United News of Bangladesh

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered Indian drugs and smuggled medicines in separate operations along the Maheshpur border in Jhenaidah on Friday. Munshi Imdadur Rahman, Assistant Director of Moheshpur Battalion, (58 BGB), was confirmed the information by a press release on Friday afternoon. According to the release, a patrol team from Rajapur BOP under Maheshpur Battalion conducted a drive led by Nayeb Subedar Tapas Sarkar. During the operation, they recovered 35 bottles of Indian Eskuf syrup and a motorcycle abandoned on a paved road in front of the house of one Monirul Islam at Singnagar village, about 2 km inside Bangladesh from border pillar 72/4-S. Drugs worth over Tk 37 lakh seized in BGB operation along Kushtia border No one was arrested in connection with the seizure. In another operation in the area under Shyamkur BOP, a BGB team led by Havildar Md Eklim conducted a search about 100 yards inside Bangladesh from border pillar 60/105-S. The team recovered 1,040 pieces of Indian medicines from a bamboo grove belonging to one Abdul Malek in Milebariya village. The estimated value of the seized smuggled goods is Tk 3.12 lakh, according to BGB. No arrests were made in this connection either. Assistant Director Munshi Imdadur Rahman, said BGB will continue its hard stance and patrol activities to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking along the border.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday declared himself and his entire cabinet "workers" dedicated to building the nation, calling upon people from all walks of life, including the working class, to join a collective effort to build Bangladesh. "As workers build factories, homes, roads and industries, I, too, want to enlist my name as a worker in the service of building Bangladesh. At the same time, I want to include all members of my cabinet as workers, because as you build different things, we want to stand beside you and contribute to building the country,” he told a workers’ rally. Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal arranged the rally in front of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking May Day. The Prime Minister urged the country’s people to take a pledge on the day, also known as International Workers’ Day, to build their “desired Bangladesh." He said as the people of the country are moving forward through hard work, the government wants to build the nation by staying with them with united efforts. “That is why our election slogan was ‘we will work, we will build the country, Bangladesh come first’. This is our present slogan and our future slogan. Today, we have only one task — building the nation," Tarique Rahman said. Describing their slogan as the government's guiding principle, he expressed confidence that Bangladesh would achieve its long-cherished aspirations through collective effort. On the occasion of International Workers' Day, the Prime Minister urged people from all walks of life, irrespective of their gender, to take a vow to build a Bangladesh that every man and woman dreams of. “Let each of us prepare ourselves as builders of the nation. We will spend the rest of our lives as workers dedicated to building the country,” he said. As Tarique Rahman asked the audience whether they were ready to enlist themselves as workers in building the nation, they responded with a resounding “yes.” In response, the Prime Minister said, “Alhamdulillah. We must remember the words of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman: ‘Bangladesh is my first, Bangladesh is my last. My life is for Bangladesh, my death is for Bangladesh.’ Let this Bangladesh be our first and last address. Today, once again, we reaffirm our commitment and pledge to build the nation.” He also promised to reopen the factories that were shut down in recent years and set up new ones to create employment opportunities and develop the country. “We know that when industries and factories are established, they create employment for workers. If workers stay well, the country will remain well. We also know that if farmers do well, Bangladesh will do well. In other words, when ordinary working people are better off, the country as a whole prospers,” Tarique Rahman observed. Criticising the past Awami League government, he alleged that workers and other working people, students, teachers and politicians were deprived of their rights over the years and thus the economy became import-dependent. The Prime Minister said many industries were shut down during that time, affecting employment, and promised steps to reopen closed factories. “We have taken initiatives to gradually reopen the factories that were shut down in previous years. I have instructed the relevant authorities to take steps to determine how quickly each factory can be brought back into operation and to ensure rapid employment opportunities for unemployed workers. A meeting on this matter is scheduled for this week,” he said.