United News of Bangladesh

A three-wheeler driver was killed and at least eight passengers, including four members of the same family, were injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a three-wheeler in Kalukhali upazila of Rajbari on Monday. The accident occurred around 1:30 pm in the Paikar Mor area on the Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway. 2 killed as detached freight wagons crash into vehicles in Rajbari The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahman Bablu, 55, son of late Sadeq Ali Biswas of Paschim Phulkainar village under Majbari Union in Kalukhali upazila. According to witnesses and police, a Golden Line Paribahan bus travelling from Dhaka to Kushtia was overtaking another vehicle when it collided head-on with a Rajbari-bound Mahindra three-wheeler coming from the opposite direction. The impact left the three-wheeler mangled and thrown off the roadside, while the front portion of the bus was also damaged and veered off the road. With assistance from local people, members of the Fire Service and highway police rescued the injured passengers and took them to Pangsha Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Bablu dead. Among the injured were four members of the same family. Three critically injured victims were later referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, while the remaining injured are receiving treatment at Pangsha Upazila Health Complex. Syed Al Mamun, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pangsha Highway Model Police Station, said police rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the information and carried out rescue operations. The injured were sent to hospital for treatment, while the damaged vehicles were removed to a safe location to restore traffic on the highway. Legal proceedings over the incident are underway.

Two teenagers went missing after being swept away by strong currents while bathing in the Jamuna River in Pabna's Bera upazila on Monday. The missing boys were identified as Binoy Roy, 15, son of Anutosh Roy of Dhaltosha village in Nagarpur upazila of Tangail, and his cousin Probhat Sarkar, 15, son of Mitulal Sarkar of Gazipur Sadar upazila. Both were ninth-grade students. The incident took place around 12:00pm at Kazirhat under Aminpur Police Station. Russian national killed, another injured in altercation at Rooppur According to police and locals, the boys came to visit their relatives at Khanpura Madhyapara of Aminpur. They went to bathe in the nearby Jamuna River around noon when they were swept away by strong currents and disappeared beneath the water. Local residents searched for them immediately after the incident but failed to locate either of the boys. Rescue efforts by the Fire Service and police were still underway. Officer-in-Charge of Kazirhat Naval Police Outpost Aravinda Sarkar said a naval police team reached the scene immediately after receiving the information. Divers from the Fire Service were also called in, and a joint search operation involving the police and Fire Service was continuing to locate the missing schoolboys.

A Russian national was killed and another injured following an altercation between the two at the residential complex for foreign workers engaged in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila on Monday. The deceased was identified as Kudrin Sergei, 56, an ultrasonic testing inspector employed by contractor Trest Rossem of the RNPP project. The incident occurred in the morning on the fourth floor of Building No. 6 at Rooppur Green City, the residential complex for foreign workers involved in the project. The identity of the injured Russian national could not be confirmed immediately. According to police and locals, the two men had been drinking alcohol before becoming involved in a heated argument. The dispute later turned violent, leaving both of them seriously injured. They were first taken to Green City Hospital for treatment. As Sergei's condition deteriorated, he was being transferred to Pabna Essort Specialized Hospital. However, he died on the way. Officer-in-Charge of Ishwardi Police Station Md Ashadur Rahman said police recovered the body and sent it to Pabna General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. School teacher found dead in Pabna septic tank "The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the investigation and post-mortem examination," the OC said, adding that legal proceedings are underway.

