United News of Bangladesh

A total of 7,584 road accidents occurred across the country in 2025, leaving 7,359 people dead and 16,476 injured, according to the annual report of the Road Safety Foundation (RSF). Among the deceased, 962 were women, accounting for 13.07 percent, while 1,008 were children, representing 13.69 percent of the total fatalities, the SRF said in a media release on Saturday afternoon. Among the total road accidents, 409 road accidents were reported in the capital alone, resulting in 219 deaths and 511 injuries. Of the fatalities in Dhaka, 176 were men (80.36 percent), 25 women (11.41 percent) and 18 children (8.21 percent). The report was prepared based on data collected from nine national daily newspapers, seven online news portals, electronic media and the organisation’s own sources. Nationwide, 3,029 motorcycle accidents claimed 2,671 lives, which is 36.29 percent of the total road fatalities. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 39.93 percent of the total accidents. A total of 1,564 pedestrians were killed, representing 21.25 percent of the total deaths during the same period. Drivers and helpers accounted for 941 fatalities, or 12.78 percent. Besides, the report also noted that 132 waterway accidents left 149 people dead, 123 injured and 34 missing, while 519 railway accidents resulted in 478 deaths and 152 injuries. In Dhaka, pedestrians account for 47.03 percent of the fatalities, followed by motorcycle riders and passengers at 43.37 percent, while drivers and passengers of buses, rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and other vehicles made up 9.58 percent of the deaths.

A young man allegedly took his own life by consuming poison after facing humiliation over a Tk 500 instalment payment in Dirai Upazila, Sunamganj. He died Friday morning while undergoing treatment at M. A. G. Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet. The deceased, Joy Mohapatra (19), was a resident of Bhangadhor village and the son of Liton Mohapatra. According to his cousin, Ayon Das, Joy had purchased a mobile phone from a local shop owner, Amirul Islam, son of Madris Mia from Borhanpur, for Tk 5,500. Following the agreement, he paid Tk 2,000 in cash and was to pay the remaining Tk 3,500 in weekly installments of Tk 500 each. Although he regularly made payments, he was late with the last Tk 500 instalment. On Thursday evening, Joy reportedly went to Amirul Islam’s shop to pay the instalment but was allegedly beaten, humiliated, and had the mobile phone confiscated. The family claims that Amirul also verbally insulted him. Distressed and traumatised by the incident, Joy allegedly bought rat poison from the same shop and consumed it at home. Ayon said that around 7:30pm, Joy admitted to taking poison, after which he was rushed to Dirai Upazila Health Complex and later referred to Sylhet due to his deteriorating condition. Dr. Moni Rani Talukdar, Resident Medical Officer at Dirai Health Complex, confirmed that the patient was in critical condition and had to be referred immediately. Family members, including Joy’s uncle Mitu Mohapatra, said they would file a case after discussion with his father in Sylhet. Regarding the allegation, shop owner Amirul Islam stated that Joy still owed him Tk 2,500 for the mobile and Tk 300 for Flexiload. He denied giving Joy any poison, claiming that he told Joy he did not have any when requested. Joy’s mother, Sheli Mohapatra, alleged that her son was physically assaulted at the shop, which drove him to consume the poison. Dirai police officer-in-charge, Enamul Haq Chowdhury, said that the police inspected the scene and will take legal action if complaints are filed.

Freedom of expression belongs to everyone except the government, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said on Saturday. He came up with the remarks while speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Political Parties, Human Rights, and Freedom of Expression” organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka. Political leaders, civil society representatives, academics, lawyers, journalists, and human rights activists participated in the dialogue. The discussion focused on the extent to which human rights and freedom of expression are reflected in political discourse in the context of the upcoming national election. Asif Nazrul mentioned that significant reforms have been undertaken, including transferring key judicial matters to the higher courts, enacting a human rights law that he described as one of the strongest in South Asia, and expanding legal aid services that now benefit ten times more people than before. He claimed that the Digital Security Act has improved by 90 percent and that more than 20,000 cases have been resolved. He acknowledged widespread cyberbullying against him following the July Uprising and emphasized that comprehensive reform requires time. He stressed the need for self-reflection by political parties and the media, calling for honesty, conscience, tolerance, and accountability to move the country forward over the next five to ten years. CGS President Zillur Rahman, who moderated the event, said that as elections approach, human rights and freedom of expression tend to shrink further. Laws are easily turned into political tools, while violence, clashes, threats, and harassment become difficult to control. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) that human rights are universal and not relative. He argued that political parties in Bangladesh capitalize on money, power, and religion, and that the state is enabling the growth of mob power.

