China Eastern Airlines eyes Kunming-Ctg flights
China Eastern Airlines is planning to operate direct flights between Chattogram and Kunming to make medical travel to China easier for Bangladeshis.The initiative aims to help people from the eastern region of Bangladesh access hospitals in the southern Chinese city, according to Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary to the chief adviser.Airline officials confirmed the plan during a meeting with the Bangladeshi delegation currently visiting China, Azad told state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) on Saturday.China has already designated four hospitals in Kunming to serve Bangladeshi patients. However, the high cost of air travel remains a major barrier.Officials from China Eastern Airlines noted that direct flights between Chattogram and Kunming would drastically reduce travel time and expenses, making it easier for more Bangladeshis to benefit from Chinese healthcare services. �"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 18:15 UTC
Over 99pc of garment factories clear wages: BGMEA
"Nearly 95 percent of factories have also disbursed Eid bonuses. BGMEA has formed a monitoring committee to oversee payments of Eid bonuses, February salaries, and a portion of March wages.According to the committee's report, 1,997 factories, or 94.78 percent of members, had disbursed Eid bonuses by Thursday. The remaining factories will begin their holidays between Mar 28 and Mar 29.BGMEA and Industrial Police data initially flagged 245 factories as at risk of facing difficulties in salary and bonus disbursements. BGMEA's monitoring committee visited these factories and resolved most issues.However, 11 factories were still struggling to pay as of Thursday. "Our committee and law-enforcing agencies are closely monitoring these factories, and we hope the issues will be resolved before Eid," said Anwar.
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 15:43 UTC
Bangladesh's stability of
Among the key concerns flagged by the MEA was the "continued release of violent Islamic extremists" convicted of serious crimes. The MEA noted a shift in Bangladesh's political landscape after the Awami League's 15-year rule was ended by a mass uprising in August, 2024. It also cited public statements made by Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff Waker-uz-Zaman, highlighting the growing threat posed by "factionalism" and "political unrest". External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also met Bangladesh's foreign affairs advisor on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2024, it added. The MEA, however, pointed out that India was issuing visas to Bangladeshi nationals on a reduced scale due to "some security concerns".
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 14:57 UTC
Garment workers block highway in Gazipur over pre-Eid layoffs
The protest brings traffic on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway to a halt amid the Eid travel rushHundreds of laid-off garment workers have blocked the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Gazipur’s Konabari in protest, disrupting the journeys of homebound travellers ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The protest halted traffic for about 30 minutes before police intervened and cleared the highway, said Md Nazrul Islam, chief of Konabari Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police. According to police and locals, the protest began inside the factory premises but later spilled onto the highway. Upon hearing the news, they took to the streets in protest,” said AKM Zahurul Islam, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police. “Local and Industrial Police, along with army personnel, managed to disperse them and restore normalcy on the highway,” he added.
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 11:25 UTC
When will Bangladesh celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr? Decision on Sunday
The National Moon Sighting Committee will determine whether Eid-ul-Fitr falls on Monday or TuesdayWhen will Bangladesh celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr? Decision on SundayThe National Moon Sighting Committee will meet on Sunday to determine the date of Eid-ul-Fitr in Bangladesh. According to a statement from the Islamic Foundation on Saturday, the meeting is scheduled for 6:30pm at the foundation's conference room in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The Islamic Foundation has urged people to report any sightings of the Shawwal moon on Sunday via telephone (02-223381725, 02-41050912, 02-41050916, or 02-41050917) or fax (02-223383397 or 02-9555951). If the Shawwal moon is sighted on Sunday, Ramadan will end with 29 days of fasting, and Eid will be observed on Monday.
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 10:58 UTC
At Peking University, Yunus urges students to dream big and change the world
If you do not imagine, it will never happen," he saysAt Peking University, Yunus urges students to dream big and change the worldChief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has called on students to dream big and aspire to change the world. "A university or educational institution is not only a place to learn what happens, but also to imagine," he said in an address to students at China's Peking University (PKU) on Saturday. Describing the ability to dream as the "greatest power in the world", Yunus added: "If you imagine, it will happen. Peking University Council President He Guangcai and University President Gong Qihuang also spoke at the event. On Friday, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 08:46 UTC
Bangladesh tax-dodge probe uncovers father-son duo’s Dubai tower investment
An NBR official told bdnews24.com that the Central Intellingence Cell (CIC) froze all the family’s business accounts in Bangladesh. The CIC, while investigating “tax evasion”, also discovered details of the father and son’s business, assets, and overseas investments. According to the CIC’s report, it found evidence of the father and son’s investment in a 33-storey skyscraper in Dubai, which houses 224 apartments. A team of intelligence officers recently investigated illegal assets of Bangladeshis in the United Arab Emirates and came across information about their “investment” in the Dubai tower. A CIC official told bdnews24.com that neither Nahian nor his father obtained permission for this investment from Bangladesh.
Source:bd News24
March 29, 2025 03:33 UTC
A festival’s flavour, wrapped and repackaged: The rise of 'corporate vermicelli'
Sales of open vermicelli are declining, with corporate entities taking overA festival’s flavour, wrapped and repackaged: The rise of 'corporate vermicelli'For Bengalis, Eid without vermicelli, or semai, lacks its customary warmth. Unpackaged thin vermicelli sold in the market is made with flour and rice powder, while the main ingredient in wrapped vermicelli is flour. Although he likes the taste of the packaged vermicelli, he opines that the open vermicelli tastes better because it is fresh. Shafiqur also said the demand for packaged vermicelli is now higher than that of open vermicelli. That is why packet vermicelli is being sold more.”Shafiqur said one-third of the entire year’s vermicelli is sold during Eid.
