Police on Thursday arrested six members of a gang involved in robbery in multiple flats of a building at Dhanmondi area in the capital posing as members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The arrestees were Farhad Bin Mosharraf ,33, Yasin Hasan ,22, Mobasher Ahmed,23, Wakil Mahmud,26, Abdullah ,32, and Sumon,29. Police also recovered two black jackets with ‘RAB’ written on them, three black caps with, a microbus, five mobile phones, a metal chisel, an old red slide wrench, and Tk 45,100 in cash, said DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman. The gang arrived on the premises of a house owned by MA Hannan Azad, owner of ‘Alankar Niketan Jewellers’ in Dhanmondi,  in three microbuses and a private car claiming to be RAB personnel and looted cash and gold ornaments from multiple flats As they attempted to abduct MA Hannan Azad and force him into their vehicle a police patrol team arrived at the scene and managed to rescue him. The robbers attacked police to escape, leaving several members of the team injured. Robbery on moving bus in Savar; over 20 phones, Tk 1 lakh cash looted A case was filed at Dhanmondi Police Station on Thursday. Legal proceedings are underway against the suspects while efforts continue to recover the looted items and arrest the remaining gang members, said Talebur Rahman.

Eleven new dengue cases were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday morning, bringing the total number of cases to 1,862 this year. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), new cases were reported as follows: two in Barishal Division (Out of CC), two in Dhaka Division (Out of CC), two in Dhaka South City Corporation, two in Dhaka North City Corporation, two in Khulna Division (Out of CC) and one in Mymensingh Division (Out of CC). Every family could face a cancer case by 2030 without greater awareness, experts warn The number of deaths remained at 13, with no new fatalities reported during this period, the DGHS added. Currently, 74 dengue patients are receiving treatment in hospitals across the country. Doctors demand amendment to Tobacco Control Law Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. According to the DGHS, there were 101,214 dengue cases and 100,040 recoveries in the same year.

Bangladesh received its highest ever $2.95 billion in inward remittances in 26 days of March. Bankers and sector insiders predict that for the first time, Bangladesh will reach a new height of receiving $3.0 billion remittance in a single month this March. The previous monthly record was $2.64 billion, set in December 2024. That mark was broken on March 24, when it reached $2.75 billion. According to Bangladesh Bank's latest update, the expatriates’ remittance grew by 82.4 percent year-on-year in March. Interim govt working to dismantle syndicates to ensure real ease of doing business: Lutfey In the current fiscal year, Bangladesh received $21.44 billion remittance from July to March 26. In the previous fiscal year, the country received $16.69 billion remittance in the same period. “The economy has regained some relief with the increase in remittance flow ahead of this year's Ramadan and Eid. There is another festival immediately after Eid. All this is positive for the economy,” said Dr. M. Mashrur Reaz, former World Bank economist. As a result, the economy has been somewhat boosted around the festivals of Ramadan, Eid, and Pahela Baishakh, he said. Sector stakeholders said that the pace of expatriate income has increased since the new government took office. At the same time, hundi trading and money laundering have decreased. Apart from this, the dollar price of remittances is available in banks like in the open (kerb) market. For these, expatriates are showing interest in sending remittances through legal channels. Bangladesh Bank lifts ban of foreign tour for NBFIs Economists say that people's consumption demand increases around the festival. As a result, economic activity increases as huge amounts of money change hands frequently in various sectors. This increases the government's revenue. According to the Bangladesh Bank data, the expatriates sent remittance in 8 months, from July to February, as follows- *In July, $ 1.91 billion *August $2.22 billion * September $2.4 billion *October $2.39 billion *November $2.2 billion *December $2.64 billion *January $2.19 billion *February 2.53 billion. Bangladesh set to achieve record remittance inflow in March  

Several hundred villagers in Karnaphuli upazila of Chattogram blocked roads on Thursday, protesting the authorities' ‘failure’ to curb recurring elephant attacks. Hundreds of villagers gathered in the morning and blocked the PAB road in front of Daulatpur School, causing severe traffic congestion. The protesters said they staged demonstration as the authorities failed to take effective measures to control the elephant menace despite a four-day deadline given earlier.

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has been appointed to the board of directors for the 2028 European Championship, which will be hosted by Britain and Ireland. Mings, 32, is the only player among the three independent non-executive directors overseeing the tournament’s organization. Having played for Aston Villa since 2019, he has earned 18 caps for England and was part of the squad at the 2021 Euros. However, injuries have sidelined him for much of the past two seasons, and at 35, he is unlikely to feature in the England squad for Euro 2028. His role was confirmed alongside the announcement of the official tournament delivery company, UK & Ireland 2028 Limited. English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt will also chair the Euro 2028 board. UEFA’s decision to award the tournament to the UK and Ireland was largely influenced by England’s modern stadiums, which promise strong matchday revenues. This follows the financially challenging Euro 2021, which was played across 11 countries with limited spectators due to the pandemic. Arsenal stages 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid to reach WCL semis UEFA’s cash reserves fell to €360 million after the pandemic, but Euro 2028 is expected to restore that amount beyond the governing body’s €500 million target. The men's European Championship, held every four years, remains UEFA’s primary source of revenue, funding development grants for its member associations. Among the selected venues is Everton's new waterfront stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which is set to open next season. It will replace Goodison Park and was included in the list of Euro 2028 venues announced in April 2023. The stadium is currently hosting test events ahead of its official launch. Who qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Meanwhile, Casement Park in Belfast, which was initially listed as a host venue, has been dropped after the British government failed to secure the necessary funding for redevelopment. UEFA has yet to announce where Belfast’s allocated matches will now be played. Source: With input from agency 

Firefighters in South Korea are struggling to control massive wildfires that have claimed 27 lives, forced over 37,000 people to evacuate, and destroyed more than 300 structures. Helicopters continued dropping water over burning forests on Thursday as strong winds and dry conditions fueled the country's worst wildfires on record. Since last Friday, multiple blazes have been raging across southeastern South Korea, prompting the government to deploy thousands of personnel, along with helicopters and specialized equipment. However, gusty winds have hindered containment efforts. While rain is forecast for later Thursday, Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop warned that the expected precipitation—less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches)—is unlikely to significantly aid firefighting efforts. Among the victims are a helicopter pilot who died in a crash while combating the fires, as well as four firefighters and emergency workers who were trapped by rapidly spreading flames. Authorities have not provided detailed information on the civilian casualties but noted that most were elderly individuals in their 60s or older, some of whom struggled to escape or refused to evacuate. Investigators suspect human error in several fire outbreaks, with some ignited by people burning grass near family tombs or sparks from welding work. Lee Han-kyung, deputy head of South Korea’s disaster response center, highlighted the role of climate change in the worsening wildfire crisis. “The wildfires again reveal the reality of the climate crisis we are experiencing,” he said, according to Yonhap news agency. 18 killed as wildfires devastate South Korea Scientists have warned that global warming is leading to more extreme weather events, including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and heat waves, causing massive casualties and financial losses worldwide. As of Thursday, the wildfires have burned approximately 36,010 hectares (88,980 acres) of land—the most extensive damage of its kind in South Korea’s history. The disaster response center reported that 32 people have been injured, 325 buildings destroyed, and more than 37,180 people forced from their homes. Authorities have mobilized over 9,000 personnel and approximately 120 helicopters to combat the fires. In Cheongsong, one of the affected areas, thick smoke billowed from Juwang Mountain on Thursday morning as helicopters repeatedly doused the flames with water. Later in the day, smoke appeared to have subsided. Near the mountain, workers at a Buddhist temple covered a stone pagoda and other structures with fire-resistant materials, while firefighters drenched the surrounding area to prevent the flames from spreading. The worst-hit areas include Andong city, the counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan. On Wednesday night, authorities ordered the evacuation of two villages in Andong, including Puncheon, home to the UNESCO-listed Hahoe folk village, which dates back to the 14th-15th century. Meanwhile, hikers at the scenic Jiri Mountain were advised to leave as the fire spread closer. South Korean PM Han Duck-soo reinstated as acting president after impeachment overturned The blazes have destroyed homes, factories, and historic sites. At Uiseong’s Gounsa temple complex—originally built in the 7th century—around 20 of its 30 structures were lost, including two state-designated “treasures.” Among them was a 1668-built pavilion overlooking a stream and a 1904 structure from the Joseon dynasty, marking a king’s longevity. The Korea Forest Service has raised its wildfire warning to the highest level, requiring local governments to deploy more emergency personnel, enforce stricter entry restrictions in forests and parks, and advise military units to suspend live-fire drills. Source: With input from agnecy 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on auto imports, calling it a “direct attack” on Canada. He warned that the trade war is harming Americans, citing a decline in consumer confidence. Speaking on Wednesday, Carney vowed to protect Canadian workers and businesses, stating, “We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country.” However, he said he would review the specifics of Trump's executive order before announcing any retaliatory measures. The prime minister, who is currently campaigning for Canada’s April 28 election, will return to Ottawa on Thursday to lead a special Cabinet committee on U.S. relations. To counter the economic impact of the tariffs, Carney previously announced a CA$2 billion ($1.4 billion) “strategic response fund” aimed at safeguarding auto industry jobs. He stressed the importance of the sector, which directly employs 125,000 Canadians and supports nearly 500,000 more in related industries. Trump, who declared the tariffs “permanent,” had earlier granted Mexico and Canada a one-month exemption for U.S. automakers. However, with the new tax hike set to take effect in April, car manufacturers could face increased costs and declining sales. The move is part of Trump’s broader trade war, which has contributed to economic uncertainty. The Conference Board reported on Tuesday that U.S. consumer confidence fell for the fourth consecutive month, dropping to its lowest level since January 2021. “His trade war is hurting American consumers and workers, and it will only get worse,” Carney said while campaigning in Windsor, Ontario, near the U.S. border. Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos, expecting to raise $100 billion in tax revenues In addition to auto tariffs, Trump has previously imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and is threatening widespread levies on all Canadian imports and other U.S. trading partners starting April 2. “He wants to break us so America can own us,” Carney said. “But that will never happen because we don’t just look out for ourselves—we look out for each other.” Carney, a former central banker in both Canada and the U.K., made these remarks near the Ambassador Bridge, which carries 25% of all trade between the two nations and plays a crucial role in auto manufacturing. He highlighted that the bridge facilitates CA$140 billion ($98 billion) in goods annually, amounting to CA$400 million ($281 million) per day. “Now those numbers—and the jobs and paychecks that rely on them—are at risk,” Carney said. “The relationship between Canada and the U.S. has changed. We did not change it.” Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned that the tariffs would disrupt the auto industry on both sides of the border, leading to simultaneous plant closures. “President Trump calls it Liberation Day. I call it Termination Day for American workers,” Ford said. “I know Trump likes to say, ‘You’re fired!’—I just didn’t think he meant U.S. auto workers when he said it.” Trump has escalated tensions with Canada, even suggesting it should become the 51st U.S. state—a stance that has angered many Canadians. At a campaign rally in Kitchener, Ontario, crowds repeatedly booed when Trump's name was mentioned. Despite taking office on March 14, Carney has yet to speak with Trump, an unusual delay in communication between the two nations’ leaders. “It would be appropriate for the president and me to have a conversation given these recent developments. I expect that will happen soon,” Carney said. Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also criticized the tariffs, warning they would harm both American and Canadian workers. Vermont businesses feel impact of Trump's tariffs on Canada “The message to President Trump should be clear: knock it off,” Poilievre said. “He’s changed his mind before. He’s imposed tariffs, then removed them. It wouldn’t be surprising if he does it again.” Source: With input from agency 

The United States has preliminarily approved Qatar’s request to purchase eight MQ-9B Predator armed drones, a deal valued at nearly $2 billion. The State Department’s approval, announced early Thursday, follows Doha’s prolonged efforts to secure the drones under the Biden administration, which had not authorized the sale despite Qatar’s role as a key intermediary between Washington and the Taliban in Afghanistan, Iran’s leadership, and Hamas in Gaza. However, this immediate approval under President Donald Trump signals a shift in U.S. relations with Qatar, particularly considering his prior support for a four-nation boycott of Doha during his first term. "This proposed sale will advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the defense capabilities of a key partner that plays a vital role in political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated. Qatar's government has yet to comment on the decision. The Gulf nation ranks as the second-largest buyer of U.S. military equipment after Saudi Arabia, having spent over $26 billion on F-15 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, missile defense systems, and other hardware. The deal now requires congressional approval, as U.S. lawmakers typically review such transactions and have the authority to block them. White House: Iran set to deliver armed drones to Russia Under the proposed agreement, Qatar would acquire eight drones equipped with hundreds of bombs and missiles, along with satellite-operated control systems. Manufactured by General Atomics, the MQ-9 Reaper drones cost approximately $30 million each. They can operate at altitudes above 40,000 feet (12,100 meters) and remain airborne for over 30 hours. The U.S. military and CIA have extensively used these drones in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen. A swarm of small drones may help artificial reefs attract sea life Notably, Qatar’s approval comes as the United Arab Emirates has been awaiting clearance since 2020 for a $23 billion arms deal that includes up to 18 MQ-9 drones and advanced F-35 fighter jets. Trump's administration had close ties with the UAE, which established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020. Source: With input from agnecy 

A Dhaka court on Thursday cancelled the results to the 2020 DSCC election and announced BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Judge of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Md Nurul Islam passed the order, said the defendant’s lawyer Taherul Islam Touhid. The BNP leader was present at the court while the court was delivering the judgment. Election Tribunal declares BNP leader Shahadat as CCC Mayor Later, a celebratory procession led by Ishraque was brought on the court premises following the verdict. Ishraque is the son of undivided Dhaka City Corporation’s former Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

Bangladeshi pace sensation Nahid Rana said representing country is always the priority over franchise leagues like the Pakistan Premier League (PSL) to him. "To me, representing my country is always the priority over franchise leagues like the PSL," he said. He made the remarks while opening a business establishment in his hometown Chapainawabganj on Thursday. Since his debut for the national team, the Chapainawabganj Express has been showcasing exceptional bowling skills and his blistering pace has already drawn the attention of the international cricketing fraternity in a short time. Following this impressive performance, he has now been drafted into the popular PSL. Pakistani franchise Peshawar Zalmi picked the speedster from the draft and is expected to share the field with stars like Babar Azam and Saim Ayub. Phil Simmons confirmed as Bangladesh head coach until 2027 World Cup Nahid has already applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to participate in the PSL, set to begin on April 11. The speedster said that he has sought permission for the entire PSL season. However, Bangladesh is scheduled to play two Test matches against Zimbabwe in April, raising uncertainty over his full participation in the league. He informed that BCB would decide on his availability after he plays one match. Ashutosh Sharma’s heroics secure dramatic one-wicket win for Delhi over Lucknow in IPL If Nahid gets the green light to play in the PSL, it will be a significant milestone in his career, the tournament providing him with an opportunity to showcase his talent on the international stage.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said Bangladesh would import more wheat and fertiliser from Russia and also keen to see Russian energy giant Gazprom conducts more offshore and onshore exploration activities in the country. The issues came up for discussion when Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk met Dr Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Conference in the Chinese resort town. During the meeting the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest, including the operation of the Russian-funded Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh's plan to import wheat and fertiliser from Russia and Gazprom's gas exploration work in Bangladesh. Prof Yunus said financial issues over the Rooppur power plant have been sorted out with Bangladesh repaying the money in an account in Dhaka, according to CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Russia keen to help Bangladesh ensure food, energy security: Ambassador Khozin He said the power plant is expected to start generating power on a trial basis by the end of this year. Alexei Overchuk stressed increasing people-to-people contacts between the two countries, saying Russia would like to see more Bangladeshi students studying in the country. He said Russia would like to export more wheat and fertiliser to Bangladesh. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy and Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan and High Representative to the Chief Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman were also present during the meeting.    

Bangladesh Bank has re-fixed the mobile financial service (MFS) transaction limit. The payment system department (PSD) of the central bank issued a circular in this regard on Thursday (Mar 27). CIB report mandatory for agricultural loans: Bangladesh Bank According to the circular, the central bank set a new daily cash in limit for agent points at Tk 50, 000, instead of Tk 30, 000. The monthly cash in limit was extended to Tk3,00, 000 from Tk 2,00,000. The cash-out limit for agent points has also been extended to Tk30,000 from Tk25,000 in one day. The monthly cash out limit has also been extended to Tk 2,00,000 from Tk 1,50,000. Bangladesh Bank allows startup companies to invest abroad The person-to-person (P2P) money transfer daily money transfer limit has been extended to Tk 50,000 from Tk 25,000. The monthly P2P transfer limit is re-fixed at Tk 3,00,000 from Tk 2,00,000. The circular stated that the MFSs can reduce the transaction limit in considering the risk assessment of clients. The decision will be effective immediately, said the central bank.

Bangladesh Bank has revoked the restrictions to allow remittances on account of registration/participation fees for attending training, seminar, workshop abroad by employees of banks and finance companies. The Foreign Exchange Policy Department of Bangladesh Bank issued a circular on Thursday (Mar 27). The central bank, along with issuing the circular, has also revoked the earlier circular issued on January 19, 2025. The central bank sent the circular to the authorized dealer banks for immediate action.    