A six-member committee formed by the Ministry of Shipping has begun investigating allegations that hills were cut to collect soil for land filling at Ramgarh Land Port in Khagrachhari on Saturday. The committee conducted an on-site inspection of several areas where soil had reportedly been removed from hills, as well as the filled sections of the land port. The investigation follows a report published in a national newspaper on Jan 7, 2026, titled “Hills cut for port construction for India”. In response, the Ministry of Shipping formed the six-member committee on Jan 8 under the leadership of Md. Firoz Ahmed, Joint Secretary (Implementation), giving it a three-day deadline to submit its findings. On Saturday, the committee visited various sites in the upazila, including Baidhyatil, speaking with local residents and collecting photographs, data, and soil samples. They later inspected the land port itself, gathering samples of the soil used for filling and assessing the quality of construction work. Committee members present included Secretary Rasna Sharmin Mithu, the Ramgarh Upazila Executive Officer Kazi Shamim, a representative from BGB, and officials from the contractor company Monico Ltd. Earlier on Friday, a high-level team led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping also visited Ramgarh to examine the allegations. The committee has not provided any public briefing or comments to journalists regarding their investigation, as of Saturday.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Saturday (January 10, 2026) said police personnel deployed at high-risk polling centres during the next national election will be equipped with body-worn cameras to help prevent violence and ensure transparency. “There are around 24,000 risky polling centers across the country. Police personnel assigned to these centers will be provided with body-worn cameras so that no violence or chaos can occur. Through these cameras, everything can be monitored,” he said. The IGP made the remarks after attending a special welfare meeting with police officers and members of various units of the Rangpur Metropolitan Police and district police in the afternoon. The IGP also sought cooperation from the public in carrying out police duties effectively. EC to start disposing appeals against decisions on nomination papers Referring to the flow of arms, he said illegal weapons are being seized gradually, although it is not possible to recover all of them at once. Baharul Alam said police personnel across the Rangpur division remain fully committed to ensuring a free, fair, and festive election, noting that the Election Commission has taken initiatives to conduct the polls peacefully. “It is our responsibility to maintain stability and create a suitable environment for the elections. All members of the Rangpur Range and Rangpur Metropolitan Police are determined to ensure full security,” he added. He further said the police will not be working alone during the election. On polling day, around six lakh Ansar members will be deployed alongside police forces. In the pre-election period, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other defense forces are also assisting law enforcement. 645 appeals filed with EC against decisions on nomination papers Besides, the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Navy are working in coastal areas to control criminal activities. Rangpur Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aminul Islam, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Majid Ali, superintendents of police from eight districts of the division, and other senior police officials were present at the event.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan Mansur has issued a stern warning that the "culture of looting" within the nation’s banking sector will never be allowed to return. He emphasized that achieving a transparent financial system requires the essential cooperation of all stakeholders. The Governor made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest in the closing session of the International Islamic Finance and Banking Conference held at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban in the University of Dhaka, on Saturday. Dr. Mansur noted that Islamic, or Shariah-based banks have historically been competitive, offering attractive profits to depositors. However, he pointed out that significant sums were looted from this sector due to a failure to ensure corporate governance by specific individuals and institutions - a pointed reference to the unprecedented assault on the banking sector by the ousted Awami League regime's cronies, most notably the S. Alam Group, which secretly took control of at least six banks. All of them were Shariah-based. Despite these challenges, the Governor highlighted that public trust in Islamic banking remains intact. This was amply demonstrated by the fact that these banks received the highest volume of deposits over the past year. Specifically, Islami Bank Bangladesh has already begun returning the liquidity support funds it previously received from the central bank. To prevent future financial crimes and ensure transparency in loan disbursement, the Governor announced that Bangladesh Bank has implemented strict control measures. "A new Islamic Banking Act is currently being drafted to provide a more robust legal framework for the sector," Dr. Mansur revealed. He also called upon Shariah Boards to play a more proactive and courageous role. He urged board members to act independently and without fear of losing their positions, emphasizing that their oversight is crucial for the sector’s integrity. Addressing the ‘Sukuk’ (Islamic bond) market, the Governor admitted that the forced sale of the Beximco Sukuk Bond had damaged the market's reputation and eroded investor confidence. However, the Governor noted that the government has been requested to issue new Islamic Sukuk bonds, and preliminary work on this has already commenced. Concluding his speech, Dr. Mansur reiterated that "financial autocracy" has no place in Bangladesh's future. He stressed that while the central bank is taking the lead, the support of academicians, professionals, and the general public is vital to building a world-class Islamic banking sector defined by governance and accountability. Academics, researchers, and Islamic Banking experts attended the event.

