Bangladesh is struggling under the weight of more than 1.3 million Rohingya refugees while Myanmar, the source of the crisis, faces few consequences, analysts warn. A UN conference this week again highlighted how international pledges remain thin, leaving Dhaka to shoulder a burden it did not create. Since 2017, residents of Ukhiya and Teknaf have […]
Bangladesh’s import settlements fell sharply in August, signaling a slowdown in new business and investment despite an adequate supply of U.S. dollars. Bangladesh Bank data show Letters of Credit (LC) settlements dropped 10.9% year-on-year to $4.88 billion, largely due to an 11.5% fall in capital machinery imports. Economists said entrepreneurs remain reluctant to pursue new […]
Nearly 1,000 call records linked to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were deleted the evening of Aug. 5, 2024, the day she was ousted in a mass uprising, investigators said Monday. Tanvir Hasan Joha, a special investigator with the International Crimes Tribunal, told reporters the logs included four numbers used by Hasina and were […]
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Sunday urged the government to immediately reconstitute an independent Information Commission, citing over a year of inaction that has hindered citizens’ access to information. In a statement marking International Day for Universal Access to Information, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman criticized the interim government for failing to amend the Right to […]
Electric vehicles, once viewed as luxury novelties, are steadily making their way onto Dhaka’s crowded streets. More than 500 EVs have been registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority since September 2022, when official registration began. Annual registrations have jumped from about 70 in 2023 to well over 300 this year, officials said. Global carmakers […]
A mosquito coil sparked a blaze that destroyed at least eight houses in Lalmonirhat district Thursday night, officials said. The fire began in a cowshed in Aditmari upazila, where farmer Ukileshwar had lit the coil. Flames quickly spread, engulfing homes belonging to him and another farmer, Onil. Residents reported the blaze to authorities, and firefighters […]
The United States’ new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications has raised concerns in Bangladesh, which saw 1,173 of its citizens approved for the visa in FY2024. While far behind India, Bangladesh has steadily built a pipeline of IT and engineering professionals seeking opportunities abroad. Many Bangladeshi workers pursue U.S. jobs through outsourcing firms or […]
Bangladesh is experiencing a troubling increase in HIV cases and deaths even as global numbers continue to decline, health officials said. The country recorded 1,438 new HIV infections and 326 deaths last year, up from 1,276 infections and 266 deaths in 2023, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. In the first six months […]
The Bangladesh Army, working with law enforcement, arrested 44 people in nationwide operations from Sept. 18 to 25, seizing firearms, drugs, and explosives, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations office. Authorities recovered seven illegal guns, a cocktail grenade, 132 rounds of ammunition, and other contraband. While the arrests highlight the state’s determination to curb crime, […]
Bangladesh could seek informal membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to boost trade and regional harmony, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said Wednesday in New York. He noted ASEAN has provisions for such arrangements but acknowledged obstacles, particularly Myanmar’s stance on the Rohingya crisis. “It is not easy to get everybody’s ‘yes’ right away,” […]
