United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Friday said that no force on earth can obstruct or prevent the upcoming national election, reiterating that the government wants to make it participatory, festive and competitive. Speaking to journalists after visiting Sureshwar Darbar Sharif in Naria upazila of Shariatpur, he said the ‘fallen autocratic quarters’ may try but they will not succeed in derailing the electoral process. He said the people of Bangladesh have not had a proper election during the past 15 and a half years under the ‘ousted Hasina government.’ Citizens are now eagerly waiting for a good election. “The main objective of the government and the Election Commission is to offer the nation a free, fair, peaceful and credible election. With the announcement of the election schedule, the country is moving firmly in that direction,” he said. Posters and campaign materials everywhere clearly show public readiness for a festival-like election, he said. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Imrul Hasan, Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Kaiyum, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Lucky Das, and spiritual leaders of Sureshwar Darbar Sharif — Pir Shah Nure Parvez Al-Noori and Syed Touhidul Hssain Shahin Noori Al-Sureshwari — accompanied him during the visit.

Appreciating the SANDEE's impactful 25 years journey, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Director General Pema Gyamtsho on Friday laid emphasis on continued joint efforts in the region to understand and respond to the nexus of poverty, development and environmental sustainability in South Asia. “The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) has grown into a vibrant, indispensable community,” said Pema Gyamtsho as SANDEE marked its 25th anniversary with a high-level three-day international conference that began at Himalaya Hotel on Friday. The conference brought together experts and global thought leaders, including from Bangladesh, on the economic challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development in one of the planet’s most critical regions – the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). The network’s legacy of building regional research capacity and policy impact is being celebrated as top global economists are charting path for the Hindu Kush Himalaya’s future. “Its work has fundamentally advanced how we understand and respond to the nexus of poverty, development, and environmental sustainability in South Asia. This foundation is non-negotiable for our future," said the ICIMOD DG.

A UN expert on Friday urged the United Kingdom to help mobilise international opposition to the Myanmar military junta’s claim that the election that it will stage later this month is legitimate, while taking other measures to strengthen its support of human rights in Myanmar. “I am heartened by the United Kingdom’s rejection of the junta’s election scheme,” said Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, in a statement at the end of his visit to the UK. “I urge the UK Government to proactively reach out to other Governments, especially those in Asia, to ensure they do the same. A strong, coordinated rejection of these sham elections is essential to deny the junta the means to fabricate credibility and legitimacy,” he said. Andrews urged the UK Government to take stronger measures to address a deepening human rights crisis in Myanmar. “While the military continues to escalate its attacks on civilian targets, there have been no new targeted UK sanctions issued against the junta since October 2024 and protection pathways for desperate Myanmar people appear to be narrowing under newly announced policies,” he said. The Special Rapporteur noted that the UK’s Human Rights and Democracy Annual Report has not been published since July 2023, leaving a noticeable gap in the articulation of the UK Government’s position and perspective on deteriorating human rights conditions, including those in Myanmar. “I am also concerned that the Security Council’s engagement on the crisis in Myanmar has fallen short,” the expert said. “As Security Council penholder on Myanmar, I urge the UK Government to increase the visibility of the crisis while demanding junta accountability.” “The UK could, for example, move to convene a public session on the junta’s failure to implement provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the Rohingya genocide case,” Andrews said. “A stronger human rights lens should be integrated into Security Council engagement.” The Special Rapporteur expressed his horror at the bombing of Mrauk-U General Hospital in western Rakhine State on Human Rights Day, which reportedly killed at least 30 people and injured more than 60. “This attack, carried out on a day when we reaffirm our commitment to human rights, illustrates and underscores the junta’s complete disregard for civilian lives and blatant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law,” he said. “The United Kingdom is in a unique position to help drive a strong international response, drawing on its leadership role as penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, as a country that has helped restrict the junta’s access to weapons and financing through sanctions, and as a major humanitarian donor,” Andrews said. “The people of Myanmar have shown extraordinary courage. They deserve an international response that matches their determination,” the Special Rapporteur said. “The United Kingdom can play a decisive role — and now is the moment to act.”

Two-year-old Sajid, who died after falling into an abandoned deep tubewell in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi, was buried at a family graveyard on Friday morning. Maulana Mizanur Rahman led the janaza held at Koelhat village, after which the child was laid to rest.   From early morning, villagers in large numbers gathered at the funeral ground No-1 in the community and broke into tears at the sudden death of the child. On Wednesday afternoon, Sajid slipped and fell into a hole covered with straw while walking with his mother in front of their house. The hole turned out to be the mouth of an abandoned deep tubewell. After a rescue operation that lasted 32 hours, he was pulled out on Thursday night. Physicians at Tanore Upazila Health Complex declared him dead upon arrival. Speaking at the janaza, Sajid’s father, Rakibul Islam, urged everyone to pray for his son. He told reporters that his son died due to ‘others’ negligence’ and demanded justice from the authorities. Locals said a man had attempted to install a deep tubewell at the site last year but abandoned the work after digging up to 120 feet without finding water. The open pit was left exposed and later widened by rain, leading to the tragic accident due to the lack of any warning or cover, they alleged.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday expressed deep concern over the serious bullet injuries sustained by Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch and potential independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, after an attack by miscreants in the capital’s Bijoy Nagar area. He said such violence in an election environment is completely unacceptable and described the incident as a sad and worrying development for the country’s peaceful political landscape. Prof Yunus strictly instructed law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation, identify all those involved in the attack, and bring them to justice. He called for immediate action to collect evidence from the scene, record witness statements, review CCTV footage, and uncover any organised plan behind the attack, if one exists. The Chief Adviser also ordered the authorities concerned to ensure the highest level of medical care for the injured Osman Hadi. He issued directives to the Ministry of Health to closely monitor all medical procedures related to Hadi’s treatment, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. “No form of violence intended to disrupt the elections will be tolerated. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the people and the free movement of candidates. Whoever is guilty will be brought to justice,” Prof Yunus said. He called on all political parties, activists, and citizens to maintain peace and restraint so that the upcoming elections can be held in a peaceful, participatory, and safe environment.    

Independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Manch, was critically injured in a shooting on Purana Paltan Culvert Road on Friday afternoon while travelling by rickshaw after Jumma prayers. Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said Hadi was shot by unidentified assailants around 2:30 pm while campaigning in the Bijoynagar area. “Two motorcycles approached while he was travelling, and one of the riders opened fire before fleeing the scene,” he said, adding that Hadi was immediately taken to DMCH in critical condition. Doctors at the emergency department provided initial treatment and administered CPR, describing his condition as “very alarming,” said Dr Mostaq Ahmed, residential surgeon at the emergency unit. “Hadi has a bullet lodged in his head, and another bullet struck near his ear,” he added. Before being shifted to the operation theatre, a CT scan was conducted. Hospital sources reported that surgeons began operating on him around 4:30 pm to remove a bullet from his jaw area and treat other injuries. His blood pressure later showed slight improvement, they said. Earlier, Hadi’s verified Facebook page posted an appeal for B-negative blood after doctors recommended an urgent transfusion. Misbah, who brought him to the hospital, said Hadi had just finished Jumma prayers and was passing through the Motijheel-Bijoynagar culvert road area by rickshaw when the attackers fired at him, striking him below the left ear. Meanwhile, crowds gathered at the DMCH emergency area following news of the shooting, prompting authorities to deploy army personnel to maintain order. Army members were seen standing guard at the emergency entrance as hundreds of people rushed to the spot. Police have yet to identify or arrest the shooter.

Police have arrested a man in connection with the killing of a freedom fighter and his wife at their home in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur district. The 22-year-old accused Morsalin was arrested from Shermosto Balapara area of Alampur union around 1:45 am on Friday, Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge (OC- investigation) of Taraganj Police Station. During the preliminary interrogation, the arrestee confessed to his involvement in the murder and provided important information, the OC claimed. However, the details are being withheld for the sake of the investigation. Abu Saiyum Talukder, investigation officer of the case, said Morsalin worked of setting up tiles at the couple’s house two days back the incident. “A drive will be conducted on Friday afternoon to recover the weapon used in the murder upon information gleaned from the arrestee,” he added. Earlier on Sunday, police recovered the bodies of freedom fighter Jogesh Chandra Roy, 75, a retired headmaster of a government primary school, and his wife Suborna Roy, 60, from their home in Khiarpara village of Kursha union. According to police, the couple was murdered around 1 am inside their residence. Following this, the victims’ eldest son, Shoven Chandra Roy, filed a murder case with the police station accusing some unidentified people. Morsalin was later shown arrested in the case.

Thirty-three people were arrested during a weeklong drive by the joint forces, including Bangladesh Army from Dhaka and parts of the country on various charges. According to a Facebook post shared by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on its verified page on Friday, the operations were carried out between December 4 and 11 by different infantry divisions and independent brigades of the army, in coordination with police and other agencies.  During the drives, the law enforcers recovered 10 illegal firearms, 12 rounds of ammunition, 12 crude bombs (cocktails), various types of narcotics, and both local and foreign sharp weapons. The detainees have been handed over to local police stations for further action. Such drives by the Bangladesh Army will continue across the country to ensure public safety, according the ISPR. In addition to ensuring law and order, the army is assisting authorities in maintaining stability in industrial areas amid labour unrest. The army urged the public to report to the nearest army camp if any suspicious activity is noticed.

A youth was killed and two others were injured when a speeding covered van rammed into them on way to a local market to buy fish after Fajr prayers in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur district Friday. The deceased was identified as Md Roman, 20, son of Jasim Jamadar of Purba Charkumaria village under Faridganj municipality. The injured are Bappi Haque, 18, son of Rafiqul Haque, and Md Sohag Mia, 17, son of Abdur Razzak, both from the same village. The accident occurred around 6:30am at Bhatiyalpur crossroads on the Chandpur–Faridganj–Raipur regional road. Locals said Roman and his companions set out on foot for Bhatiyalpur market after Fajr prayers at a local mosque. As they reached in front of Shital Patowary Bari near Bhatiyalpur, the covered van coming from behind hit them, leaving the trio injured. Locals rushed to the spot and took the trio to the upazila health complex where doctors declared Roman dead. The remaining duo was referred to Chandpur Sadar Hospital after giving first-aid. Enraged locals caught the vehicle’s driver Md Imran, 26, and his brother and helper Md Ikram, 23, and handed them over to police. The covered van was heading to Barishal via Chandpur after transporting goods to Chattogram. Officer-in-charge of Faridganj Police Station Md Helal Uddin said the vehicle along with its driver and helper was seized. Legal action is underway and the body was sent to Chandpur for autopsy, he added.

Two university students were killed early Friday when a Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) garbage truck rammed their motorcycle in the Konapara area of Demra. The deceased were identified as Iram Redwan, 25, a student of American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), and Apu Ahmed, 25, a student of United International University (UIU). Victims’ classmate Tausif said Redwan and Apu were returning home from a wedding event around 4:30 am when the DNCC garbage truck hit their motorcycle, leaving them seriously injured. They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared Apu dead first, followed shortly by Redwan, he added. Both students resided in the Chittagong Road area of Shanarpar. The City Corporation vehicle (registration Dhaka Metro Sha-140574) has been seized by police. Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the police camp at DMCH, said the bodies have been kept in the hospital morgue. The incident has been reported to the Demra police station.