Massive French wildfire now contained, 16,000 hectares affected, local authorities say
A massive wildfire that has scorched through 16,000 hectares (39,537 acres) of forest and villages in southern France since Tuesday has now been contained, local authorities said on Thursday. The blaze destroyed 36 houses, damaged 20 others, and forced some 2,000 residents and holidaymakers to flee the area. At the height of the crisis, approximately 5,000 households lost power, and as of Thursday evening, around 1,500 homes were still without electricity, local authorities said. The territory the wildfire has gone through around 16,000 hectares, local authorities said in their last update on Thursday evening, while French media reported the affected area to be around 17,000 hectares (40,000 acres). "We're at war, but also, we will win the war," said Xavier Guille, a local vinyard owner who was helping firefighters battle the blaze.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 20:21 UTC
Beximco Textiles may resume operations as Japanese company shows interest
Beximco Group’s Textiles and Apparel Division, BexTex, which has been closed amid financial pressure, may resume operations under a lease agreement with Japanese apparel firm Revival Project Limited. Revival Project, which has prior experience in the apparel sector, plans to invest $20 million or around Tk 2.5 billion into the operation. A tripartite agreement involving Revival Project, BexTex and lender Janata Bank is expected to be signed this August. Bangladesh Bank, Janata Bank and the government are working to provide policy support. “Details will be finalised when the agreement is signed.”To ensure full financial transparency and loan repayment from export earnings, stakeholders say the Japanese firm may appoint Deloitte as auditor.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 18:21 UTC
Gazipur man accused in wife's murder, locals torch house
A woman has been tortured and killed by her drug-addict husband, with the help of her father-in-law and mother-in-law, in Gazipur's Sreepur Upazila, police say.The mother-in-law has been detained following the incident, which took place on Wednesday night at Bormi Madhyapara (Mridha Bari) village.At 6:30am on Thursday, agitated locals set fire to the house of the victim's husband Nurul Islam Mridha, 34, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Jahangir Alam of Sreepur Police Station.The victim, 22-year-old Sweety Akhter Nishi, was from Chakua village under Pagla Police Station in Mymensingh's Gafargaon.Police say Nurul has three narcotics cases filed against him at Sreepur Police Station.Sweety's cousin Akhlima Akhter said the couple were married one and a half years ago and have a 4-month-old daughter.�"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 17:08 UTC
6 killed in July Uprising buried after a year in morgue
The bodies were buried at Jurain Graveyard on Thursday.Shahbagh Police Station chief Khalid Mansur told bdnews24.com that the handover of the bodies took place following a court order.He said that the bodies had been in the morgue for over a year. But none of the claimants' samples matched," he added.Kamrul Ahmed, burial service officer at Anjuman Mufidul Islam, told bdnews24.com: "We received those six bodies and buried them at Jurain Graveyard around 2pm. "Dr Kazi Golam Mukhlesur Rahman, head of the forensic medicine department at DMCH, told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that forensic reports on the bodies had been submitted to police. But as the bodies remained unidentified, they could not be handed over to any family. �"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 17:08 UTC
Health ministry diagnoses ‘10 illnesses’ in plan to overhaul healthcare system
The health ministry has identified 10 major structural and systemic flaws, describing them as “diseases”, in Bangladesh’s healthcare system as part of an ongoing reform initiative. As part of immediate steps, the ministry has abolished all quota systems in medical and dental admissions. Proposals are also in place to decentralise health services: a women’s health institute in the south, a “health city” in the north, and elderly health facilities in the east. Plans are also under way to separate urban and rural primary healthcare, with state responsibility for delivery enshrined in the constitution. Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum said the government is “rebuilding the entire health system” and expects citizens to feel the benefits soon.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 16:12 UTC
Someone else used ASP identity to enter KB convention, says Maj Sadequl’s wife Sumaiya
Someone else used ASP identity to enter KB convention, says Maj Sadequl’s wife SumaiyaSumaiya Zafrin, wife of Army Maj Sadequl Haque, has said in court that someone else entered the KB Convention Hall in Bashundhara under the guise of an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), and she is being falsely blamed. The Army has already initiated an internal tribunal to investigate allegations that Maj Sadequl trained ruling Awami League workers. Sumaiya, meanwhile, became the subject of social media rumours claiming she was an ASP. He claimed that 300 to 400 people rented the convention hall using a fake ASP identity. Speaking with court permission, Sumaiya said: “Someone else entered the KB Convention as an ASP.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 13:15 UTC
Chief Advisor Yunus attends Advisory Council meeting at Secretariat
Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the interim government, has gone to the Secretariat for the second time since the took on the post to attend a meeting of the Advisory Council. The meeting started at the Cabinet Division Conference Room on the fifth floor of the newly-constructed Secretariat building at 10:30am on Thursday. Other advisors are also attending the meeting, which will be chaired by the chief advisor. But, in November, he chaired a meeting of the Advisory Council at Secretariat Building No 6. Yunus entered the Secretariat through Gate No.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 07:01 UTC