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is preparing a new Tax Exemption Policy with the aim of making it harder for any individual to avail it. The decision to allow tax exemptions is being taken away from the NBR. It will now rest solely with Parliament to grant exemptions, said NBR chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan. “This is now at the final stage, it is stated that the government and the NBR will not give any tax exemption, only Parliament will give that. We are making it more harsh,” he said while speaking at the pre-budget meeting with the Retired Tax Officers’ Welfare Association at the Revenue Building. He also made it clear that no individual, except in the interest of the republic, will be considered for tax exemption. According to available data from the NBR, Individual taxpayers received over Tk40,000 crore in tax exemptions, more than double the amount provided to companies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also provides guidance on streamlining tax expenditure in Bangladesh, a requirement included in the $4.7 billion loan package. The multilateral lender also stipulates an annual increase of 0.5% in the tax-to-GDP ratio up to FY26. NBR chairman urges Finance Adviser to reduce budget size The government recognises that the provision for tax exemptions has been misused. When tax exemptions are granted for social welfare purposes under this provision, some black money holders also exploit these benefits to pay taxes at reduced rates in certain cases. People are taking advantage of the benefit by declaring their income from fishery and paying taxes at a lower rate, but the true source of such income is always in question. Tax exemptions are also provided to promote local industries, encourage investment in backward areas and high-tech industries, and attract businesses to economic zones. However, there are complaints that some industries have been exploiting tax exemptions for years by using their influence or by unethical means. According to the NBR some 102 types of sectors currently receive partial or full tax exemptions. Forty of these exemptions apply to individual taxpayers, while the remainder apply to companies, industries, or investments. The NBR claims that widespread tax exemptions are costing the revenue board a significant amount of revenue and that no study has been done to assess the impact of these exemptions. Abdur Rahman Khan several times referred to a study which showed that NBR conceded the same amount in tax exemption that it collected as revenue. The NBR chairman said that the revenue collecting authority is thinking actively to rationalise the tax-related issues. “They will pay taxes on their income or profit, if they hav33e refund we have to pay that, there is nothing to put restriction on their logical refund claim,” he said. He also said that this time the government wanted to establish discipline in the revenue sector. “We have used the policy very aggressively in the past, it seemed that commissioners, first secretary and second secretary from the NBR will do everything to collect the revenue,” he said. Abdur Rahman Khan said that the zero return submission is almost two-thirds of the total income tax return. NBR will announce tax rates one year ahead, to help businesses plan accordingly: NBR Chairman “I have asked the field level officials why they are not serving notices to these taxpayers,” he said. He put emphasis on the enhancement of operational efficiency and functional competence among the tax officials. “We are not applying these, we are getting out from these two for collecting revenue, we are totally dependent on the policy,” he criticised.

A congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr,  the  second largest religious festival of Muslims, will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad at 8am on the Eid day. Muslim devotees have been asked to present there in time, said a press release of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat on Thursday. Eid Travel: Train passenger numbers surge ahead of festivities Depending on the sighting of the moon, the holy Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be celebrated on March 31 or April 1.    

A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced contractor Golam Kibria Shamim alias GK Shamim to five years and six months of jail in a case over accumulation of illegal wealth. Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Md Rabiul Alam also fined the convict Tk 1 lakh, in default of which, he has to suffer one more year’s jail, said the defendant’s lawyer Md Borhan Uddin. The court also acquitted his mother Ayesha Akhtar in the case as allegations brought against could not be proved, said the lawyer. The court ordered confiscation of movable and immovable wealth of the convict worth Tk 297.39 crore. SC upholds HC bail to GK Shamim in arms case On October 21 in 2019, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Shamim and his mother Ayesha Akhter for allegedly acquiring illegal assets. On October 27, the ACC appealed to the court to show Shamim arrested in their case. On January 17 in 2021, the ACC submitted chargesheet against the accused and a Dhaka court framed charges on October 18, 2022.

The Sundarbans is crisscrossed by numerous rivers, streams, and canals, which overflow during high tide, allowing water to enter the forest. However, when a fire breaks out in the Sundarbans, an adequate water supply that firefighters can rely on is often unavailable. The absence of nearby water sources causes the fire to spread uncontrollably, making firefighting operations difficult. Firefighters and forest officials frequently struggle to control the blazes, often relying solely on tidal water. If the tide recedes, firefighting efforts must be halted. Sundarbans Fire: Water being used to extinguish remaining flames and prevent reignition To address this issue, the Forest Department is planning to excavate large ponds within the Sundarbans to serve as permanent water sources. Additionally, initiatives have been taken to dredge the rivers and canals to ensure better water flow. Once implemented, these measures will not only meet emergency water demands but also help wildlife meet their water needs.

A mild heat wave is sweeping in different parts of the country and it may continue, said according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “A mild heat wave is sweeping over the regions of Rajshahi, Rangamati, Feni, Sitakunda, Jashore, Bagerhat and Patuakhali and it may continue. Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country.

China and Bangladesh on Thursday agreed to deepen their relationship with full support from Beijing to the interim government led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. "President Xi Jinping attaches tremendous importance to your visit," Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang told Dr Yunus, adding that China hopes Bangladesh would prosper and grow under his leadership. President Xi and Dr Yunus are scheduled to hold bilateral talks at Great Hall of China in the Chinese capital city on Friday. The executive vice-premier said his country would fund modernisation efforts of the Mongla Port and the Dasherkandi Sewage project. The two countries also agreed to boost investment, trade and cultural ties, people to people exchanges as they mark 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relationships. The Chinese vice-premier met Dr Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in the coastal Chinese town and the two leaders also led a bilateral meeting between the two nations. During the meeting, the chief adviser reiterated the country's firm commitment to the One-China policy and said Dhaka takes pride in being the first South Asian country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Dhaka sought Chinese support in an array of developments and livelihood projects and also called for reduction of interest rates for Chinese loans from 3% to 1-2 % to Bangladesh. It also sought a waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh. Dr Yunus seeks FAO support to export fruits, farm products to China in large volume The chief adviser also sought Beijing's help in facilitating the relocation of the Chinese manufacturing industries, including ready-made garments, electric vehicles, light machinery, high-tech electronics, chip manufacturing and the solar panel industry. Vice-Premier Ding said Beijing will extend duty-free and quota-free access to Bangladeshi goods to China until 2028 – two years after Dhaka graduates from a Least Developed Country to a middle-income economy. Beijing is also keen to start free trade negotiations with Dhaka, he said. The vice premier said China last year signed a protocol to import mango from Bangladesh. Officials said Bangladesh's mango export to China would begin this summer. Beijing would also import jackfruit and guava and other aquatic products from the country in Its attempt  at minimising huge trade imbalance, he said. He said the Chinese government and its universities would grant more scholarships to Bangladeshi students.   Several thousand Bangladeshi students are already studying in Chinese universities. The vice premier assured Chinese funding for the purchase of four ocean-going vessels for Dhaka's state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation. He said Beijing would foster dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in an effort to resolve the Rohingya crisis. The chief adviser thanked the Chinese leadership for their support, saying Thursday's meeting "marks another milestone in the ever-deepening Bangladesh-China partnership". "Let us resolve to work together to usher in a new era of friendship, cooperation and collaboration, reinforcing the strategic ties between our two nations," he said. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy, Rail and Road Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative to the Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman and BiDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik were present during the meeting.

The government is actively working to implement the rightful demands of workers including the garment workers as the government is sincere about their demands, according to a statement of the Home Affairs Ministry.“The government is highly sincere and agreed to the rightful demands of due wages and benefits of workers including garment workers and other industrial sectors, and it is actively working to implement these demands and is making all-out efforts in this regard. Instructions have been given to factory owners and the BGMEA. Their activities are being monitored," it said.However, creating unrest in the garment industry under the pretext of unfair or unreasonable demands, blocking roads to halt vehicular movement and engaging in anarchy and violence are not acceptable under any circumstances and will not be tolerate, it said. Home adviser pays tributes at Razarbagh Police Memorial The government will take strict action against such activities, it added. To maintain stable and secure environment in garment and other industrial sectors and maintain law and order in the country the government seeks the cooperation of both factory owners and workers, the statement reads.

Bangladesh Bank has allowed Bangladeshi startup businesses to invest up to US$ $10,000 or equivalent foreign currency to form a single company abroad. According to a circular issued by the central bank on Thursday, startup businesses in Bangladesh can send $10,000 to form a single company abroad. This permission has been granted under the Foreign Exchange Control Act, 1947. As a result, the resident companies can now send remittances to establish companies abroad by applying to the bank. Banks asked to shore up online services, keep ATMs full and secure before 9-day holiday According to the circular, Bangladeshi citizens at the individual level have been allowed to establish companies abroad in the same manner. In this case, the applicants must have innovative ideas, which will create opportunities for investment and income in Bangladesh, including expanding their business abroad. In addition to small-scale investments, Bangladesh Bank has allowed resident companies to invest abroad by swapping their own shares/securities with those of foreign companies. Bangladesh Bank lifts ban of foreign tour for NBFIs In this method, there will be no need for cash to invest abroad. In this system, when considering investment proposals abroad, the swap ratio of shares/securities must be consistent with global best practices, said the central bank circular.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday sought support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in an effort to export fruits and farm products to China in a bigger way. The Chief Adviser met FAO Director General Qu Dongyu on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in the coastal Chinese town where he made the request for support, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Professor Yunus said China is emerging as a top importer of agriculture and aquaculture products, but Bangladesh was unable to tap into the market due to a lack of understanding of the Chinese markets. FAO, Bangladesh join forces to make public spending key driver of productivity, prosperity He urged the FAO DG, who was a former senior official of China, to act as a matchmaker between Chinese importers and Bangladesh farm and fruit producers. "We need support in fruit processing and in vegetable preservation, storage and packaging. You can connect China with our farmers and exporters," Professor Yunus said. He said China would soon import mangoes from Bangladesh, and the country can easily develop more exportable vegetables and fruits with FAO's assistance. The Director General offered FAO's full support to Bangladesh, saying his organisation would take up a new project in an effort to export Bangladesh farm products to China. "We are matchmakers. We will establish a new network" between Bangladeshi and Chinese farm companies, Qu Dongyu said. He said Bangladesh is the largest recipient of FAO's assistance, and he wished that Bangladesh would do well under the leadership of Professor Yunus. FAO, Bangladesh to work together to accelerate food security "You are my older brother. I sincerely hope your country does great. We will help you, for sure, he said. Energy and Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Kabir Khan was also present during the meeting.  

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, during his meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, on Thursday said Bangladesh progressed a lot but "should have done better" politically and democratically. Dr Yunus sought support and advice from the fomer UN Secretary-General for a smooth transition to democracy in Bangladesh. “We want to start anew; we need your support and advice. We are having a great opportunity now,” Dr Yunus told Ban Ki-moon as they met on the sidelines of the BOAO Forum Asia Annual Conference. Ban Ki-moon, also Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, praised the leadership of Prof Yunus and said that under his leadership, Bangladesh will do much better. “Bangladesh now has a leader in you who is respected worldwide,” said Ban Ki-moon. The former UN Secretary-General recalled his role in seating up diplomatic relationships between Bangladesh and South Korea when he was a young diplomat posted in New Delhi. Dr Yunus holds talks with Chinese Vice Premier, Ban Ki-moon, other foreign leaders  “It was my pen that was used to sign the agreement to formalise Korea’s diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh,” he recalled. Professor Yunus said that once Korea and Bangladesh were on the same line, but now Korea has zoomed ahead. “People of Bangladesh are wonderful, but political leadership destroyed us,” he said. Ban Ki-moon said that he introduced Bangladesh to Kihak Sung, the Chairman of Youngone Corporation and one of the most respectful business leaders in Korea, who later went on to expand his business in a specialised economic zone in Bangladesh. The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh recently settled a long-pending land issue with the Korean EPZ in Chattogram, hoping that it would encourage more Korean business people to invest in Bangladesh. Asia must strengthen cooperation as destinies are intertwined: Dr Yunus Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, informed the meeting that Kihak Sung would lead a 26-member strong business delegation from Korea in the upcoming Business Summit in Dhaka next month, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The Chief Adviser also sought Ban Ki-moon’s support in settling the Rohingya crisis and invited him to visit Bangladesh at an opportune time.  

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday morning met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, who is attending the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, and discussed issues of shared interests and mutual cooperation. The meeting was held at Bo’ao State Guest House and lasted for over 30 minutes. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had separate meetings earlier on Wednesday with other foreign leaders who are attending the conference. Dr Yunus begins day at Boao with packed schedule; holds talks with Chinese Vice Premier Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of China Chen Huaiyu met the Chief Adviser today (Thursday). After the meeting, he addressed the opening plenary of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 at the BFA International Convention Centre Zhang Jun, Secretary General of Bo’ao Forum for Asia, Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of Bo’ao Forum for Asia and Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao PDR also spoke at the session while Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, delivered the keynote speech. On the sidelines of the Forum, Dr Yunus held meetings with the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and the current Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, Ban Ki-moon, Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and the Director-General of FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) Qu Dongyu. Themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 is being held here from March 25 to 28 in Boao, South China's Hainan Province. Asia must strengthen cooperation as destinies are intertwined: Dr Yunus Boao is a coastal town in the city of Qionghai, Hainan. The Chief Adviser is on a four-day visit through which Dr Yunus thinks the relationship between Bangladesh and China would further be deepened. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Road Transport and Bridges; and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative to Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed and CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam are accompanying the Chief Adviser.  

Trade between Bangladesh and India through Hili land port of Dinajpur will remain suspended for eight days from March 29 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Prof Shahinur Islam, general secretary of Hili C ustoms C&F Agents Association, said that trade will remain closed from March 29 to April 5 for the Eid holidays. Trade activities will resume at the land port on April 6, he said. Darshana rail port to remain closed for 9 days Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Hili Immigration Check-post, Ariful Islam said that cross-border travel will continue through the immigration check-post of the land port during this time.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Asia must step up and strengthen cooperation in four key areas -- financial, trade; food and agriculture and technology, stressing Bangladesh faces multiple challenges which are shared by other Asian countries. "In this changing world, the destinies of Asian countries are intertwined. We must chart a clear roadmap for a shared future and shared prosperity," he said while delivering his speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. "This is the shared future we in Asia must create together," he added. Zhang Jun, Secretary General of Boao Forum for Asia; Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary- General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia; Ding Xuexiang, Executive Vice Premiere of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, among others spoke at the session. For more than seven years, Dr Yunus said, Bangladesh has been hosting over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas who are Myanmar nationals. "We continue to bear significant social, economic and environmental costs," he said, adding that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently visited the camps in solidarity. While global efforts are drastically shrinking but continuing, Dr Yunus said, Asian leaders must come together to ensure their safe and dignified repatriation to their home country, Myanmar. The protracted crisis in Myanmar threatens regional stability, he said. In today's poly-crisis world, the Chief Adviser said wars and conflicts erode rights and disrupt economies. The genocide in Gaza continues despite global condemnation, Dr Yunus said, noting that the crisis in Palestine is not just an Arab or Muslim concern, it is a humanitarian issue. "The continued tension in Ukraine is heavily tolling the global supply chain," he said. Dr Yunus said Asia must create a sustainable financing mechanism. "We need reliable funds that address our challenges and meet our growing demands," he said. The Chief Adviser said Asia remains one of the least integrated regions. "This weak integration stifles investment and trade. We must work to boost trade cooperation immediately." He also said they must promote resource-efficient farming. "Domestic production must be enhanced for food security. We need to reduce import reliance and achieve self-sufficiency," Dr Yunus said. Dr Yunus begins day at Boao with packed schedule; holds talks with Chinese Vice Premier Expanding tech-based sustainable agricultural solutions and innovation in regenerative and climate-smart farming is the key, he said. The Chief Adviser said Asia must build a strong tech ecosystem, which should be restorative, distributive and inclusive. "We need to share knowledge, data and invest in technology incubation and innovation," he said, adding that collaboration on digital solutions will drive progress. The Chief Adviser said mobilising intellectual resources and youth power must be at the centre of their collective actions. "We must lay the foundation for a new civilization: a self-preserving and self-reinforcing society," Dr Yunus said. He said they must create a counter-culture based on a zero-waste lifestyle. Dr Yunus said consumption should be limited to essential needs. "Our economy should focus on social business, which is increasingly regarded as to chart the future of business; where innovation, purpose, and responsibility converge." He said Boao Forum and other similar initiatives in Asia should enhance collaboration of youth and entrepreneurs to make Asia a better place for the generations to come. "As I always mention, every young person should grow up as a three-zero person: zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment through entrepreneurship in social business," he said. Dr Yunus said global financial market instability, political uncertainties, diplomatic tensions and trade disruptions create volatility. Rising interest rates and debt servicing costs are deepening Asia's debt crisis, he said. "Despite global commitments to the 2030 Agenda, progress is slow." "Only 24% of SDG targets have been met. Developing Asian countries face an SDG financing gap of 2.5 to 4 trillion US dollars annually," Dr Yunus said. Beyond SDG financing, he said, Asia also needs large-scale investments in infrastructure and economic diversification through responsible financing. Bangladesh has been a victim of corruption and illicit financial flows, Dr Yunus said. These corrupt practices cost developing countries an estimated 1 trillion US dollar annually which is multiple times more than the total ODA they receive, he mentioned. Dr Yunus said Asia should stand united to establish a multilateral mediation mechanism for asset recovery and return. Strategic location, human resources can transform Bangladesh into manufacturing hub: Dr Yunus Food security is under increasing pressure. Rising prices of essential commodities are straining household budgets, especially for low-income families, he said. Climate change and natural disasters are exacerbating this crisis, Dr Yunus mentioned. "Strengthening food supply chains is essential." He said energy security is critical, especially for net-importing developing countries. Energy supply disruptions drive inflation, economic instability and debt distress. "We must find sustainable energy solutions and scale up investments in renewables. Investing in health and education is crucial for human capital development," said the Chief Adviser. He said a well-educated, skilled workforce drives economic growth and innovation. "Countries that invest in universal healthcare see better economic productivity. Digital education and vocational training must be expanded to equip our youth for the jobs of the future," he said. Sharing his thoughts on the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," Dr Yunus said this forum takes place at a critical juncture. "Global governance under multilateralism is being questioned. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Climate change is escalating. Debt burdens are unsustainable. Humanitarian crises are growing," he said. The Chief Adviser said political will for development cooperation is weakening and the world faces an alarming shortfall in collective action. Asia, home to 60% of the global population and 55% of global GDP, is at the center of these changes. "Emerging norms, regulations, and technologies are reshaping governance and economic policies. Assumptions that shaped policies a decade ago are no longer relevant. The need for regional and global cooperation has never been more pressing," said the Chief Adviser. In 2007, Dr Yunus attended the Boao Forum for Asia to share insights on microcredit. Dr Yunus said their civilization is at risk as they continue to embrace self-destructive economic values. "The dominant economic model thrives on limitless consumption. It justifies over-extraction of resources and environmental degradation in the name of growth.  We must shift toward sustainable economic models that prioritize people and the planet over profits." The climate crisis poses an existential threat to humanity, he said. In the Asia-pacific region, climate disaster-related economic losses are already enormous, which is equivalent to 65 billion US dollars. BIDA Chairman, CCECC President discuss potential 2nd Chinese economic zone in Mongla Climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh are forced to divert resources toward disaster response, limiting investments in productive sectors. "We need new, additional, accessible, non-ODA, non-debt-creating, grant-based climate finance, with an equitable distribution between adaptation and mitigation. Universal access to life-saving medicines and technologies must be guaranteed," Dr Yunus said. Asian cultural diversity, with its rich tapestry of languages, traditions, philosophies and customs, is a testament to the resilience and creativity of human civilization, Yunus said. The philosophies of Islam, Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism, among others, have shaped global thought, offering unique perspectives on morality, governance, and the human spirit. "Asia's civilisations have flourished by embracing diversity. Over the centuries, the vibrant exchanges of cultural diversity has not only impacted the region but have shaped the world," he said. Asia's demographic dividend presents immense potential. "A growing workforce, particularly young people, can drive innovation and productivity. We must provide them access to finance for entrepreneurship and sustainable solutions," Dr Yunus said. Investing in human capital and an education system aligned with the evolving global job market will shape Asia's future competitiveness, he said. Women's labour force participation in Asia remains low. Gender gaps persist in leadership and decision-making. "We must remove barriers to women's economic empowerment and ensure equal access to opportunities," Dr Yunus said.

