2021 April

বাংলা ভার্সন

June 16, 2026, 4:35 am

Notice ::

‘Surongo-2’ set for release in December 2026 Shaheed Zia brought media to open sky from dark lane: Swapon Modi to raise Hormuz issue at G7 after US strike kills 3 Indian seafarers Iran media says Tehran ‘not yet’ taken final decision on US peace deal PM praises young innovator Sajjadul’s eco-friendly inventions Committee secretary among 2 suffer bullet wounds inside mosque in Khulna 809-page verdict of Abu Sayeed murder case published Ramisa murder: Jail appeals of Sohel-Swapna for hearing accepted Addl 20MW electricity export to Bangladesh blocked by India US-Iran peace expected within 24hrs: Pakistan

Veteran journalist Hasan Shariar passes away

Shawdesh Desk: Noted journalist, former President of Jatiya Press Club and Executive Editor of the Daily Ittefaq Hasan Shariar has passed away. He breathed his last around 11.30am on Saturday ReadMore

Coronavirus: WHO chief criticises ‘shocking’ global vaccine divide

Shawdesh Desk: The World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has criticised what it describes as a “shocking imbalance” in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines between rich and poor countries. ReadMore

Security beefed up at police stations

Shawdesh Desk: Police have been put on high alert across the country following the recent violence unleashed by activists of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh in different districts, including Brahmanbaria, Sylhet and Chattogram. ReadMore

Prince Philip passes away

Shawdesh Desk: Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace has announced. The prince married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and ReadMore

The woman who took on Google and won

Shawdesh Desk: Everyone has their breaking point. And when it comes it can be a small thing, an incident that usually wouldn’t matter. Shannon Wait’s moment was when her Google-issued ReadMore

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government is feeling well over the latest GDP growth projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it has upped its projection. “Our forecasts are always based on actual facts and figures. But their (IMF, World Bank) projections are usually based on assumptions… yet, they (IMF) have mentioned well and it’s good news for us. The “feel factor” is good and we all are feeling well,” he said. The finance minister was responding to questions from reporters after chairing virtually two separate meetings on Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP). The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its projection for the economic growth of Bangladesh to 5 per cent for 2021, up from 4.4 per cent it forecast in October. The Washington-based multilateral lender came up with the projection in its World Economic Outlook, which was published yesterday (Tuesday). According to the IMF, the country will return to its high growth trajectory next year, when the gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to expand by 7.5 per cent. The GDP will grow by 7.2 per cent in 2026. According to the IMF’s projection, India’s GDP would grow by 12.5 percent in 2021, Sri Lanka by 4 percent, Nepal by 2.9 per cent, and Pakistan by 1.5 per cent. Earlier on March 31, the World Bank projected Bangladesh’s GDP to grow as high as 5.6 per cent in the fiscal year 2020-21. The finance minister said the World Bank and the IMF makes projections about the global economies from time to time while it is a flexible sort of thing as they often raise and lower those. But, he said, no matter the lending agencies give what kinds of projections, the government would have to accomplish its own tasks and thus move forward. “We’ll have to accomplish our tasks pursuing practical aspects instead of theoretical aspects as to ensure how we can unleash much more development. Our goal is to implement the ideas of our policy perspectives in a timely and nice manner,” he added. Asked whether the Ministry of Finance would come up with something to ease the sufferings of the low-income group people during the countrywide lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19, Kamal said the concerned authority is looking into the matter and necessary arrangements and decisions would be taken considering the interests, safety and security of the common people. He, however, said his ministry always takes measures to ensure welfare of the people of the country and also to ensure that the common people are not affected. Replying to another question, the finance minister said that the stimulus packages announced so far are the outcome of farsighted thoughts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while the Ministry of Finance is executing those. Kamal told another questioner that the approvals for rice import are being given as per the requirements while the government changes the supplier of rice and switch to another source when the assigned supplier failed to provide rice in due time. He said that the government would not procure more quantity of rice as it will hurt the farmers, on the other hand, it would not procure rice less than its requirements as it would also hurt the consumers. “We work on this after making a coordination.” Kamal mentioned that such rice purchase is being done by the Ministry of Food in alignment with the Ministry of Agriculture. Responding to another question over the possibility of availing a possible tranche from the IMF, he said the government would approach when it would hold a meeting with the IMF.

Shawdesh desk: Dubai may already boast the world’s tallest building, but now it’s also home to the world’s highest infinity pool! Located on the 77th floor of the Address Beach ReadMore

Govt feels well over IMF’s latest growth projection: Kamal

Shawdesh desk: Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government is feeling well over the latest GDP growth projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it has upped its ReadMore

Celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna diagnosed with dementia

Shawdesh Desk: Celebrity zookeeper and animal TV show host Jack Hanna has been diagnosed with dementia and will retire from public life, his family said. In a news release Wednesday, ReadMore