Bangladesh

What began as a student movement demanding reforms to the government job quota system on this day last year soon evolved into a broader ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’, ultimately shaking the foundations of the then-ruling, now-deposed Awami League, which had held power for over 16 years. Few could have imagined that a movement initially focused on quota reform in public sector ...

Bangladesh’s Security Affairs Advisor Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Choudhury on Monday dismissed rumors surrounding Advisor Asif Mahmud’s alleged AK-47 license, clarifying it was merely a pistol magazine mistakenly left in his possession. Speaking after a core committee meeting on law and order at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka, Choudhury addressed growing speculation about a firearm incident involving ...

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said China has conveyed its eagerness to deepen cooperation with Bangladesh’s next elected government, expressing hope for even stronger bilateral ties in the coming years. “China has said it wishes to work with Bangladesh’s next elected government with greater sincerity, steadfastness, and affection,” Fakhrul told reporters at a press conference held ...

Formal charges in the murder case of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the July mass uprising and a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, have been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The prosecution has submitted the formal charges to the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday morning, Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim confirmed this to media. Chief ...

Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD), Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, has clarified that the magazine of his licensed firearm found in his bag at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was packed unintentionally. In a Facebook post late Sunday evening, Asif Mahmud addressed the media reports that surfaced following the incident. He wrote, “I possess a ...

A total of 1,519 independent Ebtedayee madrasas currently receiving grant support are set to be included under the government’s Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system, subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria. The government has issued a public notice inviting applications for inclusion in the MPO, contingent upon compliance with guidelines for establishing independent Ebtedayee madrasas and adherence to teaching recognition, administrative, ...

Hotel and restaurant owners in Dhaka have urged the government to repeal provisions allowing smoking zones in food outlets and amend the tobacco control law to create a completely smoke-free environment. The call was made at a discussion titled “Steps to Ensure 100% Smoke-Free Hotels and Restaurants for Public Health Protection”, organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) at the Dhaka ...

Most political parties in Bangladesh have expressed support in principle for establishing a bicameral parliament, with only minor objections from a few parties, said National Consensus Commission Vice Chair Ali Riaz. Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday afternoon following the commission’s second round of talks at Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Riaz said discussions covered the electoral process, including ...

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has questioned the very purpose of the ongoing national consensus talks, arguing there is little point in dialogue if parties are expected to fully accept all proposals put forward by the National Consensus Commission. Speaking to the media at Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday after a daylong round of talks with the ...

In a major effort to reduce harassment from arbitrary arrests and false cases, the government has approved changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Speaking at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy following a meeting of the Advisory Council, Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul made the announcement on Sunday. Nazrul acknowledged that longstanding concerns over false ...