Staff Reporter : In a move to address the rising demand for essential commodities, the Bangladesh government authorised the procurement of 1.70 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser and 10,000 metric tonnes of lentils. The approval came during the 11th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room on Wednesday. Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali chaired the meeting virtually due to COVID-19. Cabinet Division Secretary Md. Mahmudul Hossain Khan informed reporters that...
Mokarram Hossain (back from Islamabad) : Pakistan Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar said that the government of Pakistan gives much importance to people’s freedom of speech and the rights of the journalists. He, however, said steps at the international level are urgently needed to stop misuse of social media and spread of false news. He said this while exchanging views with an eight-member delegation from Bangladesh at the Pakistan Television bhaban in Islamabad. After an eight-day visit to...
Staff Reporter : Expressing grave concerns, the main opposition party, BNP, has highlighted the alarming decline in Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves, attributing the crisis to the alleged mismanagement of the Awami League government. During a discussion meeting at the National Press Club in the capital, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan addressed the pressing issue, emphasizing the urgent need for action. The event, organized by the Bangladesh Labour Party, commemorated the 28th death anniversary of its founder, Maulana Abdul...
Diplomatic Correspondent : In a bid to mend strained ties, the United States endeavours to foster renewed trust with Bangladesh, focusing on future cooperation rather than past discord. Donald Lu, the visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, articulated this resolve following discussions with Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. “Last year witnessed significant tensions between the United States and Bangladesh, particularly concerning the 12th parliamentary election. Our efforts to advocate...
Al Amin : In the upcoming budget, it is likely that a unified 15% value-added tax (VAT) will be imposed on at least fifteen products. This measure aligns with a recommendation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to propose a uniform 15% VAT rate across all products and services. However, implementing such a VAT rate could potentially reduce consumers’ purchasing power. Discussions regarding this tax proposal took place during a meeting on Tuesday...
Staff Reporter : The depletion of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves has raised concerns as the usable amount has fallen below...
Staff Reporter : The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau, Donald Lu, arrived...
AFP : Conflict in Sudan and Gaza pushed the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) worldwide to a record 76 million at the end of 2023, an NGO monitor said on Tuesday. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre said the figure was a new end-of-year high by its count, with the number of people displaced within their own borders having increased by more than 50% in the last five years. The figure was up from 71.1 million at the end of...
Chattogram Bureau : In a heartening turn of events, the 23 sailors of MV Abdullah, who had been held captive...
UNB : The size of the next national budget of Bangladesh, for the fiscal year 2024-25, will be Tk8 lakh crore. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the Tk 8 lakh crore budget when it was placed before her. The budget is scheduled to be presented in the parliament on June 6, sources of the Finance Ministry confirmed UNB on Tuesday (May 14). She gave an opinion in favor of discouraging the import of luxury goods in the next budget as...
Court Correspondent : The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the High Court orders that granted anticipatory bail to Bashudeb Banerjee, an associate of PK Haldar and the then Director of International Leasing and Financial Services (ILFS), and his wife Paipa Banerjee, also a Director of the institution, in 14 money laundering cases. The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division stayed the bail orders for eight weeks and directed Bashudeb, and Papia to surrender to the trial...