The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act, 2026 with a view to introducing a comprehensive legal framework to criminalise enforced disappearances, ensure justice, compensation and rehabilitation for victims. The approval came from a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The Ministry of Home Affairs placed the draft law before the Cabinet, which gave its final approval subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. PM issues three directives to tackle energy crisis, boost solar power In the proposed law, enforced disappearance has been defined as a distinct criminal offence that will be cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, with the aim of upholding human rights, human dignity, personal liberty and the rule of law. According to a press release, the law will establish a comprehensive legal framework to prevent enforced disappearances, prosecute those responsible, locate disappeared persons, and ensure the rights, compensation and rehabilitation of victims and their families. The law seeks to establish an integrated legal framework for preventing enforced disappearances, bringing perpetrators to justice, tracing missing persons and protecting the rights of victims and their families through compensation and rehabilitation, it said. The draft includes provisions allowing courts to issue search warrants to recover disappeared persons, conduct trials in the absence of accused, admit digital evidence and ensure the confidentiality and security of witnesses, complainants, whistleblowers and victims. It also recognises victims' right to receive information on the progress of investigations, the actual circumstances of the incident and the whereabouts or fate of the disappeared person. The proposed law includes provisions for government-funded legal assistance, medical care, rehabilitation and the creation of a compensation fund for victims. Compensation may be recovered from the property of convicted persons, while the state will provide compensation if such recovery is not possible. The draft law further allows the use of a disappeared person's property to support the maintenance and necessary expenses of their spouse and dependent family members. It also provides for issuing a certificate of disappearance after five years to facilitate inheritance proceedings among legal heirs. The draft law also proposes the establishment of a central database on enforced disappearances and provisions for international cooperation on disappearance-related cases. In the proposed law, there are provisions to complete investigations within a maximum of 120 days and trials within a maximum of 120 days. The punishment for the offence of enforced disappearance is maximum life imprisonment and fines. If the disappearance results in death, a body is recovered, or the disappeared person cannot be found alive or dead even after five years, the punishment may extend to death or life imprisonment along with a fine of up to Tk 1 crore. During the tenure of the last interim government, the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance, 2025 was promulgated. However, the ordinance ceased to have effect after it was not ratified by the current Parliament. The Cabinet also gave the final approval to the draft of the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Act, 2026 in order to allow the donors to retain the lifetime usufruct rights, enabling them to continue using and enjoying the property during their lifetime. The Law and Justice Division placed the proposed law in the meeting. The Cabinet cleared the draft law, subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The existing Transfer of Property Act, 1882 did not contain any specific provision allowing parents or grandparents to donate property to their children or grandchildren while securing their legal right to use the property for the rest of their lives. The proposed law seeks to address that gap by providing legal protection for such arrangements. Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal to cancel the Essential Medicines List 2026 and the Drug Pricing Method 2026 as the two instruments were prepared without the mandatory consultation with the National Drug Advisory Council, as required under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 2023. The validity of the Essential Medicines List and the drug pricing mechanism introduced in January 2026 was challenged before the High Court, where the matter is now pending.

Students of Dahagram Government High School in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat have boycotted classes and launched a protest, demanding the immediate appointment of teachers as the school is operating with only one teacher for nearly 600 students. Students, guardians and local residents said the severe shortage of teachers has badly disrupted academic activities and is affecting the quality of education at the school. This School is the only secondary educational institution in the border-enclave union of Dahagram. Students have to cross the historic Tin Bigha Corridor to reach the school. Established in 1975 to ensure educational opportunities for local students, the school was brought under government management in 2013.

The Dhaka University (DU) unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Monday carried out a tree plantation programme on the university campus in memory of those martyred during the 2024 July Mass Uprising. The programme was held at the Mall Chattar on the campus with support from the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam attended the event as the chief guest. Also present were DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Dr. Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, DU JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, and other leaders and activists of the organisation. Speaking at the event, Abdus Salam said there is no alternative to large-scale tree plantation to maintain ecological balance and make urban life more liveable. He noted that rapid urbanisation and environmental pollution have contributed to a rise in various diseases, while Dhaka's air pollution has reached an alarming level. He said that alongside government initiatives, public participation is essential to address the environmental crisis. Referring to the prime minister's target of planting 250 million trees over the next five years, Salam urged people from all walks of life to take part in the campaign. He said that if every citizen planted at least one tree, the country could add several crore trees within a short period. Salam also said that democracy had been restored through the 2024 movement and stressed that DU students must play a responsible role in ensuring that the country's democratic progress is not hindered. DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) said the campus programme was launched as part of the prime minister's five-year initiative to plant 250 million trees, with the DU unit of JCD taking the lead and DSCC providing support. He said the effects of climate change and global warming are already visible in different parts of the country. Planned tree plantation, coupled with proper care of the saplings, could help mitigate some of the adverse impacts of global warming on the environment. He expressed hope that such initiatives would make the Dhaka University campus greener and more environmentally friendly. DU JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas said the programme was organised as part of the tree plantation campaign announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He added that the organisation has been expanding the campaign since July through various initiatives. He further said that the DSCC had provided 500 saplings to support the programme. The initiative, organised in memory of the July martyrs, aims to contribute to the greening of the campus while encouraging students to take an active role in environmental conservation. Following the discussion, the guests and JCD leaders and activists planted saplings at different locations around the Mal Chattar.

