All Mosques in Bangladesh Urged to Hold Friday Prayers Simultaneously
IQNA – All mosques in Bangladesh have been directed to offer Jummah (Friday) prayers at the same time to eliminate confusion. In a letter on Sunday, the Islamic Foundation suggested holding Friday prayers at all mosques across the country at 1:30pm. "It is requested to take necessary measures to offer Jummah prayers at all mosques located in the division and district at the same time i.e. The Islamic Foundation says the prayers are currently offered at 1pm, 1:30pm, and 1:50pm at the mosques in Bangladesh. Read More: Bangladeshi Youths Urged to Rebuild Country Based on Quranic TeachingsBangladesh is a Muslim majority country in South Asia.
Source:bd News24
April 14, 2025 05:39 UTC
Candidates to retake Dhaka University’s C unit admission test
The exam is likely to be held within a month, says lawyerStudents are set to retake the admission test in Dhaka University's C Unit, the Faculty of Business Studies, for the 2024-25 academic year. The university authorities approached the court on Sunday seeking permission for a fresh test, which the High Court approved. Earlier, admission test candidate Jihan Al Fuad had filed a petition due to the repetition of four questions in the multiple-choice questions (MCQ) of the exam held on Feb 8. Following his petition, the High Court issued a two-month stay on the publication of the admission test results on Mar 19 and issued a rule asking why the test should not be cancelled. In the accounting section of the “B” set question paper of the admission test, four out of 12 questions were repeated exactly.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 18:06 UTC
ACC brings charges against Nafeez Sarafat, three others in Padma Bank loan fraud
A case has been initiated against Padma Bank's former chairman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat and three others over the alleged misuse and attempted embezzlement of a Tk 50 million “time loan” from the bank. The three other accused are ASM Mainuddin Monem, managing director (MD) of Abdul Monem Limited; Farhana Monem, director of the company; and Sabbir Mohammad Sayem, former manager of Padma Bank’s Gulshan corporate branch and then senior executive vice president. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Padma Bank’s Gulshan branch approved a Tk 50 million six-month “time loan” in 2022 in favour of Abdul Monem Limited. Later, on Dec 6, 2023, the company applied once again for a Tk 50 million six-month time loan, which was approved in the 55th board meeting on Dec 27, 2023. The complaint further alleges that Nafeez, who was serving as chairman of Padma Bank’s board of directors at the time of the loan approval, had a direct link to both the lender and the loan beneficiary.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 17:16 UTC
Pohela Boishakh event cancelled at DC Hill after stage vandalised in Chattogram
The Sammilito Pohela Boishakh Udjapon Parishad has announced the cancellation of its daylong Bengali New Year celebration at DC Hill in Chattogram after the stage for the event was vandalised. The stage was attacked around 7:15pm on Sunday near the Buddhist temple at DC Hill, while preparations for the event were ongoing, reports bdnews24.com. The Sammilito Pohela Boishakh Udjapon Parishad has been organising New Year and year-end programmes at DC Hill for the past 46 years. Eventually, at a meeting on Apr 10 at the district commissioner’s conference room, permission was granted to hold the event at DC Hill from morning till afternoon. Following the announcement of cancellation, the organisers vacated the DC Hill premises.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 16:10 UTC
Interim government spends Tk 14.5m on Investment Summit: what’s the return?
BIDA chief says summit aimed to improve global perception, not secure instant investment dealsThe interim government has spent Tk 14.5 million on this year’s Investment Summit to change what it described as a “deep-rooted negative narrative” among global investors about Bangladesh. The summit featured 130 speakers and panellists and hosted 150 official meetings between investors and BIDA representatives. Two major investment announcements were made during the event: China’s Handa Group and local startup ShopUp pledged a combined investment of Tk 31 billion. The summit was supported by the European Union, UNDP, HSBC Bank, the Dutch Embassy, LightCastle Partners, Sajida Foundation and Eastern Bank Limited. The World Bank, FICCI and UNDP, as event partners, contributed a combined total of nearly Tk 50 million.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 15:17 UTC
Organisers call off Pohela Boishakh event at DC Hill after stage vandalised in Chattogram
Organisers blame attack and lack of cooperation from administration for the cancellationOrganisers call off Pohela Boishakh event at DC Hill after stage vandalised in ChattogramThe Sammilito Pohela Boishakh Udjapon Parishad has announced the cancellation of its daylong Bengali New Year celebration at DC Hill in Chattogram after the stage for the event was vandalised. The stage was attacked around 7:15pm on Sunday near the Buddhist temple at DC Hill, while preparations for the event were ongoing. The Sammilito Pohela Boishakh Udjapon Parishad has been organising New Year and year-end programmes at DC Hill for the past 46 years. Eventually, at a meeting on Apr 10 at the district commissioner’s conference room, permission was granted to hold the event at DC Hill from morning till afternoon. Following the announcement of cancellation, the organisers vacated the DC Hill premises.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 14:59 UTC
Russian missile strike kills 32 in Ukraine's Sumy, Kyiv says
Russia's defence ministry accuses Ukraine of having carried out five attacks on Russian energy infrastructure over the previous dayCars are damaged at the site of the Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine Apr 13, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia GatilovaCars are damaged at the site of the Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine Apr 13, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia GatilovaTwo Russian ballistic missiles slammed into the heart of the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, killing 34 people and wounding 117 in the deadliest strike on Ukraine this year, officials said. Zelensky, in an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes" set to air later on Sunday, urged Trump to visit Ukraine. In the aftermath of Sunday's Sumy strike, Zelensky called on the United States and Europe to respond robustly to what he described as Russian terrorism.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 13:59 UTC
High Court asks why model Meghna Alam should not be freed
