With two more dengue-related deaths reported yesterday, this year’s death toll has risen to 255, painting an alarming picture of the ongoing outbreak.

The High Court yesterday acquitted all the 44 accused, including former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib, in two cases filed over an attack on the motorcade of the then leader of the opposition and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Satkhira on August 30, 2002.

The National Consensus Commission is expected to propose that the next elected parliament be given 270 days to serve both as a legislative body and a Constitution Reform Assembly.

Senior lawyer Sharif Bhuiyan yesterday urged the Supreme Court to restore the non-party caretaker government system by cancelling its 2011 verdict that scrapped the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Anti-tobacco activists and health officials yesterday urged the government to swiftly approve the proposed amendment to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act to protect public health and reduce tobacco-related deaths.

Says Saudi minister

The Qawmi Education Rights Movement yesterday placed a five-point demand calling for full recognition of Qawmi education and equal access to higher studies and employment.

Describing Germany as Bangladesh’s biggest trade partner in Europe, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday expressed optimism that newly appointed German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Rüdiger Lotz would work to boost trade and investment between the two countries.

The observation came after reviewing fires at Dhaka airport, CEPZ, and Mirpur chemical depot

Cabinet Division officials say it’s double standards

Gonotantrik Odhikar Committee has demanded a fair probe into the death of media worker Sornomoye Biswas and called for the strict enforcement of anti-harassment policies in workplaces.

Party will ask EC not to pick people from certain organisations known to be close to a right-wing party

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin yesterday urged the UNOs to resist all forms of pressure or influence while performing election duties and to act strictly in line with the law.

The government has introduced a set of guidelines to protect the environment and biodiversity of Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island.

Border Guard Bangladesh rescued 35 trafficking victims and arrested three suspected traffickers with local weapons in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday.

A Dhaka court yesterday sent Buet student Sreeshant Roy to jail in a case filed under the Cyber Security Ordinance for allegedly hurting religious sentiments on social media.

Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun became an approver to “save himself” by concealing his own crimes and putting the blame on others, Amir Hossain, the state-appointed defence counsel for deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday.

EC cites emblem rules; NCP warns it won’t join polls without desired symbol

Amnesty International in a statement issued yesterday welcomed the decision by the Bangladeshi authorities to bring 15 serving army officers before a court to face charges under the International Crimes Tribunal.

The government yesterday signed three International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions guaranteeing workers’ rights, safety, and freedom from violence and harassment in the workplace.