The Power Division on Monday dismissed allegations of widespread excessive electricity billing as “misinformation”, saying complaints received from consumers have already been resolved by the division and the power distribution companies. In a statement, the Power Division said certain individuals or groups have been spreading misleading information regarding excessive electricity bills and strongly protested such claims. Fire at FDC intersection substation leaves Moghbazar, Eskaton without power for hours It said all complaints relating to excessive electricity bills – received so far – have been addressed by the Power Division and the distribution entities concerned. The division said there is therefore no scope for spreading misinformation or creating confusion over the issue. However, it urged consumers who believe they have received an excessive electricity bill to submit a formal complaint, along with supporting evidence, to the relevant authorities. The authorities will take effective action after examining such complaints, the statement said. The Power Division also warned that strict legal action will be taken against any individual or group found spreading false information about excessive electricity bills without evidence with the intention of creating confusion among the public.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Monday said Bangladesh and India possess all the ingredients necessary to emerge as a global economic powerhouse. During a meeting with the leaders of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICC Bangladesh) at its Secretariat, he observed that both countries have exceptional strengths in innovation, education, healthcare and human capital, and stressed that these advantages should be translated into stronger economic cooperation and sustainable development. The High Commissioner said many longstanding bilateral issues could be resolved through sustained engagement and dialogue at the highest political level. He emphasised the indispensable role of the private sector in driving economic growth, investment and employment, noting that businesses are the foundation of a stable and prosperous economy. The Indian envoy also highlighted the significant opportunities for establishing joint venture industries in border areas, which could strengthen regional value chain, attract investment and create employment. Reaffirming the High Commission's commitment to supporting the business community, he encouraged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and investors to approach the High Commission whenever they encounter challenges in expanding bilateral trade and investment. At the meeting, both sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral trade, investment and regional economic cooperation. Welcoming the High Commissioner, ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman highlighted the longstanding friendship and growing economic partnership between Bangladesh and India. He underscored the importance of stronger private sector engagement to unlock the full potential of bilateral cooperation and promote sustainable economic growth. Bangladesh and India continue to enjoy largest trading relationships in South Asia. Bilateral merchandise trade reached approximately US$11.39 billion in FY2024–25, with Bangladesh exporting goods worth US$1.76 billion to India and importing US$9.62 billion. The ICC Bangladesh President emphasised the importance of improving market access for Bangladeshi products, reducing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards, simplifying customs procedures and concluding the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the earliest opportunity to reduce the trade gap. The meeting also discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in investment, regional value chain, multimodal connectivity, renewable energy, cross-border power trade, digital commerce, fintech, artificial intelligence, climate finance, sustainable manufacturing, healthcare, education and skills development. ICC Bangladesh President further highlighted the importance of revitalising regional cooperation through SAARC, expediting implementation of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement, and advancing practical cooperation under BIMSTEC to enhance connectivity, reduce logistics costs and strengthen regional supply chains. Rahman reiterated the importance of resolving the anti-dumping measures affecting Bangladeshi exports, particularly jute and jute products, and called for continued dialogue to ensure fair and transparent trade remedies. During the interactive discussion, ICC Bangladesh Vice-President Naser Ejaz Bijoy emphasised the importance of facilitating business travel and called for further improvement in the issuance of business visas to strengthen commercial engagement between the two countries. ICC Bangladesh Executive Board Member Simeen Rahman highlighted the vast opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, business, healthcare, medical services and tourism. She noted that India is home to many globally recognised companies and institutions, creating significant potential for enhanced partnerships and greater people-to-people and business-to-business collaboration. ICC Bangladesh Executive Board Member Abdul Hai Sarker expressed his optimism that many of the longstanding unresolved bilateral trade and business issues could be addressed during the tenure of the new High Commissioner, paving the way for stronger economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. Speaking on behalf of the business community, ICC Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to promoting stronger business-to-business cooperation through joint business councils, CEO forums, SME collaboration, startup exchanges, investment missions and technology partnerships. The ICC Bangladesh President expressed its commitment to working closely with the High Commission of India and ICC India, under the aegis of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), to further strengthen economic collaboration and promote a more prosperous, sustainable and mutually beneficial future for both Bangladesh and India. The Meeting was also attended by ICCB Executive Board Member Tapan, Chowdhury, Pawan Kumar Badhe, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Gourab Kumar Agarwal, Second Secretary (Economic & Commerce) High Commission of India to Bangladesh, ICCB Secretary General Ataur Rahman, General Manager Ajay Bihari Saha & Deputy General Manager Syeda Shahnewaz Lotika.

