Author: Desk Report

BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has said that except for everyone else, only Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus does not want to hold of the national election. “If the national election is not held by December, the countrymen will make the election happen, otherwise, the country’s geographical integrity will be at risk,” he said while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of the party founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Dhaka on Friday. He also came down heavily on the chief adviser, now on a state visit to Japan, as…

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia today hoped democracy will be restored in Bangladesh very soon. “Ziaur Rahman sacrificed his life for establishing democracy and safeguarding independence and sovereignty. But this democracy sill gets hampered at every step. Very soon we will see democracy is restored in Bangladesh,” she said. The BNP chief was virtually addressing a discussion organized on the occasion of the 44th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman at the capital’s Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB). She urged the party men to pay tribute to Shaheed Zia by implementing the politics…

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (southern region) Hasnat Abdullah on Monday warned government officials against attempting to hold the administration “hostage” in protest of the Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. Speaking at a street rally at Biplob Uddyan in the port city, Hasnat said, “If you have concerns about the reform process, resolve them through internal discussions. But if you try to paralyse the government, the consequences will not be favourable.” Civil servants across the country observed protests for the third consecutive day on Monday and announced plans to continue demonstrations on Tuesday. Recalling past events,…

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has acquitted Jamaat-e-Islami leader death row convict ATM Azharul Islam from the charges of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The country’s highest court overturned the verdict previously issued by the International Crimes Tribunal. On Tuesday morning (27 May), a full bench of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the landmark judgement. This marks the first time in Bangladesh’s judicial history that a person sentenced to death for crimes against humanity has been acquitted by the Appellate Division. Following the verdict, Azharul Islam’s…

Government employees continued their protests for the fourth straight day on Tuesday, demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance-2025, bringing administrative activities at the Secretariat to a halt as visitors were barred from entering. The protest began around 11:00 am near Building No-6 in the Badamtoli area of the Secretariat amid the tightened security at all entrances. Journalists were also barred from entering the premises. The protest continued as of filing this report till 12:10 pm. The protesters, who are calling the ordinance a ‘black law,’ continue to chant slogans rejecting its legitimacy. They…

Chattogram has 8.6 lakh (860,000) animals ready for sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha this year. But the demand is slightly higher — about 8.96 lakh (896,000) animals — which means there could be a shortage of around 36,000 animals. Officials from the Livestock Department believe animals from the three nearby hill districts will help fill this gap. They also say animals from nearby districts may come, which could even lead to extra supply in the markets. Dr. Md. Alamgir, Chattogram’s Livestock Officer, said, “There is nothing to worry about. We are in contact with other districts, and they have enough…

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed on Sunday that he will not remain in office beyond 30 June next year and that a national election will be held before that deadline. “Prof Yunus made it clear that the election would take place between December and 30 June. He said he will not stay in the chair even for a single day after 30 June next year,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters during a press briefing outside the state guest house Jamuna, following a meeting between Prof Yunus and leaders from several political parties on Sunday night.…

Government employees on Sunday threatened not to return to work until the withdrawal of the draft ‘Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. Md Badiul Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees United Council, came up with the announcement while demonstrating at the main entrance of the Secretariat. “We will resist the ill motive behind this ordinance as it is a repressive law,” he said. “We will not return to our duties unless the ordinance is withdrawn. We will continue our sit-in protest at Badamtola (in front of Building No. 6) inside the Secretariat,” he added. …

Today (Sunday) marks the 16th anniversary of Cyclone Aila, which struck the southwest coast on this day in 2009, breaching 597 kilometres of embankments and submerging homes, farmlands, and fish enclosures across Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira. The disaster claimed 190 lives, injured over 7,000 people, rendered more than half a million homeless, and caused losses amounting to Tk 269.28 million, leaving behind memories the survivors will never forget. Though sixteen years have been on, the scars remain both emotional and infrastructural. Every year when May arrives, residents brace for disaster. Elderly citizens like Namisha Khatun of…

Nearly two dozen political leaders are set to meet Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus later today (Sunday) in two groups to discuss pressing national issues, including the upcoming election and political reforms. The meetings will be held at the state guest house Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser at 5pm and 6pm respectively, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. In the first phase, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Saiful Haque, Zonayed Saki, Hasnat Qayyum, Mujibur Rahman Manju, Mujahidul Islam Selim, Khalequzzaman Bhuiyan, Tipu Biswas, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu and…