FBI Director Kash Patel was not part of a Signal chat in which other Trump administration national security officials discussed detailed attack plans, but that didn't spare him from being questioned by lawmakers this week about whether the nation's premier law enforcement agency would investigate. Patel made no such commitments during the course of two days of Senate and House hearings. Instead, he testified that he had not personally reviewed the text messages that were inadvertently shared with the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic who was mistakenly included on an unclassified Signal chat. That Patel would be grilled on what the FBI might do was hardly surprising. Even as President Donald Trump insisted "it's not really an FBI thing,” the reality is that the FBI and Justice Department for decades have been responsible for enforcing Espionage Act statutes governing the mishandling — whether intentional or negligent — of national defense information like the kind shared on Signal, a publicly available app that provides encrypted communications but is not approved for classified information. The Justice Department has broad discretion to open an investigation, though it remains unclear whether Attorney General Pam Bondi, who introduced Trump at a Justice Department event this month, would authorize such an inquiry. Trump administration officials insist that the details shared were not classified, though the Espionage Act technically criminalizes the mishandling of any information deemed to be closely held national defense information even if not classified. Multiple high-profile figures have found themselves under investigation in recent years over their handling of government secrets, but the differences in the underlying facts and the outcomes make it impossible to prognosticate what might happen in this instance or whether any accountability can be expected. There's also precedent for public officials either to avoid criminal charges or be spared meaningful punishment. The Atlantic publishes US Defense Secy Hegseth’s full Signal chat on Houthi strike plans “In terms of prior investigations, there were set-out standards that the department always looked at and tried to follow when making determinations about which types of disclosures they were going to pursue,” said former Justice Department prosecutor Michael Zweiback, who has handled classified information investigations.

Darshana Rail Port will remain closed from for nine days from March 27 to April 4 due to the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. Due to holiday no goods will be imported from India during this period, said port authorities. Mirza Kamrul Hasan, manager of the port station, said that the government-declared extended holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr will lead to the closure of commercial banks in Bangladesh and so importers will not be able to complete their Letter of Credit (LC) transactions. Due to this, the Bangladesh Railway authorities instructed the suspension of import activities at Darshana rail port for nine days, he added. Trading at Bhomra land port to remain suspended 8 days due to Eid Md Ramzan Ali, an official of Darshana Immigration Police said passenger movement between Bangladesh and India through Darshana land port will continue as usual. The government holiday will not affect passport-holding travelers crossing the border.

A 20-year-old youth was stabbed to death over a trivial matter in Mymensingh district headquarters on Wednesday night. The deceased was Sajeeb, son of Abul Kalam Azad of Hamid Uddin Road of the city and he used to work with his father at their restaurant. Kotwali police station’s Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam Khan said Sajeeb, accused Monty and others were chatting around 11pm. Mother, daughter stabbed dead at Bogura home At one stage, Sajeeb locked into altercation with Monty over a trifling matter, he said. At one stage, Monty fetched a sharp weapon from a nearby shop and stabbed Sajeeb indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured, the OC said. Later, he was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital where physicians declared him dead upon arrival, he said. The body was sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Will Smith could have allowed the fallout from his infamous Oscars incident to overshadow his career, with his reputation in decline and his personal life under scrutiny. However, rather than withdrawing from the spotlight, he turned inwards, embarking on a journey of self-reflection, AP reports. Through this process, Smith rediscovered a creative outlet he had long set aside—music. After years of prioritising his dominance in Hollywood, he turned to songwriting as a means of expressing his thoughts. “I’ve spent the last couple of years diving deep into myself, questioning aspects of my identity with real honesty,” said Smith, an Oscar and Grammy winner. On Friday, he releases his fifth studio album, Based on a True Story, marking his first music project in two decades since Lost and Found. “This album is the outcome of my introspection,” he explained. “Every track represents a part of myself I wanted to explore or share. It is my most complete musical project to date.” Smith’s latest work features collaborations with Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, DJ Jazzy Jeff, his son Jaden Smith, Jac Ross, and Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir. While gospel influences are woven throughout, he stops short of calling it a gospel album, despite the success of You Can Make It, which recently topped the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart. Faith played a significant role in shaping the album’s creative direction. Smith plans to release three albums this year, describing them as distinct seasons. The first, Rave in the Wasteland, unfolds across Based on a True Story’s 14 tracks, reflecting his willingness to learn from life’s challenges. 'Snow White' opens with a sleepy $43 million at box office “I have reached some profound realisations,” he said. “About God, about reality.” Embracing hardship as creative fuel Although Smith, 56, remains a global star, regaining public trust has been an uphill battle. The backlash following his 2022 Oscars altercation with Chris Rock and his subsequent 10-year Academy ban added to the challenges. Criticism came from many in the entertainment industry, including Zoë Kravitz, Wanda Sykes, and Rob Reiner. Jim Carrey was especially outspoken, stating that Smith had been “living beyond his bandwidth.” Smith acknowledged this but said it was necessary to take a step back to better understand himself. “My small self has limits,” he said. “But when I take a step back, there’s an infinite space where I can grow. I’ve learnt not to restrict myself to a narrow existence but to embrace a broader truth.” DiCaprio’s film delayed as Warner Bros reshuffles releases Rock’s comedy special and Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, Worthy, further reignited public scrutiny. Yet, rather than shy away, Smith used adversity as inspiration. “There’s a resilience you develop by facing difficulties rather than avoiding them,” he said. He credited his late grandmother, Nelson Mandela, and Tibetan Buddhist Pema Chödrön’s philosophy of “leaning into sharp points” for guiding him. A new creative era Surprisingly, Smith is preparing for his first headline tour this summer. The concerts will reflect different phases of his career: one dedicated to his early days with DJ Jazzy Jeff, another to his film and television career, and a third exploring his new creative vision. The tour begins on 25 June at the Mawazine Festival in Morocco and concludes in early September in Paris, with stops in the UK, France, and Germany. Additionally, Smith has multiple films in pre-production, including Fast and Loose, Hancock 2, I Am Legend 2, and a remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. “This is the most exciting creative phase of my career,” he said. “What I’m about to do in music and cinema is keeping me up at night with anticipation.”

Two people were killed when a moving train dragged their motorbike while they were attempting to cross a level crossing in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi on Wednesday evening. The deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman, 33, and Zahurul Islam, 35, both residents of Chandpur Bazar in Natore Sadar upazila. Faisal Bin Ahsan, officer-in-charge of Government Railway Police (GRP) in Rajshahi, said the accident occurred at Belpukur level crossing just before the arrival of the Panchagarh-bound Banglabandha Express from Rajshahi around 5:45 pm. Krishak Dal leader hacked to death in Sitakunda “An iron bar had been lowered at the crossing as the train approached, but the duo attempted to cross the tracks on their motorbike. The train hit the bike and dragged it away, killing both men on the spot," he said. The bodies were handed over to their families after the completion of legal procedures. An unnatural death case was filed in this connection, the OC added.

President Donald Trump has said this time of transition presents an opportunity for the people of Bangladesh to build capacity for democracy, economic progress and enhanced security.  "I am confident that we can advance our bilateral economic development while we strengthen our relationship and work together on promoting regional security in the Indo-Pacific," President Trump said in a message to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.  He said the United States looks forward to continuing their partnership in this coming decisive year.  Committed to advancing partnership with Bangladesh for peace, prosperity: Modi tells Dr Yunus President Trump conveyed greetings to Chief Adviser Prof Yunus and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Independence Day, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. "On behalf of the American people, I wish you and the people of Bangladesh a happy Independence Day," Trump said. "On the occasion of this Independence Day celebration, please accept my sincere best wishes to you and the people of Bangladesh," he added.

An ancient wasp may have zipped among the dinosaurs, with a body like a Venus flytrap to seize and snatch its prey, scientists reported Wednesday. The parasitic wasp's abdomen boasts a set of flappy paddles lined with thin bristles, resembling “a small bear trap attached to the end of it,” said study co-author Lars Vilhelmsen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Scientists uncovered over a dozen female wasps preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. The wasp’s flaps and teeth-like hairs resemble the structure of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant, which snaps shut to digest unsuspecting insects. But the design of the wasp's getup made scientists think its trap was designed to cushion, not crush. Instead, researchers suggested the flytrap-like structure was used to hold a wriggly insect still while the wasp laid an egg, depositing a baby wasp to feed on and drain its new host. It's a playbook adapted by many parasitic wasps, including modern-day cuckoo and bethylid wasps, to exploit insects. But no known wasp or any other insect does so with bizarre flaps quite like this one. New two-clawed dinosaur species unearthed in Mongolia “I've seen a lot of strange insects, but this has to be one of the most peculiar-looking ones I've seen in a while,” said entomologist Lynn Kimsey from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved with the research. Scientists named the new wasp Sirenobethylus charybdis, partly for the sea monster from Greek mythology that stirred up wild whirlpools by swallowing and expelling water. The new study was published in the journal BMC Biology and included researchers from Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China. It's unclear when the wasp went extinct. Studying unusual insects like this one can help scientists understand what insects are capable of and how different they can be. “We tend to think that the cool things are only found today," said Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who had no role in the study. "But when we have this opportunity, we see that many really exceptional, odd things already happened.”

The interim government on Thursday said the USCIRF’s portrayal of the religious freedom situation in Bangladesh is based on misinformation and selective reporting. "The interim government is not responsible for the violence alleged, and the police investigations show that the incidents cited are unrelated to religious hatred," said the Chief Adviser’s press wing in a statement. The USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) released its 2025 Annual Report on March 25. The report documents religious freedom conditions in 2024 and recommends policy to the White House, Congress and State Department to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad. Congress mandated USCIRF’s annual report in the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. "It is simply not true that the interim Government of Bangladesh is responsible for the violence alleged in the USCIRF report," the statement, shared by Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, reads. Minority community leaders slam US report on religious freedom, call it “biased” The assertion that the violence occurred following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is misleading and lacks solid evidence. Despite the challenges faced during this period, the interim government expressed a clear commitment to protecting all minority communities, said the statement. This stance was evident in their public statements and efforts to mitigate any harm to vulnerable groups, it mentioned. "However, the USCIRF report omits these positive steps and instead focuses on a narrative of worsening religious freedom, which does not align with the actual situation on the ground," the statement reads. "Here’s why as claimed by Interim Government 1. No Evidence Linking Government to Violence:  There is no credible evidence supporting the claim that the Interim Government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, is responsible for violence targeting religious minorities. The Bangladesh Police have thoroughly investigated the incidents claimed by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council. Their investigations have revealed that the majority of reported deaths were not the result of communal violence or religious hatred but rather stemmed from personal disputes, accidents, property conflicts, and even suicides. These incidents were not based on religious motives but on other socio-economic or personal factors. 2.  Religious Minorities Are Not Being Targeted:  The claim that hundreds of Hindus were killed due to religious violence following Prime Minister Hasina’s departure is simply false. Since Hasina’s removal, almost no Hindus—or any other religious communities—have been killed in attacks driven by communal violence. “No majority-minority”: Jamaat Ameer This type of violence, which the report mentions, has not been substantiated by any reliable evidence. In fact, Bangladesh has witnessed a period of relative calm for religious minorities, contrary to the narrative suggested in the USCIRF report. 3. Investigation by Bangladesh Police: The Bangladesh Police have investigated the claims made by religious minority groups, such as the Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council, and found only a handful of cases of organised, communal violence or hate crimes against religious groups. The nature of the deaths cited in the report was due to personal or familial reasons, not religious animus. The fact that these investigations are ignored in the USCIRF report only raises questions about the thoroughness and fairness of their research. 4. False Narratives Propagated by Media: The report mentions the proliferation of false claims through traditional and social media following the violent protests. However, it is critical to note that these media sources, often driven by political agendas, have spread misinformation aimed at discrediting the Interim Government. The USCIRF should have conducted independent investigations, rather than relying on potentially biased sources that spread disinformation. 5. USCIRF’s Lack of Independent Investigation: If USCIRF truly operates as an independent, bipartisan organization, it is disappointing that it did not carry out its own investigations into these events. Instead, it appears to have relied on unfounded claims and one-sided narratives, which serve only to taint Bangladesh's reputation unfairly. No communal link to 23 minority deaths: Deputy Press Secretary Had the USCIRF done its due diligence, it would have recognized that the situation in Bangladesh is not as dire as the report suggests, particularly regarding religious violence. 6. Context of Political Unrest: The political unrest in Bangladesh, including protests and clashes between political factions, has sometimes been misrepresented as religious violence. While there may have been tensions involving religious groups, it is essential to understand that these incidents were primarily linked to political affiliation rather than religious persecution. This distinction is critical in understanding the situation accurately and avoiding the oversimplification of complex political events as religious conflicts."

