United News of Bangladesh

The ongoing construction of the cancer unit at the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital is set to be completed in three months, assured Sylhet’s deputy commissioner, Md. Sarwar Alam, on Thursday. The announcement came after a delegation from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works assessed the progress of the construction. “We are hopeful that the cancer unit will begin operation within the next three months. Once launched, this facility will significantly ease the suffering of cancer patients in Sylhet and surrounding districts,” said Sarwar Alam. He promised steps to get rid of the prevalence of brokers at the Osmani Medical College Hospital.“Doctors and nurses are working sincerely, but services are strained under the pressure of excess patients,” he said. Although the hospital is equipped with a 500-bed capacity, it is currently serving nearly 3,000 patients. The DC noted that the additional crowd of patients’ relatives is further complicating hospital management. “We are working relentlessly to improve the situation,” he said. Nazrul Islam, secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, along with officials from Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, was also present during the visit.

City Bank PLC, a private sector bank in Bangladesh, has secured a $75 million loan facility from two international development banks to boost private sector investment. The loan deal was signed among the City Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the New Development Bank (NDB) to boost investment and sustainable infrastructure development in Bangladesh. The total financing package includes $50 million from the AIIB and $25 million from the NDB. The funds will be allocated for investment in Bangladesh's private sector and key development areas, including power, energy efficiency, e-mobility, and digital infrastructure. The bank officially announced the financing package on Thursday (October 2), confirming the signing of the agreement with the international development institutions. City Bank CEO Masrur Arefin elected new chairman of ABB This loan is particularly significant as it is AIIB's first on-lending facility in Bangladesh without a sovereign guarantee to a private commercial bank or institution. For City Bank, the facility is expected to catalyze private sector capital investment, create opportunities for long-term infrastructure lending, and support the implementation of crucial development projects across various sectors. The management of City Bank expressed confidence that the partnership will significantly accelerate investment in renewable energy and infrastructure, which are vital for achieving the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Bangladesh Youth Synergy Alliance (BYSA) has announced a protest rally condemning the Israeli attack on the Sumud flotilla and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The rally will be held at 3pm on Friday at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. In a statement, BYSA said, “We demand protection for the global Sumud flotilla and the immediate release of all activists detained by Israeli forces.” The organisers have urged participants to bring placards, flags, and drinking water to the rally. According to flotilla organisers, one vessel managed to approach Gaza’s coast early Thursday before contact was lost. The remaining 39 boats are believed to have been intercepted or are presumed intercepted, as all communications have since ceased. UK, Canada, Australia recognise state of Palestine Ekushey Padak-winning photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam is participating in the mission as the first Bangladeshi member of the international coalition. The media flotilla, part of a broader international initiative, aims to challenge the ongoing media and information blackout in Gaza and express solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people.  

Health and Family Welfare adviser Nurjahan Begum on Thursday said no one can spoil the communal harmony in Bangladesh. "No one can destroy communal harmony in Bangladesh. Humanity and service are respected like religion. It is important for us to remember this (spirit) from our respective places," she said. The health adviser made these remarks while visiting a Puja mandap on Kamal Ataturk Avenue in the city’s Banani area. She said that Durga Puja was being celebrated with enthusiasm and festivity across the country. “Today is Bijoya Dashami ... .Over the past few days, Puja was celebrated amid a joyous atmosphere throughout the country,” she added. During the visit, Puja organisers raised the demand for a permanent place in the Gulshan-Banani area to perform Puja and worship properly. Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof Dr Md Abu Zafar and Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Division Prof Dr Nazmul Hossain were also present, said a PID handout.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at many places in seven divisions due to deep depression over the Northwest Bay and adjoining area during the next 48 hours commencing at 3 pm on Thursday. “Under the influence of deep depression over Northwest Bay and adjoining area and active monsoon, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a said a Met office heavy rainfall warning. Due to heavy to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places over hilly regions of Chattogram division, it said. Beside, temporary waterlogging may occur at places over Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas.  

