United News of Bangladesh

A village in Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila turned into a battlefield on Tuesday as enraged residents clashed with police over the “rape and murder” of a seven-year-old girl, leaving at least 20 people, including the district’s superintendent of police (SP) and an officer-in-charge (OC), injured. Violence erupted after police refused to hand over the prime suspect to the crowd. Seven vehicles were vandalised during the melee. Nandini Kanto Roy, daughter of Nalini Kanto of Folimari village under Bhelabari union, was found dead in a maize field of the village in the morning, a day after she went missing on Monday afternoon. Locals spotted muddy soil in the nearby maize field. Later, they dug up the spot, where they found the child's body stuffed inside a sack. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Suspicion later fell on Bidhan Chandra Roy, 22, on of Ranjit Kumar Roy of the same village, after a local resident reportedly saw him returning from the maize field carrying a spade on Monday evening. Later, agitated villagers swooped on his house and vandalised it while he was inside the house. Policemen, who were present at the spot, took Bidhan into their custody. However, locals demanded that Bidhan be handed to them for immediate punishment. As police refused to hand him over to the protesters, they besieged the law enforcers and swooped on them. As police swung into action, a clash broke out between the two sides, when chases and counter-chase took place for nearly three hours, turning the whole area into a battlefield.  

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday dropped a strong hint that he supports England in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, though he stopped short of naming his favourite team. He gave the hint while responding to a question from senior journalist Sumon Mahmud while exchanging views with reporters covering the BNP beat after having lunch with them at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre at Agargaon. As the journalist asked which team he supports in the World Cup, Tarique Rahman offered a light-hearted and diplomatic reply. Without naming any team directly, he smiled and said, “I spent a long time in one country. You can understand.” He then turned to the journalist and asked, “You got your answer, didn't you?” The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to England, where Tarique Rahman lived for nearly 17 years. Tarique Rahman left Bangladesh in September 2008 for medical treatment after securing bail from the Supreme Court. He later settled in London with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman. After spending 17 years abroad, he returned to Bangladesh with his family on December 25, 2025. Football fever has gripped Bangladesh following the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament officially kicked off on June 11 with an opening ceremony and the first match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. A record 48 teams are taking part in the 39-day tournament, which will conclude with the final in New York on July 19. England will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in the early hours of June 18 (Bangladesh time), a match that is expected to draw much interest among local football fans.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen visited Rajshahi on Tuesday to experience the region’s renowned mangoes firsthand and learn about the district’s mango industry, agricultural potential and local development initiatives. The ambassador, accompanied by a four-member delegation, arrived at Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi on a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the morning. From the airport, the delegation travelled by road to the historic Baneshwar Mango Market in Puthia upazila before heading to the Bangladesh Police Academy. At around 9 am, the US Ambassador visited Baneshwar Mango Market, one of the largest mango trading hubs in northern Bangladesh. During the visit, the ambassador visited several wholesale outlets, exchanged views with mango growers and traders, and learned about different varieties of mangoes produced in the region. He also sampled several locally grown mango varieties. Traders and farmers briefed him on mango production, marketing and export prospects in Rajshahi. Speaking to journalists, the US Ambassador said, “This is my first visit to Rajshahi as ambassador, although I visited the city once in 2020. This time, I specifically came during mango season because I wanted to taste Rajshahi’s famous mangoes. I am truly delighted to be here.” The ambassador said he comes from an agricultural state in the United States and therefore values the opportunity to visit places where agricultural products are grown and to experience them firsthand. Highlighting the export potential of Bangladeshi mangoes, he said Americans are very fond of mangoes, but most mangoes available in the US market are sold in frozen form. “Fresh mangoes like those available in Rajshahi are not easily found in the United States,” he said. He also stressed the importance of developing an improved cold-chain system and storage facilities to expand mango exports, saying enhanced preservation and export infrastructure could create greater opportunities for Bangladeshi mangoes in international markets. Local traders and farmers expressed hope that the US ambassador’s visit would help promote Rajshahi mangoes globally and contribute to expanding their export market.