An SC  lawyer yesterday filed a petition with the HC seeking its directive on the government to stop use of explosive substances during new year celebrations.

The US sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former officials were not meant to punish Bangladesh but to warn on human rights, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said referring to his meeting with outgoing US Ambassador Earl R Miller yesterday.

The government has expressed readiness to check misuse and abuse of the Digital Security Act, said Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday.

Due to an ongoing spike in Covid-19 infections, the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela -- which was set to begin on February 1 -- has been postponed for two weeks. If the cases are under control, the biggest cultural event in Bangladesh may start in the third week of February.

President Abdul Hamid yesterday told parliament that democracy needs to be made more effective by establishing transparency and accountable good governance by ensuring proper participation of people in all government activities.

Irregularities, electoral code violation and vote boycotting by independent candidates marked the municipal polls at Natore and Chattogram’s Banshkhali yesterday.

Six people were killed and three were injured in road accidents in three districts during the last two days.

Chattogram District Administration yesterday conducted mobile courts in the port city to enforce health guidelines to curb Covid-19 transmission.

Two brothers were killed and two people were injured when a private car hit a tree beside Dhaka-Chattogram highway near BSCIC Industrial area in Feni yesterday.

Students of a female dormitory at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) in Sylhet continued their protests yesterday, demanding removal of the hall’s provost.

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said a circuit bench of the High Court will soon be established in the port city this year, as the chief justice has taken the matter into consideration.

Around 120 villages in the Bhabadah region in Jashore and Khulna are still under water, even as winter marches.

The United States yesterday donated 9.6 million doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh, a gift from the American people.

The education ministry has urged the people of the country not to pay heed to any rumour over the closure of educational institutions due to the spike in Covid-19 cases.

If a cancer patient goes to Dhaka for treatment, they have to find a room in a hotel or relative’s house, where they will not have access to any specialised medical care.

They first make some magnetic coins by melting copper wire.

Way back in 1960, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) bought 162 decimals of land from an Indian private company in Nolgola area of Old Dhaka, on the banks of Buriganga near Mitford Hospital.

Mala Santal is an indigenous tea worker at Baikunthapur Tea Garden in Habiganj’s Madhabpur.

“Media reports on recruiting syndicates for Malaysia are nothing but trash,” remarked Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.

The Election Commission (EC) is “depriving voters from their rights” by not disclosing wealth information of candidates, claimed Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar.