United News of Bangladesh

Three  Jubo League leaders were arrested from different areas of Brichang upazila of Cumilla on Monday for organizing a cake-cutting event to celebrate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday. The arrested leaders are Md Anwar, son of the late Nurul Islam of Abidpur village; Mokhlesur Rahman, son of Abul Hasem; and Md Shahjahan, son of Abu Musa. All three are members of the Mokam Union Jubo League. Md Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge  of Burichang Police Station, said that the presence of the leaders and their political activities were confirmed from a video. According to the source informing the police, a special event was held at Mokam Union on Sunday evening to celebrate Sheikh Hasina’s birthday, led by Burichang Upazila Awami League executive member Md Mojibur Rahman, which included cake-cutting and a prayer session wishing the former prime minister a long life. 3 held over torturing youth by unleashing dogs in Cumilla Mojibur Rahman himself posted a video of the event on social media. The video shows the Jubo League leaders attending the program, cutting the cake, chanting slogans and offering prayers for Sheikh Hasina.    

In Madaripur’s Kalkini municipality, a 4-year-old boy drowned in a pond near his home on Monday afternoon. The deceased, Omar Ali, was the only son of Hamidul Haque Bepari from the Pangashia area of Ward No. 1. His family, unaware that he had left the house, discovered the tragedy only after it happened. Siblings among 3 killed in Madaripur clash Kalkini Police Station officer-in-charge Sohel Rana confirmed the incident. Omar Ali’s death has cast a shadow of grief over the local community.

In Chuadanga, a youth was injured after being attacked by a Jubo Dal leader in the Chuadanga Sadar Hospital premises on Monday evening. The victim, identified as Jahurul Islam, 30, is speech-impaired. He was rushed to the Sadar Hospital in a bleeding condition. The accused, Raju Ahmed, 36, is from Shantipara area of Chuadanga municipality and serves as the Assistant Secretary (Village Affairs) of the district Jubo Dal. Jahurul’s elder brother, Moni, said, “My nephew called me, and I went to the hospital. I saw Raju attacking my brother. I tried to stop him, yet he hacked him three times.” He added, “From what I know, the attack happened over an extortion dispute. Raju demanded money from him.” After the incident, local youths protested at the hospital demanding the immediate arrest and punishment of the accused. Father, son hacked dead in Chuadanga Israt Jerin Jessy, duty doctor at the Sadar Hospital emergency department, said, “Jahurul suffered two cuts from sharp weapons. He received initial treatment.” Khaledur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Chuadanga Sadar Police Station said that police have been sent to the hospital to investigate the incident.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has urged journalists to ensure accurate and responsible reporting on the recent violence that broke out in Khagrachhari, warning that misinformation could escalate tensions in the region. Khagrachhari BGB Sector Commander Colonel Md Abdul Moktakim made the call at a press conference held at Swarnibhar Bazar on Monday afternoon. Colonel Moktakim also appealed to all communities in the hill district to maintain peace and harmony during this sensitive time. He assured that the BGB would continue to support the local population until the situation stabilizes. To prevent further unrest, nine BGB platoons have already been deployed, with two additional platoons on standby. Khagrachhari 32 BGB Commander Lt. Col. Kamran Kabir Uddin was also present at the briefing. Earlier on Sunday evening, three people were shot dead and several others were injured as the indigenous Jumma population implemented the second day of a blockade in Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari. Under the banner of ‘Jumma Chatra-Janata’ (Jumma student-masses), the blockade continued for a third day today, to protest the rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl on September 23, and demanding the arrest of all of the perpetrators of rape against women in the Hills. The Jumma is a collective term for all of the indigenous peoples belonging to the three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The identities of the three people killed on Sunday were disclosed by police today. They were Akhrau Marma (22), Teiching Marma (20), and Athuiprue Marma (21), all belonging to Guimara.

