United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Navy has seized a large quantity of illegal fishing nets and unlawfully caught fish worth Tk 99.21 crore during the 58-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal. A media release sent from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said this on Thursday. The ban on catching of fish in the Bay ended at midnight on Wednesday. 58-day fishing ban in the Bay to end at midnight The government had imposed ban on all types of fishing in the country's marine waters for 58 days from April 15.  

A man allegedly killed his wife by slitting her throat and then attempted to take his own life in Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila on Wednesday night. The killed was identified as Rozina Khatun, 25, daughter of Abdul Aziz of Erandah village in Raiganj. Her husband, Motaleb Hossain, 32, hails from nearby Brahmangram village. According to Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Salanga Police Station, Motaleb and Rozina got married around two and a half years ago. As Motaleb’s family did not accept their marriage, the couple had been living at Rozina’s parental home since their wedding. Motaleb worked as a mason in Feni district and had returned home before Eid. Since his return, frequent arguments reportedly took place between the couple. On Wednesday night, another quarrel erupted between them. Around 2:30am, Rozina’s nephew, who was in a nearby room, heard crying and looked through the window, only to find Rozina lying in a pool of blood while Motaleb was writhing beside her. Bullet-hit body recovered in Kushtia:Police Hearing Bayezid’s screams, locals rushed to the scene and broke down the door and discovered Rozina’s throat slit and immediately alerted the police. Motaleb was also admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura that night. The OC said, “Police recovered Rozina’s body on Thursday morning and sent it to Sirajganj General Hospital morgue for autopsy.” A case has been filed over the incident, the OC added.

Crops on a vast tract of lands in Kurigram district have been damaged due to the torrential rainfall for the last several days and onrush of upstream water. Farmlands, including peanut and pointed gourd fields, were submerged due to the rainfall activities, causing financial losses. Farmers in the char (shoal) regions are facing significant losses due to the sudden inundation. Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have assured that once the floodwaters recede, damage will be assessed and necessary support will be provided to affected farmers. During a recent visit to the area, it has been seen that crops were submerged suddenly by floodwaters, forcing farmers to wade in and harvest prematurely. In some areas, water has already receded, exposing the widespread damage. Nor'wester lashes Lalmonirhat; houses, crops damaged Some farmers have started clearing their damaged crops. The Teesta, Dudhkumar, Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers overflowed due to the incessant rainfall for the past several days and onrush of water from upstream, inundating several acres of land.   Crops including peanuts, bottle gourd, jute, sesame, chili and Aush rice were submerged during the rainfall.   As the water remained stagnant for several days, most of the crops rotted.   Farmers said the untimely flooding has brought devastating financial losses this season.   According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland cultivated in riverine char areas across 16 rivers in Kurigram, crops on around 300 hectares — including vegetables — have been damaged by the floods so far.   Ershad Ali, a farmer from Shulkurbazar in Panchgachhi Union, said, “Due to heavy rain and rising river levels, my bottle gourd field was flooded. All the plants on one bigha of land got damaged. I’ve suffered a major loss. If the water had arrived just a few days later, I could’ve sold the produce for a good profit.”   Md Mamunur Rahman, assistant deputy director (Training) of DAE in Kurigram, said, “We have not yet completed the damage assessment in flood-affected riverbank areas. Once the evaluation is done, we will report the findings to higher authorities.”   END/UNB/Corr/MAS/F  

A four-day integrated medical training workshop, organised by the US Embassy in collaboration with the US Army, concluded at New Mooring Container Terminal of Chittagong Port on Thursday. The programme aimed to enhance emergency response capabilities during port-related crises by training first responders from key agencies. The ‘Medical First Response Train-the-Trainer’ workshop continued from June 9 to 12 and focused on life-saving techniques such as CPR and bleeding control during mass casualty situations. A specialised team from the US Army Pacific Command Augmentation Team conducted the training. A total of 25 officials took part in the workshop, including 15 from the Chittagong Port Authority, five from the Bangladesh Coast Guard and five from the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence. The training was part of a broader multilateral initiative coordinated by the US Embassy in Dhaka, in partnership with the three Bangladeshi agencies. Bangladesh Bank holds "Granular Data Collection and Analysis" workshop for bank officials The US Civil-Military Support Element (CMSE) led the effort, focusing on strengthening inter-agency coordination for rapid, effective crisis response and protecting critical infrastructure. The initiative also aims to equip participants to serve as future trainers within their respective organisations, thus expanding the impact of the training across Bangladesh. Since 2014, the US government has supported the training of over 25,000 Bangladeshi First Responders. This includes specialised sessions on topics like 'Swift Water Rescue, High Angle Rescue and Search and Rescue.'  The Embassy said these programmes reaffirm the US' commitment to bolstering Bangladesh’s self-sufficiency and crisis response capabilities, strengthening regional stability and making both America and Bangladesh safer. The training team included Captain Ryan Ray of the US Army's 'Pacific Command Augmentation Team', Staff Sergeant (SSG) Joshua Spellman, Sergeant First Class (SFC) Tyler Kimble, Staff Sergeant (SSG) Taylor Tiller, and Staff Sergeant (SSG) Tanner Schuwer. Besides, local officials, including Chittagong Port Deputy Secretary Md. Habibur Rasul and port hospital physician Dr. Tasnima, were also present.

