United News of Bangladesh

Administrator of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Abdus Salam on Wednesday said the existing household waste collection system may be abolished and replaced with a new mechanism next year if residents continue to be deprived of the expected level of service. "We have received various complaints regarding the ward-based tender system currently used for household waste collection. In some areas, waste is not being collected on time, while in others there are allegations of excessive charges. Whether the current system will continue next year is being seriously considered," he said. The DSCC administrator made the remarks while addressing a ceremony as chief guest at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium where special Eid grants from the Prime Minister were distributed among city corporation sanitation workers. A total of 4,950 sanitation workers each received Tk 5,000 as a special Eid assistance grant. In his speech, Salam described sanitation work as one of the most difficult and demanding services performed by city corporation employees. "If citizens remain conscious and sanitation workers continue their sincere efforts, it will be possible to transform the face of Dhaka within the next two years," he said, urging both sanitation workers and media professionals to play an active role in raising public awareness about cleanliness.  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said Bangladesh Police has adopted a number of technology-driven plans and is implementing them through multifaceted activities to ensure public safety and maintain law and order across the country. The minister said this while responding to a starred tabled question placed by ruling party lawmaker Nilufar Chowdhury Moni (Women seat-10) in the House. He said regular and special police drives are continuing on the basis of intelligence information to recover illegal firearms, explosives, narcotics and other prohibited items, while legal action is being taken against those involved. Salahuddin said visible police patrols have been strengthened alongside enhanced intelligence surveillance to prevent theft, mugging and robbery. To curb extremism, he said, law enforcement agencies are maintaining regular communication with leaders of mosques, temples, churches and other religious institutions to ensure that no form of extremism can gain ground. The minister also said modern technologies, including location tracking and mobile call-list analysis, are being effectively used to identify and arrest criminals. Highlighting efforts to combat cybercrime, he said regular monitoring is being conducted using information technology tools. Besides, CCTV cameras are being installed at important locations, while technology-assisted systems are helping law enforcement agencies identify offenders and bring them under the law, Salahuddin said. He further said close monitoring is being carried out on social media platforms, including Facebook and X, to prevent the spread of hateful images, videos, comments and rumours that could create unrest or undesirable situations. The minister noted that online data entry systems and information technology are being utilised in ongoing operations to apprehend criminals. At the same time, state-of-the-art technologies are being incorporated to further enhance the operational capabilities of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), he said. Salahuddin added that modernisation work on the National Emergency Service 999 is also underway to ensure prompt access to police, ambulance and fire service assistance for the public.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday told Parliament that the government is considering construction of another barrage on the Teesta River to conserve water during the dry season. “Technical and financial aspects are being examined for constructing another barrage on the Teesta River to conserve water during the dry season,” he said while replying to a tabled question from NCP lawmaker Akhter Hossen (Rangpur-4). He said the Teesta is vital for livelihoods in northern Bangladesh, but upstream dams and other limitations reduce water flow during the dry season, affecting irrigation and agriculture, while excessive rainfall upstream often causes sudden floods and riverbank erosion during the monsoon. The Prime Minister said riverbank protection works covering 42.5 kilometres are underway in five Teesta basin districts—Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat—at a cost of Tk 230 crore and are scheduled for completion this month. He said a feasibility study for a sustainable and integrated Teesta development plan has already been completed, he said. According to the study, the proposed Teesta Master Plan includes river training and protection works along 110 kilometres, dredging of another 110 kilometres, construction of 224 kilometres of flood control embankments with roads on top, and reclamation and development of 170 square kilometres of land. Replying to a tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker Robiul Awal (Tangail-6), the Prime Minister said implementation of the Tk 34,347-crore Padma Barrage project will add an extra 0.45 percent growth to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “Once the project is implemented, it will be possible to generate 113 MW of hydropower and achieve an additional 0.45 percent GDP growth,” he said. The Prime Minister said the current government's election manifesto has attached importance to tackling climate change and that a number of multi-dimensional programmes have been undertaken in the water resources sector to address its adverse impacts. These include implementation of the Padma Barrage project, the Teesta Master Plan, riverbank erosion prevention, flood protection measures and reduction of salinity in agricultural lands, he said. Noting that the first phase of the Padma Barrage project involving Tk 34,347 crore was approved on May 13 last, he said, "Through the implementation of this project, the river system in the Padma-dependent areas will be revitalised by conserving water in the Padma River during the dry season and increasing the flow of water." Besides, it would reduce salinity intrusion in the southern region, restore the ecological balance of the Sundarbans, improve drainage systems, reduce waterlogging, expand irrigation facilities and strengthen water