Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq has resigned after growing pressure over an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh. The Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate had referred herself to the PM’s standards adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, but insisted she has done nothing wrong. She said that whilst Sir Laurie found she had not breached ministerial rules, it was “clear that continuing in my ...

The Department of Environment (DoE) has advised the residents of the capital and surrounding areas to wear face masks while outdoors, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has deteriorated to a “very unhealthy” level. “Wearing a face mask outdoors is mandatory,” said a DoE press release issued on Monday. The advisory follows a sharp decline in air quality, with ...

Administrator of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Anwar Hossain has emphasised the need for fair pricing to make the industry more sustainable, mentioning that worker welfare is directly impacted by pricing policies. Speaking to a delegation from the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) at the BGMEA complex on Monday, he pointed out that buyers’ offered prices do not ...

The century-old Sherpur Fish Fair commenced on Sunday night in the Sherpur area, located along the banks of the Kushiyara river in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila. This annual fair, a cherished tradition marking the end of the Bangla month of Poush, aligns with Makar Sankranti, symbolising the close of the winter solstice. Traders from across the country have gathered near Berry ...

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into allegations of daily extortion amounting to Tk 1.5 crore by Khandaker Enayet Ullah, the General Secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association. Sources in the ACC have said that the inquiry is based on claims of systematic extortion involving transport-related fees and levies. Enayet Ullah, a prominent figure in the country’s ...

The appeal hearing of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the High Court verdict that enhanced the five years’ imprisonment handed by the trial court to 10 years in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case ended on Tuesday. Later, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court fixed Wednesday (January 15) to deliver its verdict over the issue. A five-member Appellate Division bench, ...

Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Yao Wen met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues relating to the bilateral interests of the two nations. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, according to BNP media cell. The hour-long meeting was held at the Chinese Ambassador’s Baridhara residence on Monday. The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, in a ...

Artificial intelligence presents a “vast potential” for rejuvenating UK public services, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday. In a speech setting out the government’s plans to use AI across the UK to boost growth and deliver services more efficiently, the Prime Minister said the government had a responsibility to make AI “work for working people”. The AI Opportunities ...

King Charles will travel to Auschwitz later this month to attend an event marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp. The commemoration in Poland will take place on 27 January, with the King among the international visitors expected for memorial events. On Monday afternoon at Buckingham Palace, the King will meet people involved in education ...

India summoned Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner, Md. Nural Islam, in New Delhi on Monday to address escalating tensions over border issues. The move follows Bangladesh summoning Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma a day earlier to express deep concern regarding recent activities by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the shared border. On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin ...