United News of Bangladesh

A six-year-old boy on Tuesday drowned while bathing in a pond in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj. The deceased was identified as Siam, son of Akram Hossain of Sheikhpara village under Chandaikona. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ahsanuzzaman of Raiganj Police Station said Siam went to bathe in a neighbouring pond with friends in the afternoon. While the other children returned home after bathing, Siam went missing. After a search, family members found his body in the pond in the evening. Police recovered the body and handed it over to the family as no complaint was filed. A case has been recorded with the police station, the OC added.

Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Bangladesh Listyowati has said she looks forward to having cooperation with Bangladesh as has been Indonesia elected to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguard of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICSICH) for the period of 2026-2030. The Ambassador met Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury on July 29 and discussed the issues of mutual interest.  

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has approved leasing 120 acres of land at the Jamuna Bridge site to Northwest Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL) for setting up a 55-megawatt solar power plant, aimed at promoting environment-friendly and sustainable energy generation. The decision was taken at the 117th board meeting of the Bridge Authority held at the conference room of Setu Bhaban on Thursday afternoon, chaired by Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Chairman of the BBA Board Shaikh Rabiul Alam. Board members attended the meeting both in person and through the Zoom online platform, and shared their opinions on various proposals. At the outset of the meeting, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority presented the agenda and gave a detailed account of the progress made in implementing decisions of the previous board meeting. Following discussion and review, the board took a series of key decisions. Apart from approving the solar plant land lease, the board decided to revise the existing rehabilitation policy for flat allocation at the Rehabilitation Village, in order to better safeguard the rights of families affected by the Dhaka Elevated Expressway construction project. As part of the government's green employment initiative, the board also approved incorporating solar panel installation into the Bridge Authority's scope of work and preparing a master plan in this regard. The meeting approved renewal of the agreement for operating BIAM Laboratory School at Diabari in Uttara. The board also decided to establish a Centre for Bridge Research and Training (CBRT) under the Bangladesh Bridge Authority to build professional knowledge, expertise and research capacity in constructing and maintaining larger structures. Additionally, the board approved replacing the term "annual scholarship" with "annual education grant assistance" under the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Officers and Employees Welfare Trust Rules, 2010 to clarify the nature of the welfare benefit. In his remarks as chair, Minister Rabiul said the present government is working to build a sustainable and environment-friendly communication system. He directed all officials and authorities concerned to work with dedication to ensure quick and transparent implementation of all decisions taken by the board.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken an initiative to establish modern language centres at 25 public and private universities across the country to enhance the competitive capacity of Bangladeshi students in the global job market, internationalise higher education, and create an attractive academic environment for foreign students. "These language centres at the 25 universities will teach a total of eight international languages, including Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, French and German," UGC Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed said while addressing an exchange meeting with foreign students studying at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on Thursday. The meeting was organised to encourage the enrolment of international students at universities in the country, review their academic experiences, and identify existing problems along with ways to address them. Foreign students studying at BAU took part in the programme. The UGC chairman said the current government has adopted a plan to include a third language in the curriculum with a view to enhancing international communication skills within the education system. This, he said, would create massive demand for skilled foreign language teachers from the primary to higher education levels. "The university-based language centres would meet that demand while equipping students with proficiency in internationally sought-after languages, thereby creating new employment opportunities both at home and abroad." He further said that in the era of the fourth industrial revolution, artificial intelligence, global trade and international cooperation, multilingual proficiency is no longer an added qualification but an essential capability. Language education, he added, would further smooth the path for Bangladeshi youth to pursue international higher education, research, technology, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and entry into the global job market. Mamun said the UGC is formulating a five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the country's higher education system and improving its international standards. "One of the key objectives of the plan is to establish Bangladesh as a regional education hub in South Asia, making it a preferred destination for foreign students, researchers and teachers." He said an "International Desk" would be formed with coordination among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the UGC to simplify admission, visa, accommodation, healthcare and other administrative services for foreign students. "Simultaneously, five public and five private universities in the country would be developed as model education hubs, with expanded infrastructure and services to ensure international-standard accommodation, medical centres, student support services, counselling, career support, and a multicultural learning environment." He added that the proposed language centres would not be limited to language education alone; they would also serve as effective platforms for cultural exchange, international cooperation, joint research, academic exchange, and the practice of global citizenship among local and foreign students. These initiatives, the UGC chairman said, would open up new possibilities for Bangladeshi universities in international rankings, research collaboration, and attracting foreign students.

