Author: Staff Reporter

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has arrested 46 leaders and activists from various political organizations, including the central Awami League, city Awami League, Jubo League, and the banned student organization Chhatra League, over the last 24 hours. The arrests were made between 2 PM on Monday, February 3, and 2 PM on Tuesday, February 4, following a series of raids across various police precincts in the city. Among those arrested are members of the central Awami League’s Religious Affairs Sub-Committee, including 70-year-old Mohammad Salamet Ali Chowdhury, along with several others: Alamgir Mia (32), Mohammad Alauddin (38), Sabbir Hossain Mondol (46), Arfan…

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has strongly condemned the government’s recent decision to increase the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, calling it “illogical and anti-people.” During a press briefing after paying tribute to party founder Ziaur Rahman, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated that the government’s lack of accountability led to the price hike. He said this decision would negatively affect low-income individuals, such as rickshaw pullers, CNG drivers, and small shopkeepers. Rizvi argued that the rise in LPG cylinder prices, primarily used for household needs, would place significant strain on the economy,…

The government of Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Japan to install air pollution monitoring devices on the streets of Chattogram and Dhaka to measure the impact of transportation pollution. The Japanese equipment will be purchased for more than 75 crore taka. The devices will be installed along various roads in both cities. On Monday, February 3, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh signed a “Note of Exchange” and a “Grant Agreement” with the Japanese government. Md. Shahriar Kader Siddique, Secretary of ERD, signed on behalf of the Bangladesh government. On behalf of Japan, Saida Shinichi, the Japanese…

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump over his decision to close the U.S.-Mexico border. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the District Court of Washington, D.C. The ACLU, which advocates for immigrant rights, describes Trump’s immigration actions as “illegal” and “undesirable.” The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration is acting in direct violation of U.S. Congress’ laws, stating: “The government is doing exactly what directly contradicts Congressional law. Without Congressional approval, the government is sending asylum seekers—including not just individuals but entire families—back to countries where they face the imminent…

The Election Commission (EC) has completed the task of collecting voter data by visiting homes, a process which wrapped up on Monday, February 3. A total of over 47 million citizens’ data was collected during this update. Among these, approximately 1.05 million dead voters will be removed from the voter list. ASM Humayun Kabir, the Director-General of the National Identity Registration Division, confirmed that data for 1,039,220 dead voters had been gathered, along with data for 3,745,784 new potential voters. He noted that Monday’s data has not yet been included, so the numbers may change slightly. The voter…

Fortune Barishal secured their place in the final of the ongoing tournament with a commanding 9-wicket victory over Chittagong Kings in the first qualifier. Despite a lackluster performance throughout the tournament, opener Tawhid Hridoy rose to the occasion in this crucial match, playing a blistering knock to guide his team to a comfortable win. Hridoy’s outstanding half-century helped Barishal achieve their target with 16 balls to spare, making them the first team to reach the final. They will now face the winner of the second qualifier in the final match. In the first qualifier at Mirpur, Chattogram,…

Bangladesh requires at least 170 cancer treatment centres based on the World Health Organization’s recommendation of one per million people. However, the country currently has only around 20, with the majority located in Dhaka. The government initiated a project to set up comprehensive cancer treatment centres in all eight divisional cities. But six years into the project, it remains in the construction phase, with no clear timeline for the procurement of equipment or recruitment of staff. In 2008, with assistance from the WHO, Bangladesh developed a National Cancer Control Strategy, followed by a work plan for 2009-2015. Unfortunately, the plan…

Home Affairs Adviser Lt.  Gen.  Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) today called upon Kuwait to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh. “Around 280,000 Bangladeshis are working in the Gulf state and I urge the government of Kuwait to take more manpower from Bangladesh,” he said when Ambassador of Kuwait to Bangladesh Ali Tunyan Abdul Wahab Hamadah paid a courtesy call on him at  Bangladesh Secretariat  this afternoon. The adviser said Kuwait is interested in taking more female domestic workers from Bangladesh. “I also request them to take male workers along with women,” he continued. The adviser said historically Bangladesh and Kuwait…

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has found involvement of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and some top military and civil officers in overseeing the enforced disappearances of the individuals.  “Hasina, as well as top officials Major General (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and senior police officers, were involved in overseeing the disappearances,” it said. The US based human rights watchdog said in its recently released 50-page report titled, “After the Monsoon Revolution: A Roadmap to Lasting Security Sector Reform in Bangladesh.” The national commission investigating on enforced disappearance issued its first report on December 14, estimating…

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has announced that anyone distributing Awami League leaflets will be arrested. Speaking at a briefing on Monday, February 3, at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, he made it clear that there would be no tolerance for such activities. “We have a strong message: those who engage in activities supporting the fallen government will not be spared,” said Alam. “The content of the Awami League leaflets is highly objectionable. Anyone distributing these leaflets will be arrested.” He also accused the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council of spreading false information and…