All articles tagged with #bangladesh
A passenger bus carrying around 40 people plunged into the Padma River while boarding a ferry at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari district, Bangladesh, killing at least 24 and leaving several missing as rescuers, aided by the army and divers, search the river.
A bus carrying about 40 passengers toppled into the Padma River in Rajbari district while waiting to board a ferry, killing at least 24 people and triggering a wide rescue operation that recovered 22 bodies; officials fear more may be missing as divers and local crews search the river.
Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister, marking the BNP-backed return to power after 18 months of caretaker rule and signaling a potential turning point as the country grapples with inflation, jobs and governance. A 25‑member cabinet (plus 24 junior ministers) was sworn in, with Rahman underscoring serious economic and anti‑corruption reforms. The administration aims to balance ties with China, India and Western nations, while new electoral changes introduce a two‑term limit for prime ministers and strengthen judicial independence. Voter turnout was 59.44% and Hasina’s exile remains a backdrop.
Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister after the BNP won a two-thirds parliamentary majority, with Jamaat‑e‑ Islami and its allies boycotting the ceremony. Rahman, returning from 17 years in exile, leads a mixed cabinet that includes Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as finance minister and Khalilur Rahman as foreign minister, as the country seeks political stability, renewed investor confidence and revival of the garment sector. The open-air oath at the South Plaza was administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, under a transitional framework after an Yunus‑led interim government.
Bangladesh’s Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami moved from campus politics to the national stage by winning a landslide in University of Dhaka student elections and securing 68 of 297 seats in the first national vote since the 2024 student-led uprising; it also formed a strategic alliance with the National Citizen Party, which won six of 30 seats it contested. A referendum backed democratic reforms (bicameral legislature, term limits) intended to safeguard democracy, but analysts warn that student movements often falter in traditional patronage politics, suggesting a shifting yet fragile political landscape.
BNP leader Tarique Rahman is poised to become Bangladesh’s prime minister after the party’s landslide win, signaling a potential shift from Hasina’s long rule. He faces major challenges—rebuilding democratic institutions, reviving the economy, stabilizing inflation, and addressing youth calls for change—while observers weigh his lack of governing experience and past corruption allegations.
The WHO reports a Bangladeshi woman in her 40s died in January from Nipah virus; she had no travel history but consumed raw date palm sap. Thirty-five contacts are being monitored and all tested negative; no additional cases have been detected and international risk is considered low with no travel restrictions advised. Nipah is bat-borne and can be fatal, but human-to-human transmission is limited; Bangladesh also reported four lab-confirmed fatal Nipah cases in 2025.
Five Bangladeshi patients with Nipah-like symptoms were found to be infected with Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV), linked to consumption of raw date palm sap frequented by fruit bats; the finding shifts attention to PRV’s potential for severe disease beyond mild colds and underscores the need for broad surveillance of bat-borne viruses.
Bangladesh researchers detected Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV) in archived throat swabs from five patients initially suspected of Nipah virus infection, suggesting bat-borne viruses may co-circulate with Nipah and should be considered in NiV-like illnesses. NiV tests were negative, but sequencing confirmed PRV (and in some cases virus growth in culture). All patients had recently consumed raw date-palm sap, and while two patients recovered, one died and others reported lingering symptoms; findings underscore the potential for reassortment in segmented viruses and call for broader surveillance and differential diagnoses in regions where palm sap is consumed.
An editorial warns that the EU–India Free Trade Agreement could undermine Bangladesh’s export performance as India gains duty-free access in key sectors like garments, textiles, and footwear. With Bangladesh set to graduate from LDC status in Nov 2026, modelling suggests garment exports could fall sharply—potentially billions—if MFN tariffs kick in and rivals secure ongoing duty-free access. The piece urges Bangladesh to aggressively secure post-graduation EU preferences (GSP+), improve rules of origin, and pursue wide-ranging reforms in energy, logistics, finance, and governance to boost competitiveness beyond preferential margins.
Bangladesh Cricket Board told the ICC in a video conference that it will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup and reiterated its request to relocate its four group matches outside India, with Sri Lanka floated as a potential alternate venue; the ICC itinerary has been announced, but the BCB maintains its stance while discussions continue to explore solutions to safeguard players and staff.
Huge crowds gathered in Dhaka to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, a prominent political figure in Bangladesh, with dignitaries from multiple countries and thousands of supporters paying their respects. Zia, who led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and served as the country's first female prime minister, was remembered for her calm demeanor and political influence, amid a backdrop of ongoing political rivalry and recent upheavals.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh attended the state funeral of Khaleda Zia, the country's first female prime minister and a prominent political figure, marking her significant impact on Bangladesh's democracy and her enduring popularity despite health issues and political setbacks.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, passed away in Dhaka at the age of her health complications, including cirrhosis, arthritis, and diabetes, with her family by her side.
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister and a prominent political figure, passed away at 80. She rose from a low-profile housewife to lead the BNP after her husband's assassination, serving two terms as prime minister, and was known for her uncompromising stance against military rule and her advocacy for women's issues. Her later years were marred by corruption convictions and health issues, but she remained a significant opposition figure until her death in 2023. She is survived by her son Tarique Rahman, a potential future leader.