Remains reach airport this morning

Amid public anger over child deaths, key health adviser to interim govt says outbreaks usually result from several long-term factors and that vaccine procurement approvals were given on time

A 90-year-old man was murdered allegedly by a drug addict during Fazr prayers at a mosque in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar early yesterday.

Deputy commissioners yesterday warned that the growing availability of drugs among youth, despite regular enforcement drives, poses a grave threat to the nation, urging the government to adopt tougher measures to curb the menace.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam yesterday said the first session of the 13th parliament failed to address how reform proposals would be implemented, warning that continued disregard could lead to a mass movement.

The result of the assembly polls in West Bengal is expected today, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) hoping to extend its 15-year rule and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aiming for its first victory in a state long ruled by leftist parties.

The investigation into the Shapla Chattar crackdown on May 5, 2013, has so far found evidence of at least 32 killings in Dhaka, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) said yesterday.

Immigration authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport prevented Nazrul Islam Mithu, the Dhaka correspondent of Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), a German-based news agency, from boarding a flight to China yesterday.

Forty-nine newly elected Members of Parliament from the reserved women’s seats of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad have taken their oath.

The National Human Rights Commission’s current inability to investigate disciplined forces remains a major structural barrier to eradicating state-sanctioned human rights abuses in Bangladesh, according to United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Dr Alice Edwards, who called for urgent legal reforms to align the body with global independence standards.

A group of journalists formed a human chain yesterday at the Supreme Court main gate, protesting the bar on reporters from entering the courtrooms of the Supreme Court.

Two farmers collapsed and died on the spot after witnessing their ripe paddy fields go under floodwaters in Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj on Saturday.

Children with measles-like symptoms in several remote hill settlements of Kurukpata union under Bandarban’s Alikadam upazila are being treated with local remedies and herbal medicine as Mro families struggle to access healthcare.

At least 10 people died from measles and measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours leading up to 8:00am yesterday, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected measles deaths to 294.

Water flowing from the Muradpur-Lalkhan Bazar flyover, also known as the Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Flyover -- named after a former lawmaker -- in Chattogram is adding to commuters’ woes, as rainwater pours directly onto the roads below during showers, soaking pedestrians and disrupting traffic.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman made it clear that the government does not want any innocent journalist to remain in jail, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon.

Around 20,000 residents of 10 villages in Jamalpur’s Bakshiganj upazila have been suffering for years due to the delay in reconstructing a key bridge that collapsed seven years ago.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday called upon deputy commissioners (DCs) to play a proactive role in implementing the government’s promises made to the people with a spirit to move ahead, stressing accountability, transparency and efficiency in building a people-friendly administration.

The central bank is likely to introduce a Tk 15,000 crore to Tk 20,000 crore low-cost fund to help revive closed factories in the country.

Journalists yesterday called for the establishment of a permanent media commission to enforce codes of conduct and ensure accountability.