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Russia joined the United States, the Commonwealth and the European Union in their decision not to deploy observers for the 10th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 5. ‘We invited Russia to observe the elections. But the Russian ambassador in Dhaka told me that the country was unable to observe the elections as

A mild cold wave has started sweeping across the north and south western regions of the country and it may continue for a few days with temperatures falling by two to three degree Celsius on Friday, the Meteorological Department said. The mild cold wave, the second this season, lingering over Madaripur, Pabna, kustia and Jessore, ... Read more

Political tension in the country has peaked ahead of Sunday’s ‘March for democracy’ programme announced by BNP chief Khaleda Zia as the ruling Awami League has vowed to resist the opposition move. BNP insiders told The Independent on Wednesday that their ultimate plan was to lay siege to the capital through this programme in a ... Read more

Veteran photo-journalist Aftab Ahmed was allegedly strangled to death on Tuesday night at his residence at West Rampura area in the capital. Police suspect that Aftab might have been killed by some miscreants. Kripa Bala Sindhu, officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station, said, “A family member of Aftab informed the police about the matter and we rushed ... Read more

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday directed the law-enforcing agencies to hunt down the criminals involved in Tuesday’s arson attack on a bus at city’s Bangla Motor that left a traffic police dead, reports UNB. PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said that the Prime Minister also expressed deep shock at the death of constable Ferdous and

Troops are set to be deployed across the country today ahead of the January 5 general elections to help police and RAB maintain law and order. Nearly 50,000 members of Army, Navy and Air Force will be on duty until January 9, a senior official of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) said.

The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on Wednesday warned the government of dangerous consequences if it would stop her joining the ‘march for democracy’ towards Dhaka on December 29. “If the government has the courage, it will not obstruct the programme and stop me from joining the programme. Any such obstructions will

Contrary to the Election Commission’s claim, the wealth statement of poll candidates could not be accessed on its website. This correspondent tried to open the particular page on the EC’s website, www.ecs.gov.bd, for three hours on Wednesday, but in vain.  owever, all other information about the candidates, along with their photographs, was available. On Tuesday

As part of the growing Chinese involvement in Bangladesh’s domestic affairs, Beijing is dispatching one of its senior officials to Dhaka to discuss political issues as well as other bilateral matters with the country’s leaders. According to sources, Chinese vice-foreign minister Liu Zhenmin will arrive in the capital on a two-day visit to Bangladesh on Saturday ... Read more

Ruling Awami League plans to use forces to scuttle Sunday’s ‘March for Democracy towards Dhaka’ programme of the opposition parties led by BNP, which is calling for a boycott of January 5 general election. AL leaders said on Wednesday that the government would not allow the opposition to create anarchy in the country in the name ... Read more

The Christian community across the country and elsewhere in the world on Wednesday celebrated Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, with zeal and fervour. Christians believe that God appeared on earth through His son, Jesus Christ, on this day. Christian devotees on the eve of the day offered special prayers

The growers feel disenchanted with blockades as they are not getting sufficient fertilizers supplies for their standing wheat crop and the just begun boro rice planting. The fertilizer supply shortage is acute particularly in the northern districts, said growers. Dealers and officials said that the nationwide blockade

The state-run Rural Electrification Board is set to start the implementation of a Tk 5,011 crore five-year project to upgrade and enhance its rural distribution network In january, officials said. The mega project was taken to boost the power distribution capacity of REB’s 37 Palli Bidyut Samitis in the wake of overloading of nearly 1.18 ... Read more

BPO takes some proactive steps to regain lost glory Bangladesh Post Office (BPO) has taken a set of proactive measures with a view to regaining its lost glory as well as for its survival, a high official said. To this effect, the BPO has in the meantime launched a number of new services like Electronic ... Read more

Migratory routes and spawning or breeding grounds of hilsa at the Bay of Bengal are being shifted due to pollution, siltation, and climate change, says a recent report of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), reports UNB. It says hilsa have changed their migratory routes and spawning or breeding grounds in response

Four people, including two of a family, were killed and nine others injured as a jeep rammed a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Barapara on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Daudkandi upazila on Wednesday, reports UNB. The deceased were identified as Yasmin, 30, wife of one Ismail Hossain of the Barapara, their five-year old daughter Janaat, Abdul Matin, 32 ... Read more

Muggers slaughtered a microbus driver and snatched his vehicle at Dop-Majhgram village in Santhia upazila on Tuesday night, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Amirul Islam, son of Zabed Ali of the village. Police said Amirul went out of his house around 8 pm on Tuesday with his vehicle to refuel gas. But he ... Read more

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday announced the Dhaka March programme for December 29 and called upon people from all walks of life to assemble in front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan “to compel the government to accept her party’s demand for holding a free, fair and credible election”. “This march is to ... Read more

Ruling Awami League has described BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Tuesday statements as ‘unrealistic, absurd and full of falsehood’. “There is no truth in Khaleda’s speech. All of her words in the statement are baseless and unrealistic,” said Amir Hossain Amu, a senior leader of Awami League. He made the remarks at a press conference at Party ... Read more

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a telephone call to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday and requested her to send one battalion of Bangladeshi soldiers for its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. “Yes, the UN Secretary-General called the prime minister over telephone in the evening (Bangladesh time) and asked her to provide one battalion