Dhaka, Thursday, Jul 16, 2026
A high-level Saudi delegation on Wednesday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed interest in investing up to US$1 billion in Bangladesh's ports, railways and other key infrastructure projects.The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, said a press release issued by the PM’s Press Wing.The delegation was led by Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Transport and Logistic Services Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih.During the meeting, the two sides discussed Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations, investment opportunities and ways to expand cooperation in infrastructure development.Members of the delegation also expressed their commitment to further strengthening ties between the two countries.The Prime Minister said Bangladesh's long-standing friendly relations with Saudi Arabia are of great importance to his government.The delegation informed Tarique Rahman that Red Sea Gateway Terminal International is interested in investing $180 million to develop a Bay Terminal in Bangladesh and increasing its overall investment in ...
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram on Tuesday handed over a condolence message from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, following the death of former Qatar Emir and father of the current Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.The message was handed over during a state condolence meeting held at the Lusail Palace, a prominent royal residence on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar, that serves as a venue for official state functions, high-level diplomatic receptions, and traditional gatherings hosted by the Emir on July 14.On behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh, the Speaker conveyed heartfelt sympathy to the Emir and the bereaved members of the Qatar royal family. He also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.The Speaker paid tribute to the late Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, remembering ...
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today sought the cooperation of primary school teachers in raising children with humane values, saying children must be brought up as humane people to build a 'humane Bangladesh'."Humane citizens are needed to build the country. You are the ones who are responsible for developing those compassionate citizens. If children are grown up as humane individuals, a humane Bangladesh will be built," he said while addressing the primary school teachers at a function in the city. The Prime Minister handed over the Primary Education Medal-2026 at the function at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon presided over the event, jointly organized by the Directorate of Primary Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.Describing the primary school teachers as the architects of shaping children into good human beings, he said, "You should be careful so that no child grows up ...
Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said the newly enacted Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026 will significantly strengthen Bangladesh's efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, including the misuse of digital platforms and technology by organised criminal networks.Speaking at the National Dissemination Meeting on the new law at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, the minister said the legislation brings Bangladesh's legal and institutional framework in line with international standards to address the evolving tactics of transnational criminal syndicates."The newly enacted Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026 marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh's fight against these serious transnational crimes," he said.The event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice & Care Bangladesh, focused on strengthening the country's legal and institutional response to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.Salahuddin reaffirmed the government's commitment to tackling the crimes through stronger ...
President Donald Trump told Fox News on Tuesday he would expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran does not make a deal."Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges," Trump said in an interview with the US broadcaster."We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."Trump's comments came as US forces carried out strikes against Iran for a fourth day in a row and reimposed a naval blockade on the country's ports.A fragile June 17 ceasefire between the two sides has effectively collapsed, with the focus on control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.Asked how long the US strikes would carry on, Trump replied: "They'll continue until I say it's enough."
Lamine Yamal did not find the net, but the teenage star's quick thinking proved crucial as Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday to book a place in the final.Yamal spotted an opportunity when France defender Lucas Digne struggled to clear a loose ball inside his own penalty area. As Digne attempted to kick the ball away without noticing the Spain forward, he struck Yamal's thigh, leading to a penalty that put Spain ahead for good.The 19-year-old Barcelona winger has scored just once during Spain's run to the World Cup final, but his intelligent play created the breakthrough that helped La Roja secure a showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday against either defending champion Argentina or England.Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had said before the match — played a day after Yamal's 19th birthday — that the youngster contributes much more than goals. ...
Bangladesh Bank has made prior approval from the Chief Inspector of Boilers mandatory for the import of boilers and boiler components, in line with a directive from the Ministry of Industries.The central bank's Foreign Exchange Policy Department issued a notification on Tuesday, instructing authorised dealer (AD) branches of all banks engaged in foreign exchange transactions to comply with the new requirement.The notification said the fresh directive follows a memo issued by the Boiler Wing of the Ministry of Industries on June 28, 2026, and has been made effective for all boiler and boiler component imports accordingly.According to the notification, boiler manufacturers must complete construction within a maximum of 12 months from the date of drawing and design approval.Manufacturers must also hand over all documents and certificates required for registration to the buying entity after supply or sale of a boiler, and must inform the Chief Inspector of Boilers in writing ...
