Saarc Nations

such as healthcare, connectivity, and urban infrastructure. These were finalised during the India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Dialogue held in New Delhi—a key bilateral platform to assess and strengthen developmental ties. The two nations also reviewed ongoing and upcoming initiatives valued at ₹10,000 crore under India’s support for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029). The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India has agreed to revise budget allocations for some projects to meet emerging requirements. India continues to be Bhutan’s principal development partner,…

Authorities seek land for new facility as inmates face inhumane conditions; over 6,000 prisoners held in a jail built for 1,853 Chittagong, Bangladesh — The Chittagong Central Jail is currently holding more than three times its intended capacity, forcing thousands of inmates to endure severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions, according to local reports. Built to accommodate 1,853 inmates, the jail is housing an average of 6,000 prisoners daily. Despite repeated appeals by the Prisons Department to ease this crisis by…

Court Orders Interrogation in Case Over Alleged Irregularities in 2014, 2018, and 2024 Elections Dhaka : A Dhaka court has placed former Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on a four-day remand for police interrogation in connection with a case filed over alleged irregularities and bias during Bangladesh’s last three parliamentary elections. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman passed the remand order after Huda was produced before the court by police, who had sought a 10-day remand for questioning. The…

Once renowned both at home and abroad for its high-quality dried fish, Chattogram’s traditional industry is now facing a steep decline due to a host of challenges — including dwindling fish availability, soaring prices, and financial hardship for small-scale producers. The situation has worsened with the influx of cheaper imported dried fish from neighbouring countries, undermining local producers, traders, and warehouse owners. Dried fish remains a staple of hospitality in the region, but affordability is now a growing concern. Industry…

Former Bangladesh Minister of Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat has alleged that the meeting between Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus and BNP President Tarique Rahman in the UK reveals their plans to rig the elections. “Yunus’s interview with the BBC exposed his deceitful character and blatant lies. Just listen….” he wrote on his X on Monday. Talking about Yunus’ meeting with BNP President Tarique Rahman in the UK, he said that a rigged election was being planned which would exclude 50%…

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has urged the interim government to promptly inform the Election Commission (EC) of its decision to hold the upcoming national election. Speaking at a discussion organised by Nagorik Oikya at the Jatiya Press Club, he emphasised the importance of moving forward toward democratic transformation. “We call on the interim government, on behalf of the people and in support of democracy, to take the necessary steps so that we can move quickly towards a democratic…

London : Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who heads the country’s interim government, has expressed his commitment to building strong bilateral ties with India. However, he lamented recurring setbacks caused by misinformation and unresolved tensions. Speaking during a public conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Chatham House think tank in London, Yunus addressed key issues ranging from Bangladesh’s internal political situation to its strained ties with India. “We want to build the best of relationships with India—it is our…

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced today that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, currently visiting the United Kingdom, is set to meet BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London on June 13. Speaking to journalists at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Fakhrul said the meeting is scheduled to take place between 9:00am and 11:00am (London time) at the hotel where Dr. Yunus is staying. “The Chief Adviser has invited our acting chairman. The meeting will be held at…

DHAKA — Bangladesh is preparing to hold its next national elections in early April 2026, marking a pivotal moment since last year’s historic mass uprising that toppled the long-standing government. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced the election timeline on Friday, offering a ray of hope to a nation grappling with political uncertainty. The South Asian country of approximately 170 million people has been caught in a political storm since August 2024, when a student-led revolt ended the 15-year iron grip…

Dhaka : The Bangladesh Awami League has strongly denounced what it calls a “fake and farcical” trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing anti-national and anti-independence forces of orchestrating a politically motivated conspiracy. The party labeled the judicial process a “kangaroo court” established by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to target Hasina and suppress pro-liberation voices in Bangladesh. Formal charges were filed on Sunday against Sheikh Hasina for alleged crimes against humanity, reportedly committed during the student-led…