IMF chief sees steady world growth in 2025, continuing disinflation
REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File PhotoThe International Monetary Fund will forecast steady global growth and continuing disinflation when it releases an updated World Economic Outlook on Jan. 17, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters on Friday. Overall, interest rates were expected to stay "somewhat higher for quite some time," she said. The IMF will release an update to its global outlook on Jan 17, just days before Trump takes office. At the time, it left its forecast for 2024 global growth unchanged at the 3.2% projected in July, and lowered its global forecast for 3.2% growth in 2025 by one-tenth of a percentage point, warning that global medium-term growth would fade to 3.1% in five years, well below its pre-pandemic trend. Georgieva said it was "very unusual" that this uncertainty was expressed in higher long-term interest rates even though short-term interest rates had gone down, a trend not seen in recent history.
Source:bd News24
January 11, 2025 03:49 UTC
Jamaat chief's remarks hurt, still hope remains for united movement: Amir Khasru
They (Jamaat) also want democracy and elections, and they speak of human rights, as we do," the BNP leader said. The BNP leader hoped that no politician would make such remarks in the future. Asked whether BNP would hold any meeting with Jamaat, he said their party was not formally engaged in a simultaneous movement with Jamaat. "We hope in the coming days, we all will be three in the movement to restore democracy, and they (Jamaat) will also join the movement," Nazrul said. We urge the people of the country to pray for her swift recovery so that she can return to us after the treatment," the BNP leader said.
Source:bd News24
January 11, 2025 03:26 UTC
Over 12 publishers denied pavilion allocations
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan ChowdhuryPublished by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.E-mail: [email protected] , news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
Source:bd News24
January 11, 2025 01:43 UTC
Tarique Siddique’s wife, daughter were denied Maltese citizenship over corruption claims: FT
The Henley decision highlights allegations from 2012 involving a company named Prochhaya, which was accused of seizing valuable land in Dhaka. Shaheen listed her role as the chairperson of Prochhaya in her 2013 passport application, while her daughter Bushra held a director position in the company. In the next passport application, made jointly with her daughter two years later, Shaheen made no mention of Prochhaya. In the UK, allegations against Tulip and her sister involving properties linked to individuals associated with the Awami League have caused a stir. However, amid mounting calls for her resignation, Labour MP Tulip has already requested an independent investigation into the allegations.
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 22:37 UTC
Temp drops to season’s low at 7.3C in Tentulia
The temperature has dropped to 7.3 degrees Celsius in Panchagarh's Tentulia, the lowest temperature recorded in Bangladesh this winter. This means the district, located in northern Bangladesh and near the Himalayan foothills, is experiencing a moderate cold wave. When the minimum temperature drops below 6 degrees Celsius over a significant area it is considered a severe cold wave. A moderate cold wave is when it falls between 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, and a mild cold wave is when it ranges from 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, reports bdnews24.com. The regular BMD bulletin says that the cold wave blowing in these areas may continue for a few more days.
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 21:25 UTC
Supreme Judicial Council submits report on Masuda Bhatti to president
The Supreme Judicial Council has submitted a report on Information Commissioner Masuda Bhatti to the president. The report was noted on the Supreme Court’s website on Thursday. It said, “The Supreme Judicial Council has sent a report to the Honourable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh regarding an Information Commissioner.”Md Hasanuzzaman, registrar to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, confirmed that the report sent to the president was regarding Information Commissioner Masuda. When asked whether the investigation had any connection to the incident, Registrar Hasanuzzaman said: “I don’t know anything about the content. However, I am aware that the report sent this week was regarding Masuda Bhatti."
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 18:16 UTC
Judicial Council submits report on Masuda Bhatti to Prez
The Supreme Judicial Council has submitted a report on Information Commissioner Masuda Bhatti to the president.The report was noted on the Supreme Court's website on Thursday.It said, "The Supreme Judicial Council has sent a report to the Honourable President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh regarding an Information Commissioner. "Md Hasanuzzaman, registrar to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, confirmed that the report sent to the president was regarding Information Commissioner Masuda.Masuda was appointed to the post in the Information Commission in August 2023 in a notice issued under the Awami League government.She made headlines when she filed one of several cases against the late Barrister Mainul Hosein, a former advisor to the caretaker government, over a statement he made on a television programme. He was subsequently arrested and sent to jail in connection with the cases.When asked whether the investigation had any connection to the incident, Registrar Hasanuzzaman said: "I don't know anything about the content. However, I am aware that the report sent this week was regarding Masuda Bhatti." —bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 18:07 UTC
Labour Party mulls Tulip's replacement: The Times
The UK is a hallmark of human rights, freedom of association, freedom of speech. But the failure to stand up for these values diminishes the UK's standing in Bangladesh and beyond. "An ally of Tulip said told The Times she had "no understanding of the circumstances around the raid in Bangladesh and was not involved in any aspect. "A spokesman for Tulip said, "No evidence has been presented for these allegations. Tulip has not been contacted by anyone on the matter and totally refutes the claims."