Trump says he could impose more tariffs on China, similar to India duties, over Russian oil
Trump says he could impose more tariffs on China, similar to India duties, over Russian oilFILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, Jun 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoFILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, Jun 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoUS President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he could announce further tariffs on China similar to the 25% duties announced earlier on India over its purchases of Russian oil, depending on what happens. The White House order did not mention China, which is another big purchaser of Russian oil. Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned China that it could also face new tariffs if it continued buying Russian oil.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 03:48 UTC
Digital courtroom ready, suspects to attend hearings from jail
In a move aimed at removing security risks tied to transporting high-risk prisoners to court, authorities have launched a digital courtroom at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates (CMM) Court in Dhaka. Under an office order issued on Wednesday, Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman designated Courtroom No. 28 as a “digital courtroom”. The initiative will allow suspects in major cases -- including terrorism, militancy and corruption charges -- to attend their hearings remotely from inside prison using video conferencing tools. 28 has been equipped as a digital courtroom to improve the situation.”The order specifies that hearings for suspects accused in such cases will be conducted through the Zoom platform in this courtroom.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 03:35 UTC
NCP grapples with fallout from top leaders’ unannounced Cox’s Bazar trip
Sarjis Alam with his wife and Tasnim Jara at Cox’s Bazar sea beach. As the state marked the July Uprising Day on Tuesday afternoon, news broke that five top NCP leaders had travelled to Cox’s Bazar. A staff member of Biman Bangladesh Airlines stationed at Cox’s Bazar Airport told bdnews24.com that the NCP leaders arrived around 11:30am on a Biman flight. A local organiser accompanying them said no local NCP leaders or activists had known of their arrival until late Tuesday. WHY THE PROTESTThe surprise visit by the NCP leaders to Cox’s Bazar on such a significant day has triggered reactions among BNP activists.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 02:17 UTC
NCP grapples with fallout from top leaders' unannounced Cox’s Bazar trip
NCP leaders leave the Sea Pearl Resort in Jaliapalong of Inani in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday afternoon, Aug 6, 2025. NCP leaders leave the Sea Pearl Resort in Jaliapalong of Inani in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday afternoon, Aug 6, 2025. As the state marked the July Uprising Day on Tuesday afternoon, news broke that five top NCP leaders had travelled to Cox’s Bazar. NCP LEADERS STILL IN COX’S BAZARAll five NCP leaders are still in Cox’s Bazar but have changed hotels. WHY THE PROTESTThe surprise visit by the NCP leaders to Cox’s Bazar on such a significant day has triggered reactions among BNP activists.
Source:bd News24
August 07, 2025 01:48 UTC
‘Server glitch’ slows down stipend data entry for Ebtedayee students
Teachers have complained they are struggling to input stipend-related information for Ebtedayee madrasah students as the server keeps going offline. Officials at the Directorate of Madrasha Education said the delays were caused by a new server setup. Benjir Ahmed, assistant director (government and senior madrasa branch) at the directorate, told bdnews24.com: “Institutions were asked to input student data into the server from Sunday. Once the verification is complete, we plan to release the stipend funds for the students within this month,” he added. Ebtedayee students previously received stipends under the Directorate of Primary Education, but the scheme was abruptly halted in early 2020.
Source:bd News24
August 06, 2025 19:47 UTC
Father among 3 to die for killing daughter to frame rivals in Kishoreganj
A court has sentenced a father and two other members of his family to death for the murder of his daughter in an attempt to frame a rival in a land dispute in Kishoreganj’s Karimganj Upazila. Judge Muhammad Nurul Amin Biplob of the Kishoreganj Senior District and Sessions Court delivered the verdict in the case on Wednesday. The case documents say that Angur had a land dispute with several local residents, including a man named Abu Bakr Siddique. On Aug 11, the day after the murder, Angur filed a murder case at Karimganj Police Station accusing Abu Bakr and 15 others over his daughter’s death. They then filed a final investigation report on Sept 3, 2017, to the court, declaring that the named suspects were innocent.
Source:bd News24
August 06, 2025 17:26 UTC
Maj Sadequl Hoque’s wife taken into DB custody over ‘secret’ meeting in Bashundhara
Maj Sadequl Hoque’s wife taken into DB custody over ‘secret’ meeting in BashundharaPolice say they have taken Sumaiya Zafrin, wife of Maj Sadequl Hoque, into custody of the Detective Branch over an “conspiratorial secret meeting” in Dhaka’s Bashundhara. The Army has already formed a court of inquiry against Sadequl, accusing him of training members of the Awami League. With Sumaiya’s detention, the number of arrests in the Bashundhara meeting case has risen to 23. According to the case dossier, the meeting was organised by the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League. The gathering included activists from the Awami League, Chhatra League, and retired government officials, with an estimated attendance of 300 to 400.
Source:bd News24
August 06, 2025 16:54 UTC