United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the interim government had hired lawyers to try to recover any allegedly stolen funds from the UK, and the British government was "extremely supportive" of this effort. "I have a lot of admiration for the promptness with which they're treating the whole subject," Prof Yunus told BBC in an interview during his recent visit to the United Kingdom. The BBC report says it understands the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC) is exploring opportunities to assist Bangladesh's interim government and its law enforcement agencies in their efforts to investigate allegations of corruption under Hasina's rule. Bangladesh authorities estimate that about $234bn (£174bn) was siphoned off from Bangladesh through corrupt means when Hasina was in power. The Bangladeshi authorities allege that much of this money has been stashed or spent in the UK, reports BBC. BB Governor seeks stronger UK ties on asset recovery The IACCC is hosted by the National Crime Agency in London. "The NCA does not routinely comment on the nature of international assistance, nor confirm or deny if the Agency has opened an investigation or is supporting a partner's investigation,” BBC quoted an NCA spokesperson as saying. Prof Yunus did have an audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace and met Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Parliament. In a post on X, Reynolds said they discussed "our shared ambitions for economic growth, job creation and prosperity". Prof Yunus said he had not been able to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a close friend and constituency neighbour of Tulip Siddiq. "I don't know whether I should be disappointed or he should be disappointed. It's a missed opportunity,” he told BBC. "That's why I'm saying coming to Bangladesh would be a good opportunity to relax and see and feel the moment." Asset recovery a key focus; breakthroughs from talks likely soon: Shafiqul Alam When asked if Downing Street had given a reason for not scheduling a meeting with Starmer, he said: "I don't think we have received an explanation from that kind of thing. Probably he is busy with other important things." Prof Yunus arrived in Dhaka on Saturday morning, wrapping up his four-day visit that witnessed a series of meetings highlighting broader and deeper Dhaka-London relations.

As COVID-19 infections has begun to rise once again in Bangladesh, the prices of face masks has doubled in the wholesale market, driven by opportunistic traders seeking to cash in on its growing demand. A visit to several wholesale mask shops in Babubazar, Dhaka, revealed that the resurgence in coronavirus cases has significantly increased the demand for masks, prompting crowds of retail traders to flock to the area in hopes of securing stock at reasonable prices. Though they expected to find masks at low prices, they were met with quite the opposite — each box of surgical masks is now being sold at nearly double the previous rate. Mithu, who runs a mask business near Shahjahanpur Railway Station, said until recently, he was buying boxes of surgical masks for Tk 60–65. “Today, those same masks are being sold at Tk 120 per box. The wholesalers are refusing to negotiate on prices,” he added. At Malibagh intersection, another mask trader, Shah Ali, expressed similar concerns. “Previously, the wholesale price for a thousand surgical masks was Tk 900. Today, it has jumped to Tk 1,600. Due to the increased wholesale price, we’ve had to raise retail prices too. Where we used to sell five surgical masks for Tk 10, now we’re forced to sell only three for the same amount,” he said. The price hike is not limited to surgical masks. N95 masks, which were previously sold for Tk 10 each, are now being priced between Tk 15 and Tk 20 per piece. COVID: 2 deaths, 15 more cases reported in 24hrs This sudden surge in prices has triggered concerns among consumers, with many fearing that the situation could escalate further. Some recall the severe price hikes during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020. Mohtasim, a resident of Moghbazar, said, “Back in 2020, we had to pay Tk 10–15 for a single surgical mask. The price of N95 masks, which were Tk 10, shot up to Tk 150. We must take immediate action to break this emerging mask syndicate.” Subah Hossain, who came to Motijheel to buy cloth masks, shared her anxiety. “In the past, cloth masks were priced between Tk 20 and Tk 30. Now they’ve increased to Tk 50–80. It’s frightening — I’m worried the situation might turn into another 2020.” As infections continue to rise, the health authorities have begun preparations. The COVID-specialised hospital in Mohakhali has already been made ready, with 13 patients currently admitted. Besides, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has started distributing testing kits across various hospitals in the capital. With both the infection rate and mask prices climbing, calls are growing louder for immediate regulatory intervention to ensure public safety and affordability.

