Massive Cost Overrun: Tk 79,834 Crore Added to 65 Projects

During the one-and-a-half-year tenure of the interim government, the cost of 65 development projects was increased by Tk 79,834 crore, which many economists consider the result of “wasteful” and questionable re-evaluations. The initial combined cost of these projects was Tk 2,24,000 crore; after revision, the expenditure increased by 35.67 percent to Tk 3,04,000 crore.

Death Toll Rises to 5 in Chattogram Gas Explosion

Another member of the family injured in the devastating gas explosion in Halishahar, Chattogram, has died. The head of the household, Sakhawat Hossain, died on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. One hundred percent of his body had been burned. With his death, the number of fatalities from the same family has risen to five.

35 Eminent Citizens Call for Reassignment of CHT Affairs State Minister

Thirty-five distinguished citizens of the Chittagong Hill Tracts have issued a joint statement protesting the appointment of Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin as State Minister of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and demanding that he be reassigned to another ministry.

Allowing Loan Defaulters and Dual Citizens to Contest a Major Election Failure

Citizens for Good Governance (Shujan) has identified the opportunity given to accused loan defaulters and dual citizens to contest as the most notable failure of the Thirteenth National Parliamentary Election.

Hundreds of Crores of Taka Collected Daily in Extortion from 3,000 Spots Across the Country

Across the capital and the entire country, nearly three thousand collection points are reportedly extracting hundreds of crores of taka in extortion every day.

High Court Orders Probe into Discriminatory Ibn Sina Job Circular

The High Court on Monday directed the authorities to investigate a job circular issued by Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Industry PLC that allegedly contained discriminatory conditions.

Meeting Between the Foreign Minister and the U.S. Ambassador

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman held a courtesy meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Dhaka Brent Christensen. The meeting was held on Monday (23 February) in the morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The U.S. Ambassador also met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.

Death March on National Highways: 546 Lives Lost on Roads in January

In January of this year, a total of 597 accidents occurred across the country on roads, railways, and waterways, resulting in 586 deaths and 1,238 injuries. Of these, 546 people died and 1,204 were injured in road accidents alone. The information was provided by the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association.

Prime Minister Directs Rapid Opening of Shahjalal International Airport’s Third Terminal

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has directed the rapid opening of the long-awaited Third Terminal at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. On Sunday afternoon, during a review meeting held at the Cabinet Conference Room of the Secretariat, he instructed the concerned authorities to complete the necessary preparations as quickly as possible.

Cost of Two New Metro Rail Lines Expected to More Than Double Previous Estimates

The construction cost for two new metro rail lines in the capital is projected to be more than double the previous estimates. On the Uttara–Motijheel line, the average cost per kilometer was 15.74 billion BDT, whereas for MRT Line-1 and Line-5 (North), the potential cost is projected at 36.18 billion BDT per kilometer. According to contractor proposals, the total cost could reach around 1.845 trillion BDT, nearly twice the approved budget.