Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, CRI benefits brought under income tax regime
The interim government has imposed a tax on the income of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.Recently, the National Board of Revenue, or NBR, announced the revocation of six statutory regulatory orders, or SROs, that were exempted from income tax by the deposed Awami League government.Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust was one of them.According to the 2018 notification, this trust was exempted from income tax for 10 years on interest earned from fixed or savings deposits.Following the change in power, the previous notification has been cancelled after six years.The income tax on the interest earned on the trust's deposits must be paid from now on as per the normal rules.Similarly, the tax exemption provided to the Awami League's research wing, the Centre for Research and Information, or CRI, has also been withdrawn.According to the previous notification issued in January 2019, the organisation was exempted from tax for an unspecified duration on all earnings from donations, grants, and interest received from banks and other sources through its activities.At the same time, the current government has also cancelled the tax exemption granted to President Abdul Hamid Foundation in 2019.According to the previous notification, the foundation received tax exemption on all income and interest on bank deposits for 10 years.Since the interim government took office, it has been monitoring exemptions given during the previous government, cancelling many of them from time to time.This list includes business entities favoured by the Sheikh Hasina government, as well as social organisations and institutions established named after political figures. —bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
January 14, 2025 00:01 UTC
Militants kill at least 40 farmers in Nigeria's Borno state
Suspected Islamist militants killed 40 farmers in an attack on the Dumba community in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State on Sunday, a senior state official said on Monday. Sunday's attack comes amid a worsening food crisis in Borno, exacerbated by flooding in September and years of insecurity and displacement caused by the insurgency. Initial reports indicate the farmers strayed outside a security corridor set up by the military, venturing into an area known for insurgent activity and strewn with landmines, Usman Tar, commissioner of information said. Security forces were looking for any farmers who had escaped the attack, Tar added. Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks in Borno since the turn of the year, with a failed ambush on a military patrol last week leaving 34 militants dead.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 21:31 UTC
Constitutional reform seeks to restructure power dynamics, checks on PM’s power, institutional decentralisation
Ali Riaz stressed that calls for power balance stem from the unprecedented concentration of power in the hands of the prime minister. "This is not just about balancing power between individuals like the president and prime minister, but also about creating a robust institutional framework," he said. "We explored systems where decision-making involves not just the president and prime minister, but also the opposition and other political groups." "When a prime minister remains in power for too long, the crisis deepens. "Limiting terms encourages political parties to develop new leaders who can step into the role of prime minister," Riaz explained.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 21:28 UTC
Celebrations in Sudan's Wad Madani as army takes over strategic city
The bodies of RSF soldiers could be seen on the road and bridge leading into the city, but eyewitnesses reported few clashes inside Madani. Fiercer fighting could be expected as the RSF fights to maintain control of Khartoum, where the army has made gains, the RSF sources said. Many of the paramilitary's fighters come from militias and tribal groups outside of Gezira and had little will to fight for the country's centre, the RSF sources added. They exhausted and humiliated us," said lawyer Ahmed Abdelqadir, who along with other women and children cheered for the SAF soldiers as they drove through the town. The paramilitary soldiers who roamed through the town raided homes and killed the residents if they didn't find anything, she said.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 20:52 UTC
Bangladesh must carry out ‘huge activities' to get post-LDC benefits, says EU ambassador
He visited two knitwear factories in Narayanganj and interacted with the leaders of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, on Monday. “That means the business partners here and the Bangladesh government now must carry out huge activities." The EU is the main trading partner of Bangladesh as a region within the scope of GSP. Bangladesh exported goods worth $18.9 billion to the European market that year, in which the apparel sector played a major role. About his discussions with the BKMEA leaders, the ambassador said: "Access to our market is very important for the future prosperity of Bangladesh.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 20:11 UTC
ACC files three cases against Hasina, her family for Purbachal land allocation ‘graft’
The ACC had previously accused Hasina and her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, of receiving plot allocations through irregularities. The ACC filed three cases under the Corruption Prevention Act 1947 after it found evidence of "abuse of power" in the allocation of the plots. Earlier on Sunday, the ACC prosecuted Hasina and her daughter Putul for “hiding information and abusing authority” to allocate plots in Purbachal. According to the documents reviewed by the ACC, Hasina was granted a 10-katha (plot no. The allegations came under heightened scrutiny last year when the High Court formed a three-member committee to examine potential irregularities in the allocation of Purbachal plots to Hasina and six members of her family.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 18:34 UTC
All agreements, protocols complied with in fencing border, India tells Bangladesh high commissioner
India’s Ministry of External Affairs came with the statement on Monday, a day after Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma to lodge a protest. In a tit-for-tat response, the Indian foreign ministry summoned Bangladesh's Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi, Nurul Islam, on Monday afternoon. The foreign secretary conveyed Bangladesh's concerns over the recent actions of the BSF along the Bangladesh-India border, the statement read. “He stressed that such activities, especially the unauthorised construction of barbed-wire fences and other related activities, have created tension and chaos in the border areas." The Indian foreign ministry said in the statement that the measures, including the fencing, have been taken to curb crime and smuggling at the orders.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 17:15 UTC