In a daring daylight heist, a group of muggers wearing Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) jackets allegedly looted over Tk 1 crore from a distributor of mobile financial service Nagad in the capital’s Uttara area on Saturday morning. According to police sources, Abdul Khalek Noyon, a Nagad distributor residing in a flat on Road No. 12 in Uttara Sector 13, dispatched four of his employees around 9am to their nearby distribution office. The team, riding on two motorcycles, was carrying over Tk 1 crore in cash. 4 held over Moghbazar mugging incident Moments after they entered Road No. 13, a black microbus intercepted them. Three to four men, dressed in RAB jackets, emerged and chased down the motorcyclists. While one of the employees managed to escape, the others were forcibly dragged into the vehicle along with the bags of cash, a police officer at the scene said, requesting anonymity. The muggers later released the employees in Uttara’s Sector 17 and sped away with the money, the officer added. Talking to UNB, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Uttara Division, Mohidul Islam, said, “I personally visited the scene shortly after it occurred. We’ve collected CCTV footage from the area and are actively analysing it to identify those involved.” An investigation is underway as police suspect the use of RAB emblem was a calculated move to mislead and intimidate.  

A 35-kilometre-long tailback was created on Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna bridge highway, causing immense suffering to people returning to the capital after Eid holidays.The severe congestion began early Saturday morning stretching from Kodda intersection to Gol Chattar on the west side of the Jamuna Bridge (5km) and from the eastern end of the bridge to Elenga (about 30km), said officer-in-charge of Jamuna Bridge West Police Station Asaduzzaman.The traffic jam was created following a collision between a pickup and a truck on the Jamuna Bridge and breakdowns of three other vehicles, he said.Besides, the situation worsened further due to the heavy pressure of Dhaka-bound vehicles.Vehicular movement came to a halt near the NDP office in Bagbari area of Kamarkhand upazila following a collision between two trucks on the western link road of the Jamuna Bridge on Saturday morning.Mohammad Sharif, Officer-in-Charge of Elenga Highway Police Station, said although there has been a heavy traffic load on the Dhaka-bound section from Jamuna Bridge to Elenga since dawn, there is no congestion on the opposite lane toward the bridge from Dhaka.However, the highway police and traffic police are working together to resolve the traffic congestion and he hopes that the situation will return to normal very soon, he said.   Traffic disruption likely in Dhaka Tuesday over Khaleda’s return  

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said no more leases will be allotted for stone extraction in environmentally critical areas like Jaflong. The government will consult stakeholders to explore sustainable eco-tourism models for these scenic areas, she said while talking to reporters after visiting Jaflong in Sylhet on Saturday. She also said a comprehensive master plan will be developed to promote eco-friendly tourism in Jaflong and other tourist destinations in Sylhet and the master plan will prioritise creating alternative livelihood opportunities for workers currently involved in stone extraction. Rizwana said the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change will work in coordination to implement this plan. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said due to the cessation of stone extraction in Jaflong the existing stone crushers in the area will be removed. “Unauthorised extraction activities will remain strictly prohibited.” Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Mohammad Saiful Islam, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Rezaul Nabi, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer Md. Humayun Kabir, and Director of the Department of Environment, Sylhet, Ferdous Anwar, were present there. Earlier, both advisers visited various sites in Jaflong by boat and discussed possible development plans. They also planted tree saplings at the Jaflong Stone Museum and Haripur Rest House.  