A Chattogram court on Thursday sent top criminal of Chattogram Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon and three of his associates to jail in three cases filed at Fatikchhari Police Station. Judge of the Chattogram Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-1 Saima Afrin Hima passed the order when police produced them before the court. David Emon and his associates have been shown arrested in the three cases, said Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, assistant public prosecutor of the Chattogram Senior Judicial Magistrate Court. Of these, David Emon is an accused in two arms cases. One of the cases was filed in January this year, while the other was filed on Thursday, he added. The third one is a murder case. No lawyer appeared on behalf of David Emon during the court hearing, said Raihanul. The top criminal has not yet been shown arrested in any case filed at police stations under the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), he said. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chattogram Masud Alam said an Indian Aadhaar card was recovered from David Emon at the time of his arrest. At a press conference held at his office in the morning, he said on the advice of listed criminal Sajjad Ali, he had been preparing to flee to India by crossing the border, where people were reportedly waiting to receive him. David Emon decided to leave the country after learning about police operations to arrest him, the SP said. He was allegedly scheduled to cross the border around 6am on Wednesday. However, before that, he was arrested by police in the Jhumjhumpur area of Jashore. Masud said police sought a 10-day remand in the case filed over the arms recovery during the arrest. David Emon was arrested in a joint operation in Jashore early Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Thursday said the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States are moving in a very positive direction, noting that they will build on the achievements they have made so far. "Our engagement with the US is not limited to one meeting. We remain engaged on all aspects and at all levels, and the relationship is moving forward," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his meeting with US Special Envoy to South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, held at the State Guest House Padma. Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen were also present at the meeting. "It was great to meet Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman during my first visit to Bangladesh and discuss working together to strengthen the US-Bangladesh relationship. Lots of positive developments," Gor said.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Minister, Faqir Mahbub Anam on Thursday urged mobile network operators to take effective measures to address issues related to call drops, network quality and the pricing of voice and data packages. The Minister made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Grameenphone's "Digital Inclusion for Marginalized Communities – Phase II" initiative as the Chief Guest at Sheraton Dhaka in Banani today. The minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh is working relentlessly to expand digital connectivity across the country. To achieve the national goal of becoming a US$1 trillion economy by 2034, the Government is placing strong emphasis on meaningful digital inclusion, digital literacy, and the development of a skilled workforce. Calling for further expansion of telecommunications services in remote and underserved areas, the Minister said that no region should be left behind in the country's digital transformation journey. He emphasised that accessible and affordable connectivity is essential for inclusive development and improving people's quality of life. Referring to public concerns over telecommunications services, the minister said that while business growth is important, equal importance must also be given to customers' expectations and interests. Later, the minister formally inaugurated Grameenphone's "Digital Inclusion for Marginalized Communities – Phase II" programme. Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yasir Azman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Major General (Retd.) Md. Emdad Ul Bari, senior government officials, representatives from the private sector, development partners, and other stakeholders were present at the event.

As media reports claimed that Myanmar has agreed to take back 300,000 Rohingyas from Bangladesh, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Thursday that there has been no discussion between the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar so far. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she said that if such a development takes place, Bangladesh would certainly welcome it. “It will be very good news. I do not know anything specific yet,” she said, noting that they remain in contact with Myanmar. Myanmar has agreed to take back 300,000 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh as part of ongoing repatriation efforts, Malaysian media outlets reported, quoting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said Myanmar had also agreed to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya refugees from Malaysia. "That is why it is important to maintain good relations with Myanmar. They have now agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia and 300,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh to Myanmar," The Star quoted him as saying. "Why? Because we negotiated. These matters require careful diplomacy," the Malaysian Prime Minister added. He made the remarks while meeting local voters in Chennah on Wednesday. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char Island.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit on Thursday said the government would not allow a repeat of past practices of wasting public money on unplanned and unnecessary projects, stressing the need for evidence based planning and priority setting. He made the remarks while attending two separate meetings at the Secretariat, one on improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness of energy and electricity demand, production and distribution, and the other on reviewing unapproved projects under the Power Division and determining their priorities. At the meeting on the energy sector, the State Minister underscored the importance of preparing a comprehensive mapping of the country’s mineral resources. He said Bangladesh needs a clear geographical and data based master map showing the location and potential of its mineral resources.

Three people died of dengue and 467 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Thursday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll has risen to 53 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new deaths were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka North City Corporation and Khulna division, it said. Since January 1 this year, a total of 15,153 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 13,931 have recovered and been discharged, while 1,169 patients are currently undergoing treatment, according to the DGHS.