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Stop meddling in LPG price fixing process: Consumer rights groups to govt

Consumer rights groups and business operators today demanded an end to the government's interference in the price fixing process of liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
Bangladesh has capacity to preserve 15cr Covid-19 vaccines: Maleque

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today said Bangladesh has the capacity to preserve 14 to 15 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses.
Biden names Bangladeshi-American Zayn Siddique for key White House position

Bangladeshi-American Zayn Siddique has been named by President-elect Joe Biden for a key position in the office of the White House deputy chief of staff.
HC directs Chandpur tribunal to send minor, her daughter, back to her husband

The High Court today directed the Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Tribunal of Chandpur to send a 17-year-old girl and her two-and-a-half-month-old daughter from a safe home in Tongi to her husband Kamal Uddin.
Trial proceedings of Dhaka’s lower courts suspended today over demise of a Public Prosecutor

All trial proceedings of lower courts in Dhaka were suspended today due to the death of Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court Public Prosecutor Khandaker Abdul Mannan.
Rohingyas in Rakhine still subjected to government persecution, violence: Human Rights Watch

The squalid and oppressive conditions imposed on some 600,000 Rohingya have amounted to crimes against humanity of persecution, apartheid, and severe deprivation of liberty, said Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday.
MJF’s findings on 25 rape cases: serious anomalies in trials

Most of the accused of 25 rape cases, filed between 2012 and 2016, are out on bail though bail is not applicable for punishable offence under Women and Children Repression Act 2000, according to findings by Manusher Jonno Foundation.
Six more foreign airlines express interest in operating flights to Dhaka

Six more foreign airlines -- Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Iran Air, Iraqi Airways and two airlines from India -- have expressed interest to operate flights to Dhaka due to favourable regulatory policy, vibrant market and high profitability.
Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar direct train services to start next year

Direct train services from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar will be launched by December next year, Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said today.
Bitter Senate impeachment trial of Trump could bog down Biden's first days

The second impeachment of President Donald Trump by the US House of Representatives, for inciting last week’s deadly rampage at the Capitol, could set off a bitter Senate fight that entangles the early days of President-elect Joe Biden’s term.
Govt working towards bringing back militants to normal life: Home Minister

The government has not only contained militancy but is also working to bring militants back to a normal life, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today.
11 idols damaged in Gopalganj

Miscreants have damaged 11 idols in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj.
Govt likely to allow private companies to import, distribute Covid-19 vaccines

The first consignment of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, produced by Serum Institute of India (SII), will reach Dhaka on January 25 or 26, health minister Zahid Maleque said this afternoon.
Covid-19: 16 die, 813 infected, 883 recover in 24 hours

Sixteen people have died from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours (till 8am today), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Two held in connection with gang-rape of a 17-year-old in Lalmonirhat

Two people were held in connection with the gang-rape of a teenager in Lalmonirhat’s Sadar upazila this afternoon.
Writ petition seeks High Court directive to treat male rape as offence

A writ petition was filed with the High Court today, seeking its order on the government to amend the relevant law treating the violation of males as rape.
Councillor candidate found dead in Jhenidah hours after rival candidate’s brother was killed

Police recovered the body of councillor candidate Alamgir Khan Babu, of ward-8 under Jhenidah's Shailakupa upazila, hours after brother of the rival candidate was hacked to death last night.
Money laundering by PK Halder: ACC freezes accounts of 62 persons

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has so far frozen around Tk 1,058 crore in accounts of 62 persons in connection with Tk 10,000 crore allegedly laundered by Proshanta Kumar Halder and his associates.
Five ‘gamblers’ held in Ashulia

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have detained five alleged gamblers in Ashulia of Savar.
BLAST employee gets bail in defamation case filed by BGB

A female employee of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) has secured bail in a defamation case of Tk 100 crore filed against her by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
South Korea court upholds jail for ex-president Park, clearing way for chance of a pardon

South Korea’s top court upheld on Thursday a 20-year prison sentence for former President Park Geun-hye on graft charges that led to her downfall, bringing an end to the legal process and for the first time raising the possibility of a pardon.
HC asks authorities why recording fingerprints, iris scans of all citizens not mandatory

The High Court today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to mandatorily record fingerprints and iris scans of all citizens, including children during their birth registration.
WHO team arrives in China's Wuhan to investigate Covid-19 origins

An international team of scientists led by the World Health Organization arrived today in China’s central city of Wuhan to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus that sparked the pandemic.
Social safety net allowances being sent to beneficiaries’ mobile wallets: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is sending allowances under social safety net (SSN) programmes directly to the beneficiaries’ mobile wallets to get rid of middlemen.
JP Chairman GM Quader tests Covid-19 positive

Jatiya Party Chairman and Deputy Leader of the Opposition GM Quader has tested positive for Covid-19.
500 homes gutted in fire at Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp

At least 500 homes were gutted in a fire that broke out at Noyapara Rohingya camp in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar early today, camp in-charge Abdul Hannan said.
Barapukuria coal scam case: 22 accused, including 6 ex MDs, freed on bail

Twenty-two officials of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL), including six former managing directors, were freed on bail from Dinajpur jail this morning.
Cracks develop on bridge of Dhaka-Aricha highway; lane closed

A lane of Dhaka-Aricha highway, on Savar’s Salehpur bridge, was closed after cracks developed in its girder yesterday afternoon.
3 lakh health workers to be inoculated on 1st day of Covid-19 vaccination drive in India

An estimated three lakh healthcare workers will be given the coronavirus vaccine at 2,934 sites across India on the first day of the massive nationwide vaccination drive on January 16, official sources said today.
COVID-19 infection gives some immunity for at least five months, UK study finds

People who have had COVID-19 are highly likely to have immunity to it for at least five months but there is evidence that those with antibodies may still be able to carry and spread the virus, a UK study of healthcare workers has found.