany, another of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, will cut its overall aid budget by almost 10% this year. US funding covered around 30% of coordinated humanitarian funding plans in Ukraine in 2022, 2023 and 2024, says ACAPS, an independent project that analyses global humanitarian activity.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 06:53 UTC
Asian stocks waver, dollar frail as Trump's tariffs, US rate path weighs
A man walks in front of a stock quotation board showing the Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, Jul 2, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonA man walks in front of a stock quotation board showing the Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, Jul 2, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonAsian stocks slipped on Wednesday and the dollar languished near 3-1/2-year lows as investors weighed the prospect of US interest rate cuts and the scramble for trade deals ahead of President Donald Trump's Jul 9 deadline for tariffs. The fiscal worries, trade uncertainties and the US rate path trajectory have all led investors to flee US assets and look for alternatives. The dollar index =USD, which measures the US currency against six rivals, was at 96.649, near its lowest since March 2022.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 04:22 UTC
US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine over low stockpiles, sources say
US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine over low stockpiles, sources sayUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump meet, while they attend the funeral of Pope Francis, at the Vatican Apr 26, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERSUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump meet, while they attend the funeral of Pope Francis, at the Vatican Apr 26, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERSThe Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision said on Tuesday. In an email, the Pentagon said it was providing President Donald Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine in line with the goal of ending Russia's war there. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden.
Source:bd News24
July 02, 2025 02:47 UTC
Anti-discrimination student platform accused of politicisation, criminal activities
Photo: Mahmud Zaman OviWhen Nahid Islam pushed to dissolve the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, his former colleague Umama Fatema resisted, determined to keep the student platform alive. On Mar 7, 2025, Nahid declared at a press briefing: “The Anti-discrimination Student Movement is no longer where it was. The label ‘coordinator or anti-discrimination’ no longer applies.”The same day, Anti-discrimination Student Movement spokesperson Umama Fatema issued a rebuttal on Facebook, writing, “No decision has been made to dissolve the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. I fear the platform has no future.”Many others associated with the Anti-discrimination Student Movement echoed her concerns. In response to allegations of party control, NCP convener Nahid told bdnews24.com: “I left the Anti-discrimination Student Movement long ago.
Source:bd News24
July 01, 2025 20:58 UTC
Govt cuts interest rates on savings certificates
The government has lowered the interest rates on all types of National Savings Certificates for the second half of 2025. The interest rate ceiling for certificates has been set at 12 percent, while the floor is 9.74 percent.Previously, the lowest interest rate for certificates was 10.13 percent and the highest was 12.55 percent.The Department of National Savings issued a notification on Monday fixing the new interest rates. However, the existing interest rate for four types of schemes -- Wage Earner Development Bond, US Dollar Premium Bond, US Dollar Investment Bond and Post Office Savings Bank General Account -- will remain unchanged.The government has decided to revise the interest rate on savings certificates every six months. The government offers a relatively lower interest rate for investments exceeding that amount.According to latest decision, the interest rate for an investment of Tk 750,000 in a pensioner savings certificate for five years will be 11.98 percent, which is the highest interest rate. If the investment is more than Tk 750,000, the interest rate for the same period will be 9.72 percent.Interest rates are also determined every three months for profit-based savings certificates, family savings certificates and post office savings accounts.Family savings certificates are the most popular savings scheme.
Source:bd News24
July 01, 2025 17:59 UTC
Bangladesh clears Adani arrears, ‘settles’ issues in power purchase agreement
Bangladesh has resolved its payment dispute with India’s Adani Power, clearing overdue bills and removing uncertainty over power supply from the company’s Jharkhand-based plant. A PTI report citing New Delhi sources reveals that Bangladesh made a record single payment of $437 million in June, settling past arrears, transmission charges, and all issues related to the power purchase agreement (PPA). With the financial issues settled, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has formally requested Adani Power to continue supplying electricity from both units of its Jharkhand plant at the contracted rate. The power purchase deal was signed on Nov 5, 2017, with Adani’s coal-fired plant in Godda, built at a cost of around $2 billion to export power to Bangladesh since April 2023. Following this positive development, creditors are reportedly expecting a credit rating upgrade for Adani Power Limited -- possibly from "AA" to "AA+.
Source:bd News24
July 01, 2025 17:09 UTC