With much pomp and circumstances, Xi Jinping in October 2016 arrived in Bangladesh, the first visit by a Chinese president in 30 years.

Qatar has announced sweeping reforms to its labour market, with a ruling to end the kafala (sponsorship) system, marking a momentous step forward in upholding the rights of millions of migrant workers, said an ILO press release yesterday.

The US wants to sign two defence agreements with Bangladesh as the latter is seeking to buy advanced equipment from the US as part of its goal to modernise the military by 2030.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is going to probe allegations of graft involving Tk 36.4 crore in the purchase of furniture and other household items for the officials of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

High Court yesterday issued a two-month injunction on the BTRC’s move to realise money it says Grameenphone owes the government.

A man has been cleared of the charges he had to fight for 17 long years in yet another instance of identity mix-up.

Three of a family died and three others were injured on their way home from hospital as the gas cylinder of an ambulance exploded in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila yesterday.

Tension flared up along the Charghat frontier in Rajshahi yesterday morning when the Border Guard Bangladesh tried to stop hilsa catching by some Indian fishermen inside the Bangladeshi side of the Padma.

Rohingya settlements have severely damaged biodiversity and over 8,000 acres of reserved forest in Cox’s Bazar. The damage is equivalent to a loss of over Tk 2,420 crore, said a report of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry.

Britain and the European Union reached a new divorce deal yesterday that could allow Brexit on October 31, but faced immediate opposition among MPs in London -- who can still block it.

At least 25 people, including five cops, were injured when villagers protesting the death of a man in custody clashed with police in Rangpur’s Pirganj upazila yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for introducing education on traffic rules and regulations at the school level.

Most of the poor people in urban areas remain deprived of the government’s social protection benefits. Only 17.84 percent of the poor people living in towns and cities receive support from social safety schemes, whereas 35.77 percent of the poor people in rural areas get the benefits, according to a World Bank report.

While Abrar was being brutally beaten before his death, he repeatedly begged for some water to drink but was given even a drop, an accused in the case told journalists yesterday.

With the murder of Abrar Fahad fresh in everyone’s minds, agitating students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology yesterday took an oath to resist terrorism and communal forces on the campus.

The government has started the process of appointing administrators for Grameenphone and Robi to run the businesses, an unprecedented move in Bangladesh.

Former Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, an alleged kingpin of the illegal casino business in the capital, was placed on a 10-day remand in two cases filed under the arms and narcotics control acts.

Buet students protesting and demanding justice for Abrar Fahad yesterday called off their protests, but declared to boycott their academic activities until the authorities expel the students involved in the killing.

In the aftermath of the gruesome murder of Abrar Fahad last week, Buet Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Saiful Islam says he thinks he had no failure in handling the situation.

Bangladesh continues to witness decline in overseas jobs over the last two years amid unabated malpractices in recruitment process, falling demand in the Gulf countries and an absence of effective steps to explore new markets.