United News of Bangladesh

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday morning visited Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, who is undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Medical University. During the visit, the President enquired after the minister’s physical condition and wished him a speedy recovery, according to Bangabhaban. Minu was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on October 21 after suddenly falling ill. As his condition deteriorated and he was found to be suffering from anaemia, he was given several bags of blood. On the advice of doctors, he was later brought to Dhaka for better treatment. The minister is now receiving treatment under the supervision of a team of specialist doctors.

Masked miscreants vandalised a clinic in Khulna city on Saturday night, spreading panic among patients and their relatives. The incident occurred around 10:30pm at Sandhani Clinic and Diagnostic Complex on Babu Khan Road, opposite Commerce College, in the city. According to police and local sources, 8-10 masked men entered the clinic and smashed the glass panels outside the chambers of Prof Dr Md Kutubuddin Mollick and Dr Moazzem Hossain. They also damaged chairs and tables inside the chambers, forcing the two doctors to flee for safety. The attackers then smashed glass panels at the cash counter, snatched the mobile phone of Iqbal Hossain, who distributes reports. The incident left clinic official Suresh Roy injured. Panic-stricken patients and visitors ran for cover during the rampage. Before leaving on foot, the attackers fired a shot outside the clinic to create panic among people, according to local sources. Clinic supervisor Kalyani said they were working as usual when the masked men began vandalising the premises. They went outside during the attack and returned after the assailants left, she said. Kalyani, however, could not say what prompted the attack. Police could not immediately establish the motive behind the attack or identify the perpetrators. Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Assistant Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam alleged that the clinic authorities did not cooperate, saying they could not contact them despite repeated attempts. He, however, said they were investigating the incident and action will be taken against those involved.

The government has deferred a proposal seeking approval to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly from Japan’s JERA Global Markets Pte Ltd (JERAGM), pending legal vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The decision was taken at the 35th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held on Saturday, where a single proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division was placed for discussion. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting. The proposal sought approval in principle to procure LNG from JERAGM through the direct procurement method under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act, 2006, and Rule 99(2) of the Public Procurement Rules, 2025. It also sought approval to sign the finalised formats of the short-term LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and the term sheet between Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) and JERAGM. The committee decided that the proposal will be placed before it again after obtaining vetting from the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. No final approval for the proposed LNG purchase or signing of the agreements was granted at the meeting.  

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase has recommended the procurement of five cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from BP Singapore Pte Limited and an additional cargo from Qatar Energy Trading LLC to meet the country’s energy demand. The recommendations were made at the committee’s 51st meeting of 2026 held on Saturday, where two proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division were discussed. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting. Under the first proposal, the committee recommended purchasing five LNG cargoes from BP Singapore, with provision for additional cargoes if required and agreed upon by both parties. The proposed purchase will be made through the direct procurement method under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act, 2006, and Rule 99(2) of the Public Procurement Rules, 2025. The recommended price is JKM-0.17 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), with BP Singapore Pte Limited named as the recommended supplier. In the second proposal, the committee recommended purchasing an additional LNG cargo from Qatar Energy Trading LLC under an existing government-to-government (G2G) long-term agreement. The additional cargo is scheduled for delivery on December 20, 2026, at a price different from the rate stipulated in the existing contract. The recommended price is JKM-USD 0.10 per MMBtu, with Qatar Energy Trading LLC named as the recommended supplier.  