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun met China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) President Chen Sichang on the sidelines of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, China, on Thursday. During the meeting, they discussed a potential second Chinese economic zone in the Mongla area, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Strategic location, human resources can transform Bangladesh into manufacturing hub: Dr Yunus They also discussed potential collaboration to employ Bangladeshi workers across the globe in CCECC-run projects.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday said Bangladesh's strategic location and its human resources can transform the country into a manufacturing hub for top global companies -- both from China and elsewhere in the world. The Chief Adviser invited top Chinese private manufacturers to relocate their factories to Bangladesh, saying his government would offer attractive benefits for the manufacturers and provide a trade corridor. "Bangladesh can be complementary to China as far as manufacturing is concerned," Prof Yunus said when  Chairman of China's Export-Import Bank Chen Huaiyu met him on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 at the Chinese coastal town of Boao. Dr Yunus said the interim government is fast-tracking construction of a Chinese Special Economic Zone in the Chattogram region. The Chairman of China's Export-Import Bank said his bank would support the relocation of Chinese manufacturing plants to Bangladesh to use the country as a platform for export to other nations. The Chinese Exim Bank is a key financier of Beijing-funded infrastructure and energy projects in Bangladesh, but this is the first time it showed interest in supporting investment from Chinese private manufacturers in the South Asian country. Prof Yunus said Bangladesh was also building large new ports to serve not only its economy but also the landlocked countries of Nepal and Bhutan and India's seven northeastern states. CA Dr Yunus off to China, eyeing to take Dhaka-Beijing ties to new height Chen Huaiyu said Bangladesh is perfectly located to serve both southeastern and far eastern Asia and also the Middle East and Western Asia, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. He said more and more Chinese companies are going global, and his bank would support their investment in Bangladesh and "develop manufacturing" in the country. Chen Huaiyu said the bank would also support building infrastructures in Bangladesh to support the country's socio-economic and sustainable growth. Citing how Vietnam has transformed its economy by attracting Chinese and Western manufacturers, Chen said Bangladesh needs to improve its business environment in an effort to woo investors from China. "We will learn from Vietnam," Professor Yunus said. During the meeting, Bangladeshi officials also sought quick disbursement of Exim's funding and support in new infrastructure projects such as the Dasherkandi Sewage plant. Dhaka also urged the bank to reduce the bank's commitment fees, which raise project costs. Chen said his bank would look into these proposals, and urged Bangladesh to switch to take more concessionary loans in RMB, the Chinese currency. Bangladesh, China to sign key deals as Dr Yunus to meet Xi in Beijing on March 28 The senior officials from both countries are likely to reconvene soon to firm up and take decisive actions enabling key decisions, which were made in the meeting on Thursday. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy and Transport Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative of the Chief Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Ashiq Chowdhury were also present during the meeting.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. “This will continue to spur growth,” Trump told reporters. “We'll effectively be charging a 25% tariff.” The tariffs, which the White House expects to raise $100 billion in revenue annually, could be complicated as even U.S. automakers source their components from around the world. The tax hike starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales, though Trump argues that the tariffs will lead to more factories opening in the United States and the end of what he judges to be a “ridiculous” supply chain in which auto parts and finished vehicles are manufactured across the United States, Canada and Mexico. To underscore his seriousness about the tariffs directive he signed, Trump said, “This is permanent.” Shares in General Motors fell roughly 3% in Wednesday trading. Ford's stock was up slightly. Shares in Stellantis, the owner of Jeep and Chrysler, dropped nearly 3.6%. Trump has long said that tariffs against auto imports would be a defining policy of his presidency, betting that the costs created by the taxes would cause more production to relocate to the United States while helping narrow the budget deficit. But U.S. and foreign automakers have plants around the world to accommodate global sales while maintaining competitive prices — and it could take years for companies to design, build and open the new factories that Trump is promising. "We’re looking at much higher vehicle prices,” said economist Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “We’re going to see reduced choice. ... These kinds of taxes fall more heavily on the middle and working class.’’ She said more households will be priced out of the new car market — where prices already average about $49,000 — and will have to hang on to aging vehicles. The tariffs on autos would start being collected on April 3, Trump said. If the taxes are fully passed onto consumers, the average auto price on an imported vehicle could jump by $12,500, a sum that could feed into overall inflation. Trump was voted back into the White House last year because voters believed he could bring down prices. Foreign leaders were quick to criticize the tariffs, a sign that Trump could be intensifying a broader trade war that could damage growth worldwide. Asian markets rise modestly after Wall Street’s slow session “This is a very direct attack,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said. “We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country.” In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed regret at the U.S. decision to target auto exports from Europe and vowed that the bloc would protect consumers and businesses. “Tariffs are taxes — bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the U.S. and the European Union,” she said in a statement, adding that the EU’s executive branch would assess the impact of the move, as well as other U.S. tariffs planned for coming days.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday morning met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, who is attending the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, and discussed issues of shared interests and mutual cooperation. The meeting was held at Bo’ao State Guest House and lasted for over 30 minutes. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had separate meetings earlier on Wednesday with other foreign leaders who are attending the conference. Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of China Chen Huaiyu met the Chief Adviser today (Thursday), a senior official told UNB. After the meeting, he will go to the BFA International Convention Centre to address the opening plenary of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Zhang Jun, Secretary General of Bo’ao Forum for Asia, Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of Bo’ao Forum for Asia and Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Lao PDR will also speak at the session while Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, will deliver the keynote speech. On the sidelines of the Forum, Dr Yunus will hold bilateral meetings with the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and the current Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, Ban Ki-moon, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, the Director-General of FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) and several other notable participants of the conference, said Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin. Themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 is being held here from March 25 to 28 in Boao, South China's Hainan Province. Russia keen to help Bangladesh ensure food, energy security: Ambassador Khozin Boao is a coastal town in the city of Qionghai, Hainan. The Chief Adviser is on a four-day visit through which Dr Yunus thinks the relationship between Bangladesh and China would further be deepened. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Road Transport and Bridges; and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative to Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed and CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam are accompanying the Chief Adviser. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to leave Qionghai Bo’ao International Airport for Beijing at 7pm (China time), an official told UNB. Dr Yunus will reach Beijing International Airport at around 10:55pm (China time) after approximately four hours journey by air. The Chief Adviser will be received by Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of China. Kids will also greet Dr Yunus with flowers. On Friday morning, Dr Yunus will be at the Great Hall of China amid static guard of honour. After the meeting, Dr Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping will pose for a joint photo. They will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and China, trade and investment growth, agriculture, infrastructure, support for renewable energy sectors, and resolving the Rohingya issue, as well as overall issues of mutual interest between the two countries, Jashim Uddin said. Dr Yunus will participate in an event called "Investment Dialogue" with Chinese business leaders, organised to inform the Chinese investors about the business-friendly environment in Bangladesh and attract Chinese investment in Bangladesh. The Chief Adviser will participate in three roundtable discussions on different themes - Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Investment, Bangladesh 2.0 Manufacturing and Market Opportunities and Social Business, Youth Entrepreneurship and the World of Three Zeros at the same venue, where he will exchange views with CEOs of various companies, experienced individuals from the Social Business Circle, high-ranking officials of renowned Chinese companies, business representatives and the young generation of Bangladeshis and Chinese. Putin eyes Dhaka-Moscow productive ties to strengthen regional security, stability On Saturday morning, the Chief Adviser will visit Peking University and receive the Honorary Doctorate. After receiving the Honorary Doctorate Degree, the Chief Adviser will deliver a speech to the audience. In the afternoon, Dr Yunus will give exclusive interview to China Media Group (CMG), a renowned Chinese media organisation, and Xinhua (likely) where various aspects of the multidimensional relations between Bangladesh and China and the future direction of Bangladesh's position on various contemporary international issues will be shared. The Chief Adviser will attend a dinner to be hosted by the Ambassador of Bangladesh to China. Bilateral Instruments to Signed Bangladesh and China are set to sign several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) as Dr Yunus and President Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral meeting in Beijing on March 28. The bilateral cooperation documents are likely to be signed in the areas of human resource development, economic and technical assistance, cultural and sports cooperation and cooperation between the media.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 11th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 144 at 10:10am this morning (March 27, 2025). Today’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ referring to a health threat to residents, according to the AQI index. The air quality of the capital is improving gradually, with homebound people leaving Dhaka. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. India’s Delhi, Nepal’s Kathmandu and Pakistan’s Lahore cities respectively occupied the first, second, and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 227, 214 and 185 respectively. Dhaka 3rd most polluted city in the world Tuesday morning The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Dhaka’s air ‘unhealthy’ Monday morning As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

A federal judge has ruled that The New York Times and other newspapers can proceed with a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft seeking to end the practice of using their stories to train artificial intelligence chatbots. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein of New York on Wednesday dismissed some of the claims made by media organizations but allowed the bulk of the case to continue, possibly to a jury trial. “We appreciate Judge Stein’s careful consideration of these issues," New York Times attorney Ian Crosby said in a statement. “As the order indicates, all of our copyright claims will continue against Microsoft and Open AI for their widespread theft of millions of The Times’s works, and we look forward to continuing to pursue them.” The judge's ruling also pleased Frank Pine, executive editor of MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing, owners of some of the newspapers that are part of a consolidated lawsuit in a Manhattan court. European startup scrubs first test flight of Orbital Rocket “The claims the court has dismissed do not undermine the main thrust of our case, which is that these companies have stolen our work and violated our copyright in a way that fundamentally damages our business,” Pine said a statement. Stein didn't explain the reasons for his ruling, saying that would come “expeditiously.” OpenAI said in a statement it welcomed “the court’s dismissal of many of these claims and look forward to making it clear that we build our AI models using publicly available data, in a manner grounded in fair use, and supportive of innovation.” Microsoft declined to comment. The Times has said OpenAI and its business partner Microsoft have threatened its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times’ material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Cyprus said Wednesday it plans to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels to ensure the tourism-reliant island nation has enough fresh water too see it through busy summer seasons when the demands of millions of visitors put a severe strain on dwindling reserves. Water levels across the country's 108 dams are at alarmingly low following the second driest winter in a decade, and the national water supply network is struggling to cope due to demand and leaks. Maria Panayiotou, the country’s agriculture and environment minister, said the government will provide 3 million euros ($3.24 million) of funding over the next two years to help hotels build their own desalination plants. In addition, measures will be introduced to make it easier and faster for key sectors such as agriculture and tourism to build small scale desalination plants. Cyprus will spend a further 8 million euros on fixing pipe infrastructure to reduce water leaks and losses which are estimated as high as 40%, according to Panayiotou. The government measures build on Cyprus’ growing reliance on desalinated water. Four additional mobile desalination plants are scheduled to become operational in October, producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. China harnesses AI to develop climate-resilient 'Super Crops,' reshaping global agriculture Cyprus already has four permanent desalination plants in operation, each producing 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. A fifth plant is out of action due to a fire. Panayiotou said last December that more desalination plants are needed to increase daily fresh water production fourfold over the next decade. Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive dam network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Cyprus has more dams relative to its population than any other country in Europe, according to the minister. The dams are currently at 24.6% of capacity, compared with 47.2% in 2024, official figures show. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus’ gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million, setting a new record.

A youth was killed and five others were injured in a collision between a motorcycle and an easy bike at Munnamor in Chuadanga Pouro area on Wednesday night.  The deceased was identified as Bipul, 18, son of Aytal Biswas from Buropara village in Sarojganj under Chuadanga Sadar upazila.  Chuadanga Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khaledur Rahman said that three youths were heading toward Chuadanga town from Sarojganj on a motorcycle for shopping when they collided with an easy bike coming from the opposite direction , leaving six people injured.  The injured were rushed to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where Bipul succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.  2 killed, 21 injured in Bogura road accident Of the five injured, two were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital while the remaining three are receiving treatment at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital.  Dr Sohrab Hossain of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital’s emergency department said that one person died shortly after the accident while three of the injured were in serious condition.  The body will be handed over to the family after the legal process is completed, said the OC.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday emphasised the need for effective regional actions to address transboundary air pollution.  "About 30-35% of Bangladesh’s air pollution originates from neighbouring countries. Therefore, solving this issue requires moving beyond political discussions to practical measures and regional cooperation," she said while virtually addressing the World Bank’s South Asia side event at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) second global conference in Cartagena, Colombia.  Referring to the Kathmandu Roadmap and other agreements among South Asian nations, the adviser noted that while these are important steps, they are insufficient. Stronger initiatives are needed to tackle air pollution effectively, she stressed.  She mentioned that Bangladesh has finalised its Air Quality Control Regulations, aligning them with the WHO’s interim targets. These legal provisions set specific standards for polluting sectors and establish a framework for controlling both internal and external air pollution.  "The implementation of the National Air Quality Management Plan, finalised in 2024, was delayed due to political instability. However, it is now being executed effectively, aiming to reduce pollution-related risks and increase the number of clean air days to safeguard public health," she added.  The adviser further said that Bangladesh’s Clean Air Project, supported by the World Bank, is in its final stages and will be implemented soon, pending government approval. The project focuses on strengthening regulatory frameworks, enforcing environmental laws, expanding pollution monitoring systems in industries, and modernising the public transport sector.  She also announced plans to designate areas around Dhaka as "brick kiln-free zones," where the establishment of brick kilns will be prohibited. Rizwana calls for national consensus for essential reforms Besides, starting in May, old buses will be gradually phased out under a joint initiative by the Ministry of Environment and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).  To combat dust pollution—one of the major contributors to poor air quality—initiatives such as urban greening along open roads in Dhaka and hiring more workers for street cleaning are being planned, she said. The adviser highlighted that the demolition of illegal brick kilns has already led to some improvement in air quality, but sustained progress requires strict monitoring and modernisation of polluting sectors.  Rizwana Hasan pointed out that air pollution causes thousands of deaths in Bangladesh every year, with people in heavily polluted cities like Dhaka losing an estimated 5-7 years of their average lifespan.  Adviser Rizwana calls for urgent reform in waste management "This crisis affects all of us—our children, parents, and future generations. The cost of inaction is too high. We must act now," she said.  Expressing optimism, she said, "I am hopeful because I believe a solution is possible. We have the technology and alternatives at our disposal; what we need is commitment and implementation. Air pollution is not just an environmental issue—it is a humanitarian crisis."  The conference was attended by ministerial representatives from South Asian countries, policymakers in the environment and energy sectors, representatives from international and development organisations, researchers, local administrators, transport and industrial experts, and members of civil society.

Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to reach the Women’s Champions League (WCL) semifinals with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid. Mariona Caldentey scored the other as Arsenal grabbed three goals in 13 minutes to overturn the team’s 2-0 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal in the Spanish capital last week. Caldentey, who used to torment Madrid while playing for Barcelona, wheeled away in delight after leveling the tie three minutes after Russo pulled a goal back as Arsenal couldn’t have had a better start to the second half. Russo fired Arsenal in front for the first time in the tie with an acrobatic finish in the 59th. It proved to be the winner in the 3-2 victory on aggregate. The England star might have had a hat trick only to be denied by a VAR call for offside, then by Madrid goalkeeper Misa in a one-on-one, then by another offside call. Arsenal needed a save from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar in stoppage time to prevent Madrid star Linda Caicedo from sending the match to extra time. Arsenal will face last season’s beaten finalist Lyon as it seeks to win the trophy for the second time after success in 2007. Lyon advances Kadidiatou Diani scored one goal and set up two more as Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the second leg of their quarterfinal earlier. The French powerhouse needed a wake-up call before reaching the semifinals for the 13th time. Klara Bühl opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off the far post to claw a goal back for Bayern after losing the first leg 2-0 in Munich. Who qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate with Diani scoring and setting up goals for Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, who both scored in Munich last week. Dumornay played in Ada Hegerberg to seal the rout with a flourish by shooting the ball through Bayern goalkeeper Maria-Luisa “Mala” Grohs ’ legs in stoppage time. Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining its comeback hopes. The other quarterfinal second legs are scheduled for Thursday, with defending champion Barcelona in a comfortable position after a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany, and Chelsea needing goals as it hosts Manchester City after losing the first leg 2-0. Barcelona defeated Lyon in last year’s final.

A leader of Jatiyatabadi  Krishak Dal was hacked to death in Chattogram’s Barabkunda area of Sitakunda on Wednesday night.  The deceased was Md Nasir Uddin, 47, a resident of Hatilota village in Barabkunda union and organising secretary of Krishak Dal’s Sitakunda unit. Sitakunda Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mojibur Rahman said he came under attack  around 7pm when he was leaving his home after iftar. Ctg AL leader injured in attack, dies A group of miscreants ambushed and hacked him before dumping his body in a nearby jungle. Police later recovered the body.  Badiul Alam Badrul, convener of the Krishak Dal’s north district unit, said Nasir was involved had a longstanding dispute with some local people over soil trading in the area. Police launched a drive to arrest those involved in the killing. The body has been sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for an autopsy, the OC added. 

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has been awarded an honorary fellowship by Wadham College, University of Oxford, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to law, justice and human rights. In a press release, the Bangladesh Supreme Court expressed immense pride in this prestigious achievement, calling it a historic moment for both the Supreme Court and the country's judiciary. The court also extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Chief Justice on receiving this rare honour. Chinese envoy meets CJ, offers support to strengthen judiciary “This exceptional international recognition is not only a testament to the Chief Justice’s personal accomplishments but also a reflection of the global respect and prestige accorded to Bangladesh's judiciary. Undoubtedly, this honour highlights the excellence, intellectual strength, and growing international stature of justice in Bangladesh,” the statement read.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin has said they remain committed to partnering with Dhaka in realising its vision of a prosperous nation by contributing to the country's food and energy security, as well as cooperating internationally on a range of essential issues. "Mutual affinity, respect and understanding define our multifaceted ties for the benefit of peoples of Russia and Bangladesh," he said in a message. The Ambassador said Bangladesh-Russia relations have a solid basis which goes back to the early 1970's. Warmly congratulating the friendly Bangladeshi people on Independence Day, the Russian Ambassador said the chequered history of Bangladesh is full of amasing acts of resilience and patriotism of the Bangladeshi people. "Over more than half a century, your country has gone through fundamental political, economic and social changes," he said. Putin eyes Dhaka-Moscow productive ties to strengthen regional security, stability Today, Ambassador Khozin said, Bangladesh has become a role model in the Global South in combating poverty reduction and climate change, promoting education and women’s empowerment, contributing to regional connectivity and respectful dialogue in the global arena.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Bangladesh-Russia relations are based on well-established traditions of friendship and mutual respect. "I am confident that they will continue to develop in a productive manner for the benefits of our peoples, and in the interests of strengthening regional security and stability," he said in a message to President Mohammed Shahabuddin. President Putin wished his Bangladesh counterpart sound health and success, as well as peace and prosperity to all citizens of Bangladesh, according to the Russian Embassy in Dhaka. Meanwhile, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Bangladesh-Russis relations have been developing in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect. In a message to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Russian Prime Minister said cooperation in the areas of trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian has been deepening steadily and ambitious joint projects are progressing. CA Dr Yunus reaches Hainan Province to attend Boao Forum for Asia "I am confident that active work along the government lines will be conducive to strengthening the entire gamut of practical interactions," he said, adding that this fully meets the interests of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of Bangladesh. On behalf of the government of the Russian Federation and on his own behalf, Prime Minister Mishustin extended congratulations on the occasion of National Day and Independence Day of Bangladesh. He wished Dr Yunus sound health, well-being and success in his responsible position, as well as happiness and prosperity to the people of Bangladesh.

The Atlantic on Wednesday released the entire Signal chat among senior national security officials, showing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop — before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemen’s Houthis this month on behalf of the United States were airborne. The disclosure follows two intense days during which leaders of President Donald Trump’s intelligence and defense agencies have struggled to explain how details — that current and former US officials have said would have been classified — wound up on an unclassified Signal chat that included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said no classified information was posted to the Signal chat. US intelligence officials to appear at House hearing Sen Roger Wicker, R-Miss, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he and Rhode Island Sen Jack Reed, the committee’s top Democrat, plan to send a letter to the Trump administration requesting an inspector general investigation into the use of Signal. They seek a classified briefing with a top administration official “who can speak to the facts” of the episode. Top military official was not included in the chat The chat was also notable for who it excluded: the only military attendee of the principals committee, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adm Christopher Grady is currently serving in that position in an acting capacity because Trump fired former chairman Gen CQ Brown Jr in February. National security adviser Mike Waltz was authorized to decide whether to include the Joint Chiefs chairman in the principals committee discussion, “based on the policy relevance of attendees to the issues being considered, the need for secrecy on sensitive matters, staffing needs, and other considerations,” the White House said in a Jan. 20 memo. The Pentagon said it would not comment on the issue, and it was not immediately clear why Grady, currently serving as the president’s top military adviser, would not be included in a discussion on military strikes. Hegseth has refused to say whether he posted classified information onto Signal. He is traveling in the Indo-Pacific and to date has only scoffed at questions, saying he did not reveal “war plans.” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that it was up to Hegseth to determine whether the information he was posting was classified or not. Egypt offers new ceasefire proposal amid Israeli strikes killing scores Very specific texts were revealed What was revealed was jaw-dropping in its specificity and includes the type of information that is kept to a very close hold to protect the operational security of a military strike. But Hegseth’s spokesman, Sean Parnell, said in a statement Wednesday that “there were no classified materials or war plans shared. The Secretary was merely updating the group on a plan that was underway.” The Pentagon and White House have tried to deflect criticism by attacking Goldberg and The Atlantic. The magazine and Goldberg, however, repeatedly reached out to the White House before and after publication to gain additional context on the Signal chat and ensure that publishing the full texts would not cause harm. In a response, Goldberg reported Wednesday, Leavitt described some of the information as sensitive and said the White House would prefer it not be published.