Bangladesh Railway has advised passengers to purchase train tickets only through its designated mobile application “Rail Sheba” in order to avoid harassment and fraud. The authority has recently observed that certain fraudulent individuals are assuring ticket sales through various social media platforms despite having no capacity to deliver tickets, Bangladesh Railway said in a statement on Monday. These fraudsters collect money from passengers via bKash, Nagad, or other mobile banking systems and then disconnect communication, often by switching off or deactivating previously used SIM cards. According to Bangladesh Railway regulations, a registered ID holder can purchase a maximum of four tickets per journey. In such cases, the names of accompanying passengers must also be provided during the ticket purchase. Currently, 100 percent of train tickets are being sold online, exclusively through the official “Rail Sheba” app. No other person, institution, or platform is authorized to sell train tickets. Passengers buying tickets from unauthorized sources will undoubtedly fall victim to fraud. As per the rules, the individual whose ID is used for ticket purchase must travel with the ticket, carrying the registered mobile phone and a valid photo ID. Travel by anyone other than the registered passenger and listed companions is considered a punishable offense under the law. The railway authority has urged passengers to immediately inform law enforcement agencies or concerned railway officials if any fraudulent group promises to procure tickets on their behalf or attempts to sell tickets purchased under someone else’s ID. Bangladesh Railway Security Force (RNB) and Government Railway Police (GRP) will provide assistance in such cases. Additionally, complaints can be lodged by calling the Bangladesh Railway hotline number 131, where complainants’ identities will be kept strictly confidential.

A youth died on Sunday night after alleged mob beating and torture in police custody in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria. The victim was identified as Md Abdullah, 23, son of Abul Mia from Baherchar village in Tejkhali union under Bancharampur upazila. Abdullah succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Brahmanbaria General Hospital. On Monday, Abdullah’s brother Md Shakil Mia filed a murder case in Nabinagar Police Station against five people, including a police officer. The accused are Tabi Mia and Al Amin of Barail village, Aynal Haque of Baherchar village, and Md Mohim Uddin, in-charge of Salimganj police camp. The identity of the fifth accused could not be known. According to the case statement, a theft took place at Tabi Mia’s house in Barail on September 17. On September 23, the accused beat Abdullah suspecting him as a thief and handed him over to police camp in-charge Mohim Uddin. The family alleged that Abdullah was kept at the camp for four days without informing them and was tortured physically and mentally instead of being produced before court. On September 28, as his condition worsened, police first took him to a local hospital and later shifted him to Brahmanbaria General Hospital, where he died. UNO walks out amid rice distribution chaos in Brahmanbaria; Hasina’s name on sacks sparks controversy Executive Magistrate Prince Sarkar conducted an inquest at the hospital morgue on Monday and said that there were injury marks on Abdullah’s forehead, hands and other parts of the body. Md Ehteshamul Haque, superintendent of police said, a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident. Efforts are underway to arrest the accused.

Jamuna Bank and Pubali Bank have received approval from the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to raise capital through subordinated bonds. Jamuna Bank will issue its Non-Convertible, Unsecured, Fully Redeemable, Floating Rate Subordinated Bond-V worth Tk 8,000 million under private placement. The issue will comprise 16,000 bonds with a face value of Tk 500,000 each, carrying a coupon rate based on the reference rate plus margin. The bank had earlier disclosed its plan to the Dhaka Stock Exchange on April 21, with BSEC granting consent on September 28. Pubali Bank has also secured BSEC approval for its 5th Subordinated Bond worth Tk 5,000 million, to be raised through private placement. BSEC takes action against ACME, Genex, auditors over irregularities The Unsecured, Non-Convertible, Redeemable Floating Rate bond will consist of 50,000 units at Tk 100,000 each. BSEC’s approvals are conditional on compliance with relevant regulations. Both banks said the funds will strengthen their capital base.

A team of doctors from the United Kingdom and several European Union countries has arrived in Sylhet to provide free medical treatment, as part of a humanitarian initiative by the Tafida Raqeeb Foundation, an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK and Bangladesh. The medical delegation landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport on Monday afternoon, led by the UK-registered Foundation's president, Shelina Begum. They were warmly received by the foundation’s spokesperson and BBC celebrity chef from London Abul Hossain. Abul described the initiative as a rare and unprecedented international collaboration in Bangladesh’s healthcare sector.  “This is an exceptional opportunity for the people of the region. One of our core missions is to offer quality treatment to the poor, helpless, and orphans,” he said. The team will conduct free medical camps across Sylhet division from Monday until October 7, reaching underserved communities in need of healthcare services. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Project Managing Director of the Foundation, and Ala Uddin Pasha, a humanitarian activist from Sylhet, were also present during the reception.

