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India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Dhaka court imposes travel ban on Shakib Al Hasan amid corruption case
A court in Dhaka has imposed a travel ban on former Awami League lawmaker and cricketer-turned-politician Shakib Al Hasan, along with 15 others, in connection with a corruption case. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain following a hearing on two separate petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).According to the petitions, Shakib and the others allegedly amassed illicit wealth by investing several crores of taka in the stock market through irregular means, in violation of stock market regulations. The ACC claimed that Shakib and his co-accused carried out transactions worth Tk 8.97 crore and Tk 4.48 crore with the intent to embezzle funds, thereby breaching Section 19(1) of Rule 24(3) of the microcredit petitions were filed by ACC Assistant Director Sajjad Hossain and Deputy Director Md Rokonuzzaman, who requested the travel restrictions to prevent the accused individuals from fleeing the country. The court's directive prohibits Shakib and the 15 others from leaving Bangladesh until further remains to be seen how the ruling would affect Shakib's cricket commitments. The Bangladesh all-rounder has not played professional cricket since his involvement in the Pakistan Super League in May. He last played for Bangladesh in a Test series against India in October 38-year-old's return to competitive action in the PSL after a six-month layoff came after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cleared his bowling action, which had been reported in December 2024 during his stint with Surrey. Despite his comeback, Shakib struggled for form, registering two ducks and taking just one wicket in the had announced plans to retire from Test cricket at home against South Africa, but political turmoil in Bangladesh—culminating in the ousting of the Awami League, of which Shakib was a sitting MP—derailed those plans. Shakib was also not considered for Bangladesh's Champions Trophy will feature in a two-Test series in Sri Lanka from June 17 to June 29 before playing 3 ODIs and as many T20Is in the island Watch
News18
07-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Sheikh Hasina's Party Slams 'Fascist' Yunus After Poll Announcement: 'Serves Foreign Interests'
Last Updated: Sheikh Hasina's banned Awami League accused Muhammad Yunus of spreading lies to cover up his failures and accused his government of serving foreign interests. Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League criticised Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of spreading lies and misinformation during his address to the nation, where he announced that Bangladesh's general elections will be held in April 2026. After immense pressure from the Army and political parties, Yunus said the next national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. He assured that his government is taking necessary steps to ensure a proper election environment, emphasising that flawed elections have been the main cause of major national crises in Bangladesh. 'We want an election that honours the sacrifices of the martyrs. One with the highest number of voters, candidates, and parties participating. Let this be remembered as the freest and fairest election the nation has seen," he said. The Awami League strongly condemned his address, saying Yunus was trying to cover up his failures by blaming the previous Awami League government and creating a false narrative of crisis. 'No Public Mandate, Economy In Ruins' Hasina's party, which was banned from contesting the elections after the former PM was ousted in student-led protests last year, said Bangladesh's economy has deteriorated under Yunus's interim regime, with industries being shut down, investment stalled and unemployment rising. It accused the interim government of rampant corruption and tax favouritism, including a tax waiver of Tk 666 crore for Yunus himself and tax exemption for Grameen Bank. 'In the name of development, they will hand over important national assets and infrastructure to serve foreign interests," it said. Furthermore, the Awami League claimed Yunus' government lacked democratic legitimacy and served foreign interests rather than those of the people of Bangladesh. It warned that several interim government members had foreign passports and would leave the country after causing irreversible damage. 'To protect our future, we must act now. There is no alternative to a united struggle by all patriots to save our country from the clutches of these vultures. If we can all stay united and continue this fight, we will, Inshallah, be able to defeat this evil, anti-national force," it said. What Did Yunus Say In His Speech? Yunus highlighted the immense public and political interest in Bangladesh's next national election, emphasising the government's role in institutional reform to prevent future crises. 'Hold your candidates and political parties accountable, demand firm pledges that the agreed-upon reforms will be passed in the very first session of the new parliament, without compromise. Demand that they never bargain away the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national dignity to any foreign power," he was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. 'Ask them to lead with honesty and transparency, and to reject all forms of corruption, favoritism, extortion, syndicates, and violence," he added, promising to build a 'New Bangladesh'. First Published: June 07, 2025, 07:07 IST
News18
07-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Sheikh Hasina's Party Slams 'Fascist' Yunus After Poll Announcement: 'Serve Foreign Interests'