The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), and Dhaka Sub Editors Council (DSEC) have strongly protested the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh's (NOAB) decision to close newspapers for just three days on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, BFUJ Acting President Obaidur Rahman Shahin, Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury, DUJ President Md. Shahidul Islam, General Secretary Khurshid Alam, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon, General Secretary Mainul Ahsan Sohel, ERF President Doulot Akter Mala, General Secretary Abul Kashem, and DSEC President Muktadir Anik and General Secretary Jawahar Iqbal Khan expressed their strong anger and condemnation. They demanded that NOAB reconsider its decision and extend the Eid holiday. However, they expressed frustration that NOAB has not yet addressed their concerns. Eid Travel: Train passenger numbers surge ahead of festivities According to NOAB’s announcement, newspapers will be closed on March 30, 31, and April 1. If Eid-ul-Fitr is observed on April 1, depending on the sighting of the moon, the closure will extend to April 2. The journalist leaders pointed out that government officials and employees are receiving a longer holiday this year, with a five-day break coinciding with Independence Day, Shab-e-Qadr, and weekly holidays, stretching across the end of March and the start of April. In contrast, NOAB's three-day holiday decision for media workers, without considering their needs, was labelled as “extreme cruelty.” They protested the decision, demanding an increase in the holiday period. Transport syndicate set to extort Tk 832cr from Eid travellers: Jatri Kalyan Samity The journalist leaders also said that as the nation fights against discrimination, NOAB's decision reflects a new form of inequality, pushing media workers into further hardship. They have reiterated their call for a reconsideration of the decision to ensure fair treatment for media workers.

People from all walks of life, including artists and cultural activists, thronged the Chhayanaut Bhaban on Wednesday noon to pay their final respects to Dr Sanjida Khatun, one of the founders and the immediate-past President of Chhayanaut. A legendary figure in Bangladesh’s cultural arena, Dr Sanjida Khatun was known for her multifaceted contributions as a singer, writer, researcher, organizer, musicologist, and teacher. Her profound impact left researchers and admirers in awe, as no single identity could define her legacy. The line of mourners extended beyond the building, reaching Dhanmondi 27. Cultural organizations that Dr Khatun helped shape — including Chhayanaut, Nalanda, and Kanthashilon — along with many other prominent groups such as Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad, Shurer Dhara, Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Dhaka Theatre, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha and others gathered to honor her with floral tributes, alongside the teachers, students, guardians, and individuals from various sectors. Film fraternity bids adieu to Prabir Mitra following Islamic last rites Cultural personalities including filmmaker Morshedul Islam, singer Khurshid Alam, theater personalities Ramendu Majumdar, Tropa Majumdar, and M Hamid; artist and Fine Arts Professor Abul Barq Alvi; film educator Manzar-e-Hasin Murad; President of the Bangladesh Dancers' Association Minu Haque; recitation artist Bhaskar Bandopadhyay; Professor Shafi Ahmed; theater director Nayla Azad Nupur; singers Chandana Majumdar, Adity Mohsin, Shaheen Samad, and Bulbul Islam; General Secretary of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation Kamal Bayezid; dancer Shamim Ara Nipa; First Secretary (Culture) at the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh Ann Mary George; film activist Belayet Hossain Mamun and others. Speaking on the occasion, Chhayanaut Vice President Mofidul Hoque said, "The massive celebration of the Bengali New Year at Ramna Batamul, which has become an emotional symbol for millions, was made possible because of Sanjida Khatun. She traveled across the country, taught music, researched, and loved people — she will live on through her extraordinary contributions." At around 1:15 pm, Dr Khatun's body was taken from Chhayanaut to the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University, where she had served as a Professor for many years. Later, at 2:30 pm, her coffin was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar, where people from all walks of life gathered to bid a final farewell. Adieu, Badruddoza Chowdhury: Resting in eternal peace Following the tribute at the Central Shaheed Minar, her body was transferred to a hospital mortuary. Her family has not yet announced the details of the next formalities. Dr Sanjida Khatun passed away at Square Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 92. She had been undergoing treatment for kidney complications and other age-related ailments for a week.

A 17-year-old boy died from electrocution in Dhaka's Jatrabari area on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Bijoy, 17, son of the late Sultan from Kutubkhali village in Jatrabari. One killed as BNP factions clash, violating Section 144 in Ctg Shahida, the victim's aunt, said Bijoy was electrocuted around 8:30 am while working with electricity at his home. She rescued him from the scene and rushed him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at 10:30 am. Unfortunately, doctors declared him dead upon arrival. His body has been kept in Ward No. 7 of the hospital.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) on Wednesday conducted a drive at various locations across Dhaka to alleviate passenger suffering during the Eid journey. Dring the drive, several transport companies were fined for charging excessive fares, confirmed Nobel Dey, Information and Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. Labiba Paribahan, Sonartari Paribahan, and Seba Green Line Paribahan were each fined Tk 10,000, with a total of Tk 30,000 imposed for fare violations at Rainkhola in Mirpur during the mobile court operation. Meanwhile, a powerful transport syndicate has started extorting Tk 832.30 crore from over 1.5 crore Eid travellers as "tips," forcing them to pay exorbitant extra fares, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report, presented by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday, highlighted widespread fare irregularities across road, rail, water and air transport.  

Content creator and AI enthusiast RobinRafan has successfully completed his first-ever AI Masterclass for Content Creators, drawing overwhelming participation from around the world. The online workshop attracted creators from Bangladesh, the USA, UK, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, marking a significant milestone in promoting the use of AI tools in digital storytelling and content creation. With over 500 registrations and 400+ live attendees, the masterclass highlighted the growing interest among creators in leveraging artificial intelligence to elevate their creative work. The online workshop focused on integrating AI into content creation, with a particular emphasis on tools and techniques to enhance digital storytelling. The masterclass covered a range of AI-driven topics, including generating realistic AI content through prompt engineering, transforming images into videos, converting text into video, image-to-anime techniques, and creating original music for content. RobinRafan provided insights into how AI can streamline the content creation process, making it more efficient and engaging. As soon as registration opened, over 500 content creators enrolled in the workshop, leading to early closure of admissions. The live session saw the participation of more than 400 creators, while some were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. However, those who missed the session will receive a recorded version via Zoom to ensure they do not miss out on the learning experience. Reflecting on the event, RobinRafan shared, “This was the first time I conducted an online workshop of this scale. It was a challenge, but the response from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.” Following the success of the first season, RobinRafan has announced the second season of his AI Masterclass for Content Creators. Already, more than 300 content creators have enrolled in the online workshop. Scheduled for April 14, 2025, Season 2 aims to provide an even more in-depth exploration of AI applications in content creation, helping creators enhance their skills and stay ahead in the evolving digital landscape. Over 500 content creators enrolled in the workshop, leading to early closure of admissions. The success of this AI masterclass highlights the growing interest among content creators in utilizing AI tools to enhance their creative processes.

Bangladesh football team returned home from India Wednesday afternoon after playing the high voltage Group C match of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against their traditional rivals India at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. Bangladesh team arrived Hazrat  Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka Wednesday afternoon via Guwahati and Kolkata airports. The much talked about match between two arch rivals host India and touring Bangladesh ended in a goalless draw in the Indian hill city of Shillong Tuesday evening. Who qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Bangladesh-origin English Premier League playing midfielder Hamza Dewan Choudhury made his debut for Bangladesh national team in Tuesday's match and was very much the team's engine with his box-to-box performance. On the other hand,  India's celebrated footballer Sunil Chhetri, who returned back to the Indian national team again from retirement to play against Bangladesh, failed to make any good and visible impact for the Indian team and finally was replaced in the 81st minute of the match. Bangladesh, which started their four-team Group C campaign of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with an away match against their giant neighbor India Tuesday evening, will face Singapore in their first home and the 2nd group match in Dhaka on June 10. Hamza Choudhury, who arrived Bangladesh in March 17 and joined the national team camp on the next day, will returned England on Thursday (27) . AFC Asian Cup: Hamza's Bangladesh dominate India in Shillong but waste chances as game ends goalless He will again come to Bangladesh to join the national team before the AFC Asian Cup  match against Singapore in Dhaka  Other players of the Bangladesh team back to home or in their club from airport.

The Walt Disney Co.’s live-action, controversy-bedeviled “Snow White” opened in theaters with a sleepy $43 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. With a budget above $250 million, “Snow White” had set out with higher ambitions, particularly since it returns Disney to its very origins. The 1937 original “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was the company’s first animated feature, and paid for its Burbank studio lot. But this “Snow White” struggled to find anything like a fairy tale ending. The runup to release was plagued by controversies over the film’s handling of the dwarfs, who are rendered in CGI, and backlashes over comments by its star, Rachel Zegler. The PR headaches prompted Disney to pull back on its premiere. Also working against the film, directed by Marc Webb: poor reviews. Critics were largely not impressed with Disney’s latest live-action remake, with reviews coming in just 43% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. There’s been a wide variance between the box-office performance of other “live-action” Disney remakes, but “Snow White” might mark a new nadir. Jon Favreau’s photorealistic “The Lion King” (2019) didn’t have great reviews, either, but grossed more than $1.6 billion worldwide. “Snow White” opened worse than “Dumbo” (a $46 million opening in 2019) and well shy of “Cinderella” territory ($67.9 million in 2015). Overseas, “Snow White” added $44.3 million for a global launch of $87.3 million. But going into the weekend, “Snow White” had been eyeing a worldwide total closer to $100 million – and a few weeks back, expectations were significantly higher. The result will surely add to questions over Disney’s long-term strategy of mining its vault for live-action remakes. In the pipeline are upcoming new versions of “Moana" and “Tangled." A live-action “Lilo & Stitch” launches in May. Efforts to modernize “Snow White," though, quickly ran afoul. In 2022, actor Peter Dinklage criticized the remake plans as “backward.” Disney ultimately opted to drop “and the Seven Dwarfs” from the original's title, and animate the dwarfs. Some right-wing commentators targeted “Snow White” and Zegler's casting as an overly “woke” production. Delays and reshoots also ran up costs. Disney, though, has recently steered a handful of films from modest starts to enviable final hauls. The Barry Jenkins-directed “Mufasa: The Lion King” opened with $35.4 million domestically, but ultimately surpassed $717 million worldwide. “Snow White” will face little direct competition in the coming weeks. Audiences gave it a “B+” CinemaScore. Warner Bros.’ “Alto Knights,” a period gangster film starring Robert De Niro in both lead roles, was a total misfire. The Barry Levinson-directed film, which cost about $45 million to make, opened with just $3.2 million from 2,651 theaters. The flop of “Alto Knights” followed another misfire for Warner Bros. with Bong Joon Ho’s big-budget sci-fi “Mickey 17.” In three weeks, it’s tallied $40.2 million domestically against a $118 million budget. “Magazine Dreams,” starring Jonathan Majors as a disturbed aspiring bodybuilder, opened with $700,000 for Briarcliff Entertainment in 815 locations. The film was dropped by Searchlight Pictures after Majors was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment against Grace Jabbari, his ex-girlfriend. Majors avoided jail time but was given a year of probation. The disappointment-filled weekend added to a rough 2025 so far for Hollywood. The box office is down 6.9% from last year, according to data firm Comscore, and 38.6% from 2019. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures releasing Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. 1. “Snow White,” $43 million. 2. “Black Bag," $4.4 million 3. “Captain America: Brave New World,” $4.1 million. 4. “Mickey 17," $3.9 million. 5. “Novocaine,” $3.8 million. 6. “The Alto Knights,” $3.2 million. 7. “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” $1.8 million. 8. “The Monkey,” $1.5 million. 9. “Dog Man,” $1.5 million. 10. “The Last Supper,” $1.3 million.

As Eid approaches, trains are witnessing a significant increase in passenger numbers, with many travelers heading home to celebrate with their families. Earlier, Eid train journeys began with online ticketing on March 24. Saidul Islam, assistant of Kamalapur Railway Station, said passenger traffic on March 26 was slightly higher than in the past two days. Transport syndicate set to extort Tk 832cr from Eid travellers: Jatri Kalyan Samity This marks the third day of Eid train services. While the number of passengers has increased, no disruptions have been reported at the station. Only the Titash commuter train was delayed by 45 minutes due to its late arrival at the station. A new commuter train was added to Dhaka’s train services today (Wednesday). According to Dhaka Railway Station Manager Shahadat Hossain, a total of 69 trains will depart from Dhaka throughout the day (Wednesday), from morning to night. Of these, 43 are intercity trains, while 26 are mail and commuter trains. Eid exodus underway from capital He further mentioned that standing tickets are being issued two hours before departure. Special trains will start running from tomorrow, and as in previous years, all preparations for passenger services are in place.  

The recent fire incidents in the Shaplar Beel and Tepar Beel areas of the Sundarbans have been extinguished, but smoke is still rising from the base of some trees. On Wednesday morning, personnel from the Forest Department and Fire Brigade noticed light flames and smoke coming from a few isolated areas within the burnt forest. “These were quickly put out by spraying water using a fire hose. The affected area is being soaked to ensure no traces of the fire remain,” Chief Forest Officer Amir Hossain Chowdhury confirmed. The Forest Department and Fire Brigade continue to monitor and search the area. A complete announcement regarding the fire’s extinguishment is expected on Thursday, added the officer. The Forest Department is also taking steps to enhance the firefighting capacity of Sundarbans staff in case of future fires. An investigation committee from the forest department will be formed on Thursday to look into the cause of the fire.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the declaration of Shafiq Rehman as the publisher and printer of the daily newspaper ‘Jai Jai Din’ should not be declared illegal. The court also questioned the cancellation of Sayed Hossain Chowdhury's declaration as publisher and printer of the same newspaper. 3-day ultimatum given to restore 'Jai Jai Din' declaration The high court bench of Justice Raziq Al Jalil and Justice Tamanna Rahman Khalidi issued the rule after reviewing arguments and documents from both sides following a writ petition filed by Sayed Hossain Chowdhury on March 24. The court also directed the Dhaka District Commissioner and other respondents to respond to the rule. On March 12, 2025, the government cancelled Chowdhury’s declaration following a complaint from journalist Shafik Rehman, who alleged violations in publishing the newspaper. Just six days later, on March 18, the declaration was granted to Rehman instead.  

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members have arrested two people in connection with the killing of a businessman in front of Gulshan-1 Police Plaza in the capital. The arrestees were Md. Wasir Mahmud Sayeed alias Boro Saeed ,59 and Mamun alias Belal,42. Sayeed was arrested from Patuakhali Chowrasta area on Tuesday and based on his information, Belal was later arrested from Tongi East Police Station area in Gazipur on the same day, according to a RAB press release. Earlier on March 20, a group of unidentified armed miscreants opened fire on Sumon Mia, a cable and internet businessman, in front of Gulshan-1 Police Plaza and fled the scene. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. A murder case was filed at Gulshan Police Station. According to the RAB officials, a gang led by a man named Mehedi through Sayeed had been extorting businesses in Gulshan and Badda for several years. However, after a change in government on August 5 last year, Mehedi went into hiding but  Sayeed continued the extortion. Meanwhile, another group, known as the Robin Group, allegedly backed Sumon to take control of extortion in the Gulshan-Badda area, leading to a violent rivalry between the two groups, said the Rab officials. Rab officials said efforts are underway to arrest other fugitives involved in the killing and recover the weapons used in the crime.

A local Awami League leader, who was critically injured in an attack by unidentified assailants in Rangunia upazila of Chattogram, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment on Wednesday. The deceased, Nurul Islam Talukder, 70, son of Innal Amin Talukder of Mirrekhil village, was a former president of the Ward-1 unit of Rangunia Awami League, said ATM Shifatul Mazdar, officer-in-charge of South Rangunia Police Station. One killed as BNP factions clash, violating Section 144 in Ctg Local UP Chairman Sheikh Farid Uddin Chowdhury said Talukder was at his shop in Mirerkhil Bazar around 5:30 pm on Tuesday when a group of attackers suddenly hacked him, leaving him seriously injured. Locals rushed him to the Upazila Health Complex before transferring him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where he died around 9:30 am on Wednesday. Woman’s throat-slit body found in Shariatpur Police responded upon receiving information about the attack and have launched a drive to arrest those responsible, added the OC.

Nexus Television has organised a seven-day special programme featuring vibrant musical performances by renowned artists on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. The special music show "Ganer Opare" will be hosted by Dr Zakia Sultana and produced by Mahmudul Hasan. Popular singer Shireen Jawad, famous for her Panjabiwala song, will join the show for music and lively discussions. The programme will be aired on Eid day at 8 pm. On the second day of Eid, Abanti Sithi will mesmerise the audience with her soulful voice. The third day will feature the renowned folk singer Eliza Putul.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution on the scope, modalities, format, and organisation of the high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar under the sponsorship of Malaysia and Finland. The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Ambassador Md Salahuddin Noman Choudhury, made an intervention during the open debate session on Tuesday and proposed a vote on this resolution, as Russia had proposed several amendments that Bangladesh did not accept. The President of the General Assembly convened the vote, and the resolution was adopted with 141 votes in favour. There was no vote against the resolution. However, 10 countries abstained from voting. The adoption of this resolution is a significant landmark in resolving the Rohingya issue in the future, as it comes at a time when Dhaka is planning to organise a special summit on the Rohingya crisis in New York in September.

