United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has called for deeper cooperation with UN Women to advance women’s economic empowerment, climate resilience and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Bangladesh made the call during a meeting between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director UN Women Sima Bahous in New York on Friday. Bangladesh urges stronger global action on humanitarian law, Rohingya repatriation The State Minister recalled former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s visionary introduction of free education for girls and highlighted the government’s continued efforts to empower women through free education up to the postgraduate level and enhanced reproductive and mental health support. USG Bahous highly commended Bangladesh’s efforts in advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality, according to Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations. She congratulated Bangladesh on the election as President of the 81st Session of the UNGA and expressed UN Women’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh on women’s empowerment and the WPS agenda. She also praised the significant contributions of Bangladeshi women to peacebuilding and United Nations peacekeeping operations. On the Rohingya crisis, the State Minister expressed concern over funding shortfalls affecting Rohingya women and girls, and reiterated that the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar remains the only sustainable solution to the crisis.

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon on Friday said there is no alternative to developing students into skilled human resources and urged them to equip themselves with practical knowledge and professional skills to contribute to the country's development. "Education should not be confined to obtaining a degree. It must be linked to skills, productivity and employability so that students can make meaningful contributions to national development," he said while addressing the orientation programme for first-year undergraduate students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) for the 2025-26 academic session (55th batch). Teacher recruitment, promotions stalled due to pending cases: Milon The programme was held at the university's Zahir Raihan Auditorium with Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan in the chair. The minister said every citizen has responsibilities towards family, society and the country, adding that Bangladesh's future largely depends on its educated youth. "You must prepare yourselves to contribute effectively to the nation's progress," he told the freshers. Referring to global demographic trends, Milon said many developed countries are experiencing population decline, while Bangladesh's population continues to grow. "If we can transform this large population into skilled human resources, it will become one of the country's greatest strengths," he said. He also said Bangladeshi youths could play a significant role in the global workforce through quality education, practical knowledge and professional skills. Earlier, the university administration welcomed the freshers with flowers. Around 2,000 students from different faculties attended the programme. Acting Registrar Md ABM Azizur Rahman formally presented the newly admitted students to the respective deans for academic enrolment, after which the deans welcomed them. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan later administered the oath to the freshers. Director of the Student Welfare and Counselling Centre Prof Dr Jamal Uddin delivered the welcome address, while Additional Director Associate Prof Ameena Islam conducted the programme. University Proctor Prof Dr M Rashidul Alam urged students to maintain discipline on campus. Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Dr Md Shamsul Alam, Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Dr Muhammad Nazrul Islam and Treasurer Prof Dr Md Abdur Rob also addressed the programme as special guests. Representatives of the JU Central Students' Union (JUCSU), student organisations, teachers, officials and students also attended the event and the programme concluded at 9:00 pm.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak-winning poet and eminent journalist Al Mujahidi. In a condolence message, the Prime Minister said Al Mujahidi had been a lifelong campaigner for democracy, human rights and the country's independence and sovereignty. MP demands ‘Child FF’ recognition for PM Tarique Rahman “His death has created a deep void in our literary and cultural arena, which will not be easy to fill,” he said. Tarique Rahman conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul. “I am deeply saddened by the death of Al Mujahidi,” he said, extending his sincere condolences to the members of the grieving family. Poet Al Mujahidi, also a freedom fighter and renowned student leader of the 1960s, died while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in Gulshan on Friday afternoon at the age 83.

A local BNP leader was seriously injured after being attacked with sharp weapons by unidentified assailants outside his residence in the capital’s Mohammadpur area on Friday noon. The injured was identified as Md Nurul Islam, 55, senior joint general secretary of BNP’s Ward No. 33 unit in Mohammadpur. The attack took place around 2:30pm near Satmasjid Housing in Mohammadpur. According to police, six attackers arrived on two motorcycles and indiscriminately hacked Nurul Islam beneath his residence before fleeing the scene. He sustained severe injuries to the left side of his face, shoulder and left hand. Family members rescued him and first took him to a nearby hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for advanced treatment. He is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital’s emergency department. Yasin, a nephew of the injured BNP leader, said the family was not yet aware of the identities of the attackers or the motive behind the assault. Jewel Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of DMP’s Mohammadpur Division, said preliminary findings suggest that the attack may have stemmed from political rivalry. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police are jointly working to identify and arrest those involved in the incident he added.

