Buddhists across the country, including in Dhaka, Chattogram, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cox's Bazar, and Ramus, are peacefully celebrating their second-largest religious festival, Prabarana Purnima, with the appropriate solemnity. In honour of this occasion, a week-long series of programmes has been organised in Buddhist villages and townships, as stated in a press release from ISPR. During the festival, the Bangladesh Army is on duty in both the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the plains to ensure an atmosphere of peace, order, and harmony. Earlier, on 10 October, a delegation from the Bangladesh Buddhist Federation held a courtesy meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman at army headquarters. During this meeting, the army chief pledged to provide financial and security assistance for the celebrations in the three hill districts for both Prabarana Purnima and the Kothin Chibor Dan events. He also assured that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure security during the festivities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Subsequently, the Army Chief presented a cheque for Tk 1 crore on behalf of the Bangladesh Army to the Bangladesh Buddhist Federation, according to the release. Additionally, the army has coordinated with other forces to ensure the security of the upcoming month-long Kothin Chibor Dan event.

Primary schools across Bangladesh have reopened after around one month of closure. Students were seen going to schools in the capital in the morning (August 14, 2024). All government primary schools under eight city corporation areas of the country were declared closed for an indefinite period on July 17 amid tension over students’ demonstrations for quota reform. August 15 public holiday canceled

An ISPR release has sought to quell speculation and calm nerves around the situation prevailing at the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary adjacent to St Martin's island. The ISPR, or Inter Services Public Relations, is the public communications wing of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. It said in the context of ongoing internal conflicts in Myanmar, the Myanmar military is conducting joint operations against the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. Due to this conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, there have been incidents of unwanted firing on Bangladeshi boats in the Naf River and the adjacent estuary area. BGB Chief orders heightened vigilance along Bangladesh-Myanmar border The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh expressed deep concern and protested the danger posed to Bangladeshi subjects on June 12, 2024. The ISPR release sent today said the Myanmar Navy is positioning near the maritime boundary of Myanmar and the Naf River, near St. Martin's Island, and firing artillery towards the positions of the Arakan Army. At the same time, the Arakan Army is also firing back at the Myanmar Navy. Currently, multiple warships of the Myanmar Navy are conducting these operations on the Myanmar border. The Myanmar Navy is also keeping the Bangladesh Navy informed about its presence in Myanmar’s maritime boundary near St. Martin’s Island. It is noteworthy that the internal conflict in Myanmar continues on the mainland and the adjacent coastal areas. Furthermore, near St. Martin's Island, multiple ships of the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard are regularly patrolling from within Bangladesh’s maritime boundary, monitoring the movements of Myanmar’s ships. "As the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar approaches near St. Martin's, there have been various rumors spread by interested parties on social media regarding the security of St. Martin's. Everyone is requested not to be misled by such rumors," the ISPR said. Read more: Need to find new partners to raise more int’l fund for Rohingyas: PM Hasina to IOM

Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman has been appointed as the new Army Chief of Bangladesh, effective June 23, 2024. With this appointment, he will be promoted to the rank of General, as confirmed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday (June 11, 2024). His tenure as Army Chief will last for three years. He will replace General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, who took over the Command of Bangladesh Army as the 17th Chief of Army Staff on 24 June 2021 and will complete his tenure on June 23, 2024. An alumnus of Bangladesh Military Academy, he was commissioned in the Corps of Infantry on December 20, 1985. Having an illustrious career of more than three and a half decades, Lieutenant General Waker brings with him enormous experience of holding key command, staff and instructional appointments. In his distinguished military career, Lieutenant General Waker commanded an Infantry Battalion, the only Independent Infantry Brigade of Bangladesh Army and an Infantry Division. His key staff appointments include staff officer at an Infantry Brigade, School of Infantry and Tactics and Army Headquarters. He was a distinguished instructor at ‘School of Infantry and Tactics’, ‘Non-commissioned Officers’ Academy’ and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training’. Lieutenant General Waker served as the Military Secretary in Army Headquarters. Prior to joining as the CGS of Bangladesh Army, he performed as Principal Staff Officer of the Prime Minister at Armed Forces Division under Prime Minister’s Office. Lieutenant General Waker is an alumnus of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur and Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK. He holds a Master’s degree in Defence Studies from National University of Bangladesh and Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College, University of London. As the head of the Armed Forces Division, he was directly involved with the UN Peacekeeping Affairs of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He was also nominated as a Gender Champion and Gender Advocate of Bangladesh for UN Peacekeeping Affairs. By virtue of his appointment as Principal Staff Officer, he also headed the ‘Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention’ as Chairman. Under the Blue Helmet, Lieutenant General Waker completed two tours of duty as observer and staff in UNAVEM (Angola) and UNMIL (Liberia) respectively. As the CGS of the Bangladesh Army, he has been responsible for the military operations, military intelligence, UN peacekeeping affairs, budget, and many other affairs of the army. Lieutenant General Waker had the rare privilege of commanding the National Victory Day Parade for three consecutive times. He was awarded the coveted ‘Army Medal of Glory (SGP)’ and Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) for his remarkable contributions in the modernization of the army. He frequents as a keynote speaker in different seminars and symposiums both at home and abroad. He enjoys games and sports. He is happily married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman and blessed with two daughters: Samiha Raisa Zaman and Shayeera Ibnat Zaman.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said the recent ‘false ‘and ‘fallacious’ Deutsche Welle (DW) documentary titled "Torturers deployed as UN peacekeepers" presents a "misleading portrayal" of Bangladesh Army personnel in UN Peacekeeping Missions. "Misrepresentation and insufficient diligence can lead to eroding the credibility and effectiveness of peacekeeping forces globally," ISPR said on Saturday (May 25, 2024) protesting the report. More so, the Bangladesh Army has a spotless record with no human rights violations while serving under the UN, a distinction shared by only a few countries, it said in a rejoinder to Deutsche Welle (DW) Documentary on UN Peacekeepers. Given these facts, ISPR said, it is crucial for media outlets to adhere to the principles of fair and balanced reporting, especially on issues as vital as international peacekeeping. DW documentary on Peacekeepers: UN says it follows three-step screening process when deploying troops It said Bangladesh Army rigorously follows the UN's stringent selection and vetting protocols to ensure that only the most qualified and thoroughly vetted individuals are deployed. "These measures underscore the Army's commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and professionalism in peacekeeping missions," ISPR said. Furthermore, it said, DW did not seek comments from the Bangladesh Army regarding the allegations presented in the documentary. "This lack of balanced reporting raises concerns about the aim and objective of the documentary. It is pretty clear that the documentary was focused on defaming a law enforcing agency of Bangladesh showing irrelevant video footages," ISPR said. "It was totally a biased media projection, which has largely compromised the credibility of the documentary. It has also raised questions about the motive behind it," ISPR added. Bangladesh highlights its contribution to UN Peacekeeping It is crucial to "recognise the significant contributions" of Bangladesh to UN peacekeeping efforts. Bangladeshi peacekeepers have earned a reputation for their dedication, professionalism, and humanitarian approach. A total 131 Bangladesh Army personnel have made supreme sacrifice and 239 sustained injuries while serving under the UN flag, embodying the spirit of selflessness and commitment to global peace.

The massive fire, which broke out at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market early this morning, is now under control. The fire broke out at the market around 3:43 am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell). Fire inside a parked train's private compartment kills nine in southern India Seventeen firefighting units are working to fully douse the blaze. It was brought under control around 9:25 am. Smoke is still billowing from the site, making it difficult for the firemen to work. Fire breaks out at Mohammadpur furniture factory No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report. Fire breaks out at garment factory in Ctg