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the countrywide local government elections, to be held in phases, may begin in September or October this year after the end of the monsoon season. Replying to a question from ruling party lawmaker Md Mustafizur Rahman Babul (Jamalpur-3) during the question-answer session in Parliament with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair, he said the government plans to complete elections to all tiers of local government bodies within the next year. The minister said elections to Union Parishads, municipalities, Upazila Parishads, Zila Parishads and city corporations will be held gradually, subject to the availability of budgetary allocations. “The Union Parishad elections may be held first, followed by elections to other local government institutions in phases,” he said. Mirza Fakhrul also said elections to all 13 city corporations, including the newly established Bogura City Corporation, are expected to be completed within the same timeframe. Replying to another question from ruling party MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, he said the Local Government Division has already allocated Tk 6 lakh to each Upazila Parishad for constructing an inspection room within the Parishad premises for lawmakers and senior government officials. Responding to a question from reserved seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, the minister said the daily water demand in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation currently stands at 3.2-3.25 billion litres, with fluctuations during summer and winter seasons. He said the present daily water production capacity of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is around 2.95-3.0 billion litres. According to the minister, water is treated using advanced chemicals, including PAC, alum sulphate and chlorination, and supplied through the network only after quality testing in WASA laboratories in line with World Health Organization guidelines. He added that Dhaka WASA collects 40-50 water samples daily from different parts of the city and tests them against various parametres to ensure quality standards. In response to a question from reserved seat MP Selima Rahman, Mirza Fakhrul said household waste collection in the DNCC areas is currently carried out by private operators, who transport waste by vans to secondary transfer stations. He said efforts are underway to bring these operators under formal contracts with the city corporation. Once the contracting process is completed, the use of smaller covered vans for environment-friendly waste transportation will be considered. Replying to a question from reserved seat MP Nipun Roy Chowdhury, the minister said the government has taken steps to develop Version-2 of the Birth and Death Registration software. The upgraded system will include online payment facilities and blockchain-based tracking features, enabling authorities to identify any changes made to records and determine at which level such modifications occurred, he said. Mirza Fakhrul also said regular training is being provided for registrars and registration assistants across the country to simplify services and reduce public inconvenience.

LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the government is working to transform Union Digital Centres (UDCs) into modern and more effective service hubs to ensure easier access to public services through digital platforms. Replying to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Anisur Rahman in the Jatiya Sangsad, the minister said the Local Government Division and a2i under the ICT Division are jointly working to modernise Union Digital Centres across the country. He said citizens are already receiving a wide range of government services digitally through these centres. The minister informed the House that a2i and the United Nations Development Programme are conducting a baseline assessment as part of the implementation of the Digital Centre 2.0 initiative nationwide. Fakhrul said regular capacity-building training programmes are being organised to keep entrepreneurs engaged and motivated. He said agent banking and mobile financial services have been introduced at digital centres nationwide to expand financial inclusion.  A Probashi Help Desk is being established at every centre to facilitate remittance withdrawal and provide reintegration services for expatriates, he said.  Mirza Fakhrul also said initiatives have been taken to establish Skills Fusion Centres to improve youth employability, while training programmes on freelancing and e-commerce are being introduced. Regarding Madaripur district, the minister told Parliament that 59 Union Parishads currently have 77 entrepreneurs providing citizen services through digital centres. He said the government's ongoing digitalisation efforts are aimed at expanding technology-based public service delivery and strengthening grassroots access to government services across the country.  

