Author: Desk Report
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called for the swift implementation of recommendations proposed by the Local Government Reform Commission, warning that further delays would only prolong corruption and inefficiency in the country’s local administrative systems. Speaking at the official handover of the Commission’s final report at the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus stressed the urgency of moving the reform agenda “from paper to practice.” “We must not delay. These reforms must be enacted immediately,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency and citizen participation. He also announced that the full report would be made public,…
The Election Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for new political parties to apply for registration until 22 June, following requests from several aspiring groups looking to contest the upcoming general election. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the decision on Sunday, noting that the extension comes in response to appeals from multiple newly formed parties seeking more time to complete the application process. The original deadline was set for 20 April. Among the petitioners, the newly established National Citizen Party (NCP) formally requested a 90-day extension, citing the need for additional time to fulfill registration requirements. …
Mominul Haque’s gritty half-century provided a rare highlight on a tough opening day for Bangladesh, who slumped to 154-7 at tea in the first Test against Zimbabwe. Despite a steady start, the home side faltered in the second session as Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by spinner Wellington Masakadza and pacer Blessing Muzarabani, dismantled the middle order. Mominul fought a lone battle, scoring a determined 56 off 105 balls with eight fours and a six. His innings ended just before the tea break when he mistimed an aggressive shot off Masakadza, sparking a collapse that saw Bangladesh lose four wickets for…
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Sunday approved 16 development projects with a combined estimated cost of Tk24,247 crore, aiming to drive infrastructure and sectoral growth across the country. The meeting, held at the NEC conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka, was chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. According to the breakdown of the financing, the government will contribute Tk3,134 crore, while Tk16,719 crore will be secured through project loans. An additional Tk4,426 crore will come from the implementing departments’ own funds. Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud provided details of the approvals during a…
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.…