Anxious but undeterred, migrants brace for Trump presidency
Trump has pledged tougher border controls and immigration enforcement and to launch a mass deportation operation on his first day as president. The CBP One mobile phone app allows migrants seeking asylum to book an appointment and petition for asylum before they reach the United States. While securing an appointment does not guarantee entry, many see it as the best option to enter the United States legally. Ahmed, a 45-year-old financial manager from Jordan, has spent about $20,000 trying to reach the United States since June. The United States is a big economy, and they need the labour," said Ahmed, who hopes to find a job in finance.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 15:30 UTC
No deaths, 51 hospitalised with dengue fever in a day
The number of patients hospitalised with the disease this year has risen to 469. The total number of deaths from the illness now stands at three. In 2024, a total of 101,214 patients were hospitalised due to dengue nationwide, with 575 fatalities reported. The DGHS has been keeping records of dengue hospitalisations and fatalities since 2000. Since then, a record 321,179 dengue hospitalisations were logged in 2023.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 15:25 UTC
January 8, 2025
Family members of BDR personnel hold a protest rally at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025, to demand a fair trial over the Pilkhana massacre, the release of “innocent” BDR personnel and the reinstatement and compensation of BDR personnel who lost their jobs through “no fault of their own”. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 11:37 UTC
DNCC public relations officer comes under knife attack
Mokbul Hossain, public relations officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), was attacked by a miscreant on Tuesday night. He is currently receiving treatment at Dhaka’s United Hospital, according to a bdnews24.com report. When contacted, the duty manager at the hospital said that, "Mokbul Hossain was brought to the hospital around 9:00 pm. The DNCC plans to demolish the old office and construct a new building on the vacant plot, which currently serves as a makeshift badminton court for DNCC officials. "We rushed him to United Hospital in an injured state," he said.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 09:06 UTC
India 'extends' Hasina’s visa amid extradition call by Bangladesh
The move came against the backdrop of growing calls in Bangladesh for her extradition, according to the report published on Wednesday. Hasina, 77, fled to India after stepping down in the face of a nationwide mass movement. Hasina’s visa was recently extended to facilitate her stay in the country, sources familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity. “As far as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is concerned, we don’t have an update on her plans. It is for her to take things forward,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a media briefing last year.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 06:47 UTC
What To Know About HMPV, The Virus Causing An Outbreak In China
By BenarNewsChina has reported a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in its northern region in recent weeks, raising concerns on social media that there could be another outbreak like COVID-19. A common respiratory virus, HMPV is known to spike every winter and spring, health officials said. MALAYSIAMalaysian health officials said HMPV cases were not new and that they were monitoring the developments. BANGLADESHBangladesh has not yet recorded any HMPV cases at present, news outlets quoted local health officials as saying. But the virus has always been present in the country, public health expert Mushtuq Husain told news portal bdnews24.com.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 05:45 UTC
Government to take ‘strong stance’ against note compilations, study guides, says NCTB chairman
Not only do these guides increase the cost of education borne by parents, many in the field believe that they hamper the actual purpose of education. Commenting that guides “disrupt the main goal of education”, Reazul told bdnews24.com: “We have zero tolerance for note compilations and guides. The district and Upazila administrations have already been asked to conduct a campaign against note guides. Campaigns are already being conducted in some places.”Textbook content will be restructured and question papers for different exams will expand past traditional formats to prevent the “oppression” of guides, Reazul said. The “Education Watch Report 2022” said that 79 percent of primary and 82.5 percent of secondary students followed such guides.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 05:03 UTC
Task force launches investigations into six troubled banks
A task force formed to reform the banking sector in Bangladesh has initiated a financial investigation into six banks entangled in loan scandals. The banks under scrutiny are First Security Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank Limited, ICB Islamic Bank, and Union Bank Limited, as per a bdnews24.com report. He added that members of two international audit firms would soon join the six-strong task force team. According to a senior official at Bangladesh Bank, the task force started its audit in the banks on Monday. The official added that the central bank’s inspection teams would uncover irregularities in loan disbursement, and their reports would be coordinated with the task force.