A total of 562 people were arrested in a weeklong special anti-crime drive conducted by police across Dhaka District South, targeting dacoity, narcotics, snatching, theft and terrorism-related offences. The operation was carried out from June 8 to June 15 under the leadership of Dhaka District Superintendent of Police (SP) Shamima Parveen. Members of the district Detective Branch (DB), Keraniganj Model Police Station, South Keraniganj Police Station, Nawabganj Police Station and Dohar Police Station took part in the drive. Speaking at a press briefing held at Keraniganj Model Police Station on Tuesday, SP Shamima Parveen said police arrested 79 suspects, including 25 alleged robbers and 35 thieves. Among those detained were notorious robber leaders known as Briefcase Hannan and Soni, both accused in 102 cases. During the operation, police recovered 82 grams of heroin, 3,578 yaba tablets, 56 litres of liquor and 25 kilograms of cannabis. Law enforcers also seized one microbus, two trucks, two CNG-run auto-rickshaws, three battery-operated auto-rickshaws, five kg of copper wire and 216 vehicle batteries. Police also arrested 135 accused wanted in GR and CR warrant cases. In addition, 296 people were detained in connection with various crimes, while 146 alleged drug traders and 85 individuals under the Anti-Terrorism Act were arrested. All 562 detainees were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka. SP Shamima Parveen said Prime Minister and Inspector General of Police (IGP) have instructed law enforcers to take action against criminals regardless of political affiliation.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam on Tuesday claimed that the supply of daily essential commodities remains stable across markets, while prices of ginger, garlic and onion have come down. He made the claim while talking to reporters after visiting Mohakhali Kitchen Market and Mohammadpur Town Hall Kitchen Market. The state minister said he talked to both wholesale and retail traders on supply and marketing conditions, and to shoppers on the overall price situation. He said prices of most daily necessities are currently stable. Vendors informed him that stocks are adequate and that ginger, garlic and onion prices have eased in recent weeks. "We are monitoring the market on the orders of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," he told reporters after the visits. "Yesterday (Monday) I inspected Karwan Bazar, today two more markets, and in both cases, I found consumers largely satisfied. This government was elected by the people and will always remain attentive to their well-being," Shariful said. Striking a balance on profit margins, he said businesses must earn a return to survive but must not pass excessive price hikes onto consumers. "Government oversight will continue to protect consumer interests." To ensure transparency in market management, the state minister directed every shop to display an up-to-date price list in a clearly visible location. Assistant Director of the Dhaka divisional office of the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection Abdul Jabbar Mondol was present during the inspections.

Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Tuesday said the government has taken initiative to expand rail connectivity to 10 more districts. The minister said this at a press briefing held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at Secretariat following a review meeting on railway development and connectivity chaired by the Prime Minister. The minister said the meeting reviewed the current state of railway services, overall connectivity, ongoing development projects and future expansion plans.“The Prime Minister reviewed the latest activities of the Railways Ministry, assessed the quality of services and connectivity, and provided his observations. Following the review, several important decisions were taken to improve connectivity and railway services across the country,” he said. He said several major railway projects including Akhaura-Sylhet and Sirajganj-Bogura rail links are already progressing. The government has also approved a project to establish an Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Dhirashram while steps are being taken to improve railway infrastructure on Dhaka-Chattogram route, he said. The existing metre-gauge sections between Tongi and Akhaura and between Laksham and Sylhet will be upgraded to dual-gauge double-track lines to remove existing connectivity gaps, he added. Currently, 49 districts of the country are connected to the railway network, he said, adding that the government’s election manifesto pledged to bring all 64 districts under rail connectivity. “To achieve that goal, we have presented possible routes and expansion plans to extend rail services to 10 more districts that currently lack adequate railway connectivity,” he said. The minister said discussions also focused on introducing and expanding commuter train services in areas surrounding Dhaka to ease travel for workers and businesspeople. Citing Manikganj as an example, he noted that the district, despite being located close to the capital, still lacks rail connectivity. “We have plans to establish commuter rail services linking Dhaka with nearby districts, including Manikganj and Narsingdi, similar to existing services on the Dhaka-Narayanganj and Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebpur routes,” he said. The proposed expansion would enable residents of surrounding districts to travel to and from Dhaka more quickly for work, business and other daily activities, he added.