Last Updated: Sheikh Hasina's banned Awami League accused Muhammad Yunus of spreading lies to cover up his failures and accused his government of serving foreign interests. Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League criticised Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of spreading lies and misinformation during his address to the nation, where he announced that Bangladesh's general elections will be held in April 2026. After immense pressure from the Army and political parties, Yunus said the next national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. He assured that his government is taking necessary steps to ensure a proper election environment, emphasising that flawed elections have been the main cause of major national crises in Bangladesh. 'We want an election that honours the sacrifices of the martyrs. One with the highest number of voters, candidates, and parties participating. Let this be remembered as the freest and fairest election the nation has seen," he said. The Awami League strongly condemned his address, saying Yunus was trying to cover up his failures by blaming the previous Awami League government and creating a false narrative of crisis. 'No Public Mandate, Economy In Ruins' Hasina's party, which was banned from contesting the elections after the former PM was ousted in student-led protests last year, said Bangladesh's economy has deteriorated under Yunus's interim regime, with industries being shut down, investment stalled and unemployment rising. It accused the interim government of rampant corruption and tax favouritism, including a tax waiver of Tk 666 crore for Yunus himself and tax exemption for Grameen Bank. 'In the name of development, they will hand over important national assets and infrastructure to serve foreign interests," it said. Furthermore, the Awami League claimed Yunus' government lacked democratic legitimacy and served foreign interests rather than those of the people of Bangladesh. It warned that several interim government members had foreign passports and would leave the country after causing irreversible damage. 'To protect our future, we must act now. There is no alternative to a united struggle by all patriots to save our country from the clutches of these vultures. If we can all stay united and continue this fight, we will, Inshallah, be able to defeat this evil, anti-national force," it said. What Did Yunus Say In His Speech? Yunus highlighted the immense public and political interest in Bangladesh's next national election, emphasising the government's role in institutional reform to prevent future crises. 'Hold your candidates and political parties accountable, demand firm pledges that the agreed-upon reforms will be passed in the very first session of the new parliament, without compromise. Demand that they never bargain away the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national dignity to any foreign power," he was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. 'Ask them to lead with honesty and transparency, and to reject all forms of corruption, favoritism, extortion, syndicates, and violence," he added, promising to build a 'New Bangladesh'. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bangladesh Muhammad Yunus Sheikh Hasina First Published:
Fibre2Fashion
05-06-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Many tax measures may disproportionately burden Bangladesh bizs: FICCI
While praising the Bangladesh government for its intentions regarding reforms and fiscal consolidation in the proposed budget for fiscal 2025-26 (FY26), the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) recently expressed concern over the implementation of several tax measures, fearing these may disproportionately burden individuals and businesses. The revised tax slabs could increase tax burden by 50-60 per cent on salaried individuals having monthly incomes between Tk 70,000 and Tk 100,000 and 20-30 per cent for incomes between Tk 120,000 and Tk 175,000, FICCI president Zaved Akhtar told a post-budget press briefing. It said the rise in minimum tax from 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent for companies and from 0.25 per cent to 1 per cent for individuals would be a threat to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and loss-making firms, as well as to inflation-hit citizens. The Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh fears several tax measures proposed in the budget may disproportionately burden individuals and businesses. It said the rise in minimum tax from 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent for companies would be a threat to SMEs and loss-making firms. The VAT hike on online sales from 5 per cent to 15 per cent would hamper the e-commerce sector. The imposition of a 27.5-per cent corporate tax on listed companies with less than 10-per cent public shareholding and the withdrawal of reduced tax rates for cashless companies are 'counterproductive' to capital market development, the trade chamber was cited as saying by domestic media reports. The sharp hike in value-added tax (VAT) on online sales from 5 per cent to 15 per cent would hamper the e-commerce sector, FICCI pointed out. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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First Post
04-06-2025
- Business
- First Post
Bangladesh's new banknotes will have Hindu temples but no Mujibur Rahman portrait. Here's why
Bangladesh's new currency series eliminates Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's portrait in favour of historic temples, mosques and landmarks. The interim government's sweeping redesign represents a shift in national narrative as Mujib's legacy is downplayed read more A vendor displays fresh notes for clients interested in exchanging them for dirty notes in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 4, 2003. Representational Image/Reuters Bangladesh has unveiled an entirely reimagined series of banknotes that omit political figures and instead aimed at highlighting cultural, religious and historical heritage. The initiative — carried out under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus — marks a striking departure from the currency designs of previous decades. Until recently, most denominations featured the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely acknowledged as the architect of the country's liberation from Pakistan. His image was removed from the new series, and the banknotes now focus on national symbols, architectural landmarks and historical structures. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to central bank officials, the updated designs are intended to reflect national identity while incorporating enhanced security features to counteract forgery. 'Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks,' Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan told AFP. What the new banknotes look like The newly issued notes span all denominations from Tk 1,000 to Tk 2 and feature different elements of Bangladesh's historical and architectural legacy. #Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur handed over images of six newly designed banknotes to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The redesigned notes no longer feature the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. However, the central bank clarified that all existing notes… — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 3, 2025 Each denomination also incorporates watermarks of the Royal Bengal Tiger, the respective denomination numeral, and either the central bank's monogram or the government's emblem, depending on the note. Tk 1,000 note : This high-denomination purple note includes depictions of the National Martyrs' Memorial and the National Parliament House (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban). Tk 500 note : Green in colour, this note features the Central Shaheed Minar and the Supreme Court, with the national flower, the Shapla, in the background. Tk 200 note : Yellow-toned, it displays the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture of Dhaka University alongside student-created graffiti from the July 2024 demonstrations. Tk 100 note : Dominated by blue, the front side shows the Shait-Gumbuz Mosque in Bagerhat, while the reverse features scenes from the Sundarbans. Tk 50 note : This note includes Ahsan Manzil — an iconic palace in Dhaka — and a painting by celebrated artist Zainul Abedin that depicted the Bengal famine. Tk 20 note : Introduced on June 1, it displays the 18th-century Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur and the Paharpur Buddhist Vihara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Naogaon district. Tk 10 note : Pink-coloured, the note contains Baitul Mukarram Mosque and protest graffiti. Tk 5 note : Also pink, it portrays the Tara Mosque on the front and more graffiti on the reverse. Tk 2 note: Light green in appearance, this smallest denomination shows the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur on the front and the Rayer Bazar Memorial on the back. These notes are now being circulated gradually. While the Tk 1,000, Tk 50, and Tk 20 notes were the first to be released, others — including Tk 500, Tk 200, Tk 100, Tk 10, Tk 5, and Tk 2 — will follow over time. Bangladesh's central bank has assured that older notes and coins will remain legal tender during the transition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why Bangladesh removed Mujib from currency notes The release of these new banknotes is taking place against the backdrop of major political upheaval. The previous Awami League government, led by Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Mujibur Rahman, was removed from power following widespread student-led demonstrations in 2024. Since then, the interim administration has been undertaking actions to distance state narratives from the legacy of the former ruling family. Among these changes was the decision to not issue any new banknotes during the Eid season last year — an unusual move that coincided with the government prohibiting the circulation of stored notes carrying Mujib's image. In the education sector, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has revised content across 441 school textbooks for the 2025 academic year. These changes have removed or rephrased references to Mujibur Rahman's leadership in the country's independence movement. Some of the new material now attributes the declaration of independence to General Ziaur Rahman — once a military leader and later president. The Daily Star reported that over 400 million revised textbooks have already been distributed to schools. The interim government has also amended the JAMUNA Act. The amendment strips Mujibur Rahman and more than 400 political leaders elected during the 1970 elections of their official status as 'freedom fighters.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead, the revised ordinance reclassifies them as 'associates of the Liberation War.' This redefinition applies to five groups, including members of the provisional Mujibnagar government. What we know of the temple on the bank notes One of the most prominent and widely discussed design choices is the inclusion of the Kantajew Temple on the Tk 20 note. This 18th-century Hindu temple is known for its intricate terracotta architecture and cultural significance. Kantanagar Temple, also known as Kantaji Temple or Kantajew Temple in Kantanagar, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, is an 18th-century Hindu temple. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deities Kanta or Krishna and is particularly revered by followers of the Radha-Krishna cult, known for… — GemsOfINDOLOGY (@GemsOfINDOLOGY) March 25, 2024 In December 2015, the temple was the target of a bomb attack during Rash Mela festivities. The perpetrators — linked to the banned terrorist organisation New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (New JMB), an affiliate of ISIS — were arrested, though the group did not officially claim responsibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD More recently, the temple site became the centre of controversy when reports surfaced in 2024 about a mosque being built within its premises. The incident provoked strong objections from the Hindu community, who viewed the construction as an encroachment on their sacred site. Despite these tensions, the temple remains one of Bangladesh's most visited religious monuments. The inclusion of religious and cultural structures on the banknotes spans across communities. For example, the Shait Gumbad Mosque appears on the Tk 100 note, Baitul Mukarram Mosque on the Tk 10 note, and Tara Mosque on the Tk 5 note. The Paharpur Monastery, featured on the back of the Tk 20 note, reflects Buddhist heritage and is considered one of the most significant ancient monasteries in South Asia, dating back to the 8th century and built under the Pala dynasty. What the response has been The interim government's currency overhaul has not gone without criticism. Political observers have accused the administration of attempting to systematically dilute Mujibur Rahman's contribution to the country's history. His leadership during the nine-month Liberation War in 1971, during which India played a crucial role, has long been a cornerstone of the national narrative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Still, Bangladesh Bank insists that the new series is meant to display national unity, diversity, and cultural pride while bolstering the security of the currency. Press releases have promised that the bank will continue informing the public about each new note's security elements and design features as they are introduced. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
