Death toll in Pakistan's train hijacking rises to 31, army says
A man reacts next to ambulances carrying the bodies of victims, who were killed after a train was attacked by separatist militants in Bolan, in Quetta, Pakistan, Mar 13, 2025. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroA man reacts next to ambulances carrying the bodies of victims, who were killed after a train was attacked by separatist militants in Bolan, in Quetta, Pakistan, Mar 13, 2025. REUTERS/Akhtar SoomroPakistan's military spokesman said on Friday the death toll in a train hijacking in the country's southwestern mountains had risen to 31 and he repeated accusations that neighbouring India and Afghanistan backed the militants who carried it out. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express on Tuesday. The insurgents have said they still held hostages but Chaudhry said there was no evidence to suggest this was the case and the military has said the siege has ended.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 15:08 UTC
Trump looks to press ahead with more layoffs even as courts order some reinstatements
Federal agencies faced a Thursday deadline to submit reorganisation blueprints for what Trump last month termed "large-scale reductions in force." The IRS had about 100,000 workers when Trump took office, meaning up to 25,000 are set to lose their jobs. The Social Security Administration, the agency that provides benefits to tens of millions of older Americans, plans to cut 7,000 workers. After Alsup's ruling was handed down, a federal judge in Maryland also directed the administration to reinstate tens of thousands of recently hired federal workers. The two rulings were the largest legal setbacks for Trump and Musk's downsizing plans yet.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 14:25 UTC
Actor Aamir Khan confirms romantic relationship with Gauri
A day before his 60th birthday, Khan disclosed his relationship status at a Mumbai hotel, marking the first time he has publicly spoken about Gauri. “We’re very serious and committed to each other.”The actor further shared that he had introduced Gauri to his close friends, fellow superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, at his Mumbai residence. Khan also requested the media to refrain from publishing photographs of Gauri, emphasising his desire to maintain privacy in their relationship. Despite their divorce, Khan and Kiran continue to be seen together at family and industry events, presenting a unified front. However, with his confirmation of his relationship with Gauri, such speculation has been put to rest.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 14:07 UTC
Magura child rape: A mother’s endless tears, a father’s stunned silence
The entire village is shocked dumb by the painful way in which the child departed this world. The child was raped on Mar 6 while visiting her sister's house in Nijnanduali village in Magura suburb, according to her family. The child’s mother filed a rape and attempt-to-murder case against four people at Magura Sadar Police Station on Mar 8. The case documents say that Hitu ‘raped’ the child with help from Sojib and Jabeda. Ayub Ali, chief of Magura Sadar Police Station, said: "The girl's mother has filed a case in connection with her death.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 13:10 UTC
Man allegedly kills himself by jumping under train
A man in Gazipur's Sreepur Upazila has allegedly killed himself by jumping under a train. In another Facebook status, he wrote: "Sreepur Railway Station! The incident occurred around 6:30pm near the South Outer Signal of Sreepur Railway Station on Thursday, said Station Master Shamima Jahan. The man was identified as 35-year-old Khairul Bashar Sujon, who hailed from Kursha village in Kushtia's Mirpur Upazila. Sujon told her he was at the Sreepur Railway Station.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 13:08 UTC
UN secretary general meets with foreign advisor
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has met with Touhid Hossain, foreign advisor to the interim government, and Khalilur Rahman, high representative of the chief advisor on the Rohingya issue and priority matters. The meeting was held at the InterContinental Dhaka hotel on Friday morning, reports bdnews24.com. Various aspects of the UN's activities in Bangladesh, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and other matters of cooperation were discussed, a foreign ministry official said.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 12:52 UTC
Man found dead next to motorcycle in Banasree
Police say a motorcycle driver has been killed in an accident “involving a truck” in Dhaka’s Banasree. The battered motorcycle was found in pieces on the Banasree-Demra Road at the entrance to Dhaka in the wee hours of Friday. The body of 31-year-old Delwar Hossain Sourav was next to it. Reports came in around midnight that a truck had rammed a motorcycle and knocked it over, according to Ataur Rahman Akondo, chief of Rampura Police Station. as he was entering Dhaka through Banasree Road near the Rampura bridge.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 12:43 UTC
Mild heatwave sweeping over six districts, like to persist
A mild heatwave is sweeping over six districts in Bangladesh and it is not likely to cool down anytime soon, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department says. The heatwave was passing over the Faridpur, Rajshahi, Ishwardi, Khulna, Jashore and Chuadanga districts, Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir said after the release of the BMD’s 72-hour forecast. The weather is likely to remain primarily dry with overcast skies in other places of the country, while the day and night temperatures might remain unchanged. On Saturday and Sunday, the skies could temporarily be overcast but the weather could remain dry. However, at the end of the three-day phase, showers of thundershowers may occur, according to the forecast.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 11:25 UTC
