United News of Bangladesh

Testimony from 16 witnesses has been recorded in the rape and murder case of four-year-old Tabassum in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah, with the trial proceeding swiftly under special government directives. The witness testimonies were completed on Wednesday in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Jhenaidah, a day after formal charges were framed against the sole accused, Abu Taher. Meanwhile, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asaduzzaman, speaking at an exchange meeting held at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Jhenaidah on Wednesday afternoon, directed authorities to expedite the trial proceedings in the widely discussed case. He said the government would maintain a zero-tolerance policy against rape and drug-related crimes. Jhenaidah Court Inspector Moktar Hossain confirmed that the witness testimonies had been completed. He said only two procedural stages remain before the court can fix a date for delivering the verdict. According to court sources, the trial began approximately three and a half months, or 110 days, after the incident as part of a fast-track judicial process initiated under special government instructions. On Tuesday, Judge Salehuzzaman of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal formally framed charges against Abu Taher following a hearing attended by Public Prosecutor Advocate Akilul Islam and state-appointed defence counsel Advocate Tarikul Alam. The investigation officer and Officer-in-Charge of Kaliganj Police Station, Jellal Hossain, submitted the charge sheet to the court on May 26. Court documents show that Abu Taher, the lone accused in the case, made confessional statements under Sections 161 and 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the incident. According to the case statement, four-year-old Tabassum went missing from Badedihi village in Kaliganj on February 26. Her body was later recovered from a septic tank of a local school. Police arrested Abu Taher from Kushtia on the same night following the filing of the case. The victim’s family has demanded the swift disposal of the case and the highest possible punishment for the offender.  

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting grassroots folk artists who preserve the rich heritage of Bengali folk music. In recognition of her exceptional talent and to support her artistic journey, the Minister for Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury has stepped forward to assist ‘Laily Baul’, whose soulful voice recently captivated audiences across social media. On Wednesday, during a brief ceremony held at the Minister’s office in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Minister personally handed over a financial assistance check of Tk 3 lakh to Laily Baul. Following the presentation, the Minister enjoyed a performance of traditional Baul and folk songs by the artist in his office. Captivated by the authentic melodies and her powerful rendition, the Minister highly praised her talent, stating: "True talents are resilient; they manifest themselves by overcoming all adversities, much like our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam." He further added, “Our indigenous culture and Baul songs are the soul of this nation. It is our core responsibility to recognize such hidden talents from marginal communities and stand by them.” Secretary of the Ministry Kaniz Moula along with senior officials from the Ministry and media representatives, were present at the event. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs continues to dedicatedly work towards the welfare of the nation’s art, culture, and artists.

Police have arrested the principal of a madrasa in Savar following a case filed over the alleged sexual assault of a student at the institution. The case was filed against Maulana Golam Rabbani, principal of Shamsul Ulum Khadimul Islam Madrasa in the Tetuljhora area, under Section 9 (1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act at Savar Model Police Station on Tuesday night. According to police, the case was lodged based on a complaint filed by the victim’s family. Following the filing of the case, police conducted a drive and arrested the accused principal from the Tetuljhora area. Police and case documents said legal action was taken after an investigation into the allegations raised by the victim’s family. Considering the seriousness of the accusation, law enforcers immediately launched an operation and detained the suspect. The incident has triggered concern and anger among local guardians and residents, who have demanded a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for those found responsible. Nur Mohammad, investigation officer of Savar Model Police Station, said the case was registered based on the victim’s complaint and information obtained during the preliminary investigation. “The accused has been sent to court, and further investigation into the matter is underway,” he said.

Two teenage friends drowned while bathing in the Meghna River in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Md Kayes, 13, son of Faruk from the Shanir Akhra area of Dhaka, and Meraj, 15, son of Raju Mia from Old Donia. According to local sources, seven school students skipped classes and went to bathe in the Sonargaon section of the Meghna River around 2:30 pm. Shortly after entering the water, Kayes and Meraj went missing. Their five friends searched for them but failed to locate them and later informed the Fire Service. Osman Gani, Deputy Assistant Director of Narayanganj Zone-2 Fire Service, said a diving team from the Narayanganj Fire Service launched a rescue operation and recovered the bodies after about two and a half hours.

