United News of Bangladesh

A day after he went missing, police recovered the floating body of a man from the Baroni River in Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi. The body was found near Tata Brickyard in the Hasnipur area of the upazila on Thursday evening, police said. The deceased Nazmul Haque (35) was identified as the son of Afzal Hossain of Hasnipur village in Ganipur union. He was a mason by profession. BNP factional clash in Rajshahi leaves 10 injured Nazmul's family said that he left his house on Wednesday afternoon, saying that he was going to Hasnipur market. Since then he had been missing. On Thursday evening, workers of the local Tata Brickyard saw a body floating. Nazmul's father went to the spot and identified his son's body at around 8 pm. Bagmara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Touhidul Islam said, "After the body was recovered from the river, a post-mortem report was prepared and the body was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Initially, an accidental death case was registered at the police station. The real cause of death will be known after receiving the autopsy report."  

Local administration has imposed section 144 in Galachipa municipality and surrounding areas of Patuakhali district, following a series of confrontations between BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad, for two days with effect from Friday morning. According to an order issued on Friday morning and signed by Galachipa Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan, all kinds of gatherings, meetings, rallies, processions, protests and carrying explosives have been banned in the designated areas till 8am on June 15 next.     Legal action will be taken if anyone is found in violation, reads the order. However, Galachipa upazila unit of the Gono Odhikar Parishad announced to hold a press conference and a demonstration at 3 pm and 4 pm respectively on Friday. Depression-spawned rains and tidal waves swamp 20 villages in Patuakhali On Wednesday, Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nuru at a party programme in the district accused BNP of its involvement with extortion and occupation. Angered by the remark of former DUCSU Vice President Nur, local BNP men attacked Gono Odhikar Parishad supporters and vandalised party offices in Charbiswas and Charshibai unions of the upazila at night on that day, leaving several injured from the both sides. Moreover, BNP and its associate bodies staged demonstration protesting Nur’s remarks on Thursday afternoon, triggering tensions in the upazila when Gono Odhikar Parishad reportedly prepared for the counter demonstration. To avoid further clashes, police and army personnel were deployed in the municipality and surrounding areas. A video showing that an argument broke out between Nur and an army official over the issue spread on social media.

With the Eid holidays nearing their end and offices set to reopen on Sunday, people from 21 south-western districts of the country have begun returning to their workplaces. Since Friday morning, thousands have been gathering at the Daulatdia and Paturia terminals in Rajbari and Manikganj, crossing the Padma River by ferry and launch. A visit to Daulatdia launch terminal on Friday morning revealed a heavy rush of Dhaka-bound passengers. Each launch was being filled to capacity within just three to four minutes before setting off for Paturia. Mehedi Hasan, a garment worker from Baliakandi in Rajbari, was seen struggling through the crowd—lugging his suitcase in one hand while tightly holding his wife’s hand with the other. Speaking to UNB, Mehedi said he works at a garment factory in Hemayetpur, Dhaka, and his wife is employed at the same facility. “We arrived at the terminal by CNG auto-rickshaw. The roads weren’t congested, but the crowd here is overwhelming,” he said. Eid holidaymakers returning to Dhaka on packed ferries “Our factory reopens on Saturday, so we left home early. I’m holding my wife’s hand tightly so we don’t get separated in the crowd, even if it’s difficult with the luggage,” he added. Mim Akhter, another garment worker from Kalukhali, said she works at a factory in Savar. Having spent Eid with her family, she too was returning to her workplace. “My factory also resumes operations on Saturday. That’s why I’m travelling today, accompanied by my nephew,” she said. Throughout Friday morning, long queues of passengers could be seen lining up along wooden bridges leading to the pontoons. Ticket handlers were distributing river-crossing tickets before passengers reached the pontoons. Launches docked at the terminal were departing one after another within moments of being filled. Ansar members, police, fire service personnel, and BIWTA officials were also present to help manage the crowd. Crowds Gather at Paturia Too The same scenario was observed at the Paturia terminal in Manikganj. While the crowd appeared heavier at Daulatdia as travellers gathered to board, at Paturia most passengers were quickly leaving the terminal for their destinations. Travellers were arriving at Paturia by bus, private car, microbus, and motorcycle after crossing from Daulatdia by ferry. Among them, motorcyclists appeared to be the most numerous. Vehicles were seen leaving the ferry immediately upon docking, while the launch terminal continued to witness significant footfall. Several bus services from Paturia to Dhaka and nearby districts were operating smoothly, with terminals experiencing a noticeable rush. Passengers said they were crossing without facing trouble, and that both roads and ferry services were running without disruption. Heavy rush of post-Eid returnees at Bhola launch terminals The Aricha-Kazirhat water route also saw increased passenger numbers. Many travellers were arriving at Aricha terminal from Kazirhat in Pabna using ferries, launches, and speedboats. Masud Hossain, a police officer stationed at the Daulatdia River Police Outpost, said, “There wasn’t much of a crowd on Thursday. But from around 9am Friday, the number of passengers began to rise sharply.” “As many factories and offices reopen on Saturday after the Eid break, people have started returning today. We are struggling to manage the passenger flow,” he said. Shimul Hossain, terminal supervisor of the BIWTA Aricha office, said, “To ensure smooth river crossing, 20 launches of varying sizes have been prepared on the Daulatdia-Paturia route. Currently, 18 launches are in operation, with two more on standby in case the number of passengers increases.”

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly pushed 15 more people into Bangladesh through Achintopur border of Dinajpur district early Friday. Those pushed include three men, three women and nine children. Md Rafiqul Islam, commandant of Achintopur Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp in Biral upazila, which falls under the jurisdiction of the BGB-57 Battalion, said while patrolling the border the BGB members noticed these people wandering inside the border. BGB foils Indian BSF’s attempts to push in 57 People into Bangladesh’s Lalmonirhat Later, they were detained and brought to the camp, he said, adding that legal action will be taken against them accordingly. Quoting the detainees, the BGB official said that they were pushed through the Achintopur.

