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Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has stated that ‘every village in the country will transform into a hub of socio-economic development through Ansar-VDP.’ He expressed hope that the nation would further prosper through the courage and dedication of the force’s 60 lakh members in building a discrimination-free, justice-based, and safe society.

The Prime Minister conveyed these expectations in a statement sent to the media on Tuesday (May 19). The Prime Minister issued this statement on Wednesday (May 20) on the occasion of the 46th National Assembly-2026 of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party.

He said, ‘The timely role of Ansar force members in any national necessity is noteworthy. In February, the Ansar and Village Defence Party played a commendable role in the 13th national parliamentary election, which was held freely, fairly, and impartially across the country.’

The Prime Minister stated, ‘On this auspicious occasion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and warm wishes to all officers, employees, and the courageous grassroots Ansar-VDP members of this force. I pay humble tribute to the 670 martyrs of this force who sacrificed their lives in the Great War of Liberation.’

He mentioned, ‘After more than a decade and a half of fascist rule, Bangladesh has embarked on a journey towards democracy. The current democratic government is working to institutionalize democracy by establishing equality, human dignity, and social justice in the country. The importance of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party is immense on this path towards building a self-reliant, humane, and safe Bangladesh.’

He further added, ‘Inspired by the proud declaration of Ziaur Rahman, the Proclaimer of Independence, ‘Our hands are millions of weapons, our pledge is to build the nation,’ and founded on the concept of public defense and social development, this force has a strong bridge extending to the grassroots level of the country. Ansar-VDP is working as an integral part of the government in forming secure social structures in villages and cities, ensuring the fundamental rights of common people, and implementing various service activities.’

Highlighting the potential to effectively utilize the nationwide network’s capability in activities like tree plantation through the involvement of dedicated Ansar-VDP volunteer members, he stated, ‘Ansar and VDP can also play an immense role in implementing unique activities such as canal digging for science-based environmental protection and agricultural economic development, flood protection in disaster-prone remote areas, water resource planning, and ensuring food security and rehabilitation for common people during disasters.’

He said, ‘Over 52,000 integrated Ansar members are working tirelessly to ensure security at vital state establishments, including industries, hospitals, and financial institutions, which are at the heart of our economy.’

The Prime Minister stated, ‘The current government believes that youth is the source of strength. The specific demand-based training and inclusive measures adopted by Ansar and VDP to develop the youth not merely as manpower but as skilled entrepreneurs are commendable. It is expected that Ansar-VDP will play an effective role as a supportive force in building a productive nation and society by involving common people in this new model of self-reliance and employment.’

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the public will no longer have to suffer from corruption and harassment when availing land services. He stated that the government is implementing a digital technology-based system to make land services simpler, more transparent, and accountable.

He made these remarks on Tuesday (May 19) at the inaugural ceremony of the three-day Land Services Fair 2026, held at the Land Building in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

The Prime Minister said, “The government aims to stop corruption and harassment in land services. The government wants to remain accountable to the people in all matters.”

He further added that land-related services will be provided through digital technology, ensuring that ordinary people do not have to unnecessarily visit land offices or suffer any kind of hassle.

Tarique Rahman stated that planned use of land is extremely important for the current times. For this reason, the government has taken various initiatives to make land management more modern, effective, and accessible.

During the event, the Prime Minister simultaneously inaugurated the Land Services Fair at the upazila, district, divisional, and national levels across the country.

The three-day fair will conclude next Thursday (May 21).

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A total of 65,592 Bangladeshi pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia on 169 Hajj flights to perform the holy Hajj. Concurrently, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has reported the death of another Bangladeshi pilgrim.

This information was disclosed in the daily bulletin published by the IT Helpdesk of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hajj portal on Tuesday (May 19).

The latest pilgrim to pass away is Sakeda Begum (56), a resident of Sonagazi, Feni. She had traveled for Hajj under private management. She passed away in Makkah on May 17.

With this, a total of 18 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died during the current Hajj season. Among them, 13 were men and 5 were women. Of the deceased, 13 passed away in Makkah and 5 in Madinah.

So far, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has operated 86 flights, Saudi Airlines 61 flights, and Flynas Airlines 22 flights for pilgrim transportation.

The holy Hajj will be held in Saudi Arabia on May 26. This year, a total of 78,500 people from Bangladesh are getting the opportunity to perform Hajj. Of these, 73,935 are under private management and 4,565 are under government management.

Prime Minister Tareque Rahman officially inaugurated the Hajj flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on April 18. Flights bound for Saudi Arabia will continue until May 21.

Return flights are scheduled to begin on May 30 after the Hajj, and the repatriation process is expected to conclude on June 30.

The post Over 65,000 Hajj Pilgrims Reach Saudi Arabia, Death Toll Rises to 18 appeared first on Bangla Online News Portal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China just four days after US President Donald Trump concluded his trip to Beijing. The consecutive visits by the top leaders of the United States and Russia to China have sparked discussions about the emergence of new equations in global diplomacy.

According to a report by the British media outlet The Guardian, Putin will visit Beijing on May 19 and 20. Ahead of the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin have exchanged congratulatory messages.

In his message, Xi Jinping stated that in the year marking the 30th anniversary of their strategic partnership, the relationship between China and Russia has become deeper and more consolidated than ever before.

Chinese media Global Times reported that visits by the heads of state of the US and Russia to the same country within just a week are a rare occurrence in the post-Cold War era. According to analysts, this demonstrates that Beijing is rapidly becoming a key center of global diplomacy.

Since Russia’s military operation began in Ukraine, Beijing’s economic and diplomatic support for Moscow has further increased. Concurrently, due to the recent Iran conflict and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz disrupting oil supplies from the Middle East, China has become even more reliant on Russian energy.

According to CREA data, since the start of the Ukraine war, China has purchased approximately $367 billion worth of fossil fuels from Russia. Currently, more than a quarter of Russia’s total exports go to China, which has become significant support for Moscow in coping with Western sanctions.

Analysts believe that the Putin-Xi meeting may focus on the Taiwan crisis, long-term energy security, and regional geopolitics. Discussions may also include the ‘Power of Siberia-2’ gas pipeline project. If implemented, this project would enable the supply of an additional 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually.

Observers suggest that this visit not only strengthens China-Russia relations but also signals the potential formation of a new diplomatic bloc centered around the United States, the Ukraine war, the Taiwan issue, and the global energy market.

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Bangladesh received USD 2.177 billion in remittances during the first 17 days of May. This translates to an average daily inflow of approximately USD 128.1 million.

Arif Hossain Khan, spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank, confirmed this information on Monday.

He stated that the country’s remittance inflow for the first 17 days of May stood at USD 2.177 billion, significantly higher than the USD 1.61 billion received during the same period last year, indicating a robust year-on-year growth in remittance flow.

From July of the current fiscal year up to May 17, Bangladesh has accumulated USD 31.51 billion in remittances, marking a 20.50 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Previously, the country recorded USD 3.1273 billion in remittances in April. In March, remittances reached USD 3.75505 billion, setting a new record as the highest single-month remittance inflow in the country’s history.

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The National Economic Council has approved a development program worth approximately three lakh crore taka for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

The budget was approved on Monday (May 19) at a meeting held in the National Economic Council’s conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka, presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The meeting emphasized the government’s development plans, economic restructuring, social protection, and regionally balanced development.

According to the Planning Commission’s working paper, the total size of the development program for the upcoming fiscal year has been set at three lakh crore taka. Of this, the government’s own funding accounts for one lakh ninety thousand crore taka, and foreign loans and grants for one lakh ten thousand crore taka. Additionally, with another eight thousand nine hundred twenty-four crore taka added from projects implemented through the self-financing of autonomous bodies and corporations, the total development expenditure will exceed three lakh eight thousand nine hundred twenty-four crore taka.

The proposal presented at the meeting stated that this year’s development program has been formulated in light of a five-year reform and development strategic framework. The development plan has been divided into five main pillars: state system reform, equitable socio-economic development, reconstruction of a fragile economy, regionally balanced development, and strengthening social cohesion based on religion, society, sports, and culture.