Three people died and two others went missing in separate incidents of boat capsize in Kaptai lake in Langadu and Naniarchar upazilas of Rangamati district. A number of boats capsized in Langadu BFDC ghat, Bhaibonchara, Langadu Launch ghat, Gulishakhali Beel areas amid inclement weather on September 30, said an ISPR press release. In Langadu upazila, a team of Bangladesh army along with local fire service men conducted a rescue operation and recovered the bodies of three people including a child early Wednesday. They also managed to rescue two people alive. In Naniarchar upazila, two people went missing when a boat carrying six people capsized during a storm at Mahajanpara on September 30. Those who went missing were identified as Denizen Chakma and Jitesh Chakma. However, four people managed to swim ashore. Divers from the Bangladesh Army are continuing the rescue efforts in coordination with the local administration and the Fire Service to locate the missing people.

Two more people have died of dengue fever in the past 24 hours, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 202 this year. During this period, 396 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, bringing the total number of cases to 48,228 so far this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new deaths were reported in Chattogram Division (outside city corporation) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the DGHS said. According to the latest data, the new cases were reported as follows: 87 in Barishal Division (outside city corporation), 96 in Chattogram Division (outside city corporation), 90 in Dhaka Division (outside city corporation), 52 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 56 in Dhaka South City Corporation, and 15 in Rajshahi Division (outside city corporation). Currently, 2,344 patients are undergoing treatment at various hospitals across the country. Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. The DGHS recorded 101,214 dengue cases and 100,040 recoveries during the same period. In 2023, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.

Some low-lying areas in the port city of Chattogram were submerged due to heavy overnight rainfall, causing immense suffering of residents, commuters, particularly office-bound people on Thursday. From Wednesday night until Thursday morning, torrential rainfall left knee-deep water in areas, including Chawkbazar, Muradpur, Kapasgola, Bahaddarhat, Agrabad, Katalkhola, WASA Mor and GEC Intersection. Many commuters were forced to wade through flooded streets to reach their destinations on Thursday morning timely. Fazlul Rahman, a businessman, said he had to walk from Muradpur to Natun Bridge due to stagnant water. It was extremely difficult and time-consuming. Echoing Fazlul, a resident from Chawkbazar’s kitchen market area Abdul Hamid said water began to rise around 9 am, reaching waist level within a short time on Thursday. As the streets of those areas were submerged, rickshaw and CNG drivers charged extra fares taking the advantage of the waterlogging. Commuter Mamunur Rashid said he had to pay Tk 80 instead of the usual Tk 50 to go to his office in Muradpur from Gate No-2. Waterlogging hampers goods handling at Benapole port Blaming poor drainage and uncleaned canals for the recurring problem, a resident from the Muradpur area alleged that every monsoon they face the same misery but authorities fail to implement a permanent solution. According to the Chattogram Met Office, 81 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in 24 hours till noon Thursday. Met Officer Mahmudul Alam said the monsoon is active and rain may continue for the next two to three days, forecasting a landslide and urging people living in risky hilly pockets to relocate to safer areas. Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said water accumulated in several areas overnight but started to recede by Thursday afternoon.

Police on Wednesday filed three separate cases against 1,000 unidentified people over the recent violence in Khagrachhari Sadar and Guimara upazilas for attacks on law enforcers and murders. Violence flared in the hill district over the alleged rape of an indigenous schoolgirl. Three indigenous men were shot dead during the violence. The case filed with Khagrachhari Sadar police station accused 600–700 unidentified people of breaching Section 144, engaging in vandalism, rioting and assaulting police. Sub-Inspector Shahriar filed the case. The officer-in-charge of the police station, Abdul Baten Mridha, confirmed. The remaining two cases were filed with the Guimara police station over a murder and attacks on police during the unrest on the same day. BGB urges media to report factually on Khagrachhari tensions; identities of 3 victims revealed Nearly 300 unidentified people were sued in the cases, said Guimara police station OC Enamul Haque Chowdhury, adding that the situation in the upazila was now under control. Shoyon Shil, who was arrested on charges of raping the child, was produced before court on Wednesday afternoon after a six-day remand. The Khagrachhari Senior Judicial Magistrate Court ordered him to be sent to jail, police said. OC Baten also said that the situation in Khagrachhari became normal amid Section 144 remaining in effect.