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday told Parliament that the government has adopted a comprehensive short-, medium- and long-term action plan to address Dhaka's persistent waterlogging problem, including canal restoration, drainage infrastructure upgrades and the construction of new pump stations. Replying to a written question from ruling party lawmaker Md Abul Kalam (Cumilla-9) in the House, which sat with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair, he said Dhaka's drainage crisis has worsened over the years due to the loss of rivers, canals and water bodies. Under the short-term programme, silt and waste are being removed from drains, box culverts and canals, while rainwater is being discharged through existing pump stations, Mirza Fakhrul said. He said portable pumps are also being used to drain accumulated rainwater from waterlogging-prone areas during heavy rainfall, while additional catchpits and iron gratings are being installed to improve drainage. To strengthen emergency response, ward-based teams have been formed to take immediate action in waterlogged areas, and obstructions hindering water flow are being removed, the minister said. He added that awareness programmes are being conducted to discourage the dumping of waste into drainage channels. On medium-term measures, Mirza Fakhrul said development work on four major canals are underway under a canal restoration, rehabilitation and beautification project. Construction of outlets is underway to discharge water from the Zia Sarani and Shyampur canals into the nearby Buriganga River, he said. The minister said new drains are also being constructed, while existing drainage infrastructure is being repaired and renovated to improve overall water discharge capacity. Regarding long-term plans, he said the government has adopted an extensive programme to modernise Dhaka's drainage network. The plan includes the development of around 50 kilometres of canals, including the Zia Sarani, Kajla and Mridhabari canals, along with other waterways. Mirza Fakhrul also said drainage and road infrastructure will be improved in 18 newly incorporated wards to reduce waterlogging. In the Dhaka South City Corporation area, additional outlets and pump stations will be built under the drainage master plan for 57 wards to ensure the quick discharge of rainwater, he said. The government also plans to assess the capacity of existing drainage facilities and undertake necessary upgrades to increase water flow, the minister said. In addition, utility ducts for electricity, gas, water supply and internet services will be constructed, while a sustainable and modern solid waste management system will be developed to support long-term drainage improvements and urban resilience, he added.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque on Tuesday told Parliament that the government has undertaken a range of awareness and skills development initiatives to protect young people from mobile phone addiction, drug abuse and other social challenges. Replying to a question from ruling party MP Sk. Md. Rejaul Islam elected from Naogaon-6, the state minister said the Department of Youth Development regularly organises public awareness workshops in every district to educate young people about the harmful effects of excessive mobile phone use, drug addiction and other social issues. He said awareness campaigns are also conducted through youth organisations registered with the department to promote responsible behaviour among young men and women. To keep youths engaged in productive activities and away from addiction, the Department of Youth Development provides one-to six-month vocational training courses through its district offices across the country. The courses include garment manufacturing, block and batik, fish farming, modern office management and computer applications, electrical and house wiring, electronics, refrigeration and air conditioning, and mobile phone servicing. Besides, residential youth training centres offer courses on livestock rearing, poultry farming, fish cultivation, primary veterinary care and agriculture. Freelancing training programmes are also being implemented in all districts, he said. The state minister said unemployed youths and young women at the upazila level are receiving regular training in various non-formal trades through local youth development offices based on local market demand to enhance their employability and self-employment opportunities. He further said the government has planned several new programmes to be developed within 180 days to create employment opportunities while discouraging mobile addiction and drug abuse among young people. The planned initiatives include freelancing training for unemployed youths in all metropolitan cities, mobile phone servicing and language training programmes to facilitate employment at home and abroad, and caregiver and foreign language training to support overseas job placement. He also said the National Youth Development Institute is currently offering training courses in ICT, freelancing, agriculture, tourism, ready-made garments, food and beverage services, and foreign languages for unemployed youths aged between 18 and 35 from all districts. The institute is also planning to introduce Japanese and Korean language courses as well as postgraduate diploma programmes in ICT and Fashion Designing.