The BNP on Wednesday paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War and party founder Ziaur Rahman, marking the 55th Independence Day, calling for upholding the dignity of the Liberation War. Party leaders and activists, led by Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, placed a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar in the morning to honour the martyrs. BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council Member Aman Ullah Aman, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka District BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq, General Secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Organising Secretary Irfan Ibne Aman, Dhaka District Jubo Dal President Yasin Ferdous Murad, and others were also present. Later, speaking to reporters, Mirza Abbas said there is no such thing as a "second independence", adding that those who talk about it have an intention to undermine the historic Liberation War of 1971. “Just a few days ago, in July-August, we experienced a new wave by driving out the autocracy through a student-led mass uprising. Many claim this to be the second independence. In reality, today’s Independence Day proves that there is no such thing as the second independence in Bangladesh,” he said. He urged those advocating such views to exercise restraint and show respect for Independence Day. Later, Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas, along with thousands of leaders and activists, went Zia’s grave to pay homage to the party founder, whom they regard as the proclaimer of the Liberation War. After laying the wreath, they also offered Fateha, praying for the salvation of Zia’s departed soul. Leaders and activists from BNP’s Dhaka South and North city units, along with various associated bodies, including Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, Muktijoddah Dal, and Mohila Dak, separately placed wreaths at Zia’s grave. On behalf of BNP Chairperson and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul extended greetings and congratulations to the entire nation. “We also express our hope that, very soon, we will regain the democracy we desire," he said. The BNP Secretary General paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives for the country under the leadership of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, whom he described as the proclaimer of the 1971 Liberation War. "Millions of people sacrificed their lives for this independence, countless mothers and sisters lost their honour, millions lost their loved ones, and through innumerable sacrifices and hardships, we achieved this freedom," he said.

One person was killed and several others injured in a clash between two BNP factions over the formation of new party committees in Baraiyarhat municipality of Mirsharai upazila on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Javed, 40, said Sabbir Mohammad Selim, officer-in-charge of Jorarganj Police Station. The conflict arose between BNP leader Nurul Amin's Chairman Group and the Nurul Amin Kala Group over party positions. This dispute escalated into a clash in Baraiyarhat on Wednesday morning, resulting in Javed’s death at the scene and injuries to several others. Many of the injured are currently receiving treatment at the Mirsharai Upazila Health Complex, the OC added. Earlier, the administration had imposed Section 144 within 500 yards of the central Shaheed Minar in the upazila from 8:00 am on Wednesday to 8:00 am on Thursday to prevent potential clashes between the rival BNP factions. One of the groupd, however, violated Section 144 by laying wreaths at the Shaheed Minar. The clash erupted due to tensions between the newly formed BNP committee and disgruntled leaders and activists who had been left out of party posts.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan said on Wednesday that Bangladesh is now fully independent and that its citizens will never feel enslaved on this land again. "The country is now fully independent. The bloody people’s uprising of February 24 protected the independence we gained in 1971. This independence will remain in the days to come. Never again will the people of this country feel enslaved on an independent land,” he told reporters after paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar on the occasion Independence and National Day. 1971 and 24 are naturally interlinked: Nahid Islam He reflected on the significance of the 1971 Liberation War, saying, "1971 gave birth to the country, which is why we have gained independence. We believe that the successful people’s uprising of the July Revolution of 24th February protected that independence. As a result, the fascists fled. The country is now fully independent, in exchange for blood." The adviser spoke about the concept of independence in the past 16 years. He said that despite the struggle for independence, the essence of that independence had been undermined in recent years. There’s nothing like ‘2nd independence’ in sovereign Bangladesh: Mirza Abbas "We believe that until every citizen of the country feels that they are free, that they have freedom of speech, and freedom of expression, there is no benefit in a land being independent. We believe that 24th February protected that independence. The self-sacrifice of the student masses has completed that independence,” he said.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus was warmly welcomed upon his arrival here on Wednesday to attend Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 before his bilateral talks with President Xi Jingping scheduled for March 28. Vice Governor of Hainan Province, together with Bangladesh Ambassador to China Md Nazmul Islam received the Chief Adviser upon his arrival at Qionghai Bo'ao International Airport by a special China Southern flight at around 4:15pm (BD Time), Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Kids also greeted the Chief Adviser with flowers. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Road Transport and Bridges; and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative to Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed and CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam are accompanying the Chief Adviser. Themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 is being held here from March 25 to 28 in Boao, South China's Hainan Province. Boao is a coastal town in the city of Qionghai, Hainan. This year's conference is expected to draw about 2,000 delegates from over 60 countries and regions and more than 1,100 journalists from about 30 countries and regions. The Chief Adviser is on a four-day official visit through which Dr Yunus thinks the relationship between Bangladesh and China would further be deepened. Dhaka-Beijing relations to be deepened further: Dr Yunus A bilateral meeting will be held between the delegations of the two countries led by Chief Adviser Dr Yunus and Executive Vice Premier of the State Council of China Ding Xuexiang on Thursday morning, just before the formal opening of the Boao Forum for Asia, said Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin. On the sidelines of the Forum, Dr Yunus will hold bilateral meetings with the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and the current Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, Ban Ki-moon, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, the Director-General of FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) and several other notable participants of the conference. Talks with President Xi on March 28 On March 28, a bilateral meeting will be held between the delegations of the two countries led by Chief Adviser Dr Yunus and President of China Xi Jingping at the Great Hall of China. The meeting will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and China, trade and investment growth, agriculture, infrastructure, support for renewable energy sectors, and resolving the Rohingya issue, as well as overall issues of mutual interest between the two countries, Jashim Uddin said. After the meeting, he will participate in an event called "Investment Dialogue" with Chinese business leaders, organised to inform the Chinese investors about the business-friendly environment in Bangladesh and attract Chinese investment in Bangladesh. JICA signs Tk 6,700 crore loan deals with Bangladesh for 2 projects The Chief Adviser will participate in three roundtable discussions on different themes - Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Investment, Bangladesh 2.0 Manufacturing and Market Opportunities and Social Business, Youth Entrepreneurship and the World of Three Zeros at the same venue, where he will exchange views with CEOs of various companies, experienced individuals from the Social Business Circle, high-ranking officials of renowned Chinese companies, business representatives and the young generation of Bangladeshis and Chinese.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday said that the events of 1971 and 2024 are not separate and that the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War has been revived through the popular uprising of 2024. "We believe that 71 and 24 are not separate; rather, through the popular uprising of 24, the spirit of 71 has been revived,” he said while talking to journalists in the morning at the National Memorial in Savar, after paying tribute to the war heroes of the Liberation War. Emphasising the significance of Independence Day, he said, “On Independence Day, we respectfully remember the martyrs of the great Liberation War. It was in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs that we gained an independent country. The people of Bangladesh have sacrificed their lives and shed their blood at various stages of history for independence, democracy, justice and rights.” BNP seeks clear election roadmap, criticises Dr Yunus for ambiguity He added that the journey from the colonial struggle to the independence movement continued, leading to the popular uprising of 2024. “From the colonial struggle to our struggle for independence, this continuity led to the popular uprising of 2024.” Nahid also spoke about the repeated sacrifices made by the people of Bangladesh in their pursuit of freedom. “We believe that the independence we gained has been repeatedly snatched away, and the people have had to shed blood time and again. Our wish is that the people do not have to shed blood in the future.” In response to questions from journalists, Nahid reiterated his view that the two historical moments—1971 and 2024—are deeply interconnected. “We believe that 71 and 24 are not separate; rather, through the popular uprising of 24, the spirit of 71 has been revived. What we wanted in 71 was not achieved in 54 years, which allowed fascism to dominate Bangladesh for 15 years, making another popular uprising necessary. As a result of this uprising, the autocrat Hasina fled the country.” There’s nothing like ‘2nd independence’ in sovereign Bangladesh: Mirza Abbas “The talk of equality in 71 is reflected in our call for a society free of discrimination in 24, and those who oppose this claiming them to be contradictory or in opposition to each other have dishonest intentions. We believe that they have failed to truly grasp the significance of the popular uprising of 24 and the victory of the student community. The new young people who have come forward and the message of the new era are something they cannot comprehend,” Nahid also said.

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas on Wednesday said there is no such thing as a “second independence” in a sovereign, independent Bangladesh. “Today’s celebrations would serve as evidence that the concept of a ‘second independence’ does not exist in the country,” he said after paying tribute to the martyred war heroes on the occasion of the 54th Independence Day at the National Memorial in Savar. The notion of a "second independence" was an attempt to undermine the significance of the country's hard-earned freedom from 1971, Abbas said. "Second independence": An Attempt to Undermine Original Freedom “Those who talk about a second independence want to undermine today’s Independence Day. In other words, they had no role in the independence of 1971,” Abbas added. BNP seeks clear election roadmap, criticises Dr Yunus for ambiguity He urged those propagating such views to show restraint and respect for the day, calling for the preservation of Bangladesh’s hard-won independence. “I would say they should remain quiet and respect Independence Day. Let’s make sure we can preserve this independence.” On National Unity and Political Diversity When asked about the current state of national unity, Abbas said there was no real disunity in the country. “There is no disunity; there is a place for interest. Every party has its own ethical stance and ideology. Each speaks from their perspective. I wouldn’t call this disunity.” He added that while different political ideologies may create the appearance of division, the country would unite when the need arose to protect its independence and sovereignty. “If a time comes, when national unity is required, we will all come together.” On Upcoming Elections Regarding the upcoming national election, Abbas expressed his confidence in the statement made by the chief adviser, who confirmed that elections would be held in December. “We want to believe in this, and we don’t want to change our faith.” Remembering Ziaur Rahman Reflecting on the legacy of independence, Mirza Abbas also remembered President Ziaur Rahman, who declared Bangladesh’s independence and fought for its freedom during the war. “Ziaur Rahman declared independence and fought for the country’s freedom.” Fakhrul to attend Bangabhaban reception today Abbas added that despite 54 years of independence, the nation had, at times, lost the true essence of freedom. However, recent movements, particularly the student-led protests on August 5, had revived hope and led to the removal of the "autocrat" prime minister Sheikh Hasina. “The people of the country have been freed once again from autocracy and oppression,” he added.  

A powerful transport syndicate has started extorting Tk 832.30 crore from over 1.5 crore Eid travellers as "tips," forcing them to pay exorbitant extra fares, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report, presented by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday, highlighted widespread fare irregularities across road, rail, water and air transport. Jatri Kalyan Samity demands end to overcharging, harassment during Eid travel Eid Travel Rush and Fare Anarchy Between 20 March and 31 March, approximately 22.74 crore passenger trips will take place in Dhaka, driven by Eid shopping and travel to home districts. Of these, 1.5 crore people will leave Dhaka for their hometowns. Despite government efforts to regulate fares, 98% of public transport operators are charging excessive amounts, the report states. Fare hikes are primarily attributed to inflation, extortion, employee Eid bonuses, and owners’ profit motives. Besides, the absence of passenger representatives in monitoring teams has made oversight ineffective. Jatri Kalyan Samiti demands ban on unfit vehicles during Eid travel Breakdown of Extra Fare Collection Road Transport ·         Long-distance buses and minibuses: Tk 90 crore extra from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per passenger). ·         City buses: Tk 12 crore from 40 lakh trips (Tk 30 per passenger). ·         CNG auto-rickshaws: Tk 60 crore from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per trip). ·         Battery-powered and pedal rickshaws: Tk 160 crore from 8 crore trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Leguna, Duranta, Diganta (human hauliers): Tk 16 crore from 80 lakh trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Ride-sharing motorcycles: Tk 250 crore from 2.5 crore trips (Tk 100 per trip). ·         Private cars, jeeps, microbuses: Tk 21 crore from 20,000 trips (Tk 3,500 per trip). Water Transport ·         Launches and boats: Tk 80 crore extra from 40 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per passenger). ·         Ferries and river crossings: Tk 100 crore from 10 crore trips (Tk 10 per passenger). Rail Transport ·         Train roof passengers: Tk 80 lakh from 80,000 passengers (Tk 100 bribe per passenger). ·         Passengers without tickets: Tk 7.5 crore from 2.5 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per bribe). Air Transport Domestic flights: Tk 35 crore from 1 lakh passengers (Tk 3,500 per passenger). Call for Reforms The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity emphasised that the fare hikes are exacerbating the cost of living, encouraging corruption, and increasing road accidents. To curb these issues, it urged authorities to introduce digital fare collection, ban cash transactions, use CCTV for fare monitoring, and improve transport governance. 475 dead from 452 road accidents in October: Jatri Kalyan Samity Press Conference Attendees Present at the press conference were newly elected Chairman Dr Mohammad Zakaria, former Election Commission Secretary Syed Ahmad, former Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and Mohammad Alauddin Masud.

Two more new dengue cases were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morning, bringing the total number of cases to 1,851 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). One new case was reported in each of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation. Seminar highlights importance of proper iftar and sehri The number of deaths remained at 13, with no new fatalities reported during this period, the DGHS added. Currently, 76 dengue patients are receiving treatment in hospitals across the country. Every family could face a cancer case by 2030 without greater awareness, experts warn Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. According to the DGHS, there were 101,214 dengue cases and 100,040 recoveries in the same year.

Veteran actor Mohanlal has revealed that Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and South Indian superstar Rajinikanth were highly impressed by the trailer of his upcoming film, L2: Empuraan. In an interview with News18, he spoke about their reactions and how they genuinely appreciated the film’s scale and production value.  Speaking about their feedback, Mohanlal emphasised that their praise was heartfelt and not driven by competition. “I shared the trailer with Amitabh Bachchan saab, and Rajini sir personally called me. He was astonished and said, ‘What have you done? Oh my god!’ It was genuine appreciation, not a reaction stemming from a need to create something better,” he said.  The ‘Drishyam’ actor further explained that Rajinikanth, who is also a producer, understood the level of effort put into the film. “He could see the investment made in the movie and acknowledged it. His compliment was sincere, coming straight from his heart after watching the trailer. It wasn’t just a casual social media post praising the film,” Mohanlal added.  Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, L2: Empuraan is one of the most anticipated films of 2025. Serving as a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Lucifer, the film sees Mohanlal reprising his role as Khureshi-Ab'raam. The trailer hints at an intense socio-political drama with high-stakes action and gripping storytelling.  BJP highlights real story behind John Abraham’s 'The Diplomat' The film also stars Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor and Gokulam Gopalan under Aashirvad Cinemas and Sree Gokulam Movies, the film will release in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.  Set to hit cinemas on March 27, L2: Empuraan marks Mohanlal and Prithviraj’s third collaboration after Lucifer and Bro Daddy. With inputs from Indian media

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said on Wednesday that the critical need for building consensus in national interest was essential. Gaining public trust required both political and policy consensus. To implement the necessary reforms for the welfare of the people, all stakeholders must work together with unity and commitment, she said after paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar on the occasion of Independence Day, according to a press release. BNP seeks clear election roadmap, criticises Dr Yunus for ambiguity The rising above partisan and personal interests to reach a national consensus was imperative. Despite differences in perspective, efforts to bridge these gaps and align for the greater national interest must continue, the adviser said. Strengthening the justice system was crucial in fostering public confidence, she added. Regarding the people’s expectations, she reaffirmed the commitment to ensuring free and fair elections. Rizwana said that delivering justice for the tragic killings that took place in July and August remained a significant challenge. "We are striving to ensure that through a proper judicial process, the public experiences a sense of justice and trust in the system.” All parties should prioritise the national interest and move forward with reforms in line with the people’s aspirations, she also said. Dr Yunus pays homage to Liberation War martyrs; vows reforms Over time, all stakeholders will come together to forge the necessary consensus for the nation’s progress, she added. She urged all concerned to work collectively in advancing this process.

As the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 begins, the world is at the tipping point of profound geopolitical and economic transformations. The growing disparities between Western governments and the inefficacy of governance are now a global core debate; most Global South nations are now focusing on developing interdependent regional cooperation. The shift in dynamics is indicative of the Global South taking an increasingly influential position that works to realize the vision of a group of states that are intent on creating their own path of modernization and development. The Global South presents a hopeful atmosphere in Asia by leading the way in establishing a path for sustainable economic growth. Over the years, the BFA has established itself as a leading platform for dialogue on global issues, ranging from trade and finance to technology, climate action and sustainable development. As a global platform for countries of the region to build cooperation, mutual trust and forge solutions of common benefit to the wider Global South, the forum is the first of its kind. The rise of China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other emerging economies continues, highlighting the Global South's increasing impact on shaping a future world with a global power balance. Meanwhile, Europe and the U.S. are beset by growing political turmoil, and the Middle East struggles with instability; nations in Asia engage in increasingly constructive dialogue on shared interests, such as China-Japan-South Korea trilateral talks. These efforts highlight the potential of regional cooperation to surpass old divisions and build new paths forward. The rapid economic growth of Global South countries demonstrates that the Global South is not merely a passive player but an active participant in the global economy. These nations are uniquely positioned to drive innovation and modernization by developing strategies suited to their specific conditions while responding to the worldwide demand for progress. The Global South's economic rise is no longer a prediction; it's a fact. Today (as of 2023), these nations alone account for 42 percent of the world's GDP, and this figure has been steadily increasing as emerging economies declined and significant Asian economies grew. Emerging markets, of which many in the Global South, including the powerhouses of China, Brazil and South Africa, now account for over 50 percent of global GDP in 2024. Over the last two decades, more than 1 billion people in developing countries have been lifted out of extreme poverty, a testament to the Global South’s capacity for transformation. Yet, this momentum must be harnessed strategically to bridge the North-South divide. During the past decade, the Asian region has undergone a profound transformation across multiple sectors, amplifying the Global South's potential, out of which decentralized supply chains have emerged, linking landlocked nations from East Asia to Central Asia and Europe via expanding rail networks, such as the China-Europe Railway Express, which has grown to connect more than 220 cities across 25 European countries since its inception. Simultaneously, the East-West sea routes have seen significant development with the rise of major ports like Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadar in Pakistan, new facilities in Chittagong Port in Bangladesh and Tuas Maga Port in Singapore. In India, new greenfield ports are built with associated infrastructure, such as railway lines through the Sagarmala project and the National Maritime Development Program, which emphasize Asian growth. These developments not only enhance connectivity for landlocked states like Nepal and Central Asian nations but also position Asia as a hub for global commerce, building an antifragile trade system with an alternative towards uniform East-West shipping routes. However, modernization for the Global South cannot be a rerun of the models used in previous decades. The future course must suit these regional nations' unique opportunities and challenges. As Chinese President Xi Jinping underlined at the 2023 BFA, the future of the Global South must be based on values that advance peace, security and collaboration. In tackling security issues, his six pledges under the Global Security Initiative emphasize the significance of inclusiveness, peaceful dispute resolution, sovereignty respect, and comprehensive and cooperative security. These ideas are essential for maintaining political stability and creating an atmosphere that supports economic development and advancement. In particular, the digital transformation presents vast opportunities for the Global South nations to overcome traditional development stages. Countries like China, India and Vietnam are already making strides in technology and digital infrastructure, which can accelerate their economic and social development. At the same time, fostering innovation in green technologies and sustainable industries will help the Global South nations meet the challenges of climate change while ensuring future prosperity.   Yasiru Ranaraja, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a researcher on maritime affairs and expert on Belt and Road Initiative development. He is also the founding director of the Belt Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), an international development organization and think tank in Sri Lanka.

