Nine units of firefighters bring under control a fire which broke out at a seven-storey building in Jatrabari of Dhaka.

In absence of free and fair elections, democracy loses its purpose, said Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar yesterday.

The High Court (HC) yesterday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit its probe report on Jaha Alam's imprisonment by May 2, to identify the culprits responsible for his wrongful imprisonment and sufferings in jail for three years.

A Supreme Court lawyer yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court, seeking its directive on the government to take all necessary steps to recognise and declare English as the second official language of Bangladesh.

Eminent columnist Brig Gen (retd) M Abdul Hafiz passed away yesterday. He was 84, says a press release.

A group of Dhaka University (DU) students yesterday formed a human chain at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla on campus, demanding expulsion of students who enrolled into DU through fraudulent process and their aides from the university.

Rabeya Khatun, mother of Quarter Master General Lt General Md Shamsul Haque, passed away early Tuesday. She was 102.

The formation of Mujibnagar government during the Liberation War led the country towards independence by providing people hope during a crisis, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

Visual impairment is more prevalent among Bangladeshi women than men, found a study conducted by Sightsavers Bangladesh, says a press release.

There have been a flood of commitments by governments regarding water and the environment, but proper implementation of those cannot be seen, an environmental rights activist told a seminar yesterday.

Three more persons yesterday testified before a Dhaka court in connection with the Holey Artisan Bakery attack case.

World-renowned cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth has suggested that Bangladesh take up effective steps to control heart diseases, which may get worse in the coming days.

Police in separate drives on Wednesday and early yesterday arrested nine people in Savar, for their alleged involvement in several murder and robbery cases in the last month.

Thikana

Police early yesterday detained three persons from different parts of Fatikchhari upazila in Chattogram for attacking a journalist on Tuesday night.

A Dhaka court yesterday deferred the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 16 others in the Gatco graft case till April 30, as the BNP chief could not appear before the court due to illness.

A special court in Chattogram on Tuesday framed charges against 36 persons including a former deputy commissioner (DC) of Cox's Bazar in connection with a graft case filed in 2014.

The dairy industry of Bangladesh will flourish if adequate foreign investment and technical assistance are provided, speakers at a roundtable said yesterday.

Police arrested three persons with counterfeit notes worth Tk 1.35 lakh from Chattogram and Cumilla yesterday.

Four people were killed in road accidents in four districts yesterday, according to reports from our correspondents.