The houses of three suspects in the murder of a Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal worker were set on fire in the Satla area of Wazirpur upazila on Saturday night. The fire was set to the houses of Sajal Molla, 38, and Shamim Molla, 36, sons of Farid Molla of Alamdi village, around 10:00pm. The house of another accused, Iqbal Hossain alias Nannu Molla, also came under the arson attack. The arson followed the killing of Jubo Dal worker Kawsar Howlader, 37, who was hacked to death in the Satla area on Friday night. According to witness Rashed Amin Howlader, who was also injured in the incident, the attack took place near the Satla Bridge. He said they took shelter in a nearby house while trying to escape. However, a group of 18 to 20 people allegedly broke into the house and hacked Kawsar with sharp weapons. Rashed survived by hiding behind a door, while Kawsar was critically injured. Locals later rescued the two and took them to Kotalipara Upazila Health Complex in Gopalganj, where doctors declared Kawsar dead. Rashed alleged that an altercation took place between two groups earlier on Friday over a dispute involving drugs and that the killing stemmed from the incident. He also alleged that people from Dhaka and Barishal arrived in Satla in microbuses and motorcycles before the attack. Following the murder, police launched an operation and arrested nine people from the Padma Bridge South Police Station toll plaza area while they were allegedly trying to flee in a microbus. Police also said they recovered sharp weapons from them. Wazirpur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Rakibul Islam said police initially learned that the murder stemmed from a dispute over a trivial matter. “Someone set fire to the houses of three accused at night. We have visited the scene,” he said, adding that necessary action will be taken if a case is filed over the arson.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam will undertake an official visit to Spain and the United Kingdom from October 26 to 30 to deepen economic partnerships and promote cultural diplomacy. The two-nation visit reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening economic diplomacy, attracting investment, and expanding cultural cooperation with European partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. During the visit, Shama will meet dignitaries from various institutions to explore cooperation in trade, investment, business, tourism, skills development, and cultural exchange, with a view to further strengthening bilateral ties. The visit will begin in Seville, Spain, where the state minister will inaugurate the 3rd Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 on October 26. Organised by the Spain-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBCCI) under the theme “Stronger Partnership, Shared Prosperity,” the expo aims to connect Bangladeshi exporters with Spanish manufacturers, importers and investors. Following her engagements in Spain, Shama will travel to the United Kingdom for a visit from October 29 to 30. Her engagements in the UK will focus on promoting Bangladeshi art and culture, expanding international cultural partnerships, and exploring opportunities to develop the country’s creative economy.

The results of this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will be published on October 29. In a notice issued on Saturday, the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee said the results would be published on Thursday (Oct 29). The notice, signed by committee president Prof Syed Akhtaruzzaman, who is also chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, said further details about the publication of the results would be announced in a press release on October 26. This year's examinations began simultaneously across the country on July 2, with more than 12.70 lakh candidates registered under 11 education boards. Students from 9,439 educational institutions took the examinations at 2,697 centres under the nine general education boards, the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board and the Bangladesh Technical Education Board.

Two inmates of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Rafiqul Islam, 59, son of Saidur Rahman of the Natun Bari area under Kabirhat Police Station in Noakhali, and Mehedi Hasan Kazi, 18, an SSC examinee from Madaripur. Mehedi Hasan died of dengue, while Rafiqul Islam is suspected to have suffered a stroke. Prison guard Md Sahabul Islam said Mehedi Hasan, son of Mohammad Faruk Kazi of Uttar Kazipara village under Shibchar Police Station in Madaripur, contracted dengue while in jail and initially received treatment at the prison hospital. Later, he was transferred to the medicine department of DMCH on the instructions of the prison authorities. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken to the hospital's emergency department around 3:00pm in an unconscious state. The attending doctor declared him dead at around 5:30pm. Sahabul Islam said Mehedi Hasan was being held as an undertrial prisoner at the central jail (prisoner No. 10718/26) in connection with a case filed with Kamrangirchar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The deceased's elder brother, Sayed Kazi, said Mehedi Hasan was an SSC examinee and had been in custody for the past seven months in connection with a rape case filed with Kamrangirchar Police Station. He said his brother died after being taken to DMCH for dengue treatment. Inspector Md Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the police outpost at DMCH, said Mehedi Hasan's body had been kept in the hospital morgue for an autopsy. It would be handed over to the family after the autopsy. Meanwhile, his relatives demanded that the body be handed over without a post-mortem examination; this led to an argument and a scuffle with the on-duty prison guards and Ansar personnel. Police from the Shahbagh station later arrived and brought the situation under control. Regarding Rafiqul Islam's death, prison guard Harun Sheikh said Rafiqul suddenly experienced chest pain and fell seriously ill inside the jail around 3:00pm on Saturday. On the instructions of the prison authorities, he was rushed to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead at around 4:00pm. Harun said Rafiqul was suspected to have died of a stroke. The bodies will be handed over to the relatives following the completion of due procedures.

