Bulgaria has proposed the first round of bilateral consultations with Bangladesh to enhance relations between the two countries. Ambassador of Bulgaria to Bangladesh Dr Nikolay Yankov met Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday and discussed the issue. The Adviser thanked Bulgaria for allowing Bangladeshi students to apply for visas at embassies in Hanoi and Jakarta and requested increased enrollment and educational cooperation. CA Dr Yunus reiterates key reforms to hold free polls The Ambassador agreed to allow Bangladeshi nationals to apply for work visas at suitable embassies and affirmed the start of Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) for visa issuance in Dhaka. They also explored opportunities for expanding bilateral trade, investment, cooperation in the IT sector, cultural cooperation, and qualifying for the EU's Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) after 2029. Additionally, the Adviser sought Bulgarian support for Bangladesh regarding the Rohingya issue in international forums, including the UN and the EU, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To enhance access to books for readers of all backgrounds, bKash, in partnership with Prothom Alo Trust, has distributed 120,000 books to 393 libraries established by different individuals, organizations, or collaborative initiatives across 28 districts of the country. Like previous years, bKash collected books from readers-writers-visitors who came to the 'Amar Ekushey Book Fair' held in February this year. Alongside, more books were added to this initiative with its own fund. This year's book collection program was held with the slogan 'Medhar Bikash Thekay Ke’. bKash undertakes this diverse initiative to make a wide variety of books-- stories, poems, novels, scientific, religious, self-development books-- available to readers of all ages across the country. It is mentionable that bKash has been the patron of ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair’ for the last seven years and has been collecting books for the past five years. Till now, as many as 267,000 books have been donated to the schools and libraries established for everyone including underprivileged children. Prothom Alo Trust became a partner of the book collection and distribution initiative by bKash last year. This year’s book distribution initiative began with the distribution of books at Chuadanga’s Swayamvar Public Library. Later, books were donated to different libraries in Kushtia, Brahmanbaria, Chapainawabganj, Bogura, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Jashore, Faridpur, Naogaon, Sylhet, Bandarban, Pabna, Jhalakathi, Chandpur, Tangail, Munshiganj, Khagrachari, Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Jhenaidah, Rajshahi, Netrokona, Barishal and Rangamati districts.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum on Sunday highlighted the toll of the anti-discrimination movement, revealing that 873 individuals lost their lives, and over 21,000 were injured. Speaking at a meeting titled Involvement of NGOs in Health Services organized by the NGO Affairs Bureau, Noorjahan urged collective efforts to rehabilitate the injured and support those left disabled or jobless. She called on NGOs to identify individuals who have been overlooked in receiving medical care or have lost their livelihoods due to injuries, such as rickshaw pullers who can no longer work. “Of the 21,000 injured, 400 have lost their eyesight. What future awaits them? These individuals are our own people. We must stand by them during their mental and emotional trauma,” she said. The Health Adviser emphasized the shared responsibility of government and NGOs to integrate the injured into education and the workforce. “Seventy percent of those injured are common citizens, including rickshaw and van pullers, while the rest are students,” she added. Health Adviser calls for better utilization of medical training and return of doctors from abroad She also expressed concerns about maternal and child mortality, child marriage, and school dropouts, calling for enhanced collaboration between the government and NGOs to tackle these issues. On the dengue outbreak, she stated, “Deaths from dengue are avoidable if we raise public awareness. Everyone must act responsibly by preventing littering, clearing stagnant water, and staying vigilant.” Nurjahan Begum further noted corruption and mismanagement in the health sector but expressed hope for improvement through mutual cooperation. “The government alone cannot resolve these issues overnight, but with shared efforts, we can pave the way for progress,” she said. The discussion, chaired by Acting Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau Md. Anwar Hossain, was attended by special guests Saifullah Panna, Secretary at the Chief Adviser’s Office, and Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division, along with representatives from local and international NGOs working in healthcare.

At the National Conference on Women’s Movement Navigating Change in South Asia, held on December 8 at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Dhaka, speakers discussed the impact of economic shocks and rising populist agendas on women’s rights in the region. Organized by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and the SuPWR project, the conference brought together experts from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Speakers noted that political and economic shifts in these countries have polarised public discourse on gender equality, exploited women’s empowerment, and led to increased threats and violence against women’s rights activists. Shireen Pervin Huq, Chair of Bangladesh’s Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, lauded women’s role in the July uprising, contrasting it with the backlash female activists faced in earlier years. Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director of BIGD, stressed the need to critically examine progressivity and backlash to ensure inclusive advocacy for women’s rights. Maheen Sultan, Senior Fellow at BIGD, highlighted the importance of actively engaging in social movements for change. The event also featured an exhibition of artwork, photo stories, and audiovisual outputs from gender justice struggles across South Asia. The exhibition will remain open until 9 December 2024.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday said they would formally approach India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition after completing the required legal procedures. "Our government's position on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is very clear. We want to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face the law," he said during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the evening. Alam said Hasina was the key person who passed the order in the massacre that took place during her tenure, killing more than 1,500 people in July-August. "Since we have an extradition treaty with India, one can seek extradition after going through some legal procedures. After completing those procedures, we will formally approach India seeking her extradition," said the Press Secretary. Wahiduddin’s remarks on polls personal; no date from CA yet: Press Wing In September, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes. "Why shouldn't she be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… She should be facing justice too," he said while responding to a question at "The New York Times Climate Forward Event." Referring to Hasina, Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh will definitely seek extradition of any convicted person under the extradition treaty with India once trials begin. “We have an extradition treaty with India. As per the extradition treaty, if any convicted person stays in India, we can seek his or her extradition. We will soon let you know through the Law Ministry,” he said recently. Sheikh Hasina, who left the country on August 5, is facing a number of cases.

