DHAKA:&nbsp;Bangladesh&#39;s densely populated capital, infamous for grinding gridlock, has launched its first AI-powered traffic enforcement system in a bid to bring order to one of the world&#39;s most congested cities. Across <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-evaluating-airbus-bid-for-10-planes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dhaka</a>, buses, cars, motorcycles and pedal rickshaws jostle for space -- seeming to treat signals, pedestrian crossings and even traffic police as obstacles to overcome. On-the-spot police fines often spark arguments, confrontations are common, and officers are sometimes struck by vehicles refusing to obey <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-to-sign-37-bn-deal-with-boeing-state-media" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">commands</a>. &quot;Those who violate the rules turn against us,&quot; traffic sergeant SM Nazim Uddin told AFP.&nbsp;&lsquo;Obeying the law&rsquo;&quot;But since AI was introduced, people behind the wheel have started obeying the law -- and we have been spared the everyday quarrels.&quot; Despite repeated attempts to modernize traffic management, the city of more than 22 million people had remained reliant on manual control, with officers stretching ropes across roads before traffic lights turned green. But in April, Dhaka police linked traffic cameras to artificial intelligence software designed to automatically detect violations. Motorist Hannan Rahman Jibon, 28, was among the first drivers caught. &quot;I ran a red light and the owner of my car, who was sitting at home, received a text message saying that the vehicle had violated traffic rules,&quot; said Jibon, who was hit with an automatic 2,000 taka ($16) fine. &quot;I am more careful now, with cameras installed in many different parts.&quot; &#39;Getting results&#39;&nbsp;One study, by the US National Bureau of Economic Research, ranked Dhaka as the &quot;slowest city&quot; in the world. With an average speed of just 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) per hour, according to a World Bank and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology study, it is quicker to walk. City police spokesman NM Nasiruddin said the AI system used existing traffic-monitoring camera feeds -- with the software identifying offences ranging from signal and lane violations to illegal parking. Coverage does not stretch across all the city, and manual traffic enforcement will be phased out over time, but police say it is changing behavior. &quot;We have started getting results,&quot; Nasiruddin said. &quot;We have prosecuted at least 300 vehicles.&quot; Inside a control room at police headquarters, analyst Sharmin Afroze, 52, monitored a bank of live traffic feeds, plugged into the AI system, where violations it flags are checked by humans. &quot;Before, police used to stop vehicles, check papers and determine fines,&quot; Afroze told AFP, noting that in a single day, the system had recorded nearly 800 traffic violations. For now, police are only fining the worst offenders -- while giving the others a warning.

Bangladesh

In April, Dhaka police linked traffic cameras to artificial intelligence software designed to automatically detect violations; Coverage does not stretch across all the city, and manual traffic enforcement will be phased out over time.

Bangladesh puts AI in driving seat to tackle terrible traffic

DHAKA: Bangladesh&#39;s national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines is evaluating a proposal to buy 10 Airbus aircraft, after earlier this month agreeing its biggest-ever purchase, 14 planes from US manufacturer Boeing, officials said Sunday. Dhaka&#39;s state-run BSS news agency said that Biman was assessing the European offer, after committing an estimated $3.7 billion to the Boeing order. &quot;We have received a fresh proposal from Airbus recently and our techno-finance committee is now evaluating it,&quot; Biman General Manager Bushra Islam told BSS. The proposal is for four Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft and six Airbus A321neo jets, BSS reported. &quot;A mixed fleet allows an airline to deploy the most suitable aircraft depending on passenger demand, route performance and cost structure,&quot; Islam told BSS. Biman on May 1 agreed to the 14-plane Boeing purchase -- a deal negotiated last year as part of a tariff agreement with the United States. That deal calls for the delivery over the next decade of eight 787-10 Dreamliners, two 787-9 Dreamliners and four single-aisle 737-8 MAX jets. Before the Boeing deal, Bangladesh reportedly had 19 aircraft in its current fleet, an estimated 14 of them from Boeing. The purchase was agreed in August 2025 by the caretaker government which ran the South Asian nation of 170 million people after a 2024 revolution, until a new government was elected in February. Bangladesh, the world&#39;s second-biggest garment manufacturer, struck a trade deal with the United States to scale back President Donald Trump&#39;s punishing tariffs. The United States represents 20 percent of Bangladesh&#39;s ready-made garments exports. Dhaka proposed buying Boeing planes and boosting imports of US wheat, cotton and oil to help narrow its trade deficit, which Trump used as justification for imposing painful levies.

