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An early approval of the Trade and Investment Forum Agreement (TICFA) may have helped Bangladesh avert an unfavourable situation with regard to continuation of GSP facilities for Bangladeshi products in the USA, observed government officials. Bangladesh had been seized of the matter for about 11 years, unable to decide on the steps to be taken.

The construction work on Tk 8,703 crore Dhaka Elevated Expressway will commence from August this year. Communication Minister Obaidul Quader disclosed it while talking to the newsmen at his office in Dhaka on Tuesday. He said the 40 km-long expressway would be completed in three phases. In the first phase, 8 kilometres expressway would be ... Read more

There is something rotten in Dhaka city, as the foul smell emanating from garbage containers placed in street corners hangs over the capital. Some of these garbage containers have been lying at their places for at least three years. These garbage containers are filled with wastes of all kinds. Household wastes as well as garbage ... Read more

As part of the reorganisation of intelligence agencies, the government has decided to amend the recruitment rule of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and abolish the post of deputy assistant director (DAD). The post is considered ‘jinxed’ as the infamous BDR mutiny was led by Towhid, who was a DAD of the BDR force.

The defence completed the cross-examination of Ajit Mohanta, prosecution witness-25, who testified against former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Abul Alim, at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Tuesday. After the cross-examination was concluded, the tribunal set Wednesday as the date for hearing the deposition of the next prosecution witness.

With the public sector ambulance services in bad shape, there is a growing need for private sector ambulances to cater to the ever-increasing demand of the patients. Without having sufficient facilities essential for supporting critical patients on their way to hospitals during emergencies, a large number of private ambulances are fleecing

The cabinet on Monday approved the draft of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA). Commerce minister Gulam Quader said signing of the agreement would boost the country’s exports to the USA. Talking to the media, he said the agreement would offer a platform for Bangladesh and the USA to discuss bilateral trade issues, ... Read more

Commonwealth secretary-general Kamalesh Sharma on Monday said a state should ensure gender equality in context of resources and services. “Good economy means investing in women entrepreneurs and providing them with access to finance and markets. Women leadership helps to maintain a stable and sustainable economy,” Sharma told reporters at a city hotel.

The ruling Awami League (AL) has asked all AL-backed mayoral candidates, presidents and secretaries of Rajshahi, Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet city corporations to send reports, mentioning the reasons behind their debacle in the recent polls, to the party chief. After receiving the reports, the party high command will evaluate the reasons and seek ways to ... Read more

The BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Monday termed Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina’s recent statement on the caretaker government issue as an ominous sign for democracy. “Our concerns have increased following the Prime Minister’s statement. She used the language of an autocrat,” he said.  Alamgir was briefing reporters after

The Supreme Court on Monday directed college authorities across the country, except Notre Dame College, to carry out the admission process for HSC students, prompting the education board to publish the admission results on the basis of the candidates’ SSC marks. Dhaka Board’s controller of examinations SM Wahiduzzaman said that they have published a list ... Read more

The presence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad in Singapore for medical check up at the same time has given rise to a speculation that they might have talks on election issues there. However, insiders in both parties dismissed the possibility of such talks, saying both the party chiefs are ... Read more

The family members of many of the victims of the Tazreen Fashions blaze and the more recent Rana Plaza tragedy are not receiving any financial compensation since they have not been coming forward for DNA tests. Many of them are poor and illiterate, and are discouraged by the complex processes associated with such testing. Family ... Read more

William Hanna, ambassador and the head of European Union (EU) delegation, said the EU is very much concerned about the labour market and working environment in Bangladesh. “We should not only think about making money, also quality of products, as well as right to decent work environment for labours,” said the ambassador. He was

Residents of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), both tribals and Bangali hill people, are spending their days in insecurity and apprehension, as the law and order situation is deteriorating day by day. With rising crime and political turmoil, they are afraid that clashes might break out any time between rival groups here, sources said. In particular, ... Read more

Dhaka, June 17: The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday interrogated detained four officials of Sonali Bank in connection with the much-talked-about Sonali Bank loan scam of Tk 3,500 crore. A seven-member ACC investigation team,

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday gave hints to consider NOAB demand for slashing newsprint import duty. Talking to reporters after a meeting with a delegation of the members of Newspaper Owner’s Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at his office, Muhith said that he had listened to their demands that includes withdrawal of the budget proposal ... Read more

Senior Awami League (AL) leader Suranjit Sengupta on Monday said the just concluded city elections witnessed the victory of propaganda and confusion created by religious communal groups among the people. “The religious communal groups won the city elections by carrying out propaganda and spreading confusion among the people unitedly. The 14-party

A total of two mayoral candidates, one councilor for reserved woman seat and 35 general councilors withdrew their candidatures for the upcoming city corporation election in Gazipur (GCC). They stayed away from the city corporation election race

Neutral poll possible under present govt Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today congratulated the newly elected mayors of four city corporations– Khluna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal– saying they have won the poll getting public support, which is never be a matter of grief for herself or her government. “Rather we are happy for the reason that ... Read more