Bangladesh

Bangladesh bars SpiceJet from using its airspace over pending dues

Bangladesh has barred SpiceJet from using its airspace as the budget carrier is yet to repay pending dues, according to sources. With the Bangladesh airspace not being available, the airline is taking longer routes for some of its flights from Kolkata, including to Guwahati. When contacted, a SpiceJet spokesperson on Thursday said the airline was in regular dialogue with the relevant authorities on operational and procedural matters, including navigation-related charges. "These are routine industry issues and we are working constructively towards an early resolution. Our flight operations remain unaffected, and we continue to operate our scheduled services in line with regulatory requirements," the spokesperson said in a statement. While specific details were not disclosed, the sources said Bangladesh has banned the airline from using its airspace due to non-payment of dues. Details about the nature of dues could not be immediately ascertained. An email sent to the Civil Aviation

B'desh PM Tarique Rahman chairs first cabinet meeting, sets 180-day agenda

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of his newly formed cabinet, which set a 180-day priority plan with a focus on controlling commodity prices, maintaining law and order and stabilising supply chains. Rahman, the 60-year-old chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in as the 11th prime minister on Tuesday after leading his party to a forceful victory in the 13th Parliamentary polls held on February 12. The first meeting of the new cabinet was held at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said it is customary for a newly formed government to hold a session on its first day in office. The government has set a 180-day priority plan, with initial focus on controlling commodity prices, maintaining law and order, stabilising supply chains, and ensuring uninterrupted gas and electricity supply, Ahmed was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper. He ad

BNP chief Tarique Rahman sworn in as new Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, days after leading his party to a forceful victory in the crucial general elections. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to 60-year-old Rahman at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad instead of Bangabhaban, in a departure from a long-standing tradition. Earlier in the day, Rahman was elected as leader of the parliamentary party by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmakers. Rahman's BNP has bagged 209 out of 297 seats, while right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats in the 13th Parliamentary elections. Deposed premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League was barred from contesting polls.

PM Modi writes to Tarique Rahman, extends invitation to visit India

In his letter, PM Modi also invited Tarique's wife, Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima, to accompany him

India backs democratic Bangladesh: Om Birla at Tarique Rahman's swearing-in

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, and said India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation. Separately, the speaker called on the new Bangladesh prime minister and conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also handed over an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman to visit India, officials said here. "Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation," Birla posted on X. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X, "Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi to the visiting India Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in

Maldives Prez arrives in Dhaka for swearing-in of Bangladesh's new cabinet

The ceremony marks the BNP's return to parliament after a gap of 15 years and the party had boycotted the 2014 and 2024 elections and withdrew midway from the 2018 polls, alleging irregularities

Bangladesh oath-taking ceremony today: Time, venue and other details

The oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected MPs will be held at 10:00 am today at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka

Bangladesh no longer a 'submissive country', says Yunus in farewell address

Outgoing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Monday said his 18-month rule restored three core pillars of Bangladesh's external engagement - "sovereignty, national interests, and dignity", and it is no longer a "submissive" nation. In his farewell address to the nation, Yunus said that at the end of his regime's rule, "Today's Bangladesh is confident, active, and responsible in protecting its independent interests". "Bangladesh is no longer a country with a submissive foreign policy or dependent on the instructions and advice of other countries," he said in the televised address a day ahead of quitting power. He emphasised that his 18-month tenure had rebuilt the three "fundamental foundations" of the country's foreign engagement: "sovereignty, national interests, and dignity". Yunus' interim regime began in August 2024 and is set to conclude its unscheduled term with the swearing-in of a new government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday, which won a ..

BNP chief Tarique Rahman to take oath as new PM of Bangladesh today

Tarique Rahman will take oath as Bangladesh's new Prime Minister on Tuesday after leading his party to a forceful victory in the crucial general elections. Breaking with a long-standing tradition, the swearing-in ceremony of the 60-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairman would be held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Complex instead of Bangabhaban. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet members at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday afternoon, state-run BSS news agency reported on Monday. "The Parliament Secretariat is set to hold the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet members at 4:00 pm tomorrow. Earlier, the Parliament Members (MPs) will be sworn in at 10:00 am at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex," Secretary of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat Kaniz Maula told BSS earlier. BNP has called a parliamentary party meeting at the Parliament Building at 11:30 am to elect the parliamentary party leader. "As the

Bangladesh's Yunus thanks Army chief, staff in farewell meetings

Bangladesh's outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, on Monday bid farewell to officials and employees at his office, a day ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet. Following the speech, Yunus participated in a photo session with all those serving at his office, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha quoted his spokesperson as saying. Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff Gen Waker-Uz-Zamanalso paid a farewell visit to Yunus on Monday, bdnews24.com reported. Yunus thanked the Army chief for the cooperation of the armed forces during the general election. The tenure of Yunus is going to end tomorrow, following the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). BNP, led by its chairman Tarique Rahman, bagged a whopping 209 out of 297 seats in the crucial 13th Parliamentary elections held on February 12. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin is likely to administer the oath of office to the newly ele