Bangladesh's national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines is evaluating a proposal to buy 10 Airbus aircraft, after earlier this month agreeing to its biggest-ever purchase, 14 planes from US manufacturer Boeing.

Bangladesh 'evaluating' Airbus bid for 10 planes

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to combat drug smuggling, narcotics use, and illegal trafficking, as the two countries agreed to deepen collaboration on internal security, counterterrorism, and organized crime. The agreement was signed during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan&#39;s Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Interior. Under the MoU, both countries agreed to &quot;extend full cooperation to each other to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics&quot; while jointly working to curb the growing use of drugs and their impact on society, the ministry said in a post on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2052965761602449912&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4b61def7fe1e0c4264d7987d79e119f4f5f05ec1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 598px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The two sides also agreed to devise a &quot;joint strategy&quot; to break the illegal sale and supply chain of narcotics and improve coordination between relevant agencies. Enhancing bilateral cooperation&quot;The relevant agencies of both countries will exchange timely information about drug smugglers and networks,&quot; the ministry said, adding that &quot;training of personnel, use of modern technology, and best practices for drug prevention will be shared&quot;. &quot;The interior ministers also exchanged views on joint measures for counter-terrorism,&quot; the ministry said, adding that detailed discussions were held on enhancing bilateral cooperation regarding organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud. Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in training programs for officers at police academies and civil armed forces institutions. Naqvi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan, while Salahuddin Ahmed thanked him for offering Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s Safe City Project, the ministry said. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Saem, Cabinet Secretary Naseem Ghani, Interior Secretary Manzoor Chaudhry, and Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider also attended the meeting.

Bangladesh Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and visiting Pakistan Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi held a meeting at InterContinental Dhaka. (Photo: BSS)

Foreign Affairs

Security

Both nations agree to extend full cooperation to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics, while also exchanging views on joint measures to enhance bilateral cooperation on organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud.

Pakistan, Bangladesh sign MoU to combat drug smuggling

DHAKA: Bangladesh will sign a $3.7 billion deal with Boeing on Thursday to acquire 14 planes over the next decade for its national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the state news agency reported. Dhaka&#39;s state-run BSS news agency said it will mark the &quot;biggest modern fleet expansion&quot; for the national airline, under an agreement hammered out last year as part of a tariff deal with the United States. &quot;Under the proposed agreement, Biman will procure 14 new aircraft, including eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and four Boeing 737-8 MAX jets,&quot; BSS reported. A formal signing ceremony will take place on Thursday evening in the capital Dhaka. Bangladesh has a reported 19 aircraft in its current fleet, an estimated 14 of them from Boeing. The purchase was agreed in August 2025 by the caretaker government which ran the South Asian nation of 170 million people after a 2024 revolution, until a new government was elected in February. Second-biggest garment manufacturer Bangladesh, the world&#39;s second-biggest garment manufacturer, struck a trade deal with the United States to scale back President Donald Trump&#39;s punishing tariffs. The United States represents 20% of Bangladesh&#39;s ready-made garments exports. Dhaka proposed buying Boeing planes and boosting imports of US wheat, cotton and oil to help narrow its trade deficit, which Trump used as justification for imposing painful levies. But an initial proposed 25 aircraft was slashed to 14. The deal sparked frustration in Europe, which had been in discussion to sell Airbus airplanes to Bangladesh. Trump threatened Bangladesh with 37% tariffs, more than double the then 16% on cotton products. That was scaled back to 20% after the deal. Textile and garment production accounts for about 80% of exports in Bangladesh and the industry has been rebuilding after the 2024 unrest that toppled the government.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines - (File photo: BSS)

Dhaka is set to sign a $3.7 billion deal with Boeing to buy 14 aircraft for Biman Bangladesh Airlines over the next decade as part of a trade agreement that also helped reduce US tariffs on its garment exports.