An elderly couple was killed in a head-on collision between a trolley and a battery-run rickshaw in the Khashial union of Narail’s Kalia upazila on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Zafar Munshi, 70, and his wife Marzina Begum, 60, residents of Boro Kalia village in the upazila. Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Naragati Police Station, said the accident occurred around noon when a sand-laden trolley heading towards Kalia collided head-on with a passenger-carrying battery-run rickshaw coming from the opposite direction at Moulvibazar intersection in the Talbaria area. One killed, 10 injured in Mymensingh road crash “Both Zafar Munshi and Marzina Begum sustained critical injuries on the spot,” the OC said. Locals rushed them to Kalia Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctors declared them dead upon arrival. Sub-inspector Md Murad Hossain of Naragati Police Station said both the trolley and the battery-run rickshaw have been seized. “Legal procedures are underway in connection with the incident,” he added.

Thousands of people have begun returning to their workplaces from the Bhola district with their families after the Eid holidays, leading to a massive rush at launch terminals. The Ilisha Launch Terminal in Sadar upazila of the district witnessed overwhelming crowds on Thursday morning. Passenger vessels on the Ilisha-Laxmipur route, including launches and sea trucks, operated with two to three times their standard capacity, putting commuters at risk. Many people were seen waiting at the terminal for hours due to the passenger load far exceeding the number of vessels while some, unable to wait, resorted to illegally crossing the turbulent Meghna River using unauthorised trawlers, risking their lives. Although two launches and four sea trucks currently operate on the Ilisha-Laxmipur route, the number of vessels remains inadequate compared to the soaring number of passengers. As a result, desperate commuters, including families with children, are braving hazardous journeys across the river. Authorities have warned that the risk of accidents remains high under such conditions. But officials of the terminal expected that the rush to returnees to intensify further until Saturday. Passengers complained that the available launches and sea trucks are not sufficient to accommodate the crowd traveling to Laxmipur. Eid Holiday Rush: Kuakata gears up to host thousands of tourists Besides, the vessels in service are relatively small and have been transporting passengers far beyond their capacity, raising serious safety concerns. They demanded larger vessels to ease passenger suffering. Many passengers, including families, were forced to wait for long hours in the sweltering heat for the next available launch due to the shortage. Despite awareness efforts, most passengers were seen ignoring mask usage amid ongoing concerns about COVID-19. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Traffic Officer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said that 11 launches are operating daily on the Bhola-Dhaka waterway. Besides, two launches and four sea trucks are serving the Ilisha-Laxmipur route. He also informed that mobile court drives have been conducted against illegal river crossings on the Meghna. So far, four speedboats and one trawler have been fined a total of Tk 50,000. Efforts are also underway to increase awareness among passengers regarding the use of face masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission, said Jashim Uddin.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, currently in London, on Thursday said she was pleased with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’ visit to the UK. "Fantastic to welcome Hon. Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus to the UK this week," she wrote from her verified X handle. The High Commissioner said his (Prof Yunus) wide ranging programme of meetings underscore their "shared commitment to democracy, trade and investment, climate action, regional security and support to the Rohingya." Prof Yunus to meet King Charles before receiving prestigious Harmony Award Chief Adviser Prof Yunus arrived here on Tuesday, beginning his four-day official visit to renew their bilateral ties with the United Kingdom, with an increased focus on economic cooperation, trade and investment. “This is a very important visit,” said acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, noting that the relationship between Bangladesh and the UK is very deep and diverse. He emphasised that the visit will play a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations.  