Two construction workers were killed after falling from an eight-storey under-construction building in Mymensingh city on Wednesday evening. One of the deceased was identified as Masud Rana, 30, a resident of Chapainawabganj. Police said efforts are underway to identify the other victim. Locals said several workers were installing a lift on the building located in the College Road area of the city around 5 pm. Suddenly, the two fell from the eighth floor. Locals rushed them to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared them dead upon arrival. Building owner Dr Belal said the contractor had been provided with the necessary construction materials and had hired the workers. He denied any negligence on his part, saying he was currently staying in Mymensingh city due to the construction work. Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Mohammad Shibirul Islam said police visited the scene after being informed. “The bodies are kept at the hospital morgue. Legal action is in process,” he said.

Experts at a round-table discussion on Wednesday observed that although the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 has increased allocations for the agriculture sector, farmers continue to face mounting challenges, including rising costs of agricultural inputs, post-harvest losses, climate-related risks, inadequate market access, and weak implementation of development programmes. They said Bangladesh’s crop agriculture sector remains vital for ensuring food security, supporting rural livelihoods, promoting agro-industrial growth, and generating export earnings. LightCastle Partners and the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) Bangladesh organised the event titled “National Budget FY2026-27: Strategic Discussion on Crop Agriculture” at a city hotel, according to a press release. Speakers said between 1999 and 2019, the value of agricultural production grew at an average annual rate of 3.54 percent. However, the sector continues to face significant constraints, including climate vulnerability, growing dependence on agricultural inputs, and inefficiencies in post-harvest management, they said. Speakers said that agriculture’s contribution to Bangladesh’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined from nearly 38 percent in the 1970s to 11.2 percent at present. While public investment and policy attention to the sector have increased over the years, they stressed that the benefits of budgetary allocations have yet to adequately reach smallholder and marginal farmers. The discussion focused on how proposed budget allocations, policy priorities, and strategic interventions for FY27 can be translated into tangible outcomes for farmers and contribute to the long-term transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture sector. Speakers called for stronger implementation of agricultural programmes, enhanced climate resilience, improved market systems, enhanced post-harvest management, and greater support for farmers to boost productivity and ensure sustainable growth of the sector. The round-table discussion was attended by more than 30 policymakers, agricultural scientists, economists, entrepreneurs, development practitioners, and other stakeholders.      

The University of Dhaka has formed a new investigation committee to further examine a plagiarism allegation against Dr Md Ridhwanul Haq, a professor at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), after an initial review found a preliminary basis for the complaint. The allegation concerns a research paper submitted by Dr Ridhwanul Haq during his application for the position of professor. However, the accused professor has denied the allegation, claiming that the matter had already been resolved by the university’s Board of Governors (BG) and that the renewed complaint was filed out of personal hostility. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A B M Obaidul Islam formed the five-member committee on Tuesday and instructed it to submit its report within 30 working days. The committee is headed by the dean of the Faculty of Law. Other members include the dean of the Faculty of Science, the university proctor, the principal of Dhaka Medical College, and a representative nominated by Dr Ridhwanul Haq. The allegation dates back to 2018, when the university’s Board of Governors discussed the appointment process for three vacant professor positions at IBA. During the 113th BG meeting held on August 9, 2018, allegations of plagiarism were raised against a research paper titled “Retesting SERVQUAL Scale Items in Healthcare Service in Bangladesh: A Case Study in a Private Hospital”, which was submitted by two candidates, including Dr Ridhwanul Haque and another applicant, Mustaq Ahmed. Following the discussion, the BG formed an investigation committee led by the then Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), with the then Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies and a professor from the Department of Finance as members. The committee later reported that the research paper submitted in Australia had been considered for publication after revision but was neither finally accepted nor published. It also noted that the relevant journal did not mention a volume number or publication date. Based on these findings, the committee concluded that the allegation of plagiarism was not established. The decision was later approved unanimously by the Board of Governors under the chairmanship of the then vice-chancellor. However, allegations have emerged that the matter was later suppressed and has now resurfaced through a fresh complaint. Speaking about the latest investigation, Dr Ridhwanul Haq said the issue had already been settled through the BG’s decision. He alleged that during the tenure of the interim government, on July 30 last year, some teachers submitted the complaint again with the intention of harassing him. He also claimed that the original research paper had three authors, but the renewed complaint mentioned only his name, which he described as an act of personal resentment and hostility. “According to the BG’s decision, I was completely cleared of the allegation. Eight years have passed since I became a professor. Some vested groups have conspired to damage my reputation by bringing this allegation,” he said.

