Thursday, 24 April, 2025
Thursday, 24 April, 2025
IMF keeps Bangladesh’s economic growth forecast almost unchanged
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept Bangladesh's economic growth projection nearly unchanged for the current and next fiscal years, while revising down its inflation forecasts. In its World Economic Outlook

Yunus to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican

Social business can bring millions out of poverty: CA

Qatar to hire 725 Bangladeshi soldiers: Alam

Prof Yunus seeks foreign investment to tap Bangladesh’s business potential

Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to fully Implement the CHT Peace Accord
Md. Abdul Khaleque, Secretary, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs reaffirmed Bangladesh Government’s unwavering commitment to uphold the constitutional guarantee in promoting and protecting the rights of all citizens and to fully implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord at the 24th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), being convened on 21 April-2 May 2025 in New York. The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations confirmed the information in a press release. In his statement, Secretary Abdul Khaleque informed the Forum about the implementation progress of the CHT Peace Accord. He also highlighted the land management system prevailing in the CHT region, which runs in accordance with the provisions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900. He further emphasized the Government’s continued financial support and allocation in the CHT region to ensure infrastructural development and promote advancement in education, healthcare, livelihoods, sports, etc. Bangladesh’s constitutional commitment to protect and promote the unique local culture, heritage and traditions of the ethnic sects and communities has also been reiterated in Bangladesh’s statement. Participating in the thematic dialogue on the ‘Financing of Indigenous Peoples' Work and Participation Across the Multilateral and Regional System,’ the Bangladesh delegation acknowledged the importance of their meaningful participation in relevant multilateral and regional system on issues affecting them; however, the importance of respecting the established UN practices and procedures was also underscored by the Bangladesh delegation. The Bangladesh delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Land, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from ethnic communities from both the CHT region and plain land.
IMF keeps Bangladesh’s economic growth forecast almost unchanged
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept Bangladesh's economic growth projection nearly unchanged for the current and next fiscal years, while revising down its inflation forecasts. In its World Economic Outlook

Yunus to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican

Social business can bring millions out of poverty: CA

Qatar to hire 725 Bangladeshi soldiers: Alam

Prof Yunus seeks foreign investment to tap Bangladesh’s business potential

Foreign ministry's maritime affairs secretary Khurshed Alam resigns
Offshore oil, gas exploration: 7 foreign firms bought tenders so far
Project cargo for Numaligarh refinery arrives via India Bangladesh protocol route
Tripura chapter of IBCC writes to Bangladesh minister for better connectivity
The BRICS-established New Development Bank (NDB) has planned to raise its lending to Bangladesh development projects to US$ one billion this year, a vice-president of the Shanghai-based multilateral lender said
Martin Raiser, vice president of the World Bank (WB) for South Asia, arrived in Dhaka on a four-day visit today, which the global financial institution stated was aimed at reinforcing
Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus left here for Davos, Switzerland, at early hours of today, on a four-day official visit to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic
Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus is set to leave here for Davos, Switzerland, on a four-day official visit to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF)
Chief Adviser Prof Dr Mohammad Yunus will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 21-24. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Rafiqul Alam today said in
Energy giant Chevron has planned to invest in new gas exploration activities in Bangladesh in an effort to boost the country's energy security, senior officials of the US-based company said
Amnesty expresses concern over Meghna Alam's detention
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the detention of Meghna Alam by police in plainclothes in Dhaka. "Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the use of the Special Powers Act for the arrest of model Meghna Alam. The draconian legislation, with vague, overbroad provisions, has historically been used to arbitrarily detain people for long periods of time, without charge, and without judicial oversight," Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office said in a post on X. These constitute gross violations of due process safeguards and international human rights standards, it said. The statement added that as per media reports, Meghna's detention was shrouded in secrecy, and was allegedly carried out without a warrant, which are considered to be an alarming violation of procedural safeguards. "We call on the authorities to either charge Meghna with an internationally recognisable crime or release her. They must also end the use of and repeal the Special Powers Act," it said. Around 5:00pm on Wednesday, Meghna was detained from her residence in Dhaka's Bashundhara area while she was live on Facebook. Yesterday, she was sent to jail under a 30-day detention order issued under the Special Powers Act. The order was passed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka around 10:00pm following a police petition.
১২ এপ্রিল, ২০২৫
'No plan to ban Awami League'
Toby Cadman urges govt to refer July massacre case to the ICC
Bangladesh to Investigate Appointment of WHO Regional Director for South East Asia

