Deadlines for six reform commissions extended
The interim government has now extended the deadlines for the reports from all six reform commissions initially formed to rework state machinery following the ousting of the Awami League regime in a mass movement, bdnews24.com. The Public Administration Reform Commission, Police Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission, Electoral Reform Commission and Constitutional Reform Commission have been given until Jan 15 to submit their reports. The Judiciary Reform Commission has been given until Jan 31 to submit its report. The Electoral Reform Commission, Police Reform Commission, Judiciary Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission and Public Administration Reform Commission were formed on Oct 3. The reform commissions for the media, health, labour, women's affairs and local government were formed in the second phase on Nov 18.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 18:06 UTC
Claiming Jamaat patriotic is 'a cruel irony of history’, says JaSaD chief Rab
The veteran politician calls for caution in claiming credit for unprecedented changes from the uprisingClaiming Jamaat patriotic is 'a cruel irony of history’, says JaSaD chief RabASM Abdur Rab, the first person to hoist the flag of Bangladesh, has called the Jamaat-e-Islami chief’s claim of the party being patriotic “a cruel irony of history”. In a statement on Friday, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, or JaSaD, President Rab responded to Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman’s remarks. He said, “To label Jamaat-e-Islami as a patriotic force in an independent country, despite its stance against the Liberation War of 1971 and its involvement in crimes against humanity, is nothing but a cruel irony of history. Rab described Shafiqur’s remarks as “an insult to freedom-loving people”. The veteran politician said, “For the past 15 years, the nation has witnessed politics that denies the heroism, struggle, and sacrifices of others to proclaim their own supremacy.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 16:58 UTC
Onions lead the charge again amid high costs for rice, chicken in Dhaka markets
Sellers say there is a shortage of soybean oil supply as distributors like S Alam Group scale back operationsOnions lead the charge again amid high costs for rice, chicken in Dhaka marketsWhile winter vegetables are offering some relief to household budgets, the prices of essential staples such as rice, fish, chicken, and soybean oil remain stubbornly high in Dhaka’s markets. Local onions were priced at Tk 60 per kg, up from Tk 50 last week, while Indian onions reached Tk 65, seeing a Tk 10 increase. Meanwhile, chicken prices also spiked, attributed to increased demand during New Year’s celebrations. Broiler chicken, previously priced at Tk 195 to Tk 200 per kg, climbed to Tk 205 to Tk 220, while Sonali chicken reached Tk 350. SOYBEAN OIL SHORTAGES PERSISTThere has been a shortage of soybean oil, a staple in Bangladeshi households, since December.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 16:48 UTC
India says US H1B visas benefit both countries after Trump, Musk backing
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to US President Donald Trump during a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Feb 25, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago/File PhotoThe movement of skilled professionals is an important part of India-US ties and benefits both countries, New Delhi said on Friday amid a debate over H-1B visas on which President-elect Donald Trump and his backer Elon Musk commented recently. "India-US economic ties benefit a lot from the technical expertise provided by skilled professionals, with both sides leveraging their strengths and competitive value. We look forward to further deepening India-US economic ties which are to our mutual benefit." India received about 78 percent of the 265,777 H1B visas issued by the United States in the fiscal year ended Sept 30, 2023.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 13:36 UTC
“Ministries under inexperienced, unskilled leadership,” 25 cadres say, demanding change
The Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council, representing 25 cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service, or BCS, has alleged that the current quota system for promotions to deputy secretary positions allows “inexperienced” and “inefficient” officers from the administration cadre to lead ministries. Why is the health cadre not heading its own ministry?”Mofizur, a 24th batch officer of the education cadre, criticised the monopoly of administration cadre officials over policy-making roles in key ministries like health and education. Currently, 75 per cent of deputy secretary positions are reserved for the administration cadre, with the remaining 25 per cent allocated to the other cadres. In protest against the commission’s recommendations, administration cadre officials staged a demonstration at the ministry. They described the proposal as “illogical and conspiratorial” and demanded 100 per cent of the deputy secretary promotions be reserved for their cadre.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 13:05 UTC
Cold wave in 13 districts, but chill to ease slightly in next few days
The Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Naogaon, and Kushtia districts and the Rangpur Division are experiencing a mild cold waveCold wave in 13 districts, but chill to ease slightly in next few daysThirteen districts in the country are currently experiencing a cold wave, but the Bangladesh Meteorological Department says that the chill will ease a bit over the next few days as the temperature rises. Meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana told bdnews24.com: “It is not possible to say whether the cold wave will ease, but the temperature will increase slightly. A cold wave begins when the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius over a significant area. When temperatures are between 8-10 degrees Celsius, it is considered a mild cold wave. A severe cold wave occurs when the temperature drops below 6 degrees Celsius.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 08:50 UTC
As fresh paddy hits market, can it cool spiralling rice prices?
Adding that more rice is going to private traders due to the high market price, he said: "There is rice in many warehouses. Despite the hurdles, Naogaon has reported significant progress in uncooked rice collection, with 97 percent of its target achieved. Government-fixed rates for paddy and rice exert a significant influence on market prices, with fluctuations closely linked to the volume of coarse rice collected and stored by the authorities. Historical trends reveal that dwindling reserves in government warehouses often coincide with rising market prices, underscoring the critical function of these stockpiles in mitigating volatility. However, the rice market is not under much government supervision, and so, the traders have seized this opportunity.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 04:53 UTC
ACC sues BFIU's Masud Biswas over illegal wealth
The anti-graft watchdog says the information received about the land and apartments in the name of Masud in parts of Dhaka will be investigated. On Sept 25, the ACC announced a probe against Masud after receiving allegations of “money laundering and acquisition of huge wealth" through irregularities and corruption. The agency also formally launched an investigation into the allegations against Masud following the development. Despite having "confirmed information" about money laundering against Tanaka Group, SA Group, and Anwar Group, Masud did not send the complaints to law-enforcing agencies and registered them by "taking personal advantage”, the complaints said. There are several other allegations of money laundering against Masud.
