Preparations under way for local government polls alongside general elections, says Yunus
He seeks EIB support for the Chattogram Port infrastructurePreparations under way for local government polls alongside general elections, says YunusThe interim government is preparing for local government elections alongside the national parliamentary polls, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has said. During a meeting with the European Investment Bank, or EIB, Vice-President Nicola Beer, who is visiting Dhaka, the interim prime minister detailed the government’s plans regarding elections under its tenure. The meeting took place on Wednesday at the State Guest House Jamuna, where the two discussed reforms, investment in Bangladesh, and other key issues. Yunus told the senior EIB official that the interim administration was also simultaneously preparing for local elections to make sure that "local government is really local and a government”. The discussion also covered building facilities at Chittagong Port, with Yunus seeking the EIB's assistance.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 21:58 UTC
Shares, scandals, and secrets: Inside Salman Rahman’s Tk 2.75bn diverse (and dubious) portfolio
Beximco Holdings owns nearly 24.90 million shares in Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Beximco Limited holds approximately 3.2 million shares, New Dhaka Industries holds 14.3 million shares, and Beximco Engineering has over 900,000 shares. Among them are Beximco Fisheries Limited, Beximco Port Limited, Beximco Engineering Limited, Escorp Apparels Limited, formerly Beximco Apparels Limited, Beximco Securities Limited, and Beximco Softtech Limited. The list also includes Beximco Agro Chemical Limited, Beximco Pharma Centre for Bio and Industrial Limited, Beximco Astra Company Limited (formerly Astra Company Limited), Beximco Media Limited, Beximco Services Limited, Beximco Logistics Limited, Beximco Property Development and Management Limited, Beximco Zenith Limited, Beximco Holding Limited, and Beximco Computer Limited. Also registered are ARK Sea Foods Limited, formerly Beximco Foods Limited, Beximco Mining and Energy Corporation Limited, Beximco Petroleum Limited, Beximco Power Company Limited, Beximco Communications Limited, Beximco LPG Unit-2 Limited (formerly Index Power and Energy Unit-2 Limited), and Beximco Pharma API Limited. The list further includes Beximco LPG Unit-1 Limited, formerly Index Power and Energy Unit-1 Limited, Beximco 360 Limited, Beximco Aviation Limited, Beximco Wings Limited, Beximco PPE Limited, Beximco IOC Petroleum and Energy Limited, and Beximco Equity Limited.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 20:06 UTC
ACC uncovers evidence of 'abuse of power' in plot allocations to Hasina, family
Speaking on Wednesday, ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain confirmed that the investigation into the alleged irregularities was progressing. According to the documents reviewed by the ACC, Hasina was granted a 10-katha (plot no. 017) received 10-katha each. Rehana secured 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 08, 2025 18:50 UTC
Goyeshwar, Rizvi, among 171 BNP leaders acquitted in sabotage case
Defence lawyer says no evidence found to substantiate allegationsA total of 173 leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, including the party’s Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, have been acquitted in a sabotage case. The case was filed six years ago at the Ramna Police Station in Dhaka. Other leaders cleared of the charges are BNP Vice Chairman Jainul Abdin Farroque, Health Affairs Secretary Md Rafiqul Islam, Legal Affairs Secretary Kaisar Kamal, Organisational Secretary Shama Obaid, and Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel. At the time, BNP leaders and activists were chanting slogans on the road in Shahbagh’s Paribag, before clashing with police. Later that day, Sub-Inspector Md Mohibullah filed a case at the police station.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 18:20 UTC
India 'extends' Hasina's visa
India has extended the visa of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in the country since last August, the Hindustan Times reports, citing people familiar with the matter.The move came against the backdrop of growing calls in Bangladesh for her extradition, according to the report published on Wednesday.Hasina, 77, fled to India after stepping down in the face of a nationwide mass movement. She has been incommunicado since she arrived at Hindon airbase on Aug 5, though it is learnt that she has been moved to a safe house in Delhi.The HT report noted that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government sought her extradition through a note verbale, or unsigned diplomatic correspondence, sent to the Indian external affairs ministry on Dec 23.Hasina's visa was recently extended to facilitate her stay in the country, sources familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity. "The passports department cancelled passports of 22 people involved in enforced disappearances, while passports of 75 people, including Sheikh Hasina, were revoked due to their involvement in the July killings," the chief advisor's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said.The latest developments come at a time when the International Criminal Tribunal, or ICT, set up to prosecute persons accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, issued a second arrest warrant for Hasina on Jan 6.The India external affairs ministry, which has acknowledged the receipt of Bangladesh's extradition but declined to comment on the matter, has also said in the past that it is up to Hasina to decide her future plans. "As far as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is concerned, we don't have an update on her plans. It is for her to take things forward," ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a media briefing last year.—bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 18:01 UTC
Over 12,300 civilians killed since start of Ukraine war, UN says
REUTERS/Thomas PeterA woman reacts at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec 20, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas PeterMore than 12,300 civilians have been killed in the Ukraine war since Russia invaded nearly three years ago, a UN official told a UN meeting on Wednesday, noting a spike in casualties due to the use of drones, long-range missiles and glide bombs. These examples of increasing gross violations of international human rights law may represent war crimes, Al-Nashif told the Council. Moscow has denied committing atrocities or targeting civilians in Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. UN human rights monitors do not tally casualties from Russia due to lack of access to the country and limited publicly available information.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 16:35 UTC
