Author: Desk Report
Bangladesh is poised to take a significant step toward establishing its first deep-sea port, as the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) prepares to sign a contract on April 22 for the construction of two key jetties under Phase 1 of the Matarbari Port Development Project. The deal, valued at approximately Tk 6,200 crore, will be signed with a Japanese joint venture between Penta-Ocean Construction Co. Ltd. and TOA Corporation during a formal ceremony at a Dhaka hotel, CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk confirmed. The signing marks a major milestone in the country’s long-anticipated journey to build the Matarbari Deep…
Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, praised the National Citizen Party (NCP) for its significant role in dismantling a 15-year-long fascist regime and setting Bangladesh on a path toward democratic reform. Speaking at the outset of a formal dialogue between the Commission and the NCP, held Saturday morning at the LD Hall of the Parliament Building, Riaz commended the party’s unwavering struggle and sacrifices that helped usher in a new era of hope and transformation for the nation. “You have successfully overthrown a regime that oppressed the nation like a heavy stone on our chests,”…
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Col (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has issued a stern warning to law enforcement, stating that disciplinary measures will be taken against police officials who fail to maintain order during Awami League (AL) rallies in the future. The warning came on Saturday while speaking to reporters after visiting the Airport Police Station in Dhaka. Responding to questions about police inaction during recent AL processions, the adviser confirmed that two individuals have already been detained in connection with the unrest. “The police have been instructed to ensure such rallies do not recur,” he said, adding that…
Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has pledged that the upcoming national election, to be held between December 2025 and June 2026, will be the most free, fair, and transparent in Bangladesh’s history. “We are committed to ensuring that this election becomes a milestone in the country’s democratic journey,” Dr. Yunus said on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) at the State Guest House Jamuna. The visiting ANFREL team included Executive Director Brizza Rosales, Consultant May Butoy, Senior Programme Officer Tharindu Abeyrathna, Programme Officer Ayan Rahman Khan, and Programme Associate…
The body of a six-month-old baby named Chehris, who went missing after falling into a canal in Chattogram’s Kapasgola area under the Chawkbazar police station, was recovered on Saturday morning. The infant had been missing for 14 hours before a team of divers from the Fire Service recovered the body from the Hijla canal. The tragic incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Friday when an auto-rickshaw carrying Chehris, his mother Salma, and grandmother Ayesha lost control and plunged into a drain connected to the Hijla canal, near Nawab Hotel in Kapasgola. While locals were able to immediately rescue the…
Bangladesh and the United States held comprehensive discussions on Thursday covering key bilateral issues, including the upcoming elections, trade tariffs, and the ongoing Rohingya crisis. The talks, described as “broad and constructive,” aimed to deepen cooperation and address mutual concerns. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin confirmed that the Rohingya issue was a central focus of the discussions, during which Bangladesh sought stronger political and humanitarian support from the US to help manage the protracted refugee situation. The US delegation included Nicole Ann Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and Andrew R.…
BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu has accused the interim government of intentionally delaying national elections to prevent the BNP from returning to power through public support and democratic means. Speaking at a rally organised by the Bangladesh Democratic Council in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Thursday morning, Dudu said, “The nation is deeply concerned. It’s no longer clear what the government actually wants. We believe the election delays are a tactic to sideline the BNP and block its path to forming a government through the people’s vote.” Calling for clarity from the authorities, the senior BNP…
Malaysian immigration authorities have arrested 165 Bangladeshi nationals during a large-scale crackdown on undocumented migrants in Kuala Lumpur, part of a broader operation that led to the detention of 506 foreign nationals. The raid, conducted Thursday night by the Immigration Department in the Medan Imbi area, targeted multiple residential blocks along Jalan Barat, Jalan Melati, and Jalan Khoo Teik Ee. A total of 895 individuals were screened during the operation, including 146 Malaysians. According to local media outlet ‘New Straits Times’, those detained are suspected of violating the Immigration Act 1959/63. The majority were found without valid identification,…
France praised a fresh round of high-level discussions on the Ukraine conflict, calling the talks a “positive process” as European and American officials met in Paris to explore potential pathways toward a ceasefire in the ongoing war. The diplomatic meetings, held Thursday, brought together French President Emmanuel Macron, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US envoy Steve Witkoff, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, German representatives, and Ukrainian ministers. The initiative marks a concerted effort by Europe to take an active role in peace negotiations, amid growing pressure to end the war that has raged for over three years. …
The 116th edition of the historic Abdul Jabbar’s Boli Khela, a traditional wrestling competition rooted in anti-colonial heritage, will take place on April 25 (Friday) at 4 PM at the ‘Laldighi Maidan’ in Chattogram. The event will be accompanied by a vibrant three-day Baishakhi Fair, running from April 24 to 26. To ensure smooth public movement during the festivities, authorities have announced that no stalls will be allowed on the road from Anderkilla to Court Building. Strict actions will be taken against unauthorized stall setups, illegal occupation, or extortion. This legendary wrestling event was first organized on 12th…