United News of Bangladesh

A young man was stabbed to death allegedly by muggers at Bijoynagar in Dhaka’s Paltan area early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Saju Molla, 22, son of Motaleb Molla of Mugda area. Inspector Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said Saju used to work as a driver of a private car in Bijoynagar area. After finishing his duty, when Saju was passing through a lane around 2:45 am, a group of muggers waylaid him and tried to snatch away money bag and mobile phone set from him. BNP leader stabbed to death in Naogaon Being resisted, the muggers stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him injured. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.    

A 50-year-old woman has been killed during a robbery at her home in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali. The incident happened at the home of retired army personnel Abul Kalam Azad in Salimpur village of the Nilganj union of the upazila on Monday night, said Kalapara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jewel Islam. The deceased was identified as Shahnaz Parveen Lucky. 3 teenagers killed in Natore truck-motorbike collision According to police and locals, the victim was alone and asleep in her house at the time of the attack. Around 8 am on Tuesday, her brother-in-law, Shah Alam, discovered the back door open when he arrived at the house. Upon entering, he found that the victim's hands, feet, and mouth were tied up. Later, locals informed the police. The body will be sent for an autopsy. Investigations are ongoing, added the OC.

Three teenagers were killed in a collision between a truck and a motorbike at Sheikhchilan in Lalpur upazila of Natore on Tuesday. Lalpur police station Officer-in-Charge Md Nuruzzaman said the motorbike crashed into the truck after the biker lost control around 12:30 pm, leaving three dead on the spot. Jubo Dal leader killed in Khulna; 2 held The deceased were identified as Srabon and Swapno from Sheikhchilan village and Biplob from Sonaidanga village in Singra upazila. Family members said the teenagers had gone out for a ride on the motorbike while visiting their maternal uncle’s house, he said. 3 killed as bus hits motorbike in Chattogram

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Tuesday said the import cost of air purifiers will be reduced from Tk 1,500 to Tk 7,000 each depending on the quality following the cut in the import duty along with exemption of regulatory duty (RD) and advance tax (AT). In a press release issued today, it said that as a result of this exemption, the total tax burden on air purifier imports has been reduced from 58.60% to 31.50%. On Monday the NBR issued a notification reducing the existing customs duty (CD) on air purifier imports from 25% to 10% and completely exempting them from paying 3% regulatory duty and 5% advance tax. NBR to install EFD in all jewellery shops to enhance revenue collection Currently, according to the NBR press release, Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh are among the world's worst-hit air polluted metropolises.  This air pollution is causing widespread damage to public health and causing huge financial losses to the people. In that context, the NBR took the decision to combat the harmful effects of air pollution by reducing customs duties at the import level and making effective air pollution control equipment like air purifiers easily available, said the release. Due to the reduction in import cost, the NBR hoped that the air purifiers will be easily available to the public at a lower price. VAT on hotels, restaurants to be revised to previous level: NBR The NBR said it believes that the widespread use of air purifiers will be helpful in preventing the adverse effects of air pollution on public health. Meanwhile, Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked as the city with the third-worst air quality worldwide, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 244 on Tuesday morning at 8:50am. According to the AQI index, the city’s air quality on the day fell under the “very unhealthy” category, indicating a severe health risk. After disgraceful 2024 ‘goat scandal’ NBR steps up efforts to curb graft The AQI scale categorizes air quality levels as follows: a score between 50 and 100 is deemed ‘moderate’, suggesting sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor activities; 101 to 150 is classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’; 150 to 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’; 201 to 300 falls under ‘very unhealthy’; and a reading above 300 is labeled ‘hazardous’, posing significant health risks to the public.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus left Dhaka for Switzerland after Monday midnight (1:00 am Tuesday) to attend annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) where he will have a very busy schedule engaging with global leaders. Dr Yunus will have a number of important meetings, including meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, King Philippe of Belgium and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Top officials of the European Central Bank, Meta and Amnesty International will also meet the Chief Adviser. Bangladesh will highlight its efforts for an improved business and investment climate during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland to attract the global business leaders and investors giving them a confidence to explore the opportunities that Bangladesh offers. Chief Adviser Dr Yunus, who will lead the Bangladesh delegation at the WEF annual meeting in Davos, will focus business and investment opportunities during his series of engagements there. Dr Yunus will return home on January 25 attending the WEF annual meeting. “There will be an effort from the interim government to give an impression (to international business leaders and investors) about making investment in Bangladesh,” said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul kalam Azad Majumder while briefing the media at Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday evening. Expecting a consensus over ‘July Declaration’ by early Feb: Dr Yunus He said Bangladesh will try to attract the internal businesspeople and investors to invest in Bangladesh taking advantage of what Bangladesh offers. The Chief Adviser will engage with the global leaders on regional and global issues in addition to his bilateral engagements. DPS Azad said there will be a separate dialogue with the participation of important business leaders, CEOs which is very important for Bangladesh. “It is a rare opportunity for Bangladesh.” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam on Thursday said Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi and Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed will accompany Dr Yunus during the visit. The annual meeting 2025 convenes global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding just and inclusive energy transition. Bangladesh welcomes Trump as 47th US president This year's meeting will convene under the theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' and the programme will be oriented around five distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: The meeting brings together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, and 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of states and governments, from all key regions.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced import duty on air purifiers aiming to provide a better air quality for the people in their rooms as Dhaka often secures the number one position of the most polluted city in the world. The applicable import duty will be 10 percent from now on, while it was 25 percent. A gazette notification has been published regarding the matter. Before this exemption, the product was subjected to a 25% import duty, 3% regulatory duty, 5% advance tax, 5% advance income tax, and 15% VAT, totaling 53%. Earlier, on December 19, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser on Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, advised the people of the city to use masks and air purifiers to protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution. Air purifiers of various brands are sold in the market ranging from Tk 3,000 to Tk100,000.

