Author: Desk Report

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has dismissed discussions on electoral reforms, stating that there is no time to waste on such talks. Speaking at a rally organized by the Noakhali district BNP on District Judge Court Road in Maijdee this afternoon, Khasru criticized ongoing proposals for reforms, including proportional representation elections, local government elections, and the trial of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “There is no room for such discussions,” he said, adding that no one has entrusted these matters to those proposing them. Addressing the issue of the interim government, Khasru expressed concerns over perceived…

The authorities of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have said that the ban on politics at the university remains in effect as per a previous decision. Besides, five decisions have been made, including the formation of a four-member investigation committee, to identify those responsible for the recent clash on the campus. The decisions were made during an emergency virtual meeting of the university syndicate held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by university registrar Md Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan. The meeting was presided over by Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Dr. Muhammad Masud. Meanwhile, the…

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Tuesday said three top-tier hospitals in China’s Yunnan Province have been designated to specifically receive Bangladeshi patients. “If all the efforts continue smoothly, the first group of Bangladeshi patients could receive treatment in China as early as in March this year,” Ambassador Yao said during a media briefing at the Chinese Embassy in the capital. He said relevant departments from both countries are working to improve medical service mechanisms, including streamlining visa procedures, clarifying treatment processes and establishing translation teams. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, during his recent visit…

A division within the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement led to a tense standoff on Chittagong’s busy Lal Khan Bazar road, causing severe traffic disruptions for over seven hours. The protest ended at 9:00 PM on Tuesday, February 18, when one faction of the movement gave central leaders a 24-hour ultimatum before vacating the street. Earlier in the day, a group dissatisfied with the newly formed committee of the movement staged a sit-in after issuing an ultimatum to cancel the committee. The protest, which started shortly after a press conference at the Chittagong Press Club, led to major traffic jams in…

Chittagong Port has taken a significant step toward modernizing its operations with the launch of an online gate pass system for cargo vehicles. The system, which was officially inaugurated by Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, promises to streamline the entry and exit process for over 3,000 cargo trucks daily, reducing congestion, accidents, and wait times at the port. The online system will ensure better organization and monitoring of cargo vehicles, both inside and outside the port, improving overall traffic management and security. This development is expected to make the port more efficient, allowing faster…

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today said the main aim of the interim government is to repatriate Sheikh Hasina from India and put her on trial. Citing the recent fact-finding report of the UN human rights office, he said the report revealed that Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity during her tenure. “After the report of the UN and some reports of rights groups were published, pressure has been mounted (on India to return Hasina to Bangladesh),” he told a press briefing here. The press briefing was held at Foreign Service Academy this evening. Alam…

In response to the recent attack on students at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement organized a protest march and rally at Dhaka University (DU) on Tuesday evening. The demonstration, which began at 8:00 p.m. in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture, moved through the VC’s office area before returning to the sculpture for a brief gathering. During the rally, Zakir Hossain Monju, the convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement from private universities, addressed the crowd, warning that if any group attempts to imitate the actions of Chhatra League…

At least 40 people were injured in violent clashes between the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and the Anti-discrimination Student Movement at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) on Tuesday. The confrontation stemmed from opposing views over the university’s ban on student politics. The altercations, which began in the afternoon, continued into the evening, leaving many students injured. KUET has had a ban on student politics since August 5, following the fall of the Awami League government. According to sources on campus, the JCD distributed leaflets on Monday calling for the resumption of student politics at the university.…

The Teesta River Protection Movement Committee has launched a massive march demanding the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan and fair distribution of water resources under the slogan “Wake Up, Save Teesta.” The march has seen active participation from leaders and workers of BNP and its allied organizations, as well as people from all walks of life living along the banks of the Teesta. The rally began at around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, with events kicking off simultaneously at 11 points across five northern districts. The march started at Teesta Bridge in Lalmonirhat and is set…

The Election Commission (EC) has announced new measures to prevent potential data leaks from its National Identity (NID) database, stating that it will no longer provide direct access to personal data during NID verification services for firms. ASM Humayun Kabir, Director General of the EC’s NID Registration Wing, confirmed the change on Monday, explaining that firms will now receive only a “matched” or “unmatched” response, without access to detailed personal information. Speaking to reporters at his office, Humayun Kabir explained that 182 firms currently use the EC’s data server for NID verification services. Previously, these firms had access to…