Bangladesh to sign $3.7B deal with Boeing: State media

DHAKA: Bangladesh will begin loading uranium fuel into its first nuclear power station on Tuesday, a key step towards bringing the 2,400 megawatt plant online to ease pressure on the overstretched power grid. When operating, it could meet up to 10 percent of the power demands of the South Asian nation of 170 million people, according to the government. Construction began on the $11 billion Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in 2017, with initial power generation of around 300 MW hoped to come online by August, before full production in late 2027. &quot;A controlled nuclear fission chain reaction will be initiated in the reactor core, once fuel loading is completed,&quot; Saikat Ahmed, the plant&#39;s senior scientific information officer told AFP. &quot;This marks the start of the physical start-up phase.&quot; The grid in Bangladesh is stretched every year during the summer heat, when people crank up power-hungry air conditioners. But restrictions have been made worse after an energy crunch due to the Middle East war. Bangladesh imports 95 percent of its oil and gas, much of it from the Middle East, where energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been disrupted since war began in late February. Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, speaking earlier this month, said it was hoped the plant would supply around 300 megawatts of electricity to the grid by August. But the process requires a slow process of testing at each stage. &quot;This is a complex and sensitive phase, and every aspect of safety and security will be further evaluated before full-scale production,&quot; said Shafiqul Islam, a professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Dhaka.

Bangladesh will load uranium into its first nuclear plant at Rooppur, starting physical start-up. The $11 billion, 2,400 MW project aims to ease grid pressure, supply 300 MW by August, and reach full output by late 2027.

Bangladesh starts fuelling its first nuclear power station

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh has condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon that caused civilian casualties, warning they risk undermining fragile diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace in the region. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said the attacks &ldquo;undermine ongoing efforts toward peace and stability,&rdquo; as high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran gather momentum in Islamabad. The condemnation comes as a delicate two-week ceasefire, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement, attempts to hold amid continued violence in Lebanon that has raised concerns among international stakeholders.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042798450786578585&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=16d58d280534897568e1fda3335eced4ac67cea1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 729px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Dhaka also confirmed the death of a Bangladeshi national, identified as Ms Dipali, in an Israeli strike in Beirut. &ldquo;The Government of Bangladesh expresses heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and stands in solidarity with them during this difficult time,&rdquo; the statement said. Authorities added that the Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon is in contact with the victim&rsquo;s family and will repatriate her remains when conditions permit. The latest remarks add to growing international concern that continued strikes in Lebanon could complicate broader efforts to translate the ceasefire into a lasting peace framework, as diplomatic engagements intensify in Islamabad.

Dhaka condemns the recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon resulting in the loss of civilian lives and injuries; also condemns the tragic killing of Ms Dipali, a Bangladeshi national, reportedly in an Israeli attack in Beirut.

Bangladesh condemns Lebanon strikes as peace efforts face mounting pressure

KOLKATA: India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings. Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India and the border stretches for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), large parts of which are unfenced across delta regions where Himalayan rivers wind toward the sea. Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that &quot;the use of reptiles&quot; was discussed in a February meeting with the Home Ministry. &quot;We have been asked to explore the feasibility of deploying reptiles such as snakes or crocodiles in vulnerable riverine gaps,&quot; said Barnwal, deputy inspector general of the paramilitary force based in Kolkata, near the border with Bangladesh. &quot;The plan revolves around leveraging natural deterrents like crocodiles and snakes in flood-prone zones, along the unfenced area where traditional fencings are either ineffective or not possible,&quot; he added. The border between India and Bangladesh cuts through the Sundarbans, the world&#39;s largest mangrove forest. &quot;It&#39;s an innovative move, but there are several challenges and it raises safety concerns,&quot; Barnawl said. &quot;How do we procure the reptiles? What impact might it have on the people in the villages sitting along the riverine border?&quot; &quot;We have asked our field units to study the feasibility of the approach and send the report as soon as possible,&quot; he added. Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India. Bangladesh&#39;s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is in New Delhi on Wednesday -- the most senior envoy from Dhaka to visit since the 2024 uprising -- in a bid to rebuild frosty diplomatic relations. India has constructed border fencing stretching hundreds of kilometres (miles), and arrested scores of Bangladeshis attempting to cross the frontier in the wake of Hasina&#39;s overthrow. The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration, particularly from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Top Indian officials have referred to migrants as &quot;termites&quot; and &quot;infiltrators&quot;. Rights groups have accused India of also pushing hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process.

