Bangladesh

    The second phase of Biswa Ijtema, one of the biggest congregations of Muslims in the globe, is set to begin on Friday on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi, on the outskirt of the capital. The second phase of the congregation, being organised by Tablig Jamaat, will conclude on Sunday. The first phase of Biswa Ijtema ended on Sunday with the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers). People from 16 districts attended the 1st phase of Ijtema. The congregation, also called the World Muslims' Congregation, will start formally with religious ser-mons after Fajr prayers. Several lakh Muslims are expected to attend the Juma prayers at the Ijtema venue tomorrow. People from 16 districts (including Dhaka) will attend the second phase Biswa Ijtema. Ijtema is being held in two phases fro...

    Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob (retd), who played a key role in the 1971 war which broke up Pakistan and created Bangladesh, died in New Delhi on Wednesday, a hospital said. The 93-year-old passed away Indian time at about 8.30am at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) due to pneumonia, a hospital official said. He had been admitted on 1 January. Jacob was the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to Pakistan’s eastern wing seceding and becoming an independent Bangladesh. Jacob also served as the governor of Goa and Punjab.

    Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the public university teachers not to hamper the aca-demic activities of students by enforcing any strike in their universities. Prime Minister warned today to the agitating public university teachers against causing any damage to the education life of thousands of students.Students will not accept it if you continue protests against the new pay scale boycotting classes, Hasina said while addressing a rally marking Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day in Dhaka. There’s no reason to be unhappy after a salary hike by 123 percent … teachers shouldn’t continue movement hampering the students’ academic life, she said while addressing a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan marking the Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day. Over the recent protests by students an...

    The cabinet today approved the drafts of the 'National Hajj and Omrah Policy-2016' and Hajj Package-2016. The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Briefing reporters after the meeting Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the cabinet also approved a proposal of the Minister of Public Administration to fill up some 2,475 tech-nical/professional posts of the government from 34th and 35th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exami-nation. Under the Hajj Package-2016, a total of 1,13,868 pilgrims including 5,000 ballotee hajjis could perform holy hajj this year under two packages. In the first package a pilgrim would cost Taka 3,60,028 including Kurbani and in the second package ...

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Kyle Haywood refused to contin-ue his job from today. Kyle who is now on a leave, sent an email expressing his inability to continue as the MD and CEO of Biman on health grounds, Biman’s acting MD Wing Commander (retd) MM Asaduzzaman told The Bangla Media. Recently the Board of Directors extended his service for another year and on return he was supposed to sign a new contract, Biman sources said. The South African-born British citizen took over the responsibility on January 6 last year. He was appointed on a one-year contract which had provision of extension of his service.

    Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu has directed to relocate tanneries from Hazaribagh within next 72 hours. He said the tanneries would be shut down unless the factories are shifted within the stipulated time. The minister also asked BSCIC to send legal notice to the tannery owners by Sunday. If the tanneries fail to shift their factories after 72 hours of the legal notice, the allocation of the plots they have been given in the leather industrial park in Savar will be cancelled, according to the instruction of the minister.

    The first phase of Biswa Ijtema, one of the biggest congregations of Muslims in the globe, begins today on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi, on the outskirt of the capital, reports UNB. The congregation, also called the World Muslims’ Congregation, will start formally with religious ser-mons after Fajar prayers today and it will end with Akheri Munajat (final prayers) on Sunday. Several lakhs of Muslims are expected to join the Jum’a prayer at the Ijtema venue on Friday. The second spell of Ijtema is scheduled to be held from January 15-17 on the same venue. Sources at Biswa Ijtema in Tongi said thousands of devotees from home and abroad started congregat-ing on the Turag bank to take part in the 72-hour religious event since Thursday morning. Tight security measures h...

    The three day-long Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of Muslims after the Hajj, is set to begin on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi, Gazipur on Friday. Thousands of Muslim devotees have already reached the venue of the Ijtema, which would end through Akheri Munajat on Sunday. The second phase will begin on the 15th of January and will end on the 17th. meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has decided to run 28 special trains for Bishwa Ijtema devotees to Tongi from different parts of the country. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal visited the Ijtema ground today. He said that Bangladeshis are pious and knowledgeable. Therefore the government has been able to curb militancy in the country.

    BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today demanded the authorities to immediately arrange a parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government. The Election Commission’s present responsibility is to immediately arrange an inclusive national election in a free, fair and impartial manner, she said. The BNP also demanded talks among political parties for the sake of democracy. “We want an end to the prevailing chaotic situation through discussions and to work together for the sake of de-mocracy,” she said adding the ruling Awami League is staying in power forcibly. Citing several instances of election irregularities, the BNP chief alleged that the Awami League government wants to show its popularity by manipulating elections. She also lambasted the Election Commission (EC) for its...

    Relief and Disaster Management Ministry has identified 72,000 buildings at the risk of earthquakes in the capital. Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya made the statement at a press briefing in the capital on Monday afternoon. He said: “We had put black and red marks on the 72,000 buildings in the capital that were identified to be at the risk of earthquake".