UNB : A 20-year-old Bangladeshi youth was gunned down allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in bordering Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat early Friday, according to Border Guards Bangladesh. The deceased was identified as Abul Kalam Daku, son of Apir Uddin of Dangapara area under Sreerampur union of the upazila. According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police, a group of people including the youth went to Indian border to bring cattle around 11pm. Sensing the presence of the suspected...
Al Jazeera : India has voted in the second phase of the world’s biggest election, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his challengers raise the pitch of the campaign by focusing on hot-button issues such as religious discrimination, affirmative action and taxes. Almost one billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general election that began on April 19 and concludes on June 1, with votes set to be counted on June 4. A total of 88 seats out...
Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid, back from Shenzhen, China: Mindray, a leading global provider of medical devices and solutions, is set to expand its operations to Bangladesh, recognizing the significant market potential in the region. The company, which currently operates a branch in Kolkata, India, is eager to enhance Bangladesh’s medical device sector with affordable pricing and comprehensive support. During a recent interview at Mindray’s office in Shenzhen, China, Gary Guo, the company’s South Asia IVD Sales and Marketing Officer,...
Staff Reporter : An extreme heatwave affecting most parts of the country, including the capital city of Dhaka, has led to a noticeable decline in consumer visits to local kitchen markets. Traders have reported fewer customers since the heatwave intensified, coinciding with significant price hikes in basic commodities such as potatoes and onions. Post-Eid, the retail price of potatoes in Dhaka’s major markets like Karwan Bazar, Mogbazar, and Kalyanpur has surged to Tk55-Tk60 per kilogram, up from Tk48-Tk50 just before...
Reuters : The vast amount of rubble including unexploded ordnance left by Israel’s devastating war in the Gaza Strip could take about 14 years to remove, a United Nations official said on Friday. Israel’s military campaign against Gaza’s ruling Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has reduced much of the narrow, coastal territory of 2.3 million people to a wasteland with most civilians homeless, hungry and at risk of disease. Pehr Lodhammar, senior officer at the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS),...
Staff Reporter : In response to recent security threats, Police Headquarters has issued directives to all police stations, including those in the Dhaka Metropolitan areas, to bolster security measures. A comprehensive 19-point circular mandates that at least one in three inspectors is on duty each night across all stations in the country. The circular also requires the installation of three permanent sentry posts at every police station, with double the number of sentries on duty during nighttime hours. Sentries are...
Staff Reporter : Bangladesh is making concerted efforts to broaden its manpower export markets in European nations, including the United Kingdom, where there is significant demand in sectors such as hospitality and catering. State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury, has urged the UK government to relax visa restrictions for Bangladeshi workers, particularly those aspiring to work in the restaurant industry. The appeal was made during a high-profile dialogue organized by the UK’s All-party Parliamentary Group...
Special Correspondent : Around 80 per cent of Bangladeshi pilgrims intending to perform Hajj this year have yet to apply for a visa, with the application period slated to end on April 29. Concerns have been raised by multiple sources regarding the feasibility of processing visa applications for such a large number of pilgrims within the remaining four days. If the Saudi Embassy does not extend the application deadline, it could potentially create significant obstacles for aspiring Hajj pilgrims. In...
Staff Reporter : During a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, law enforcers disclosed alarming details regarding question-leaking scandal involving Dhaka University students. According to reports, answer sheets were allegedly delivered to examinees prior to the commencement of exams. Among those implicated in the scandal are three Dhaka University students identified as Jotirmoy, Benu Lal Das, and Sujan Chandra Roy, all of whom are enrolled in the university’s law department. The police have pointed to Asim Gain as the purported...
Al Amin : The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is currently exploring avenues to bolster its Value-Added Tax (VAT) earnings, crucial for meeting revenue collection targets. To achieve this objective, the NBR is focusing on the installation of electronic fiscal devices (EFDs) at retail levels. Despite efforts to enhance VAT collection through electronic devices, the tax authority has observed that revenues generated from these devices fall short of expectations. Consequently, there is a significant opportunity to augment indirect tax revenues...
Staff Reporter : The Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) has been shut indefinitely as agitated students continue to...