The admission-related activities of the 193 candidates for the 2024-25 academic year MBBS (Medical) admission test, selected under the freedom fighter's child and backward community quotas, have been postponed till the verification of their documents or information is completed. If any information is found to be incorrect, their preliminary selection will be canceled, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. This information was shared through a press release signed by Senior Information Officer Mohammad Shahadat Hossain of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Students demand MBBS admission test results be republished However, the admission process for the remaining candidates and other medical college activities will continue. The press release stated that the parents of the 193 selected candidates must present their freedom fighter certificate, birth registration certificate, and all other proofs, along with academic certificates, for verification at the Medical Education Branch on the second floor of the old building at the Health Directorate in Mohakhali by January 29, 2025. It is worth noting that, according to the policy, there is a 5% quota for the children of freedom fighters, martyrs, and war heroines. Additionally, there is a quota for backward communities.

Manzurul Islam Babu alias “Blade Babu” was hacked to death in Dhaka’s Mirpur Section-12 on Monday afternoon. Pallabi Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Abul Kaiyum told UNB that “local gangster” Babu was attacked by a rival group over supremacy in the area. He was declared dead by doctors after being rushed to Kurmitola General Hospital. The incident happened in the Teker Bari locality, 200-300 metres off Pallabi Police Station, where Blade Babu was attacked by members of a rival group led by Musa Sikder alias Sumon Sikder. Sources at the Pallabi Police Station said Babu had an altercation with Rajan, a member of Musa Sikder group, over supremacy in the area in the afternoon. At one stage, Rajan along with his accomplices hacked Babu and stabbed him indiscriminately with sharp weapons at around 3:45 pm. Later, they fled the scene leaving Babu on the spot. Being informed, Babu's associates and others rushed him to Kurmitola General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Operation is going on to arrest the killers, added the police official.

