Business leaders yesterday urged the country’s apex trade body to initiate a dialogue with the political parties to defuse the current instability and violence that is aggravating the health of the already fragile economy.

Dr Kamal Hossain, emeritus president of the Gono Forum, yesterday said his party wants a participatory election through national dialogues.

Says foreign minister

BNP today urged the government to stop playing games in the name of announcing the schedule for the 12 parliamentary elections

Double-decker BRTC bus in Mirpur 10; two buses of Manarat International University in Beribad

The ruling Awami League today decided to hold large-scale processions across the country following the announcement of election schedule

Police yesterday sued 93 BNP men in Narayanganj, including its district president, for allegedly torching a bus in Siddhirganj's Godnail area on Sunday evening

At least 154 arson attacks, mostly on vehicles, were reported between October 28 and November 13, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence statistics

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner today said it was the BNP who had kept their own party office in Nayapaltan locked since October 28, but the party put the blame on police for putting its headquarters under lock and key.

US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu has written to the Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya Party, urging them to engage in talks without any conditions to unlock the political stalemate.

The BNP yesterday called a fresh 48-hour nationwide blockade from 6:00am tomorrow.

Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Forum (BJAF), a body of pro-BNP lawyers, yesterday alleged that a total of 13,386 opposition leaders and activists have been arrested through filing 613 cases centring BNP’s October 28 rally.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 10,041 structures under 157 projects taken by 24 ministries and divisions today.

Of those, 11 were buses, one truck, and two others were Nosimons (human haulier)

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today announced a 48-hour blockade programme from Wednesday to Thursday (Nov 15-16) in line with a programme announced by BNP

Unidentified arsonists torched a Moumita Paribahan bus around 6:15pm. Two fire engines were trying to douse the blaze

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reached the rally venue at Khulna city's Circuit House ground.

BNP today called a 48-hour countrywide blockade from Wednesday demanding resignation of the government, for the upcoming national election to be held under a non-party caretaker government, and release of arrested BNP leaders

There was a significant rise in the number of public transport vehicles seen on Dhaka streets today, the second day of the ongoing countrywide blockade called by BNP and likeminded parties.

After more than five years, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is visiting Khulna this afternoon to attend a rally at the city's Circuit House ground as the chief guest