The authorities have moved to tighten lockdown restrictions in Rajshahi to tackle an upturn in COVID-19 cases in parts of northern Bangladesh amid the pandemic. On Wednesday, the district administration issued a list of 10 directives, including the closure of shops and shopping malls from 10 am to 6 pm, as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The new measures will come into effect on Thursday, according to District Commissioner Abdul Jalil. In light of the current situation in Rajshahi, the administration is introducing a few fresh curbs in the district in addition to the government's ongoing lockdown curbs, he told reporters.

  Malaysia says it is to summon China's ambassador after 16 Chinese military aircraft flew over disputed waters off its eastern state of Sarawak. Fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the transport planes on Monday after detecting "suspicious" activity over the South China Sea. Malaysia's foreign ministry described the maneuver as a "serious threat to national sovereignty". China, however, said its aircraft had abided by international law. Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Vietnam all contest China's claim to almost all of the South China Sea. The row has rumbled on for decades but tensions have increased in recent years. Beijing continues to claim an area known as the "nine-dash line" and has backed its claim with island-building and patrols, expanding its military presence while maintaining that its intentions are peaceful. According to the Malaysian air force, the Chinese aircraft were "flying in tactical formation"

Police have recovered a newborn baby wrapped with cloth from a dustbin in Rangpur city. Altaf Hossain, the assistant commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police, said the locals noticed a newborn baby wrapped with cloth in a dustbin beside Keramatia Jame Masjid around 1:30pm and informed the police. Later, the police retrieved the baby and sent it to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, he said. The hospital director Dr Rezaul Karim said the baby is now in good condition. Source : JAGONEWS24.COM

 Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal is set to place over Taka 6.03 lakh crore national budget for fiscal 2021-2022 (FY 22) in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Thursday amid the COVID-19 pandemic aiming to expedite economic recovery and bolster the government efforts to save the lives and livelihoods of country’s people. This will be the 50th national budget of the country coinciding with the golden jubilee of the country’s independence while the 13th in a row for the Awami League government. The size of the national budget for FY 22 is likely to be Taka 6,03,681 crore which is 6.28 percent or Taka 35,681 crore higher than the original budget size of the current fiscal year which was Taka 5,68,000 crore. The next budget will also be the 3rd straight budget for the incumbent Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. The theme of the budget this time is “Jiban O Jibikar Pradhanno, Agamir Bangladesh”. Officials at the Ministry of Finance said that the budget will give special priority to health, agric

Rohingyas demand UN’s presence in Bhashan Char : MOFA discontents on distorted information.The foreign ministry today said that Rohingyas had demanded UN’s presence in Bhashan Char showing its disappointment over some international media and civil societies for “campaigning” against relocation of displaced Myanmar nationals with distorted information misrepresenting the facts . “The Government of Bangladesh noted with great disappointment that a section of international media and civil society organizations have been continuously campaigning against Bhashan Char and Rohingya relocation with distorted information misrepresenting the facts,” a foreign ministry statement said here today. The ministry said such campaign will undermine the magnanimous humanitarian gestures and the sincere efforts of Bangladesh. “Excessive focus on temporary arrangement and undue criticism will only shift the focus from the permanent solution, which lies in repatriation and reintegration of Rohingyas in Myan