Author: Desk Report

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,…

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan reached a new height with wider and deeper cooperation through the just-concluded visit of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Tokyo. “Our relations with Japan have reached a new height through the Chief Adviser’s visit and the bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister,” Alam told reporters in Tokyo on Friday night. Chief Adviser Professor Yunus, who is scheduled to return home tonight (Saturday night) had a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on May 30. The Press Secretary said Japan…

Chief Adviser Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus has invited BNP in a talks again on June 2. BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said this in a discussion in the capital today. “The government is continuing the formalities of talks with political parties one after another, but there is no real progress,” he said. “Discussions are taking place, but nothing is being done. Real steps are needed to overcome the crisis of public trust, not just formalities,” he added. “It seems like that if the Constitutional Reform Commission wants to change the constitution in its own way,…

Three documents on exchange of notes were signed later in the day, respectively on the Development Policy Loan for Economic Reform and Strengthening Climate Change Resilience(418 million USD), the Loan for the Joydebpur-Ishwardi dual-gauge double-lane railway project (641 million USD) and the grant for the human development scholarship (4.2 million USD). Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi signed the agreements on behalf of the respective countries. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus witnessed the signing of the documents on exchange of notes.

On 27 March in 1971, in the nation’s darkest hour, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman displayed immense courage by risking his life to declare the independence of Bangladesh. He provided direction to the people and called upon them to selflessly join the war against Pakistan. His declaration inspired and mobilized the masses, giving them clear guidance. Regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation, people threw themselves into the Liberation War. Later, on March 30, he made a second declaration, naming himself the “Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Liberation Forces.” At that time, many Awami League leaders had crossed the border to take refuge…

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru today reiterated his country’s full support for Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in its nation-building efforts, reform initiatives, and endeavor towards a peaceful transition in Bangladesh. He expressed his reassurance at a meeting with the Bangladesh chief adviser at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here this morning. Recalling the long-standing friendship since the independence of Bangladesh, both sides reaffirmed their commitments to the strategic partnership between the two countries. They also reiterated their shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) to ensure peace, stability and shared prosperity for…