At least two dengue patients died while 723 others were hospitalised in the 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday.

Transparency International Bangladesh expressed deep concern over the cabinet’s in-principle approval of two rights-related draft laws, questioning whether the government and ruling party had learned any lessons from the enforced disappearances, killings and other “brutal and multifaceted” human rights violations committed under the ousted authoritarian regime.

The monsoon should have left Satchari National Park’s ponds brimming with life-giving water. Instead, sand washed down from eroding hillsides has damaged two of the park’s three reservoirs, with one now almost dry and another at risk of being choked by sand.

The government is planning to implement the ninth pay scale for its employees over two fiscal years, according to sources in the secretaries’ committee formed to deal with a proposal.

The government yesterday suspended six senior police officials, ranging from additional deputy inspector general to assistant police commissioner, for remaining absent from duty for an extended period without leave or permission.

The prosecution yesterday sought the maximum punishment for Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other leaders of the party and its affiliated organisations.

Five more patients died with measles and measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 885 this year.

At least two dengue patients died while 723 others were hospitalised in the 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday.

Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon yesterday said the youth are the main driving force of new civilisation in the era of rapidly changing technology.

Leaders of different journalists’ organisations yesterday demanded the immediate restoration of journalists’ access to Supreme Court courtrooms to collect information, warning that they will launch a broader coordinated programme if the restriction is not withdrawn.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will meet members of the party’s Standing Committee today before announcing his final decision on the BNP’s presidential candidate, according to party sources.

A large number of people from marginalised communities, including hijras and the manta population, remain without National Identity (NID) cards, leaving many unable to access education, healthcare and government social safety-net programmes, speakers said yesterday.

At the height of the hilsa season, when fishing trawlers should be crowding the Bay of Bengal, around 200 remain stranded at the Mahipur and Alipur fish landing centres in Patuakhali due to an acute shortage of ice caused by frequent load-shedding.

Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree on a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.

Both sides pledge stronger ties in trade, defence, energy

Warn of tougher movement if restrictions not withdrawn

Family says Arati Munda had described physical abuse in videos; Hong Kong police are investigating her death

Watchdog says key stakeholder recommendations ignored

Proposed agreement would target construction, halal and agricultural sectors as Thailand considers Bangladesh a fifth source country

At SDG conference, they call for accessible transport, skills support and more jobs