Import and export activities at the Bhomra land port in Satkhira will remain suspended for eight days due to the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays and the weekly off days. Abu Musa, the general secretary of the Bhomra Customs, Clearing, and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association, said from March 29 (Saturday) to April 5 (Saturday), there will be no import or export activities at the port. The port will reopen on April 6 (Sunday). He mentioned that from the afternoon of March 28 (Friday), import and export activities between India’s West Bengal’s Ghojadanga land port and the Bhomra port will be halted. Preparations underway at Paturia, Aricha ferry terminals as Eid nears Due to the Eid celebrations, port officials and staff will return to their respective areas. Likewise, importers will be on holiday, and no goods will be cleared during this period. Bhomra is one of the busiest land ports in the southwestern region of the country, connecting with Ghojadanga land port in India. Through this port, raw materials, food products, onions, rice, fruits, coal, spices, and various construction materials are imported and exported. On average, 350 to 400 trucks transport goods through the port daily, according to Musa. Immigration officials at the Bhomra checkpost said that although import and export activities will be suspended during the Eid holiday, passport-holding passengers will continue to cross the border without any disruption. Passengers can cross the border as usual.

US Vice President JD Vance announced he will join his wife on a trip to Greenland this Friday, hinting in a video posted on Tuesday that global security is at stake. “We’re going to check out how things are going there,” Vance stated in the video. “Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important for the security of the entire world.” Usha Vance to visit Greenland amid Trump's US takeover talks President Donald Trump caused tension in Europe when he suggested the U.S. should have control over Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark rich in minerals. Greenland’s strategic value lies in its position as a gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic, with both China and Russia seeking access to its waters and natural resources. The vice president’s decision to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland avoids the diplomatic issue of sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. However, Vance has also been critical of long-time European allies for depending on U.S. military support, antagonising partners in ways that have raised concerns about America’s reliability. Before the vice president’s announcement, discontent had been growing in Greenland and Denmark. The Greenland government posted on Facebook Monday evening that it had “not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the situation “unacceptable pressure” during an interview on Tuesday. The office of second lady Usha Vance confirmed Sunday that she would travel to Greenland on Thursday and return on Saturday. Usha and one of their children had planned to explore Greenland’s historic sites and learn about its culture, but her husband’s involvement has shifted the focus of the trip to national security. Vance explained that he didn’t want his wife to “have all that fun by herself,” adding that he would visit a Space Force outpost on Greenland’s northwest coast. He noted that other countries have also posed threats to Greenland, the U.S., and Canada. Initially, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was listed as part of the U.S. delegation to Greenland, but his name was removed after it was revealed that he had mistakenly added a journalist to a secure messaging app conversation about a military strike in Yemen. JD Vance's family moved to undisclosed location amid backlash Vance stated that leaders in Denmark and North America had “ignored” Greenland for “far too long.” Instead of attending the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut, which Usha Vance had planned to visit, the trip will now focus on a visit to Pituffik Space Base. However, Dwayne Ryan Menezes, founder of the Polar Research & Policy Initiative, warned that the Trump administration’s “intimidation” of Greenland could backfire. He argued that if Trump recognized Greenland’s strategic significance, he would understand that alienating allies undermines U.S. long-term interests. Despite growing objections from Greenland and Denmark, Vance is allowed to visit the space base under a 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Denmark regarding the defense of Greenland. Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, pointed out that the controversy stems from the timing of the visit, especially since Greenland currently lacks a functioning government. During his first term, Trump proposed purchasing Greenland, which Denmark, a NATO ally, rejected, as did the people of Greenland. Trump’s return to the White House has been marked by his desire for territorial expansion, including efforts to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and to regain control of the Panama Canal. He has also suggested that U.S. interests could take over the war-torn Gaza Strip from Israel and turn it into a luxury.

Gas supply will remain suspended for 8 hours in the northern part of Dhaka on Thursday. According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, gas supply will remain off to all types of customers in Nikunja-1, Nikunja-2, Khilkhet area, Concord City (up to the riverbank), Namapara, and the surrounding areas will remain suspended for a total of eight hours from 6 am to 2 pm on Thursday for the removal of underground gas pipelines for MRT Line-1. Gas supply to remain off for 6 hours in parts of capital on Sunday The consumers in the adjoining areas may experience low pressure in gas supply during this period, said Titas Gas, regretting to its customers for the temporary inconvenience.

Aid organisations in Sudan reported on Tuesday that at least 54 people were killed in a military airstrike on a local market in the country’s western region. The attack on Monday targeted the village of Tora, causing a large fire, as stated by Adam Rejal, a spokesperson for the General Coordination, a local organisation assisting displaced people in Darfur. Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, a spokesman for the Sudanese military, denied targeting civilians, describing the allegations as “incorrect” and claiming they are often made when the military exercises its constitutional and legal right to address hostile threats. South Sudan teetering on the edge of renewed civil war, UN envoy says The airstrike severely damaged much of the weekly market in Tora, which lies 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province. Support Darfur Victims, a local group aiding those affected by the Darfur conflict, released graphic video footage that appeared to show burnt structures and charred bodies on the ground. More than half of the deceased were women, according to a casualty list provided by Rejal. The list also showed that at least 23 people were injured and seven went missing. Rejal described the strike as “a crime against humanity and a clear violation of all international and humanitarian laws and conventions.” El-Fasher is under the control of the Sudanese military, despite daily attacks from the rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The strike on Monday is the latest in a series of deadly attacks in the ongoing war, which began in April 2023 when tensions between the military and the RSF escalated into full-scale conflict across Sudan. The war has devastated the capital and other urban areas, claiming over 28,000 lives, displacing millions, and forcing some families to resort to eating grass to survive as famine spreads throughout the country. Some estimates suggest a much higher death toll. Sudan’s military retakes govt headquarters The conflict has been marked by atrocities such as mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, which are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international human rights groups. The Sudanese military has made gradual advances against the RSF in recent months, including regaining control of most key strategic and government buildings in the capital, Khartoum, in March, including the Republican Palace, which housed the pre-war government.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will attend a reception at Bangabhaban this (Wednesday) afternoon. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and First Lady Dr Rebeka Sultana will host  the reception, marking the Independence Day. “BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will participate in the reception at Bangabhaban at 4 pm, at the invitation of the President, on the occasion of 26 March,” said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP media cell. BNP seeks clear election roadmap, criticises Dr Yunus for ambiguity The reception is expected to be attended by the Chief Justice, advisers, ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries, Supreme Court judges, the chiefs of the three armed services, senior political leaders, journalists, academics, business leaders, artistes, valiant freedom fighters, family members of the Birshreshtha gallantry award recipients and other distinguished citizens. Every year, 26 March brings to mind the darkest chapter in the nation's history, marking the beginning of a nine-month-long bloody struggle from the night of 25 March 1971, which culminated in the hard-won independence on 16 December of the same year, at the cost of immense sacrifice.

The celebration of the great Independence and National Day-2025 started at dawn on Wednesday with a 31-gun salute. An artillery regiment of the Bangladesh Army stationed at the Old Airport (Tejgaon) area in Dhaka fired six guns, marking the 31-gun salute in honor of the martyrs of the great Liberation War, according to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Home adviser pays tributes at Razarbagh Police Memorial As in previous years, Independence and National Day was celebrated with the utmost respect, enthusiasm, and fervor, it said.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra successfully withstood a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Wednesday, following a two-day debate during which her opponents alleged that she had mismanaged the country and allowed her father, a former prime minister, to exert control over her administration. Opposition lawmakers claimed that she was excessively influenced by her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin, a widely popular yet highly controversial political figure, was ousted in a 2006 military coup, went into exile, and recently returned to Thailand. China's Xi and Thailand's leader vow to crack down on scam networks that plague Southeast Asia Paetongtarn’s critics argued that her administration had improperly prioritised her family’s personal and financial interests, particularly those of her father. They also accused her of tax evasion and of failing to address persistent national issues such as the sluggish economy, air pollution, crime, and corruption. She secured 319 votes in her favour, while 161 voted against her and seven abstained in the first no-confidence vote she has faced since taking office last year. Her predecessor, another Pheu Thai prime minister, was removed by the Constitutional Court for committing a serious ethical violation. Following the vote, Paetongtarn expressed gratitude to all parties for their participation in the process. “Every vote, whether in support or opposition, serves as motivation for me and the Cabinet to continue working with dedication for the people,” she wrote on social media. Bangladesh and Thailand Chief Justices meet to discuss potential judicial collaboration Paetongtarn leads the Pheu Thai Party, the latest in a series of populist parties linked to Thaksin. For nearly two decades, Thaksin has been central to Thailand’s deep political divides, with his support base among the predominantly poor, rural population clashing with royalists, the military, and their urban allies, who accuse him of endangering their status and that of the revered monarchy.

Search engine giant Google is marking Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day by replacing its regular home page graphic with a special doodle. If anyone form Bangladesh goes to google to search, they will find the red-green flag doodle. By clicking on the doodle, one can visit a new page with information on Bangladesh's independence. “This Doodle celebrates Independence Day in Bangladesh! The public holiday commemorates the moment Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared independence on this day in 1971,” according to Google homepage. Committed to advancing partnership with Bangladesh for peace, prosperity: Modi tells Dr Yunus “On the eve of Independence Day, a few select citizens and organizations are presented the Independence Day Award that celebrates their extraordinary achievements. The annual award recognizes scientists, athletes, writers, musicians, artists, and more. The following day, grand events like parades, concerts, and rallies occur all throughout the country.” “Many wear traditional green and red sarees and kurtas to show pride in their national colors, all while exploring streets decorated with the Bangladeshi flag — like the one in today’s artwork. The green represents progress, youth, and the nation’s lush landscape, while the red symbolizes sacrifice, rebirth, and the rising sun,” it added.

The throat-slit body of a 55-year-old woman was recovered from her house at  Barijangal village in Bhedarganj upazila of Shariatpur on Tuesday night. The deceased was Mukta Begum, 55,  wife of Mannan Gazi from Barijangal village. Husband Mannan Gazi said that he locked the main door and left his wife at home while he went to offer Tarabi prayers. Upon returning home after the prayers he found his wife’s body lying on the bed, said Bhedarganj Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Parvez Hasan Selim. Man’s body found hanging in Sylhet flat As news of the incident spread, a local mosque announced over the loudspeaker that a robbery had taken place.  “We are not confirmed at the moment over any robbery incident. An investigation will determine the full details of the incident,” the OC said.

Asian markets made modest gains on Wednesday following a subdued session on Wall Street, where buying activity slowed after a broad rally the previous day. This rally had been driven by optimism that President Donald Trump’s tariffs might not be as extensive as initially feared. Tesla sales fall by 49% in Europe even as the EV market grows Hong Kong’s Hang Seng increased by 0.3% to 23,403.40, while the Shanghai Composite index dipped by less than 0.1% to 3,367.98. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.7% to 38,027.29. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.1% to 2,643.94, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.7% to 7,999.00. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 edged up by 0.2% to 5,776.65, following a 1.8% surge on Monday—one of its strongest performances in the past year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4 points, or less than 0.1%, to 42,587.50, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.5% to 18,271.86. U.S. stocks have recouped some of their losses after declining 10% below their all-time high earlier this month, marking their first “correction” since 2023. The S&P 500 is now down 6% from its peak, making the market appear less overvalued than before—a key concern after its rapid growth in previous years. However, Wall Street strategists caution that further volatility is likely, with an April 2 deadline approaching. This date, which Trump has dubbed “Liberation Day,” marks the implementation of tariffs on trading partners that he claims impose a disproportionate burden on the U.S. Monday’s market rally was fueled by hopes that these “reciprocal” tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared. Even if the tariffs are less severe than expected, the uncertainty surrounding them has already shaken confidence among U.S. consumers and businesses, potentially leading to reduced spending and slowing economic growth. A report released on Tuesday revealed worsening sentiment among American households. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell more than anticipated, largely due to a steep decline in short-term economic expectations. This measure hit its lowest point in 12 years, remaining “well below the threshold of 80 that typically signals an impending recession.” Similar to other recent surveys, the data indicated that U.S. households are more concerned about the economy’s future than its current state. Despite this pessimism, economic activity and the job market have so far remained resilient. On Wall Street, Trump Media & Technology Group surged 8.9% after announcing a partnership with Crypto.com to launch a series of “America-First” investment funds. These exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will include bitcoin and other digital assets, as well as stocks in U.S.-focused industries like energy. Crypto.com will provide the technology infrastructure, custody, and cryptocurrency supply for these ETFs, which will operate under TMTG’s Truth.Fi brand. BYD reports 2024 revenue over $100b, topping Tesla's sales Tesla gained 3.4%, fluctuating between minor gains and losses after weak sales data from Europe. Despite this, the stock remains down nearly 29% for 2025. Homebuilder KB Home fell 5.2% after reporting lower-than-expected profit and revenue for the latest quarter. Homebuilders, already struggling, may face rising costs due to tariffs, which could be passed on to homebuyers. A report on Tuesday indicated that U.S. new home sales in the previous month were slightly weaker than economists had predicted. In early trading on Wednesday, U.S. benchmark crude oil rose 31 cents to $69.31 per barrel, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained 30 cents to $72.69 per barrel. The U.S. dollar strengthened to 150.47 Japanese yen from 149.86 yen on Tuesday, while the euro slipped to $1.0784 from $1.0790.

An elephant died after falling sick on a road in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura on Tuesday.The elephant collapsed on the top of a van near Mohammadpur Shyamnagar Petrol Pump, seriously injuring the van driver Rahmat Ullah around 11 am. Wild elephant die from electrocution in SherpurHe was rushed to a local hospital for treatment, said Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rahman.“The elephant was possibly unwell. Its mahout took it out on the village road despite its condition, which led to the accident,” said the OC. Asian elephant population in Cambodia more robust than previously thoughtAs the news spread, locals rushed to the scene to catch a glimpse of the dead elephant.

Wildfires have been devastating southern South Korea, claiming 18 lives, destroying over 200 structures, and forcing 27,000 people to evacuate, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Driven by strong winds, these wildfires rank among the worst the country has ever faced. Officials also reported that a helicopter crashed while attempting to contain the fires in Uiseong, one of the most severely affected areas. The Korea Forest Service stated that rescue operations were in progress, and it was believed that only the pilot was on board. 39 dead as tornadoes, wildfires, dust storms devastate US The government’s emergency response centre noted that the fires have burned through 43,330 acres, injuring 19 people and consuming an ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories, and vehicles. In a televised address, South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo stated that the ongoing wildfires, which began last Friday, were inflicting more damage than many previous incidents. “The damage is escalating rapidly,” Han remarked. “We may be facing wildfire destruction on an unprecedented scale, so we must focus all our efforts on extinguishing the fires this week.” Han pointed out that strong overnight winds had hampered firefighting efforts, with around 4,650 firefighters, soldiers, and other personnel engaged in the battle against the flames. They were supported by approximately 130 helicopters. A small amount of rainfall—5 to 10 millimetres—was expected on Thursday. Observers consider these wildfires the third-largest in South Korea’s history in terms of land burned. On Tuesday, officials in several southeastern cities and towns ordered evacuations as dry winds continued to fuel multiple blazes. The largest fires were reported in Andong, the neighbouring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan, according to the Interior Ministry. Earlier that day, officials had announced that the largest fires in these areas had mostly been extinguished. However, strong winds and dry conditions led to the blazes reigniting. Overnight firefighting efforts were partially halted as the winds intensified. In Uiseong, the fire destroyed nearly half of the more than 30 structures at Gounsa, a temple believed to have been originally built in the 7th century. Among the damaged buildings were two state-designated “treasures” – a pavilion-like structure built over a stream in 1668 and a Joseon Dynasty structure from 1904, erected to commemorate a king’s longevity. Another state-designated treasure, an 8th-century stone Buddha statue, was relocated to safety, as confirmed by government and Buddhist officials. The Justice Ministry reported that 500 inmates were transferred from a detention centre in Cheongsong, another town in the south, as a precaution. However, no damage to the facility was reported. On Tuesday, the Korea Forest Service raised its wildfire warning to the highest “serious” level nationwide. This measure required local authorities to deploy additional emergency personnel, tighten entry restrictions to forests and parks, and advise military units to suspend live-fire exercises. Powerful March storm sparks wildfires, causes fatalities, raises Tornado concerns Among the 18 casualties were four firefighters and government workers who lost their lives in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds, officials said. Authorities suspect that human negligence was responsible for several of the fires, possibly due to the use of fire for clearing overgrown grass at family tombs or sparks from welding activities.

