Page 6 - Dhaka

PM Sheikh Hasina pays homage to Bangabandhu after election victory

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid glowing tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after her party's landslide victory in the 12th parliamentary election. The 76-year-old leader, ruling the nation since 2009, won a fifth overall term in the one-sided election on Sunday, which witnessed a low turnout. She paid homage by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu inside the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Mujibur Rahman's younger daughter and the prime minister's younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, later also separately placed a wreath at the portrait. The prime minister's daughter Saima Wazed and Sheikh Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq were present on the occasion. After laying the wreath, Sheikh Hasina stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect for the memory of Bangabandhu, who was assassinated on August 15, 1975. Earlier in the morning, the prime minister along with her

Bangladesh elections: Counting begins amid boycott by main opposition BNP

Bangladeshis on Sunday turned up in low numbers to cast their votes for the general elections likely to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a fourth straight term, amid sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies. The turnout for the 12th national parliamentary election has only been 27.15 per cent as of 3 pm, Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said. The voters' turnout was highest in (southwestern) Khulna division with 32 per cent of people casting their votes. The lowest turnout was reported from (northeastern) Sylhet division where the figure was 22 per cent during this time, an election commission spokesman said. Voting has been suspended at seven polling centres over irregularities, he said. The polls opened at 8:00 am and ended at 4 pm (local time). The usual election-day fervour was nowhere to be seen. Even in front of the election campaign booths, there was no presence of voters except the ruling party-backed supporte

At least 14 polling centres, 2 schools torched in B'desh ahead of elections

Bangladesh is set to hold elections on January 7

3 EC members from India reach Dhaka to observe Jan 7 Bangladesh polls

More than 100 foreign observers, including three from India, reached Dhaka on Friday to monitor Sunday's general election in Bangladesh boycotted by the main Opposition party which has called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike. Foreign Ministry officials said a three-member delegation from the Election Commission of India reached Dhaka on Friday while 122 others from different countries were set to be here ahead of the January 7 polls, which the United Nations said would watch closely. "So far 60 foreign observers or experts have arrived here and all together 127 have scheduled to come. Besides, 73 foreign journalists have received accreditations and among them, 17 have already arrived," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters late Thursday. He said the observers will monitor the polls in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. But we have suggested to them that they choose the destinations having air connectivity (for convenience)," the foreign secretary said

PM Modi lauds Dhaka for shouldering the burden of Rohingya refugees

Bangladesh has been asking India to lean on Myanmar to repatriate the people who took refuge in the country to escape persecution after a military clampdown in 2017

Air India to start Delhi-Dhaka direct flights from Sep 15 using Airbus A320

Air India on Thursday said it will start direct flights between Delhi and Dhaka from September 15. The airline already operates flights between Kolkata and Dhaka. According to a statement, the flights between Delhi and Dhaka will be operated four times a week, using narrow body Airbus A320 aircraft. The bookings for the flights commenced on Thursday. Air India said the additional frequencies will help serve the increased demand for international travel to and from Dhaka on the back of Bangladesh's rapid economic growth and overall development. With four additional weekly flights from Delhi, Air India offers enhanced frequency to Dhaka, enabling convenient connections via Delhi to and/or from 14 destinations in India and 14 destinations across North America, UK, Australia, the Middle East, and the Far East, the airline said.

Bangladesh govt takes back 'extra security' to India, 3 other envoys

The attack killed 20 people - 17 foreigners, including an Indian girl. Most of the other foreigners killed in the attack were Japanese and Italians

Jaishankar meets Nepalese counterpart in Dhaka, discusses way to boost ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Nepali counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud for the first time here on Friday and discussed ways to boost bilateral ties in energy, trade, connectivity and hydroelectricity. The two ministers met on the sidelines of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference being held in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka. "A good first meeting with FM N.P. Saud of Nepal. Congratulated him on his new responsibility. Discussed further steps in our steadily expanding partnership. Spoke about energy, connectivity, and our enduring people-to-people ties," Jaishankar tweeted. The two ministers expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of Nepal-India relations and discussed ways to further consolidate cooperation in the areas of trade, transit, connectivity, and hydroelectricity, among others, Nepal's embassy in Dhaka said. Saud assumed the office of the Foreign Minister of Nepal on April 16. Jaishankar is in Dhaka to participate in the 6th edition of the Indian Ocean ...

Garment factories in Bangladesh at increased fire risk as temperatures soar

A severe heat wave, with temperatures touching 42 degrees Celsius, is sweeping parts of Bangladesh and is likely to continue, according to the Met Office

Massive fire erupts at Bangladesh's biggest wholesale market in Dhaka

A massive fire erupted at the Bangabazar in Dhaka -- the biggest wholesale market in Bangladesh, officials said, adding that that the blaze has spread to more than six buildings

16 killed, over 100 injured as explosion rocks building in Dhaka

At least eight people were killed and over 100 others injured on Tuesday in an explosion at a seven-storey building here in Bangladesh's capital, police said. Five firefighting units were rushed to the spot after the blast, which occurred around 4:50 pm (local time), the bdnews24 news portal reported, citing the fire service control room. The cause of the explosion could not be known immediately. The injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said DMCH police outpost Inspector Bacchu Miah. He added that all of them were receiving treatment at the hospital's emergency unit. The building has several stores for sanitary products on the bottom floor and a branch of BRAC Bank was located in the building adjacent to it. The blast shattered the glass walls of the bank and also damaged a bus standing on the opposite side of the road, reports said.

One of world's most crowded cities Dhaka gets first mass-transit rail

In Dhaka, with 10.3 million people packed in 305 square km, the average driving speeds have dropped to less than 7 km an hour right now from 21 km

India-Bangladesh border haats will reopen soon: Dhaka Commerce Minister

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that among three border haats, which are trading posts on Bangladesh-India border, one of them is operational and another one will open soon

Bangladesh: A cautionary tale

Economic difficulties are exposing political flaws

Jaishankar arrives in Dhaka to hold talks with Bangladesh counterpart

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday arrived in Dhaka to hold talks with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen.

President Ram Nath Kovind embarks on three-day visit to Bangladesh

President Ram Nath Kovind will participate in the 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka.

ISKCON members hold candlelight vigil to protest attack on devotees

Members of ISKCON took part in demonstrations, seeking action against miscreants who attacked its temple in Bangladesh two days ago

Bangladesh factory fire: 8 arrested, including owner, after blaze kills 52

The fire broke out at the factory in Narayanganj outside Bangladesh's capital on Thursday.

Fire at Bangladesh juice factory kills at least 52, over 50 injured

At least 52 people were killed and over 50 others injured in a massive fire that broke out at a six-storey juice factory outside Bangladesh's capital Dhaka

Bangladesh police rule out foul play in Dhaka explosion, suspect gas leak

The powerful explosion that destroyed an old three-storey building in a crowded area here in Bangladesh's capital and killed at least seven people and injured around 400 others