United News of Bangladesh

Students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) staged demonstrations blocking a road in Gazipur for the second consecutive day on Friday, declaring the newly appointed vice-chancellor “persona non grata” and demanding that the next VC be appointed from among the university’s own faculty members. After Jummah prayers, several hundred students took position on the Shimultali road adjacent to the university’s main gate and held a protest rally, disrupting vehicular movement for nearly an hour. Earlier, the protesters brought out a procession from the university’s central mosque premises, which marched across the campus before joining the road blockade. During the demonstration, students chanted slogans such as, “Our only demand—We want a VC from DUET” and “DUET’s VC must come from DUET.” Students from different departments joined the programme. The protesters said DUET, as a specialised engineering university, has a unique academic and administrative structure, and teachers from within the institution have better experience and understanding of its needs and challenges. They argued that appointing a VC from among DUET’s own senior and qualified faculty members will help ensure the university’s overall development, research activities and academic environment. Students also expressed concern that appointing an outsider as VA could create complications in preserving the university’s distinct identity and implementing long-term institutional plans. They urged the authorities to reconsider the recent appointment and appoint a qualified VC from within DUET. Earlier on Thursday, the students staged demonstration soon after the appointment of Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the DUET vice chancellor.  

Google is reportedly testing a change that could reduce free storage for new Gmail accounts unless users verify their mobile numbers. At present, new Google accounts receive 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. However, reports from users on Reddit and X suggest that the company is experimenting with a reduced 5GB limit for accounts created without phone number verification. Under the test, users who verify their phone numbers would continue to receive the standard 15GB of storage, while unverified accounts may be restricted to 5GB. The move has sparked mixed reactions online. Some users have raised concerns over privacy and data control, while others believe the change could help reduce spam and discourage the creation of multiple accounts to bypass storage limits. Reports indicate that the test is currently limited to select new users in some African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, and may be part of an A/B testing phase before wider implementation. Google’s official support pages still show that new accounts receive 15GB of free storage. Users requiring additional space can upgrade to paid plans under Google One. A company spokesperson, as quoted by Android Authority, said the experiment is aimed at maintaining a “high-quality storage service” and improving account security and recovery options. Google One currently offers paid storage plans of 30GB, 100GB and 2TB at different monthly price points depending on region. #From NDTV

The official mango harvesting season began in Natore on Friday in line with the schedule set by the district administration, with growers starting to collect early-season varieties from orchards across the district. The harvesting of Guti variety mangoes formally began in the morning, with leaseholders plucking naturally ripened Baishakhi mangoes from government orchards in the Bhaturia area of Sadar upazila. Harvesting and marketing activities were also underway in different mango-producing areas of the district. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) expects around 68,316 tonnes of mangoes worth nearly Tk 400 crore to be produced this season from 5,693 hectares of orchards across the district. Md Habibul Islam Khan, deputy director of the district DAE, said Natore has already secured its position as the fourth-largest mango-producing district in northern Bangladesh. He said the district’s renowned Tamaltala and Ahmadpur mango markets witness transactions worth crores of taka every day during the peak season, attracting traders from Dhaka and different parts of the country. Traders collect a wide range of sweet and popular mango varieties from these wholesale markets for distribution nationwide, he added. According to agriculture officials, mango harvesting, trading and marketing activities in Natore are expected to continue until October.

A worker was killed after being buried under soil while cutting earth at a brick kiln in Lama upazila of Bandarban on Friday. The deceased was identified as Md Saiful Islam, son of Mahbub Alam of Ramyakhola village. The incident occurred at SBM Brick Kiln in the remote Ramyakhola area under Fythong union. According to local sources, Saiful was loading excavated soil onto vehicles for brick-making in the morning, as he did regularly. Suddenly, a large chunk of soil slid down from a nearby hill and buried him. Co-workers rescued him and took him to nearby Chakaria Upazila Health Complex in Cox’s Bazar, where doctors declared him dead. Officer-in-Charge of Lama Police Station Muhammad Shahjahan Kamal said they were investigating the incident and take legal action accordingly.