security, said Tarique Rahman. Highlighting different climate initiatives, he said a programme has been undertaken to plant 25 crore trees in the next five years. He said the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust has prioritised research, innovation, training and extension activities to address climate risks and has taken several initiatives, including the creation of rural natural reservoirs in coastal districts to preserve rainwater and ensure drinking water security. The Prime Minister said the government has taken an initiative to formulate a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Investment Roadmap with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement the NAP under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to combat the adverse impacts of climate changes. Alongside adaptation efforts, he said, the government has started preparing the Third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under the NDC 3.0, some 25 percent of the country's total electricity demand will be met from renewable sources by 2035, four waste-to-energy plants and 26 integrated landfill and resource recovery facilities will be established, while afforestation and reforestation programmes covering 100,000 hectares in coastal, island and degraded areas will be implemented. He said work has also begun on formulating Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies to reduce emissions. Replying to a question from BNP lawmaker Md Abdullah (Munshiganj-1), the Prime Minister said the government has adopted various measures to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio and the National Board of Revenue has already adopted a Medium and Long-Term Revenue Strategy (MLTRS) in this regard. “We hope that implementation of these plans will increase the tax-to-GDP ratio by two percentage points within one year and raise it to 10 percent within five years,” he said. He added that various initiatives, including the Strengthening Domestic Revenue Mobilisation Project and gradual rationalisation of tax exemptions, have been undertaken with a target of increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio to 15 percent by 2035. Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Mobasser Alam Bhuiyan (Cumilla-10), Tarique Rahman said the government’s electoral manifesto put importance on the improvement of road and rail connectivity. To improve the road connectivity, he said plans have been taken to gradually establish an expressway grid on national highways and develop a multimodal transport system to reduce pressure on roads. Regarding railways, the PM said 24 projects have been identified under short-term (up to 2026-27), medium-term (2027-2030) and long-term (2031-2045) action plans to implement the Railway Master Plan and establish Bangladesh Railway as the backbone of the national transport system. According to the formulated Railway Master Plan, railway services will be gradually brought to the doorsteps of every district and major towns with the aim of establishing Bangladesh Railway as the backbone of the national transport system, he said. The government has also decided to introduce electric traction on major routes to reduce travel time and ensure safer and environment-friendly transportation, he added. Replying to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Simul Biswas (Pabna-5), the Prime Minister said the government is working to gradually increase the use of surface water in Dhaka and all divisional cities to reduce pressure on groundwater. He said Dhaka WASA currently collects around 65 to 70 percent of its water from groundwater sources and the remaining 30 to 35 percent from surface water sources such as the Padma, Meghna and Shitalakkhya rivers. To address alarming depletion of groundwater levels in Dhaka, water treatment plants at Gandharbpur in Rupganj and Saidabad are increasing the supply of treated water from the Meghna and Shitalakkhya rivers, he said. Tarique Rahman said Chattogram WASA now sources about 92 percent of its water from surface sources, while only eight percent comes from groundwater. He said Rajshahi WASA currently supplies two percent of its water from surface sources and 98 percent from groundwater. Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman Babul (Jamalpur-3), the Prime Minister said the government is attaching the highest priority to implementing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to prevent measles outbreaks. He said the causes and spread of measles, as well as the impact of policy and operational issues on vaccination activities, are being regularly reviewed and evaluated. He said the matter will be examined based on necessary data and technical assessments to determine whether any changes in vaccine procurement procedures have negatively affected immunisation activities. If any negligence of any person or institution is found, necessary action will be taken in accordance with existing laws and regulations, he said.

A Chattogram tribunal on Wednesday sentenced the lone accused to life imprisonment in a case filed over the rape of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in the Bakalia area of Chattogram city last month. Judge of the Chattogram Children Violence Suppression Tribunal Syeda Hafsa Juma handed down the punishment, setting a new precedent in judicial proceedings as the trial concluded within 27 days following the incident. The convict is Monir Hossain, 32, a worker of a decorator shop in the Bakalia area. He hails from Muradnagar upazila in Cumilla district. The court also fined him Tk 50,000. The convict was present in the dock when the judge pronounced the verdict. According to the prosecution, the girl was raped by Monir on May 21 this year. Local people caught him red-handed and later police arrested him. However, while he was being taken to the police station after the arrest, an agitated crowd surrounded them, demanding that he be handed over to them. To bring the situation under control, police charged baton, lobbed teargas shells and fired sound grenades, leaving several of them injured. During the incident, the angry mob also set fire to a police vehicle. On June 4, police completed investigation against Monir and submitted a charge sheet against him on June 9. GM Zahed Hossain, lawyer of the plaintiff, said they will file an appeal with the High Court seeking capital punishment for the convict.

