The preparations for Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025, which will begin on Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy premises tomorrow, are in the final stage.
A number of publishers said that they have already completed the preparations for the month-long book fair.
During a visit to the fair venue today, it was found that workers, including masons, carpenters, painters and electricians were busy in preparing the pavilions and stalls or giving the finishing touches to those.
Owners of publishing houses and organizations were seen supervising the decoration work of the pavilions and stalls almost round-the-clock.
Police Headquarters today called upon the police officers dismissed on various grounds during the previous government not to create any public sufferings by blocking roads to press home their demand for reinstatement.
"The dismissed police members are being urged not to block roads and create inconvenience to the city residents," said a PHQ statement.
The statement said the PHQ has already received 1,522 applications from dismissed police officers.
Among the applicants, 1,025 are constables, 79 are nayeks, 180 are ASIs/ATSIs, 200 are SIs/Sergeants/TSIs, 10 are inspectors and 28 are non-police officers, the statement said.
A committee headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police is working to review their applications, it said.
Country biggest Jumma Jamaat held at Ijtema ground today as thousands of Muslim devotees including foreigners attended the Friday Jummah prayers on the first day of the 58th Biswa Ijtema.
Habibullah Raihan, media coordinator of the Tabligh Jamaat, organizer of the Ijtema, told BSS today that Maulana Zubair Ahmed conducted the Jumma prayers which started at 1.50.
At the end of the Jummah prayers, a special munajat was offered seeking unity, peace, prosperity and seeking forgiveness of Allah for the Muslim Ummah.
After Jummah, Maulana Sheikh Umar Khatib of Jordan delivered a sermon. After Asr, Maulana Zubair of Bangladesh will present a sermon.
Noted Islamic Scholar from India Maulana Ahmed Lat will deliver a sermon after Maghrib.
The first phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest congregations of world Muslims after Hajj, began today on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital.
Tourist travel to St Martin, a coral-rich island located in Teknaf, Coxs Bazar, will be suspended for nine months starting February 1, according to a decision from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The closure will remain in effect until November 2025.
Generally, the island tourist season runs from October 1 to March 31, but this year, travel has been limited to the earlier date due to new regulations.
Coxs Bazar Additional District Magistrate, Imran Hossain, said that ships will be allowed to operate to St. Martin until January 31. "After that, no tourist ships will be allowed to operate.”
The decision has raised concerns among local businesses, as the tourism sector plays a vital role in the island economy.