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 18:05 UTC
Invitation ignored: Bangladesh skips 150-year celebration of India Meteorological Department
An official of the BMD attributes the decision to restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at state expenseDespite invitation, Bangladeshi officials will not be joining the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department, or IMD, due to what they says are current restrictions on non-essential foreign travel at state expense. Mominul Islam, the acting director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, or BMD, confirmed receiving the invitation from the IMD a month ago. On Friday, Mominul told bdnews24.com: “The India Meteorological Department invited us to their 150th anniversary celebrations. Initially headquartered in Kolkata, the IMD relocated several times, moving to Shimla in 1905, Pune in 1928, and eventually Delhi in 1944. The department will officially mark its sesquicentennial on Jan 15, 2025.
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 16:45 UTC
‘Top drug dealer’ Chua Selim arrested
Two months after the detention of "top drug dealer" Bhuiyan Sohel alias Bunia Sohel at Geneva Camp in Dhaka's Mohammadpur, his rival Selim Ashrafi alias Chua Selim has also been arrested.He was detained from outside the capital's Labaid Hospital on Thursday, said Rapid Action Battalion-2 Assistant Director ASP Khan Asif Topu.The elite force official said, "Chua Selim was hospitalised and arrested following his release by a doctor. He is accused in 35 cases, including two murder cases. "Selim was covertly receiving medical treatment after being shot by his rivals at the Geneva Camp on Sept 4. He was arrested four months after the incident.The power struggle over the drug trade at the Geneva Camp - worth billions - has been ongoing for a long time. However, clashes between the two sides escalated into constant conflict amid the unrest surrounding the July uprising.—bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 07:45 UTC
National Bank seeks Tk 10b more in liquidity support
National Bank Ltd, suffering from a liquidity crisis, has sought an additional Tk 10 billion from Bangladesh Bank in liquidity support.The bank earlier received Tk 40 billion from the central bank. Hence we are seeking Tk 10 billion more," National Bank Chairman Abdul Awal Mintu said. "The central bank asked for details on how and in which sectors the previous amount had been spent and National Bank has been preparing a presentation to explain it, said Mintu.He complained that the National Bank has been suffering due to the "corruption" of its old board. However, Bangladesh Bank has yet to approve the new amount, the chairman said.In November, Bangladesh Bank provided liquidity support of Tk 220 billion to several banks. It printed the currency to provide the support.In addition to National Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank and Exim Bank received the support.After taking office, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur had initially said the central bank would not print money indiscriminately to stabilise the banks.
Source:bd News24
January 10, 2025 06:53 UTC
The Dirty Dozen: publishers denied pavilions at this year’s Ekushey Book Bair
The Book Fair 2025 organising committee has also decided to reduce the pavilion sizes of three publishing houses, including Anyaprokash and Agamee Prokashoni. In addition, several other publishers have had their pavilions cancelled and will instead receive 3- or 4-unit stalls, according to a decision by the organising committee. Speaking to bdnews24.com, Gani said: “The fair committee made this decision under the influence of certain publishers driven by malice. He told bdnews24.com: “My publishing house carries books by two advisors to the current government. In the context of this political shift, the month-long book fair will begin on Feb 1 with the theme: “July Uprising: Building a New Bangladesh.”Like previous years, this year’s book fair will also be held at the Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan, with preparations already under way.
Source:bd News24
January 09, 2025 21:40 UTC
Former chief of Uttara East Police Station escapes police custody after arrest
He was scheduled to appear before court on ThursdayFormer chief of Uttara East Police Station escapes police custody after arrestShah Alam, former chief of the Uttara East Police Station in Dhaka, has escaped from police custody, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, or DMP. Alam had been under arrest in connection with a murder case tied to mass protests that took place during July and August. He was brought to the Uttara East Police Station ahead of a planned court appearance on Thursday after being detained from Kushtia on Wednesday. DMP spokesperson Talebur Rahman said, "Efforts are under way to arrest Shah Alam, who escaped from police custody." He had joined the Uttara East Police Station as its OC on Aug 1, 2024, during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.
Source:bd News24
January 09, 2025 19:52 UTC
Interim government imposes higher taxes, duties amid inflation on essential goods, services
The National Board of Revenue, or NBR, issued related instructions on the same evening, making the tax and duty hikes effective immediately. Analysts suggest that the increased value added tax, supplementary, and excise duties on these goods and services, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, may lead to price hikes. Despite these assurances, experts analysing the list of affected goods and services indicate that most of these are essential in the current context, potentially fuelling non-food inflation. The government had to use ordinances to increase taxes and duties due to the absence of a national parliament. This prompted the government to suddenly increase VAT midway through the fiscal year.
Source:bd News24
January 09, 2025 19:34 UTC
Families of BDR men protest for second day
The families of BDR members ‘accused’ in the Pilkhana massacre demonstrated at Shahbag in the capital on Thursday. —FE PhotoThe families of BDR members "accused" in the Pilkhana massacre, held a sit-in demonstration at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar for a second consecutive day, to push for a three-point demand, including a reinvestigation of the massacre and the release of "innocent jawans", reports bdnews 24.com. Molla Nabiullah, father of imprisoned BDR member Molla Sayeed Hasan, told bdnews24.com: "There are 824 people in prison. We are demanding the release of the prisoners, the reinstatement of their jobs, and the rehabilitation of those dismissed." The programme by the relatives of the arrested BDR members began on Wednesday morning.
Source:bd News24
January 09, 2025 18:25 UTC