Bangladesh confirms walkout at Israel’s speech in Marrakesh
Some individuals have been misinterpreting an immediate walkout by certain delegates during the speech of the Israeli representative at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 18 February 2025, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry stated today (21 February).
"This is to clarify that the Bangladesh delegation was among the countries that walked out," the ministry said in a statement.
"Bangladesh’s stance on the Palestinian cause, as well as on Israel’s acts of genocide and other forms of repression against Palestinians, is well known," it added.
World Bank, ADB simplify lending rules
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed an agreement to streamline development finance, introducing a unified set of conditions and requirements for borrowers in co-financed projects.
Under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework (FMRF), the two major lending institutions will enhance their collaboration, enabling borrowers to adhere to a single set of policies and procedures—either those of the World Bank or the A...
ISD commemorates Language Day, promotes linguistic diversity
International Mother Language Day marks the martyrdom of the valiant people of Bangladesh who sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as the state language. Such a sacrifice for the sake of the mother language is a rare occurrence in the human history. To pay tribute to the martyrs and commemorate the significance of mother tongues, International School Dhaka (ISD) has recently organized an assembly in nine languages. The event, a testament to linguistic diversity, took place at the Gym of the ISD Campus.
Private investment dips multi-year low
The political instability over the past year has significantly reduced private sector investment in Bangladesh, leading to a year-on-year increase of Tk51,696 crore in banks’ excess liquid assets.
According to data from Bangladesh Bank, the total excess liquid assets in the banking sector—including securities—stood at Tk2.15 lakh crore at the end of December 2024, compared to Tk1.63 lakh crore a year earlier.
While excess liquid assets rose, excess cash holdings in banks declined by Tk2,291 crore, standing at Tk17,675 crore at the ...
While excess liquid assets rose, excess cash holdings in banks declined by Tk2,291 crore, standing at Tk17,675 crore at the ...
Sufi Fest revives spiritual melodies at Ahsan Manzil
Ahsan Manzil, one of Dhaka’s most iconic landmarks, resonated with the melodies and rhythms of Sufi traditions as a daylong Sufi Festival took place on Thursday, organised by the Shahbaz Foundation. This marked the first Sufi festival hosted at Ahsan Manzil in 17 years, reaffirming its significance as a historic venue for cultural and spiritual gatherings in the capital.
The festival attracted Sufi scholars, musicians, and enthusiasts from both Bangladesh and abroad.
WHO, Japan to ensure Rohingya healthcare
Japan has allocated $3.2 million (JPY 500 million) to support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts in reducing illness and preventable deaths among Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
The agreement was formalised through an exchange of notes between Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Saida Shinichi, and WHO’s Representative in Bangladesh, Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed.