The state system reform section emphasizes the expansion of judicial and legal services, digitalization of administrative activities, modernization of public investment management, and enhancement of law enforcement agencies’ capabilities.

Plans for launching multi-year public investment programs were also presented.

Equitable socio-economic development has been given the highest priority in this year’s development program. Significant allocations have been made for education, health, agriculture, technical education, skilled workforce development, and social security programs. Among sector-wise allocations, the transport and communication sector receives the largest share, with fifty thousand ninety-two crore taka allocated, accounting for 16.70 percent of the total development program.

Allocations for the education sector are forty-seven thousand five hundred ninety-one crore taka, health sector thirty-five thousand five hundred thirty-five crore taka, power and energy sector thirty-two thousand six hundred ninety-one crore taka, and housing and community facilities sector twenty thousand three hundred sixty-one crore taka.

Among ministry and division-wise allocations, the Local Government Division receives the largest amount, with thirty-three thousand seven hundred thirty-five crore taka allocated. The Road Transport and Highways Division is in second place with an allocation of thirty thousand seven hundred forty-one crore taka. Additionally, the Health Services Division, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and Power Division have also received significant allocations.

However, the most discussed and controversial aspect of this year’s development program is the extensive expansion of block allocations. Approximately one lakh eighteen thousand two hundred eighty-eight crore taka has been set aside as block allocations for various ministries, special development assistance, and social development assistance. In contrast, direct project-based allocations amount to approximately one lakh eighty-one thousand seven hundred eleven crore taka.

According to experts, a large portion of the development budget being outside specific projects could raise questions about financial transparency and accountability.

The working paper shows that thirty-eight thousand twenty-seven crore taka has been allocated for development assistance for special needs and another seventeen thousand crore taka for social development assistance. Fifty-nine thousand two hundred ninety-six crore taka has been kept as block allocation under various ministries. Such unspecified allocations have significantly increased this time compared to the past.

Alongside allocations for health and education sectors, large block allocations have also been made. Six thousand eight crore taka has been allocated for ongoing projects in the Health Division, but a block allocation of twenty thousand eight hundred crore taka has been set aside for the same division. Similarly, while the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has an allocation of five thousand forty-eight crore taka for ongoing projects, its block allocation is fourteen thousand three hundred ninety-two crore taka. The Technical and Madrasa Education Division also has a block allocation of three thousand seventy-nine crore taka.

Special allocations have also been made under social protection programs in this year’s development program. Of the seventeen thousand crore taka in the social development assistance sector, fourteen thousand five hundred crore taka has been allocated for the Family Card program under the Ministry of Social Welfare. One thousand four hundred crore taka has been allocated for the Farmer Card under the Ministry of Agriculture. Additionally, another one thousand one hundred crore taka has been allocated through the Ministry of Religious Affairs as honorariums for those responsible for mosques and other places of worship.

The proposed development program includes a total of one thousand one hundred twenty-one projects. Among these, there are nine hundred forty-nine investment projects, one hundred seven technical assistance projects, and forty-three projects funded by autonomous bodies’ own resources. In addition, one thousand two hundred seventy-seven new unapproved projects have been listed, which will be considered for approval gradually. Furthermore, the goal has been set to complete two hundred twenty-three projects by next June.

Special emphasis has also been placed on regionally balanced development in the development program. Northern regions, coastal areas, hilly regions, and port-centric development activities have been prioritized. Plans to develop Chittagong and Mongla as goods transportation hubs, construct coastal protection infrastructure, expand renewable energy, and establish economic zones are also included.

However, questions have already been raised about the implementation capacity of such a large development budget. The implementation rate of the development program during the nine months from July to March of the current 2025-26 fiscal year has been only 36.19 percent. The implementation rate with government’s own funding was slightly over 33 percent, and the utilization of foreign loans and grants was approximately 40 percent. In this context, concerned analysts have expressed doubt about how effectively a larger development program can be implemented.

At the meeting, directives were given to accelerate project implementation, ensure financial discipline, and swiftly complete projects that are due for completion by June 2027. Concurrently, a decision was made to limit new expenditures on overdue projects. The government hopes that by increasing administrative efficiency, human resource development, expanding social protection, and reducing regional disparities, the new development program will play a significant role in the country’s long-term development and economic recovery.

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President Md. Shahabuddin has returned home after undergoing health check-ups and treatment in London.

He arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday (May 18) morning. The Press Wing of Bangabhaban confirmed this information.

Earlier, President Md. Shahabuddin had traveled to London, the capital of the United Kingdom, for health check-ups and treatment on May 9.

At the airport, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Yusuf S Y Ramadan, UK High Commissioner Sarah Cook, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s and President’s Office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs bade farewell to the President.

Family members, doctors, staff nurses, and relevant officials and employees of Bangabhaban accompanied the President.

Notably, President Md. Shahabuddin underwent cardiac bypass surgery in Singapore in October 2023. Following doctors’ advice, he had necessary health check-ups at a specialized hospital in the United Kingdom.

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So far this year, reports indicate that 17 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died while performing Hajj. Among the deceased, 12 were men and 5 were women. Additionally, 62,528 pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

This information was revealed from the Hajj bulletin published by the IT Helpdesk on Monday, May 18.

The bulletin states that among the total pilgrims who have arrived in Saudi Arabia, 4,444 traveled under government management and 58,084 under private management. To date, they have reached Saudi Arabia on a total of 161 flights. Biman Bangladesh Airlines transported 32,508 pilgrims on 82 flights, Saudi Airlines carried 21,161 pilgrims on 57 flights, and Flynas Airlines transported 8,859 pilgrims on 22 flights.

Meanwhile, a total of 17 Bangladeshi pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia while performing Hajj. Among the deceased, 12 were men and 5 were women. Of these deaths, 12 occurred in Makkah and 5 in Madinah. No deaths have been reported in Jeddah, Mina, Arafat, or Muzdalifah.

The holy Hajj is scheduled to take place on May 26. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has approved 30 lead Hajj agencies this year. The quota for pilgrims under government management this year is 4,565, and under private management, it is 73,935. The first flight for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia began on April 18 and will continue until May 21. After the Hajj, the first return flight for pilgrims will start on May 30, with the last return flight arriving in the country on June 30.

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Qatar’s Minister of Labour, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tareq Rahman. The meeting took place on Sunday (May 17) evening at the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital, Dhaka.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir and Ambassador Break Saeed Al-Smaikh of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present during the meeting.

The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Jahidul Islam Rony, informed the media about this.

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Won Correspondent : Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has informed one of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrates’ courts that its investigation into a case involving allegations of insulting Islam and hurting religious sentiments remains ongoing, with several accused individuals already identified during the inquiry process.
According to sources connected to the investigation, the agency requested additional time at the second hearing of this case on 21 April 2026 from the court  to complete the probe and submit a full investigation report. The court subsequently granted the request and set 10 June  2026, as the new date for the next date of the hearing for the submission of the investigation report.
The case was originally filed on 22 February this year at Court No. 25 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court by complainant, a Yusup Kawsar. The complaint alleged that a number of articles published on an online platform contained offensive, mocking, and hurtful remarks regarding Islam causing criminal injury to the Muslims in Bangladesh and across the world.
Following the initial hearing on 22 February, Metropolitan Magistrate Raju Ahmed directed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s PBI unit to investigate the allegations.
The case was filed under Sections 295, 295(A), 298, and 34 of the Penal Code of Bangladesh 1860 (amended) and has been registered as C.R.-220/2026.
Eight individuals were named as accused in the complaint, including Md. Tufael Ahmed, Nurul Amin, Burhan Uddin, Mst. Nasrin Sultana, Rumana Parvin, Tahsin Ahmed, and Gazi Mohammad Saiful Islam, among others.
A source familiar with the investigation stated that cases involving online publications often require extensive verification of digital materials, identification of individuals connected to the content, and technical examination of the origins of publication, which can make the investigative process time-consuming.
There has been no statement as yet from “Atheist Note,” the platform referenced in the allegations. The website was found down showing a Forbidden Error message. It is not clear whether this has anything to do with the enforcement actions being taken by the law enforcement agency in connection with this case. Attempts to contact  the platform have proved abortive.
In Bangladesh, allegations relating to religious sentiments are widely regarded as highly sensitive and frequently attract public attention, particularly when linked to online content and social media discourse.

