Saudi Arabia’s health ministry has ruled that only people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to attend the hajj this year, Saudi newspaper Okaz reported on Monday.

To replenish the country’s fast-depleting food stock, the government has approved a proposal to lessen the time of bidding process by over a month for ensuring a faster import of rice.

South Korean Hyundai Rotem Company has supplied 10 locomotives to Bangladesh Railway deviating from some clauses of the contract, a probe committee has found.

The High Court yesterday directed the Department of Environment (DoE) to take appropriate legal action against 30 washing plants in Keraniganj for polluting the Buriganga.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged insurance companies to take initiatives so that the level of awareness among people could be raised over the benefits of opening insurance policies.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen advised the media not to provide publicity to foreign missions’ statements expressing concern over Bangladesh’s internal issues and termed it a nuisance.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government is committed to sustaining Bangladesh’s recognition as a developing country through the expansion of education and building skilled workforce and worthy citizens.

Fifty-one noted citizens yesterday demanded a judicial probe into writer Mushtaq Ahmed’s death in prison and the probe report be made public.

The first phase of Bangladesh’s first metro rail project is now visible as the last viaduct of this part was installed yesterday.

Bangladesh is under “no obligation” to shelter 81 Rohingya refugees adrift for almost two weeks on the Andaman Sea and being assisted by neighbouring India, said Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen.

The High Court has ordered the authorities to maintain status quo on land grabbing, earth filling and operating brick kilns on the land of the Bhadra and Hori rivers in Khulna’s Dumuria upazila for three months.

A new passenger train between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri (NJP) of India’s West Bengal state will start its service on March 26 as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday renewed her call to the people to strictly maintain the health protection guidelines even after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.

If the contractor for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project has any issue, it should talk to the authorities concerned, as this is not something to talk about with the media, said Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan yesterday.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has called upon the US authorities to help legalise the undocumented Bangladeshis residing there.

Dhaka and Washington have agreed to work together to promote democracy, good governance and human rights while further strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation on global issues.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed the desire to build fighter jets in Bangladesh to protect its sovereignty.

A Dhaka court yesterday asked the plaintiff to take back the sedition case filed against four people, including Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist and Netra News Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil and Hungary-based entrepreneur Zulkarnain Saer Khan alias Sami, over the recent Al Jazeera report titled All the Prime Minister’s Men.

The Digital Security Act 2018 needs to be reviewed and amended with more clarity, and abuse of this act to stifle journalists and others should be stopped, speakers at a programme in the capital said yesterday.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said Singapore and Romania would recruit 10,000 and 2,000 Bangladeshis respectively soon.