From success story to headache: ICC grapples with Afghanistan dilemma
"We are committed to leveraging our influence constructively to support the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan," an ICC spokesperson told Reuters. While the women's team has been disbanded, Afghanistan men's team have shifted base to Dubai. Britain's Culture minister Lisa Nandy was also apprehensive of the utility of boycotting a cricket team. Australia also play Afghanistan only in multi-team ICC events and have refused to host them more than once. Afghanistan begin their Group B campaign against South Africa in Karachi on Feb 21 before taking on England and Australia.
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 13:02 UTC
Sagar-Runi murder case: PBI to question Ziaul, Mashiur
On the night of Aug 15, 2024, police arrested Ziaul in Khilkhet, based on a case filed at Dhaka’s New Market Police Station. In connection with the murder case filed at Dhaka’s New Market Police Station, Mashiur was arrested on Sept 19, 2024. Runi’s brother, Nausher Ali Roman, filed a case with the Sher-e-Bangla Police Station in connection with the murder. Three weeks later, on Oct 23, 2024, the government formed its own task force to expedite the investigation into the murder case. Following the murder, Runi’s brother, Nausher, filed a case at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka.
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 11:54 UTC
Two women file case over alleged gang rape in Cumilla
The women alleged that they were also beaten and the incident was recorded on videoTwo women have lodged a case against seven individuals over being an alleged gang rape at a sawmill in Cumilla. The case was filed around midnight on Monday, said Nangalkot police chief AK Fazlul Haque. The women also alleged that they were “beaten up” and “recorded on video" as well. But, due to the recorded video clips, they decided to ask for help from Nurpur locals on Saturday. Chauddagram Assistant Superintendent of Police Nishat Tabassum said: “The two women lodged the complaint to us.
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 09:18 UTC
India's Maha Kumbh marks first 'royal bath' with dreadlocked ascetics' holy dip
REUTERSSadhus or Hindu holy men from Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara take part in a religious procession during "Peshwai" or the arrival of the members of an akhara or sect of sadhus ahead of the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 12, 2025. REUTERSScores of naked Hindu ascetics smeared in holy ash charged into the water of holy rivers in northern India on Tuesday, dreadlocks flying, during the first 'royal bath' of the Maha Kumbh Mela, or Great Pitcher Festival. The dip by the ascetics, who wore only holy beads, though some wielded tridents, spears, or maces, signals the start of the ritual, watched by thousands of devotees. Earlier, to chants and the beat of drums, the ascetics had moved in procession towards the water, standing atop decorated trucks, riding horses, or walking. Every 12 years, the festival is described as 'maha' or great, as the timing is considered to render it more auspicious, drawing bigger crowds.
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 05:02 UTC
January 14, 2025
A "Shadabuk Machhranga" or white-throated kingfisher sits on the branch of a tree to seek prey in the Katka sanctuary in the Sundarbans. Twelve species of kingfisher can be found in Bangladesh. Most of them are found in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 03:09 UTC
Gaza ceasefire deal close after 'breakthrough' in Doha
REUTERSNegotiators will meet in Doha on Tuesday seeking to finalise details of a plan to end the war in Gaza after US President Joe Biden said a ceasefire and hostage release deal he has championed was on "the brink" of coming to fruition. An Israeli official said negotiations were in advanced stages for the release of up to 33 hostages as part of the deal. "The negotiation over some core issues made progress and we are working to conclude what remains soon," a Hamas official said. TRUMP'S INAUGURATION SEEN AS DEADLINETrump's Jan. 20 inauguration is now widely seen as a de facto deadline for a ceasefire agreement. Unarmed North Gaza residents would be allowed back, with a mechanism to ensure no weapons are moved there.