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Additional Inspector General of Police (Addl. IGP) Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been appointed the new Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

A gazette notification to this effect was issued on Sunday (May 17) by the Police-1 branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by order of the President. The notification was signed by Deputy Secretary Tawsif Ahmed of the Ministry.

The gazette notification states that this order, issued in the public interest, will be effective immediately.

The post of DMP Commissioner had been vacant for nearly two months. Following the resignation of former Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, Additional Commissioner Md. Sarwar served as the acting Commissioner. However, he retired on May 14 after completing his term of government service.

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed joined the police cadre in 1995 through the 15th BCS. Throughout his career, he has held significant responsibilities in Dhaka and Chittagong Metropolitan Police, and also served as Superintendent of Police in Kushtia, Bhola, and Sherpur districts. Furthermore, he served in the UN peacekeeping mission UNAMID.

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed was promoted to Additional IGP from the post of DIG (Headquarters) on October 24, 2024. Most recently, he served as the Chief of CID. Prior to that, Mosleh Uddin also held the position of Additional IGP (Logistics) at the Police Headquarters.

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Masudur Rahman: Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions worldwide, the extreme devastation of climate change, and the challenges of rapidly evolving technology, the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) is set to commence at the UN Headquarters in New York. Scheduled to begin on September 8, 2026, the session will be attended by heads of state and government from nearly 193 countries. The much-anticipated high-level General Debate will kick off on September 22.

Diplomatic sources indicate that the most crucial and central theme of this 81st session will be “the revitalization of multilateralism and collective resistance against artificial intelligence (AI) and climate risks.”

The 2026 session is expected to deliver a significant push on climate change mitigation. Following years of record global temperature increases and frequent natural disasters, this session will heavily emphasize fully operationalizing the ‘Loss and Damage’ fund for affected and underdeveloped nations. Countries vulnerable to climate change, including Bangladesh, will particularly strive to secure fair compensation from the developed world and legally binding commitments from world leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The unprecedented rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2026 has become a major concern for global economy and security. A significant portion of this General Assembly session will focus on finalizing a global legal framework or a “Global Digital Compact” to regulate AI, prevent cyber warfare, and curb the spread of misinformation. World leaders will endeavor to reach a consensus on how to use AI for human welfare while keeping cyberspace secure.

Resolving the Ukraine crisis, the prolonged tensions in the Middle East, and geopolitical instability in various regions of Africa are among the key agendas for this session. In the current fragile global situation, the demand for reforming the UN Security Council (UNSC) will be raised more forcefully to address questions about the UN’s effectiveness. Significant debates are expected regarding increasing permanent and non-permanent memberships and the rational use of ‘veto’ power.

This 81st session is highly significant for Bangladesh. According to established norms, Bangladesh has a strong candidacy from the Asia-Pacific region to be elected as the President of this session. If Bangladesh secures this presidency, it will elevate the country’s diplomatic image to unprecedented heights on the global stage. Furthermore, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government is expected to strongly present the issues of climate change and a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis to world leaders.

In his pre-session statement, the UN Secretary-General said, “We stand at a juncture where joint leadership, not division, can save the planet. The 81st session will not merely be a forum for discussion but an effective platform for overcoming crises.”

Billions of people worldwide are now looking towards this session in New York, where the trajectory of global politics for the coming days will be determined.

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A writ petition has been filed with the High Court demanding an investigation into the 18-month activities of the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. After hearing the matter, the court has set next Thursday (May 21) for passing an order.

On Sunday (May 17), the High Court bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued this order.

Barrister M. K. Rahman and writ petitioner Barrister Mohsin Rashid argued for the writ petition in court. Attorney General Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajol participated in the hearing on behalf of the state.

Briefing journalists after the hearing, Barrister M. K. Rahman stated that the writ petition mentioned an anarchic situation created in various sectors, including the economy and health, due to the interim government’s 18-month activities. An application has been made to form an inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act to investigate these matters.

He further added that the writ also stated that an investigation is necessary to prevent a situation where an elected government could be overthrown in the future. The court heard the matter and scheduled next Thursday for the order.

Writ petitioner Barrister Mohsin Rashid said that an investigation has been sought into all incidents that occurred during the interim government’s tenure. The government will determine the method of investigation. The state party has stated that it will seek instructions from the government on this matter.

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A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking a directive for an investigation and a travel ban against 24 individuals, including Dr. Muhammad Yunus, former Chief Advisor of the interim government, over the decision to cancel the measles vaccination program.

On Sunday (May 17), Supreme Court lawyer Barrister M. Ashraful Islam filed the writ in the relevant branch of the High Court. The writ describes the process of transferring the measles vaccination program from state management to the private sector as a ‘malicious criminal activity’.

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A total of 59,783 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the holy Hajj. They traveled to the Middle Eastern country on a total of 154 flights.

This information was reported in the latest Hajj-related bulletin published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Sunday (May 17).

According to information from airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Hajj Office Dhaka, and Saudi Arabian sources, these pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia by 3 AM on Sunday, May 17 (following Saturday, May 16).

The bulletin stated that Biman Bangladesh Airlines transported 30,844 pilgrims on 78 flights. Additionally, Saudi Airlines carried 20,080 pilgrims on 54 flights, and Flynas Airlines transported another 8,859 Bangladeshi pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

Out of the total pilgrims, 4,444 traveled under government management and 55,339 under private management.

The Hajj bulletin also reported the death of one more Bangladeshi pilgrim in Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number of deaths this season to 16. Among the deceased, 12 were men and four were women. Twelve of them died in Makkah, and four in Madinah.

Subject to moon sighting, the holy Hajj is scheduled to take place on May 26. The first flight for pilgrims from Bangladesh departed for Jeddah on April 18. Return flights are scheduled to begin on May 30, after the Hajj.

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was showered with the affection of millions in Borura, Cumilla, on his way to Chandpur for the first time after the 13th national parliamentary election. After 25 long years, party leaders and activists, as well as general citizens, crowded both sides of the road to see their beloved leader.

On Saturday (May 16) at noon, the Prime Minister addressed a road meeting organized at Laxmipur Bazar Ground in Borura Upazila, Cumilla. During the event, local public representatives presented three long-standing key demands to the Prime Minister, prominent among which were the declaration of Cumilla as a division and the establishment of an agricultural university.

In response to these demands from the public representatives and local people, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that if declaring Cumilla a division is indeed a public demand, then it will be implemented.

Concurrently, he also offered a positive assurance regarding the establishment of an agricultural university there.

At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister highlighted various development and welfare-oriented initiatives of his government, stating, “In line with BNP’s electoral promises, initiatives such as canal excavation, distribution of family cards and farmer cards, and providing honorariums to Imams and priests have already commenced. BNP fulfills the promises it makes when it comes to power.”

Emphasizing that it is now time to build the nation together, the Prime Minister stated that everyone must ensure from their respective positions that all citizens can become self-reliant. The people are the owners of the country; when the owners take responsibility, the country moves forward.

Criticizing the previous government, Tarique Rahman remarked that just as dictators oppressed and persecuted the country, they also embezzled public funds. “As a result, the country’s economy is currently under some pressure,” he added. He urged the countrymen to be patient to overcome this economic crisis.

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BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that Cumilla would be made a division if there was a strong demand from the people. He made this statement at a street rally organized at Lakshmipur Bazar field in Barura Upazila, Cumilla, on Saturday (May 16).

Tarique Rahman stated that when BNP is in power, it fulfills the promises made to the people. He said, “Barura and Bogura will see equal development. BNP has fulfilled its election pledges in the past and will continue to do so in the future.”

He further stated that democracy has been established in the country through a long period of movements and struggles. “Just as people liberated the country in 1971, they have liberated the country again in ’24. Now the main task is the reconstruction of the country,” he added.

