United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has said it sees no specific security threat centring on the June 23 founding anniversary of the Awami League, but remains on alert. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on the Minto Road on Friday morning, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Nazrul Islam said they have taken necessary security measures to ensure public safety. “June 23 is the founding anniversary of a political party. We are on alert centring on the day,” he said while responding to questions from journalists. Nazrul Islam said security checkpoints remain active at different locations across the capital and the measures will continue as part of efforts to maintain law and order. Responding to another question regarding alleged extortionist “Kalya Faruk,” who was arrested in Mohammadpur and later released on bail to resume extortion activities, he said matters related to bail fall under the jurisdiction of the court. “Whether they will punish someone or not is a matter for the court. But we will continue to do our job,” the DMP official said. He added that police will continue arresting terrorists, drug traffickers and extortionists, and sending them to court for legal proceedings.

Although locals halted the construction of a road in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali district alleging the use of substandard materials and deviation from tender specifications, work resumed shortly afterwards due to alleged interference by upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) President Abdullah Al Fahad. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon during the RCC carpeting of a 98-metre road in the Kalaiya Port area of the upazila. Local residents said the Patuakhali Roads and Highways Department undertook the RCC road project from Langra Munshirpool to the Sundari Cinema Hall of the area, with an estimated cost of around Tk 40 lakh. The work was awarded to M/S Kohinoor Enterprises through tender. They alleged that substandard materials were being used, including saline sand instead of clean sand, while the thickness and width of the road were being reduced compared to the approved design. Residents said they complained to Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Asadul Islam, who supervised the work, but to no avail. Following this, they stopped the construction work. They further alleged that Abdullah Al Fahad arrived at the site within half an hour and instructed workers to resume work and they restarted the work accordingly. Local residents Md Riaz Panchayat and Md Manju said the work was being carried without following the approved tender specifications, and claimed the construction schedule was not shown to them. Meanwhile, when NTV Online correspondent for Bauphal and Dumki upazilas MA Hannan and Daily Khabarpatra's upazila correspondent HM Bablu went to collect news about the construction irregularities, the JCD leader verbally abused them. However, speaking over the phone, he denied any involvement in stopping or restarting the work and rejected allegations of misconduct with journalists. Sub-Assistant Engineer Asadul also claimed that there were no irregularities in the work, saying the schedule was available in his office. Contractor representative Uttam said he only supervised labour, and materials were supplied by the contractor. Kohinoor Enterprises proprietor Md Rashedul Islam declined to make any comment over the phone, saying said he will talk face to face. Executive Engineer of the Patuakhali Roads and Highways Department Md Zamil Akter Limon said the work must be carried out according to design and assured that the matter would be investigated.

A vegetable vendor was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in the Purba Jurain area of Kadamtali in the capital on Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Md Quddus, 50, a resident of house No. 91/A on the Darogabari Road in Purba Jurain. He used to sell vegetables at a local Bou Bazar, according to family members. House owner Kamal Sikder, who took him to the hospital, said Quddus was returning home from his shop when miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons near Poppy School in Nabaran Goli, leaving him seriously injured. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 11:15pm, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. Police said efforts were underway to identify and arrest those involved.

The Brahmaputra River has devoured the homesteads of at least 30 families in Goalpuri Char under Jatrapur union of Sadar upazila in Kurigram over one week, with over 100 other families remaining under threat of erosion. The char, located near the Assam border in India, was once home to around 400 families. However, years of relentless erosion have already forced nearly 150 families to relocate elsewhere. Anwar Hossain, a member of Jatrapur Union Parishad, said 30 families have become homeless over the last seven days till Thursday as the river continued to swallow homesteads. “If the current pace of erosion continues, nearly 100 more families in Goalpuri may lose their homes at any time,” he warned. Anwar added that a mosque has already been dismantled and relocated to a safer area due to the advancing erosion, while the village graveyard has been washed away by the river. The erosion has left a devasting impact on the lives of victims. Jasim Uddin, who recently lost his home, said he had spent his life's savings building the house. “Within a few days, everything was swallowed by the river. Now, I am worried about where I will take my family,” he said. Another resident, Nur Hossain, said the affected families are also facing food shortages. “Along with losing our homes, we are struggling to manage food for our families. We are living in extremely difficult conditions,” he said. Several other residents, including Pashan Mia, Mortuza Ali, Kalu Mia, Khalek Molla, Bashik Mia, Rashid Mia and Lalchan Mia, echoed similar concerns about their uncertain future. The ongoing erosion has created deep anxiety among residents of Goalpuri Char, many of whom are now dismantling their homes in advance and preparing to move to safer locations in a desperate attempt to save whatever remains of their belongings. Prof Shafiqul Islam Bebu, president of the Kurigram Char Development and Implementation Council, warned that Goalpuri Char could disappear entirely if the erosion continues unchecked. “In many countries, families affected by river erosion receive immediate compensation. In Bangladesh, however, victims often do not receive adequate support,” he said. Shafiqul Islam urged the government to provide emergency compensation and rehabilitation assistance for the affected families. Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Kurigram Rakibul Hasan said erosion has been reported at 36 locations across the district. “Work to check erosion is currently underway at 20 points. The remaining vulnerable areas are under observation, and necessary measures will be taken based on the situation,” he said.

