Terming the outcome of the mayoral polls as a referendum against the present government, experts feel the anti-incumbency wave, coupled with government crackdown on Hefazat rally and internal rift in the ruling party, were instrumental in the debacle of the ruling party- backed candidates in the elections for the four city corporations. Talking to The Independent, local government experts, political scientists and analysts said the national political issue dominated the city polls, for which, many popular ruling party candidates had to face defeat.

Bangladesh Institute of Philatelic Studies (BIPS) a non-profit organisation established at Dhaka in 1988 to promote stamp collecting by using philately as an aid for the broader appreciation of history, culture and human events. Its founder director-cum-Chairman of the Institute is Siddique Mahmudur Rahman, a researcher, an author, a translator and an editor. Mr. Siddique has 36 publications in his credit, since 1988.
The institute encourages study and research on stamp collection through promoting exchange of ideas among stamp collectors and philatelists worldwide and through the development, publication, and distribution of books, monographs, periodicals, directories, bibliographies, checklists, audio-visual aids, and other educational materials.
Publications of the Institute include

Intense campaigning by Hefajat-e Islam and some Islamist parties that used the religion card against Awami League-backed candidates was a key factor in the victory of BNP-supported contenders in Saturday’s polls in four city corporations.

Why Truly Bangladesh?

Bangla Literature is rich – very very rich. It dates back to the period, when literature of most of the countries has not seen light. When Tagore got Nobel Prize in 1913, no other Asian or African literature were known to world community. It is thriving satisfactorily. A good number of works are being published each year, though its international exposure remained almost at lowest level. English dailies and periodicals of the country give more importance on all subjects, other than on literature. There is not a single English periodical, which give proper importance on literature. Our writers do not write in English. Since 1950's there were a huge quantity of world literature have been translated and published in Bangladesh, whereas only a handful of books have been translated from Bangla to other language.

Marking the birth and demise of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM), the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi is being observed across the country as elsewhere in the Muslim world on Friday with due reverence and religious fervour.

On this day, the 12th of Rabiul Awal of the Hijri calendar, Prophet Muhammad (SM) was born with divine blessings and messages of peace for mankind. He also passed away the same day.

The day is a public holiday.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion.

Various religious, socio-cultural organisations and political parties held various programmes, including milad mahfil, discussion meetings and Qurankhwani, to mark the day.

Islamic Foundation will also hold programmes on the occasion.

Like every years, Askekane Maizbhandari organised a procession that paraded different city streets marking the day.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and satellite TV channels also aired special programmes.