Islami Bank Bangladesh is currently facing an internal crisis following a mandatory special competency assessment examination for a large number of its employees, most of whom were allegedly appointed irregularly over the past seven years. The bank organised a competency exam through the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at Dhaka University on September 27. But a portion of employees were absent to attend the examination. As a result, Islami Bank management dismissed the jobs of the employees who did not join the examination for disciplinary and misconducts with the jobs. Islami Bank, which has approximately 21,000 employees, is facing allegations that since the S. Alam Group took control in 2017 up to August 2024, it secretly hired 7,224 people in various positions without issuing circular in newspapers, said member of current board of director of the bank. Critics allege that a vast majority of these employees more than 4,500 people were hired solely from Patiya Upazila of Chattogram, excluding qualified candidates from 63 other districts and severely undermining the bank's discipline, he opined. The recruitment process allegedly involved widespread corruption, with S. Alam’s personal secretary Akiz Uddin and his associates reportedly collecting several hundred crore of taka in exchange for the jobs, which also revealed in Bangladesh bank’s investigation, said the board of director. Furthermore, it is claimed that around 2,500 of the recruited officials submitted fake certificates, primarily from Chattogram-based institutions like BGC Trust, Port City, and Southern University. The bank alleges that when it tried to verify the certificates with BGC Trust and Port City, they refused to cooperate. Some officials have already faced action for submitting fake certificates. These officials are also blamed for a sharp decline in customer service, unprofessional conduct, lack of skill, and in some cases, embezzlement of customer funds, revealed in the investigation. To justify the competence and skill, the bank arranged a special evaluation test through the IBA at Dhaka University on September 27. A total of 5,385 employees were scheduled to sit for the exam. However, only 414 officials eventually participated. It is alleged that many candidates were dissuaded by a group of officials who threatened those attempting to travel to Dhaka for the exam with violence, arson, and death. Following the low attendance, the bank instructed the non-participating officials to refrain from all operational activities until further notice. On September 28, a group of these officials attempted to create disorder at the bank's Patiya branch, which was subsequently managed by the police. In response to the protests and "misinformation" being spread by the officials through various media outlets, Islami Bank issued an official statement. The bank confirmed that several officials had filed a writ petition against the exam, but the High Court directed Bangladesh Bank to resolve the matter. The BB's Banking Regulation and Policy Department (Division-2) subsequently clarified that: "Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, being a private sector profitable institution, its officers/employees' service is governed by the country's prevailing laws, rules, and terms of appointment... the bank has the independent authority to make decisions while adhering to the country's laws and regulations. Therefore, the decision to hold the special competency assessment exam and whether or not to retain someone's service falls under the bank's own jurisdiction." Islami Bank stressed that by conducting the special competency evaluation test through IBA, DU, no contempt of court or legal violation has occurred. The bank, which operates as a Shari'ah-compliant institution, urged its customers and well-wishers not to be misled by the recent "misinformation" being spread by the irregularly recruited personnel, said in the statement.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has invited Imran Khan, a prominent American investor of Bangladeshi origin, to invest in Bangladesh’s burgeoning fintech, healthcare and social business sectors. Khan met the Chief Adviser on Saturday (US time). Prof Yunus invited Khan to visit Bangladesh in the coming months to explore opportunities firsthand. In response, Khan said he would plan a trip in the coming months. "Bangladesh’s young people need role models like you. It's an exciting time back home—you can help inspire a new generation," said Prof Yunus. Khan, 48, came to the US at the age of 18 to study and earned fame as an investment banker focusing on tech companies. Khan, Chairman of the Board at Aleph Holding, said he was deeply inspired by Prof Yunus’ lifelong mission to eradicate poverty and felt the timing was right to invest in his homeland. "I am a great admirer of your work. You are a national pride for all of us," Khan told Prof Yunus, crediting his influence as a key reason behind his interest in contributing to Bangladesh’s development. A former investment banker at JP Morgan and Credit Suisse, Khan rose to prominence for playing a pivotal role in Alibaba’s record-breaking IPO, one of the most successful in stock market history and for his role with Snapchat, a well-known social media platform, responsible for increasing the value of the company from zero to US$ 728 million in just several months. During the meeting, Khan noted that he has been closely following Bangladesh’s investment climate since the Interim Government assumed office in August last year. "The timing is favorable: the regulatory environment has become more enabling." He expressed particular enthusiasm about the rapid growth of fintech and indicated that investments would follow as the right opportunities emerge. "Bangladesh is a frontier market with an underpenetrated fintech opportunity. It has a large young population and the growth potential is enormous," he added. Khan is also the founder and CEO of Proem Asset, an investment firm he launched in 2018. Proem specialises in making concentrated investments in sectors undergoing technology-driven transformation, particularly fintech. His broader portfolio includes ventures in payments, digital infrastructure and related industries. During the meeting, the Chief Adviser also proposed that top US investors allocate one percent of their investments toward social business initiative, or in building a social business fund participated by like-minded companies, a suggestion Khan welcomed wholeheartedly and which he would like to eventually support. SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.