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul, along with Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), has hosted a high-impact two-day roadshow in South Korea, aimed at integrating Bangladesh into the global semiconductor value chain through strategic international collaboration, talent development, and advanced packaging initiatives. The roadshow commenced on May 12 with a series of one-to-one meetings with Korean semiconductor design houses and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA). A 12-member delegation, led by MA Jabbar, President of BSIA, visited South Korea in this regard. The main highlight of the roadshow activities was a banquet reception held on the day in DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo hotel in Seoul. Bangladesh's Ambassador to South Korea Toufiq Islam Shatil delivered the welcome remarks highlighting the ample scope of joint collaboration between the semiconductor industries of both countries. He discussed the Asian Development Bank-proposed $79 billion, 20-year economic corridor from Teknaf to Tetulia as a future hub for high-tech industrialisation, creating a specialised ecosystem where semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and electronics can thrive outside the traditional urban centers.  BSIA President Jabbar emphasised the need to enter the semiconductor ecosystem through focusing strategic pathways like design verification, embedded system and advanced packaging. The technical sessions featured insights on “Silicon River” initiatives from Prof Muhammad Mustafa Hussain (Purdue University, USA) followed by capabilities overviews from seven leading BSIA member companies, namely Dynamic Solution Innovators, Test Bangladesh Limited, Ulkasemi Private Limited, Neural Semiconductor Ltd, PrimeSilicon Technology Inc, Siliconova Limited, and MARS Solutions Limited. On the concluding day on 13 May, the BSIA delegation met high officials of different semiconductor and research organisations, including Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), SK Hynix, Hana Micron, Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), Koolmicro, Y-Tech, and Growith Associates.   A significant milestone of the roadshow was achieved with the signing of Letter of Intent (LOI) between KAIST Global Commercialization Center (GCC), Center of Research Excellence on Semiconductor Technology (CREST) and BSIA. This agreement aims to foster joint research, talent development and capacity building in the semiconductor sector. It is expected that Bangladesh’s emerging industry will highly benefit from the technological and economic cooperation from the global leaders of Korea in semiconductor manufacturing. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul remains committed to supporting these initiatives to transform the nation into a global high-tech destination, according to a PID handout issued on Friday.

The government has provided financial assistance for the families of those died and those fell ill after being bitten by a rabid dog in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha district recently. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Masudur Rahman Molla and local lawmaker Majedur Rahman handed over assistance to the relatives of the deceased and the injured at an event on the Konchibari Union Parishad premises on Friday. Under the initiative of the Gaibandha district administration, Tk 25,000 was provided for each family of the deceased, while the injured received Tk 15,000 each. Additional Deputy Commissioner AKM Hedaitul Islam and Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Effat Zahan Tuli, among others, were present at the event. At least five people have died within a week after being bitten by the rabid dog at different villages of Konchibari and Chaprohati unions in Sundarganj, creating panic amid an alleged shortage of anti-rabies vaccines at local health facilities. The latest victim, Yasmin Sultana, 40, died at her home in Bajra Konchibari village on Wednesday. According to locals, the dog attacked at least 14 people, including women and children, on April 22. The injured victims initially received treatment locally before going to Gaibandha General Hospital in search of anti-rabies vaccines. Earlier, Afroza Begum, 50, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Nanda Rani and Fulu Mia died on May 6, while Ratneshwar Kumar, a mason, died on May 8. Earlier on Monday, the upazila administration provided Tk 10,000 in financial assistance for each family of the deceased.