Apollo Hospitals redraws medical tourism map as Bangladesh share dips

Apollo Hospitals offsets Bangladesh disruption with Africa and West Asia push, lifting international revenue 28% in Q3FY26 as Apollo 24/7 eyes breakeven by Q1FY27

BNP secured 50% votes, Jamaat gets 31% in Bangladesh general election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which swept to power with a two-thirds majority in the recent general elections, received nearly 50 per cent of the votes while its once ally the Jamaat-e-Islami secured 31.76 per cent, according to the Election Commission on Sunday. An EC spokesman said independent candidates collectively won 5.79 per cent of the votes while "other political parties lagged far behind". According to the EC, the BNP led by former prime minister Khaldea Zia's son Tarique Rahman secured 49.97 per cent of the votes as it bagged 209 out of 297 seats. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to the country's 1971 independence from Pakistan, emerged as the main opposition party, registering its best ever performance as it won 68 seats. The BNP alliance won 212 seats compared to 77 for the Jamaat alliance. The National Citizen Party, formed by the Students Against Discrimination, which led the mass protests against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Aug

B'desh seeks reset in India ties, urges New Delhi to recognise new reality

Bangladesh wants to reset ties with India on a fresh footing now that ousted premier Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party no longer hold power, Humayun Kabir, adviser to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, has said, asserting that the two nations should work together for "mutual benefit". Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections held on Thursday. In an interview to PTI Videos on Saturday, Kabir stressed that the onus lies on India to recognise the changed political reality in Bangladesh after the BNP's resounding electoral mandate. "The change has to come from the mindset in India. Sheikh Hasina and Awami League don't exist in today's Bangladesh anymore. The people have given a clear verdict in favour of BNP," Kabir said. Kabir described Hasina, who fled to India after 2024's August uprising, as a "terrorist" responsible for the deaths of over 1,500 people. Kabir urged t

Tarique Rahman to take oath as Bangladesh PM on Monday; PM Modi invited

South Asian leaders have been invited to the ceremony, and several invitations have already been sent

BNP thanks PM Modi, says 'eager to engage constructively with India'

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which clinched a landslide victory in 13th parliamentary polls, on Saturday said it looked forward to constructive engagement with India with a shared commitment to peace and stability in South Asia. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was replying to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post on X congratulating party chairperson Tarique Rahman on "a decisive victory," which "shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh." Rahman's BNP on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections held on Thursday. Thanking Modi for his "kind acknowledgment of Mr Tarique Rahman's leadership in securing the BNP's decisive win in the national elections," the BNP said in a post on X said, "This outcome reflects the trust and confidence the people of Bangladesh have placed in our leadership and in the democratic process." "Bangladesh remains committed to upholding democratic values, inclusivity, and progressi

Hasina's extradition from India 'depends on legal process': BNP chief

BNP chairperson and soon to be prime minister of Bangladesh on Saturday said extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina "depends on the legal process." The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader's comments at a press conference here came a day after one of his senior colleagues reiterated the party's firm stance on seeking Hasina's extradition from India to face trial. Rahman's BNP on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections held on Thursday. A massive student-led protest ousted Hasina's Awami League regime on August 5, 2024. Since then she has been living in exile in New Delhi as an Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge three days later. After a trial in absential, Hasina, 78, was found guilty of crimes against humanity by the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in November 2025 and sentenced to death. Her aide and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also given a de

Law and order must be maintained in Bangladesh: BNP's Tarique Rahman

BNP chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for maintaining law and order "at any cost" and sought cooperation from all in building a safe and humane Bangladesh. Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections. The BNP leader is set to become the prime minister for the first time. He will replace the interim government chief Muhammad Yunus. Addressing a press conference a day after the landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary polls, Rahman said, "We need everyone's cooperation to build a safe and humane Bangladesh. This time, everyone must play a responsible role in rebuilding the country." "No injustice can be done to anyone on any excuse. Law and order must be maintained at any cost," Rahman was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune. Rahman said the freedom-loving people of the country had made BNP victorious, describing the outcome as "the victory of the people." "F

Bangladesh EC publishes gazette of new MPs, clears path for swearing-in

Bangladesh's Election Commission has published a gazette of newly elected members of Parliament from the 13th general election, paving the way for their swearing-in, media reports said on Saturday. The gazette was published for 297 out of the 300 parliamentary constituencies late on Friday, state-run BSS news agency reported. The notification was signed by Akhtar Ahmed, secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat. The next step is the swearing-in ceremony, which will officially seat them in Parliament, according to the bdnews24 news portal. Parliamentary elections were held in Bangladesh on Thursday across 299 of the country's 300 constituencies, while the results from two seats were withheld. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) bagged 209 out of 297 seats and is making a return to power after a gap of two decades. The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami, known to be close to Pakistan, secured 68 seats. The Awami League party of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was barred fro

Datanomics: New Bangladesh govt faces muted growth, high inflation

From 2019 to 2024, Bangladesh beat India in terms of per capita income

India-B'desh ties may warm up after BNP win, but stronger Jamaat a concern

PM Modi reaches out to BNP chief Tarique Rahman to reset India-Bangladesh ties, though Jamaat's rising influence clouds prospects for smoother relations