Police arrested 18 members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), including a leader, following a sudden procession in Cumilla city on Friday, officials said Saturday. The arrests were made during joint raids conducted by the District Detective Branch (DB) and Kotwali Model Police Station from Friday night until Saturday morning. The key detainee was identified as Kaiyum, son of Md. Zakir Hossain of Panchthubi union in Cumilla Sadar upazila. According to police, BCL activists brought out a flash procession on the Nurpur-Telikona road in the city during Friday Juma prayer khutba. Police identified the participants by analyzing video footage of the incident. Md. Touhidul Anwar, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station, said Kotwali police detained 16 individuals while DB police arrested two.  Legal action is being taken against the arrestees, and they will be produced before a Cumilla court in the afternoon, the OC added.

A total of Tk 88,65,804 in cash was recovered during the fifth round of counting donations from the donation boxes and sealed containers at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet on Saturday. Gold, silver and foreign currencies from 18 countries were also found during the counting. With this, the total cash collected in five rounds has reached Tk 3,13,23,144. The fifth round of counting began at 10:00am under the direct supervision of the district administration, one month and eight days after the previous count. The money and valuables were recovered after three sealed containers and five donation boxes at the shrine were opened. The valuables included 1.8 bhori of gold, 3.13 bhori of silver, 7,647 Indian rupees and 14 British pounds. Other currencies recovered included 11 Malaysian ringgit, 20 Thai baht, 15 Maldivian rufiyaa, 10 Hong Kong dollars, 1 Brunei dollar, 55 Nepalese rupees, 100 Pakistani rupees, 50 Russian rubles and 500 Sri Lankan rupees. Of the seven cattle donated to the shrine, four were slaughtered for its communal kitchen, known as the langorkhana, while the remaining three were given to the shrine's caretakers, known as khadims. Of the 310 goats donated, 237 were used for the communal kitchen and shinni, or ritual offerings. Shrine officials, bank representatives and a large number of volunteers took part in the counting. After the count, the money and valuables were deposited into the shrine's designated bank account under the supervision of the district administration. Officials said the funds would be used for the shrine's development and various charitable activities. Special donation boxes were installed at the shrine in June to improve security and ensure financial transparency. Since then, donations and valuables collected in the boxes have been counted publicly at regular intervals. According to the district administration, Tk 17,65,549 was collected in the first round, Tk 47,10,000 in the second, Tk 70,88,672 in the third and Tk 88,92,966 in the fourth. The fifth round yielded Tk 88,65,804. At a meeting on September 23 to improve transparency in the shrine's financial management, it was decided that donations would be counted daily. Plans were made to recruit a manager, an accountant and an office assistant to oversee the counting of donations, maintain records and manage expenditure. However, daily counting has yet to begin as the recruitment process remains incomplete. Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun said the recruitment process is underway and applications have been received. “We expect the process to be completed by next month, after which the shrine's funds will be counted daily. Today, one month and eight days later, we are conducting the fifth count of donations collected at the shrine,” he said. The fourth round of counting was held on September 19, when three large cauldrons, known as degs, and five donation boxes were opened. It yielded Tk 88,92,966, along with gold and foreign currencies from 15 countries. At the September 23 meeting, a committee led by Khandaker Abdul Muktadir decided how the donations would be allocated. Under the decision, 35 percent of the total donations would go towards the shrine's development projects and be deposited into an account at Sonali Bank. The remaining 65 percent would be used to meet daily operating expenses and pay staff salaries and allowances.