Police have solved the case surrounding the death of a young man whose body was found floating in the Kanchan River in Gozaria, Munshiganj, last month. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and the victim’s stolen auto-rickshaw has also been recovered. At a Saturday press briefing at the Munshiganj Superintendent of Police’s office, SP Md. Menhazul Alam said that on December 6, 2025, around 2:30 pm, a young man’s body was spotted floating in the Kanchan River in Baushia Union under Gozaria Police Station. Police retrieved the body, which was later identified by the victim’s elder brother Jahangir Alam as Md. Shahjalal, 27. Shahjalal worked as an auto-rickshaw driver. According to the family, the unidentified suspects tied up Shahjalal’s hands and feet, brutally killed him, stole his auto-rickshaw, and dumped his body in the river. Following the incident, Jahangir Alam filed a murder case with Gozaria Police. A police investigation team led by SI (N) Rubel Sikder carried out operations using intelligence and technology. On January 9, around 6:30pm, the team arrested the victim’s friend Ibrahim alias Sagar, 28, from Panchgachhia area under Motlob Uttar Police Station in Chandpur. Later that night, around 9:30pm, another suspect, Fahim, 24, was arrested from Bhoberchar Bus Stand area under Gozaria Police Station based on information provided by Ibrahim. During interrogation, Fahim admitted that he had received the stolen auto-rickshaw from Ibrahim and let his father Khorshed use it. Following Fahim’s information, police recovered the auto-rickshaw from his home in Dauderkhara area under Comilla Kotwali Police Station. Police said legal action against the arrested suspects is underway and the investigation into the case is continuing.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) Chairman Prof Dr Halida Hanum Akhtar on Saturday announced the expansion of cervical cancer screening services to all 64 districts of the country, saying the disease is fully preventable if timely screening and vaccination are ensured. She also stressed that preventing cervical cancer is not only a women’s issue- it requires awareness and responsible participation from male family members as well. Dr Halida made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised at the National Press Club marking Cervical Cancer Awareness Day. Later, awareness leaflets were distributed among the public through a rally titled “Walk for Mothers.” Highlighting the severity of the disease, she said cervical cancer is the second most alarming cancer among women after breast cancer. “The tragic part is that this is one of the few cancers that can be prevented in advance through awareness, screening and vaccination. Failing to utilise this opportunity would be our collective failure,” she said. Explaining the anatomical vulnerability of the cervix, Dr Halida said it is located in a highly sensitive area of the body, with the rectum behind and the urinary tract in front. “As a result, cervical cancer spreads very quickly to nearby vital organs, making the patient’s condition critical,” she noted. She warned that abnormal bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle, as well as post-menopausal bleeding, are major early warning signs of cervical cancer. Urging the younger generation to play a proactive role, she encouraged them to share this information with their mothers, aunts and grandmothers and motivate them to undergo screening when needed. Emphasising the role of men in families, Dr Halida said financial decisions in society are often taken by men. “Many women do not know where screening services are available or how much they cost. Without awareness and support from male family members, timely testing becomes difficult,” she said, calling for equal involvement of men in cervical cancer prevention efforts. She said BRCS currently operates 68 units across the country — including in all 64 districts and four divisional units — along with 64 Mother and Child Health Centres. “Primary screening services, including VIA tests, will be introduced gradually at these centres,” she said, adding that Red Crescent’s large pool of youth volunteers will be mobilised as carriers of awareness at the community level. Dr Halida also highlighted the availability of an effective vaccine against cervical cancer, which can be administered from the age of 12. “Unlike breast cancer, which has no vaccine, this is a significant opportunity for women’s health,” she said. She further advised caution in the prolonged use of estrogen-based oral contraceptive pills, noting that continuous use for more than five years may slightly increase cancer risk. In such cases, she suggested alternative family planning methods or male contraceptive options. Calling for a sustainable health system rather than short-term campaigns, Dr Halida said, “My goal is to prevent disease before it happens — so that patients do not have to come to doctors with illness.” She urged students, media, volunteer organisations and state institutions to work together to achieve this goal.