A girl of Class IX who was allegedly abducted from Sylhet’s Moglabazar area three years ago has been rescued from Brahmanbaria. She was rescued and the sole accused, her private tutor at the time, arrested during a joint operation conducted by RAB-9 and CPC-1 in the Char Islampur area under Bijoynagar Police Station in Brahmanbaria on Thursday night. Elderly man detained for 'attempted rape' of 6-year-old in ‍Sylhet According to RAB and the case statement, the victim was a Class IX student of Nabarun High School under Moglabazar Police Station in Sylhet. She went to school as usual on the morning of May 21, 2023, but did not return home. After searching in all possible places without success, her family filed a general diary (GD) with Moglabazar Police Station. Later, the family learned from local sources that the girl's private tutor, Antar Khan, had allegedly lured her into a romantic relationship and forcibly abducted her, keeping her confined at an undisclosed location. Fearing that their daughter might have been raped, trafficked or murdered, the victim’s mother filed a regular case with Moglabazar Police Station. Following the filing of the case, RAB-9 launched a shadow investigation and intensified intelligence activities. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of RAB-9 (Headquarters Company, Sylhet) and CPC-1 (Brahmanbaria) conducted a raid in the Char Islampur area around 10:30pm on Thursday. During the operation, they arrested the lone accused, Antar Khan, 25, in connection with a case filed under Section 7 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 (as amended in 2025), and rescued the abducted schoolgirl unharmed. Antar Khan is the son of Azad Khan of Eralia Para village in Baniachang upazila of Habiganj district. RAB-9 Additional Superintendent of Police and Media Officer KM Shahidul Islam Sohag said the accused and the victim were handed over to Moglabazar Police Station for further legal proceedings.

At least 15 workers were injured in a boiler explosion at a garment factory in Fatullah, Narayanganj, on Friday morning, triggering a two-hour road blockade by agitated workers protesting alleged safety lapses and other irregularities at the factory. The incident occurred around 8:45am at Nirjan Garments in the Taltala area of Pagla under Sadar upazila. The injured included Arbin, Zakir, Monju, Shahin, Joy, Hridoy, Sabina, Khadija, Nasima, Al-Amin and Antor, among others. They are undergoing treatment at different private hospitals and at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). According to workers and eyewitnesses, panic spread inside the factory following the explosion, leaving several workers injured. Workers alleged that they had repeatedly informed the factory authorities about the risky condition of the boiler, but no effective measures were taken to address the issue. They also claimed that materials had been stored along internal factory roads, narrowing evacuation routes. As a result, many workers were unable to leave the premises quickly during the emergency, increasing the number of casualties. Following the incident, angry workers blocked the Dhaka-Narayanganj old road, disrupting traffic and causing long tailbacks. During the protest, workers reportedly confined and assaulted the factory’s production manager, Jasim Uddin, and supervisor Monir. Police from Fatullah Model Police Station and Industrial Police rushed to the scene and worked to bring the situation under control. Later, Fatullah Thana BNP Labour Affairs Secretary Babul Ahmed spoke with the workers and assured them that their legitimate demands would be discussed with the factory management. Following the assurance, the workers withdrew the blockade. The officer-in-charge (OC) of Fatullah Model Police Station said police were deployed at the scene after receiving information about the incident. “The situation is now normal and the workers have withdrawn the road blockade,” the OC said.

A professional mugger was caught red-handed by traffic police while attempting to flee after mugging a passenger’s mobile phone in the Pallabi area of the capital on Friday. The arrested mugger was identified as Md Manik, 29. The incident took place in the vicinity of Kalshi intersection. Two policemen stabbed by ‘muggers’ in Dhaka; two arrested Police Sergeant M S Mahmud Ali was performing his duty at the Kalshi intersection under the Traffic Pallabi Zone at the time of the incident. While checking documents of a microbus after signaling the vehicle to stop, the sergeant noticed a mugger attempting to flee after taking a mobile phone from a passenger inside the vehicle. The sergeant immediately chased the suspect and, after a brief pursuit, courageously managed to apprehend Manik on the spot. The snatched mobile phone was later recovered intact and returned to its rightful owner. The arrested mugger was handed over to Pallabi Police Station for further legal action.

Four children have died with symptoms consistent with measles in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Friday, taking Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 670. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 577, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remains unchanged at 93. A total of 1,078 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 90,982. Meanwhile, 96 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 10,869. Since March 15, a total of 75,156 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 71,396 have recovered, according to DGHS data.

A worker died after falling from an under-construction building in the Kalabagan area of the capital on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Md Yasin, 38, son of Habibur Rahman of Changirgaon village in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur district. According to police and witnesses, Yasin was working on the fifth floor of an under-construction building in the Bhuter Goli under Kalabagan Police Station around 9:30am when he accidentally fell and sustained critical injuries. His co-workers rushed him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 10:15am. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment around 11:40am. In-charge of the DMCH police camp Md Faruk said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for an autopsy.

A young man was beaten to death after being suspected of theft on the Rajshahi Medical College premises. The deceased was identified Rakibul Hasan Raki, 32, a resident of Hetemkhan Karigarpara of the city. Police have arrested three students of Rajshahi Nursing College on Friday in connection with the incident that took place on Thursday evening. According to police, Rakibul was detained by some students in front of Charu Mama's canteen of Rajshahi Medical College on Thursday evening on suspicion of theft. Later, he was beaten with a wooden stump, leaving him seriously injured. The victim was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital around 8:30pm, where doctors declared him dead. Following the incident, police launched a drive and arrested three nursing college students – Atique, Saiyab and Fahim – on Friday morning, said Officer-in-Charge of Rajpara Police Station Abul Kalam Azad. He said Rakibul’s sister filed a murder case against unidentified persons.