Tk8 lakh cr budget for next fiscal gets PM’s nod

The size of the next national budget of Bangladesh, for the fiscal year 2024-25, will be Tk8 lakh crore. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the Tk8 lakh crore budget when it was placed before her. The budget is scheduled to be presented in the parliament on 6 June, sources of the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday (14 May).

Onion imports resume as India lifts export ban

A truck carrying 30 metric tons of onions entered Bangladesh from India at 6:25 pm on Tuesday (14 May). This marks the resumption of onion imports through Hili Land Port after nearly six months of hiatus. The Indian government lifted its ban on onion exports on May 4. Ahmed Ali, an importer at the port, said that the Indian government had lifted the export ban on onions and fixed the export price at $550 per metric ton. In this situation, `LC` is opened for importing onions from India. Although they expected the Indian government to impose an additional 40% duty on exports, they did not do so.

Apparel exporters pay 6 times higher than official fees: CPD

Bangladeshi apparel exporters have to pay up to six times higher than the official fees for securing essential permits and renewal of licences, which also increases their business costs, according to a new study by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD). The study found that apparel exporters paid 644% higher than the official rate for boiler licences. For bond licences, they paid 261% higher than the official rate, and as for fire licences, the cost stands at 114% higher than the official rate.

Cenbank trashes reserve heist report as ‘absolute fake news’

The Bangladesh Bank has rejected a report published by an Indian news outlet regarding a "new reserve heist" in Bangladesh, stating that it is "absolute fake news." In a statement issued on Tuesday (14 May), BB Executive Director and Spokesperson Md Mezbaul Haque said, "An Indian newspaper published a news regarding a new reserve heist of Bangladesh.

MV Abdullah crew members reached Ctg port

The 23 crew members of MV Abdullah reached Chattogram port this afternoon, about a month after the ship was released by Somali pirates. They arrived at the port on Tuesday (14 May) at around 4:00 pm. The sailors were held captive by the pirates for about 33 days. The family members, who gathered at the port, received the sailors. They expressed satisfaction at the safe return of their loved ones.

TIB criticizes GCF for burdening countries with loans

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is increasing a debt burden on vulnerable countries, including Bangladesh, with its profit-oriented approach by providing more loans than grants, Transparency International Bangladesh said on Tuesday (14 May). Of the 154 countries recognised as `fundable` by the GCF, 25 have not received any funding for projects, the TIB said in a press conference in its office in Dhanmondi, adding that more than half of those countries are in the Asia-Pacific region.

BNP joining hands with international Israeli lobby: FM

E-PAPER

Opinion

Anwar A Khan

Unpleasant truths about an unlawfully born political party

A smile crosses the face of BNP leaders as they saunter through any rally in front of their Naya Paltan Central Office, but they are not concerned about the team running afoul of the rules. It was as if an orotund was puffed out the other day by a popinjay’s declamation. It is named as ‘BNP’s ‘one-point’ demand movement to remove Awami League from the power tout the suite and to ascend

Seeking attention from foreigners: A case on Dr Yunus

Md. Shakhawat Hossain

বাংলা

গণপূর্তের ১,৫৫০ কোটি টাকার কাজে অডিট আপত্তি

গৃহায়ন ও গণপূর্ত মন্ত্রণালয়ের বিভিন্ন কাজে ১,৫০০ কোটি টাকারও বেশি অডিট আপত্তি উঠেছে। ২০২১-২২ অর্থবছরে এই কাজগুলো বাস্তবায়নকারী সংস্থা গণপূর্ত অধিদপ্তর। পূর্ত অডিট অধিদপ্তরের অডিটে এই বিপুল অনিয়ম ধরা পড়েছে। অডিট অধিদপ্তরের এ সংক্রান্ত প্রতিবেদন দ্য ডেইলি মেসেঞ্জারের হাতে এসেছে। এতে দেখা গেছে, ২০২১-২২ অর্থবছরে মোট ১,৫৪৯ কোটি ৯৯ লাখ ৫৫৪ টাকার অডিট আপত্তি তোলা হয়েছে। অডিট রিপোর্টে বলা হয়েছে, বিল অব কোয়ান্টিটিতে (বিওকিউ) উল্লিখিত পরিমাণ অপেক্ষা বিলে অতিরিক্ত পরিমাণ রেকর্ড করে বিল পরিশোধ করায় ৬ কোটি ৬৩ লাখ ৬৫ হাজার ৮৫১ টাকা আর্থিক ক্ষতি করা হয়েছে।