Emphasizing public involvement in nation-building, the Prime Minister said, “The fate of a nation that works hard changes. The reconstruction of the country is not possible for the government alone. The people must come forward as owners to build the nation.”

Tarique Rahman visited Chandpur on Saturday after nearly two decades. During his visit, he participated in various programs including the distribution of family cards, inauguration of canal re-excavation activities, a street rally, and a district BNP organizational meeting.

Starting his journey by road from his Gulshan residence in the morning, he first inaugurated the re-excavation work of the Khordda Canal in the Waruk Bazar area of Tamta South Union, Shahrashti Upazila, Chandpur. Later, he also participated in the re-excavation activities of the Bishwa Canal near Ghosh’s Hat in Kumardugi village, Shah Mahmudpur Union, Chandpur Sadar Upazila.

Additionally, he was scheduled to attend a family card distribution event at Chandpur Government College ground in the afternoon, as well as a district BNP organizational meeting. He would conclude his visit by returning to Dhaka by road in the evening.

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BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tareque Rahman is visiting Chandpur district today, Saturday. During his visit, he will participate in a rally in Cumilla and inaugurate the re-excavation of two canals in Chandpur. Additionally, he is scheduled to attend a Family Card distribution ceremony and a district BNP organizational meeting.

This information was released by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing on Friday (May 15).

According to the Press Wing, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will depart from his residence by road for Chandpur on Saturday at 8:30 AM. En route, at 11:30 AM, he will address party workers at a rally organized at Lakshmipur Bazar ground in Barura Upazila, Cumilla.

Afterward, at 12:30 PM, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the re-excavation of Khordd Canal in Waruk Bazar area of Tamta South Union, Shahrasti Upazila, Chandpur. Later, at 1:45 PM, he will attend and inaugurate the re-excavation of Bishwa Canal near Ghosh’s Hat in Kumardugi village of Shah Mahmudpur Union, Chandpur Sadar Upazila.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to take a brief break at Chandpur Circuit House at 2:30 PM. Following this, he will participate in a Family Card distribution ceremony organized at Chandpur Government College ground at 3:30 PM.

Towards the end of his visit, Tareque Rahman will attend the district BNP organizational meeting held at Chandpur Club at 5:00 PM. He is then scheduled to depart for Dhaka by road at 6:30 PM.

Meanwhile, an festive atmosphere prevails among BNP leaders and activists in Cumilla district surrounding Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s arrival. All preparations, including the construction of marquees at the rally venue, have already been completed. The Special Security Force (SSF) has begun strict surveillance to ensure security, in addition to inspecting the rally venue.

Beautification work has also been carried out on the Cumilla-Chandpur and Cumilla-Noakhali roads in anticipation of the visit. Highway dividers have been repainted, and damaged roads have been repaired.

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Popular content creator and actress Karina Kaiser has passed away (Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un) due to liver-related complications. She breathed her last while undergoing treatment in Chennai, India, where she was taken for advanced medical care.

Her father, Kaiser Hamid, a former star player of the national football team, confirmed her death on Friday.

Kaiser Hamid told the media, “While antibiotics were being administered to her lungs, her blood pressure suddenly dropped significantly. Doctors made their utmost efforts, but we couldn’t save her.”

According to family and medical sources, Karina had been in an extremely critical condition for several days due to liver-related complications. Initially, she was placed on life support at a private hospital in the capital. Later, as her physical condition deteriorated, she was airlifted via air ambulance to Chennai, India, on Monday night for advanced treatment.

She was receiving intensive care at Christian Medical College (CMC) Hospital in Vellore. Doctors initially focused on treating a lung infection and were subsequently preparing for a liver transplant. However, she passed away, rendering all efforts unsuccessful.

Family sources further revealed that Karina had been feeling unwell for some time. Initially, it seemed like a common physical ailment, but tests later revealed an infection in her body. She then contracted Hepatitis ‘A’. Karina already had a ‘fatty liver’ condition. The infection rapidly complicated the situation, leading to liver failure last Friday.

Karina Kaiser was a well-known and popular figure among the younger generation, creating her own content and acting on social media. Her untimely demise has cast a deep shadow of grief over the entertainment industry and her well-wishers.

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Salehuddin Ahmed, former finance advisor to the interim government, stated that the country’s economy was in deep crisis when they took office. Consequently, the primary challenge for the government was to stabilize the collapsing economic system before initiating any major new reform activities. He remarked, “It’s not that we’ve ruined everything.” Furthermore, many crucial tasks could not be accomplished due to the interim government’s “limited powers” and lack of “political mandate.”

He made these remarks on Friday at the 58th convocation ceremony of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University, held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital. A total of 365 students from BBA, MBA, EMBA, and DBA programs participated in the event.

Salehuddin Ahmed said, “Many ask what the government has done in a year and a half. But the reality is that not everything can be changed in a single day. First, we had to repair, then reform.”

He stated that the interim government’s biggest limitation was the lack of a political mandate. “We had neither strength nor a mandate,” he noted, adding that this prevented the swift implementation of many critical decisions.

He mentioned that upon taking charge, almost all economic sectors, including the banking sector, capital market, and revenue administration, were experiencing instability. Foreign exchange reserves had dwindled, and both the current account and overall balance of payments were in a negative state. However, he claimed that some stability has now been achieved in these indicators.

Highlighting the situation in the banking sector, the former advisor stated that long-standing irregularities, political influence, and weak laws have created complexities in this sector. He commented that improving the situation is not possible through administrative directives alone; legal reforms are necessary.

He further added that significant financial assistance had to be provided to some banks. Moreover, repatriating money laundered abroad is not an easy task. However, he noted that technology and international cooperation have created opportunities to recover funds more quickly than before.

Pointing out the deficit in good governance in both public and private sectors, Salehuddin Ahmed said that a lack of accountability has led to wastage and inefficiency in various areas. As an example, he cited projects originally slated for two years taking 10-12 years to complete, while five-year projects sometimes extend to 20 years.

He also expressed concern over the energy sector, stating that Bangladesh has not given sufficient importance to new gas exploration for a long time, while neighboring countries have made significant progress in this regard. Simultaneously, he highlighted the issue of declining productivity in the industrial sector.

Regarding the export sector, he mentioned that despite various incentives provided for a long time, many industries have still not become competitive in the international market. He also commented that many sectors protected as ‘infant industries’ have not yet fully matured.

Noting that new challenges are emerging for Bangladesh in the new realities of the global economy, Salehuddin Ahmed said the country must contend with the impact of US trade policies, competition with China, and the global tariff situation.

However, he commented that Bangladesh still holds immense potential. The former finance advisor expressed hope that if good governance, efficiency, and accountability are ensured, Bangladesh too can progress like South Korea and Vietnam.

In his speech as the chief guest at the convocation, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor ABM Obaidul Islam stated that in a rapidly changing world, the new generation must not only be skilled but also provide ethical leadership. He urged students to lead the nation by upholding integrity, humanity, and professional excellence.

At the ceremony, 116 students were awarded BBA, 126 MBA, 122 EMBA, and one student a DBA degree. Additionally, 26 students made it to the ‘Director’s Honor List’ for outstanding results, and two students received gold medals.

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Bangladesh and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen strategic cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement was signed at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington D.C. on Thursday (May 14).

According to a press release from the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman signed the MoU on behalf of Bangladesh, while Energy Minister Chris Wright signed on behalf of the United States.

Ensuring global energy security has become even more challenging due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The situation is particularly concerning for energy-importing countries, including Bangladesh. In this context, the agreement is seen as a significant step.

According to the Embassy, the MoU will help ensure Bangladesh’s long-term energy security. It will also play a crucial role in ensuring a stable supply of affordable energy and diversifying energy sources. This is expected to create new possibilities for energy cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States.

Under the agreement, opportunities for capacity building, technology and knowledge exchange, and joint research in the oil, gas, geothermal, and bioenergy sectors will be expanded. Furthermore, it could facilitate the import of LNG, LPG, and other energy products from the United States at relatively affordable prices.