Eid holidaymakers from 21 southwestern districts have thronged the Paturia ferry terminal in Manikganjto return to the capital as the post-Eid rush picks up momentum. Large crowds were seen boarding ferries and launches at the terminal on Saturday morning. Passengers travelling by buses, private cars, microbuses and especially motorcycles have been arriving at Paturia via the Daulatdia terminal in Rajbari. Launch terminals are also experiencing similar pressure due to the growing influx of returnees. Despite the surge in passenger numbers, travellers said the journey has remained relatively smooth and hassle-free with no significant disruptions on roads or at ferry points. Passengers using ‘Cata Line’ bus services complained of being overcharged at the terminal. Many alleged that while the regular fare from Paturia to Dhaka’s Gabtoli is Tk 150, some transport operators were charging between Tk 250 and Tk 300. Fares to places like Manikganj, Savar and Nabinagar were reportedly being charged at full Dhaka rates, causing hardship for Eid returnees. Transport operators, meanwhile, have defended the increased fares citing the need to bring empty buses from Dhaka to accommodate the one-way passenger flow from the southwest. Shibaloy Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Jakir Hossain said there is no scope for transport services to charge extra fares from passengers this Eid. “In cases where overcharging has occurred we are ensuring refunds to passengers,” he said. Mobile teams have been deployed at key points including Tepra bus stand and the Uthli-Paturia intersection on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, he added. Passenger pressure has also increased on the Aricha-Kazirhat river route with people arriving at Aricha Ghat by ferries, launches, and speedboats from Pabna’s Kazirhat. Currently 15 ferries and 18 launches are operating on the Paturia-Daulatdia route to facilitate the smooth return of passengers.  

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said the Home Ministry is fully prepared to maintain law and order during the upcoming national election, regardless of the date set by the Chief Adviser. “Minor incidents may happen during elections. However, such occurrences should not be used to claim that there is no level playing field,” the adviser said while talking to reporters after visiting the Rapid Action Battalion-1 (RAB-1) Headquarters in Uttara, Dhaka. Referring to the overall law-and-order situation in the country, he said it has significantly improved compared to the past. “This Eid-ul-Azha saw no major incidents, apart from some petty thefts and snatching,” he added. On the issue of traffic congestion during Eid travel and in general, the adviser noted: “Ideally, a country should have 20 percent road coverage, whereas we have only 7 percent. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles is rising daily, making traffic management a major challenge.”  Election possible before Ramadan: Prof Yunus tells Tarique Earlier in the day, during a visit to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Headquarters in Uttara, the adviser addressed the issue of arming the police. “Different units of the police force have different needs in terms of weapons. Armed Police require different equipment than the River Police or the Industrial Police. Weapons will be supplied based on specific demands,” he said. The adviser, however, clarified that the government would refrain from supplying heavy arms to regular police forces.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $250 million financing to strengthen public sector performance in Bangladesh by promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency across key government agencies. The Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA) Project will support ongoing reforms to modernise vital public sector functions including data transparency, domestic revenue mobilization, public investment management, procurement, and financial oversight, the World Bank said in a statement. The project will enhance governance structures and capacities in five major agencies: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, National Board of Revenue, Planning Division, Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority, and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It aims to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and provide better access to reliable public statistics crucial for transparent decision-making and policymaking. The initiative will also modernize tax administration to boost compliance and revenue mobilization, ensuring fiscal sustainability, it said. Besides,  the project will develop the next generation of electronic government procurement (e-GP) and expand its coverage while strengthening and digitizing public audit functions. "The investment will leverage digitization of business processes to help improve transparency and reduce corruption, by supporting Bangladesh in modernizing public institutions capable of serving an emerging economy,” said Gayle Martin, World Bank Interim Country Director for Bangladesh. "This project will help improve the quality and accessibility of public services and thus enhance public trust in government institutions.” The Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank are also preparing a development policy credit scheduled for the World Bank Board discussion later this month, which would support transparency and accountability in domestic revenue mobilization, the banking sector, data production and dissemination, public investment management and procurement, audit and accountability, and the delivery of social programs. The SITA project will complement these activities and help build institutional capacity necessary for the implementation of these important reforms. “By taking a holistic approach covering five critical public institutions, the project will boost government effectiveness, which is a key ingredient for sustainable economic growth,” said Souleymane Coulibaly, World Bank Lead Country Economist and Task Team Leader for the project. “This project and the proposed development policy credit would be complementary and provide the government both the necessary hardware and software for improving public financial management and public service delivery.”  