A mobile court has seized 33 tonnes of rice allegedly diverted from the government’s Food-Friendly Programme in Sherpur and detained a warehouse owner. The detainee is Md Borhan Uddin, son of late Babul Mia of Kasba Kacharipara area in the town. Acting on a tip-off, the mobile court conducted the raid on the godown of Zebin Rice Processing in the Chapatali area of Sherpur town around 11:00pm on Thursday, according to police. The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Sadar upazila and Executive Magistrate Md Mahmudul Hasan. During the operation, officials found rice packed in sacks marked for distribution under the Food-Friendly Programme for June 2026. A total of 33 tonnes of rice were recovered from 770 sacks, including 500 sacks weighing 50 kg each and 270 sacks weighing 30 kg each. Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station Md Sohel Rana said Borhan Uddin failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source and possession of the rice during preliminary questioning. Later, the mobile court seized those, detained the warehouse owner and directed for filing a regular case in this regard.  

A Netrokona court has sent to jail the prime accused in a murder case, who was arrested nearly three decades after the incident in Khaliajuri upazila of Netrokona. The court passed the order when police produced the accused – Abu Hanif Talukder, 65, son of late Abdul Momin Talukder of Balli village under Chakua union – before it on Thursday, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khaliajuri Police Station Nasir Uddin. Earlier, police arrested him from Netrokona town on Wednesday afternoon, he said. Police said arrest warrants remain in force against several other accused in the case and efforts are underway to apprehend them. According to police and case records, Abu Hanif allegedly shot dead Sakhatur Rahman, 30, son of late Khurshed Uddin Talukder of the same village on May 14, 1997, using his father's licensed firearm. The killing reportedly stemmed from disputes over local election influence and allegations involving the theft of two sacks of paddy and clothing. A day after the incident, victim’s cousin Aftab Uddin Talukder filed a case at Khaliajuri Police Station, accusing Abu Hanif and 34 other individuals. Aftab Uddin said the investigation was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police following an application by the accused. During the investigation, four accused were dropped from the charge sheet, prompting him to challenge the decision. He said although a district court later ordered a reinvestigation, the same four accused were again excluded. Aftab Uddin added that the District Sessions Judge Court subsequently ordered that no accused should be excluded from the case, but the trial was repeatedly delayed as the defendants sought stay orders from higher courts. Following the withdrawal of stay orders after August 5, 2024, the court issued summons against the accused and later warrants for their arrest. Expressing satisfaction over the arrest of the prime accused, plaintiff Aftab Uddin said he had been pursuing justice for nearly 30 years. “I have received some relief with the arrest of the main accused. I hope the court will ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible for the murder,” he said.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has called for stronger international action to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and ensure sustained global support for the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. She made the call while speaking at a high-level panel discussion of the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Humanitarian Affairs Segment at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday, according to the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN. The state minister stressed the need for accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, greater investment in conflict prevention and stronger coordination among humanitarian, peace and development actors. She also highlighted the critical role of women in peacebuilding and humanitarian operations and expressed concern over the growing impact of digital harassment, disinformation and cyber abuse targeting women and girls. Shama Obaed reiterated her call for a global platform to address technology-enabled violence. She also expressed concern over funding cuts affecting Rohingya women and girls and reiterated that the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar remains the only sustainable solution to the crisis. On the sidelines of the event, the state minister also met Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Dr Nguyen Minh Vu and discussed issues of mutual interest.  