Two minor children were killed after being struck by lightning in separate incidents in Fulgazi and Chhagalnaiya upazilas of Feni on Wednesday. The victims were identified as Nadia Akhter, 9, daughter of Md Shahid of Basantapur village in Fulgazi and a third-grade student, and Abir Hossain, 7, son of Md Arif of Purba Debpur village in Chhagalnaiya upazila. Locals said the two children were struck by lightning amid rain in the afternoon. They were later rescued and taken to hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared them dead, they said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited ailing former MP Khaleda Rabbani here on Wednesday. The Prime Minister went to Khaleda Rabbani’s residence on Shah Mostafa Road in the town after attending a Family Card distribution programme at the Moulvibazar Govt High School ground. During the visit, an emotional Khaleda Rabbani recalled various memories from her long political career, including her association with former President Ziaur Rahman. She also showed the Prime Minister several old photographs, reminiscing about different moments from the party’s history. At one point, moved by the emotional recollections, Tarique Rahman embraced her affectionately and offered words of comfort and reassurance. The Prime Minister spent some time with the veteran politician and discussed her medical condition and overall health with family members. He wished her a speedy recovery. BNP Assistant Organising Secretary Miftah Siddique, Moulvibazar Zila Parishad Administrator Mizanur Rahman Mizan, and local BNP leaders and activists were present during the visit. Khaleda Rabbani previously served as women affairs secretary of BNP, president of Moulvibazar district BNP and chief adviser to the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal. She was elected MP from reserved women's seat for several times.

A parliamentary attempt to erase a finger-pointing incident from the official record hit a constitutional roadblock on Wednesday when Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad clarified that while words may be expunged, fingers enjoy a certain degree of parliamentary immunity. The unusual debate emerged during budget discussions when ruling party lawmaker Rafiqul Islam Hilaly elected from Netrokona-3 demanded that remarks made by an opposition member on Sunday – along with an accompanying finger gesture – be removed from the record. According to Hilali, the opposition MP had suggested that members seated in the back rows of the House do not consume drugs, while allegedly pointing towards government benches in a manner that implied the opposite. “We do not make remarks that undermine the dignity of any member, whether from the government or opposition,” Hilali told Parliament. “The finger was directed at us. I request that it be expunged.” The Speaker, however, drew a firm distinction between verbal and manual expressions. “I will examine whether any unparliamentary words were used,” he said. “But as for the finger-pointing, that cannot be expunged. Words can be expunged. Fingers cannot.” The ruling immediately sparked amusement among members, with some privately wondering whether future parliamentary procedures might require separate rules governing gestures, eyebrow movements and meaningful coughs. Earlier in the debate, Hilali expressed concern over the ease with which suspects in drug-related cases obtain bail. Recalling a recent incident in his constituency, he said a suspected drug user was arrested and sent to court, only to reappear at a tea stall outside the police station before officers had even returned from escorting him. “The policemen had not yet reached the station, but the accused was already having tea,” he said, prompting murmurs across the chamber and renewed appreciation for the efficiency of the justice system — at least in terms of travel time. Hilali called for stricter legal measures to prevent bail in narcotics cases until trials are completed.