At the event, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman referred to the MoU as a new milestone in Bangladesh-U.S. relations. He thanked Prime Minister Tareq Rahman and U.S. President Donald Trump for their support of this initiative.

U.S. Energy Minister Chris Wright stated that this MoU would further strengthen Bangladesh-U.S. relations and open new horizons for energy cooperation.

Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy and senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy were present at the ceremony.

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Nationwide, 12 more children have died from measles and its complications in the last 24 hours. In the same period, 1,303 children were newly infected. This brings the total number of deaths to 451 over the last two months.

This information was reported in a press release sent on Friday (May 15) by the Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The press release stated that in the last 24 hours, 1,192 individuals nationwide were suspected of having measles, while 111 were confirmed. In total, the number of new infections stands at 1,303.

According to DGHS data, from March 15 to May 15, the number of suspected measles patients in the country is 55,611, and confirmed patients total 7,416. During this period, 40,176 patients were admitted to hospitals, and 36,055 have been discharged after recovering from treatment.

Regarding death statistics, 8 children died from suspected measles in the last 24 hours. Additionally, 4 more children died from confirmed measles. In total, 12 deaths occurred in a single day.

According to DGHS calculations, from March 15 to May 15, the number of deaths from suspected measles is 377, and from confirmed measles is 74. This means the total number of deaths during this period has reached 451.

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In the election for the 2026-27 session of the Supreme Court Bar Association, A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon, a candidate supported by the BNP panel, has been elected President. Mohammad Ali from the same panel has been elected Secretary.

The results were announced around 2 AM on Thursday (May 14) by Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury, convener of the election sub-committee.

Out of 14 posts in the election, the BNP-backed panel secured victory in 13. The Jamaat-backed panel won one post. A total of 4,048 votes were cast in the two-day election.

The winners from the BNP-backed panel include Barrister A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon as President, Md. Magfur Rahman Sheikh and Md. Shahjahan for the two Vice-President posts, Mohammad Ali as Secretary, Md. Ziaur Rahman as Treasurer, and Maksud Ullah and Mohammad Shamsul Islam Mukul for the two Assistant Secretary posts.

For the member posts, H.M. Sanjid Siddiki, A.K.M. Azad Hossain, Md. Kabir Hossain, Md. Tipu Sultan, Md. Zia Uddin Mia, and Wahid Afroze Chowdhury were victorious. Md. Azim Uddin Patwari from the Jamaat-backed panel won one of the seven member posts.

Voting took place at the Supreme Court Bar Association Auditorium on May 13 and 14, starting at 10 AM, with a one-hour break at noon, and continuing until 5 PM.

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A high-level meeting was held with the aim of alleviating the long-standing traffic congestion in the capital Dhaka and modernizing traffic management to make it more effective. The meeting took place on Thursday (May 14) evening at the Public Administration conference room of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat, presided over by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman.

Ministers in charge of the Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping ministries, along with the administrators of Dhaka South and North City Corporations and other relevant officials, were present at the meeting.

Among those present were Sheikh Rabiul Alam Rabi, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges; Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Railways; Abdus Salam, Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation; Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton, Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation; and Member of Parliament Advocate Shimul Biswas.

According to sources from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, this was the second meeting regarding the resolution of Dhaka’s traffic congestion and its management. Detailed discussions were held on improving the city’s road management, coordinating the public transport system, modernizing traffic signals, and strengthening coordination among the relevant agencies.

The meeting emphasized bringing the capital’s traffic situation under control through swift and effective initiatives.

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The popular online news portal of the country, BD24Live, celebrated its 15th anniversary amidst colorful arrangements and a festive atmosphere. Having commenced its journey on May 14, 2011, the news outlet proudly completed 15 years and stepped into its 16th.

To mark the anniversary, BD24Live’s office hosted a cake-cutting ceremony, exchange of greetings, a discussion meeting, and joyful events. Journalists, officials, employees, well-wishers, and invited guests of the organization participated in these programs.

Speakers at the event stated that over the past 15 years, BD24Live has earned the trust of its readers through objective, courageous, and responsible journalism. The news outlet has gained special recognition for promptly delivering accurate news and highlighting issues of public interest with significant importance.

Amirul Islam Asad, Editor-in-Chief of BD24Live, said, “Throughout this 15-year journey, the love, trust, and cooperation of our readers have been our greatest inspiration. By upholding the ideals of truth, justice, and objective journalism, BD24Live has today established itself as a credible name in the country’s online media. We are committed to fearlessly highlighting public interest and crucial national issues in the future as well.”

Dr. Md. Ashrafur Rahman, Additional IGP of Bangladesh Police, was present as the chief guest. Wishing BD24Live continued success, he stated, “Objective and responsible journalism is extremely important for a nation. BD24Live has been delivering news with courage and professionalism for a long time. I believe that the organization will continue to advance by standing for truth and public interest in the future.”

News Editor Saju Ahmed remarked, “Over the past 15 years, BD24Live has not only delivered news but has also highlighted people’s hopes, aspirations, problems, and potential. In this era of technology-driven modern journalism, we are constantly working to deliver fast and accurate information to our readers. Our goal is to maintain the continuity of responsible and objective journalism in the future.”

Video Editor Rakibul Islam stated, “In the current digital age, the importance of video content has significantly increased. BD24Live always strives to present timely and informative video news to its viewers. Our primary goal is to earn the trust of our audience through modern presentations based on true and objective information.”

During the discussion session, speakers highlighted BD24Live’s contribution to the development of online journalism in the country. The importance of responsible journalism in this age of rumors and misinformation was also discussed. Also present at the event were Md. Khairul Alam Rafiq, Acting Editor of Dainik Protidin er Kagoj; Salauddin, Shift In-charge of BD24Live; Alif Hasan, Staff Correspondent; Sub-editors Masum and Kushal; Harunur Rashid, among others.

Later, the anniversary formalities were concluded with the cake-cutting ceremony. Guests attending the event wished BD24Live continued success.

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BD24Live, a popular online news portal in Bangladesh, proudly completed its 15th year and stepped into its 16th year today, May 14, 2026. Launched on May 14, 2011, the institution has established a strong position in the country’s media landscape through objective, fact-based, and courageous journalism over this long period.

To mark its anniversary, BD24Live’s office is hosting a cake-cutting ceremony, exchange of greetings, and a discussion session. Journalists, officials, employees, and well-wishers of the organization will participate in the event.

Amirul Islam Asad, Editor-in-Chief of BD24Live, stated, “The journey that began on May 14, 2011, was not merely the birth of an online news portal; it was a courageous pledge to take a firm stand for truth and justice. The love and trust of our readers are our greatest strengths.”

He further added, “Our primary goal is to ensure responsible journalism alongside fast news delivery in the digital age. We always believe in providing fact-based news against rumors and misinformation.”

Saju Ahmed, News Editor, remarked, “Over the past 15 years, BD24Live has not just published news, but has spoken for the people. We have always strived to highlight the problems, potentials, rights of common people, and important national issues.”

BD24Live has been working tirelessly since the early days of online journalism’s development in the country. The organization has earned readers’ trust by regularly publishing news on various important topics concerning politics, economy, international affairs, sports, technology, entertainment, health, education, and public life. The news portal has also been praised for its prompt and accurate reporting during various national crises, natural disasters, and significant events.

Currently, in this era of social media-driven confusion and misinformation, the importance of responsible journalism has further increased. To address this challenge, BD24Live is emphasizing technology-driven modern news delivery and the publication of verified information.

On the occasion of stepping into its 16th year, the BD24Live family has expressed gratitude to its readers, advertisers, well-wishers, and all followers both domestically and abroad. Concurrently, the organization has pledged to continue fearless journalism in favor of truth, justice, and public interest in the future.

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed relevant authorities to take effective initiatives to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure necessary services. He emphasized establishing disability-friendly infrastructure and ensuring all types of facilities, including education and healthcare, to build an inclusive society.

He issued these directives at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office within the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday (May 13). The meeting was convened to determine necessary actions for protecting the rights and ensuring services for persons with disabilities.