Body of Bangladeshi teen girl missing in Canada found after a month
Canadian police have recovered the body of a Bangladeshi-born teenager who went missing a month ago in Toronto. The local newspaper The London Free Press reported that the remains were discovered on a beach in Port Bruce on Saturday. She was the daughter of Samina Nasrin Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi writer and presenter residing in Canada. According to the local daily, she was reported missing from the London area of Ontario on Dec 4. The Ontario Provincial Police identified the body on Tuesday, which was discovered by a citizen on Saturday at Waneeta Beach.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 15:55 UTC
Anxious but undeterred, migrants brace for Trump presidency
Trump has pledged tougher border controls and immigration enforcement and to launch a mass deportation operation on his first day as president. The CBP One mobile phone app allows migrants seeking asylum to book an appointment and petition for asylum before they reach the United States. While securing an appointment does not guarantee entry, many see it as the best option to enter the United States legally. Ahmed, a 45-year-old financial manager from Jordan, has spent about $20,000 trying to reach the United States since June. The United States is a big economy, and they need the labour," said Ahmed, who hopes to find a job in finance.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 15:30 UTC
No deaths, 51 hospitalised with dengue fever in a day
The number of patients hospitalised with the disease this year has risen to 469. The total number of deaths from the illness now stands at three. In 2024, a total of 101,214 patients were hospitalised due to dengue nationwide, with 575 fatalities reported. The DGHS has been keeping records of dengue hospitalisations and fatalities since 2000. Since then, a record 321,179 dengue hospitalisations were logged in 2023.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 15:25 UTC
January 8, 2025
Family members of BDR personnel hold a protest rally at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025, to demand a fair trial over the Pilkhana massacre, the release of “innocent” BDR personnel and the reinstatement and compensation of BDR personnel who lost their jobs through “no fault of their own”. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 11:37 UTC
DNCC public relations officer comes under knife attack
Mokbul Hossain, public relations officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), was attacked by a miscreant on Tuesday night. He is currently receiving treatment at Dhaka’s United Hospital, according to a bdnews24.com report. When contacted, the duty manager at the hospital said that, "Mokbul Hossain was brought to the hospital around 9:00 pm. The DNCC plans to demolish the old office and construct a new building on the vacant plot, which currently serves as a makeshift badminton court for DNCC officials. "We rushed him to United Hospital in an injured state," he said.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 09:06 UTC
India 'extends' Hasina’s visa amid extradition call by Bangladesh
The move came against the backdrop of growing calls in Bangladesh for her extradition, according to the report published on Wednesday. Hasina, 77, fled to India after stepping down in the face of a nationwide mass movement. Hasina’s visa was recently extended to facilitate her stay in the country, sources familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity. “As far as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is concerned, we don’t have an update on her plans. It is for her to take things forward,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a media briefing last year.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 06:47 UTC
What To Know About HMPV, The Virus Causing An Outbreak In China
By BenarNewsChina has reported a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in its northern region in recent weeks, raising concerns on social media that there could be another outbreak like COVID-19. A common respiratory virus, HMPV is known to spike every winter and spring, health officials said. MALAYSIAMalaysian health officials said HMPV cases were not new and that they were monitoring the developments. BANGLADESHBangladesh has not yet recorded any HMPV cases at present, news outlets quoted local health officials as saying. But the virus has always been present in the country, public health expert Mushtuq Husain told news portal bdnews24.com.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 05:45 UTC
Government to take ‘strong stance’ against note compilations, study guides, says NCTB chairman
Not only do these guides increase the cost of education borne by parents, many in the field believe that they hamper the actual purpose of education. Commenting that guides “disrupt the main goal of education”, Reazul told bdnews24.com: “We have zero tolerance for note compilations and guides. The district and Upazila administrations have already been asked to conduct a campaign against note guides. Campaigns are already being conducted in some places.”Textbook content will be restructured and question papers for different exams will expand past traditional formats to prevent the “oppression” of guides, Reazul said. The “Education Watch Report 2022” said that 79 percent of primary and 82.5 percent of secondary students followed such guides.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 05:03 UTC
Task force launches investigations into six troubled banks
A task force formed to reform the banking sector in Bangladesh has initiated a financial investigation into six banks entangled in loan scandals. The banks under scrutiny are First Security Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank Limited, ICB Islamic Bank, and Union Bank Limited, as per a bdnews24.com report. He added that members of two international audit firms would soon join the six-strong task force team. According to a senior official at Bangladesh Bank, the task force started its audit in the banks on Monday. The official added that the central bank’s inspection teams would uncover irregularities in loan disbursement, and their reports would be coordinated with the task force.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 03:11 UTC