United News of Bangladesh

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.

The government has announced a nationwide 22-day ban, effective from October 4 to 25 this year, on catching, transporting, marketing, and storing hilsa, aiming to protect brood fish during the peak spawning season. Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter announced the decision at a press conference on Monday at the ministry, while unveiling the ‘Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign 2025’ and discussing the availability, harvest, prices and export situation of hilsa. “The decision has been taken based on scientific assessments of the breeding season to ensure safe spawning of hilsa,” she said. The key spawning period runs from October 4 to 25 (19 Ashwin to 9 Kartik 1432), covering the four days before the full moon and three days after the new moon, the adviser added. Adviser Farida said the campaign will be enforced by fisheries officials along with the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, river police and other law enforcement agencies. To support affected fishermen, the government will distribute Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice among 620,140 fishing households across 165 upazilas in 37 districts. Each family will receive 25 kg of rice, requiring a total of 15,503.50 metric tonnes for the programme. “Fishing trawlers intruding from outside the marine boundaries will be strictly controlled, and river dredging will remain suspended during the ban. Catching hilsa will remain completely prohibited across seas, coastal areas and river estuaries for 22 days,” she added. According to research by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), the 2024 ban enabled 52.5% of brood hilsa to spawn safely, adding an estimated 44.25 billion juvenile hilsa (jatka) to the population. These juveniles will mature into full-grown hilsa in the coming years. However, hilsa harvests have declined nearly 10% over the past five years, with continuous reductions reported from 2020–21 to 2024–25. Hilsa export to India begins; 1,200mt approved for Durga Puja Although a nationwide jatka fishing ban ended in mid-June this year, the expected surge in market supply did not materialize, the adviser noted. Department of Fisheries data show hilsa harvests in July and August were down by 33.20% and 47.31% respectively compared to 2024. Total output during the two months stood at 35,993.50 metric tonnes—22,941.78 tonnes or 38.93% less than the same period last year.

The working women will get legal rights to take their children to the workplace, said Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud on Monday. “The working women will soon have the legal right to bring their children to the workplace and the interim government is actively working to implement it,” he said while speaking at an event titled ‘Recognition: A First Step Towards Gender Equality’, held at a hotel in the capital. He also said that allowing working mothers to bring their children to the workplace would be a transformative step for the future. "This would create a pressing need for mandatory daycare facilities in every office," he added. Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) organised the programme. The women in Bangladesh are not only shouldering the burden of unpaid domestic work but also increasingly surpassing men in various workplaces, said speakers at the event. Findings from the Household Production Satellite Account (HPSA) report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) were presented for deliberation According to the report, the economic value of unpaid domestic work amounts to Tk 6,70,000 crore which is 18.9% of the GDP, with women contributing 85% equivalent to 16.14% of the GDP. The adviser said that women are making relatively greater contributions than men in the workforce. “Development becomes truly meaningful only when women’s roles are fully acknowledged,” he added. MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam reflected on the organisation’s advocacy efforts spanning over a decade. “We envisioned a society where women are respected at home and are free from domestic violence. Recognising unpaid domestic work was a key part of that vision. Today’s government recognition is a milestone in the journey of advancing women's rights,” she said. Asma Akhtar, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) expressed hope for more frequent data updates in the future. Presenting the keynote, Banshree Mitra Neogi, Director of Rights and Governance Programs at MJF, said many crucial surveys are often funded by international development partners. “They may not always be able to do so. The government should step up and take ownership of such initiatives,” she said. Nusrat Aman, CEO of Ayat Foundation, said that men’s participation in caregiving should not be seen as commendable but rather as shared responsibility. Nasiba Selim, Principal Social Development Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said that society often assumes that women will automatically take on domestic responsibilities. “This mindset must change and we must establish gender-balanced roles,” she said. Additional Secretary of the Department of Women Affairs, Kazi Golam Tausif, said, “Men and women must work together for the welfare of society. That is our shared principle.” Geetanjali Singh, Country Representative of UN Women Bangladesh, said, “Joint efforts by men and women in unpaid care work could be a game-changer.” Stéphanie St-Laurent Brassard, Second Secretary (Development – Gender Equality) at the Canadian High Commission in Bangladesh, said, “Today we reaffirm that household work is not an expense, but an investment—an investment in potential, equality and a prosperous, just future.” Katharina Koenig, Deputy Team Leader of the CEF Citizenship Project, said, “We give utmost importance to the issue of women’s unpaid care work and will continue to run advocacy and awareness campaigns in the future.” Chairperson of MJF’s Governing Board, Parveen Mahmud FCA, said that recognizing women’s unpaid care work is a significant achievement, reflecting the long-standing advocacy of MJF. Stakeholders across society must change their mindset regarding gender equality, she added. This achievement marks an important milestone for MJF’s campaign “Morjaday Gori Somota” (Dignity for Equality), launched in 2013, which aims to increase recognition of women’s contributions, enhance their dignity in families and society and reduce violence and discrimination.