CA for impact-driven connects among varsities, cooperative learning to make youth skilled

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today proposed building impact-driven connects among universities and introducing cooperative learning to make the youth skilled by taking fuller advantages of digital revolution.   "... let us build and deepen functional, impact-driven connects between our universities and equivalent knowledge institutions, particularly focused on preparing boys and girls into entrepreneurial other than its sake. Applied Science disciplines," he said.   The chief adviser made the remarks while addressing the 11th D-8 summit in Egyptian city of Cairo, according to a message received here.   He observed that the D-8 member states must bring the entrepreneurs and higher learning much closer than what is today, while their aim should be to generate knowledge output that can produce global secure business and industry from leaders of D8 countries fiercely competitive global market place, with their niche.   "If this asks to re-look at the D-8 trade and investment frameworks afresh, we should do so. Transforming the business to impact on peoples' lives, not just an occupation to be our wealth. They will engage in social business to create a new civilization," he added.   The 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, said for years, they tried to impart basic education and skills to millions in the D-8 countries through conventional in-person institutional architecture.   "In a 1.2 billion people, so often that is an increasingly daunting task. To reach 'scale', we tried through distance learning, for instance. We need to think deeper as to how to skill millions of young adults in workplace where right attitudes - values - ethics matter as much as hard skills."   "And, then we also confront the challenge to re-skill many millions at different vocational streams, on a continuous basis," he said.   Mentioning that basic AI-based tools and applications are accessible now, Prof Yunus urged the D-8 leaders to consider a cooperative learning agenda that can complement their national undertakings.   He said the ways the 'world of work' is evolving fast as the world of youth entrepreneurship, the D-8 countries have to re-invent 'learning' to make rooms for their boys and girls to become leaders of the economy.   "In our countries, we have great heritage, wisdom and accomplishments. We have to see how we can blend and build on those. We are yet to take fuller advantages of the digital revolution that has been with us for years," Prof Yunus said.   "Now that using AI is here, let us think if we can leapfrog and catch up with the disruptions, to the advantage of our entrepreneurial boys and girls. As way forward, I would like to propose (the) two specific actions, for our consideration," he added.   Highlighting the significance of the D-8 summit, the chief adviser said the D-8 leaders have met at a time when the world is witnessing unprecedented challenges, while so many opportunities beckon them as well.   He mentioned that the theme of the Summit, focusing on youth and the SMEs, aptly resonate with shared aspirations.   Each of the D-8 countries has sizable youth population while median age in Bangladesh, for instance, is just 27 years, he said. Around two and a half million young people enter the labour market every year, Prof Yunus added.   "In a private sector driven economy, as we endevour to get them fit for the market or, encourage them to emerge as agile entrepreneurs, we see how emergence of technologies is posing challenges and opportunities like never before," he added. The chief adviser said manufacturing landscape in the countries has millions of workers who generally have low skills but the manufacturing and service economy of tomorrow is fast transforming, largely riding on artificial intelligence, machine learning, data-driven tools and applications.   In Bangladesh, where agriculture is still a critical mainstay for the society and economy, it has been seen that children of the majority of small farmers are little interested to pursue back-breaking, risky and often uncertain farming-on-field the ways their parents took upon as a matter of tradition, he said.   Prof Yunus said travelling to rural Bangladesh, even across Asia, Africa and Arab world, he saw how millions of today's youth are fast embracing technology and innovation, in everything around - either to turn around long-persistent challenges or, eke out newer opportunities that many thought impossible even a few years before. Often, he said, the younger folk show uncanny imagination in tacking intractable climatic stress on-the-field.   "I particularly underline this as our agriculture and food are changing about securing our economies, and creating wealth, within our own societies, with little outside inputs," he added.   About the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), the chief adviser said this brings into their consideration the millions of SMEs and most of those thrive within informal economy.   "They aspire to grow and connect to global supply chain. Most often, they lack formal structure, access to institutional finance or support architecture and are unfamiliar with market norms-practices-standards. Yet, I see how amazingly capable and competitive the SMEs are," he said.   In the D-8 countries, he said, collectively they possess enough of wealth, even in private philanthropy, to stand by these scores of SMEs.   "With our modest support, we can shape a virtuous 'cycle of good', for them and for our people. We need to let money flow to them, through de-risking finance, for instance," the Noble Laureate said.   He urged the D-8 governments to convene candid, result-oriented conversation involving communities of youth - startups - business - finance, and see if they can curve out new platform amongst them.   Prof Yunus asserted that Bangladesh would be ready to take such an initiative forward; and convene a first multi-stakeholders meet in 2025.   "As we adopt the Cairo Declaration and the Summit outcome reflecting our collective aspiration and shared commitment to addressing pressing issues, I may call upon Excellencies to re-look at our collective agenda, afresh," he concluded.   Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the leaders of D-8 member states and the D-8 Secretary General were present on the occasion.  

