The Daily Star - Bangladesh News, Political News, Bangladesh Economy & Videos, Breaking News

IMF suggests raising tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakh

The International Monetary Fund has suggested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) restructure the personal income tax slabs and increase the tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakh from the existing Tk 3.5 lakh.

11h ago

Mamata ‘was pushed from behind'

Says hospital director as the West Bengal CM suffers injuries after falling at home; gets 4 stitches; returns home after being discharged from hospital

1h ago

‘No one feels good at gunpoint’

The hostages on board the hijacked Bangladesh-flagged ship were taken to their cabins from the bridge after the pirates anchored the vessel as dawn broke over the Somali port of Garacad.

11h ago

My Dhaka / When budget shopping meets style

The latest craze for city-dwellers is the cycle vans selling all kinds of things, from undergarments to cushion covers. I leave it up to you to broaden the spectrum of things you get in these footpath vans.

11h ago

Nature Quest / Feathers of Ash

A Pacific reef heron spotted roaming the Saint Martin’s Island. These birds, while found throughout southern Asia and Oceania, are rarely sighted in Bangladesh as they are migratory

1h ago
Business

Business

Exim Bank to take over troubled Padma Bank

Struggling Padma Bank is set to be taken over by Shariah-based Exim Bank as part of the Bangladesh Bank plan to rein in the runaway defaulted loans to a reasonable level and bring good governance to the banking sector.

11h ago
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Sports

Sports

‘I felt Hathurusingha wanted to do a bit of dictatorship’

In Bangladesh cricket, team director appears to be a role only required in away series or major tournaments. Thus, Khaled Mahmud is now a former team director. He saw how the team fared in last year's ODI World Cup. The former national team captain in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi, talked about recent controversy regarding things said in the World Cup probe report, his own role and about head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

CONCACAF Champions Cup / Mexico's Monterrey set up meeting with Messi's Miami

Miami had on Wednesday after completing a 5-3 aggregate victory.

From ‘Nagin Dance’ to ‘Timed out’ / A rivalry without a cause

This rivalry between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka could be called vain, superficial or even ridiculous as it’s not based on some deep-rooted animosity between the two countries

News

News

US military says anti-ship missiles, drones hit in Yemen strikes

The US military said Thursday it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones in Yemen after Huthi rebels fired on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

AI risk to elections / EU targets TikTok, X, other apps

The EU yesterday wielded a powerful new digital law to press TikTok and seven other platforms on the AI risks for upcoming elections in the 27-nation bloc, including from deepfakes.

Back me in ‘difficult’ time

President Vladimir Putin yesterday urged Russians to stay the course in the face of a “difficult period”, hours before polls open in a vote set to extend his hardline rule.

Two dead as Russia fights off border attacks

Russia’s national guard yesterday said it was fighting off attacks from pro-Ukrainian groups in the region of Kursk, the latest in a recent string of clashes at the border.

Backlash intensifies at UK government’s extremism definition

The UK government yesterday unveiled a new definition of extremism to determine which organisations get public funds and meetings with officials, prompting criticism from civic, political and religious groups.

Entertainment

Entertainment

Opinion / Must we wait for an artiste to pass away to give them their due respect?

As the country’s most loved artiste, Rabindra Sangeet legend Sadi Mohammad, took his own life on Wednesday (March 13), around 7pm, two discussions on this untimely death have resurfaced–clasps of depression and grief and the practice of conferring national awards to artistes posthumously.

I have faith in my audience: Mehazabien on ‘Saba’, her big-screen debut

In the realm of Bangladeshi showbiz, few names shine as brightly as Mehazabien Chowdhury. With a career spanning 14 years, she has become a household favourite, captivating audiences with her talent and charm on the small screen. However, for Mehazabien and her legion of fans, there has always been a lingering question– When will she grace the silver screen?

Film Syndicate and Chorki announce plans to make 10 series in 3 years

Entertainment entities Chorki and Film Syndicate have revealed their ambitious plans to jointly produce 10 series over the next three years. The announcement was made during a grand event held at Dhaka Club on Wednesday.

Life & Living

Life & Living

Healthy iftar recipes that kids will actually love

Every mother goes through the conundrum — what to feed their children — the picky eaters of the family — during iftar. Ensuring that children get the right nutrients can be quite challenging, especially if a mum has to stay busy with outside appointments. However, there is a solution to this problem — quick iftar recipes that are as delightful as they are nutritious. This Ramadan, let flavours meet health through these easy-to-make iftar recipes.

#Perspective / How Dhaka’s metro rail simplifies Ramadan commutes

The metro rail has emerged as more than just a mode of transportation — it is a respite. During Ramadan, when the city seems to pulse with a heightened sense of urgency, the metro offers a calm, efficient path through it all. Its ability to bypass the notorious traffic jams means that people can ensure timely arrivals at work and, more importantly, at the family’s dinner table for iftar.

Planning to quit smoking this Ramadan? Let us help you with 7 basic tips

The holy month is here, marked by fasting, prayer, reflection, and self-discipline. While observing self-restraint, one can align with the spiritual goals of the time and combine to nurture good health practices. Nicotine addiction is both physical and psychological and while quitting smoking can be tough, with the right habits and strategies you can give up smoking for good.