Source:bd News24
January 03, 2025 03:01 UTC
The power of the people is greater than that of the government, says Yunus
The chief advisor urges action on the individual level instead of depending on the government to push the country forwardThe power of the people is greater than that of the government, says YunusChief Advisor Muhammad Yunus says the power of the people is greater than that of the government and urged people to take action on the individual level instead of depending fully on the government to push the country forward. Yunus made the remarks while inaugurating the Walkathon and Social Service Conference organised by the Department of Social Services on the occasion of National Social Service Day-2025. The chief advisor reached the venue at Manik Mia Avenue adjacent to the National Parliament at 9:30am on Thursday. The chief advisor called for developing a habit of working for the public good in everyone’s daily lives. The event featured speeches by Sharmeen Murshid, advisor to the Ministry of Social Welfare, and three student representatives from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 19:28 UTC
Government grants 2-week extension for submitting Election Reform Commission report
The commission, led by Badiul Alam Majumdar, now has until Jan 15 to submit its findingsThe interim government has extended the deadline for the Election Reform Commission by two weeks, allowing the body to submit its report by Jan 15. A gazette notification from the Cabinet Division on Thursday confirmed the extension for the commission headed by Badiul Alam Majumdar. The commission was formed on Oct 3 as part of the interim government's state reform initiative, which includes 11 such commissions tasked with various reforms. On Wednesday, Badiul indicated that the report would be handed over to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus by Friday. Attempts to contact Badiul and commission member Abdul Alim for comments on the extension were unsuccessful.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 18:44 UTC
Arson, vandalism as unrest over BPL tickets continues
Then, on Monday, it was also announced that spectators could purchase tickets in person at the Swimming Complex booth next to the stadium. "We received word at 12:07pm that the BPL ticket counter at the Swimming Complex had been set on fire. The glass of the reception room outside the main gate of the Swimming Complex had been broken. They gathered in front of the counter of the Swimming Complex and kept shouting various slogans criticising the BCB. Tickets worth Tk 200 taka were being sold for Tk 600, Tk 800.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 18:01 UTC
Injured protesters block Shahbagh demanding better treatment
Injured protesters from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement have blocked the road over medical treatment concernsInjured activists from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, receiving treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, or BSMMU, have staged a road blockade at Dhaka’s Shahbagh, demanding better medical treatment. The protesters had clashed with the BSMMU authorities over treatment quality, Shahbagh Police Station chief Mohammad Khalid Mansur told bdnews24.com. "After receiving the news, Anti-discrimination Student Movement leader Sarjis Alam came to Shahbagh. On Nov 14, injured protesters had blocked a road outside the Pangu Hospital in Dhaka. The student movement, which began as a protest against the quota system, intensified into a government-overthrow movement in July 2024.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 17:36 UTC
People have more power than the govt: Yunus
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus says the power of the people is greater than that of the government and urged people to take action on the individual level instead of depending fully on the government to push the country forward. Yunus made the remarks while inaugurating the Walkathon and Social Service Conference organised by the Department of Social Services on the occasion of National Social Service Day-2025. The chief adviser reached the venue at Manik Mia Avenue adjacent to the National Parliament at 9:30am on Thursday. The chief adviser called for developing a habit of working for the public good in everyone’s daily lives. The event featured speeches by Sharmeen Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare, and three student representatives from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 16:48 UTC
Bangladesh court denies bail to Chinmoy Das in sedition case
Bangladesh court denies bail to Chinmoy Das in sedition caseDhaka, Jan 2 (UNI) A Bangladesh court denied bail to former ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on charges of sedition, media reports said on Thursday. Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam issued a bail order on Thursday, based on a December-filed bail petition by his lawyers. “The court denied the bail petition after the hearing concluded.”Chinmoy was not brought to court for the hearing. “If anyone is aggrieved, they can take the matter to the High Court.”“The court has denied the bail petition,” said Chinmoy’s lawyer Apurbo Bhattacharya. On December 3, another bail hearing was held, but when no lawyer stood to represent Chinmoy, the hearing was deferred to Jan 2.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 14:45 UTC
'Could create anarchy': What happened during bail hearing of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh court
Bangladesh Hindus Erupt: India Fumes As Dhaka Puts Priest Krishna Das Behind BarsA court in Bangladesh on Thursday once again denied bail to Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in sedition case as the state argued that giving him relief "could create anarchy".Das, formerly with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), was arrested at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on November 25.“He faces serious charges like sedition and others involving the security and sovereignty of our country," public prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan told The Associated Press by phone. "We argued in the court that if he gets bail it could create anarchy as we saw in the past that he triggered violence on the court premises by calling thousands of his supporters to protest. So, we moved against his bail plea as we believed that he could misuse his bail,” he added.At the hearing, “the state objected to the bail, saying that it was a sedition case and the highest punishment was life in prison,” Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chattogram District Bar Association, was quoted as saying by BDNews24.com.Meanwhile, Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, lawyer representing Das, said that they would appeal the decision in high court.The judiciary had dismissed a previous bail petition when Das lacked legal representation. Lawyers who attempted to defend him during that session reported threats and intimidation, with several facing charges connected to a Muslim attorney's death during confrontations near the courthouse. These incidents occurred when Das made his initial appearance following his arrest in Dhaka in November.At the latest hearing on Thursday, eleven legal representatives journeyed from Dhaka under protective escort for both their arrival and departure.
Source:bd News24
January 02, 2025 14:30 UTC