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Friday called for strengthening communal harmony, national unity and global peace as he greeted Buddhists in Bangladesh and around the world on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. He said while exchanging greetings with the Buddhist community on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. In his message marking the religious festival, the President said the teachings of Gautama Buddha on peace, non-violence, equality and compassion remain highly relevant at a time when wars, conflicts and hatred are destabilising different parts of the world. Ensure dignity, safety, equality for women at work: President Shahabuddin

Around 7,000 hectares of cropland have been submerged in Kishoreganj following several days of continuous rainfall, causing extensive damage to standing crops, officials and farmers said. A total of 160 millimetres of rainfall has been recorded in the district during the period, leaving vast areas of haor land underwater and destroying crops in many fields. Farmers said paddy that was due to be harvested within days is now submerged, washing away their hopes after months of cultivation. Unplanned embankments worsen flooding in Sunamganj haors; massive crop losses reported

Unplanned embankments and heavy rainfall have worsened waterlogging in Sunamganj’s haor basin, causing widespread damage to Boro paddy and triggering concern among farmers and experts over recurring agricultural losses in the region. Haor movement leader and farmer Professor Chittaranjan Talukdar (70) said the current season reflects a recurring pattern of severe waterlogging, locally described as “kachaira” years, which reappear periodically and devastate crops. “This year is another kachaira year. Earlier people could not realise the scale of losses due to lack of communication, but now it is visible,” he said, adding that unplanned embankments and blocked drainage channels have turned haors into “water pockets.” He alleged that annual embankment construction using huge amounts of soil has filled natural water bodies, canals and rivers, severely disrupting drainage systems. He also criticised the lack of long-term planning for haor management. Agricultural researcher Sajal Kanti Sarkar, however, pointed to a different factor, saying the use of hybrid and high-yielding rice varieties has delayed harvesting, increasing vulnerability to early floods. He said traditional rice varieties used in haor areas used to mature earlier and were less exposed to flood damage. He agreed, however, that blocked drainage caused by embankments has worsened water retention in the region. Water Development Board data shows that river levels in the Surma rose sharply this year compared to last year. Between April 27 and 30, rainfall and river water levels increased significantly, with heavy rainfall recorded across multiple haor-adjacent points, including 133mm at Laurerergarh, 76mm at Chatak, 137mm at Sunamganj, and 205mm at Dirai within 24 hours. In contrast, rainfall during the same period last year was minimal, allowing around 83 percent of paddy to be harvested by April 29. This year, only about 44.5 percent of paddy has been harvested, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension. Officials estimate around 9,548 hectares of paddy have been submerged so far, but farmers and haor activists claim the actual damaged area is far higher, exceeding 60,000 hectares. In Jamalganj and Dirai upazilas’ Pagnar haor, farmers said flooding began early, and disputes over embankment cutting even led to clashes before Eid-ul-Fitr. Large portions of both standing and harvested crops are now submerged. Farmers described severe losses, with many saying they are unable to recover their investment. “Around Tk 5 lakh worth of paddy has been lost. It will take years to recover,” said one farmer, adding that hopes of repaying loans have been shattered. Another farmer said even harvesting and drying areas are now under water, making further collection impossible. Haor Banchao Andolan General Secretary Bijn Sen Roy said unplanned embankments have worsened drainage and caused recurring flooding. He estimated crop losses at around Tk 1,000 crore, though government figures put it at about Tk 200 crore, which he said does not reflect reality. Sunamganj Water Development Board Executive Engineer-2 Md Imdadul Haque said rainfall has recently decreased and water levels showed slight improvement on Thursday, but waterlogging remains in most haor areas. Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Md Omar Faruq said recent adverse weather delayed harvesting, leading to crop submergence, and warned that final losses are likely to increase. A detailed assessment is underway.

