United News of Bangladesh

Six more people died of dengue and 1,898 new patients were hospitalised across the country in 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll has risen to 377 in the country this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the deaths, two were reported in Chattogram division and one each in Dhaka South City Corporation, Khulna, Mymensingh and Rajshahi divisions, it said. Since January 1 this year, a total of 121,699 dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 115,132 have recovered.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has announced that all community clinics across the country will be renamed Family Welfare Centres as part of plans to expand healthcare services at the union level. He made the announcement while outlining the government’s plans to improve healthcare infrastructure and services during surprise visits to several health facilities in Mymensingh on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the minister visited the Fulbaria and Tarakanda Upazila Health Complexes before inspecting Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where he expressed dissatisfaction over various irregularities, including medical equipment found in a garbage dump and doctors and nurses failing to report to work on time. During his visit to the hospital around noon, he inspected the labour ward, measles isolation ward and dengue ward. He also examined the quality of treatment, the ward environment and the condition of washrooms. The minister expressed anger after finding rubbish on the ground floor of the hospital's new building. He also ordered a swift investigation and the submission of a report into the discovery of used cannulas, syringes and other medical equipment in the hospital's garbage dump. He said action would be taken against those found negligent in their duties, including staff who failed to arrive at the hospital on time. The minister also questioned why a patient in the gynaecology ward had to purchase saline from outside and instructed the hospital authorities to take necessary measures. He further sought an explanation for the delay in submitting an investigation report into a fire at the hospital more than a month ago. The authorities told him that the report has been delayed due to holidays. Earlier, during his visits to the Fulbaria and Tarakanda Upazila Health Complexes, the minister outlined several plans to improve healthcare services and infrastructure at the upazila level. He said the government planned to upgrade both health complexes to 151-bed facilities. A large-scale tendering process worth around Tk 16,000 crore for the health sector would be launched within the next 15 to 20 days, he said. He added that steps would be taken to ensure the supply of necessary medicines to the community clinics after they are renamed Family Welfare Centres. Mymensingh Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Zakir Hossain, Mymensingh Development Authority Chairman Motahar Hossain Talukder, Divisional Health Director Dr Pradip Kumar Saha, Deputy Commissioner Saifur Rahman and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, among other officials, were present during the visits.

For farmers on Gobardhan char along the Teesta River, water can make or break a harvest. While excessive rain and rising river levels threaten crops on low-lying fields during the monsoon, a lack of rainfall and receding river water leave higher land dry. Caught between these opposing challenges, farmers struggle to protect their crops and earn enough to support their families. Rising production costs and falling paddy prices have made an already precarious livelihood even more difficult. Mohammad Bashir Uddin, 29, a farmer on the char in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district, said this year’s Aman paddy crop suffered due to inadequate rainfall and the absence of river water in the fields. “With no access to deep-tubewell irrigation, farmers have few options when the land dries out.”  

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Saturday said police are working to build an effective policing system to restore public trust and establish peace and justice in society. “We want to rebuild public confidence in the police and establish a relationship of trust with people. Our goal is to become a more humane and people-friendly police force,” he said while talking to local journalists after a community policing meeting at Khulna Metropolitan Police Lines in the afternoon. The meeting, organised by Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), focused on combating drugs, terrorism, extortion, juvenile gangs and extremism in Khulna. The IGP said one of the key goals is to bridge the gap that developed between the police and the public over the past 17 years. “After August 5, the police have regained their footing with renewed determination and are carrying out their duties,” he said. Referring to the government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs and extortion, Fakir said the aim is to ensure a society free from drugs, extortion and juvenile gangs. He expressed hope that all stakeholders would work together to eliminate these crimes. He said joint drives are currently underway against juvenile gangs, extortionists, drug dealers and terrorists. The government has placed particular emphasis on intensifying these operations, he added. To this end, the relevant government ministry has approved a framework for conducting community policing activities in a more structured manner, he said. Fakir acknowledged allegations that some community policing members had harassed innocent people, intimidated them and extorted money. “Such incidents must not happen again. Community policing activities will be conducted within a legal framework to prevent these abuses,” he said. Calling journalists the mirror of society, the IGP urged them to support community policing initiatives, expressing confidence that collective efforts would help build a peaceful and secure society. KMP Commissioner Md Shazzadur Rahman chaired the meeting, attended by Khulna Range DIG Md Rezaul Karim and Police Training Centre, Khulna Commandant (DIG) AKM Musharraf Hossain Miaze as special guests. Local dignitaries and representatives of civil society were also present. Later, the IGP held a meeting with senior police officials working in different units in Khulna at the office of the Khulna Range DIG.

A Jubo Dal leader was shot and wounded by unidentified criminals on Sener Bazar-Madhupur road at Parhajigram village in Terokhada upazila of Khulna on Saturday noon. The victim is Md Ramim Biswas, 32, son of Habibur Rahman of Parhajigram village under Madhupur Union of the upazila and president of Ward No. 3 Jubo Dal unit under No. 6 Madhupur Union. Khulna Additional Superintendent of Police Abir Siddique Shuvro said Ramim was sitting in a van in front of Aynal Molla’s house in the village when unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire, leaving him injured. Local people rescued him and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital. Police from Terokhada Police Station visited the scene. Additional SP Shuvro said police were working to identify and arrest those involved.

