Author: Desk Report
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday said the next general elections would be held in the first half of April next year and urged the countrymen to vote for only those who are most committed to building a “New Bangladesh.” He called on voters to start engaging in discussions right now for selecting the best candidates and put an end to the entrenching practices of party-backed terrorism, corruption, extortions, and politicization. The interim government head made the remarks during an address to the nation on the eve of holy Eid-ul-Azha. The next general elections would see…
Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Thursday said there is no scope for charging extra fares on buses since the prices of fuel have been slashed. “Action will be taken if anyone still does so,” he said while talking to the media after visiting the Sayedabad bus terminal in Dhaka this morning. Meanwhile, thousands of travellers have started leaving the capital by different modes of transport to reach their destinations to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones. Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, will be celebrated in the…
Bangladesh Bank plans to merge five troubled Islamic banks in what could be the country’s largest financial sector consolidation in recent memory. The formal merger process will begin in July and is expected to be completed by October 15, according to officials familiar with the plan. Arief Hossain Khan, spokesperson for the central bank, confirmed that a meeting on the subject took place. “We heard that the agenda of the meeting was the merger,” he said, but declined to elaborate. A high-level meeting was held yesterday at the central bank headquarters between Governor Ahsan H Mansur and the…
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…