Bangladesh is set to issue its eighth government investment Sukuk worth Tk 5,900 crore to finance the construction and development of important bridges on rural roads under a revised project, according to an official statement. The seven-year “CIBRR-1 Socio-Economic Development Sukuk” will be issued under the project titled Construction of Important Bridges on Rural Roads (1st Revised). The prospectus and Shariah declaration of the Sukuk have already been finalised with approval from the Shariah Advisory Committee under the Debt Management Department. The auction for the Sukuk will be held for the first time on May 13, 2026, using Bangladesh Bank’s in-house Shariah Securities Module (SSM) system. According to the prospectus, Sukuk will be issued through an auction-based lease structure with a face value of Tk 5,900 crore, maturing on May 14, 2033. Investors will receive a total rental return of Tk 4,295.20 crore over seven years, equivalent to an annual return of 10.40 percent, payable on a semi-annual basis. Banks and financial institutions having current or Al-Wadiah accounts with Bangladesh Bank will be eligible to participate directly in the auction. In addition, domestic and foreign individual investors, corporate bodies, investment companies, insurance companies, provident funds and deposit insurance funds may also participate through eligible banks and financial institutions maintaining accounts with Bangladesh Bank. Investors will be able to submit bids online through the SSM system using their Sukuk Investor (SI) ID in multiples of Tk 10,000 between 10:00am and 3:00pm on May 13, 2026. New investors must complete their SI ID registration through their respective banks by May 12, 2026. The successful bidders will be informed of their allotted Sukuk amount through their respective accounts at 4:00pm on the auction day, the statement said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to visit Sylhet on Saturday on a day-long tour packed with official engagements, including project inaugurations and the launch of Notun Kuri Sports. According to the schedule shared by the Prime Minister's Press Wing, the Prime Minister will arrive at Osmani International Airport around 10:00am. He will begin the visit by offering prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R). Poem at Parliament celebrates PM Tarique Rahman’s global recognition Later, Tarique Rahman will attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a Sylhet City Corporation project at Chandni Ghat, near the Circuit House, aimed at alleviating waterlogging in the city. He will also address a civic gathering there. At noon, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the re-excavation of the Basia River in Kashipur union under Sylhet Sadar upazila. In the afternoon, he will inaugurate Notun Kuri Sports-2026 at Sylhet District Stadium, an initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports designed to identify and nurture young sporting talent. Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to attend a meeting at the Shilpakala Academy later in the day. He is expected to return to Dhaka in the evening. This will be Tarique Rahman's first visit to Sylhet as the Prime Minister. He last visited the city on January 21 during the campaign for the 13th parliamentary election, in his first trip to Sylhet in nearly two decades.

Speakers at a workers’ rally on Friday said that the rising cost of living is making life increasingly difficult for working people, urging immediate steps to ease the burden and strengthen social protection measures. They made the call at a rally held in Savar marking the historic May Day under the slogan “Reduce the prices of essential commodities, save workers.” Participants at the rally called for the introduction of ration and health cards for workers and the expansion of social protection programmes in the national budget. Sramik Dal’s rally begins at Nayapaltan The rally was organised by the Labour Working Group of the Democratic Budget Movement (DBM) and held in the afternoon at Murti Mor in Hemayetpur Bus Stand. Around 300 workers from various labour and youth organisations took part in the programme. Addressing the rally, DBM Joint General Secretary Sekendar Ali Mina and Combined Workers Federation General Secretary Nahidul Hasan Nayan highlighted the growing economic strain on workers amid persistent price hikes. They stressed the need for an accessible rationing system, quality healthcare services for workers, and the establishment of specialised hospitals. The speakers also called for the introduction of an effective pension scheme. They further demanded that compensation for workers injured or killed in workplace accidents be set in line with international standards. The rally also urged authorities to make the workers’ protection fund functional and ensure workers’ participation in labour-related decision-making. The speakers warned that sustainable economic development would not be possible without ensuring workers’ rightful demands and protections.

Authorities in Florida have confirmed that the second recovered body is that of Nahida Sultana Bristy, said Golam Mortoza, Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States, in a WhatsApp message on Friday. Police from a Florida department contacted Bristy’s brother to confirm the identification, he said. The family has requested that arrangements be made to send her body back to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC, in coordination with the Bangladesh Consulate in Miami, has started the process to repatriate the body. Meanwhile, the body of Zamil Ahamed Limon, one of the two Bangladeshi students killed in the United States, will arrive in Dhaka on May 4. Golam Mortoza said the mortal remains will reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:40am on an Emirates flight. The body has been received by a funeral home and will be transported from Orlando via a flight departing at 8:50pm on May 2, through Dubai. Limon’s first namaz-e-janaza was scheduled to be held after Johr prayers on Thursday at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area in Florida, he added. Limon and Bristy, both 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh, disappeared on April 16. Limon was last seen at the off-campus complex where he shared an apartment with murder suspect Hisham Abugharbieh, 26 and another