Staff Reporter : The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party in Bangladesh, has refuted claims made during interviews with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu. The party alleges that journalists from Prothom Alo and Independent TV falsely attributed a statement to them concerning the US stance on Bangladesh’s upcoming January 7 national elections. In a press release signed by BNP’s Senior Joint-Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the party stated, “The question posed...
Staff Reporter : The US State Department has clearly said that they are not going to withdraw the sanctions against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) which is facing charges of serious abuse of human rights violation in Bangladesh. The State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel in a press conference on Thursday said the claim that the sanctions on RAB would be withdrawn is ‘false’. “Those claims are false. The U.S. is not withdrawing sanctions against the RAB. Those claims are false,” he...
UNB : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the economists to design their policies, plans and programmes considering the local realities as advice from a foreigner won’t be fruitful here. “I want from the economists that you would design your policies, plans and programmes considering the soil and people of the country,” she said. The premier said this while inaugurating the 22nd biennial conference-2024 of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the city’s...
Staff Reporter : Bangladesh joins the world in observing World Hypertension Day on May 17th. However, data reveals a concerning rise in hypertension (HTN) in the country, a significant medical and public health issue. It was known that around 20 percent of adults and a staggering 40-65 percent of elderly individuals in Bangladesh suffer from HTN. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2023 Global Report on Hypertension, an estimated 273,000 people in Bangladesh died from cardiovascular disease in 2019,...
Special Correspondent : The number of unemployed individuals in the country continues to rise amidst the economic crisis and soaring inflation, leading to the closure of numerous factories, offices, and educational institutions. Many citizens, grappling with job losses, have retreated from major urban centres such as Dhaka and Chattogram to their rural homesteads. In a recent report released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on May 6, concerning the unemployment gender gap, a notable trend emerged. The report reveals...
Staff Reporter : Tragedy struck in Newmarket as a platoon commander (PC) of Bangladesh Ansar succumbed to illness on the road in the capital. Abu Taleb, aged 50, was declared dead by doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) after being rushed there in an unconscious state at 4 p.m. Md. Belal, a pedestrian who witnessed the incident, recounted his efforts to assist Taleb. ” I saw him lying on the road, surrounded by people pouring water on his head....
Staff Reporter : Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday ordered the authorities to take steps so that the battery-run rickshaws cannot ply roads in Dhaka city. He said: “No battery-run three-wheeler should operate in Dhaka city. We have already banned these vehicles on 22 highways. Measures must be implemented to ensure compliance with this directive.” Quader made these remarks while attending a meeting at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority’s (BRTA) office in the capital’s Banani area on...
Special Correspondent : A shadow of danger hangs over Bangladesh as the ever-present threat of lightning strikes continues. As the grip of climate change tightens, coupled with deforestation and an expanding digital landscape, the nation faces a growing crisis. Data from the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) paints a chilling picture. From 2015 to 2023, lightning claimed a staggering 1,958 lives. Men make up the majority of victims (1,620, followed by women (307, and children (31. The surge is attributed...
Staff Reporter : Bangladesh’s private-sector short-term foreign borrowings have experienced a notable decline for the fourth consecutive month, reaching $11...