Bus ticket sales skyrocket for Eid, online sales surpass counters
Large crowds have gathered at major bus operator counters from Friday morning to purchase advance tickets for Eid trips. Staff at the counters mentioned that Eid journeys will begin on Mar 25, coinciding with the Independence Day holiday. Following visits to various bus counters in the capital’s Shyamoli, Kalyanpur, and Gabtoli, it was seen that only the major bus operators attracted crowds, whereas the smaller bus operators saw little to no rush. Although the fare to Naogaon was previously Tk 680 to 700, it has been increased to Tk 820 for Eid. On the other hand, if someone buys a ticket for a bus that goes to Rangpur, the fare will not change,” he added.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 10:40 UTC
EC opposes interim government’s push to move NID services to independent authority amid constitutional concerns
“What we are saying is that NID data will be regulated under a data authority. Faiz explained that at a later stage, when necessary, NID services would be integrated under a central authority. Monir pointed out that the major expenses lie in voter list maintenance, while NID services require comparatively lower costs. VOTER LIST WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND DATABASEEarlier, voter registration and voter lists were manually prepared based on registered information. He agreed with the interim government’s proposal to separate NID services into an independent structure.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 08:28 UTC
Tesla warns it could face retaliatory tariffs
Tesla warns of retaliatory tariffs in wake of Trump's trade policies and emphasises difficulty in sourcing parts domesticallyUS President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shake hands in front of a Tesla Cybertruck, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 11, 2025. REUTERSUS President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shake hands in front of a Tesla Cybertruck, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 11, 2025. REUTERSUS automaker Tesla has warned that it and other major American exporters are exposed to retaliatory tariffs that could be leveled in response to President Donald Trump's aggressive use of tariffs. The Tesla comments reflect those of many US businesses concerned by Trump's tariffs, but is notable because it is from Tesla. "US exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to US trade actions," Tesla said in the letter.
Source:bd News24
March 14, 2025 03:42 UTC
Trump threatens tariffs on European wine and spirits in escalating trade war
Stocks fell on the news, as investors worried that Trump would enact stiffer trade barriers around the world's largest consumer market. Trump's proposed 200 percent tax on European alcohol would create further headwinds for producers like Pernod Ricard, which has already cut its sales outlook due to Chinese duties imposed last year. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found that 70% of Americans expect Trump's tariffs to make regular purchases more expensive. Trump said his alcohol tariffs would help domestic producers. Eric Faber, president of Cutting Edge Selections, a wine distributor in Cincinnati, said that US wineries would not be able to fill the gap if Trump's proposed tariffs rendered European wines unaffordable.
Source:bd News24
March 13, 2025 22:24 UTC
Dhaka calls on India to stop ‘unwanted, misleading’ remarks on domestic affairs
A foreign ministry official says such comments amount to undue interferenceDhaka calls on India to stop ‘unwanted, misleading’ remarks on domestic affairsThe foreign ministry has said the comments made by Randhir Jaiswal of India’s Ministry of External Affairs about elections, law and order, and treatment of minorities in Bangladesh are “unwanted and misleading”. In a weekly briefing on Thursday, foreign ministry spokesperson Rafiqul Alam expressed concern over statements made by his Indian counterpart Randhir Jaiswal on Mar 7. India has also raised alarms over reports of attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh following the change in government. “Bangladesh is committed to developing friendly and constructive relations with India based on mutual respect, trust, and understanding,” he said. “From that perspective, we hope the Indian government will take necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of such comments.”
Source:bd News24
March 13, 2025 20:17 UTC
Dhaka airport hotline gets over 20,000 complaints, queries in 1.5 years
No solution could be given to 0.23 percent of the complaints, he added. "We have set up a coordination team to address issues that cannot be resolved immediately. They go to the relevant department and work 24 hours to sort out issues in the fastest possible time. "Asked about the process, he said: "When someone makes a query or complaint at the hotline, it can be addressed directly. And, when using the website, a tracking number is given to the complainant through SMS and email.
Source:bd News24
March 13, 2025 15:17 UTC
Pakistan PM visits Quetta as militants behind train hijack say standoff still on
Sharif is on a day-long visit to Quetta, during which he will be briefed on the security situation in the regionPakistan PM visits Quetta as militants behind train hijack say standoff still onPakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Balochistan province on Thursday, as dozens of people rescued from a train hijacked by separatist militants arrived in Quetta after security forces killed33 attackers to end a day-long standoff. Sharif is on a day-long visit to Quetta, during which he will be briefed on the security situation in the region, the government said. Authorities said 25 bodies had been brought to a local railway station from where they would be taken to Quetta in ambulances. BLA said that the people Pakistan "claimed" to have rescued were actually released by the group itself. Reuters video images showed the rescued hostages receiving first-aid at the Quetta railway-station.
Source:bd News24
March 13, 2025 15:02 UTC