According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, during the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the dignity and capabilities of individuals with special needs must be appropriately evaluated at every level of society. Practical steps must be taken to enable their active participation in all social and state activities.

Ministers of State from various ministries present at the meeting highlighted the problems, limitations, and inadequate facilities faced by persons with disabilities. The Prime Minister then issued several important directives.

He stated that building construction guidelines must ensure accessible infrastructure and toilet facilities for individuals with special needs in all government and private establishments, including hospitals and restaurants. Room doors must be constructed to allow easy access for wheelchair users.

The Prime Minister also directed that electric buses planned for women should include necessary facilities for individuals with special needs. Additionally, he emphasized that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should focus on awareness-raising activities and organize various programs involving persons with special needs.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister instructed an investigation into whether schools for persons with disabilities across the country are operating properly. He also mentioned including children with special needs in the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ competition.

It was decided at the meeting that the ‘Shishu Swargo’ (Children’s Heaven) project would be launched initially in 10 upazilas across 10 districts to ensure health and rehabilitation services for children with special needs. It was also announced that this initiative would commence soon.

Among those present at the meeting were State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Mir Shahe Alam; State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M.A. Muhith; State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Yaser Khan Chowdhury; State Minister for Social Welfare, Farzana Sharmin Putul; State Minister for Planning, Junaid Saki; State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj; Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, A.B.M. Abdus Sattar; and secretaries from relevant ministries. Abdus Sattar Dulal, founder of the Bangladesh Disabled Welfare Association, also attended the meeting.

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Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional $25 million (2 crore 50 lakh) US dollars through an auction. This information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson for the central bank, on Wednesday (May 13).

He stated that the $25 million was acquired from two commercial banks. The cutoff price in this auction was BDT 122.75 per dollar.

So far this May, Bangladesh Bank has collectively bought a total of $170 million. Earlier, during the current fiscal year 2025-26, dollars were also purchased in several phases through auctions.

Cumulatively, the central bank’s total dollar purchases for the current fiscal year have now reached $5.8435 billion (584 crore 35 lakh) or $5.84 billion.

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In the last 24 hours, 8 more children have died nationwide due to measles and its symptoms. Among these, 7 died with measles-like symptoms, and 1 died from confirmed measles. With this, a total of 432 children have now died in the country from measles and its symptoms.

These figures were obtained from the latest report by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday, May 13.

According to DGHS sources, 432 children have died across the country from measles and its symptoms over the past one and a half months. Among these, 69 children died from confirmed measles, and 363 died with measles-like symptoms.

During the same period, 7,150 people were confirmed to have measles (proven by tests), and 53,056 people were admitted to hospitals with measles-like symptoms. Dhaka division has recorded the highest number of infections and deaths.

These statistics cover the period from 8:00 AM on March 15 to 8:00 AM today, May 13.

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The government has appointed another 96 deprived candidates who passed the 27th BCS examination to various cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service. A gazette notification in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday (May 13), following the recommendation of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission.

After winning a legal battle, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification on December 18 last year, appointing 673 job candidates of the 27th BCS, two decades after their initial struggle.

The appointed individuals have been requested to join their respective cadre-controlling ministry/division’s designated office by May 18. If no further instructions are received from the cadre-controlling ministry/division, they are to join on that date. The notification states that failure to join on the stipulated date will be considered as unwillingness to join the service, and the appointment letter will be cancelled.

It further stated that, in the interest of preserving the seniority of the newly appointed individuals, their appointment orders will be effective retrospectively from the date the first appointment gazette notification for their batch was issued. Their notional seniority will be maintained from the joining date of the batch’s first appointment notification. However, they will not be entitled to any retrospective financial benefits.

On January 21, 2007, during the BNP government’s tenure, the results of the 27th BCS first viva voce examination were published, with 3,567 candidates passing. Later, on June 30 of the same year, during the state of emergency, the then army-backed government cancelled the results of the first viva voce examination, citing irregularities and corruption. Subsequently, the successful candidates filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the validity of the cancellation of the viva voce results. On July 3, 2008, the High Court ruled that the government’s decision was valid. Following this, the petitioners filed a leave to appeal with the Appellate Division against that verdict.

Meanwhile, on July 29, 2007, the second viva voce examination of the 27th BCS was held. According to the results published on September 23, 2008, 3,229 candidates passed the second viva voce examination and were subsequently appointed to service. Following this, the candidates who passed the first examination filed three separate writ petitions with the High Court. On November 11, 2023, another bench of the High Court, after hearing these three writ applications, declared the holding of a second viva voce examination for the 27th BCS illegal.

The state party subsequently filed three leave to appeal applications against that verdict, which were disposed of by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court with certain observations.

Subsequently, candidates who passed the first viva voce examination of the cancelled 27th BCS applied for a review of the Appellate Division’s verdict. On November 7 last year, the Appellate Division granted the review application and ordered it to be taken up for hearing. This opened the way for legal recourse for the review petitioners who had passed the first examination but were deprived of appointment. Later, after hearing the application on February 19 last year, the Appellate Division delivered its verdict on February 20. The verdict reinstated the jobs of 1,137 candidates of the 27th BCS who had been deprived of appointment.

On August 11 last year, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court published the full verdict, directing the swift implementation of the High Court’s ruling to appoint the 1,137 deprived BCS candidates. The government was instructed to implement this directive.

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After taking charge as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari has decided to expedite land transfer for the construction of a barbed wire fence along the Bangladesh-India border. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, commented on this matter.

On Tuesday (May 12), in response to a journalist’s question at the weekly briefing in New Delhi, he stated, “Protecting border security is our priority. We view this decision from that perspective.”

However, he did not directly answer the question of whether this decision by the West Bengal government would affect Bangladesh-India bilateral relations.

Questions also arose during the briefing regarding the Teesta development project. Journalists inquired whether Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s recent visit to China, where he requested assistance for the implementation of the Teesta project, would impact mutual trust.

In response, Randhir Jaiswal said, “A keen eye is kept on any event, anywhere in the world. This situation is also under that observation. Mutual interests prevail in India’s relations with its neighbours.”

Earlier on Monday, the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government in West Bengal, led by Suvendu Adhikari, was held. After the meeting, he announced that his government would hand over the necessary land to the Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days for the construction of a barbed wire fence along the international border with Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Himanta Biswa Sarma for his second term as Chief Minister in Assam, Suvendu Adhikari announced his intention to curb infiltration by following the ‘Assam model’. He stated that he wishes to leverage Himanta Biswa Sarma’s experience in border security.

On the other hand, in response to journalists’ questions on Monday regarding India’s statements and declarations, Humayun Kabir, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, said, “There is no longer any room to intimidate Bangladesh with barbed wire. The people and government of Bangladesh are not afraid of barbed wire.”

It is worth noting that the international border between West Bengal and Bangladesh spans approximately 2,216.7 kilometers. Of this, about 1,647.696 kilometers already have a barbed wire fence. It is reported that fences are yet to be constructed along the remaining approximately 569 kilometers.

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Two more Bangladeshis have been killed in an Israeli drone attack in Lebanon. An official from the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut confirmed this information to the media. Earlier, the embassy had reported the deaths of two expatriates in an Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon.

Reports indicate that on Monday night, further drone attacks targeted another residential area of Nabatieh, where Bangladeshi migrants resided. Following these attacks, two more Bangladeshis are reported missing.

Mohammad Anwar Hossain, First Secretary (Labour) at the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, informed the media that the living quarters of the two missing individuals were completely destroyed in the drone attack. As their bodies have not yet been recovered, their deaths cannot be officially confirmed.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Tuesday, the Bangladesh government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack and urged all relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and adhere to international law.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, two Bangladeshis were killed in an Israeli drone attack in the Jebdeen area of Lebanon’s Nabatieh region. Their bodies are being held at a local hospital. The two deceased Bangladeshis were identified as Shofiqul Islam (40) and Mohammad Nahidul Islam (20), both from Satkhira district.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the deceased, calling the incident a ‘heinous attack’ by Israeli forces. The Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut is currently coordinating with relevant Lebanese authorities to arrange for the repatriation of the bodies of Shofiqul and Nahidul.

