The Payra sea port in Patuakhali would be operational from December on a limited scale. The government plans to gradually turn it into a deep seaport. "Apart from a deep seaport in Matarbari, another one will be constructed in Payra," Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told the press after an Ecnec meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Humayun Kabir Hira, arrested in connection with the killing of Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi, made a confessional statement before a Rangpur court last night.

“Serious crimes were also committed by the pro-independence forces, but no one has been investigated or brought to justice for them.”

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant would require a staggering $13.5 billion to build, Finance Minister AMA Muhith told The Daily Star on Tuesday.

A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain in a money laundering case.

BNP Dhaka city unit joint convener MA Quayum yesterday claimed his fear of being framed by the government in the case over the killing of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella had finally come true.

The US-based SITE Intelligence Group has said it stands by its reports on the Islamic State's claims of responsibility for the killing of two foreigners and the bomb attacks on a Shia programme in Bangladesh.

Noting that the recent bomb attack on a Tazia procession was aimed at tarnishing Bangladesh's image, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the country's progress cannot be stalled by carrying out such attacks.

In around 13 hours, he changed his statement. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal early yesterday told the media that Dhaka city BNP leader and former ward commissioner MA Quayum is the “Boro Bhai” who was behind the September 28 murder of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella. But later around 1:30pm, he denied making such comment and claimed some media outlets had misquoted him. This time he said Quayum is “one of the top suspects”.

A Sylhet court set November 8 to deliver its verdict in the 13-year-old Rajon killing case after the completion of the trial procedure yesterday in just over a month.

The United States defied China yesterday by sending a warship close to artificial islands the rising Asian power is building in disputed waters, prompting Beijing to furiously denounce what it called a threat to its sovereignty.

The Saudi Arabian government is allegedly putting pressure on Bangladeshi recruiting agencies to send female workers to the kingdom, although women are reluctant to go there for fear of torture by employers.

Bangladesh may have to spend around $13.5 billion to build the 2,400-megawatt Rooppur nuclear power plant, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said yesterday.

The United States has said it is working relentlessly with Bangladesh to identify the culprits of the killings of two foreigners.

Dhaka city BNP leader MA Quayum is the “Boro Bhai” who was behind the September 28 murder of Cesare Tavella, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Daily Star last night.

A US State Department spokesperson has said the US is not certain about the presence of Islamic State in Bangladesh.

Following intelligence warning, the government Sunday night beefed up security measures at the three international airports in the country, officials concerned said.

Three professional killers had shot dead Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella as part of a conspiracy to create anarchy, put pressure on the government and send a message to foreigners that they are not safe in Bangladesh, police claimed yesterday.

Enamul Haque alias Kamal who, according to police, stabbed to death Assistant Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Mollah and ran away was president of Adamdighi upazila Chhatra Shibir in Bogra.

Nearly 280 people were killed yesterday as a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake centred in the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan ripped across South Asia, toppling buildings, triggering stampedes and knocking out communication lines.