Author: Desk Report

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has said that the interim government has taken responsibility for stabilising a deeply troubled economy, not assumed political power. He made the remarks at a post-budget press conference held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday, a day after unveiling the Tk7.90 trillion budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year. “When we took responsibility, the country was on life support — in the ICU, metaphorically speaking. The banking sector and other key institutions were in disarray. Now, we’ve managed to bring about some degree of stability,” said Dr. Salehuddin. For the…

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday submitted allegations of abduction and enforced disappearance against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six others with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Salahuddin arrived at the ICT around 11:15am with a BNP-backed lawyers’ team led by Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kayser Kamal. Later, they handed over the copy of allegations to Chief Prosecutor of the ICT Advocate Md Tajul Islam. The accused include former Inspector General of Police (IGPs) Benazir Ahmed, Shahidul Haque, former Special Branch (SB) Chief Monirul Islam, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, and retired…

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that there is no qualitative change in the proposed national budget for the FY 2025-26. “We don’t see any change in the budget from a qualitative perspective. Moreover, it should be smaller,” said the BNP leader in an instant reaction of his party to the proposed national budget for the upcoming fiscal year. While addressing a press conference held at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in Dhaka, he said the main structure of the proposed national budget remains unchanged, while its figures and allocations have been revised.…

The government has unveiled a national budget worth Tk7.90 trillion for the 2025–26 fiscal year, marking the first time in the country’s history that the budget size has been reduced from the previous year. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed began presenting the budget at 3 pm on Monday. The speech is being broadcast live on Bangladesh Television. The proposed budget, approved by the interim cabinet led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, includes a revenue target of Tk5.64 trillion — down Tk 700 billion from the current fiscal year. This year’s budget is being presented outside the traditional…

The interim government has proposed to support 55 lakh families under Food-Friendly Programme in the national budget for fiscal year 2025–26, an increase of 5 lakh families from that in the previous fiscal year. In addition, the duration of the benefits has been extended to six months from the next fiscal year, up from five months at present. Previously, 50 lakh low-income families were entitled to receive 30 kilogrammes of rice per month at a subsidised rate of Tk 15 per kilogramme over a five-month period under the programme. Since January 2025, the government has also…

BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Sunday called upon the interim government to arrange the national election by December to ensure its graceful exit. “We recently met the chief adviser and explained why December is the most suitable time for elections. The longer the delay, the more room the cohorts of the deposed regime will have to hatch conspiracies, and we’ve already seen the signs of that,” he said. Considering all aspects, the BNP leader said it is better to hold elections by December. “The interim government will have to quit at some point. We think…

Calling upon Chinese companies to invest in Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said a robust investment from the Asian superpower can be a game changer for Bangladesh economy. “I urge Chinese investors to make Bangladesh their home and their production hub…the young people are ready to accept that challenge,” he said. The chief adviser made the call while addressing the “China-Bangladesh Conference on Investment and Trade” at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) office, Agargaon, in the capital. The Bangladesh and Chinese governments jointly organised the conference. Recalling the longstanding Dhaka-Beijing relations, he…

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to establish a monorail system in Chattogram, the country’s first, aimed at easing traffic congestion and modernising the city’s public transport network. The MoU was officially signed on Sunday between CCC and the implementing firms– a German-Egyptian joint venture, Orascom Group and Arab Contractors Group— held at the World Trade Center in Chattogram, to move forward with the monorail project. The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has taken the initiative to implement the project. Two international companies—a German-Egyptian joint venture, Orascom Group and Arab Contractors Group—have expressed interest in executing…

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted light to moderate rain in parts of the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Saturday as monsoon sets in. “Light to moderate rain/thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty wind is likely at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna & Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions,” said a Met office bulletin. Day and night temperature may rise by (1-3)°C over the country, it said. The…

At least 19 people were missing after a passenger trawler capsized in the Meghna River near Hatiya upazila of Noakhali on Saturday afternoon, according to local police. The vessel was carrying 39 passengers when it sank around 3:00 pm while travelling from Bhasan Char to the mainland in Noakhali. Twenty passengers have been rescued alive so far, police said. “Among the missing are two police personnel,” said AKM Azmal Huda, Officer-in-Charge of Hatiya Police Station. “The Coast Guard is continuing its search operation to locate the remaining passengers.” Kutub Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Bhasan Char Police Station,…