The holy Shab-e-Barat will be observed across the country on July 27.

The decision came from a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee at the Islamic Foundation.

The Foundation said in a statement on Monday that the moon of Sha'ban month of Hijri 1431 could be sighted nowhere in the country.

The 5th Lucas Dhaka Motor Show kicked off on Thursday, with over 60 companies, including dealers and distributors, displaying their wares.

Commerce minister Faruque Khan inaugurated the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The minister asked the banks to provide car loans on lower interests.

Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation brought out a rally in the city to mark the World Food Day on Friday. This year's theme of the day is 'Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis'.

Agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury inaugurated the day's events through the rally followed by a procession that started from Khamar Bari, participated among others by agriculturists, scientists, officials and members of the public.

Over 50,000 children die of diarrhoeal diseases every year in Bangladesh but 40 percent of those incidences can be reduced through the practice of hand washing.

Hand washing can also help reduce respiratory problems by 25 percent, according to a study conducted jointly by UNICEF and World Health Organisation.

Tears rolled out from her eyes when Shabana Azmi stood before the works of painter Shahabuddin Ahmed.

"I am completely overwhelmed...it's impossible to stand in front of his paintings without having a deep reaction," she told reporters Sunday as she reviewed the display prior to the formal launch of his solo show at Bengal Gallery in the capital.

Sheikh Hasina turns 62 Monday and will spend her birthday, her friends say, with her "full family" for the first time in many years.

The prime minister, now in New York, will fly to Washington early on the day to be with his son Sajib Wajed Joy, who lives in Baltimore, Washington.

Thousands of Hindu devotees thronged revered Ramkrishna Mission in Dhaka to worship Kumari Devi on Saturday as part of their biggest religious festival-- Sharadiya Durga Puja.

Kumari Puja is a vital part of the annual festival when devotees offer prayer on 'Mahaashtami' with the belief that the Goddess, although omnipresent, exists in the virgin. Reverence to female children as goddesses is an age-old part of the celebration.

The festivities of the biggest religious event of Hindus in Bangladesh, Durga Puja, started on Friday through the observance of Mahalaya.

Sasthi Puja will begin through ceremonial awakening of goddess Durga on Sep 18. Earthen vessels have been installed at temples including Dakeshwari National Temple.

The World Trade Center catastrophe in New York on Sep 11, 2001 claimed the 2,752 lives, 50 of whom were Bangladeshi nationals. Nurul Haq Miah and Shakila Yasmin Tumpa were the only couple to die.

Eight years on, their relatives think the void they left behind can never be filled. Sharif Chowdhury, who lost daughter Tumpa to the tragedy, hasn't been able to get over the morning.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday opened Nazrul Complex beside the central mosque on the Dhaka University campus on the 33rd death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

She inaugurated the complex at around 7am and had a look around. She later placed wreath on the poet's grave at the mosque premises.

Millions of Bangladeshis were observing Shab-e-Barat on Thursday, the night that brings annual hopes of forgiveness and good fortune amid traditional festivities.

Muslims traditionally believe that God reviews all people's past deeds on the night, one of the most sacred of the Islamic calendar.

The holy night of Shab-e-Meraj was being observed Monday, as Muslims marked the ascent of prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) to heaven to meet God.

The holy night began following Esha prayers at mosques across the country.

Britain's Prince Charles will attend a ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings after French officials failed to invite Queen Elizabeth, causing a brief diplomatic spat.

A spokeswoman for Charles confirmed he would attend the June 6 commemoration as a guest of President Nicolas Sarkozy. US President Barack Obama will also attend the anniversary.

Commerce minister Faruq Khan on Sunday pledged government support to the small and medium enterprises that he said were generating scores of jobs.

"The sector has played a significant role in the past and will do the same in future," he said while opening the fourth SME Fair at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

The fourth small and medium enterprises fair starts on Sunday in the city displaying products of some 80 entities.

The fair, organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, will be inaugurated by trade minister Faruq Khan at 11am.

The fair will have 94 stalls and 12 pavilions.

Awami League has announced three-day mourning programme over the death of Dr M A Wazed Miah, the husband of prime minister and party chief Sheikh Hasina who died on Saturday.

The central working committee at a meeting took the decision on Sunday afternoon.

The Buddhist community in Bangladesh is celebrating Buddha Purnima like elsewhere in the world on Saturday through peace procession, prayers and distributing offerings.

The day marks the birthday of Gautam Buddha, founder of Buddhism, his attainment of perfect knowledge and Maha Nirvana.

To usher in the Bengali New Year 1416, Hotel Sarina is holding a food and music festival from Apr 14 to 17, featuring the best of Bengali cuisine.

Pahela Baishakh revellers can enjoy a range of traditional dishes along with live music between 7pm and 11pm at the hotel's Amrit Restaurant in Banani in the capital.

On the eve of World Tuberculosis Day, US ambassador James F Moriarty writes on the fight against a global killer that claims nearly 2 million lives a year.

Dhaka, March 23 (bdnews24.com)—Almost a century ago, America was locked in a battle against tuberculosis, which killed thousands annually and was one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

The country's first capital market fair, scheduled to kick off Thursday aims to provide people elementary knowledge on fundamental analysis, advice to brokers and price information for trading decisions, organisers say.

"After the successful Bank and Non-Bank Financial Institutions Fair last year, it will be another step for us to boost our event organisation capacity," Trevor McDonald, general manager of the hotel told a news conference Tuesday.