Tech & Startup

Tech & Startup

Next Step / Cover letters: are they relevant anymore?

The efficiency of parsing through standardised resumes and extracting relevant information has led many employers to prioritise resumes and online application forms over cover letters. Thus, brings the obvious question: are cover letters even relevant anymore?

Microsoft Teams to integrate personal and work accounts

Microsoft is planning to introduce a unified version of Teams that combines both personal and work accounts. Currently undergoing testing, the new unified Microsoft Teams app is set to debut for commercial users in April. 

Spotify introduces music video feature

Spotify, the global music streaming giant, has announced the introduction of a music video feature, exclusive to its premium subscribers. This strategic expansion, part of a limited beta launch, is aimed at enriching the user experience by offering full-length music videos. Initially, this feature will be available to users in a select group of countries.

Star Multimedia

Star Multimedia

MV Abdullah heading towards Somalia at 14 nautical miles per hour

The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, which was taken hostage by Somali pirates, is being towed to the coast of Somalia

Shakib-Tamim row painful: Salahuddin

In a career spanning 25 years, renowned coach Mohammad Salahuddin has worked with three generations of cricketers and has elevated himself to spectacular heights in the country's cricket. In a detailed conversation with The Daily Star on their multimedia program, ‘Star Special’, coach Mohammad Salahuddin delves into various facets of Bangladesh cricket, shedding light on the looming challenges facing the Tigers and the factors impeding their fulfilment of expectations.

Pry, secondary schools to stay open for first 10 and 15 days during Ramadan: SC

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for the government to keep the primary and secondary schools across the country open for the first 10 and 15 days respectively during the month of Ramadan

Rebels seize junta base near Thai border

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allies have reportedly seized a junta office and a police station in the town of Mayawati near the border with Thailand

Environment

Environment

Govt wants to convert country's waste into resources: Saber Hossain

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said that the government is working to convert the country's waste into resources

15h ago

Satellite tag put on saltwater crocodile in Sundarbans for the first time

Forest department officials for the first-time attached a satellite tag on a saltwater crocodile and released it in the Bhadra river near Bhadra Patrol Post of the Sundarbans west division yesterday

17h ago

Magnitude 5.4 quake hits Bosnia-Montenegro border region

A magnitude 5.4 quake struck the border region between Montenegro and Bosnia early Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said

1d ago

Scattered thunderstorms likely in Dhaka, other parts: Met office

Scattered rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds were forecasted for one or two places over Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, and Sylhet divisions, as well as the regions of Cumilla and Noakhali, according to BMD's latest weather bulletin for today

1d ago

Int’l day of action for rivers: Shitalakkhya a deathbed for fish now

Sanjit Babu, from Baghia village in Gazipur’s Kapasia upazila, has been running a tea stall at Narayanpur market on the bank of the Shitalakshya river for the last four years.

1d ago

Residents facing low gas pressure can switch to LPG: Nasrul

Dhaka residents who are facing low or no gas supply can use LPG as an alternative, said State Minister of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid

1d ago

Ramadan: CNG filling stations to remain closed 4-10pm

CNG filling stations across the country will remain closed from 4:00pm to 10:00pm every day during Ramadan, instead of 5:00pm-10:00pm

1d ago

CNG pumps to remain shut from 5pm to 10pm during Ramadan

CNG filling stations across the country will remain closed from 5:00pm to 10:00pm every day during Ramadan

2d ago
Fact-check

Fact-check

Fact check: Mossad did not describe deceased US airman as 'enemy'

More claims suggesting the remark came from Mossad spread across X and TikTok.

1w ago

Meta to set up team to counter disinformation, AI abuse in EU elections

European Parliament elections will take place June 6-9. Its 720 lawmakers, together with EU governments, pass new EU policies and laws.

1w ago

Misinformation and disinformation: A threat to democracy in Bangladesh

In today’s digital age, the spread of misinformation and disinformation has arisen as a major challenge to global democracy.

OpenAI to launch anti-disinformation tools for 2024 elections

The explosive success of text generator ChatGPT spurred a global artificial intelligence revolution but also triggered warnings that such tools could flood the internet with disinformation and sway voters.

Deepfake video targeting Gaibandha-1 candidate surfaces on Facebook

On the day of the National Election 2024, a fabricated video surfaced on Facebook featuring Nahid Niger, an independent candidate for the Gaibandha-1 seat, announcing her withdrawal from the election. Subsequent verification by Dismislab, an online platform specialising in media research and verification, confirmed that the video was a product of AI-based deepfake technology.

Podcast on fake news: Impact of Israel-Hamas conflict on Bangladesh's national election

Uncover the sources and intentions behind these circulating rumors.

Fake videos targeting BNP resurfacing on social media: reports

A distorted video featuring a speech by Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has once again surfaced on Facebook, raising concerns about the spread of misinformation during the upcoming election. The video, created by adding together different portions of a speech delivered by Khaleda Zia in London back in 2015, resurfaced on social media platforms despite being fact-checked by three different fact-checking organisations in 2021 and 2022.

Doctors Without Borders targeted by Israel-Hamas war misinformation

"Basically he abused his position as a medic, which the IDF cannot shoot, to break the law and assist terrorists to get a weapon."