Maushumi Rahman, counsellor (political) at Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, left Pakistan last night for Lisbon to take up her new assignment in the country's Portugal mission.

For 91 days from January 6 to April 4 last year, there was hardly a single day when innocent people were not burnt to death or injured in arson attacks on public transports.

“It's unfortunate. The young Australian team has missed a chance of playing at the world stage,”

The diplomatic crisis surrounding Saudi Arabia and Iran widened yesterday as Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Tehran in the face of growing international concern.

All eyes are set on the Supreme Court which delivers today the verdict on the appeal filed by war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami challenging his death penalty.

Cricket Australia (CA) have decided not to send its under-19 team to Bangladesh to take part in the Under-19 World Cup, which is due to begin in Chittagong on January 27, on security grounds.

Bitterly criticising the BNP for its violent agitation last year, the ruling Awami League has called on its political foe to return to peaceful politics.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday urged the government to open talks with all political parties to find a solution to the “ongoing political crisis and restore democracy” in the country.

Pakistan has asked Bangladesh to withdraw its senior diplomat Moushumi Rahman from the country in 48 hours, without citing any reason.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the secretaries concerned to examine the new pay scale's "discriminatory provisions" concerning different sections of professionals, including university teachers, and take steps accordingly.

Saudi Arabia's Sunni allies rallied behind the kingdom yesterday and several joined Riyadh in severing or downgrading diplomatic relations with Tehran, deepening a sectarian split across the Middle East.

The countrywide blockade, called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance last year, is still on. It is hard to believe that the opposition alliance is yet to officially withdraw the programme through any announcement, party insiders have said.

The month of January has come again, starting a new year with new hopes and new promises. But it makes no difference to those stuck in a circle of pain, sorrow and uncertainties resulted from the unprecedented violence last year.

Five people died of heart attacks in Bangladesh and over 100 were injured in panic-related incidents when a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Manipur of India, some 353 kilometres away from Dhaka.

A powerful earthquake struck northeast India and Bangladesh yesterday, killing at least 11 people and injuring nearly 200, with efforts to reach remote areas where people may be trapped hampered by severed power lines and telecommunication links.

The BNP can hold today's rallies in Dhaka and Chittagong, but there are conditions.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue yesterday came up with a number of recommendations to boost the country's economy that has “stability but lacks vibrancy”.

A youth was killed in an alleged gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion at Rupnagar in the capital early yesterday.

The BNP deserves better than the way it was treated by police on Saturday when a group of people under the banner of a so-called "real BNP" marched towards the opposition party's central office with an ulterior motive to occupy it.

Kamrul Hasan Nasim claims to be a member of pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal in Jessore's Chaugachha. And now, he wants to occupy the BNP central office at Naya Paltan in the capital for implementing his plan to “reform” and “reorganise” the party.