A total of 614 people were killed and 1,196 injured in 597 road accidents across the country in May, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report also revealed that 35 people lost their lives and 14 were injured in 48 railway accidents, while nine people were killed and 10 remain missing in seven waterway accidents. Sylhet records 30 deaths in 29 road accidents in April: Report The report was released on Thursday analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online media during the period and a press release in this regard signed by its secretary general was also issued. A total of 658 people were killed and 1, 270 were injured in 652 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country. Besides, 256 people died and 201 others were injured in some 233 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 39.02 percent of the total accidents and 41.69 percent of the total fatalities. Dhaka division witnessed highest 139 road accidents with 148 fatalities and 271 injuries while Barishal witnessed the lowest 30 road accidents with 30 deaths. Among those killed in road accidents in May, two were members of law enforcement agencies, one army personnel, one firefighting personnel, two physicians, one freedom fighter, 142 drivers, 95 pedestrians, 59 women, 54 children, 66 students, 34 transport workers, five teachers and seven activists of different political parties. Among the vehicles involved in the accidents were 29.41 percent motorcycles, 12.48 percent buses, 22.53 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 5.39 percent private cars, SUVs and microbuses, 6.66 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 14.17 percent battery-run human haulers and 9.31 percent three-wheeler vehicles, said the report. Of the accidents, 33.50 percent occurred on national highways, 32.83 on regional roads and 28.14 percent on roads. Besides, 3.51 percent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 1.50 percent in Chattogram city and 0.50 percent on rail tracks, it added. The association blamed reckless driving, motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, lack of street lights, road marking or road sign, movement of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules, unskilled drivers and helpers and poor traffic management for the accidents and deaths.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus held a private one-to-one meeting with King Charles III on Thursday. Upon arrival, King Charles III welcomed the Chief Adviser at Buckingham Palace for a private one-to-one meeting, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. By meeting people privately, or 'granting an Audience', the King acknowledges the importance of certain individuals and their work, and creates an opportunity to learn more about them and give them a memorable Royal experience. An ‘Audience’ is simply a one-to-one meeting with The King. Prof Yunus is set to attend the ‘King Charles III Awards Ceremony’ (13.30–15.00 London time), Azad told UNB. Prof Yunus to receive Harmony Award from King Charles Thursday The King will formally confer the prestigious ‘Harmony Award 2025’ on Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, recognising his lifelong efforts to promote peace, sustainability and harmony between people and the environment. In June 2024, King Charles launched a new set of awards celebrating living in harmony with nature. The inaugural winner of the King Charles III Harmony Award was former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon. The awards from the King's Foundation are a cause close to the King's heart. He's spoken about the almost spiritual concept of humanity living in harmony with the natural world. It is based on the King's principle: "We should work with nature, not against it." British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has already extended her congratulations to Prof Yunus on his forthcoming receipt of the prestigious King Charles Harmony Award. "It is a great honour," the Chief Adviser said, referring to the award when the High Commissioner met him in Dhaka recently.

The interim government has adopted a data-driven labour market strategy aimed at improving employment outcomes for vulnerable and marginalised groups, marking a notable shift in Bangladesh’s social protection priorities. Though labour market programmes represent a smaller portion of the overall social safety net, recent years have seen significant strategic recalibrations. According to the proposed budget for FY 2025–26, an allocation of Tk 4,171 crore has been earmarked for 19 labour market programmes, while the broader Social Security Programmes (SSP) received Tk 1,16,731 crore. The reallocation within labour programmes reflects a clear policy shift. The budget share for entrepreneurship support has increased dramatically—from 10.76% in FY 2023–24 to 21.90% in FY 2024–25, and now to 36.83% in FY 2025–26. This trend underscores a move towards self-employment and enterprise development, especially for unemployed youth and marginalized populations. Flagship projects like the Promoting Gender-Responsive Enterprise Development and TVET Systems (ProGRESS) and the Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (EARN) have been instrumental in this transition, delivering tangible results in youth and women’s economic empowerment. As a result, economic inclusion programmes—which provide training, assets, and credit—now make up 60.84% of labour market expenditures in FY 2025–26. U.S. employers likely added 175,000 jobs in July as labor market cools gradually This marks a decline from 74.18% in the current fiscal year and 86.11% in FY 2023–24, indicating diversification in programme priorities. Notable entrepreneurship-focused interventions include the Fund for Women Entrepreneurs and the Rural Mother Centre Programme, which have been scaled up to strengthen women’s economic participation and stimulate rural job creation. Meanwhile, traditional vocational training retains a targeted role, accounting for 3.92% of labour programme spending in FY 2024–25. Programmes such as the Transforming Backward Youth into Skilled Industrial Workers Project, along with a nationwide Freelancing Training Programme and an expanded Driving Training Programme for overseas jobs, aim to build skill pipelines for both domestic and international markets. Programmes like the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) and the Rehabilitation Programme for Persons Engaged in Begging reinforce the government’s inclusive growth agenda, integrating social protection with employment generation. Despite these efforts, Bangladesh’s domestic labour market faces continued pressure. Youth unemployment stands at 16.8%, with 30.9% of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). Graduate unemployment has also risen, reaching 13.1% in 2023, reflecting a widening gap between skills and market demand. Manpower exports declined by nearly 30% in 2024, exacerbating domestic employment bottlenecks. In response, initiatives such as the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP) and upcoming training for over 841,000 youth aim to address this gap. The formation of the Labour Reform Commission in April 2025 and ongoing national dialogues signal a renewed push for labour law reform, formalization of informal work, and expanded social protections. On June 2, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled a Tk 7,90,000 crore national budget for FY 2025–26—equivalent to 12.7% of GDP—via a televised address. This is the 54th national budget and the first under the Dr. Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Of the total, Tk 5,60,000 crore is allocated for operating expenses, and Tk 2,30,000 crore for the Annual Development Programme (ADP).