Welcoming newly appointed representatives of PPD, WFP and IOM, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Thursday underscored Bangladesh’s interest in deepening cooperation with their organizations across shared development and humanitarian priorities, and wished them success in their assignments. Three newly appointed heads - Professor Joseph Akinkugbe Adelegan, Executive Director of the Partners in Population and Development (PPD) Secretariat; Coco H. Ushiyama, Country Representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) Bangladesh; and Dr. Laura Nicole Tomm-Bonde, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bangladesh, presented their credentials to the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All three newly appointed representatives congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur on his election as president of the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly.  They expressed their appreciation for Bangladesh’s long-standing partnership with their respective organizations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh in advancing shared priorities. During the meeting with Prof Adelegan, the Foreign Minister appreciated the important role of PPD in promoting reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child health, and expressed confidence that PPD would further strengthen its contribution to sustainable development and population-related initiatives. In his meeting with Ushiyama, the Foreign Minister commended WFP’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh in the areas of food security, nutrition, school feeding, and humanitarian assistance.  He appreciated WFP’s continued support for the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals and the affected host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char and underscored the importance of sustained international support for the Rohingya response. With Dr. Tomm-Bonde, the discussion focused on how Bangladesh and IOM could work more closely to strengthen public education and market-relevant skills for prospective migrants, improve data systems throughout the migration cycle, expand safe and regular pathways, and prevent irregular migration through awareness campaigns.  The Foreign Minister appreciated IOM’s contribution to implementation of the Global Compact for Migration, the humanitarian response for the Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar, and assistance to Bangladeshi nationals stranded in crisis-affected countries.  Dr. Tomm-Bonde thanked the Foreign Minister for the warm reception, praised Bangladesh’s leadership in advancing safe, orderly and regular migration.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved in principle and gave final approval to four draft laws aimed at updating Bangladesh’s legal framework on gambling, narcotics control, public examination offences and higher education. The approval came at the 10th meeting of the Cabinet held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. The Cabinet gave approval in principle to the draft Gambling Prevention Act, 2026. The proposed law seeks to replace and modernise the Public Gambling Act, 1867 in the wake of the rapid expansion of online and offline gambling facilitated by advanced technology. The new law aims to maintain public order, reduce crime, prevent social, economic and psychological harm, and establish a modern legal framework to regulate gambling activities while safeguarding the country's moral and economic stability. The draft introduces definitions for various gambling-related terms, including gambling, gambling premises, gambling equipment, digital assets, digital gambling platforms, digital wallets, totalisators, online and remote gambling, betting, bookmakers, and match-fixing or spot-fixing. It also proposes different categories of punishment, including fines, imprisonment or both, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. The Cabinet also gave the final approval to the draft Public Examinations (Offences) (Amendment) Act, 2026. The amendment updates the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980 to address examination-related crimes committed using digital technology. Under the amended law, hacking or illegally altering public examination results or merit lists has been recognised as a new offence under the category of "Digital Manipulation." The offence will carry a maximum punishment of five-year imprisonment along with a fine. The amendment also includes stricter penalties and fines for organised examination fraud and criminal syndicates involved in such offences. The Cabinet further approved in principle the draft Bogura University Act, 2026. The proposed law replaces the Bogura Science and Technology University Act, 2001, on which a gazette was published on July 15, 2001, but never became operational. The government has decided to transform the planned specialised science and technology university into a fully-fledged public university offering education and research in science, life sciences, engineering, technology, arts, social sciences, business administration, law, agriculture, medical sciences and other emerging fields to produce skilled human resources. The Cabinet also approved the draft Narcotics Control (Amendment) Act, 2026. The amendment seeks to strengthen the existing Narcotics Control Act, 2018 (amended in 2020) in response to changing patterns of drug trafficking, technology-based narcotics crimes and challenges faced during judicial proceedings. The proposed amendment provides for the establishment of Narcotics Crime Suppression Tribunals to strengthen judicial proceedings in drug-related cases. It also introduces new provisions to tackle cyber-enabled narcotics offences, particularly those committed through cyberspace. The draft includes measures to enhance coordination among agencies in preventing drug smuggling in border areas and conducting joint operations. In addition, it proposes the formation of specialised dog squads to improve the detection and identification of narcotic substances.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested the prime accused in the 2024 murder of Farah Diba, wife of a retired Bangladesh Air Force officer, nearly two years after the killing in the capital’s Mirpur DOHS area. The accused, Md Sabuj Biswas, a driver by profession, was arrested from Kushtia following an extensive manhunt, RAB officials said on Thursday. Speaking at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury said the murder was committed with the intention of robbery. According to RAB, Farah Diba, 60, wife of retired Wing Commander Kazi Abdul Matin, was murdered in her residence in Mirpur DOHS on October 27, 2024. A murder case was subsequently filed with Pallabi Police Station. The following day, RAB arrested security guard Md Milon Mia in connection with the incident. Based on Milon’s confessional statement recorded under Section 164 and the charge sheet submitted in the case, investigators found that Milon and Sabuj entered the house together and attacked the victim. They allegedly grabbed Farah Diba from behind and threw her to the floor. Sabuj held her mouth shut while Milon tied her hands and feet with rope and wrapped a towel around her face. She later died from suffocation. After ensuring her death, the accused looted cash and gold ornaments from an almirah before fleeing the scene, the RAB official said. “The investigation has established that the murder was carried out for robbery,” Wing Commander Intekhab said. He added that Sabuj had remained in hiding for a long period after the incident. Intelligence units from RAB Headquarters and RAB-12 had been conducting surveillance to locate him. Acting on confidential information and using information technology, a RAB team conducted a raid in the Court Station area under Kushtia Sadar Police Station on Thursday and arrested Sabuj, who was wanted under a court warrant. According to RAB, the accused had been evading arrest by using different identities and moving between various parts of the country. Asked whether the murder was driven by personal resentment or financial motives, Intekhab said the killing was committed solely for looting valuables from the house. He also urged the public to properly verify the identities and backgrounds of domestic security guards and drivers before employing them in their homes.