Biswa Ijtema begins amid blockade
Biswa Ijtema has begun on the Turag River bank at Tongi amid countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. The first phase of the second largest congregation of Muslims after hajj formally started with delivering sermons by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Ehsan after Fajr prayers.
HRW: Stop suppressing opposition, media
Human Rights Watch has urged the government to end its recent actions against opposition party members and lift "restrictions on the media". The international rights watchdog made the call in a press release issued on Thursday.
Jubo League leader killed in Laxmipur
A Jubo League leader has been beaten to death by a group of miscreants at Char Basu Bazar under Kamalnagar upazila in Laxmipur. The deceased is Md Yusuf, 35, president of Underchar Union Jubo League.
2 bandits killed in Sundarbans ‘gunfight’
Two forest bandits of Daroga Bahini have been killed in a "gunfight" with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel at Khal area of Chadpai Range in Sundarbans. One of the deceased was identified as Sogir, 32, second-in-command of Daroga Bahini.
3 die in city road mishap
Three persons have been killed as a bus ran them over in Dhaka's Badda area. A local vendor was also injured in the accident. The deceased are rickshaw-puller Liton, 30, and security guards Abu Taher and Billal.
11 BNP-Jamaat men held in Thakurgoan
Police have detained 11 activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e- Islami on suspicion of violent activities from Pirganj and Sadar upazila during the countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party. The special drive was conducted in the district from Thursday evening till Friday morning.
Rajapaksa concedes defeat after decade in power
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat to his opposition challenger on Friday after a presidential election, ending a decade of rule that critics say had become increasingly authoritarian and marred by nepotism and corruption.