India

India is considering using snakes and crocodiles as natural deterrents along unfenced border stretches with Bangladesh, a proposal that highlights worsening ties, migration tensions and serious safety concerns for nearby communities.

India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: In the narrow, bustling lanes of Mirpur area of Bangladeshi capital, the hum of handlooms is constant. A quiet, rhythmic pulse that has carried generations of artistry across borders. Here, in Banaroshi Palli, silk threads do more than shimmer; they tell stories of migration, labor, identity and survival. &ldquo;I have been working here since I was 15 years old,&rdquo; says Muhammad Pappu, his fingers moving instinctively across fine strands of silk. &ldquo;Everything we make is handmade. Everything is original.&rdquo; Banaroshi Palli is not simply a marketplace. It is a living archive of South Asian textile heritage, built decades ago by artisans who migrated from India&rsquo;s historic weaving city of Varanasi. They brought with them centuries-old techniques, transforming this corner of Dhaka into one of Bangladesh&rsquo;s most distinctive craft clusters. Today, the sarees produced here are part of a wider textile economy that underpins Bangladesh&rsquo;s global reputation. While the country is best known for its ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for more than 80% of export earnings and employs over four million workers, according to government and industry estimates, traditional handloom industries like Banaroshi weaving remain a vital, if often overlooked, cultural and economic backbone. Each saree produced in Mirpur is the result of intense collaboration. &ldquo;One saree takes 10 to 15 days,&rdquo; Pappu explains. &ldquo;If it is a wedding saree, it takes 15 days. There are different people, the design maker, the color cutter, the weaver. Ten to fifteen people can work on one piece.&rdquo; That labor-intensive process stands in stark contrast to the speed and scale of Bangladesh&rsquo;s factory-based apparel sector. Yet, it is precisely this slow craftsmanship that gives Banaroshi sarees their value, both culturally and commercially. Inside a modest but storied shop, Muhammad Sufiyan gestures toward neatly stacked sarees in jewel tones. He is a worker here, part of a business that has stood for nearly half a century. The shop, Banarshee Kothi, carries decades of craftsmanship woven into its shelves. A place where tradition is not owned by one person, but sustained collectively by the hands that keep it alive. &ldquo;This shop is 48 years old,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We have silk, cotton, and Katan. Handloom sarees are very good quality and they are budget-friendly too.&rdquo; Prices range widely. A simple saree may cost as little as 2,000 taka (around $16), while intricate bridal pieces can reach 30,000 taka (about $245). Some of the finest pieces, Sufiyan notes, are exported abroad, finding buyers in diaspora communities and international markets where demand for handcrafted textiles is growing. Bangladesh&rsquo;s handloom sector employs hundreds of thousands of artisans nationwide, according to estimates from local industry groups. However, many face economic uncertainty, competition from machine-made imports, and limited access to global markets. &ldquo;There are expensive sarees that are sold outside,&rdquo; Sufiyan says, hinting at both opportunity and challenge. &ldquo;But what we make here, it is authentic.&rdquo; Walking through Banaroshi Palli, the sensory overload is immediate: flashes of gold thread, deep crimson silks, patterns inspired by flowers, leaves, and Mughal-era motifs. It feels less like a market and more like an open workshop where heritage is continuously being remade. For visitors, the saree often becomes more than a purchase. In Bangladesh, the saree is seen as far more than clothing. It embodies tradition, expressed through vibrant colors and cultural meaning. That sentiment resonates far beyond Dhaka. Across South Asia and in global diaspora communities, sarees mark weddings, festivals, and milestones, binding personal memory to collective identity. Yet behind each finished garment lies a complex human story: of artisans preserving ancestral skills, of families sustaining small businesses, and of a nation balancing industrial growth with cultural continuity. As Sufiyan carefully folds another saree, he pauses, almost as if weighing its significance. &ldquo;These are not just clothes,&rdquo; he says quietly. &ldquo;This is our history.&rdquo;

Bangladesh’s saree business blends centuries-old craftsmanship with modern trade, employing thousands of artisans in handloom clusters like Mirpur while contributing to exports, sustaining cultural heritage, and facing challenges from mechanisation and global competition.

