Bangladesh’s book industry is facing challenges such as weak reading habits, limited distribution, and poor library systems, while many quality books fail to reach readers due to inadequate promotion and Dhaka-centric marketing, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

Heavy rains on Wednesday and Thursday nights submerged Rabi-season crops, including potatoes, across several northern districts.

Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Manab Zamin, has been elected president of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (Noab) for the 2026-2027 term.

The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police has arrested Bangladeshi broker Philip Sangma, who is accused of helping the two key suspects flee the country after the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho.

Bangladeshi migrants’ aspiration to return home for Eid-ul-Fitr has turned into a nightmare with the large-scale cancellations of flights to and from the Gulf countries amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The 11-party electoral alliance has urged the BNP-led government to convene a session of the Constitutional Reform Council by today.

The ruling BNP is not bothered about the opposition Jamaat-e-Islam’s warning of street protests if the session of the Constitutional Reform Council is not convened as forming the council is not on its priority list.

The government is set to ease restrictions on fuel lifting for vehicles from today, amid mounting pressure on refuelling stations ahead of the Eid travel rush, while authorities insist that adequate supplies will be maintained throughout the holiday period.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday pledged to build a peaceful and secure Bangladesh through the united efforts of people of all religions and warned against any attempt to create division among them.

Bangladesh could receive a $1.3 billion tranche from its loan programme with the International Monetary Fund by June if the new government moves ahead with reforms to make the dollar exchange rate more market-based, strengthen revenue collection, reduce subsidies, and address weaknesses in the banking sector.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has sought a date from Bangladesh for a hearing as part of the US’s twin investigations into trade and forced labour.

Prime Bank PLC has joined hands with The Daily Star as the title sponsor of the prestigious O and A Levels Awards, reaffirming its commitment to empowering youth and celebrating academic excellence across the nation.

Some 138,392 workers of 180 ready-made garment factories at risk of failure to pay wages and bonuses before the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays could create labour unrest in different ways, the home ministry has warned.

A teenager was detained yesterday in connection with the rape of a 13-year-old girl in Jashore’s Abhaynagar upazila.

A construction worker died after falling from the roof of an under-construction building in Rajshahi city yesterday morning.

Two missing individuals were found dead in waterbodies in two districts yesterday, according to reports from our correspondents.

A severe shortage of locomotives has forced Bangladesh Railway (BR) to keep Eid special train services from Chattogram to a minimum for the second consecutive year, causing suffering to home-goers.

Abbas suddenly lost consciousness while drinking water during iftar on Wednesday. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka that night

5 Bangladeshi expats were killed in a blast and subsequent fire at a guesthouse in the country

Move aimed at easing Eid travel