যাতায়াতে দুর্ভোগ

১৫ মে থেকে বাজারে আসছে রাজশাহীর আম

আহা কি আনন্দ আকাশে বাতাসে

আমার রোলটা কোথায়

Bangladesh

Donald Lu appreciates taste of fuchka

The US Embassy in Dhaka has shared a brief video appreciating the taste of Bangladeshi fuchka. Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu together with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas were seen in the video. "Bangladeshi fuchka is the best," they were heard saying while tasting fuchka together.

DMP explains vehicular speed limits in Dhaka city

Coast Guard nabs 12 pirates from Bay of Bengal

Government prioritizes climate risk mitigation for vulnerable people

Dr Yunus meets Pope, co-chairs World Summit on Human Fraternity

International

Russia must beat Ukraine with minimal losses

Russia`s incoming defence minister on Tuesday (14 May) said that Moscow`s priority was to secure victory on the battlefield against Ukraine while minimising human losses. President Vladimir Putin on Sunday nominated economist Andrei Belousov to replace Sergei Shoigu as Moscow`s defence chief, a surprise move more than two years into a conflict that Russia hoped would be wrapped up in a matter of days. "The key task, of course, remains achieving victory and ensuring that the military-political goals of the special military operation, set by the president, are achieved.

French climber dies in Nepal

Top UN court to hold hearings on Rafah offensive

Pakistan to privatize all but strategic state-owned enterprises

Xi’s visit to Hungary and Serbia brings new investment

When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary last week, he arrived to one of the few places in the European Union where his country is considered an indispensable ally rather than a rival. By the time he left on Friday (10 May), he`d secured deals that provide fertile ground for China`s plans of economic expansion in Europe. After meeting with nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday, the leaders addressed a small group of select media in Hungary`s capital, Budapest, announcing the formation of an "all-weather partnership" that would usher in a new era of economic cooperation.

76 million people were displaced in 2023: Migration tracking group

Conflicts and natural disasters left a record nearly 76 million people displaced within their countries last year, with violence in Sudan, Congo and the Middle East driving two-thirds of new movement, a top migration monitoring group said Tuesday (14 May). The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center report found that the number of internally displaced people, or IDPs, has jumped by 50% over the past five years and roughly doubled in the past decade. It doesn’t cover refugees displaced people who fled to another country.

Mumbai billboard collapse crushes homes and cars, kills 14

Rescue workers used excavators to clear mangled metal debris in their final search for survivors trapped underneath a billboard that collapsed in India`s financial capital of Mumbai, killing at least 14 people. The billboard, bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool, crushed a fuel station, homes and cars during a thunderstorm on Monday (13 May), trapping more than a 100 people, according to authorities. Rescuers worked through the night to pull people from the debris on the side of a busy arterial road in the Mumbai suburb of Ghatkopar.

More than half a mln people flee fighting in Rafah: UN

More than half a million Palestinians have been displaced in recent days by escalating Israeli military operations in southern and northern Gaza, the United Nations says. Around 450,000 Palestinians were driven out of Rafah in Gaza`s south over the past week, the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday (14 May). There were roughly 1.3 million people sheltering in Rafah before Israel began pushing into the city, which Israel says is the last Hamas stronghold.