Voicing frustration over Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus' address to the nation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday expressed disappointment that the interim government head did not present a clear roadmap for the national election. “I am very disappointed that the Chief Adviser did not mention a clear election roadmap in his speech yesterday (Tuesday),” he said while speaking to reporters after paying homage to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave. Fakhrul, along with party leaders and workers, placed a wreath at Zia’s grave, paying tribute to him on the occasion of Independence Day. He said the announcement of election between December and June is a vague statement. “It is very vague. December to June... six months. So, no roadmap has been given.” The BNP leader reiterated that their party has consistently called for a clear roadmap and prompt elections. Otherwise, he warned, the crisis that has been created will not be resolved. Fakhrul said their party is not talking about the election merely to come to power. BNP holds prayers seeking early recovery of Tamim “BNP is advocating for the election in the interest of the nation, to protect the nation, to protect independence and sovereignty, and for the establishment of an elected parliament and government,” Fakhrul said. He said they hope the interim government will quickly carry out the necessary minimum reforms for the election and subsequently announce the election schedule. Fakhrul, along with BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, led thousands of leaders and activists to Zia’s grave to pay homage to the party founder, whom they consider the proclaimer of the Liberation War. After placing the wreath, they also offered Fateha, praying for the salvation of Zia’s departed soul. Earlier in the day, party leaders and activists, led by BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, laid a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar, paying tribute to the brave martyrs of the Liberation War. Fakhrul also expressed disappointment that in his speech, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus did not mention the name of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the brave freedom fighter who declared independence, even once. “But this was history,” he said. He also said the BNP does not want the history distorted by the Awami League to be altered again. The BNP leader said the sooner a democratic and elected government is established in the country, as per the people’s desire, the sooner the country’s problems will be resolved.

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury paid tributes to the valiant police personnel who were martyred during the Liberation War on Wednesday.  The adviser placed wreaths at the Razarbagh Police Lines Memorial in the morning morning. Dr Yunus pays homage to Liberation War martyrs; vows reforms Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Md Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali, and RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman were also present.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday left for China on four-day official visit through which Dr Yunus thinks the relationship between Bangladesh and China would further be deepened. A special China Southern flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1pm. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen had a brief meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Yunus at the airport before his (CA) departure. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Road Transport and Bridges; and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative to Chief Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed and CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam are accompanying the Chief Adviser. Bangladesh Ambassador to China Md Nazmul Islam and Vice Governor of Hainan Province will receive the Chief Adviser upon his arrival at Qionghai Bo'ao International Airport at around 7pm, a senior official told UNB. "I will meet with President Xi Jinping. I will also meet with CEOs of major Chinese businesses," Dr Yunus said ahead of the visit. The bilateral meeting will be held at the Great Hall of China on March 28. Addressing the nation on Tuesday evening, Dr Yunus said the world's largest Chinese solar panel manufacturer Longji has expressed interest in setting up a factory in Bangladesh. "We are working with them. In addition, technical assistance, medical assistance, low-cost treatment and other issues will be discussed," he said, adding that they (China) want to import mangoes, jackfruit and guava from Bangladesh. "This will start very soon." Bangladesh and China are set to sign several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) as Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare to hold a bilateral meeting in Beijing on March 28. The bilateral cooperation documents are likely to be signed in the areas of human resource development, economic and technical assistance, cultural and sports cooperation and cooperation between the media. Besides, announcements related to economy, investment and economic zones are likely to be made, said Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin. The two leaders will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and China, trade and investment promotion, cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, renewable energy sectors, and resolving the Rohingya issue, among other matters of mutual interest between the two countries, said the Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary said China is Bangladesh's best friend, closest neighbor, strategic partner and one of the largest commercial and development partners. Bangladesh and China enjoy excellent diplomatic relations, which are deepening, he said, adding that this year the two countries have undertaken programs to celebrate the 50 years of China-Bangladesh diplomatic relations. The Foreign Secretary said the visit would add a new dimension in Dhaka-Beijing relations with further momentum. The Chief Adviser will attend roundtable discussions on Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Investment; Bangladesh 2.0 Manufacturing and Market Opportunities; Social Business, Youth Entrepreneurship and the World of Three Zeros. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday said Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus’ visit to China would be "very successful, productive and a milestone visit" with some announcements. Dr Yunus' scheduled visit to China from March 26-29 is going to be the “most important visit” by a Bangladesh leader over the last 50 years, as the two countries are eyeing to take the relations to a new height. “This is going to be the most important visit by a Bangladeshi leader in 50 years,” said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, quoting Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen who met Dr Yunus on March 16. Alam said a big focus will be given on relocation of Chinese factories to Bangladesh to make the country a manufacturing hub. Committed to advancing partnership with Bangladesh for peace, prosperity: Modi tells Dr Yunus "We want to create a revolution in the manufacturing sector," said the press secretary, adding that it helps create more jobs and boost exports from Bangladesh to the global market. He said there will be a series of engagements during the chief adviser's China visit. On the sidelines of the forum, Alam said, the chief adviser is likely to have meetings with CEOs of some companies. Dhaka and Beijing are eyeing stronger ties, marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations. The chief adviser will attend a programme on March 29 at Peking University and will return to Dhaka at night (same day). As per the plans, the chief adviser will first attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, South China's Hainan Province.

People from all walks of life bid farewell to renowned cultural personality and president of Chhayanaut Dr Sanjida Khatun by placing wreaths on the coffin of deceased at the Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban in the capital's Dhanmondi on Tuesday afternoon. Her body was taken to Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban around 12:30 pm for people to pay their last respects. Representatives from various cultural organisations paid tributes to her by laying wreathes and signing Rabindra sangeet. Sanjida Khatun  passed away at Square Hospital in the capital on Tuesday at the age of 92. Born on April 4, 1933, Sanjida Khatun came from a distinguished family. Her father, National Professor Kazi Motahar Hossain, was a renowned scholar, while her mother, Sajeda Khatun, was a homemaker. She was also the sister of eminent writer Kazi Anwar Hossain and the wife of noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Wahidul Haque. Legendary cultural icon Sanjida Khatun passes away at 92 Sanjida was a trailblazing figure in Bangladesh’s cultural arena — a Rabindra Sangeet singer, researcher, author, musicologist, and educator. She was one of the founding members of Chhayanaut in the early 1960s and later served as its President until her demise. She also co-founded the Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad and served as the President of Nalanda, an innovative child education institution. During the 1971 Liberation War, Sanjida was one of the founders of the Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha, which played a crucial role in boosting the morale of freedom fighters through cultural performances. Throughout her illustrious career, she was honoured with numerous prestigious awards, including the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Literary Award, Nazrul Gold Medal, Rabindra Smriti Award, and Rabindra Tattwacharya title. In 2021, the Government of India conferred upon her the Padma Shri award. She was also honoured with the Desikottama Honorary D.Litt and many other national and international accolades.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD) has predicted slight rise in temperature over the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Wednesday. “Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country in 24 hours,” said a Met office bulletin on Wednesday. Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area. Seasonal low lies over the South Bay, it said . Rain, thundershowers likely over 3 divs, BMD says Country’s highest temperature was recoded at 35.5 degree Celsius in Rangamati on Tuesday.

President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended felicitations on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh with India reiterating its commitment to advancing partnership for peace, stability and prosperity. "We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity and based on mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns," Modi said in a message to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. Modi extended his felicitations to Dr Yunus and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh. "This day stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices, that have laid the foundation of our bilateral partnership," said the Indian Prime Minister. He said the spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh continues to remain a guiding light for the relationship, which has flourished across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our peoples. President Droupadi Murmu, in her message to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, said, "On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and to the friendly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of your National Day." Bangladesh, China to sign key deals as Dr Yunus to meet Xi in Beijing on March 28 She said Bangladesh-India relations are multi-faceted with our cooperation encompassing diverse areas such as trade, multimodal connectivity, development partnership, power and energy, education, capacity building, cultural cooperation and people-to people exchanges. The Indian President said Bangladesh is at the focus of India's "Neighborhood First" and "Act East" policies. "Our SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific Vision. India reiterates its support for a democratic, stable, inclusive, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh," she said.

Bangladesh and the United States have discussed "potential acquisition" of US-origin equipment to enhance interoperability and capabilities. Lt Gen Joel P Vowell, Deputy Commanding General, US Army Pacific, visited Bangladesh om March 24 – 25, said the US Embassy in Dhaka.  During his visit, Lt Gen Vowell met counterparts in the armed forces of Bangladesh, reinforcing the US Army’s commitment to a strong relationship with the Bangladesh Army while highlighting shared security interests and ongoing collaboration.  Committed to working together to make both nations "safer, stronger": US to Bangladesh This includes recognition of the Bangladesh Army’s ongoing support to domestic security, particularly in light of other demands such as disaster response; dialogue on Bangladesh’s primary military challenges and potential areas where the US can provide support; discussion of Exercise TIGER LIGHTNING in Summer ’25 and appreciation for the professionalism of the Bangladesh military and the importance of professional military forces in ensuring regional stability.

Police have arrested former RUCSU vice president and ex-vice president of Faridpur district Chhatra League Kawsar Akand a Jubo League activist in connection with a case related to July Movement. Kawsar, a key accused in the case, is known as a close aide of Mujibur Rahman Nixon Chowdhury, former MP of Faridpur-4 constituency and a presidium member of the central Jubo League. Sub-Inspector Fahim Faisal of Kotwali Police Station said Kawsar, son of Dulal Akand, a hotel businessman from Purbo Khabaspur area of the city, and his associate Moslem Biswas were arrested from Onather Mor area of the city around 11:30 pm on Tuesday. Police said Kawsar and a group of Chhatra League activists attacked protesters during the July Movement at Khabaspur Boroitala, injuring several demonstrators. 219 arrested during DMP’s special 24-hr drive on Saturday Kotwali Police Station OC Asaduzzaman said Kawsar and his associate were in connection with the attack on student protesters and investigation is underway.

Scientists have identified a rare dinosaur species with only two claws in Mongolia's Gobi Desert. Named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, this dinosaur belonged to the Therizinosaur group, which typically had three claws and walked on two legs.  Weighing around 260kg, the medium-sized dinosaur had distinctively long, curved claws. Researchers suggest these claws, coupled with strong flexing ability, helped it grasp vegetation efficiently. Therizinosaurs, a group of plant-eating or omnivorous theropods, lived in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous Period, which lasted from 145 to 66 million years ago, reports BBC.  Among them, Therizinosaurus—recognised for its enormous claws—gained fame through its appearance in ‘Jurassic World Dominion’. Describing the group, Dr Darla Zelenitsky, a study co-author from the University of Calgary, noted their "awkward" appearance.  The newly discovered specimen was excavated from the Bayanshiree Formation, a Late Cretaceous fossil site in the Gobi Desert, dating back 100.5 to 66 million years. Science, tradition combine to restore relics in Beijing UNESCO acknowledges the Mongolian Gobi as one of the world's richest sites for dinosaur fossils, particularly from the Cretaceous period—the final chapter of the dinosaur era.  The study highlighted that Duonychus tsogtbaatari’s claws measured nearly a foot in length, significantly exceeding the size of the underlying bone. Besides grasping, these two-fingered hands might have been used for digging, display, or even as weapons.  Although two-fingered dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex are well known, Duonychus developed this trait independently. The specimen also preserved the first-ever recorded keratinous sheath of a therizinosaur, a structure similar to human fingernails, which may have aided in movement, defence, or capturing prey.

At least 24 shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Boalkhali Bazar in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari early Wednesday. The fire broke out at Tripti Hotel around 1:45 am and spread to adjoining shops, said Md Jakaria, officer-in-charge of Dighinala Police Station. On information, five firefighting units from Khagrachhari, Longadu, and Dighinala rushed to the scene to bring the fire under control, said Mohammad Zaker Hossain, deputy assistant director of Khagrachhari Fire Service. Forest Department starts investigation into Sundarbans fires General Secretary of the market management committee Md. Alamgir Hossain said that traders stocked sufficient goods in each shop on the occasion of Eid for Muslims and the Baisabi festival for Paharis.

European sales of Tesla electric vehicles tumbled 49% in the first two months of the year compared with a year earlier even as overall sales of EVs grew, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. There have been complaints about an aging lineup of vehicles from Tesla and also a significant backlash against CEO Elon Musk and his affiliation with the Trump administration in the U.S. In Europe, Musk's endorsement of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party in last month's national election drew broad condemnation. Tesla faces increasing competition from major automakers as they ramp up EV production, including China's BYD. On Tuesday, BYD reported a record 777.1 billion yuan ($107 billion) in revenue for 2024 as sales of its electric and hybrid vehicles jumped 40%. Earlier this month, BYD announced an ultra fast EV charging system that it says is nearly as quick as a fill up at the gas pump. BYD reports 2024 revenue over $100b, topping Tesla's sales Tesla sales for January and February slumped to 19,046 from 37,311 in the same period in 2024. That comes against the background of a 28.4% increase in sales of all battery-electric cars in Europe. German politicians and opinion media sharply criticized Musk over his support for the AfD, while Tesla vehicles and dealerships have been the target of protesters in the U.S. and Europe over the AfD endorsement and his role advising U.S. President Donald Trump in drastically reducing the size of the US federal government. Tesla sales are falling globally, however. The company posted its first annual sales drop in more than a dozen years in January. Tesla's new Cybertruck has had multiple recalls including last week, when the company recalled nearly all of them because panels that run along the left and right side of the windshield can fly off when driving. It was the eighth recall of the Cybertruck since deliveries to customers began just over a year ago.

China is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to transform agriculture, particularly in smart breeding, which is paving the way for high-yield, climate-resilient "super crops" that could reshape global food security amid environmental challenges. At the 2025 Seed Congress, held from March 20 to 23 in Sanya, Hainan Province, smart breeding was a focal point. More than 40 exhibitors presented state-of-the-art technologies and flagship crop varieties, demonstrating how AI-driven breeding is transitioning from concept to reality. Digital exhibits showcased breakthroughs such as AI-powered genomic analysis and cloud-based farm monitoring systems. Experts at the event highlighted how smart breeding is modernizing traditional techniques into precision agriculture. This transformation is helping to address seed resource constraints, strengthen self-sufficiency in the seed sector, and bolster China's strategic role in the global seed market. Li Jiayang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), introduced the idea of "intelligent creation of intelligent varieties," emphasizing the integration of AI, biotechnology, and information technology to develop crops that can adapt to environmental conditions. Another CAS academician, Qian Qian, noted the complexity of crop traits. "Understanding the relationship between genes and traits requires computational power and advanced algorithms," he said. Unlike conventional small-scale breeding, smart breeding follows an industrialized model, pooling extensive resources to efficiently integrate desirable traits. AI-driven breeding is already yielding significant results. At China National Seed Group, researchers employ a cloud-based system to remotely monitor fields, collecting real-time data on crop health and growth. This allows scientists to address issues promptly and optimize breeding strategies. One major advancement is in hybrid rice development. Traditionally, breeders tested thousands of combinations to identify a superior hybrid. Now, AI-powered genomic analysis can predict high-yield combinations before field trials commence. Chinese researchers use Earth science satellite to monitor offshore oil, gas platforms "We have moved from experience-driven to data-driven breeding," said Li Huihui, deputy director of the National Nanfan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Another key innovation is "Fengdeng," a seed-focused large language model developed primarily by the Yazhou Bay National Laboratory in Sanya. This AI platform provides expert guidance on breeding, cultivation, and industry trends, equipping farmers and researchers with valuable insights. Despite these advancements, challenges persist. China's smart breeding sector lags behind global seed industry leaders in data-sharing infrastructure and commercialization. The fragmentation of datasets limits AI’s ability to predict and engineer superior crop varieties. "Accelerating the development of high-yield, high-quality and climate-resilient 'super varieties' is crucial," Qian said, calling for collaboration among breeding institutions, AI researchers, and agribusinesses to propel smart breeding innovation.

President Donald Trump's top intelligence officials will brief House lawmakers Wednesday on global threats facing the US — though they'll likely be questioned again over their use of a group text to discuss plans for military strikes in Yemen. CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel are among those who were asked to testify before the House Intelligence Committee as part of its annual review of threats facing the US. At a similar hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard briefed lawmakers on her office's threat assessment, noting that China, Russia, Iran and North Korea continue to pose security challenges to the US, as do drug cartels and transnational criminal organisations. Usha Vance to visit Greenland amid Trump's US takeover talks The presentations from top Trump appointees reflect Trump's foreign policy priorities, including a focus on combating the flow of fentanyl, illegal immigration and human trafficking, and are taking place as Trump attempts to work out a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine three years after Russia's invasion. Tuesday's hearing was dominated by questions about Ratcliffe and Gabbard's participation in a group chat on Signal in which they discussed plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen. The group included a journalist, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Gabbard and Ratcliffe have said no classified information was included in the messages, but Democrats have decried the use of the messaging app, saying that any release of information about timetables, weapons or military activities could have put US servicemembers at risk. At Tuesday's hearing they asked Patel, who was not a participant in the text chain, if he would investigate. It's likely House Democrats will press Patel on the same question Wednesday. The National Security Council has said it will investigate the matter, which Trump on Tuesday downplayed as a “glitch.” Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, who was also in the group chat.

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and defending champion Argentina on Tuesday became the first South American team to secure a spot. Iran also clinched a berth. New Zealand qualified on Monday, five days after Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot. Next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11 and the final will take place on July 19. Forty-three teams will get their spots through their continent’s qualifying process. Another two will secure their berths in the international playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. What is the breakdown of berths? Asia will have eight direct berths and one in the intercontinental playoff. Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff. Argentina beats Brazil 4-1 after securing its place at the 2026 World Cup North and Central America plus the Caribbean get three direct berths and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs. South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental playoffs. Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot at the World Cup, and New Zealand clinched that with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in Auckland. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup. Who has qualified so far? The three host countries automatically qualify — and thus occupy three of the CONCACAF spots Host nations United States, Mexico, Canada Asia Japan (qualified on March 20 by beating Bahrain 2-0) Iran (qualified on March 25 in 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan) Oceania New Zealand (qualified on March 24 by beating New Caledonia 3-0) South America Argentina (qualified on March 25 after Bolivia failed to beat Uruguay)