A private car driver died from electrocution while washing a vehicle at a residence in the capital’s Dhanmondi area on Friday morning, an witness said. The deceased was identified as Md Rafiz Islam, 25, son of Amir Hossain of Hasan Ganj under Charfassion police station in Bhola district. He worked as a driver at the residence of retired Major Fazlul Rahman on Road 19 in Dhanmondi. The incident occurred around 8:15am when Rafiz was switching on a water line to wash the car and got electrocuted, leaving him unconscious, said fellow worker Md Alamin. Three die from electrocution, 2 injured in Panchagarh He was rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 9:20am, where doctors declared him dead. Confirming the matter, Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of DMCH police outpost, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

The body of an unidentified man, believed to be around 40 years old, was recovered this Friday morning from the sidewalk in front of the Emergency Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). According to police and hospital sources, the man was found unconscious around 9:10 am lying on the pavement. On being informed, the DMCH ward master Ayub and on-duty camp police personnel rescued him and took him to the emergency unit of the hospital. After examination, doctors declared him dead at 9:40 am, said Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost, confirming the incident. Bullet-hit body recovered in Kushtia:Police The body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, he added. Shahbagh Police Station has been informed to take necessary legal steps in this regard.

With offices set to open after long Eid holidays on Sunday people from 21 districts in the country’s southwestern region have begun returning to Dhaka on packed ferries through the Paturia ferry terminal in Manikganj. A heavy rush of passengers boarding ferries and launches were seen at Paturia ferry terminal on Friday morning. Hundreds of familied were arriving at Paturia from Rajbari’s Daulatdia terminal using buses, private cars, microbuses, and motorcycles. Paturia ferry terminal sees increased traffic amid Eid rush The launch terminal has also witnessed an increased passenger surge. However, despite the crowd, travellers reported no suffering or delays, saying that their journey was safe and hassle-free. Currently, 15 ferries and 18 launches are operating on the Paturia–Daulatdia route to carry to the Eid returnees. Meanwhile, passenger pressure has also increased on the Aricha–Kazirhat route. Travellers are reaching Aricha terminal via ferries, launches, and speedboats from Kazirhat in Pabna.    

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who received the "King Charles III Harmony Award" at the  St James Palace, has said it is a fantastic way to project what they stand for and it will inspire young people in Bangladesh "to create a country they dream of". The award recognises Prof Yunus' "unique contribution to ensuring harmonious coexistence among people, nature and the environment, bringing about positive changes in the lives of the marginalised  communities and building a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable world". "It is a wonderful prize," the Chief Adviser said, thanking His Majesty for standing by Bangladesh during this pivotal period in the country's history. "This is a recognition of the work we have done to uplift vulnerable communities and reflect the values His Majesty The King also champions," the Chief Adviser said while receiving the award. The King Charles III Harmony Award is awarded to an individual to recognise long-term outstanding commitment to and support for His Majesty’s Harmony philosophy – which looks to prioritise sustainability and nature across all sectors. Prof Yunus has spent his life promoting social business principles and encouraging sustainable, socially responsible projects, having a significant impact on poverty alleviation in Bangladesh and beyond, according to the King's Foundation.  Ahead of the Award Ceremony, King Charles welcomed the Chief Adviser for a private audience at the Buckingham Palace. Prof Yunus honoured with prestigious Harmony Award by King Charles III

Highlighting the efforts to recover the assets abroad, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday expressed optimism that they would get the desired results soon from the meetings they had in London over the last couple of days.  "Asset recovery is a very important task. It's Bangladeshi people's money," he told reporters, referring to extensive meetings they had since the arrival of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and his small entourage in London.  Alam said National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur, who are accompanying Chief Adviser, held extensive meetings with the UK authorities, including the National Crimes Agency (NCA) regarding the recovery of stolen assets. Prof Yunus honoured with prestigious Harmony Award by King Charles III "We will soon get the fruits out of those meetings," said the Press Secretary, noting that Bangladesh enjoys fantastic relations with the UK and they see the reflection of the friendly relations in these meetings.  During former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime, Alam claimed that US$ 234 billion was siphoned off from Bangladesh to various countries.  A part of it was laundered to the UK, he said, adding the major focus of Prof Yunus’s UK visit is on asset recovery. Alam said the officials of the UK government are providing significant assistance to Bangladesh in this regard. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has frozen properties in the United Kingdom owned by Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s former Minister of Land, according to a report run by Al Jazeera. The move follows legal requests from Bangladesh authorities to take action against assets owned by Chowdhury, a political ally of deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the now-banned Awami League party.  Prof Yunus-Tarique meeting: What may dominate agenda? Chowdhury is under investigation by Bangladesh authorities for money laundering. "We are doing it so that the money can be brought back to the country and used for the welfare of the people," he said. Regarding the prestigious 'Harmony Award' by the King Charles III, Press Secretary Alam said it is a rare honour for Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and big honor for the people of Bangladesh.  On Friday's meeting between Prof Yunus and BNP acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, he said said it will be a very important meeting in the context of the national elections scheduled to be held in April next year and the current overall situation of the country.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic crash of an Air India flight carrying 242 passengers in Ahmedabad. "I extend my deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their loved ones. Let us all stand by them in this time of grief and share our sincerest prayers," he said in post on Facebook page. Air India Crash: One survivor found as 241 feared dead "It is heartbreaking that a London-bound plane, carrying 242 people of many nations, crashed shortly after taking off in India." In one of India’s worst aviation disasters, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, leaving 241 feared dead. Authorities confirmed that one passenger miraculously survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.