Dr. Yunus
CA to open Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Feb 1
Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus will inaugurate the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 on February 1.
Commemorating the memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, the traditional festivity of Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 is all set to begin with this year’s theme “July Gono Obbhuthyan: Notun Bangladesh Binirman” (The July Uprising: Rebuilding a New Bangladesh”).
Amar Ekushey Book Fair Organising Committee members disclosed the details of this year's fair at a press conference on Thursday at the academy's Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium.
Committee members including the Bangla Academy Director General and committee President Dr Mohammad Azam, Bangla Academy Secretary Dr Md Selim Reza, and Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Secretary Dr Sarkar Amin were present.
3-day non-fiction book fair begins at Dhaka University
A total of 708 publishers will participate in the fair with 99 stalls at the Bangla Academy and 609 at Suhrawardy Udyan. Some 642 publishers participated in the last year’s fair.
The fair will feature 37 pavilions- one at Bangla Academy and 36 at Suhrawardy Udyan.
A dedicated space for little magazines has been allocated near the open stage of Suhrawardy Udyan, hosting around 130 stalls.
The Children’s Corner, with 74 publishers and 120 units (up from 68 publishers and 109 units last year), will be expanded near the Ramna temple gate to ensure easy access for children.
The layout of the book fair will remain similar to last year, with some adjustments.
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Due to the proximity of the metro rail station, the exit gate has been moved closer to the temple gate.
Four entry and exit points will be available at TSC, Doyel Chattar, the MRT basing plant, and the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).
Food stalls will be organised along the IEB boundary, while 30 washrooms have been installed across the fair venue this year, the highest number in the fair’s history, the organisers said at the press conference.
Security will be ensured by police, RAB, Ansar, and intelligence agencies, with over 300 CCTV cameras installed across the venue, while archways will be set up at all entry and exit points.
Daily seminars will take place at 4 pm on the main stage, followed by cultural performances in the evening.
Book launch ceremonies will also be held at Suhrawardy Udyan.
A special “Children’s Hour” will run from 11 am to 1 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, excluding February 8 and 15. Like previous editions, several recreational activities including art, recitation, and music competitions for children and teenagers will be organised as part of the fair’s activities.
This year, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair aims to be eco-friendly and zero-waste, according to the organisers.
All participants and book fair stakeholders are encouraged and requested to use sustainable materials like jute, fabric, and paper instead of single-use plastics.
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Bangla Academy is publishing 43 new titles and reprinting 41 books, which will be available at three dedicated pavilions and a children’s stall. Books from Bangla Academy and participating publishers will be sold at a 25% discount.
The fair will remain open from 3 to 9 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 9 pm on holidays, except for February 8 and 15. Marking the International Mother Language Day on February 21, the fair will begin at 8 am and run until 9 pm.
Following its previous traditions, several awards will be handed over to outstanding publications from 2024, including the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for quality publications, the Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic excellence, Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award for children’s literature, and the Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award for aesthetic stall design.
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 is sponsored by Rocket (Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC), with Ama Tea and Savoy Ice Cream as co-sponsors while Dreamer Donkey is the event management partner for this year's fair.
1 week ago
Bangladesh welcomes Trump as 47th US president
Bangladesh on Monday welcomed US President-elect Donald Trump and reiterated that the two countries will work together to open new areas of cooperation as he begins a new term.
Referring to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's congratulatory message to Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening said the chief adviser expressed his strong belief that the two countries will work to open up new areas of cooperation between the two countries.
"We reiterate that belief and wish Donald Trump all the best as he begins his new term," he said.
Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in as the 47th president on Monday, taking charge as Republicans assume unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.
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Trump will act swiftly after the ceremony, with executive orders already prepared for his signature to jumpstart deportations, increase fossil fuel development and reduce civil service protections for government workers, promising that his term will bring about “a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride.”
He plans to try to strike a hopeful tone and call for unity, according to excerpts of his prepared speech provided by a Trump official, who insisted on anonymity to preview the speech, reports AP.
On November 6, congratulating Trump, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus said he looks forward to working together with the new US administration to further strengthen the Dhaka-Washington partnership and foster sustainable development.
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“I firmly believe that the possibilities are endless as our two friendly nations work towards exploring newer avenues of partnership,” said the Nobel Peace Laureate in his message conveying his heartfelt felicitations to Trump.
Prof Yunus said electing Trump as the US President for a second term reflects that his leadership and vision have resonated with the people of the United States of America.
“I am confident that under your stewardship, the United States will thrive and continue to inspire others around the world. Bangladesh and the United States share a long history of friendship and collaboration across numerous areas of mutual interest,” said the chief adviser.
He said the relationship continued to grow in depth and breadth during Trump’s previous term in the office.
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“Aligning with our commitment to a peaceful and inclusive society, the government and the peace-loving people of Bangladesh look forward to partnering and collaborating in your efforts in addressing the global challenges in the pursuit of peace, harmony, stability and prosperity for all,” Prof Yunus said.
He conveyed his best wishes for Trump’s success as he embarks on this momentous journey of leading his great nation.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh's ties with major powers like the United States are not government-specific, indicating no major change in relations during Donald Trump's presidency.
"We have nothing to speculate," he earlier said, expressing optimism things will move on smoothly in terms of relations with the United States.
"Our relations with India, China and the US are very important. We will surely maintain balanced relations with these three countries protecting our own interests," Hossain said, adding that Bangladesh is not to be dissatisfied with any country.
2 weeks ago
Interim Govt to hold all-party conference over July Proclamation Thursday
The Interim Government, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, will hold an all-party conference over the July proclamation on Thursday.
The conference will be held at the Foreign Service Academy between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said on Wednesday evening.
The “July Proclamation” will be finalised based on a “national consensus”.
“On Thursday, we will know how it is getting done and what is there inside (contents) and when it will be declared,” said Adviser Mahfuj Alam while briefing the media at Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday evening.
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Mahfuj hoped that a document, reflecting the background and spirit of the July uprising, will be drafted based on a consensus through Thursday's meeting and it will be clear the same day when they will issue the declaration and how the government will play a role in issuing this.
“We tried to talk to stakeholders and political parties and tried to take their opinions,” Mahfuj said.
The Adviser also said Chief Adviser Dr Yunus, advisers and all stakeholders will be present when the declaration will be issued.
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Earlier, the interim government initiated the process of preparing a declaration on the July uprising, based on a national consensus.
According to the Chief Adviser’s (CA) press wing, the declaration will be adopted to solidify the unity of people forged through the July uprising, reflecting its anti-fascist spirit and the demand for state reforms.
The draft will incorporate the views of all political parties and students, including those of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement that spearheaded the mass uprising.
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The declaration will articulate the perspective of the July uprising, the foundation of unity and the aspirations of people, the press wing noted.
The government expressed optimism that the declaration would be prepared unanimously with participation from all stakeholders and subsequently presented to the nation.
3 weeks ago
Timor-Leste President seeks to boost trade ties with Bangladesh
Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on Sunday expressed optimism over greater cooperation between Bangladesh and his country in the coming days to expand economic and trade relations.
"We can import more from Bangladesh," he said in a joint press conference at the Chief Adviser's Office after the bilateral meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
The Timor-Leste President also invited Bangladeshi companies to his country and explore opportunities there.
The President of Timor-Leste urged Bangladesh business firms to come up with their investment in his country.
Ramos-Horta said, "We invite Bangladeshi companies to come in Timor-Leste as by next year, we will join ASEAN and will be part of a region of 700 million people.”
He said Timor-Leste will join a GDP of over US$ 4 trillion next year.
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The Timor-Leste president hoped that Bangladesh would be a partner of developing his country.
Ramos-Horta said Nobel Peace Laureate Prof Yunus is one of the most respected leaders in the world, who is active in office, comparing the Bangladesh chief adviser to the world leaders like Nelson Mandela, John F Kenned, Mahatma Gandhi, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.
“So, Bangladesh is very fortunate, very lucky, to have such an unassuming and humble person leading…he is working with you – the young people – to transform the country,” he said.
Mentioning that both Bangladesh and Timor-Leste have a similar history of suffering, the Timor-Leste president said the people of Bangladesh are resilient, hardworking, creative and successful.
He described Prof Yunus as his brother, friend, and mentor and thanked the Bangladesh government for hosting him.
Ramos-Horta was elected president in May 2022. He had previously been president from 2007-2012 - during which he was shot during an attempted assassination.
He was co-awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, for working for peace in East Timor.
CA Yunus to hold talks with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta today to strengthen ties
Praising Prof Yunus' leadership, the President said this country has a tremendous future. "Thank you for hosting me. I am very, very honoured," he said.
Earlier, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Timor-Leste President held "fruitful discussions" and shared their ideas to take the relations between the two countries to a new height.
They witnessed the signing of two instruments -- MoU on bilateral consultations mechanism and agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders -- to further strengthen the relations.
The two leaders had a tete-a-tete which was followed by a delegation-level meeting.
Earlier in the morning, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain met President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta and discussed issues of mutual interest.
The meeting, held at a city hotel, discussed ways to deepen the relations between the two countries.
While welcoming the President of Timor-Leste on his first official visit to Bangladesh, Foreign Adviser Hossain discussed issues of mutual interest with the visiting President, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
During his stay in Dhaka, the president will engage in a series of meetings and events aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
He was on Saturday night accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a four-day official visit.
Bangladesh rolls out red carpet welcoming President José Ramos-Horta
The Chief Adviser received President Ramos-Horta at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his arrival around 10:40pm.
He was given a state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces.
He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the countries were played.
President Ramos-Horta is accompanied by a 19-member delegation, including Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister.
In the afternoon (Sunday), Ramos-Horta is scheduled to meet honorary consul of Timor-Leste in Bangladesh, Kutubuddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh Football Federation President and BNP leader, Tabith Awal.
On December 16, Ramos-Horta will call on the President of Bangladesh at Bangabhaban.
He will also visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the heroes of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
The President will attend the 54th Victory Day celebrations, marking Bangladesh’s historic victory in 1971.
On his final day, December 17, the Timor-Leste President will deliver a lecture at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium on “The Challenges of Peace in the Contemporary World”.
He is expected to interact with Bangladeshi students and young leaders, sharing his experiences of leading his country’s independence movement, the role of the people, and the post-independence aspirations of Timor-Leste.
President Ramos-Horta will leave Dhaka later in the day, concluding his visit aimed at fostering diplomatic and cultural relations between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste.
1 month ago
No one to be spared for betrayal: Sarjis
Sarjis Alam, general secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, has said no one will be spared if they betray the spirit of the mass uprising.
“Even Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus would not be exempted if he betrays the faith of the movement,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a programme organised by the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation at Rajshahi district Shilpakala Academy on Saturday.
Sarjis, also one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, said they are not brokers or power-hungry people.
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Regarding India, he said Bangladesh's relationship with India will be determined by India's actions.
If India seeks to maintain good relations, it must return fugitive Hasina and stop sheltering her, he said adding that the people of Bangladesh will bring her to book.
He claimed that instead of punishing the police officers who had opened fire during the recent movement, lobbying is on for their new postings.
He further alleged that leaders of various political parties and senior officials from the administration are becoming involved in ‘arrest-trade’.
He raised question about the exhumation of the bodies of the July-August martyrs, saying why they should be exhumed when the bodies of those involved in Sheikh Mujib's killing were not.
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1 month ago
Committee on ‘deprived’ govt officials submits report to CA
The committee formed to look into the appeals of the retired government officials who were reportedly deprived of promotion and service benefits during the immediate past regime led by Awami League has submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Committee Chief Zakir Ahmed Khan submitted the report with necessary recommendations at the Chief Adviser’s official residence at state guest house Jamuna.
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The government formed the five-member committee on September 16, 2024.
The committee was tasked with reviewing applications from government officials who had faced various forms of career-related deprivation during their service and woent of retirement between 2009 and August 4, 2024.
The committee chaired by former Finance Secretary and former Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank for Bangladesh, Zakir Ahmed Khan was directed to provide appropriate recommendations based on its review.
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The Chief Adviser thanked the committee members for submitting the report before the stipulated 90-day deadline.
Chief Secretary to the Chief Adviser M. Siraj Uddin Mia was also present during the report submission.
1 month ago
Political parties assure Dr Yunus to uphold Bangladesh's sovereignty
Political parties across the spectrum reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty during a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Yunus on Wednesday.
“We may have political differences over elections, reform and other issues, but we all are united on the question of national independence and sovereignty,” Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna told reporters after the meeting.
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The meeting was held at the Foreign Service Academy with the participation of representatives from various political parties including BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus delivered the opening remarks at the event that began at 4:00pm.
Manna said they told the meeting that Bangladesh wants to stay independent with dignity, maintaining friendly relations with other countries, not bowing down to anyone.
He said they also asked the interim government to review all the agreements signed with India and cancel the agreements that go against the national interest of Bangladesh.
Junaid Saki, the chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, said they, the political parties in the meeting, reached a consensus to develop a national unity on the question of the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
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“We told (govt) that all the people of Bangladesh – political parties, students and people from all classes and professions—will fight united to protect the existence, independence and sovereignty of this country,” he said.
Noting that a fight of misinformation continues against Bangladesh from India and other places, Saki said, “We’ve told the government that we’ll have to fight misinformation with true information.”
Saiful Islam, Ganatantra Mancha coordinator Saiful Huq, said India has remained seriously active against the interim government, the people of this country and the mass uprising since the fall of the fascists. They (India) are trying to create a communal tension between the Hindu and Muslim, he said.
“We today said in this meeting that we, all political parties in Bangladesh, are beside the interim government and expressed unity over the question of our independence, sovereignty and national interest,” he said.
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Saiful Huq said they assured that the people of Bangladesh have today built a fresh unity over non-communal politics and cultures against communalism. “The people of Bangladesh won’t step in any type of provocation,” he said.
He said they asked the government to give a clear message that if India wants to destabilise Bangladesh and play with the security of Bangladesh, the security of India will also fall in risk.
“We want to keep the friendly relationship with India and we want to resolve all disputes with India fairly based on just, equity and equal partnership,” he said.
“We, the people of Bangladesh won’t step in any provocation and will protect the national unity at any cost. Today the people of Bangladesh are united on the question of the national interest. And this unity can no way be weakened,” said Saiful Huq.
Advisers Adilur Rahman Khan and Mahfuj Alam; BNP leaders Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Syed Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and AZM Zahid Hossain; Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman; and Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Nurul Haque Nur and Rashed Khan, among others, present in the meeting.
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The CA’s meeting with religious leaders will be held on Thursday, but the time has not been decided yet.
CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus held a meeting with student leaders on Tuesday evening. “Prof Yunus called the students to help rebuild the nation,” Alam told UNB after the meeting.
2 months ago
‘Establishing justice, accountability top priority; no one to be spared’
The interim government on Sunday reiterated its commitment to establish “justice and accountability” for the wrongdoings done over the last 15 years, stressing that a horrific picture emerged through a postmortem carried out by the committee on “White Paper” highlighting the state of the economy during Sheikh Hasina’s rule.
“It remains a top priority to establish justice and accountability for what happened over the last 15 years. They (committee) carried out a postmortem of the development narrative presenting a horrific picture,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at Foreign Service Academy in the evening.
He said the 400-page report will hopefully generate huge discussions and debates, leading to more information regarding “industrial-scale” stealing and misuse of taxpayers’ money.
“I hope it will be a very comprehensive report highlighting all aspects,” said the Press Secretary, adding that they will continue to maintain transparency fully.
Alam said no body will be spared who were involved in looting public money as the law will take its own course.
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An average of 16 billion dollars were illicitly siphoned off from Bangladesh every year during Sheikh Hasina's “corrupt autocracy”, leaving the country in a “state of plunder” when she fled after a popular mass uprising, the White Paper on the state of the economy during her rule said on Sunday.
The committee submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office, saying they were horrified by the level of corruption, plunder and statistical manipulation conducted by Hasina's regime.
Eminent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, the chair of the committee, led the delegation while submitting the report at a ceremony held at the CA’s office.
Press Secretary Alam said the report is based on available data and there is opportunity to update some areas by incorporating the central bank’s additional data.
“Don’t worry. You will get a full picture,” he assured a questioner, referring to a forthcoming press conference by the committee head.
On the market situation, the Press Secretary said their efforts are there to bring down the prices of essential commodities under people’s purchasing capacity.
He said the government is holding a series of meetings and is talking to all stakeholders to address the issues.
Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present.
2 months ago
Interim Government prepares to appoint new DCs across all districts
The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to appoint new Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across all districts in Bangladesh. A new fit list has been prepared, prioritizing those who were previously overlooked for promotion during the Awami League government's tenure.
The fit list, developed by the Ministry of Public Administration, includes over 600 officials from the BCS 24th, 25th, and 27th batches, who have been deprived of promotions in the past 15-16 years. The interim government aims to address these long-standing grievances by considering these officials for the DC roles.
A high-ranking official confirmed that the previous fit list created under the Awami League government is not being considered. Instead, the new list focuses on officials with extensive field administration experience who were previously sidelined due to political reasons.
Many of these officials were labeled as supporters of opposition parties, leading to negative intelligence reports that blocked their promotions.
In light of this, the government has relaxed the criteria for DC appointments to give these officials a fair chance. The committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary, has made special provisions to ensure that these deserving officers are appointed as DCs.
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The new policy allows officials who have been in the BCS (Administration) cadre for at least one year as Deputy Secretary and have a minimum of two years of experience in specific roles, such as Deputy Director or Additional Deputy Commissioner, to be eligible for the DC positions.
They must also have a satisfactory disciplinary record over the past five years and demonstrate proficiency in project management, ICT, and both Bangla and English.
Despite their qualifications, many of these officers were denied DC positions under the previous government. The decision to relax the policy and create a new fit list reflects the interim government's commitment to addressing these past injustices.
The process of appointing new DCs began on Saturday, with interviews of 60 officials from the BCS 24th batch conducted under the supervision of Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain. Interviews will continue over the next three days, involving more officials from the 24th batch and beyond.
Several Deputy Secretaries from various ministries and departments have been shortlisted for the DC positions. The interviews include officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Finance, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, among others.
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In a related development, approximately 200 Joint Secretaries from the 9th to 13th BCS batches, who were also deprived of promotions, are set to be promoted to Additional Secretary. The recommendation for these promotions was sent to the Chief Adviser’s office on Saturday, with an official notification expected by Sunday or Monday.
However, it has been reported that certain officials who previously served in key roles within the Prime Minister's Office will not be considered for the DC appointments, as per directives from higher authorities.
5 months ago
US says it will continue to encourage Bangladesh govt to ensure a fair legal process for Dr. Yunus
The United States has said it is closely monitoring the developments in the case against Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.
“We will continue to encourage the Bangladeshi government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for Dr. Yunus as the appeals process continues,” said Mathew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, during a regular briefing on June 4.
Miller expressed concerns that these cases might represent a “misuse” of Bangladesh’s labor laws to “harass and intimidate” Dr. Yunus.
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“We also worry that the perceived misuse of labor and anti-corruption laws could raise questions about the rule of law and dissuade foreign direct investment,” he added.
The government of Bangladesh has maintained that it is not a party to the case involving Dr. Muhammad Yunus and emphasized the independence and transparency of its judicial process.
“With due respect to Dr. Yunus, I would like to say that the judicial process of Bangladesh is transparent. That's why many members of the ruling party face trials and even jail sentences,” Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told journalists recently.
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8 months ago