Source:bd News24
January 08, 2025 03:11 UTC
Minister spoke at event for ‘propaganda’ wing of aunt’s political party
The anti-corruption minister spoke at an event organised by the “propaganda” arm of her aunt’s authoritarian regime. Tulip Siddiq is under increasing scrutiny over her relationship to the former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in August 2024 amid accusations of human rights abuses and violent suppression of dissent and the media. Investigators in Dhaka have ordered financial institutions in the country to provide them with transaction details for Siddiq and other members of Hasina’s family as part of a probe into the former ruler. Siddiq spoke at an event organised by the Centre for Research and Information months after being elected in 2015On Monday Siddiq, who retains the full confidence of the prime minister, referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards following revelations she had been given property by supporters of her aunt’s regime. She has repeatedly insisted
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 23:33 UTC
Khaleda’s London trip sparks speculation - when is Tarique coming home?
From regular citizens to BNP leaders at all levels, everyone seems to be reflecting on these same crucial queries. Although BNP leaders are demanding the announcement of an election roadmap, the government has not yet engaged in such discussions. Rezaul Karim Shawon, a student of the chemistry department at Jahangirnagar University, told bdnews24.com: “Tarique Rahman is an icon for BNP's youth. Tarique's lawyer Barrister Kaiser Kamal, said: "Tarique Rahman is a very important figure in Bangladesh's politics. "We expatriates do not want Tarique Rahman to face any peril by returning to the country with risk factors present.
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 23:04 UTC
Task force launches investigations into 6 troubled banks
The banks under scrutiny are First Security Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank Limited, ICB Islamic Bank, and Union Bank Limited. Md Abdul Mannan, chairman of First Security Islami Bank, told bdnews24.com: "The task force has held meetings with the banks one by one, and its investigation is under way." He added that members of two international audit firms would soon join the six-strong task force team. According to a senior official at Bangladesh Bank, the task force started its audit in the banks on Monday. The official added that the central bank’s inspection teams would uncover irregularities in loan disbursement, and their reports would be coordinated with the task force.
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 21:02 UTC
EXPLAINED: What to know about HMPV, the virus causing an outbreak in China
China has reported a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in its northern region in recent weeks, raising concerns on social media that there could be another outbreak like COVID-19. A common respiratory virus, HMPV is known to spike every winter and spring, health officials said. MALAYSIAMalaysian health officials said HMPV cases were not new and that they were monitoring the developments. BANGLADESHBangladesh has not yet recorded any HMPV cases at present, news outlets quoted local health officials as saying. But the virus has always been present in the country, public health expert Mushtuq Husain told news portal bdnews24.com.
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 19:13 UTC
Israel says no foreign courts have warrants issued against reservists
DEBBIE HILL/Pool via REUTERSIsrael said on Tuesday pressure groups were pushing foreign courts to take action against Israelis over alleged war crimes in Gaza but described the actions as "propaganda activity" and said no warrants had been issued. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The warrants sparked outrage in Israel but also drew fears that similar warrants could be issued against Israelis who served in the military in Gaza. The case in Brazil attracted wide attention in Israel, underscoring fears that individuals beyond the government and military leadership could be drawn into the war crimes issue, particularly through social media posts. The Israeli military has warned reservists that they could face arrest abroad over alleged war crimes in Gaza, according to documents published by Israeli media.
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 19:05 UTC
Employment, social security, and inflation control key to stability: Fahmida Khatun
This represents a 69.5 percent increase over the food poverty line for maintaining a minimum healthy diet. Inflation rose to 11.38 percent in November, with food inflation nearing 14 percent. Meanwhile, the latest national wage growth rate stands at 8.10 percent, consistently lagging behind inflation rates nearly every year. Zahid Hussain, a former lead economist at the World Bank’s Dhaka office, said: “Food inflation has become a significant concern. For over 36 months, the inflation rate has risen much faster than the wage growth rate in sectors like agriculture, services, and industry.
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 16:59 UTC
ACC prosecutes former MPs Shekhar, Abul Kalam Azad
ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhter Hossain has also pressed charges against former MP from Gaibandha-4 constituency Abul Kalam Azad on Monday. He was also charged with making suspicious transactions totalling Tk 110 million through seven personal and business bank accounts in his name. Additionally, he deposited Tk 20 million and withdrew nearly the same amount through seven personal and business accounts in his name, totalling about Tk 40 million. It also claims that the accused's wife, Ms Ruhul Ara Rahim, possesses assets worth Tk 5.1 million without any declared source. FARIDPUR EX-SP CHARGEDThe ACC has prosecuted former Faridpur police superintendent Md Shahjahan, now with the Chittagong Range DIG's office, for acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 14 million.
Source:bd News24
January 07, 2025 16:47 UTC