Bangladesh endeavours to advance D-8 cooperation: CA

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said Bangladesh endeavoured to advance D-8 cooperation under quite challenging circumstances since assumption of D-8 Chairmanship in April 2021.   "We first battled the limitations and constraints in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic; and then the poly crisis that afflicted many of our countries, in so many ways," he said in his opening speech at D-8 summit held at Egypt capital of Cairo, according to a message received here.    As the outgoing Chairmanship of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus welcomed you the leaders of the member states at the 11th D-8 Summit.    He expressed his warmest felicitation to the Incoming Chair and the Host, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, indeed for making the meticulous arrangements and gracious hospitality in the historic city of Cairo.   "I must complement the Government of Egypt for its unwavering commitment to the principles of the organisation in advancing our shared vision, for progress and cooperation," the chief adviser said.   During the Bangladesh' chairmanship of D-8, he said, establishment of the D-8 Youth Council, and ratification of D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement, during this time were particularly noteworthy.    Prof Yunus said this could not be accomplished with the member states' unwavering support, and understanding, of their collective interest.   He said Bangladesh is thankful to all the D-8 governments for the support extended throughout Bangladesh's Chairmanship, and the level of commitment shown in advancing our collective interests.    "While we officially hand over the Chairmanship to Egypt, I complement President El-Sisi for the theme of this Summit, "Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs". It resonates aptly with our aspirations in D-8," he said.    The chief adviser said in times of changing world of work, the D-8 countries need to re-discover and re-position learning, regarding youth and work in the economy of tomorrow.    "Things often evolve too fast and gets difficult for governments to comprehend, and implement. But we must keep on recalibrating our efforts, to match the difficulties," he said.    Prof Yunus said, "As Bangladesh passes the baton to Egypt, let me affirm Bangladesh's unwavering support to the Egyptian Chairmanship in furtherance of our cooperative agenda."    He said Team Egypt, under wise leadership of President El-Sisi, can count on Bangladesh.    "May D-8 flourish, under Egypt's leadership, and help our countries accomplish greater freedom, stability, harmony and prosperity in an unpredictable world," Prof Yunus added.  
CA for enhanced regional cooperation to address climate challenges
Touhid calls for collaboration for peace, security, stability in Asia
Sheikh Hasina needs to be PM again: FBCCI
Next year's HSC exam on revised syllabus: Minister
Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to fully Implement the CHT Peace Accord
NASA Welcomes Bangladesh as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory
UN seeks nearly $1 bn in aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
UN chief departs Dhaka after 4-day visit
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman yesterday paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who is visiting Bangladesh. During
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said the Arakan Army is an entity with which he believes a "necessary dialogue must
 United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today reiterated that the UN will continue to provide support to Bangladesh over Rohingya
Bangladesh becomes BIMSTEC chair for 2yrs
Bangladesh has received the BIMSTEC chairmanship for the next two years from Thailand. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has received the
০৪ এপ্রিল, ২০২৫
Polls at the earliest, Yunus's top priority
BIMSTEC: Yunus, Modi, other leaders join official dinner
IMF keeps Bangladesh’s economic growth forecast almost unchanged
BRICS-backed bank to lend $1b to Bangladesh this year
Most USAID workers to be fired or placed on leave
World Bank reiterates support for Bangladesh's reforms
London-based IGC to partner with BRAC in setting up a data hub in Bangladesh, says its chief

Williamson, Latham punish fumbling Pakistan

Japan coach Moriyasu staying on after WC

Hunger-striking Senegal journalist shifted to hospital

PM opens 1st phase of metro rail today

‘Otherwise, people will not forgive us’

Prof Yunus envisions a new nation in conversation with NPR

Bangladesh maintains close ties with all – China, US and India: PM tells CNN

Williamson, Latham punish fumbling Pakistan

Japan coach Moriyasu staying on after WC

Williamson, Latham punish fumbling Pakistan

Japan coach Moriyasu staying on after WC

Hunger-striking Senegal journalist shifted to hospital

PM opens 1st phase of metro rail today

10 killed, 30 injured in hotel-casino fire on Cambodian border