Two soldiers of Bangladesh Army were killed and two officers injured in an attack by armed terrorists of Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) in Ruma upazila of Bandarban district on Tuesday (May 16, 2023), said an ISPR press release issued on Wednesday (May 17, 2023). The deceased were Altaf Ahmed and Md Touhid while the injured were Major Monwar and Captain Ishtiak Ahmed Shawkat. According to the ISPR release, tipped off about a hideout of armed terrorists, a team of army, led by Major Monwar from Susingpara Army camp, conducted a drive at Jarulchharipara on Tuesday. Read more: Army warrant officer killed as Kuki-Chin separatists open fire in Bandarban  When they reached near a water fountain at Jarulchhari around 1:55 pm, the armed KNA members opened fire on them and hurled improvised explosive device (IED) targeting the army personnel, leaving four of them injured. Later, the wounded army personnel were airlifted to Chattogram Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where two soldiers succumbed to their injuries. The injured army officers were undergoing treatment at the hospital. Read More: Training commander of Jamatul Ansar, 8 other militants arrested in Bandarban: RAB Earlier, on March 13, a senior army warrant officer was killed and two soldiers suffered injuries when members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) opened fire on a patrol team in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban district.

An officer of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) was shot dead and a Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel was wounded while conducting a drive against drug smugglers at the Tombru border in Bandarban on Monday (November 14, 2022) night. ISPR confirmed the information through a press release early today (November 15, 2022). Gunshots were exchanged between the drug smugglers and the joint team of Rab and DGFI at the Tombru border with Myanmar, under the Ghumdhum union, which left the DGFI personnel dead and a Rab member injured, the press release said. Read more: BGB-BGP flag meeting ends with Myanmar officially regretting border incidents ISPR, however, did not reveal the names of the DGFI and Rab personnel yet. Meanwhile, Sub-inspector Ripon Chowdhury, appointed at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, told the UNB correspondent that a Rab member was brought to the hospital around 10 pm with critical injury after being shot at the border during a drive. Assistant Sub-inspector of Naikhongchhari police station Joydeb said they were informed about firing at Konarpara area near the border but don’t have information about who was involved. Read more: Panic in Ghumdhum as Myanmar army engages insurgents close to border Some locals claimed Myanmar insurgent group Al Yaqin members shot at a team of Rab-15 members at zero point of Bandarban's Tombru border around 7 pm last night while they were conducting a drive.

The government has deployed army personnel in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts to speed up flood rescue and relief operations, according to ISPR. Nine units of the Bangladesh Army started rescue operations in flood-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts in the afternoon. “The troops have been deployed in Sylhet sadar, Gowainghat, Kompaniganj, Sunamganj sadar, Dirai, Chhatak, Doarabazar and Jamalganj upazilas to rescue the waterlogged people from their homes by boat and take them to safe shelter,” said an ISPR media release Friday. In addition, troops have been deployed to protect food godowns in Sunamganj and the Kumargaon power station in Sylhet. The following five tasks are assigned to the members of the army:  1. Rescue people trapped in water and take them to safe places. 2. Selection of temporary shelters with the help of civil administration and provision of accommodation for the rescued persons. 3. Provide medical assistance 4. Assist the civil administration in maintaining food godowns, power stations and other facilities. 5. Provide food and potable water.

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Sunday as elsewhere in the world. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) will arrange a number of programmes on the day. A programme commemorating the peacekeepers will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka Sunday morning. Also read: Bangladesh to observe UN Peacekeepers Day on Sunday The families and relatives of the injured and martyred peacekeepers will be honoured at the programme. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will join the programme through video-conferencing. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion. President Abdul Hamid in his message said he hopes that Bangladeshi peacekeepers who are performing their duties with honesty, devotion and professionalism will be able to continue this trend for establishing world peace, harmony, and amity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her full support to the UN for the protection and promotion of world peace on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh. Also read: UN honours 2 Bangladeshi fallen peacekeepers “Bangladesh today has become one of the largest troops contributing nations in the UN peacekeeping missions. The unique contribution of our peacekeepers to the UN multinational forces has brightened the image of the nation and made Bangladesh a dignified country in the world, she said. Special supplements will be published by the national dailies to highlight the significance of the day.