Customs intelligence officials seized over 34kg of gold and detained four passengers on Friday (8 December) in connection with the recovery of a Bangladesh Biman flight at Sylhet`s Osmani International Airport. According to our Sylhet correspondent, intelligence officials searched the Dhaka-bound flight from Dubai (BG-248) and seized gold from under some of the seats and the washroom. "A total of 280 pieces of gold bars weighing 32.78kg and six gold eggs weighing 1.591kg were seized. The market value of the gold is around Tk 35 crores," said Sajedul Karim, assistant commissioner of Customs, Excise and Vat Commissionerate at the airport during a press briefing.

Bangladesh has conveyed to the United Nations that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is "determined to hold a free and fair election" but will not tolerate burning of public and private properties and burning of human lives in the name of demonstration that the opposition frequently perpetrates. "We also expect UN officials to maintain highest standard of non-partisanship, integrity and objectivity to uphold UN credibility and respect," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen wrote in a letter sent to Earle Courtenay Rattray, head of office of the UN Secretary General.

India has banned the export of onions to other countries effective from December 8, says a notification issued by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday (7 December). The ban on the export of onion will be in place till March 31 next year, according to the notification. The decision has been made to increase domestic availability and to keep prices in check. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification said the export of onions will be, however, allowed based on permission granted by the central government to other countries based on the request made by the countries.