Golam Rasul appointed new Special Branch chief
Additional Inspector General Golam Rasul, who has been standing in for the chief of the Special Branch (SB) of police has been elevated as the chief. During the Hasina government, the controversial Additional IG (Grade-1) Monirul Islam served as the SB chief. After the interim government took office in August, DIG Shah Alam was appointed as SB chief. He was promoted to additional IG on Oct 2 and retired on the same day. A notification was issued on Monday promoting him to Additional IG and assigning him as the current head of the SB.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 16:57 UTC
Telecom sector tops DSE trading on governor’s tax cut remarks
Telecom shares has suddenly topped transactions at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) following remarks by the Bangladesh Bank governor advocating for reduced taxes on investments in the sector. The index stood at 5,156 points on the previous trading day, and total transactions were Tk 3.71 billion according to bdnews24.com. "We need to increase investment in the telecom sector to ensure uninterrupted internet and reduce call drops. The telecom sector generally holds a modest 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent share, with transaction values ranging between Tk 3.0 million and Tk 4.0 million. The banking sector followed the telecom sector in Monday's transactions with Tk 412.3 million, while the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector was third with Tk 406 million.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 16:22 UTC
Bezos' Blue Origin calls off debut New Glenn launch over rocket issue
But late in the countdown, Blue Origin repeatedly pushed back the liftoff time, inching closer to the end of New Glenn's launch window at 4 am. "We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window," Blue Origin said in a statement. "The thing we're most nervous about is the booster landing," Bezos, who founded Blue Origin in 2000, told Reuters in a pre-launch interview. Getting the spacecraft to its intended orbit on an inaugural rocket launch would be a rare achievement for a space company. Bezos in late 2023 moved to speed things up at Blue Origin, prioritizing the development of New Glenn and its BE-4 engines.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 15:59 UTC
BCL leader Sushmita arrested en route to India
She is accused of murder chargesBangladesh Chhatra League leader Sushmita Pandey has been arrested while attempting to travel to India through the Benapole International Checkpost. Immigration Police Inspector (Investigation) Ibrahim Hossain said, "Sushmita submitted her passport to immigration to go to India for medical treatment. “The passport was checked, and it was found that she had previously been banned from leaving the country." Citing Sushmita's initial interrogation, the inspector said she is accused in a murder case at Dhaka's New Market Police Station. She was handed over to Benapole Port Police Station, from where she would later be transferred to New Market Police Station.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 15:08 UTC
India set for Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest gathering of humanity
REUTERSA six-week Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher Festival begins in India on Monday, a Hindu sacred event that will be the world's largest gathering of humanity as it showcases religion, spirituality, tourism and crowd management. Devout Hindus believe taking a dip in the sacred waters absolves people of sins, and during the Kumbh Mela, it also brings salvation from the cycle of life and death. The Kumbh held once every 12 years in this cycle has the prefix 'maha' (great) as it is considered more auspicious due to its timing and attracts the largest gathering. "I am fortunate to host one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals in my state," state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told the Aaj Tak TV channel. It has also promoted the Kumbh Mela at several international tourism expositions and invited foreign representatives.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 09:35 UTC
Tens of thousands take holy dip in India as Maha Kumbh festival begins
More than 2.5 million expected for first ritual dip in the Maha Kumbh Mela or Great Pitcher FestivalA devotee prays as he takes a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers with the mythical, invisible Saraswati river, during the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 13, 2025. REUTERSA devotee prays as he takes a holy dip at Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers with the mythical, invisible Saraswati river, during the "Maha Kumbh Mela", or the Great Pitcher Festival, in Prayagraj, India, January 13, 2025. The Kumbh held once in 12 years in this cycle has the prefix 'maha' (great) as its timing renders it more auspicious and it attracts the largest crowds. Indian Railways has added 98 trains to make 3,300 trips carrying festival visitors, in addition to regular services to Prayagraj. "The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and celebrates faith and harmony," Modi said in a post on X.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 06:54 UTC
Tougher US sanctions to curb Russian oil supply to China and India
As many as 143 sanctioned oil tankers shipped over 530mn bbls Russian crude in 2024An oil tank and a pump jack are seen in this picture. The US Treasury on Friday imposed sanctions on Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil, targeting the revenues Moscow has used to fund its war with Ukraine. Many of the tankers have been used to ship oil to India and China as Western sanctions and a price cap imposed by the Group of Seven countries in 2022 shifted trade in Russian oil from Europe to Asia. Russian oil exports will be hurt severely by the new sanctions, which will force Chinese independent refiners to cut refining output going forward, two Chinese trade sources said. A Singapore-based trader said the designated tankers shipped close to 900,000 bpd of Russian crude to China over the past 12 months.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 04:10 UTC
Six killed in explosion at Czech restaurant
Eight people were injured in the fiery blast that occurred late on Saturday evening, and 30 people were evacuated from the restaurant and surrounding buildingsSix killed in explosion at Czech restaurantFirefighters work at the site of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERSFirefighters work at the site of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERSSix people died when a propane-butane cylinder exploded at a restaurant in the northwest Czech city of Most, setting the building on fire, emergency services said on Sunday. The fire brigade said it had rescued one seriously injured restaurant guest who had been trapped in a bathroom. Around 20 guests were in the restaurant at the time of the explosion, Czech Radio said.
Source:bd News24
January 13, 2025 03:18 UTC