What began as a journey to purchase mikes for a village mosque ended in tragedy when two elderly brothers were killed and two other individuals injured after a truck slammed into their battery-run auto-rickshaw in Rajshahi's Puthia upazila on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Abdul Khaleque Pramanik, 65, and his brother Hasen Pramanik, 60, sons of late Riaz Pramanik of Nakulbaria village in the upazila. The injured are Lalon, son of Hatem, and Laltu, son of Jalal, of the same village. Witnesses said the four men were travelling to Rajshahi in the auto-rickshaw to purchase mikes for their village mosque. When the vehicle reached Baneshwar, a truck travelling towards Natore from the opposite direction crashed into it in front of the local Yamaha showroom, leaving Khaleque dead on the spot and three others injured. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where Hasen Pramanik succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. Mahabur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Paba Highway Police Station, said the truck driver and his assistant fled the scene after the accident. Police have seized the vehicle and initiated legal proceedings.

Acknowledging common risks posed by climate change and environmental challenges, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal Dol Prasad Aryal on Wednesday said environmental risks affecting the Himalayan region and coastal areas are shared concerns for the region and called for greater cooperation in mitigating them. The Nepalese Speaker appreciated Bangladesh’s remarkable gains in economic growth and infrastructure development noting that Bangladesh’s development experiences could contribute to Nepal’s own development journey. He made the remarks when Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman met him at his office in Kathmandu. The Speaker said the growing role of sports in bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together by fostering friendship and understanding among the youth. He further emphasized the importance of tourism, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people contacts in strengthening bilateral relations. Ambassador Shafiqur congratulated the Speaker on assuming his new role and conveyed warm greetings from the Speaker of Parliament of Bangladesh. He also thanked the Speaker for Nepal’s support to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman who has recently been elected President of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session.  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday told Parliament that among 2,369 people, pushed into Bangladesh by Indian BSF since August 5, 2024, 2,175 were handed over to respective police stations, 11 were returned to the BSF and 183 were pushed back through border. Replying to a starred question from lawmaker Mohammad Abdul Malik (Sylhet-3), he also said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has thwarted 36 attempted push-ins by the BSF following the West Bengal Assembly elections in India. Responding to a question from MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas (Pabna-5), the Minister said initiatives have been taken to construct barbed-wire fencing along the Myanmar border to strengthen security and curb border killings, illegal infiltration, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and other transnational crimes. He said fencing at sensitive points along the Bangladesh-India border is currently under consideration. Answering a question from reserved-seat MP Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Salahuddin said smuggled goods worth Tk 19.79 billion have been seized from June 2025 to May 2026. During the period, the BGB conducted 375,519  drives along border areas and recovered 18.38 million Yaba pills, 55,908 bottles of Phensidyl, 18,463 kilograms of cannabis and 106,709 bottles of foreign liquor. The force also seized 15.577 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, 2.08 kilograms of cocaine and 62 bottles of LSD. A total of 2,189 suspects were arrested during the drives, he added. In response to a question from MP Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal (Kishoreganj-5), the Minister said the Department of Narcotics Control conducted 30,744 anti-drug operations nationwide between February 17 and May 31, filed 9,251 cases and arrested 9,685 drug traffickers. He said a nationwide special operation against drugs and terrorism has been underway since May 1 following the government directives. Up to June 8, law enforcement agencies have arrested 10,865 people in 7,688 drug-related cases and recovered large quantities of narcotics. The operation also led to the recovery of 125 illegal firearms and the arrest of 269 people in connection with arms-related offences, he added. Replying to a question from MP A E Sultan Mahmud (Jamalpur-2), Salahuddin said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken various measures to curb juvenile gang activities and ensure public safety in the capital. He said the DMP's cyber unit has been monitoring Facebook pages, secret groups and TikTok accounts operated by juvenile gangs. The Minister also informed Parliament that Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-2 has conducted 119 anti-mugging drives in Mohammadpur since August 5, 2024 and arrested 252 suspected muggers. Responding to a question from MP Abul Hasnat (Cumilla-4), Salahuddin said the country's 75 prisons have an approved capacity of 45,136 inmates, including 43,107 men and 2,029 women. However, the current prison population stands at 77,040, comprising 74,963 men and 2,077 women, which is about 1.7 times more than the authorised capacity. In reply to a question from reserved-seat MP Selina Sultana, he said prisoners receive 50 per cent of the profits generated from the sale of goods produced inside prisons. Answering a question from reserved-seat MP Arifa Sultana, the Minister said the government, along with the Bangladesh Police, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, intelligence agencies and other relevant organisations, is working to block online gambling and betting platforms and protect the public, particularly young people, from their harmful effects. He said the government has initiated the process of enacting a new law titled the Gambling Prevention Act 2026, replacing the century-old Public Gambling Act of 1867, to curb the spread of online gambling, betting apps and websites across the country.  