The Bangladesh national football team will play two International Friendly Football matches at home against the Maldives on November 13 and 16 in this year's last FIFA window. General Secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Imran Hossain Tushar confirmed the matter on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, the BFF communicated with Malaysia and Thailand to play football matches in the FIFA window in November, but they want to play only one match with Bangladesh. Later, the BFF communicated with the Maldives, who agreed to play two matches here, so the BFF accepted their proposal considering more (two) matches and cheap expenditure. In the last meeting, the BFF approved the decision. BFF Election: Tabith Awal poised to replace Kazi Salahuddin The matches are likely to be held at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, and we are maintaining close communication with the Kings authority. Bangladesh-origin English footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury got" no objection" from England Football Association to play for Bangladesh after getting a Bangladesh passport and clearance from his English Premier League club, Leicester City FC. Soon after, the BFF applied to the FIFA players status committee with the necessary documents for permission to let Hamza into the Bangladesh team, but the FIFA committee wants more documents that delayed his desire to play for the Bangladesh team. Moreover, now he is out of the field due to injury. So, Hamza's participation in the Bangladesh team in the November window against the Maldives has become uncertain.

The Council of Advisers, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, on Thursday approved the draft on an agreement between the governments of the Maldives and Bangladesh on ‘transfer of prisoners’. The Council of Advisers also in principle approved a proposal for ratification of the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Bangladesh and Qatar. “Once these are done, we will be able to bring back our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters who have been sentenced in the Maldives or Qatar,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters while briefing the media at Foreign Service Academy on Thursday evening. Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the media briefing. Bangladesh currently has agreements on ‘transfer of sentenced persons’ with India, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Bangladesh received a draft agreement on ‘transfer of prisoners’ from the Maldives in 2015 through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Once the proposed agreement is signed, Bangladesh will be able to bring back its citizens from the Maldives who are sentenced and imprisoned. The agreement will be in force for 10 years and it can be renewed for another 10 years if the two countries agree. The Council of Advisers also in principle approved a proposal for ratification of the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Bangladesh and Qatar. The agreement with Qatar was signed between the two governments on April 23 this year during Qatar Emir’s visit to Bangladesh. The agreement will remain in force for one year and if neither part expresses willingness to end it, it will remain in force for another year.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday underlined  cooperation among Bangladesh, Nepal and the Maldives to promote tourism for mutual benefits. "Bangladesh, Nepal and the Maldives can promote cooperation on tourism for mutual benefits," she told outgoing Maldives High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shiruzimath Sameer during a farewell call on her. Germany, France, Denmark, Netherlands, UK, Canada file joint declaration of intervention in case against Myanmar at International Court of Justice PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim Briefed reporters after the call on at the PM's official residence, Ganabhaban. "Discussion was held on flourishing tourism among the three countries," he said. The prime minister also conveyed her regards to the newly elected Maldives President  Mohamed Muizzu. Scotland wants to hire construction workers from Bangladesh: Scottish delegation tells PM The envoy said Bangladesh has huge potential in tourism particularly in Cox's Bazar, the home to the world's  longest sandy sea beach. The PM said many Bangladeshi workers have been working in the Maldives. "They are contributing to the economies of both the countries" she said. The envoy thanked the PM for her government's all-out support to her during her tenure. Russian House in Dhaka hosts Geographical Dictation 2023 "The Maldives and Bangladesh relations have reached a new height during her tenure," she said. Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were also present.

Nestled serenely within the expanse of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has lured travelers with its opulent allure. The pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxurious resorts have made it an icon in high-end travel. Yet, for those with a more budget-conscious spirit, some exotic tourist destinations in the heart of Asia can offer almost similar experiences. Let’s take a look into some of the most popular budget-friendly Asian alternatives to the Maldives. 10 Best Budget-Friendly Alternatives to the Maldives in Asia Phi Phi Islands, Thailand This tropical paradise, along with its mesmerizing blend of stone and sand beaches, is located in the Andaman Sea. Among this island group comprising six distinct islands, Phi Phi Don is renowned for its Monkey Beach and Maya Bay. In the case of spending the night, Tropical Garden Bungalows come with a jungle vibe with modern amenities. The airfare to Phitsanulok, the nearest airport to this place, from Bangladesh starts at USD 230 (BDT 25,264.65 at an exchange rate of USD 1 = BDT 109.85) per person. Meals cost approximately THB 417 or BDT 1,289.45 (THB 1 = BDT 3.09) per day, while local transportation is estimated at THB 253 or BDT 782.33 daily. The average cost for a couple's hotel stay in Koh Phi Phi is THB 2,956 (BDT 9,140.58). Read more: Beach Bucket List: 9 Magnificent Sea Shores in South Asia Koh Lipe, Thailand This hidden gem, located in the Andaman Sea, offers hiking opportunities to take in the island's natural beauty from elevated vantage points. The island provides a variety of amenities, from bars and open-air restaurants to cafes and massage shacks.

