A local Awami League leader died at a Dhaka hospital on Wednesday night, a day after being released on bail in what his family described as a critical condition.

All categories of Indian visas will gradually return to normal processing levels, said Aniruddha Das, assistant high commissioner of the Assistant High Commission of India in Sylhet.

These immortal lines from “Pearu Sardar Shorone” were penned by noted litterateur Syed Shamsul Haque as a tribute to Pearu Sardar -- the influential leader from Old Dhaka, who played a key role behind the construction of the first Shaheed Minar in Dhaka during the Language Movement in 1952.

Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Shaikh Rabiul Alam yesterday said the money collected from transport operators through mutual agreement should not be considered extortion.

NCP Convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam yesterday termed the Constitution Reform Council essential, saying, “without it, this parliament holds no value”.

When Rima, not her real name, left for Saudi Arabia ahead of Eid-ul-Azha last year, she believed she had secured a company job with a monthly salary of 1,000 riyals, with food and accommodation included.

The government, on its first full day in office, formally sought a three-year deferral of Bangladesh’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday issued directives to immediately begin work on three key election pledges of his party.

US President Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, hoping that the PM will help him maintain the “tremendous momentum” in US-Bangladesh trade relationship.

The information ministry formed a four-member committee to investigate corruption allegations against Mahbub Morshed, managing director and chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), said  an order issued by the ministry yesterday.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s wife, Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman, shared iftar with orphaned female students at a madrasa on Thursday, the first day of Ramadan.

Proceedings at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will continue at their normal pace despite the recent change in government, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said yesterday, expressing confidence that the prosecution team would be allowed to carry on its work without interference.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam yesterday said Bangladesh, as a democratic state with a renewed mandate, would maintain communication and friendship with all countries while upholding dignity and mutual respect.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon yesterday ruled out the possibility of cancelling examinations or granting “auto pass” in the face of mob pressure, saying such decisions were never desirable and will not be repeated.

The newly appointed health minister and state minister have issued several directives to ministry officials, including preparing a six-month action plan to make health services more effective and people-oriented.

Salehuddin Ahmed, former executive director of BRAC and former pro vice-chancellor of BRAC University, has passed away in the United States while undergoing treatment. He was 79.

German football star and 2014 World Cup-winner Mesut Ozil, along with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, visited Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on a one-day official tour yesterday.

At least 487 people were killed and 1,194 injured in 559 road accidents across Bangladesh in January this year, according to a report released by the Road Safety Foundation.

Three people were killed and at least six others injured in two separate road accidents on expressways in Shariatpur and Munshiganj yesterday, according to reports from our correspondents.

Rokshana Akhtar, a resident of Narayanganj, came to Chawkbazar with her son, Fuad Al-Fida, who recently passed his HSC examination, to enjoy the traditional iftar items at the historic market.