Dhaka, Feb 1 (UNB) – Bangladesh filed a case against Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) of the Philippines’ over the heist of $81 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The case was filed…
Author: Lutfun Nahar
Month-long book fair marking Language martyrs’ Day begins
Dhaka, Feb 1 (UNB) – The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair, a yearly event for booklovers and publishers, began on the Bangla Academy premises and at adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on Friday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the…
‘Living some sort of ‘captive life’, says PM Hasina
Dhaka, Feb 1 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday lamented her inability to roam around the Ekushey Book Fair freely, saying she is now living some sort of a ‘captive life’. “When I was not in power, I…
Heavy rain, flooding causes 12 deaths in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Jan 31 (AP/UNB) — Saudi Arabia says 12 people have died and more than 170 have been injured this week due to flooding from heavy rain in the northwest. The Civil Defense says Thursday that 10 people died…
Golden Rice to be released soon: Minister
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) –Golden rice, a new variety of rice helpful to fight Vitamin A deficiency, will be released soon, said Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak on Thursday. He came up with the information after a meeting with International…
Sultan Abdullah sworn in as Malaysia’s new king
Kuala Lumpur, Jan 31 (Xinhua/UNB) — Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was sworn in as Malaysia’s 16th king in a ceremony at the national palace on Thursday. Abdullah took his oath and signed the instruments of office with the country’s…
Month-long Ekushey book fair begins Friday
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair, a yearly event for booklovers and publishers, will begin on the Bangla Academy premises and at adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Friday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will…
Mobile users in Bd nearly 12 million up in 2018
Dhaka, Jan 31 (Xinhua/UNB) – The total number of Bangladesh’s mobile phone subscribers hit about 157 million at the end of 2018, with addition of nearly 12 million new users in last year, statistics of the country’s telecom regulator showed Thursday.…
Delhi invites Dhaka business community to Maritime Conclave
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – India has invited Bangladesh business community, particularly those from shipping and waterways industries, to attend ‘Maritime Conclave 2019’ to be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on February 14-15. “Besides presenting opportunities for investment in the maritime…
Corruption takes a ‘devastating turn’: BNP
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – BNP on Thursday alleged that corruption has now taken a devastating turn in the country, but the media are unable to publish reports on the malpractice due to the government’s control. Speaking at a press…
MPs-elect not joining parliament, no tea with PM: Dr Kamal
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday said they have asked their two MPs-elect not to join parliament as per their party’s decision. “We’ve clearly conveyed them (two MPs) our party’s decision of not…
Are anti-immigrant parties in Europe anti-democratic?
In May this year we will have elections for the European Parliament. We can agree that the parliament is the most democratic body in the European Union. We also can agree that the election process for the parliament is democratic…
Golden Rice to be released soon: Minister
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) –Golden rice, a new variety of rice helpful to fight Vitamin A deficiency, will be released soon, said Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak on Thursday. He came up with the information after a meeting with International…
185 people murdered in Bd in January: BHRC
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – Six people were murdered everyday on average in the first month of the new year, the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC) said on Thursday. A BHRC report documented 185 killings in January alone. ‘Social violence’…
Govt to ensure equal rights for all: PM
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government’s goal is to ensure equal rights for all people irrespective of their religions and casts. “There should be equal rights for all people, irrespective of their…
Rooftop solar power sale growing fast in Dhaka city
Dhaka, Jan 31 (UNB) – The sale of unconsumed rooftop solar electricity to government power distribution entities is rising fast in the capital city. According to the latest statistics placed in a review meeting at Power Division, the number of…
President emphasises national unity to achieve prosperity
Dhaka, Jan 30 (UNB) – President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday called for forging a unity of all on basic issues mentioning that peace and prosperity cannot take the permanent shape without the national unity. He also urged all the MPs…
Jatiya Oikya Front cent percent united: Dr Kamal
Dhaka, Jan 30 (UNB) – Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Wednesday said their alliance is cent percent united with the country’s 16 crore people. He, however, did not make any comment whether his party Gonoforum’s two MPs–elect will…
Criticism of govt is welcome, says PM
Dhaka, Jan 30 (UNB) – Mentioning that criticism is important in a democratic process, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday assured that the opposition will be able to make enough criticisms of the government as no obstacle will be created…
BNP to present whitepaper on vote ‘irregularities’: Moudud
Dhaka, Jan 30 (UNB) – BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Wednesday said their party will present a whitepaper on the ‘irregularities’ of the 11th parliamentary election. Speaking at a human chain programme, he also called upon BNP leaders and…
TIB graft report faulty, politically motivated: Minister
Dhaka, Jan 30 (UNB) – Rejecting the report of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the report is faulty and politically motivated. The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at the…
Grenade thrown into Philippine mosque kills two teachers
Zamboanga, Jan 30 (AP/UNB) — Authorities say a grenade was thrown into a mosque in the southern Philippines where Muslim teachers were sleeping, killing two and injuring four. Regional police Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Luis D. Licup said investigators are trying…
Myanmar parliament approves step toward Constitution change
Naypyitaw, Jan 30 (AP/UNB) — Myanmar’s parliament voted Tuesday to create a committee to propose amendments to the country’s military-enacted constitution, which grants the armed forces the power to block any change. The proposal to form the committee was presented…
Recognise rivers as living beings: Green activists
Dhaka, Jan 29 (UNB) – Mentioning that rivers are being killed through unplanned development, encroachment, pollution and climate change impacts, experts and green activists on Tuesday demanded that the rivers be recognised as living being for saving those. They made…
BNP’s human chain in Dhaka on opening day of 11th Parliament
Dhaka, Jan 30 (UNB) – Reiterating that the current parliament has not been formed with people’s mandate, BNP on Wednesday demanded reelection under a neutral administration to establish a ‘pro-people’ government. “Awami league established a one-party rule in 1975 annihilating democracy.…
The Marrakech Compact on Migration: Myths & realities
BANGKOK, Thailand, Jan 29 2019 (IPS) – When 164 UN member states adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (the Marrakech Compact on Migration) on 10 December last year, I read on social media that they had…
Ethics for artificial intelligence
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan 29 2019 (IPS) – Owing to our varied circumstances and experiences, there are contradictory tendencies to either exaggerate or underestimate the power and importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in contemporary society. Nor should we uncritically legitimize…
Inaugural session of new Parliament begins Wednesday
Dhaka, Jan 29 (UNB) – The maiden session of the 11th parliament begins on Wednesday, within 31 days of the national election held on December 30 with participation of all the registered political parties. President Abdul Hamid convened the session…
10 injured in Jhenaidah Awami League infighting
Jhenaidah, Jan 29 (UNB) – At least 10 people were injured in a turf war between two factions of ruling Awami League in Shailkupa Upazila’s Bhatoi village on Tuesday. Police said AL’s Dudhswar Union unit General Secretary TA Raju and…
AIIB sees infrastructural development in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Jan 29 (UNB) – Bangladesh will remain a priority market for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2019 despite infrastructure stakeholders’ concerns about inflationary pressures and their projected depreciation of the taka, said a new report released on…