The International Farakka Committee on Monday urged the government of Bangladesh to raise alarm over the issue of repeated floods and drought in the Teesta basin in Bangladesh due to control of the river's flow in India. As many as four successive waves of flash flood have devastated the Teesta basin in Bangladesh this rainy season destroying standing crops and eroding crop fields and homesteads of thousands of families in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Gaibandha districts. The same river is rendered dry during the lean season every year when all its water is diverted from Gazal Doba Barrage in West Bengal, India. Leaders of the International Farakka Committee (IFC) New York and IFC Bangladesh in a joint statement on Monday said Bangladesh cannot remain silent over the man-made annual environmental disaster that affects life and livelihoods of millions of people in the northern parts of the country. Dhaka should also take proactive steps to start the process of negotiations for extending the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty that will expire in December 2026, under a system of integrated basin-wide management, IFC said. Farmers in the Teesta basin areas suffered damage in three waves of flood in August when their transplanted Aman seedlings were submerged and damaged. The mid-September floods damaged transplanted aman seedlings again. Erosion of crop lands and homesteads with dwelling houses is colossal. IFC leaders said that the problem of unilateral water diversion from 54 common rivers can never be solved without raising the issue with India and at international fora to stop the process of ecological disasters already set in motion in Bangladesh.

A Dhaka court on Monday ordered the freezing of 114 bank accounts held in the name of Taufika Karim, former personal secretary to jailed ex-Law Minister Anisul Huq. Senior Special Judge Sabbir Faiz of the Dhaka Metropolitan Court issued the order, following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The accounts currently hold approximately Tk 86.98 crore, while illegal transactions totaling Tk 653.36 crore have reportedly been conducted through these accounts. The ACC’s application, filed by CID Deputy Police Inspector (Retd.) Md Moniruzzaman, alleges that Taufika  abused her position to accumulate wealth through illegal activities such as bail trading, recruitment trading, and lobbying for transfers. The funds were allegedly used to purchase flats, cars, and land abroad. The court emphasised the necessity of freezing the accounts to prevent further transfer of illicit funds.

A bus was set on fire on Monday in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj district following the death of a 15-year-old cyclist under its wheels. The accident occurred around 12:45pm in the Shyampur Bazar area on the Kazipur-Dhunat regional road. Md. Nur-e Alam, officer-in-charge of Kazipur police station, said the victim, Kausar Ali, son of Kashem Ali from Manik Patol village, was riding his bicycle toward Sonamukhi Bazar when a bus of Aankhi Paribahan ran him over, leaving him dead on the spot. In response, angry locals set the bus on fire. Police and Fire Service personnel quickly arrived at the scene and managed to control the blaze, but most of the bus was destroyed. The police recovered the body and handed it over to the family, as no complaints were filed. Locals blame reckless driving for the accident and recalled a similar incident on September 5 at the same location, when a sand truck ran over a child named Taskin Babu. The child died, and Taskin’s mother Munni Khatun lost one of her hands in the accident. At that time, enraged residents also set the truck on fire.  

A member of local Union Parishad, was reportedly killed in lynch-mob attack while allegedly collecting extortion at Baliapara Bazar in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj district on Monday. The deceased was identified as Sohel Ahmed, 32, a member of No 3 ward of Brahmandi union and son of Makbul of the village. Sohel was an activist of Awami League and he was wanted in 12-13 cases including that of murder, extortion and robbery. He was active under the leadership of local UP chairman Lak Mia during the AL tenure. After the fall of the AL regime, Sohel went into hiding but recently he returned home and started collecting extortion, according to local people. On Monday morning, Sohel along with his three associates went to the house of one Sharif and allegedly demanded extortion. At one stage, Sharif with the help of local people caught Sohel and thrashed him, leaving him dead on the spot. The associates of Sohel, however, managed to flee the scene. 3 of a family found dead in N’ganj Khandaker Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Araihazar Police Station, said Sohel was wanted in different cases. Local people recently set Sohel’s house on fire, said OC. Police recovered the body and send it to Narayanganj General Hospital morgue.

A 23-year-old youth died after being electrocuted while working on an internet line in the Dilkusha area of Motijheel on Monday afternoon. The victim was identified as Oliur Rahman, hailed from Rangamatia village in Feni’s Parashuram upazila. Oliur worked for an internet company and lived in Dhaka’s Fakirapul. Around 2:45 pm, he was accidentally electrocuted while working on a WiFi line and fell unconscious from an electric pole. He was immediately rescued and rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Inspector Md. Faruk of the DMCH police camp said that the body is being kept at the hospital morgue and that the relevant police station has been informed.

A 28-year-old young man was stabbed to death by miscreants in Pallabi of the capital on Monday. The deceased was identified as Md Rifat, a worker of a garment factory and son of Sagar Mia of Shariatpur district. Quoting witnesses, Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said three to four people appeared Rifat and stabbed him indiscriminately in front of Pallabi Police Station while returning to his home around 4:30 pm. Worker electrocuted while cutting tree in Patuakhali Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. The body was kept at the hospital morgue.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Bangladesh organised a poster competition involving nearly 100 students from various schools in Dhaka to celebrate World Food Day 2025 and raise awareness about transforming the global food system. The competition, held at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, recently (September 27), was part of a global campaign initiated by the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, said a press release on Monday. The event highlighted the 2025 World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” which marks the FAO’s 80th anniversary. The theme calls for inclusive efforts to ensure healthy, sustainable, and accessible food for all, and recognizes the vital role of youth in driving change in the food system. Around 100 students participated in the contest, divided into three categories: Primary, Junior, and Secondary/Higher Secondary. Throughout the event, participants were involved in interactive educational games to learn more about safe food. A jury board comprising two faculty members from the Fine Arts department of the University of Dhaka and one representative from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) will evaluate the entries. Three winners from each group will be selected, and a total of nine winners will be awarded on October 16, which is the day World Food Day is annually observed. The award ceremony will take place at the World Food Day seminar, jointly arranged by the MoA and FAO. The winning posters will also be submitted to the global World Food Day poster competition. The FAO stated that the contest contributes to building a more informed generation committed to a fairer, greener, and hunger-free world.