United News of Bangladesh

A mild heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and several districts across the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “A mild heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and the districts of Pabna, Sirajgonj, Cumilla, Chandpur, Feni, Laxmipir, Bhola and Barishal and it may abate,” said a regular bulletin of Met office. Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over the country. Country’s highest temperature 37.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Faridpur district on Tuesday.  

Medical tests for workers aspiring to go to Malaysia for employment will begin at authorised medical centres from October 31, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has said. No medical tests can be conducted before the date, and any tests carried out before October 31 will not be accepted or processed for immigration clearance, according to a press release signed by public relations officer of the ministry Shariful Islam. The list of authorised medical centres will be published on the ministry’s website soon. Workers have been advised to keep track of the list, which may be revised based on compliance with official instructions and the centres’ capacity. No medical centre or recruiting agency will be allowed to conduct or arrange medical tests without official instructions and approval from the ministry. The ministry said it has received reports that some brokers and unscrupulous agencies are trying to collect passports and money from workers by offering to arrange medical tests without authorisation. Workers have been urged not to respond to such offers or hand over their passports or money to anyone without verifying the relevant authorisation. Until further notice, recruiting agencies applying for clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) must submit the relevant documents, along with VDR visa papers, for medical tests at authorised centres. The ministry warned that medical centres and recruiting agencies violating the instructions would face action under existing laws and regulations. The authorities may suspend the operations of non-compliant medical centres, halt overseas recruitment activities by the agencies concerned and cancel their ministry approval. Workers have also been requested to report any unauthorised medical tests or related activities to the ministry, providing the date and place of the incident, the names of the individuals or organisations involved, and supporting evidence. Complaints can be sent to [email protected]. The ministry said it would continue monitoring the situation to protect workers’ safety and interests and urged all concerned workers, recruiting agencies and medical centres to comply with the government’s instructions.

The very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” crossed India’s Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning and is likely to weaken gradually as it moves northwestwards, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. It is now lies over Andhra Pradesh and adjoining coastal area. It is likely to move northwestwards and weaken gradually, said a special bulletin of Met office. Under the influence of the cyclone, deep convection is taking places over North Bay. Gusty or squally weather may affect the maritime ports, North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No. three. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast proceed with caution till further notice.  

A man was murdered allegedly by his friend over an iPhone in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj. The victim is Tarek Mia, 22, son of Marfat Ullah of Chausatpur village in Nabiganj upazila. Tarek’s friend Sahel, son of Nuruzzaman Mia of the same village, was arrested in this connection. Police recovered Tarek’s decomposed body from a pond in Fulbaria village of Lakhai around 8pm on Tuesday. Tarek and Sahel went to the house of Surur Rahman in Fulbaria village on October 21 to work as masons. Sahel killed Tarek by slitting his throat the next day for his iPhone 11 and dumped the body in a pond. police said. After Tarek remained missing, his family filed a GD with Nabiganj Police Station and police  later arrested Sahel with the help of technology. Saheld reportedly confessed to the killing for the phone, and police recovered Tarek’s body based on his information on Tuesday night. Officer-in-Charge of Lakhai Police Station Sharif Ahmed said the body was sent to the morgue of Habiganj Sadar Hospital for an autopsy. The process of filing a murder case is underway, he added.

Three people were killed and 14 others injured when a night coach rammed into a stationary drum truck at Bairagiganj in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur early Wednesday. The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately. According to locals and police, the accident occurred when the coach of Khan Paribahan crashed onto the parked drum truck on Dhaka-Rangpur highway around 6:30am, leaving a man dead on the spot. Being informed, highway police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations, said  Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Pirganj Barodargah Highway Police Station. The injured were taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for treatment were two other victims died. The OC said the damaged coach and the truck have been removed from the highway and traffic movement is normal.

Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), will visit Bangladesh from November 3 to 5 to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the two countries. He is scheduled to meet President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his stay in Dhaka, a senior government official told UNB. Liu will also speak at a seminar on November 4 in Dhaka. The seminar, titled “Where History Illuminates the Future: China-Bangladesh ‘Political Parties Plus’ Roundtable & Inauguration Ceremony of Bangladesh-China Centre for Party and State Governance Studies”, will be hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka at a venue in the capital. Liu was appointed head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee last year. Born in April 1963, Liu is currently a member of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He joined the Chinese Foreign Ministry in 1985 and is a seasoned diplomat. He previously served as assistant foreign minister and director-general of the Department of European Affairs. Before taking up his current post, Liu served as executive vice-director of the General Office of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee. Founded in 1951, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee is responsible for managing the Communist Party's external relations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday sought Japan’s cooperation in diversifying Bangladesh’s export basket and expanding trade and investment opportunities as the two countries look to strengthen their economic partnership. He made the call during a meeting with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) President Susumu Kataoka in Tokyo at 11:45am local time, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. The Prime Minister also called for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s special economic zones, particularly in advanced manufacturing, ICT, automobiles, renewable energy and agro-processing, as he sought stronger trade and economic ties between the two countries. He praised JETRO’s role in expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh, saying new opportunities are emerging for Japanese companies in the country. Both sides agreed that the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will play an important role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. Tarique also called for Japanese support for skills development programmes and the establishment of Japanese language training centres in Bangladesh. He said such initiatives will help create employment opportunities in Japan and strengthen the long-term economic partnership between the two countries. JETRO President Susumu Kataoka said Bangladesh has strong investment potential because of its economic growth and geographical location. He said Japanese companies are already showing interest in doing business and investing in Bangladesh in response to various initiatives taken by the government under Tarique’s leadership.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday urged Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo to expand its investment in Bangladesh’s garment sector, particularly in man-made fibres, technical textiles and sustainable apparel, pledging government support for the expansion. The call came during a meeting with a delegation led by Tadashi Yanai, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Fast Retailing Co Ltd, the parent company of Uniqlo, at 10:30am local time in Tokyo, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. Tarique praised Uniqlo’s trust in Bangladesh and its parent company’s longstanding business engagement with the country. The meeting discussed opportunities to increase investment in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry, with particular emphasis on man-made fibres, technical textiles and sustainable clothing production. They also discussed expanding cooperation in technology transfer, skills development, product innovation, advanced manufacturing systems and environment-friendly production processes. The Prime Minister said his government is ready to provide the necessary support to help Uniqlo expand its operations in Bangladesh. He also highlighted the government’s willingness to facilitate land arrangements, investment approvals and other necessary administrative clearances to support the company’s expansion.

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Irene Zubaida Khan has called for placing human rights at the centre of economic policymaking and governance. She made the call during a high-level dialogue titled “The Political Economy of Human Rights” at the UN Headquarters on Tuesday. Ambassador Khan stressed that economic progress should be measured not merely by growth but also by its contribution to equality, human dignity and the realisation of fundamental rights. She also underscored the need for equitable taxation, affordable development financing, debt sustainability and reforms to the international financial architecture. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted growing concentrations of economic and political power, rising military expenditure, mounting debt burdens and widening inequalities that are undermining human rights. Speakers at the dialogue stressed the need for a fairer international tax system, equitable debt restructuring, accountable economic governance and meaningful civil society participation to address structural inequalities and protect vulnerable communities. The event brought together Ambassadors Omar Hilale of Morocco, Laura Dupuy Lasserre of Uruguay, Mxolisi Nkosi of South Africa and Stavros Lambrinidis of the European Union, alongside human rights expert Ignacio Saiz, Professor Sakiko Fukuda-Parr and UN Independent Expert Attiya Waris. The Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Morocco, South Africa and Uruguay jointly organised the dialogue, which emphasised the need to embed human rights principles in international economic governance and future global development frameworks beyond 2030.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday urged the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to open an office in Dhaka to strengthen investment and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan. The proposal came during a meeting with JBIC Governor Kazuhiko Amakawa in Tokyo at 9:30am local time. Both sides discussed investment and economic cooperation in Bangladesh’s energy, information and communication technology (ICT) and infrastructure sectors. Tarique expressed gratitude to JBIC for its support for Bangladesh’s economic development and investment in various sectors. He said his government has taken initiatives to reform and simplify regulations to ensure a business-friendly environment and attract both local and foreign investment. The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to investment-friendly policies and improving the business environment, noting that JBIC’s priority projects are aligned with the government’s development priorities.