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 02:06 UTC
Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, CRI benefits brought under income tax regime
The interim government has imposed a tax on the income of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.Recently, the National Board of Revenue, or NBR, announced the revocation of six statutory regulatory orders, or SROs, that were exempted from income tax by the deposed Awami League government.Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust was one of them.According to the 2018 notification, this trust was exempted from income tax for 10 years on interest earned from fixed or savings deposits.Following the change in power, the previous notification has been cancelled after six years.The income tax on the interest earned on the trust's deposits must be paid from now on as per the normal rules.Similarly, the tax exemption provided to the Awami League's research wing, the Centre for Research and Information, or CRI, has also been withdrawn.According to the previous notification issued in January 2019, the organisation was exempted from tax for an unspecified duration on all earnings from donations, grants, and interest received from banks and other sources through its activities.At the same time, the current government has also cancelled the tax exemption granted to President Abdul Hamid Foundation in 2019.According to the previous notification, the foundation received tax exemption on all income and interest on bank deposits for 10 years.Since the interim government took office, it has been monitoring exemptions given during the previous government, cancelling many of them from time to time.This list includes business entities favoured by the Sheikh Hasina government, as well as social organisations and institutions established named after political figures. —bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 00:01 UTC
Militants kill at least 40 farmers in Nigeria's Borno state
Suspected Islamist militants killed 40 farmers in an attack on the Dumba community in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State on Sunday, a senior state official said on Monday. Sunday's attack comes amid a worsening food crisis in Borno, exacerbated by flooding in September and years of insecurity and displacement caused by the insurgency. Initial reports indicate the farmers strayed outside a security corridor set up by the military, venturing into an area known for insurgent activity and strewn with landmines, Usman Tar, commissioner of information said. Security forces were looking for any farmers who had escaped the attack, Tar added. Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks in Borno since the turn of the year, with a failed ambush on a military patrol last week leaving 34 militants dead.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 21:31 UTC
Constitutional reform seeks to restructure power dynamics, checks on PM’s power, institutional decentralisation
Ali Riaz stressed that calls for power balance stem from the unprecedented concentration of power in the hands of the prime minister. "This is not just about balancing power between individuals like the president and prime minister, but also about creating a robust institutional framework," he said. "We explored systems where decision-making involves not just the president and prime minister, but also the opposition and other political groups." "When a prime minister remains in power for too long, the crisis deepens. "Limiting terms encourages political parties to develop new leaders who can step into the role of prime minister," Riaz explained.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 21:28 UTC
Celebrations in Sudan's Wad Madani as army takes over strategic city
The bodies of RSF soldiers could be seen on the road and bridge leading into the city, but eyewitnesses reported few clashes inside Madani. Fiercer fighting could be expected as the RSF fights to maintain control of Khartoum, where the army has made gains, the RSF sources said. Many of the paramilitary's fighters come from militias and tribal groups outside of Gezira and had little will to fight for the country's centre, the RSF sources added. They exhausted and humiliated us," said lawyer Ahmed Abdelqadir, who along with other women and children cheered for the SAF soldiers as they drove through the town. The paramilitary soldiers who roamed through the town raided homes and killed the residents if they didn't find anything, she said.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 20:52 UTC
Bangladesh must carry out ‘huge activities' to get post-LDC benefits, says EU ambassador
He visited two knitwear factories in Narayanganj and interacted with the leaders of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, on Monday. “That means the business partners here and the Bangladesh government now must carry out huge activities." The EU is the main trading partner of Bangladesh as a region within the scope of GSP. Bangladesh exported goods worth $18.9 billion to the European market that year, in which the apparel sector played a major role. About his discussions with the BKMEA leaders, the ambassador said: "Access to our market is very important for the future prosperity of Bangladesh.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 20:11 UTC
ACC files three cases against Hasina, her family for Purbachal land allocation ‘graft’
The ACC had previously accused Hasina and her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, of receiving plot allocations through irregularities. The ACC filed three cases under the Corruption Prevention Act 1947 after it found evidence of "abuse of power" in the allocation of the plots. Earlier on Sunday, the ACC prosecuted Hasina and her daughter Putul for “hiding information and abusing authority” to allocate plots in Purbachal. According to the documents reviewed by the ACC, Hasina was granted a 10-katha (plot no. The allegations came under heightened scrutiny last year when the High Court formed a three-member committee to examine potential irregularities in the allocation of Purbachal plots to Hasina and six members of her family.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 18:34 UTC
All agreements, protocols complied with in fencing border, India tells Bangladesh high commissioner
India’s Ministry of External Affairs came with the statement on Monday, a day after Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma to lodge a protest. In a tit-for-tat response, the Indian foreign ministry summoned Bangladesh's Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi, Nurul Islam, on Monday afternoon. The foreign secretary conveyed Bangladesh's concerns over the recent actions of the BSF along the Bangladesh-India border, the statement read. “He stressed that such activities, especially the unauthorised construction of barbed-wire fences and other related activities, have created tension and chaos in the border areas." The Indian foreign ministry said in the statement that the measures, including the fencing, have been taken to curb crime and smuggling at the orders.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 17:15 UTC
Golam Rasul appointed new Special Branch chief
Additional Inspector General Golam Rasul, who has been standing in for the chief of the Special Branch (SB) of police has been elevated as the chief. During the Hasina government, the controversial Additional IG (Grade-1) Monirul Islam served as the SB chief. After the interim government took office in August, DIG Shah Alam was appointed as SB chief. He was promoted to additional IG on Oct 2 and retired on the same day. A notification was issued on Monday promoting him to Additional IG and assigning him as the current head of the SB.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 16:57 UTC
Telecom sector tops DSE trading on governor’s tax cut remarks
Telecom shares has suddenly topped transactions at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) following remarks by the Bangladesh Bank governor advocating for reduced taxes on investments in the sector. The index stood at 5,156 points on the previous trading day, and total transactions were Tk 3.71 billion according to bdnews24.com. "We need to increase investment in the telecom sector to ensure uninterrupted internet and reduce call drops. The telecom sector generally holds a modest 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent share, with transaction values ranging between Tk 3.0 million and Tk 4.0 million. The banking sector followed the telecom sector in Monday's transactions with Tk 412.3 million, while the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector was third with Tk 406 million.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 16:22 UTC