Iran refuses to negotiate with US amid escalating tensions

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday in a development that could lead to a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil export route, for days.

The US-Israeli strikes against Iran and reprisals by Tehran could severely disrupt the global supply of crude oil and send prices soaring to levels not seen in years.

On February 23, three Bangladeshi-origin members of the Arakan Army (AA), the dominant ethnic armed organization (EAO) in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, were apprehended by the Border Guard Bangladesh while infiltrating Bangladesh through the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Some 168,000 Myanmar kyat (around 9,800 Bangladeshi taka) were recovered from them. 

Treated as a foundation of economic development, Bangladesh`s banking industry is now in danger of becoming its Achilles` heel.

The question of deferring Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status has predictably resurfaced following the formation of the BNP government.