The government has formed district-level committees to recommend the withdrawal of politically-motivated and harassment cases through a transparent and systematic manner. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued a gazette notification that outlines the committees' composition, scope of work and operational procedures, said a PID handout on Monday. Probe body formed over allegation of torturing Home Ministry staff According to the notification, the committees were formed to ensure that the process of reviewing and recommending the withdrawal of such cases is carried out in a transparent and systematic manner. The Deputy Commissioner in his or her capacity as the District Magistrate will serve as the chairperson of the district-level committee. The Superintendent of Police and the Public Prosecutor will be members, while the Additional District Magistrate will act as the member secretary. For metropolitan areas, a Deputy Commissioner of Police will replace the Superintendent of Police, while the Metropolitan Public Prosecutor will serve in place of the Public Prosecutor. The notification states that an accused person or any one of the accused's immediate family members —father, mother, spouse, brother, sister, son or daughter—may submit an application on behalf of the accused to the District Magistrate of the concerned district seeking withdrawal of a politically motivated case. An applicant must attach photocopies of all relevant case documents certified by the lawyer concerned along with the application, it said. With the issuance of the new notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs' earlier gazette notification issued on May 21, 2026 stands cancelled.

A group of Dhaka University female students demanded the abolition of discriminatory evening curfew and right to free movement across the campus. They raised these demands under the banner of Oborodhbashini during a press conference held at the Madhur canteen around 4pm today.   They presented three demands including abolishing discriminatory evening curfew in female halls (10pm to 6am) immediately and ensuring 24-hour unrestricted movement along with overall security for all female students; allowing female students to enter any female hall upon showing a valid ID card and stay overnight with proper permission; ensuring the rights for all female relatives to enter in the halls. Before that, the students also submitted a memorandum regarding the matter to the vice chancellor of the university under the banner of "Boishommohin Nari Hall Chai" on 27 July. Speaking at the press conference DUCSU member Hema cakma said, ‘Although DU promises equal rights, free pursuit of knowledge, and unrestricted movement for all students regardless of gender, the reality is entirely different. Within the university's existing rules and administrative structure, female students are subjected to gender-based discrimination.’ Previously, the students drew protest graffiti in different women's halls and set up booths in halls and faculties, collecting more than 600 signatures along with numerous stories of students' sufferings, mentioned in the press conference. The students said the signatures collected by Oborodhbashini will be formally submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on 6 August. Before submitting the memorandum and signatures, a comprehensive human chain will be held on the university campus. At the same time, the university administration will be given a 1–2 day ultimatum to implement the students' legitimate demands. Organizing secretary of Biplobi Chhatra Moitree of DU unit, Israt Jahan Imu, said that at present, around 57% of female students at Dhaka University are deprived of accommodation facilities. Despite paying regular fees, non-resident female students are not allowed to enter their own halls. Under the pretext of security, restrictions on entry at night have resulted in harassment, humiliating questioning, and administrative harassment of female students. When  asked about the security concern, Sima Akter, a leader of Chhatra Federation  said, “DU makes instance for across the country. If the autority can’t ensure security for women in DU, then what about the women of rural area.” They called upon teachers, representatives of political, social, and cultural organisations, journalists, as well as all resident and non-resident female students and conscious students to attend their programme and ‘make this movement to break the chains imposed on female students a success’.