roommate. Detectives used cellphone location and licence plate reader data to track Abugharbieh’s car and Limon’s phone to the bridge where Limon’s body was found on April 24. Limon had numerous stab wounds and appeared to be bound, according to a report filed by prosecutors. Authorities later recovered another body from a nearby waterway on April 26, which has now been confirmed as Bristy. The suspect was arrested days after the incident by a SWAT team at his parents’ home. A court ordered that he be held without bond. Hisham Abugharbieh has also been barred from contacting witnesses or the victims’ family members, Hillsborough County Judge Logan Murphy said during a brief hearing in Tampa. According to court records, Abugharbieh faces two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon along with other charges. He could face the death penalty if convicted, though prosecutors have not yet said whether they will pursue capital punishment. When questioned days after the couple disappeared, Abugharbieh denied involvement, though detectives noted that his pinky finger was bandaged, according to a pretrial detention report. Investigators later gained access to the apartment with the help of the building manager. A third roommate told police that Abugharbieh had used a cart overnight on April 16 to move cardboard boxes from his room to a trash compactor.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Friday urged all concerned to ensure dignity, safety, equal wages and a secure work environment for female workers as it is both a moral and humanitarian responsibility. "It is necessary to build a humane workplace culture ensuring maternity leave, equal pay for equal work. I hope all concerned stakeholders will take necessary measures on a priority basis to implement the government’s initiatives and directives in the labour sector and ensure their effective execution,” he said. Pabna erupts in joy at Shahabuddin Chuppu's nomination for president Speaking at a programme marking “Great May Day and National Occupational Health and Safety Day 2026” in Dhaka, the President paid tribute to workers across the world and described May Day as a historic symbol of sacrifice, solidarity and the struggle for labour rights. He also underscored the need for protecting workers’ rights, dignity and welfare, saying collective efforts are needed to build a humane, inclusive and sustainable state through ensuring safe and decent working conditions for labourers. He recalled the sacrifice of workers killed during the labour movement in Chicago in 1886 while demanding an eight-hour workday, saying their struggle opened a new chapter in establishing the dignity and rights of working people worldwide. The President also paid homage to workers who were killed, injured or persecuted during Bangladesh’s Liberation War, labour rights movements and the July mass uprising. Highlighting the contribution of workers to the country’s development, he said labourers are the key driving force behind Bangladesh’s economy and progress. He said workers in industries, agriculture, transport, construction and domestic services continue to strengthen the country’s economy through their relentless efforts, while remittances sent by migrant workers and export earnings generated by garment workers remain vital pillars of the national economy. The President remembered former president Ziaur Rahman for his contributions to labour welfare, saying he introduced significant labour reforms and strengthened labour welfare through a tripartite labour policy. He said the establishment of the Ministry of Manpower in 1976 and initiatives to send Bangladeshi workers to 33 countries, including those in the Middle East, created a new era of foreign currency inflow through overseas employment. The President also mentioned that former prime minister Khaleda Zia expanded labour welfare initiatives through the formulation of the Labour Act 2006 and the establishment of the Labour Welfare Foundation. He said the current government has undertaken various initiatives to ensure workers’ welfare, protect labour rights and establish safe and decent working environments. According to him, the government has already started implementing labour welfare programmes, including reopening closed state-owned sugar mills, silk factories, jute mills and other industrial establishments to create employment opportunities. He said six jute mills would be reopened in phases within the next six months. Emphasising the importance of healthy industrial relations, the President said mutual trust, cooperation and harmony between workers and employers are essential for increasing productivity and ensuring sustainable industrialisation. He stressed the need to encourage trade union activities and said workers’ rights must not be undermined under any circumstances. The President also urged workers to remain cautious against attempts by vested groups to create labour unrest. Referring to legal reforms, he said the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026 has been passed in line with international labour standards to further strengthen workers’ rights and protections. He also noted that Bangladesh has ratified 39 conventions and one protocol of the International Labour Organization to improve labour standards. The President expressed sorrow over the deaths of 13 workers in a recent fire at a chemical warehouse in Rupnagar, Mirpur, and said financial assistance had been provided to the victims’ families. He called for coordinated inspections in factories, industries and commercial establishments to prevent workplace accidents and ensure occupational safety. The President urged the relevant ministries, departments and organisations, including Bangladesh Employers’ Federation, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, to work together to address safety shortcomings and ensure compliance in industrial establishments. Referring to this year’s May Day theme — “Healthy workers, productive hands, a new dawn for all” — he said the message reflects the importance of workers’ physical and mental wellbeing in achieving national prosperity and economic progress. Among others, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, adviser to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam Khan, labour affairs adviser Mahdi Amin and ILO Bangladesh country director Max Tunon attended the programme.