Khagrachhari district town wore a deserted look on Wednesday following the imposition of an overnight curfew amid clashes between the indigenous and Bangali settler communities on Tuesday that left one person dead.

Residents did not come out of houses and shops and other establishments remained closed in the morning despite the end of the curfew.

Over two dozen of Islami Chhatra Shibir's top brass resigned en masse on Monday afternoon following secretary general Abdullah Al Mamun's resignation two days ago.

Mamun told bdnews24.com, "Twenty-five members of the central executive committee resigned late this (Monday) afternoon."

The word 'Zia' was removed from the name plaque 'Zia International Airport' on the terminal building of the airport on Monday at 8:30pm, airport directors said.

The name was removed following a government decision, they told bdnews24.com, preferring not to be named.

The Pilkhana mutiny trial began on Tuesday at Durbar Hall, almost a year to the day since border guards at the BDR's Dhaka headquarters took up arms against their officers, killing scores and holding their families hostage.

A special court began the proceedings at noon, at the very site of the bloody uprising.

Export and import through Benapole land port were halted on Saturday following a feud between two labour organisations at Petrapole port on the Indian side of the border.

Abdul Gafur, cargo superintendent of Benapole check post, told bdnews24.com on Saturday afternoon that no goods-laden trucks were able to cross the border since 6am.

Local leaders say at least five indigenous villagers were killed as army opened fire during clashes at Baghaichhari in Rangamati hill district on Saturday.

Rangamati's deputy commissioner confirmed the death of one tribal by a bullet in the forehead. A senior local council leader named five who he said were shot dead, while a regional rights group also said the army had gunned down at least three tribals.

Rajshahi University vice-chancellor M Abdus Sobhan on Saturday demanded "proper investigation" into the killing of an RU student during overnight clashes on Feb 8-9, blaming police for negligence and cheating the university administration.

A student was killed and scores were injured during the clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League and Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Home minister Sahara Khatun has said the countrywide drive against violence would continue until the killers of the Rajshahi University student are arrested.

The home ministry last week ordered the law enforcers to hunt down Jamaat-Shibir cadres after the killing of a RU student.

The government Wednesday tabled a bill in parliament aimed at setting up an authority which will set standards for controversial genetically modified or GM foods in Bangladesh.

State minister for science Yeafesh Osman initiated the "National Institute of Biotechnology Bill-2010" amid absence of the main opposition BNP and its allies.

Two cases have been filed against hundreds of Shibir activists, while dozens have been detained, in connection with Tuesday's Rajshahi University violence that left one student dead and scores injured.

Of the total accused 64 have been identified and police have so far detained 45. Of them 34 are shown arrested, said Mrinal Kanti Roy, assistant commissioner of Rajshahi metropolitan Police.

Speaker Abdul Hamid has declared the Bhola-3 constituency void.

He made the announcement in parliament on Wednesday following a gazette notification from the Election Commission, which declared the seat of Awami League MP Mohammad Jashimuddin vacant on Sunday.

An order by the India's Supreme Court to halt limestone mining by Lafarge in the country's north-eastern state of Meghalaya may hit production at the French cement giant's $255 million state-of-the-art Bangladesh plant at Chhatak in Sunamganj district.

A three-judge bench of India's apex court headed by chief justice K G Balakrishnan passed the order to temporarily halt limestone mining by Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited (LUMPL) at Nongtrai in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday ordered Harkatul Jihad founder Sheikh Abdus Salam to be remanded for interrogation for eight days in connection with a terrorism case.

Dhaka additional chief metropolitam magistrate Abu Zafar Md Qamruzzaman granted the remand prayer at 12 noon.

The government has approved a project to give away more than 30 million energy saving bulbs countrywide, at a cost of Tk 279 crore, in a bid to save national power consumption.

A meeting of the Executive Committee for the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the 'Efficient Lighting Initiative for Bangladesh' project on Tuesday.

Former BNP state minister for home affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar has been shown arrested in the Kibria murder case.

Public prosecutor Akbar Hossain Jitu told journalists in Habiganj on Tuesday that Babar "confessed" in connection with the killing of former finance minister SAMS Kibria, while being interrogated in the August 21 grenade attack case.

A parliamentary watchdog has returned a bill, aimed at preventing harassment of journalists in defamation cases, to the law ministry for further clarification.

The parliamentary standing committee on law at a meeting Sunday night sought clarification from the ministry on the bill to revoke warrant orders against journalists and publishers.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said that absconding convicts in Bangabandhu murder case will be brought back and punished.

Her words sounded more like an ultimatum, coming just days after the five captured convicts of Bangabandhu murder case were executed.

Main opposition BNP may join parliament next week ending a boycott since June last year. Opposition chief whip Jainal Abdin Farrouque dropped the hint at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence on Friday.

"BNP wants to return to parliament. A meeting of parliamentary party (of BNP) will be convened in one day or two. I hope a positive decision on joining the assembly will come out from the meeting," he told reporters.

Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury has demanded trial for his father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury's 'murder'.

He made the statement in a reaction to the execution of the five convicts found guilty of murdering founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Chandpur circuit house on Friday.

Chittagong Police imposed a Section 144 ban on public gatherings in the city's Riazuddin Bazar area on Thursday in a bid to control furious clashes between businessmen and hawkers that left 30 people, including 12 policemen, injured.

Police were forced to fire over 200 rubber bullets, throw teargas shells and charge with batons to disperse the rioters.