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Bangladesh has strongly condemned the killing of two Bangladeshi nationals in an Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing this condemnation and extending condolences and sympathy to the victims’ families.

The two Bangladeshi nationals killed were Shofiqul Islam from Satkhira Sadar Upazila and Md. Nahidul Islam Nahid from Ashashuni Upazila of the same district.

The statement mentioned that the Government of Bangladesh is deeply saddened by the incident and extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Concurrently, initiatives have been taken by the government to repatriate the bodies swiftly.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon is working in coordination with local authorities to complete the process of repatriating the bodies. The Embassy is also maintaining regular contact with the family members of the deceased.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further stated that Bangladesh expresses deep concern over the ongoing violence and loss of civilian lives in the region. At the same time, all concerned parties have been urged to exercise maximum restraint and adhere to international humanitarian law.

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Ambassadors and High Commissioners of various countries affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) based in Dhaka paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tareque Rahman. During the meeting, they congratulated him on assuming the office of Prime Minister.

At this time, the Prime Minister welcomed their greetings and expressed gratitude on behalf of the government and the people for the support from OIC member countries.

The courtesy call took place on Tuesday (May 12) at the Secretariat.

Representatives of the participating countries expressed interest in further strengthening relations with Bangladesh in various sectors, including investment, trade, education, health, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. They also reiterated their commitment to stand by Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Tareque Rahman, at this juncture, recalled Bangladesh’s fraternal relations with OIC member countries since the time of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and expressed hope for these relations to deepen further in the future. He also emphasized increasing people-to-people contact and sought cooperation from OIC member states in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Palestine, Algeria, Brunei, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, along with Heads of Mission from Iran, Iraq, and Libya, were present.

Also present were the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir, Foreign Secretary Mu. Farhadul Islam, and the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon.

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman believes that restructuring the curriculum from primary to higher education levels is a demand of the time. He stated that the education curriculum is being reshaped from primary to higher education. He emphasized that universities should focus on research, not just rote learning.

He made these remarks on Tuesday (May 12) at a workshop on “Transformation of Higher Education in Bangladesh” organized by the University Grants Commission at the Senate Building of Dhaka University.

The Prime Minister said that revamping the curriculum from primary to higher education levels is a demand of the time. The government plans to provide innovation grants from college to university levels. Furthermore, the government is going to make technical education mandatory from the school level.

He stated that it would be impossible to survive in a competitive world without excelling in innovation.

Tarique Rahman said that it is possible to create something new through the effective use of limited resources. The government aims to build the nation by nurturing talent and preventing brain drain.

The Prime Minister added, “We want to build an education system where every student can utilize their potential.” He also stated that the government is sincere in effectively implementing the aspirations of the youth to build a new Bangladesh after the departure of fascism.

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As of 2:59 AM on Monday night, a total of 52,334 Bangladeshi pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year. They reached Saudi Arabia on a total of 134 flights, including both government and private carriers.

This information was provided in the latest Hajj-related bulletin on Tuesday. The Help Desk announced this data, citing sources from airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Dhaka, and Saudi Arabia.

According to the Help Desk, 25,073 pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on 63 flights operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, 18,402 on 49 flights by Saudi Airlines, and 8,889 on 22 flights by Flynas Airlines. Of these, 4,071 pilgrims traveled under government management, while 48,263 arrived under private management.

A total of 78,500 people from Bangladesh have received permission to perform Hajj this year. This operation is being managed by 660 agencies, comprising 30 principal agencies and 630 coordinating agencies.

The first Hajj flight (BG3001), carrying 419 pilgrims, departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport at 11:57 PM on April 17. The flight was inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

According to the Hajj Office, out of the total pilgrims, 4,565 will perform Hajj under government management, and 73,935 under private management.

Subject to the sighting of the moon, the holy Hajj is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia on May 26.

Return flights from Jeddah will commence on May 30, following the completion of Hajj rituals. The final flight will depart for Dhaka on June 30.

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Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, new and sensational information has emerged. Citing the US media outlet Wall Street Journal, Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been secretly conducting military attacks inside Iran.

The report stated that an oil refinery on Iran’s Persian Gulf island of Lavan was attacked in early April. The UAE is claimed to have been involved in that assault. The report also mentioned the conduct of multiple covert operations in various locations across Iran from March to May 2026.

However, the UAE has not officially acknowledged responsibility for these attacks. Reuters, on the other hand, also stated that they could not independently verify this information.

The report further indicated that in response to these operations, Iran launched thousands of missile and drone attacks, leading to renewed tension across the entire Middle East.

According to analysts, if these allegations prove true, it could render relations between Iran and the Gulf Arab states even more conflict-ridden and further complicate the regional security situation.

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Iran has formally endorsed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposed four-point peace plan, aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Iran’s Ambassador to China, Abdorreza Rahmani Fazli, stated in a press release that Tehran is prepared to work closely with Beijing to implement this initiative. According to him, the main objectives of this plan are to ensure sustainable security in the Persian Gulf region and to strengthen development cooperation among regional countries.

He further added that the matter was seriously discussed during a recent meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries. Iran’s stance is being viewed as a positive response to China’s growing diplomatic role.

Ambassador Fazli noted that Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal could serve as an effective framework for ensuring common development and security.

Earlier, President Xi Jinping had presented this four-point peace proposal during a meeting with UAE President Zayed Al Nahyan, who was visiting Beijing. This proposal has added a new dimension to world diplomacy, aiming to address the current unstable situation in the Middle East and uphold regional stability.

International political analysts believe that Iran’s public support will further strengthen Beijing’s peace efforts.

Source: Al Jazeera.

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Argentina’s national football team has announced its preliminary squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. From this initial list of 55 players, coach Lionel Scaloni will ultimately select the final 26-man squad.

The most discussed new face in the preliminary squad is Santiago Beltran. This young footballer from River Plate has secured a spot in the list of six goalkeepers.

Additionally, Lautaro Di Lollo from Boca Juniors and Zaid Romero from Getafe have also found their places in the squad.

Young talents like Alejandro Garnacho, Matias Soule, and Claudio Echeverri have returned to the national team after a long hiatus.

Argentina’s Preliminary World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers

Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid), Walter Benítez (Crystal Palace), Facundo Cambeses (Racing Club), and Santiago Beltran (River Plate) are in charge of the goalpost.

Defenders

The defensive line includes Agustín Giay (Palmeiras), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Nicolás Capaldo (Hamburg), Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise), Lucas Martínez Quarta (River Plate), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors), Zaid Romero (Getafe), Facundo Medina (Olympique Marseille), Marcos Acuña (River Plate), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), and Gabriel Rojas (Racing Club).

Midfielders

The midfield features Máximo Perrone (Como 1907), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Guido Rodríguez (Valencia), Aníbal Moreno (River Plate), Milton Delgado (Boca Juniors), Alan Varela (Porto), Ezequiel Fernández (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Nicolás Domínguez (Nottingham Forest), Emiliano Buendía (Aston Villa), and Valentín Barco (Strasbourg).

Forwards

The attacking players are Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás Paz (Como 1907), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid), Tomás Aranda (Boca Juniors), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Matias Soule (Roma), Claudio Echeverri (Girona), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), and Mateo Pellegrino (Parma).

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Three individuals, including two Bangladeshi nationals, have been killed in an Israeli drone strike in the Jebdeen area of Nabatiyeh district, southern Lebanon. The third victim was a Syrian national, as reported by Lebanese media L’Orient Today.

According to a report published on Monday (May 11), the deceased were working there as laborers. However, the names or detailed identities of the two Bangladeshi nationals are not yet known.

Citing local sources, the media outlet reported that Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon continue despite the ceasefire being in effect. It is believed that these casualties occurred in a drone attack carried out on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in response to the Israeli attacks, Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah is also carrying out retaliatory attacks. The organization also claimed a drone attack targeting Israeli soldiers on Monday.

