Delhi to consider Dhaka’s request for increased diesel, fertiliser supply ‘favourably’

Bangladesh on Wednesday thanked the Indian government for the recent supply of diesel and requested an increased volume of diesel and fertiliser supply to Bangladesh while the Indian side indicated that it would consider the request “readily and favourably.”Dhaka also reiterated its request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. They have been awarded the death penalty by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.Bangladesh thanked the Indian authorities for apprehending the suspected killers of Shaheed Osman Hadi.Both sides agreed that the arrested individuals would be returned to Bangladesh in accordance with the procedures laid out in the extradition treaty between the two countries.Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman raised these issues during his meetings in New Delhi. He met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Oil and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.Prime Minister’s...

Merged bank depositors to be repaid in phases: Bangladesh Bank

Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday said depositors of the five banks merged into Sammilito Islamic Bank will receive their funds in phases under a structured repayment plan.The clarification came at a press briefing at the central bank’s Sena Kalyan Bhaban office, following a protest by depositors of the merged banks in front of the central bank headquarters. “A specific scheme has been developed to return depositors’ money and the process is already underway in stages,&rdquo...

Govt to consider raising fuel prices from next month: Energy Minister

Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku on Tuesday said the government will consider increasing fuel prices from next month if necessary by adjusting the prices.The minister said this in response to a question from gove...

German Parliament delegation discusses ways to strengthen climate partnership with Bangladesh

Staff CorrespondentA high-level delegation from the Environment Committee of the German Parliament (Bundestag) paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Abdul Awal Mintoo, at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.The Honourable Minister highlighted the longstanding and cordial relations between Bangladesh and Germany, describing the partnership as a robust, multidimensional collaboration spanning trade, development cooperation, and environmental sustainability.Discussions focused on strengthening technical and financial cooperation to support Bangladesh’s climate and environmental initiatives.Key areas of collaboration identified included capacity development, research and knowledge exchange, circular economy, waste management, renewable energy,...

Anti-Terrorism amendment bill passed to curb ban groups’ activities, propaganda

Politicisation of cricket looks set to continue under new government

In Bangladesh, cricket is far more than a national obsession. Combined with its enormous commercial appeal, the game has been converted into the ultimate political currency.The recent dissolution of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the lightning-fast installation of a politically connected ad-hoc committee exposes a harsh reality: governments may change, but the state or ruling dispensation's suffocating grip on the country's most popular sport remains completely unbroken.For decades, ruling regimes have understood that controlling cricket is a way to control the masses. During Sheikh Hasina's long period of rule, which is often called an authoritarian regime by political analysts, the BCB functioned as little more than a direct wing of the state machinery.The partisan dominance was absolute. It spread into every level of the administration, from the high-level boardroom decisions down to the stadium gates. It reached a point where the national team was actually led by sitting members of parliament. This wasn't a coincidence; it was a strategy to use the sport as a populist tool, designed to unify a fractured public under the ruling party's banner while masking the government’s deeper failures.When the Awami League government collapsed in August 2024, the BCB naturally fell into chaos.The power vacuum led to the emergence of a new board headed by Aminul Islam Bulbul, formed under the watch of the interim government. It was sold to the public as a necessary transition to keep the sport stable. However, in the tough landscape of Bangladeshi spo...

Raising job entry age not enough, country needs real job creation

The law passed by the Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday raising the maximum age limit for entry into government jobs to 32 has been widely welcomed. For many young aspirants—particularly those preparing ...

Restore trust, enforce discipline at Sammilito Islami Bank

The launch of Sammilito Islami Bank marks a critical turning point for Bangladesh’s troubled banking sector. After months of frozen accounts, uncertainty and public anxiety, the resumption of normal banking operations under a single, consolidat...

KFC's 'Eidi for Angels' Spreads Eid Joy to Underprivileged Kids

To stem the scourge of smoking, follow the science, not the dogma

Benefits of Having an Oven in Your Kitchen