A joint U.S.-Russian crew arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, hours after launching from the Russia-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off as scheduled aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft at 7:47 pm local time (10:47 am EDT, 1447 GMT) for an eight-month mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.The Soyuz spacecraft docked automatically with the ISS about three hours after launch.NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch, marking the first visit by a NASA chief to Baikonur in eight years. The visit underscored continued cooperation between Washington and Moscow in space despite tensions over Russia's military action in Ukraine.Ahead of the launch, Isaacman met Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov. During a meeting with the crew on Monday, he thanked the Russian space agency for its efforts in preparing the mission, saying the work carried out over the past ...
Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Tuesday said the government may arrange re-examinations if Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees were unable to sit their exams due to flood or administrative shortcomings."These students are our future. Under no circumstances can we deprive them of their rights, and we will not do so," he said replying to a supplementary question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Md Shafiqul Islam, elected from Patuakhali 2 in Parliament.He said the Education Ministry has been maintaining continuous monitoring of examination centres across the country throughout the monsoon season.The minister said whenever floodwater entered an examination centre, local administrations were instructed to shift the venue immediately to ensure that candidates could take their exams without disruption."So far, only one college, Cumilla Government College, has presented a significant challenge after its grounds were inundated," the minister said, adding that in a handful of other cases where water ...
A tribunal in Sylhet on Tuesday sentenced a man to death and three others to life term imprisonment over the gang rape of a young girl in a dormitory of Sylhet MC College in 2020.The condemned convict is Saifur Rahman while the lifers are—Shah Mahbubur Rahman Rony, Tarekul Islam and Arjun Lashkar. All of the convicts were activists of banned Chhatra League.Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Swapan Kumar Sarkar handed down the judgment.The tribunal also acquitted four others--Ainuddin alias Ainul, Misbaul Islam alias Rajon, Rabiul and Mahfuzur Rahman.Earlier, the eight accused were brought before the court in the morning amid tight security.According to the prosecution, a 20-year-old girl along with her husband went to Shahparan shrine by a private car for roaming on March 25, 2020.On way to return home, they stopped the car in front of a shop adjacent to MC College in Tilagarh area for purchasing something.At one ...
England are bidding to end Lionel Messi's dream of winning back-to-back World Cups and reach their first final in six decades as they renew their old rivalry with holders Argentina on Wednesday in a seismic semi-final showdown.An England team which has been dragged to this stage by the brilliance of Jude Bellingham take on Messi's Argentina under the roof of the spectacular arena in Atlanta, already the scene of a memorable victory by the defending champions at this tournament.It is the first competitive meeting of the sides since the 2002 World Cup and the fixture conjures so many memories, from Diego Maradona and the 'Hand of God' in 1986, to David Beckham's red card after tangling with Diego Simeone in 1998, while also thrusting the lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands back into the spotlight."The message is this is a football game. That's what I can say," said Argentina ...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Tuesday they had carried out missile and drone strikes on Bahrain, after the Gulf country urged citizens to take shelter as a siren sounded."Several weapons support warehouses, a satellite communications center and the residential building for US forces in Bahrain were targeted," Iranian state television IRIB quoted the Guards as saying.
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, MP, left Dhaka for Qatar today on a visit.He departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:20 am.During the visit, the Speaker is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.On behalf of Bangladesh Prime Minister, he will also convey condolences and express sympathy over the death of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, widely regarded as the architect of modern Qatar.The Speaker is expected to return home on July 16 after concluding his Qatar visit.
US President Donald Trump said Monday that a deal with Tehran to end the Middle East war was still possible, despite launching fresh strikes on Iran and reimposing a blockade of Iranian ports."Yeah, I think a deal is possible. Sure, I do," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We had a deal with them two days ago and then they said 'Oh we can't make that deal. We have to negotiate it further.'"