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 20:15 UTC
Bangladesh seeks ‘50-year masterplan’ in water management from China
Lauding China as a “master” in water management, Yunus calls for access to Beijing’s strategies and expertiseChief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has sought a 50-year masterplan on water management from China, highlighting its utility in controlling floods and maintaining water systems. The appeal came during a meeting on Friday at a state guesthouse in Beijing, where Yunus sat down with China’s Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying. “We have come here to learn from you - how we can make water resources useful for the people,” he said. Li acknowledged that both nations grapple with comparable water management dilemmas and expressed China’s willingness to extend technical support and expertise. “President Xi has formulated a master plan for China, which the country is using to address water management challenges,” Li said.
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 18:35 UTC
Strong earthquake shakes Myanmar, tremors felt in parts of Bangladesh
The epicentre of the tremor measured at a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale has been traced to Myanmar’s MandalayDhaka and other parts of the country have felt the tremors of a powerful earthquake in Myanmar on the first day of the Eid holidays. The epicentre of the tremor measured at a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale was traced to Myanmar’s Mandalay, according to the seismic monitoring branch of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. “A strong earthquake measuring at a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale was recorded at 12:21pm at 597km southeast of Dhaka,” said meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana. The epicentre of the earthquake was located 500km southeast of Dhaka in Myanmar’s Mandalay, said geologist Prof Syed Humayun Akhter. After the first tremor at 12:20pm, an aftershock was recorded at 6.4 on the Richter scale at 12:32 pm, he said.
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 17:49 UTC
Prosecutor Sylvia's appointment scrapped
The appointment of lawyer Afroze Parveen Sylvia as a prosecutor for handling cases at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has been scrapped.A notification was issued on Thursday, appointing Sylvia and three other lawyers as prosecutors.The decision, however, was reversed the same day after reports surfaced linking Sylvia to the political activities of the pro-Awami League lawyers' group Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad.Following the notification, several lawyers criticised Sylvia's appointment on social media, accusing her of being an "ally of the fascist government".Photos of her with leaders of the Awami League-backed lawyers' group were also circulated online. �"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 17:33 UTC
Tremors felt in Dhaka
Dhaka and other parts of the country have felt the tremors of a powerful earthquake in Myanmar on the first day of the Eid holidays.The tremors were felt around 12:30pm on Friday. No damage caused by the quake has yet been reported.The epicentre of the tremor measured at a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale was traced to Myanmar's Mandalay, according to the seismic monitoring branch of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. "A strong earthquake measuring at a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale was recorded at 12:21pm at 597km southeast of Dhaka," said meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana.The epicentre of the earthquake was located 500km southeast of Dhaka in Myanmar's Mandalay, said geologist Prof Syed Humayun Akhter.After the first tremor at 12:20pm, an aftershock was recorded at 6.4 on the Richter scale at 12:32 pm, he said.The former professor at Dhaka University's geology department said that recently earthquakes had become stronger at their epicentres in the region. �"bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 17:32 UTC
US to give $73m in food aid for Rohingya
The United States will provide $73 million in new financial assistance to ensure food security and proper nutrition for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, amid concerns that aid cuts could deepen the crisis for the world's largest stateless population.This food and nutrition support through WFP [UN World Food Programme] will provide critically needed food and nutrition assistance for more than one million people, read an X post by Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US Department of State, on Thursday. A similar reduction in 2023, which lowered food rations to $8 per person, led to a sharp increase in malnutrition before it was reversed.A WFP spokesperson said it bridged the funding gap "with timely contributions from donors," without giving details. Separately, the U.S. said on Thursday it will provide $73 million in new financial aid to Rohingya refugees through the WFP.Bangladesh is sheltering more than 1 million Rohingya - members of a persecuted Muslim minority who fled violent purges in neighbouring Myanmar - in camps in the Cox's Bazar district, where they have limited access to jobs or education.About 70,000 Rohingya from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh last year, driven in part by growing hunger in their home state of Rakhine.The Office of Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, which oversees refugee camps, said the food rations will help sustain food security and nutrition among the refugees. The Inter-Sector Coordination Group, which oversees relief operations, said about 300,000 refugees have already faced disruptions in healthcare services. �" bdnews24.com
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 17:31 UTC
Weather to cool down before Eid day, says BMD
The weather is likely to remain unchanged over the five days from Monday, according to forecastWeather to cool down before Eid day, says BMDThe odds of rain pouring this Eid-ul-Fitr are next to none, but the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicts the weather may somewhat cool off from Sunday. On Friday, Meteorologist Omar Faruk said: “The weather will be fine during Eid, with no chances of rain. The weather will cool down a bit from the day after tomorrow, but it won’t completely dissipate.”According to the regular bulletin on Friday: “The weather around the country could remain dry with temporarily partly cloudy skies in the next 24 hours from 9am Friday.”The day and night temperatures could remain unchanged around the country. Temperature throughout the day could remain almost unchanged across the country over the 24 hours from 9am on Saturday, it added. However, the night temperature may decrease slightly in the northern parts of the country.
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 16:32 UTC
Modi’s Bangkok itinerary suggests no meeting with Yunus
On Friday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs released a media statement detailing Modi’s schedule for the upcoming BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand. Instead, it highlighted that Modi is scheduled to hold talks with the current BIMSTEC chair, Thai Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra. Modi, meanwhile, will meet with Prime Minister Shinawatra in Bangkok on Apr 3 before engaging with other BIMSTEC leaders, including Yunus, in broader discussions. Initially, the BIMSTEC summit was scheduled for September 2024 but was postponed due to political turmoil in Thailand. “It has been learned that the Indian prime minister will leave New York before Chief Advisor Yunus arrives.
Source:bd News24
March 28, 2025 13:35 UTC