The prices of vegetables and other essential kitchen items have surged in Khulna markets following Eid-ul-Azha. After several days of meat-heavy meals during the Eid, many consumers are now turning to vegetables and fish for a lighter diet. But vendors appear to be capitalising on this shift in demand, with several shoppers alleging that traders are charging inflated prices under various pretexts. Shoppers said that vegetable prices were at a reasonable level about a week before Eid but in the post-Eid market prices have surged by Tk 20 per kilogram. Relaxed market monitoring post-Ramadan sends onion prices soaring in Khulna “Prices were fairly stable before Eid, but now they have jumped without any justification. After days of heavy eating, people are switching to vegetables, and traders are taking advantage of it,” said Redwan Ahmed, a customer at a local kitchen market. Another shopper, Sohel Rana, said, “We’ve been eating meat for a week straight. Now we’re looking for something lighter but the prices are high.” A market visit on Saturday revealed that brinjal was selling at Tk 70–80 per kg, yardlong beans at Tk 60–70, bitter gourd at Tk 70–80, okra at Tk 40–50, cabbage at Tk 50–60, teasle gourd at Tk 60–70, ivy gourd at Tk 50–60, taro stem at Tk 50–60, sponge gourd at Tk 30–40, tomato at Tk 60–70, papaya at Tk 50–55, sweet pumpkin at Tk 30–40, red spinach at Tk 40–45 per bundle, bottle gourd at Tk 45–50 each, a four-piece bunch of raw bananas at Tk 40, and potatoes at Tk 20–25 per kg. Over 326,000 pieces of Qurbani hides preserved in Khulna Division Traders point to supply constraints caused by the Eid holidays and ongoing monsoon rains. “From farmers to wholesalers, many have gone home for Eid. Though crops are in the fields, harvesting has slowed, resulting in reduced supply,” said Zahidul, a vegetable vendor.  “We’re not charging extra—we’re simply adding a small margin to our purchase price,” he said. Mohammad, another trader, said, “Many people travelled from Dhaka to their hometowns for Eid. When they return, the demand will rise while the supply may still lag behind, causing further price hikes.” Sheikh Polash Hossain, joint general secretary of the Daulatpur Market Merchant Association and president of the Local Vegetable Traders’ Association, acknowledged the situation. “Post-Eid price increases are quite normal. Due to rain and labour shortages, farmers are facing challenges in harvesting. This has led to a temporary supply crunch which is why prices seem high. Once supply improves, prices are expected to stabilise,” he said. Though traders insist that the price hike is temporary and justified by supply chain disruptions, the sudden increase is putting pressure on household budgets at a time when many are still recovering from festive expenses.

Chapainwabganj, June 14 (UNB)-A man was killed and another injured in a land dispute at Dhobpukur Bazar in Shibganj upazila on Friday. The deceased was Nazrul Islam, 55, son of Siddiq Biswas of Upartola village of Mobarakpur Union while the injured was UP member Sabuj Ali Sujan, 32, a resident of the same village. BSF pushes 8 people across Bholahat border into Chapainawabganj Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shibganj Police Station Golam Kibria said Nazrul Islam had been at loggerhead with his brother Arfazul Biswas over the boundary of a land. On Friday night, during an argument between them, Arfazul's son Anas Biswas, 18, allegedly stabbed his uncle Nazrul Islam in the stomach several times with a knife. UP member Sabuj Ali Sujan was also stabbed while trying to save him. Locals rescued and took them to Shibganj Upazila Health Complex where doctor declared Nazrul dead. Injured Sujan was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment.