Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges at a defiant appearance in a New York court Monday, two days after being snatched by US forces in a stunning raid on his home in Caracas. Maduro, 63, told a federal judge in Manhattan “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty.” Smiling as he entered the courtroom and wearing an orange shirt with beige trousers, Maduro spoke softly. “I’m president of the Republic of Venezuela and I’m here kidnapped since January 3, Saturday,” Maduro told the court, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter. “I was captured at…
Author: diplomaticjourna_diplomaticjourna
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is holding a meeting with the country’s top business leaders at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan of the city. BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku are present at the meeting that began at 7pm. Participating business leaders in the meeting include International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman; BSRM Chairman Ali Hossein Akbar Ali, former presidents of the top business organization FBCCI Mir Nasir Hossain and A K Azad, Square Group Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury, former BTMA President Matin Chowdhury; Bangladesh Chamber of Industries…
The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances today submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, stating that enforced disappearances in Bangladesh were largely politically motivated and carried out with involvement from the highest levels of the immediate past government. The report titled “Unfolding the truth: a structural diagnosis of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh” was handed over at the State Guest House Jamuna in this afternoon, according to a press release of the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Commission President Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, members Justice Md. Farid Ahmed Shibli, Md. Nur Khan, Dr. Nabila Idris and Md Sazzad…
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States, a day after American forces attacked Caracas and captured leftist leader Nicolas Maduro. “We consider it a priority to move toward a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela,” Rodriguez, Maduro’s vice president, wrote on Telegram. “We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on an agenda for cooperation that is aimed toward shared development.”
The Election Commission (EC) today began the appeal proceedings over the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. According to a notification issued on Sunday night, a total of 1,842 nomination papers were found valid while 723 were rejected in 300 parliamentary constituencies. The notification was signed by Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing and Convener of the Central Coordination Committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election A S M Humayun Kabir. As per the election schedule, appeals can be filed with the EC from January 5 to January 9 until 5:00pm. Any…
Mild to moderate tremors were felt in different parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, early this morning. The earthquake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, struck at 4:47 am today, causing panic particularly in Sylhet district and the capital. The tremor lasted for a few seconds. No reports of damage have been received from anywhere in the country so far. According to the Meteorological Department, the epicentre of the earthquake was located about three kilometres west of Dhing town in India’s State of Assam and around 76 kilometres northeast of Guwahati city near the Meghalaya-Assam border, at a…
By Staff Correspondent : Mr. K. M. Mozibul Hoque has been elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) Foundation and Chairman of the UAP Board of Trustees for the 2026–2027 term. He was unanimously elected by the members at the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the UAP Foundation. Mr. Hoque was born into a respected Muslim family in Muradnagar, Cumilla District. Over the years, he has played a significant and distinguished role in the fields of education, development, international engagement, and the corporate sector. He was recognized as a Commercially Important Person (CIP)…
The government has promulgated an ordinance strengthening the regulatory framework for travel agencies, introducing up to one year’s imprisonment and fine up to TK 10 lakh for violations to ensure fair ticket pricing and protect passengers. Issued by order of the President, the ordinance amends the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013 and was signed by Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury. The ordinance said it was promulgated on January 1, 2026, and published for public information, adding that the amendments were necessary…
A shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported from the international spot market has arrived in Bangladesh to ensure normal gas supply to the country’s industries and power plants. The cargo, supplied by Singapore-based BP Singapore Private Limited, reached the floating terminal of Accelerate Energy Limited in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, on December 28, 2025. The government spent Taka 490 crore to import this shipment. Engineer Muhammad Nasir Uddin, Deputy General Manager (LNG) of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), confirmed the arrival, adding that the imported LNG would help meet the natural gas shortage for the current month. According to…
Youth and Sports Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today expressed strong condemn and protested an instruction of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to remove Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad. He made the protest in a post of his verified facebook page. “As the adviser in charge of the Sports Ministry, I asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to explain the entire matter to ICC in written. The board should inform that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in…