Dozens of workers at an Ebola treatment center in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo launched a strike on Monday, protesting unpaid salaries and bonuses, adding fresh pressure to the country's rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak.The strike comes as Congo continues to battle an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment. Health authorities confirmed last week that the outbreak has spread to two additional provinces.The protesting workers at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province—the epicenter of the outbreak—include epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers and gravediggers. They accuse authorities of failing to pay them for the past two months.The demonstrators shut down the treatment center, blocked access roads and burned tires outside the facility in protest."We don't know how it is possible to go unpaid for two months," one health worker said, adding that despite the protest, they do not want to abandon their ...
At least 54 people were killed and 39 others injured in floods, hill runoff and landslides that have affected seven districts, according to the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.The seven districts are Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chattogram, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.Among the fatalities, Cox's Bazar recorded the highest number with 31 deaths, followed by Chattogram with 13, Bandarban six, Rangamati three and Moulvibazar one.Govt to continue support for flood-hit families in Chattogram, CHT: AmitOf the 39 injured, 24 were reported in Cox's Bazar, 12 in Chattogram, two in Bandarban and one in Khagrachhari.The flood-hit areas included 59 upazilas , 334 unions and 12 municipalities, said the ministry in its updated report.To accommodate displaced people, authorities have opened 1,049 shelter centres across the affected districts.A total of 38,422 people have taken refuge at these shelters as relief and emergency response operations continue in the flood-hit areas.The government is continuing relief distribution ...
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said that as long as the BNP enjoys the support of the people and the people stand by it, the government will let no obstacle stand in the way of rebuilding the country. Describing people as the source of all political power of BNP, he said “We want to rebuild this country. We want to move this country forward. With the people by our side, we will, Insha'Allah, take the country forward." The Prime Minister made the remarks while exchanging views with women Family Card holders in Batajor of Gournadi upazila here this morning. At the outset, he personally asked several women present at the programme, "Have you received a Family Card? How has this card benefited you?"At that time, Parul Akhtar, a Family Card beneficiary, came onto the stage and said, "Receiving this card has helped me a great deal. It has eased the financial hardship of ...
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated a tree plantation programme by planting coconut and neem saplings along the banks of the newly re-excavated Sarikal-Batajor Canal in Gournadi upazila of Barishal, urging people to nurture the trees to ensure their survival.The Prime Minister arrived at the canal bank in Batajor union of Gournadi around 10:00am to launch the programme.Local residents, including farmers and homemakers, gathered along one side of the canal to greet the Prime Minister, who responded by waving to them.Launching the programme, Tarique Rahman said planting trees alone was not enough and stressed the need for proper care."Planting the sapling is not the end of the job. Around 2,500 saplings will be planted today. Everyone must take care of the trees," he said."You look after your children every day after they are born. In the same way, you must care for these young saplings every day," the Prime ...
Senegal has sacked national football team head coach Pape Thiaw following the team's exit from the FIFA World Cup in the round of 16, the Senegalese Football Federation announced on Sunday.In a statement, the federation said Thiaw's entire technical staff had also been relieved of their duties after an assessment of the team's recent performances and future prospects."The Executive Committee believes that a change is necessary in the interest of Senegalese football," the federation said.Thiaw, 45, took charge of the national team in 2024. Earlier this year, he guided Senegal to what initially appeared to be a continental title in Morocco, but the triumph was later overturned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Senegal has since sought to challenge the decision through the Court of Arbitration.Senegal's World Cup campaign ended in the round of 16 after a dramatic defeat to Belgium, despite holding a 2-0 lead until the 83rd ...
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Barishal on Monday to take part in tree plantation programmes and exchange views with local BNP leaders and activists.This will be the Prime Minister's first visit to Barishal since taking office.Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said Tarique Rahman will travel to Barishal by road in the morning and return to Dhaka in the evening after completing his engagements. GeographicReference"The Prime Minister will travel to Barishal by road in the morning.There are several tree plantation programmes there," he added.According to the programme schedule, the Prime Minister will first join a tree plantation programme along the newly re-excavated Sarikal-Batajor canal at Batajor in Gournadi upazila.He will then plant trees at Trish Godown Memorial area in Barishal city and at another site along the Sagar River adjacent to the memorial.In the afternoon, Tarique Rahman will exchange views with leaders and activists of ...