On April 16, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. However, there have been allegations that Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have not ceased since then. Local media reported that attacks are being carried out in various areas, destroying homes and targeting individuals associated with Hezbollah.

Source: L’Orient Today

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Salahuddin Ahmed commented that if India wants to construct a barbed wire fence on its border, it is their internal matter. He stated that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) remains constantly vigilant to prevent border infiltration and maintain a normal law and order situation.

He made these remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting on improving the living standards of salt farmers, held on Monday (May 11) at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

The minister informed that the Ministry of Agriculture is currently reviewing the production costs of salt farmers to ensure they receive fair prices for their hard work. Additionally, the demand for industrial and edible salt in the country is being assessed, along with the necessity of imports.

He further stated that after analyzing the necessary data and information, decisions would be made according to the Prime Minister’s directives to ensure Bangladesh achieves self-sufficiency in salt production and that farmers do not incur losses.

Salahuddin Ahmed said that Bangladesh maintains diplomatic relations with the Indian government based on sovereign equality. He also mentioned that political changes in any Indian state do not affect Bangladesh’s foreign policy or bilateral relations.

Regarding various information circulating on social media about alleged post-election minority persecution in West Bengal and its impact, the minister stated that in many cases, old and misleading videos are being used to spread misinformation. He added that neither the Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently possesses any information confirming the truth of such situations or their potential negative impact on Bangladesh. He urged the public not to be misled by such propaganda.

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China has directly rejected India’s Ministry of External Affairs’ claim regarding the Shaksgam Valley in Kashmir. Beijing stated that the area is part of its own territory.

During a press conference on Monday, Mao Ning, in response to a question, stated that India’s criticism regarding infrastructure construction in the Shaksgam Valley is baseless. In her words, China has the full right to carry out any kind of developmental work on its own territory. She further clarified, “The area in question is an integral part of China.”

Earlier, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had claimed that the Shaksgam Valley is part of Indian territory. India stated that it has the right to take any necessary steps to protect its interests. Furthermore, it has never recognized the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement and considers it illegal.

According to India’s stance, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India. New Delhi also announced that it would regularly protest any attempts to alter the Shaksgam Valley. Concurrently, India does not recognize the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In response, Mao Ning stated that China and Pakistan signed the boundary agreement by mutual consent in the 1960s, and two sovereign states have the full right to enter into such agreements.

She added, “CPEC is an economic cooperation project aimed at improving the living standards of the local population and ensuring socio-economic growth. Neither this project nor the boundary agreement will impact China’s long-standing position on the Kashmir issue.”

It is noteworthy that India and China have long-standing border disputes. However, in 2024, the two countries reached an important agreement to reduce military tensions along the Himalayan border. In 2020, a bloody clash between the soldiers of the two countries in that area resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers.

Following the 2024 agreement, both countries are attempting to improve relations by resuming direct flights and increasing investment and trade. However, tensions persist between the two powers over various unresolved border issues, including Arunachal Pradesh (which China claims as ‘Zangnan’ or South Tibet). New Delhi has also consistently protested against China’s actions to rename various places in Arunachal.

Source: Dawn Urdu

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Veteran theater personality Ataur Rahman is on life support due to a critical illness. His physical condition rapidly deteriorated after he fell at home last Friday.

Initially, he was taken to a hospital in the Gulshan area. Doctors there stated that he required ICU support. However, due to the unavailability of ICU facilities at that time, he was later transferred to a hospital in the Dhanmondi area. He was placed on life support immediately after being admitted there.

Subsequently, his condition improved slightly, and the life support was removed. However, with a renewed deterioration in his physical state, he was put back on life support yesterday.

On Monday afternoon, his daughter Sharmistha Rahman provided an update on his latest physical condition. She stated, “My father’s condition is not very good; it’s critical. Doctors have informed us that multiple organs in his body have failed.”

‘I request everyone to pray for my father’s recovery.’

Ataur Rahman is a multifaceted personality in Bangladesh’s cultural arena, known as a theater artist, actor, stage director, and writer. Born on June 18, 1941, in Noakhali, this cultural figure is renowned as one of the pioneers of the post-independence stage drama movement. For his significant contributions to the nation’s culture and theater, he has been honored with the Ekushey Padak and the Shadhinata Padak.

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In the context of ongoing tensions in the Middle East and reciprocal sanctions between the US and Iran, Tehran has imposed new restrictions on ship movements through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

According to the new rules, vessels must obtain prior permission and pay a prescribed toll or fee to use this waterway. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s energy supply is transported through this strait. Consequently, this decision is expected to have a significant impact on international trade and the energy market.

Shipping magazine Lloyd’s List reported that the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has launched a new regulatory framework. Under this framework, ships will be required to complete a ‘Vessel Information Declaration’ form to obtain transit authorization.

This form requests more than 40 pieces of information, including vessel ownership, insurance, crew identification, intended route, current and previous names, identification numbers, origin, destination, and detailed descriptions of the cargo being carried.

Iran’s state media announced that this measure aims to strengthen sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, the country’s military warned that those who comply with US sanctions against Iran may face serious problems in using this vital waterway.

Countries like India and Pakistan are already attempting to secure safe passage for their flagged vessels through negotiations with Tehran. However, Iran has indicated that vessels associated with the US and Israel will not be permitted to use this route.

Meanwhile, Washington is vehemently opposing Iran’s move. The Trump administration has warned ships against paying this toll. The US, in collaboration with Bahrain, has also initiated a proposal for a UN resolution, although Russia has indicated it would veto such a proposal.

The stalemate created in this waterway due to the Middle East war, which began last February, is currently causing significant instability in global fuel prices and the world economy. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s office stated that they would use this control over the Strait of Hormuz as a major weapon to end foreign intervention in the region and build a ‘powerful Iran’.

Source: NDTV.

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Ashiq Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), has commented that it will be difficult to gain the confidence of foreign investors if the country’s fuel crisis is not resolved.

He made this remark at a seminar organized by PRI in Banani, Dhaka, on Monday (May 11).

Ashiq Chowdhury stated, “Attracting foreign investment is not BIDA’s sole responsibility. Lack of coordination among various government departments and agencies creates diverse complications, which affect the investment climate.”

He further added, “If the crisis in the energy sector cannot be resolved, it will not be possible to build confidence among foreign investors.” He also mentioned that job creation would be given utmost priority in the upcoming budget.

A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman, President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said, “Doing business in the country feels like a major offense. There is no suitable environment for honest business practices for entrepreneurs, and he blamed bureaucratic complexities for this situation.”

He added, “The government is providing cash incentives of BDT 6,000 to 8,000 crore. However, instead of these, greater importance should be given to ensuring energy security.”

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that just as no government is permanent in a democratic system, no administrative position is permanently assigned to anyone.

He made this remark on Monday (May 11) during a keynote address to senior police officials at the ‘Shapla’ Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on the occasion of Police Week 2026.

The Prime Minister emphasized that neither individuals nor governments remain in power forever. He added that this has been proven numerous times by various past events and examples from different countries around the world. Similarly, he also noted that no position in public administration or police administration is permanent.

Addressing the officials, the Prime Minister stated that government or administrative positions are temporary. Therefore, performing assigned duties appropriately and accepting this reality is an integral part of a democratic culture.

He further highlighted the importance of performing state duties while keeping the transient nature of power in mind.

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The High Court has issued a landmark verdict to curb the unethical practice of determining and disclosing the gender of a fetus. Consequently, it will no longer be permissible to reveal whether an unborn child is a boy or a girl.

On Monday (May 11), the full text of the judgment delivered by the High Court bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Jinat Haque was published. The court had previously announced a summary of this verdict on February 25, 2024.

The verdict states that determining and disclosing the gender of an unborn child is discriminatory against women, promotes female feticide, creates social imbalance, and goes against constitutional rights. According to the court, such practices infringe upon women’s dignity, equality, and right to life, and also violate international human rights obligations.

The court observed that effective control, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms for this issue have long been absent in Bangladesh. It emphasized that merely formulating a guideline is insufficient; this unethical practice cannot be halted without proper implementation, digital surveillance, and robust control systems.

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