In the 2026 Pirojpur Press Club elections, A. S. M. Rezaul Islam Shamim of Daily Amar Desh has been elected president, and S. M. Tanvir Ahmed of Daily Bangladesh Pratidin and Jamuna TV has been elected general secretary. The elections were held on Saturday morning following the annual general meeting of the press club. With no other contenders for any positions, all candidates were elected unopposed. The election was conducted under the supervision of Md. Iqbal Karim, the election commissioner appointed by the district commissioner and deputy director of the District Social Services Office. Other executive committee members elected unopposed include: Vice Presidents: Khelafat Hosen Khasru (Daily Pirojpurer Kotha) and Sheikh Md. Rashid Al Munan (NTV) Joint General Secretary: Ziaul Haq (Somoy TV) Treasurer: Kumar Shuvo Roy (Banglavision) Office & Property Secretary: Md. Tamim Sardar (Independent TV & Daily Ajker Patrika) Literary & Cultural Secretary: Kabir Hossain (Dipto TV) Sports Secretary: Rezwan Islam Sazn (Weekly Baleshwar) IT & Publications Secretary: Sheikh Abu Md. Zubayer Jony (Weekly Pirojpur Bani) Executive members: Mahamud Hossain (UNB), M A Rabbani Firoz (Daily Khobor), Arif Mostafa (Daily Bonik Barta & Bangla Tribune), Fasiul Islam Bacchu (Samakal & Channel i), Zahirul Haq Titu (Daily Jai Jai Din & New Nation), Khalid Abu (Amader Somoy), Mahamudur Rahman Masud (Daily Manab Zamin), Wahi Hasan Babu (Inqilab), and K M Habibur Rahman (Daily Star & DBC TV). Founded in 1967, Pirojpur Press Club has maintained its legacy as one of the district’s prominent social organizations.  

LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) on Saturday said the recognition of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as green fuel will play a significant role in promoting cleaner energy usage, ensuring national energy security, and encouraging further investment in the sector. “It will also contribute positively to achieving the country's energy and environmental objectives in alignment with the best global practices,” said LOAB President Mohammed Amirul Haque in a letter sent to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan.  On behalf of the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB), he expressed their sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources for declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a green gas. “This timely and visionary decision reflects the government's strong commitment to environmental sustainability, clean energy transition, and the reduction of carbon emissions,” Amirul Haque said. He said they deeply appreciate the proactive leadership and continued support of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in addressing the evolving energy needs of the nation. “We look forward to continued cooperation and guidance in the development and sustainable growth of the LPG sector in Bangladesh,” Amirul Haque said.