Bangladesh Celebrates 106th Birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Today is the 106th birth anniversary of the undisputed leader of Bangladesh and Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
New Vice-Chancellors at DU, JU, and BAU; New Chairman at UGC
Professor A B M Obaidul Islam, a professor of physics, is becoming the new Vice-Chancellor of University of Dhaka, who had been serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University until now.
Publishers Call 2026 Ekushey Book Fair the Worst in History Amid Near-Zero Book Sales
This year, the Bangla Academy has delivered what many are calling the most disastrous book fair in the country’s history. On one hand, far fewer books were published than expected; on the other, book sales have practically dropped to zero, creating a new milestone of failure. Those involved said that alarmingly there were almost no new books on the Liberation War, and the fair has turned into a laughable event with almost no visitors.
Matiur Rahman Chowdhury Elected NOAB President for 2026-27 Term
Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Daily Manab Zamin, has been elected president of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB).
Survivors of the Desert: How Bangladeshi Women Endure Sexual Exploitation in Libya
The arid deserts of Libya and the vast, restless Mediterranean conceal a world of horror where Bangladeshi women are treated as mere commodities. Dreams of Europe fade under the weight of exploitation, with 14-year-old girls facing systematic gang rape, and desperate women forced to trade their bodies for a single glass of clean water. This normalized “business model” of sexual slavery has persisted, unchecked, over the last five years, leaving thousands of lives scarred and countless graves unmarked.
Crude Oil Reserves Under Pressure as New Shipment Delayed
The impact of the ongoing war situation in the Middle East and the tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has begun to affect the reserves of the country’s only state-owned oil refinery, Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL). Currently, about 100,000 tons of crude oil are stored at the refinery in Chattogram, which officials say will allow production to continue for a maximum of another 20 to 22 days. If no new shipment arrives within that time, pressure may build on the refinery’s production system.
Fuel Crisis Raises Concerns of Eid Travel Disruptions
Nilachal Paribahan operates 350 buses. Of these, 95 run on long-distance routes from Dhaka to destinations such as Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur. Last Thursday, 30 buses were out of service due to the fuel crisis. On the company’s Gabtoli-Narsingdi route, 16 out of 40 buses remained idle because they could not obtain fuel due to long queues of vehicles at filling stations.
International Coalition Appeals for Immediate Bail of Ailing Writer Shahriar Kabir
An international coalition of human rights organisations and genocide scholars has formally appealed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to grant immediate bail to 75-year-old writer and filmmaker Shahriar Kabir on humanitarian grounds.
MV Banglar Joyjatra Turns Back While Heading Toward Strait of Hormuz
The state-owned company Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC)’s vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra has left the port of Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates but has now become stranded with 31 sailors near the port of Sharjah. The vessel’s next destination was the port of Mumbai in India. To reach there, it would have to cross the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. However, due to the ongoing war situation, ship movement through this crucial waterway has effectively been suspended. Although the vessel had set sail to proceed, members of the UAE Coast Guard advised it not to travel through the route at this moment.
Around 3,100 Incidents of Violence Against Minorities Reported in Bangladesh Since August 2024
About 3,100 incidents of violence targeting Hindus and other minority communities have been reported across Bangladesh between August 2024 and February 2026, according to data cited by human rights organisations, the Indian government has informed Parliament.