POLITICS

BNP voices alarm over country’s economy

Accusing the government of creating a serious crisis through a lopsided election on January 7, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday (14 May) voiced concern that the country`s economic situation is now very "alarming". Talking to reporters after a meeting with a faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad, he also said their party has no remarks on the visits of US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu since they think people will not restore democracy relying on foreign forces.

UP polls outshine January 7 election in terms of voter

BNP joining hands with international Israeli lobby: FM

BNP expels five more leaders for contesting UP polls

Political analysts denounce BNP’s election boycott politics

Sports

Bangladesh unveils squad for T20 World Cup

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today announced the squad for the upcoming ICC Men`s T20 World Cup, taking place next month in the USA and West Indies. Taskin Ahmed was uncertain due to a muscle injury, but he was eventually added to the squad as the vice-captain. Mohammad Saifuddin, who played in the last home series against Zimbabwe, but he is overlooked for the World Cup

Medvedev battles past Medjedovic and into Rome last 16

Daniil Medvedev continued his Rome title defence with Monday`s hard-fought 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-5 win over qualifier Hamad Medjedovic as the men`s tournament was left wide open by big-name exits, the latest being fourth seed Andrey Rublev. Russian Medvedev will face Tommy Paul in the last 16 at the Foro Italico on Tuesday (14 May) after battling past Next Gen champion Medjedovic in a gruelling clash of big hitters.

Donald Lu is not so important to BNP: Nazrul Islam Khan

Why Delay in Bangladesh’s WC Squad Announcement?

Will Taskin Ahmed Make the Cut for T20 WC?

Walton-BSPA Sports Carnival begins Tuesday

Country

Bumper Boro paddy yield in Khulna’s saline land

Bumper Boro production on the saline land in Khulna’s Koyra upazila has brought smiles to farmers. The people of Koyra, which was devastated by cyclones including Sidr several times, have now started to turn around again with a new hope. Once only Bagda shrimp was cultivated in the saline land of Koyra. Due to frequent natural disasters, shrimps were affected by diseases, causing losses to farmers. As a result, farmers started Boro cultivation.

Auto-rickshaw driver stabbed to death in Bagerhat

Corruption, negligence plague Mujib Kellas in Patuakhali

Probe committee formed over B’baria DB incident

Rohingya leader gunned down in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya camp

A 43-year-old Rohingya leader was gunned down by miscreants at a camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Monday (13 May). The deceased was Md Illias, 43, was son of Abul Kashem of Block C/3 in Camp-4 and head majhi (a unit leader) of the camp. Ukhiya police station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Shamim Hossain said a gang of 10 to 15 miscreants picked Md Illias up from his house after breaking open its door and shot him in front of an office in the camp and fled away in the early morning.

Post-poll violence leaves 1 dead in Sirajganj

A 45-year-old man succumbed to his injuries on Sunday (12 May) night after he was wounded in a post-polls attack allegedly by the supporters of a rival group in Sirajganj’s Belkuchi upazila on May 8. The victim was identified as Abdul Alim, son of late Haider Ali of Kamarpara village of the upazila. He was the uncle of the defeated chairman candidate, Badiuzzaman Fakir.

B’deshi cattle trader injured in BSF firing in Benapole

A Bangladeshi cattle trader was reportedly shot and injured by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at Putkhali border area in Benapole on Monday (13 May). The injured was identified as Amjad Ali, 32 of Krishnapur village in Putkhali border area. The trader was shot by BSF personnel at Zero Point while trying to smuggle cattle from India through the Putkhali border route this morning. Later, he was brought back to Bangladesh by his companions.

Dhaka district registrar Wahidul suspended

The government has suspended Dhaka district registrar Wahidul Islam, who is now behind bars in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Law and Justice Division in a notification dated May 12, said as Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on April 30, took into cognizance the charge-sheet filed in the case and sent Wahidul to jail, he is being suspended in line with section 39 (2) of the Public Service Act, 2018.

Business

Onion imports resume as India lifts export ban