Mir Mohammad Jasim has been elected president of the Education Reporters Association, Bangladesh (ERAB) for the 2026–2028 term, while New Age Senior Staff Correspondent Solamain Salman and Agamir Shomoy Deputy Chief Reporter Nur Mohammad have been jointly elected general secretaries. The new executive committee was elected at the organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM) held at a resort near Dhaka on Friday. Other elected office-bearers are Matiur Rahman of the Daily Naya Diganta as vice-president, Asif Hasan Kajol of Khoborer Kagoj as joint secretary, Najiur Rahman Sohel of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha as treasurer, Humayun Kabir of the Daily Jugantor as organising secretary, and Hasan Adib of Jago News as office and publicity secretary. Pias Sarkar of the Daily Manabzamin and Farhad Bin Nur of Star News were elected executive committee members. Of the two secretaries, Solamain Salman will serve the first year as general secretary and Nur Mohammad the following year during the two-year term of the executive committee. UNB Deputy Editor and Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum president Masudul Haque served as chief election commissioner. Former ERAB presidents Sabbir Newaz and Nizam ul Haque were the other members of the election commission. Earlier, the annual general meeting was chaired by outgoing ERAB president and Inqilab chief reporter Faruque Hosain.

A local Jubo Dal activist was hacked dead by unidentified criminals  in Satla area of Wazirpur upazila in Barishal on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Kawsar Hawlader, 37, son of Monasef Hawlader of Alamdi village in Satla. A group of armed criminals attacked Kawsar when he along with Rashed Amin and several other Jubo Dal activists were standing on a bridge around 9:30pm, said Rakibul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Wazirpur Model Police Station. Kawsar and Rashed Amin jumped into the water beneath the bridge and took shelter at the nearby house of Habib Hawlader. The attackers then entered the house by breaking open the door and hacked Kawsar indiscriminately. Later, he was taken to Kotalipara Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. Rashed Amin was also seriously injured in the attack. Tensions have gripped the area following the incident.

The indefinite road blockade at Sajek in Rangamati continued for the 3rd day on Saturday with joint forces maintaining patrols to keep the law-and-order situation under control. The blockade was enforced jointly by Sajek Ganadhikar Rakkha Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association to press for their three demands, including the immediate removal of armed members of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (Santu group) from the area and ensuring the security of local residents. However, there was no report of any untoward incident. Army, police, and other law enforcement agencies have been working jointly to ensure the safety of people staying in Sajek and maintain peace in the area. Meanwhile, a half-day road and waterway blockade was observed in Khagrachhari in protest against the gunfight at Ujjobazar in Sajek on Saturday. Chhatra-Janata Sangram Parishad has announced a half-day road and waterway blockade in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts from 5am in support of the ongoing movement in Sajek. Early in the morning, protesters set tyres on fire and blocked a road in South Khobongpuria area of the district town. Later, members of the law enforcement agencies removed the burning tyres and cleared the road for traffic. Earlier on Thursday, nearly 3,000 tourists stranded in Sajek Valley were evacuated with the help of the Army and police amid the indefinite road blockade. Armed UPDF members allegedly opened fire on tourists and members of law enforcement agencies during the evacuation.

Export-import activities between Bangladesh and India thriught Benapole and Sonamasjid land ports on Saturday morning after Durga Puja and weekly holidays. The trade at Benapole land port resumed on Saturday after a seven-day suspension due to Durga Puja holidays. Around 3,000 workers joined their work from the morning to handle cargo loading and unloading, while traders, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents, and port and customs officials resumed their operations. Mohsin Milon, president of the Benapole Port Importers and Exporters Association, said the prolonged closure caused traffic congestion and a backlog of goods on both sides of the border, with thousands of loaded trucks waiting to enter the port. The port handles around 500 trucks of imported and exported goods daily, generating nearly Tk 20 crore in government revenue, according to the association. The eight-day suspension resulted in an estimated revenue loss of around Tk 160 crore, it added. Meanwhile, import-export operations also resumed at Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj after remaining suspended from October 17 to 23. Ruhul Amin, member-secretary of the Sonamasjid Land Port C&F Agents Association, said the trade remained suspended due to government holidays for Durga Puja, weekly holidays and a holiday declared by India's Mahadipur Land Port Exporters Association. He said loading and unloading of imported goods already inside the port continued during the holiday period. However, cross-border movement of Bangladeshi and Indian passport holders through the immigration checkpoint remained normal.

Three people were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between two motorcycles on the Jashore-Benapole Highway at Natunhat Bazar in Sadar upazila of Jashore district on Friday night. The deceased were identified as Siam Hossain, 18, son of Shamim Hossain, Shahidul Islam Joy, 18, and Omar Ali, 17, son of Abdul Kader of Sadar upazila. The accident occurred around 12:30am when the two motorcycles collided, leaving three people dead and two others injured, said Kabir Hossain, in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station. The injured were taken to Jashore General Hospital. Police and local Fire Service personnel recovered the bodies and sent them to the hospital morgue.