DB police arrested the model from her home in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area on Apr 9The High Court has issued a rule asking why the detention of model Meghna Alam under the Special Powers Act should not be declared illegal. However, he asked why she had been detained under the Special Powers Act. Later, the former Miss Earth Bangladesh was presented before a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefat Ullah ordered that she be held in custody for 30 days under the Special Powers Act, following a petition by the DB. Amid mounting criticism of her detention, DB chief Additional Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallick was removed from his post.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 09:55 UTC
'March for Gaza': Law enforcers on alert as crowds converge on Dhaka's Suhrwardy Udyan
Security measures have been ramped up ahead of the "March for Gaza" rally in Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan, where a large turnout is expected in a show of solidarity with the people of Palestine. Checkpoints have been set up at various entry points of Suhrawardy Udyan, where police are conducting searches if they suspect anything unusual. Participants coming from Gulistan Zero Point will proceed through Doel Chattar to reach Suhrawardy Udyan via the TSC Gate. Marchers coming via the Bakshibazar intersection will enter through the TSC Gate after passing the Central Shaheed Minar. Those arriving from Nilkhet intersection will proceed via VC Chattar and enter through the TSC Gate.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 07:32 UTC
EC plans to set HSC as minimum qualification for poll watchers
The Election Commission (EC) is planning to set the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) or equivalent credentials as the minimum educational qualification for domestic election observers ahead of the 13th parliamentary polls. Currently, 96 observer organisations are registered with the EC. An election observer must have the minimum academic understanding to carry out their responsibilities effectively. EC INITIATIVEIn January, the EC formed a six-strong committee to update the policy on domestic and foreign observers. OBSERVERS REACTElection observers have largely welcomed the proposal to raise the minimum qualification to HSC.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 06:21 UTC
Investigation underway into Shobhajatra arson: RAB chief
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Shahidur Rahman says that law enforcers are investigating whether the arson of the Shobhajatra motifs at the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Arts was the result of a lapse in security. He made the remarks to the media after inspecting the security arrangements in place at the Ramna Batamul for the main Bengali New Year event. We are probing the incident and we will also check whether there was any negligence on the part of those providing security. He also said that RAB is also working seriously on the issue of cybersecurity so that no one can spread propaganda or misleading information, according to bdnews24.com. He said that this year’s security arrangements are much better than in the past.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 05:53 UTC
Protesting Hungarians mock Orban's anti-LGBT moves, saying 'Let's all be the same'
The rally, called by the Two-tailed Dog Party, a satirical movement, follows several other protests since Parliament, dominated by Orban's nationalist Fidesz partyProtesting Hungarians mock Orban's anti-LGBT moves, saying 'Let's all be the same'People dance as they gather at the Heroes' Square during the 'Let's all be the same' protest, called by The Two-Tailed Dog Party, against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's moves to ban the annual Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, April 12, 2025. REUTERSPeople dance as they gather at the Heroes' Square during the 'Let's all be the same' protest, called by The Two-Tailed Dog Party, against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's moves to ban the annual Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, April 12, 2025. REUTERSSeveral thousand Hungarians mocked right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban's moves to ban the annual Pride march by LGBTQ+ groups, dressed in grey and carrying banners ironically denouncing colours and diversity at a rally in central Budapest. While Fidesz says it is defending family values, critics see the move to ban Pride as part of a wider crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of a general election next year. Protesters at Saturday's rally carried banners saying "being uniform is cool" and "listen to your heart, death to colours".
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 02:59 UTC
Thousands gather at pro-government rally in Serbia
Main streets were blocked for traffic, and stands with fast food and drinks were put up in front of the parliament. The rally is seen as Vucic's response to the big anti-government rally on March 15, when more than 100,000 people attended the biggest protest in decades. Tensions between Vucic's supporters and anti-government protesters ran high on Saturday. In Novi Pazar, which is the administrative centre of Serbia's Muslim majority region, anti-government activists tried to prevent buses with Vucic's supporters from leaving the town. In Belgrade, protesters tried to prevent buses from reaching the city centre and threw eggs at them, triggering police intervention.
Source:bd News24
April 13, 2025 02:36 UTC
Abhishek belts 141 as Sunrisers Hyderabad pull off IPL's second-highest successful chase
Sharma hit 10 sixes and 14 boundaries as he notched up his first IPL century, the highest score by an Indian in the competition. His contribution helped hosts Hyderabad to pull off the second-highest successful run chase in the tournament's history with nine balls to spare after Punjab posted 245-6 on a batting-friendly track. The record for IPL's highest successful run chase still belongs to Punjab, who chased down a target of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders last year. But we never talked about it in the team," player-of-the-match Sharma said in his post-match interview. Captain Pat Cummins said Hyderabad never felt they were out of the game even though Punjab piled on the runs, with Shreyas Iyer (82 off 36) leading the charge.
Source:bd News24
April 12, 2025 20:31 UTC
Rain likely to dampen Pohela Boishakh festivities across Bangladesh
The Met Office also forecasts thundershowers in several regions until WednesdayBangladesh is bracing for potential wet weather on Pohela Boishakh, with rain likely in Dhaka and across several regions. Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year, falls on Monday this year. Asked about the expected weather in Dhaka on that day, meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana said: Rain is likely across the country. On Tuesday, showers with lightning and gusty winds are expected in scattered areas of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet. A similar pattern is forecast for Wednesday, with rain likely in parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet, as well as areas in Khulna and Barishal.
Source:bd News24
April 12, 2025 13:48 UTC