Saarc Nations

In a major political development, the interim government has decided to impose a complete ban on all activities of the Awami League (AL), including its online presence, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The ban will remain in effect until the International Crimes Tribunal completes the trial of the party and its top leadership. The announcement was made at a press briefing held last night by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, following a special meeting of the council of advisers led by Chief…

Nepal will issue permits to Mountaineers aspiring in scaling Mount Everest only to climbers with experience of scaling at least one of the Himalayan nation’s 7,000-metre (22,965 ft) peaks, according to the draft of a new law aimed at reducing overcrowding and improving safety. Nepal, which is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking and tourism for foreign exchange, has faced criticism for permitting too many climbers, including inexperienced ones, to try to ascend the 8,849-metre (29,032 ft) highest peak in the…

An Islamist outfit in Bangladesh pillaged a library in Tangail district of Dhaka, stealing books which they claimed were written by “atheists”. These included texts by Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, both of whom are considered icons of national importance in the country. Showcasing the marked rise of Islamic extremism, and the erosion of Bangladesh’s once secular pluralistic fabric, radicals openly robbed a library in the Tangail Dhanbari’s Upazila, with the local police making next to…

Dhaka : Bangladesh has formally demanded that Pakistan issue a public apology for the atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War, as the two nations resumed bilateral talks after a 15-year hiatus. The request was made during the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka, where Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin and his Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch led their respective delegations. The consultations marked a significant shift in relations, particularly since the interim…

Dhaka – Bangladesh and Pakistan have resumed Foreign Secretary-level talks after a 15-year hiatus, as Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch met with her Bangladeshi counterpart Md Jashim Uddin in Dhaka on Wednesday. The meeting took place at the State Guest House Padma and focused on a range of bilateral issues. The Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) are being held ahead of the scheduled visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka on April 27–28. This marks…

In a significant legal development, a Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 16 others in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of residential plots in the Purbachal New Town project. The warrants were issued on Monday by Judge Md Zakir Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court, following the formal acceptance of charges in two specific cases. Among the accused are senior officials, including Purabi…

Transshipment cargo from Bangladesh for re-export through India grew by 46% between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscals at the Petrapole Land Port in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, according to official data. However, no truck from Bangladesh carrying transshipment cargo for third countries entered through the Petrapole border since 09th. April, 2025 after the Indian government revoked the facility granted to the neighbouring country in 2020, an official said. In the 2023-24 fiscal, 3,473 trucks carrying 4,733 consignments worth…

India has reiterated that the decision in withdrawing transshipment facility to Bangladesh was due to the pileup of Bangladeshi export goods at Indian airports and ports, which was hindering Indian exports and creating backlogs. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while answering at a briefing today, that the transshipment facility had been extended to Bangladesh in 2020. “The trans-shipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at our Airports and Ports.…

The Bangladesh Election Commission has prepared the draft of the electoral code of conduct, to ensure a level playing field for future elections. However, the draft was prepared without consultation with any political parties. The draft committee conducted a meeting in the EC building’s capital in Agargaon, after which the Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar spoke to the press, apprising them of the developments. “We will sit with various stakeholders on this later. The situation will guide us on…

The Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 officially kicked off on April 7 at Intercontinental Dhaka, bringing together key policymakers and industry leaders to chart the country’s investment future. The event began with a panel discussion featuring Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA; Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor of Bangladesh Bank; Faiz Ahmad Taiyab, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser overseeing Posts, Telecommunications and IT; and Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division. During the session, Faiz Ahmad Taiyab emphasized the…