Infections account for 20-40% of newborn deaths in Bangladesh, according to findings from two significant clinical trials. The results were presented at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka on Monday aiming to improve the management of potential severe bacterial infections (PSBI) in infants under two months old. The trials, organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Projahnmo Research Foundation (PRF), introduced innovative approaches to treat newborn infections more effectively, particularly in low-income settings. Speaking at the event, Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “Infections among infants under two months are a major global health issue and a significant cause of death for children under five, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, an estimated 60-70% of under-five deaths occur within the first two months of life.” Key Findings of the Clinical Trials Approximately 8-10% of infants face at least one severe bacterial infection in their first two months. The trials demonstrated that low-cost antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and gentamicin, are effective in treating these infections. For low-risk infants, outpatient care or home treatment was shown to be safe and effective, reducing the need for hospitalisation. Moderate-risk infants who responded well to a 48-hour course of injectable antibiotics could benefit from switch therapy, involving early discharge and oral antibiotics at home. The trials, conducted with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, spanned six countries, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. They underscored the importance of reducing unnecessary hospital admissions, minimising healthcare costs, and improving overall outcomes for families. Implications for Bangladesh and Beyond The findings highlight a new path forward for managing newborn infections in resource-limited settings. By adopting these approaches, healthcare systems can reduce hospital-acquired infections, improve accessibility, and provide safer, cost-effective care options for families. “Evidence-based practices like these are crucial for improving newborn healthcare and addressing one of the most pressing global health challenges,” remarked the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr Md Abu Jafar, who attended as the chief guest. The event brought together policymakers, senior paediatricians, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for implementing the findings across Bangladesh and other low-income countries, potentially saving countless lives.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said he expects the political parties to reach a consensus over the “July Declaration” by early February. “So far I have not heard any dissenting voices,” said Dr Yunus when new Charge d’ affaires of the US embassy in Bangladesh, Tracey Ann Jacobson, met him on Monday, calling the political exercise to build the consensus on the issue a “tough” one and added that the theme of the proposed proclamation is “unity.” Ground is ready to take ties to greater fields: Dr Yunus tells Argentine Ambassador The Chief Adviser spoke about the ongoing reform initiatives in Bangladesh, the government's efforts to build a political consensus on the July Declaration and the plan for the next general election. He said the government will only play the role of a facilitator. "My job is building consensus. I am not pushing any ideas,” he added. Dr Yunus said once the political parties agreed to the reform proposals, the government would request them to sign it to create a ‘July Charter’. “We don't know whether the contents will contain many items or a few items,” he told the US diplomat. He went on to say, “It's a tough job given the varieties of opinion we have. But the process has started. Once signed, our politics will be based on the July Charter." ‘Will lead consensus-building commission’, Dr Yunus tells Australian envoy Ambassador Jacobson reiterated the support of her country for the interim government on issues, including development and counter-terrorism. “We are prepared as a nation to support your government on a variety of issues,” Jacobson told Dr Yunus during the meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna. The US Chargé d’ affaires raised concerns over the arrest of some journalists and reports of some violence against religious minorities, according to the CA's press wing. The Chief Adviser said his government is committed to ensuring justice for all in the country. During the hour-long meeting, the Chief Adviser and the US Chargé d’ affaires also discussed Dhaka's ties with its neighbours, progress on resolving the Rohingya crisis and the security situation in Myanmar. The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh values its relationship with all neighbours. “That’s how the idea of SAARC came about, and we are the initiator of it,” he said, highlighting his recent moves to revive SAARC and transform it into a platform like the European Union. CA Dr Yunus to visit 'Aynaghar' soon He thanked the US for providing humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and sought the country's support for the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and creating a safe zone for the displaced people in Myanmar‘s Rakhine State. The Chief Adviser mentioned that Bangladesh is a top importer of US cotton and urged the country to import more apparel and textiles, which would mean a greater import of US cotton. Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary to SDG affairs, was also present on the occasion.