Two Bangladeshis are feared dead among 11 workers who were killed in a fire that broke out in a building housing foreign workers in the Maldives capital early Thursday. Another Bangladeshi was injured and hospitalised, an official at Bangladesh High Commission in Maldives told UNB. Read more: 10 shops, bank branch gutted in Ctg market fire Details of the deceased are yet to be known as their documents were destroyed in the fire, the official added. He identified the injured as Tayab. Read more: Electric transformer catches fire behind Gulshan Central Mosque "We will hopefully be able to know details once we can talk to the injured person. He is not in a position to talk at this moment," the official added. Maldives police spokesman Yoonus Sobah said the fire broke out in the building after midnight, reports AP. The Indian embassy in Maldives said on Twitter that Indian citizens were among the dead. Sobah said the cause of the fire is being investigated. Maldives employs a large number of foreign workers, mostly from Bangladesh and India. Their living quarters, especially in the capital, Male, are frequently overcrowded.

Bangladesh Women's Football team made a flying start in the seven-nation 6th SAFF Women's Championship' 2022 crushing the Maldives by 3-0 goal in their first match at the Dasharath (Rangasala) Stadium in Kathmandu Wednesday evening. All the three goals of the match were scored in the first half. Experiened booter cum captain Sabina Khatun struck twice for Bangladesh in the 32nd and 40th minutes while Masura Parvin netted the remaining goal in the 34th minute. Bangladesh team was placed in tough Group A alongwith five times champions India, the Maldives and Pakistan while comparatively easier Group B comprises hosts Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will face Pakistan on Sept 10 and meet holders India on Sept 13. Read: SAFF Women's Champs: Bangladesh to start campaign against Maldives on Wednesday Earlier In the day's first Group A match, defending champions India also made a good start outplaying their arch-rival Pakistan by 3-0 goal at the same venue Wednesday afternoon. In the inaugural match ( Group B)  hosts Nepal beat Bhutan by 4-0 goal on Tuesday On completion of group matches, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the semifinals on Sept 16.   The final match will held on Sept 19. 

Bangladesh emerged Group A champions to reach the semifinal of the six-nation SAFF U-17 Championship outplaying the Maldives by 5-0 goal in their last group match at Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Bangladesh will play the first semifinal on September 12 against the Group B runners-up, yet to be decided. The final match will be held on Sept 14. Read:SAFF U-17: Bangladesh make flying start crushing hosts Sri Lanka 5-1 With the day's feat, Bangladesh finished top in Group A with all-win record securing full six points from straight two matches after crushing hosts Sri Lanka by 5-1 goal in their first match Monday. In the day's match. Bangladesh dominated the first half by 2-0 goals. Mirajul Islam of Bangladesh made the first hattrick in the ongoing meet scoring three goals in a row in the 74th, 77th and 90th minutes while Nazmul Huda Faisal and Murshed Ali netted one each in the 4th and 38th minutes respectively. Read:SAFF Women's Champs: Bangladesh to start campaign against Maldives on Wednesday Earlier, holders India also made a good start in the regional youth soccer meet outplaying Bhutan by 3-0 goals in the inaugural match at the same venue last Monday.

)- Bangladesh Women's Football team, now in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, will start their campaign in the seven-nation 6th SAFF Women's Championship 2022 taking on the Maldives on Wednesday (Sept 7).  The match will kick-off at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. Two archrival India and Pakistan will meet each other in Wednesday's other match at 1:15 pm.  Experienced booter Sabina Khatun will lead the Bangladesh women's side as captain while Maria Manda will assist her as vice-captain.  Earlier, Bangladesh team was placed in tough Group A along with five time champions India, the Maldives and Pakistan while comparatively easier Group B comprises hosts Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Read: SAFF Women's Champs: .Bangladesh team reaches Kathmandu In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will face Pakistan on Sept 10 and meet India on Sept 13.  On completion of group matches, top two teams from each of the groups will play in the semifinals on Sept 16. The final match will be held on Sept 19.  The morale of the youthful Bangladesh women's team is now higher than all previous occasions after winning the two- match series 1-0 against upper ranked Malaysia recently.    Bangladesh beat Malaysia 6-0 in the first match and settled for a draw in the 2nd match.

Known as the treasure island for its scintillating beauty and naturally blue lagoons, Maldives is often considered the most picturesque island destination in the world. Here you don’t take cars to go from one place to another, rather boats and seaplanes. With all its beauties and natural archipelagos, there is a lot to try in this water-crisscrossed nation. Here are the best places to try out in the Maldives. Best Places and Experiences in the Maldives Male The experience starts off in the country’s capital. Male is a thriving city for its size and population with the country’s main international airport situated right beside the city. It also acts as the primary destination for tourists. The place is adorned with Maldivian culture and heritage. Several large market streets are selling authentic local goodies. The Grand Friday mosque and Rasrani Bageecha are some of the most exquisite architectural sites you’ll find in all of Maldives. Read 9 Best Countries to Retire Abroad A slight hint of the Maldivian treasure trove can be found in the National Museum. The place is an excellent lesson for the culture and the thousand-year-old history of Maldives. Hulhumale Island Moving on from the Male atoll, tourists can explore Hulhumale Island. This is a place you don’t usually see in the scenic photos of the Maldives. Hulhumale Island is a thriving urban city sprawling right across the Male atoll. The reclaimed -land made city has its own artificial beach and tons of diners and hotel options. Hulhumale isn’t really about the luscious blue water experience. It’s more of a mix between modern and island culture where you get to experience it all without going completely off the grid. Another great place for tourists is the sea promenade. The long walkway made around the outskirts of the island is bound to mesmerize anybody. Read Thailand Travel Guide: Top places to visit, amazing things to do Maafushi It's unexpected that a country like the Maldives, which is a complete tourist destination thriving in tourism, would have an offbeat destination. Yet Maafushi islands are exactly that. The island is unlike any of its neighbors. There aren’t any high-end hotels or resorts. There’s not even a dedicated tourist itinerary here. Maafushi is a place where you come to experience laid-back and true island life. The island is still recovering from the devastating Tsunami of 2014 which completely destroyed its fishing system, the island’s main source of income. Read Visit Boga Lake, Bandarban: Natural pool from fairy tales or sleeping volcano Now tourists can come here to visit the fishing settlements and try some fresh and authentic seafood cuisines. There are also some home cafes sprinkled across the island. Overall, it makes for a nice and chill retreat. Utheemu Known as the seat of the great Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu, Utheemu isn’t just known for its long white sand stretches and palm trees. Sultan Mohamed is a revered figure in the island nation as he’s credited with the expulsion of the foreign invaders in the early 16th century. The legend of his bravery is still remembered with respect. The utheemu archipelago is situated at the far northern atoll of the island nation. While it’s a bit secluded from the main cluster, it brings a sense of off-the-grid experience to the tourists. There are mainly two ways to get to Utheemu – either by boat or by seaplanes. Read Solo Female Travel: Top 10 Safest Countries for Women for Traveling Alone Feydhoo Feydhoo definitely stands out as the most planned island structure in all of Maldives. But the place hasn't always been like this. In fact, the island wasn’t even inhabited before world war two. During the war, the British army used the nearby Gan island as a strategic base. The thousand or so inhabitants were moved to Feydhoo who were the first men of the picturesque island. Feydhoo offers several resorts ranging from cheap stays to 5-star resorts. Like Maafushi, Feydhoo is also famous for its beautiful sea beaches and rich seafood delicacies. Read Monsoon Tourism: Best Places to Visit During the Rainy Season in Bangladesh Banana Reef For the longest time, Maldives has been branded as the go-to honeymoon destination in the world. But recently, the situation has been changing with the introduction of different experiences and adventures in different islands of the country. And the first of that was the Banana Reef. The coral island is known for one thing only – scuba diving. In fact, you won’t find many establishments here other than diving and gear rentals. It’s a great place to enjoy the offerings of Maldives, from down under. Fuvahmulah If you want to get truly lost in the vast expanse of the Indian ocean, then Fuvahmulah is your best bet. The island is situated in the far west of the Maldivian land mass with an atoll of its own. It takes a good few hours to get to Fuvahmulah even with the fastest speedboats. Read Romantic Beach Honeymoon Destinations in Asia Fuvahmulah is situated in the equatorial region, meaning a humid climate persists year-round in this region. It is the perfect destination to visit during the winter season. Alimatha Islands Alimatha islands bring the best of both worlds to tourists. Here you will see luxurious retreats along with the best scuba diving spots in all of Maldives. There are beautiful stretches of white sand beaches along the eastern end of the island. The Alimatha island is the last island in the Felidhe atoll. The inexplicable beauty of the water and the salty mists is something that will mesmerize anyone. Read Travel Malaysia: Best places to visit, craziest things to do Kuredu Kuredu is your traditional and usual representation of Maldives. From its scuba diving spots, retreat experiences, and the world-famous cottage on the seas, Kuredu offers it all. I mean no wonder it is called the beauty of the Lhaviyani Atoll. Getting to Kuredu island is also easy. Just hop on any of the seaplanes or speed boats leaving fromHulhumale island. You will reach Kuredu in no time. Final Words The Maldives is a through and through island country. It is a quintessential destination that merges tradition with modernity. The country has been a consistent top choice for a honeymoon as it offers a more relaxed and serene experience all around. Since the last century, the country has steadily developed and centered its economy around tourism. Be it the hospitality of the people, excellent amenities, or the sheer eye-pleasing seascapes, this country mesmerizes unlike any other.  Read E-Passport for Children in Bangladesh: Application process, necessary documents In this article, we have discussed the most amazing things to see and the craziest things to do in the Maldives. So, when are you planning your next itinerary?

Sri Lanka’s embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the Maldives on Thursday after fleeing his own country amid mass protests demanding he resign over his country's economic collapse. A Maldives government official said Rajapaksa boarded a flight of Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, on Thursday bound for Singapore. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Rajapaksa and his wife fled Sri Lanka early Wednesday aboard an air force jet as protesters were taking over government buildings to demand he resign. Rajapaksa promised over the weekend he would do so, but instead he named his prime minister acting president in his absence, further incensing those who blame the government for the crisis. Meanwhile Thursday, the government announced a curfew in the capital Colombo and its suburbs to run until 5 a.m. Friday and protesters were withdrawing from the presidential palace after occupying it during the weekend. Some were seen unrolling a red carpet in the palace as they left. Anticipating more protests after a group attempted to storm the Parliament’s entrance a day earlier, troops in green military uniforms and camouflage vests arrived by armored personnel carriers Thursday to reinforce barricades around the building. Some protesters had posted videos on social media pleading with others not to storm the Parliament, fearing an escalation of violence. Protest leader Devinda Kodagode told The Associated Press they were vacating official buildings after the Parliament speaker said he was seeking legal options to consider since Rajapaksa left without submitting his resignation letter as promised. The protesters accuse the president and his powerful political family of siphoning money from government coffers for years and Rajapaksa’s administration of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy. The family has denied the corruption allegations, but Rajapaksa acknowledged some of his policies contributed to the meltdown. It was not immediately clear what Rajapaksa’s destination would be. Maldives officials initially indicated he planned to travel onward to Saudi Arabia, but later could only confirm his first stop in Singapore. Since Sri Lankan presidents are protected from arrest while in power it’s likely Rajapaksa planned his departure while he still had constitutional immunity and access to a military jet. Read: Sri Lanka protests: One dead and 84 injured, say hospital officials On Wednesday, protesters undeterred by multiple rounds of tear gas scaled the walls to enter the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the crowd outside cheered in support and tossed water bottles to them. Protesters took turns posing at the prime minister's desk or stood on a rooftop terrace waving the Sri Lankan flag. Amid the mounting chaos, Wickremesinghe’s office imposed a state of emergency giving broader powers to the military and police. Defense leaders have called for calm and cooperation with security forces — comments that have rankled some lawmakers who insist civilian leaders would be the ones to find a solution. The protesters blame the Rajapaksas for leading the country into an economic abyss, but they are also furious with Wickremesinghe. They believe he has protected the president and that his appointment in May alleviated pressure on Rajapaksa to resign. Wickremesinghe also has said he will resign, but not until a new government is in place. He has urged the speaker of Parliament to find a new prime minister agreeable to both the ruling and opposition parties. It's unclear when that might happen since the opposition is deeply fractured. But assuming that Rajapaksa resigns as promised, Sri Lankan lawmakers have agreed to elect a new president on July 20 who will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024. That person could potentially appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by Parliament. The political impasse threatens to worsen the bankrupt nation’s economic collapse since the absence of an alternative government could delay a hoped-for bailout from the International Monetary Fund. In the meantime, the country is relying on aid from India and China. The shortages of basic necessities have sown despair among Sri Lanka’s 22 million people. The country’s rapid decline was all the more shocking because, before the recent crisis, the economy had been expanding, with a growing, comfortable middle class. “Gotabaya resigning is one problem solved — but there are so many more,” said Bhasura Wickremesinghe, a 24-year-old student of maritime electrical engineering, who is not related to the prime minister. He complained that Sri Lankan politics have been dominated for years by “old politicians” who all need to go. “Politics needs to be treated like a job — you need to have qualifications that get you hired, not because of what your last name is,” he said, referring to the Rajapaksa family. After the president fled to the Maldives the whereabouts of other Rajapaksa family members who had served in the government were unclear.