Author: Desk Report

Millions of Muslims around the world on Thursday are observing Arafat Day, one of the most sacred dates in the Islamic calendar. The day holds a deep significance for pilgrims at Hajj and believers globally. Arafat Day, observed on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah – the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar – is considered the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage. On this day, pilgrims gather at the Plain of Arafat near Mecca in Saudi Arabia to pray, seek forgiveness and reflect on their faith. The standing at Arafat, known as Wuquf, is the central…

A 23-kilometer stretch of the Dhaka-Tangail highway is facing sporadic traffic congestion, triggered by a surge in Eid holiday travel compounded by multiple accidents and vehicle breakdowns. Starting from midnight on Wednesday, stop-and-go traffic congestion emerged along a 23-kilometer stretch of the Dhaka-Tangail highway, extending from the Jamuna Bridge to the Rabna Bypass. Drivers and passengers reported that from midnight, traffic jams began on the northbound lane from Pakulla to Tangail. A 23-kilometer traffic jam has formed from Rabna Bypass to the Jamuna Bridge on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, causing significant suffering for travelers. Hundreds of vehicles are…

Will Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus have any formal meeting or courtesy call with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman during his upcoming visit to the UK? This question is now circulating in the political and diplomatic circles of Dhaka. There is widespread curiosity among the general public, in addition to political leaders and activists. Especially in the context of Tarique Rahman’s recent demand that ‘elections must be held by December’ and Prof Yunus’ comment in Tokyo that ‘only one party wants elections in December’, everyone’s eyes are now on the possible London meeting. However, no diplomatic or political source in…

Two crew members of a fishing vessel tragically lost their lives after falling into the Karnaphuli River on Monday night. The incident occurred aboard the vessel ‘FV Seaheart-1’. The victims were identified as Mohammad Altaf, the vessel’s skipper, and Noor Uddin, the chief cook. Both hailed from Hatiya upazila in the Noakhali district. According to Nazim Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Sadarghat Naval Police Station, the accident took place while one fishing boat was towing another. A rope snapped during the process, causing the two men to lose their balance and fall overboard. Rescue teams later recovered the bodies,…

A team of engineers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has developed a soft robotics system capable of detecting damage and initiating self-repair, similar to the way human muscle and skin respond to injury. The research, presented at a robotics conference in Atlanta, may have applications in areas such as wearable technology and agricultural robotics. The design mimics biology through a three-layer artificial “muscle”, according to a press release by The University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The bottom layer contains liquid metal droplets that sense damage, while the middle layer handles repairs using special self-healing materials. When punctured or pressed too…

In this hot and humid weather, maintaining proper hydration and energy levels is vital for overall health and well-being. Drinking a sufficient amount of water during summer can be challenging; therefore, it is important to adopt beneficial habits that help us stay hydrated throughout the season. Here are some expert-backed ways to navigate summer with ease, ensuring optimal hydration during this period: Start your day with hydration It is advised to pre-hydrate before starting your day rather than waiting until the evening to catch up on water intake. A few days before the peak of summer, adjusting your…

With a 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday starting Thursday, people across the country have already begun their journey for home from different cities and towns. While the mass exodus is expected to gain full momentum from Thursday, the ongoing rainfall has added a layer of concern for holidaymakers. Despite a slight decrease in rainfall over recent days, moderate to heavy showers continue to affect most parts of the country. This has left many wondering how smooth or troublesome the upcoming Eid travel may be. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the south-west monsoon is currently moderately active…

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders yesterday said the staff at Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis are working in dire conditions, facing severe shortages of medical supplies. “There is no room for all of the patients. We have patients in corridors… and more come in today, dead and wounded,” Claire Menara, an emergency coordinator with Doctors Without Borders, told Al Jazeera. The NGO, known by its French name MSF, blamed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid distribution system for chaos at the scene in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Sunday that killed 31 Palestinians. …

Hamza Choudhury wasted no time settling in. The star midfielder arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning and, true to his word, joined the national team’s training session at the National Stadium just hours later in the afternoon. “Hello, Assalamu Alaikum, everyone. I want to say thank you to all the fans, media and journalists for the warm reception again. I am looking forward to joining the team and preparing for the big game. Inshallah we will be successful and hopefully I will see all the supporters,” Hamza said shortly after arriving at the team hotel. And he…

In a democratic system, an elected government is expected to fulfill its economic promises gradually over its term, typically through annual budgets. It’s unrealistic to expect all commitments to be met within a single fiscal year. However, this year’s budget seems to lack that political character altogether. The current government did not make any electoral pledges beforehand, although they have expressed intentions for reform. The reforms being discussed are mostly political, but Bangladesh requires multifaceted reforms. Ordinary people expect a budget that facilitates trade and business, and promotes investment. The Finance Advisor has claimed that this budget is…