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday expressed concern over the growing number of patients addicted to Ice (crystal methamphetamine) being admitted to drug rehabilitation centres across Bangladesh. Speaking in Parliament, the minister said the increase in Ice addiction cases is  alarming and highlighted the need for stronger and more coordinated efforts to combat the spread of narcotics in the country. The Minister said this while responding to a written question of BNP MP M Abul Kalam. He told House that the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has formulated a 180-day action plan, a work plan for the 2026–27 fiscal year, and a five-year strategic implementation framework in line with the current government's election manifesto. The minister also said a proposal to modernise the Narcotics Control Act, 2018 has already been finalised by a committee formed by the DNC. Describing the strengthening of the DNC as highly relevant in the face of the growing drug menace nationwide, Salahuddin Ahmed said the department has been working relentlessly to curb narcotics trafficking and abuse. He noted that the DNC is conducting regular patrol operations through temporary checkpoints established in border districts to prevent the smuggling of drugs from neighbouring Myanmar and India. The minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening anti-narcotics measures and enhancing the operational capacity of the DNC to address emerging drug-related challenges across the country.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed on Wednesday ordered police officials to intensify drives against drug dealers, extortionists, muggers and other criminals, stressing the need for heightened vigilance to maintain law and order across the capital. He made the directives while addressing senior police officials at the monthly crime review meeting for May 2026 held at the DMP headquarters. The DMP chief instructed officers to intensify crackdown against drugs, and arrest warrant-listed accused in areas under their respective jurisdictions. He also stressed the need to keep police stations free from brokers and directed all concerned to remain alert so that no crime could take place within their areas. Mosleh Uddin said officers demonstrating good performance will be rewarded, while strict action will be taken against any negligence of duty, breach of discipline or activities that tarnish the image of the police. Speaking at the meeting, Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Md Nazrul Islam said all officials must work in a coordinated manner to ensure the smooth implementation of programmes marking the upcoming Holy Ashura. He urged police personnel to remain watchful to prevent any disorder or deterioration of the law-and-order situation. During the meeting, the DMP commissioner presented awards to officers of different ranks in recognition of their contributions to maintaining law and order, controlling crime and ensuring public safety in the capital in May.

Detectives have arrested a man accused of defrauding multiple people by promising overseas investment opportunities and using purported political connections to gain their trust. Police said they arrested Md Shishir Munna, 28, a former administrator of the Facebook pages of former Land Minister Narayan Chandra Chanda and former lawmaker Anupam Shahjahan Joy, in the capital early Wednesday on charges of fraud, forgery and embezzlement. At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre, Additional Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said Munna had left Bangladesh after August 5, 2024, and travelled to Qatar. After returning to the country in April 2025, he resumed fraudulent activities, he said. Munna and his associates persuaded a businessman to invest in purported government projects in Qatar and collected Tk 11.27 lakh in several instalments. They later provided the victim with a fake visa and a forged airline ticket. When the businessman discovered the deception and demanded a refund, the accused allegedly delayed repayment and threatened him, police said. A case was subsequently filed with Jatrabari Police Station on charges of fraud, forgery and misappropriation of funds. The DB chief said that after the victim sought assistance from detectives, a team from the DB's Wari Division launched an investigation and identified 14 to 15 other victims. Police said preliminary findings showed that Munna used to manage the Facebook pages of former minister Narayan Chandra Chanda and former MP Anupam Shahjahan Joy. His responsibilities included producing campaign videos, managing social media publicity and conducting promotional activities. He is wanted in another case and faces an arrest warrant issued by South Keraniganj Police Station, police said. Responding to questions from journalists, Shafiqul Islam said Munna often claimed to have close ties with incumbent ministers and lawmakers. To bolster those claims, he used to invite victims to the South Plaza area of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. He added that four to five more individuals are believed to be involved in the fraud ring, including Munna’s sister, who is currently abroad and allegedly assisted the operation from outside the country. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest the remaining suspects, police said.