In Dhaka, saree artisans weave heritage into global markets

ISLAMABAD: A new government cash assistance program is raising hopes among low-income families in several Dhaka slums, with women saying the pilot scheme could ease the burden of buying food, medicine and other essentials, Bangladeshi media reported. Under the initiative, announced by the new Tarique Rahman-led government, &nbsp;at least 40,000 families will receive &ldquo;Family Cards&rdquo; during a four-month pilot phase at a cost of about Tk 390 million. The program is expected to provide Tk 2,500 per month to selected households, with women heading families prioritized for the support. Local media also reported on the Korail slum, where elderly resident Hasen Banu, now over 80, said the news has brought her some relief.&nbsp; Living on rotation between the homes of her three sons and daughter, she said even buying medicine regularly has become difficult at her age.&nbsp; With the monthly assistance, she hopes to purchase medicines consistently and, at times, buy milk, eggs and fruit.&nbsp; She also said she looks forward to being able to treat her grandchildren occasionally. Similar optimism was seen in other settlements, including Sattala, where Shiuli Akter, a 30-year-old single mother of three, said the money would help her buy better food for her children.&nbsp; Shiuli, who works in several households from morning until night to make ends meet, said the prospect of improved meals alone made her happy. Residents and local organisers said the registration process stood out for its transparency.&nbsp; Loudspeaker announcements were made, volunteers and officials went door to door, and applicants received help filling out the six-page forms.&nbsp; Many said it was rare to see a government process in which no money was demanded and no political influence appeared to play a role. Teachers, community workers and Social Welfare Department staff spent days helping applicants complete and correct forms, especially women-led households.&nbsp; The selected pilot areas include Korail, Sattala and Bhashantek under Banani, as well as Oli Miar Tek and Baganbari in Mirpur/Shah Ali. The program is set to be inaugurated on March 10 by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.&nbsp; According to official guidelines, the government ultimately aims to bring twenty million families under monthly cash assistance nationwide.

A new Family Card pilot will give Tk 2,500 monthly to 40,000 poor families, offering women in Dhaka slums relief for food and medicine despite documentation barriers.

Pilot 'Family Card' cash aid brings hope to women in Dhaka slums

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh on Sunday voiced concern over the safety of its nationals in Iran following recent attacks, urging all sides to exercise restraint and return to diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the region. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, the government said it remained &ldquo;deeply concerned&rdquo; about the security of Bangladeshi citizens residing in Iran in the wake of the attacks. According to state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Dhaka warned that any continuation of hostilities could further undermine regional peace and stability while putting civilian populations at greater risk. The government called upon all concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint and stressed the need to return to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve differences and ensure lasting peace. The statement also condemned what it described as violations of the sovereignty of several Gulf and regional countries, naming Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh expressed hope that calm would prevail at the earliest and that peace, security, and stability would soon be restored across the region.

Activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party hold posters of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during an anti-US and Israel protest at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on March 1, 2026. (AFP)

Bangladesh expresses deep concern over the safety of its citizens in Iran after recent attacks, urging restraint and diplomacy while condemning violations of sovereignty in several Gulf states and warning against further regional escalation and instability.

Articles tagged with "Bangladesh"

Bangladesh puts AI in driving seat to tackle terrible traffic

Bangladesh 'evaluating' Airbus bid for 10 planes

Pakistan, Bangladesh sign MoU to combat drug smuggling

Bangladesh to sign $3.7B deal with Boeing: State media

Bangladesh starts fuelling its first nuclear power station

Bangladesh condemns Lebanon strikes as peace efforts face mounting pressure

India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border

In Dhaka, saree artisans weave heritage into global markets

Pilot 'Family Card' cash aid brings hope to women in Dhaka slums

Bangladesh concerned for nationals’ safety in Iran, condemns Gulf sovereignty violations

Bangladesh puts AI in driving seat to tackle terrible traffic