Seven more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Sunday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 529 this year. Among the recent fatalities, three took place in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), while one occurred in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), one in Dhaka Division (outside the city corporations), One in Mymensingh division and one in Rajshahi division. During the period, 596 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of them, 98 dengue patients were admitted in hospital under Dhaka North City Corporation while 130 were hospitalised in Dhaka South City Corporation. As of now, 2,232 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals across the country. Since January 1, 2024, a total of 96,228 dengue cases have been reported. Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 1,705 people, making it the deadliest year on record. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), there were 321,179 dengue cases and 318,749 recoveries in 2023.

The review meeting of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) monetary policy committee (MPC) has decided not to increase the policy interest rate for the time being. The committee acknowledged that although inflation remains elevated, the monetary policy stance is on the right track and there is no immediate need to raise the policy rate further. The MPC assessed the current macroeconomic situation, challenges, and outlook from domestic and global perspectives. Moreover, the MPC focused on reviewing the current inflation trend and outlook, economic activities and growth prospects, recent financial market developments, and developments in the external sector. Bangladesh Bank extends deadline for Shimanto Bank’s stock market listing Specifically, the MPC extensively reviewed the overall banking sector's liquidity situation, particularly the cash flow shortage of some conventional as well as Islamic banks, interest rate trends, the foreign exchange reserve position, and exchange rate developments. The committee anticipates that inflation will likely decrease due to the downward trend in the global price outlook, moderation in geopolitical tensions, the stability in our exchange rate, the expected good harvest of Aman paddy, and the increasing supply of winter season vegetables. The governor highlighted that to ensure good governance in the banking sector, BB sorted out the asset quality assessment review program, which aims to determine the scope, magnitude, and size of banks' tangible assets for further policy calibration. Additionally, the committee was informed about the mechanism of ongoing liquidity support in the banking system by the central bank and its sterilization process through open market operations. The MPC also recommended that the BB should remain focused on credit disbursement to productive sectors, especially agriculture, and the Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (CMSME) for enhancing the supply of essential goods and services.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir on Sunday said there has been no date from Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus regarding the national election yet, stressing that Education and Planning Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud’s comment is entirely his personal. “It is fully his (Adviser Wahiduddin) personal opinion,” he said, clarifying from the CA’s press wing during a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy. Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Saturday said he would like to see a politically elected government next year. Diplomats from EU member states to meet CA Dr Yunus Monday "I think we'll see a politically elected government next year. This is my opinion, but I'm not sure what will happen," he told a conference organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said reform was the key word of the July-August student-led mass uprising and his government is committed to carrying out major reforms before holding a "free and fair" election. He said the interim government would act as a facilitator of the reform process and has set up 15 reform commissions so far to fix key institutions left broken by the dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina. Prof Yunus made the remarks when Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, an adviser to the IMF and World Bank and a former head of UNDP, met him at the State Guest House Jamuna.

The government has officially decided to change the designs of the Tk 20, 100, 500, and 1000 denominations. This decision was approved in a meeting of the Bangladesh Bank board with Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur in the chair on Sunday, said its spokesperson and Executive Director Husne Ara Shikha on Sunday. Speaking about the approval, Shikha said the new banknotes will feature updated designs. If all goes as planned, Shikha said, the new notes will be available in the market within six months. Fresh designs, new era: Bangladesh Bank to launch new notes Sources in the central bank said that the new notes will no longer feature the image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Instead, she said, the new designs will incorporate religious monuments, Bengali heritage and imagery related to the ‘July Revolution graffiti’. According to Shikha, the final approval for these changes has already been granted by both the Bangladesh Bank and the government, with printing of the new notes already underway.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday said the interim government has been taking required steps to keep adequate supply of edible oil during the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan, stressing that there is no crisis in the market right now. “We don’t think there is any crisis of soybean oil in the market,” he said while briefing the media in the evening, Keeping in mind the Ramadan market, the Press Secretary said there have been series of meetings with the key importers so that there is no shortage of supply during Ramadan. Alam said they have been intensively monitoring the international prices of edible oil. “We are putting in our best efforts so that people get soybean and palm oil at an affordable price,” he added.   Bangladesh "unfairly portrayed" in int'l media, parliamentary hearings in influential nations: CA's Press Secretary CA’s Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the media briefing at Foreign Service Academy.