Bangladesh elects parliament speaker as new president

DHAKA: The speaker of Bangladesh’s parliament Abdul Hamid was elected unopposed as president Monday, a potentially crucial role as the restive country heads for elections next year, officials said.

Hamid is a 69-year-old stalwart of the ruling Awami League party who has been serving as acting president of the Muslim-majority nation after the death of his predecessor Zillur Rahman on March 20.

Bangladesh: 33 missing as bus plunges into river

At least 33 people went missing when a bus with some 55 people onboard plunged into a river while boarding a ferry in southwestern Bangladesh on Wednesday.

"We fear 33 passengers are missing ... rescue efforts have been launched to retrieve them," district police chief Mohammad
Ehsanullah told PTI on phone.