A fish trader was hacked to death in an attack allegedly by a teen gang in Barishal city early Friday. The deceased was identified as Babu Sikder, 30, son of Kalam Sikder of the Palashpur area under ward No. 5 of the city. According to victim’s brother Naim Hossain, Madhu alias Tokai Madhu had been demanding extortion from Babu for a long time. On Thursday night, Babu had an altercation with Madhu over the issue. Before Fajr prayers today, Madhu called Babu over the mobile phone asking him to go to a local mosque to settle the matter through arbitration. However, a group of juveniles, led by Madhu, attacked Babu at the Tin-rasta intersection of Palashpur on the way to the mosque and hacked him indiscriminately, leaving him injured. He was rushed to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Naim claimed that Madhu’s associates, including Rubel, Raju, Sajjad and Saikat, also took part in the attack. Officer-in-Charge of Kaunia Police Station Sanjit Chandra Nath said the murder was linked to a teen gang, adding that drugs may have played a role in the incident. Local residents caught two suspected gang members and handed them over to police. The OC said drives were underway to arrest the remaining suspects. The body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Indian acting High Commissioner (AHC) to Bangladesh Pawankumar Badhe has said the two extraordinary poets – Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam – live equally and profoundly in the hearts of the people of both Bangladesh and India. Speaking at a function on Thursday evening, he highlighted that the enduring love and reverence shown towards Rabindranath and Nazrul remain among the strongest symbols of shared cultural heritage of the two countries. The event was organised at Bangladesh National Museum by Itihash O Oitijjo Parishad in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Culture Centre (IGCC) Dhaka, cultural school Tapoban, Nrityanchal and bahumatrik.com, marking the birth anniversaries of the two poets. A major attraction of the evening was “Nrityagiti,” a dance-music tableau directed by renowned artists Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibli Mohammad of Nrityanchal. The performance presented a creative synthesis of the musical and philosophical legacy of Rabindranath and Nazrul. During this segment, the artists performed group dances set to 14 popular songs by Rabindranath and Nazrul. The event featured Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury as the chief guest. Presided over by Prof Niranjan Adhikari, the discussion session featured presentations by Prof Dr Tarik Manzur from Dhaka University and Professor Ahmed Reza from Jahangirnagar University. The event also featured an exhibition of portraits of Rabindranath and Nazrul, drawn by over a hundred students from 13 schools across Dhaka, and its surrounding areas. At the conclusion of the programme, certificates of recognition were presented to the participating young artists.

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) detained three suspected robbers after an exchange of gunfire during a two-day operation in the Sundarbans, officials said on Friday. During the drive, they also recovered firearms, locally made weapons, ammunition and communication equipment from the suspects, said BCG Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan. The detainees were identified as Md Mehedi Hasan, 25, and Md Ramzan Sharif, 19, of Mongla upazila in Bagerhat district, and Md Enayet, 25, of Bhanga upazila in Faridpur district. The recovered items include three single-barrel guns, a locally made pistol, 49 rounds of live ammunition, 187 rounds of airgun pellets, two walkie-talkie sets and four walkie-talkie chargers. According to the BCG official, members of the notorious “Karim Sharif’” gang were staying in the Mara Chanmia Khali canal area along the Shela River in the Sundarbans. Acting on a tip-off, the BCG personnel from Base Mongla and Station Kokilmoni launched a special operation titled “Operation Mangrove Shield” in the area from 5:00pm on Wednesday, which continued for two days. “During the operation, the robbers opened fire after sensing the presence of Coast Guard members. The coastguards also returned fire in self-defence,” said Sujan. At one stage, the suspects attempted to flee, but the force members chased and detained three alleged active members of the gang, he added. During preliminary interrogation, the detainees reportedly confessed to being involved with the “Karim Sharif” gang for a long time and to abducting fishermen and forest workers for ransom. “Such operations will continue to make the Sundarbans free from robber gangs and their associates,” Suajn added.

The much-awaited Himsagar mango, one of the most popular and delicious varieties grown in Satkhira, officially hit local markets on Friday as growers began harvesting the fruit in line with the district administration’s mango calendar. Mango farmers across the district started plucking the variety from their orchards from Friday as the fruit has now reached full maturity, officials said. Wholesale prices of Himsagar mangoes were recorded at Tk 2,300 to Tk 2,400 per maund in local markets. Hafizul Islam Khoka, a mango grower from Kukrali area of Satkhira town, said Himsagar mangoes from his orchard are being exported to the United Kingdom and Italy. “About four tonnes of Himsagar mangoes from my orchard are being shipped abroad today,” he said. Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Monir Hossain said Himsagar mangoes have now fully matured and farmers have been allowed to market the variety from Friday. He said harvesting of Langra mangoes will begin on May 27, while Amrapali mangoes can be marketed from June 5 under the official schedule. The district’s mango harvesting season began on May 5 with Gobindabhog and Gopalbhog varieties, he added. The Department of Agricultural Extension has set a target to produce 70,000 tonnes of mangoes in Satkhira this season, with expectations to export around 100 tonnes to international markets.