United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal has expelled around 300 leaders and activists across the country over allegations of activities contrary to the organisation's ideals and discipline, Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna said on Wednesday. The organisation also filed criminal cases against many of them to protect its reputation and organisational discipline, he made the remarks at a press conference held at a city hotel in Nayapaltan. Munna said the organisation has requested law enforcement agencies to take swift legal action against those responsible for several widely discussed incidents. He added that, following further investigations, organisational punishments imposed on several individuals had also been withdrawn. Munna said leaders and activists from Jubo Dal's 82 organisational units across the country played a vital role in the July-August uprising, risking their lives . He claimed that 78 Jubo Dal activists were martyred during the movement, while hundreds suffered permanent disabilities and thousands were injured. "No individual or group will be allowed to use the organisation's name to carry out unlawful activities," he said, adding that strict measures have been adopted to prevent anyone from tarnishing the organisation's reputation in the future.

At least four people were injured in a crude bomb explosion during a rally of  National Citizen Party (NCP) in Savar on Monday night. The explosion occurred around 9:45 pm at the Eidgah ground near Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar municipality while an NCP rally was underway following the party's "July March" programme, said witnesses. They said panic spread among party leaders, activists and spectators after a loud explosion ripped through the rally venue. The injured were identified as Shahin Khandaker, 30, Jasim, 26, Shahadat Hossain, 40, and Imran, 35. The condition of Shahin and Jasim was reported to be critical. NCP central committee member Yasir Arafat said miscreants hurled the crude bomb while Dhaka district NCP Convener Engineer Nabila Tasnid was delivering her speech. NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam were among the party leaders present on the stage during the incident. Following the blast, Nahid Islam led party leaders and activists to Savar Police Station, where they staged a demonstration. He later told reporters that several party leaders and activists have been injured in the attack. Nahid alleged that the attack was carried out by "terrorists linked to the government and the Awami League." He also claimed that members of an organisation which is facing ban on activities are carrying out flash processions without effective action from the authorities . Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Savar Police Station Nur Mohammad said law enforcement personnel rushed to the scene after the explosion, brought the situation under control and launched an investigation. He said the NCP has filed a complaint with the police station over the incident.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the current government, which assumed office in February 2026, has placed rural development at the centre of its agenda and undertaken a series of programmes for the overall welfare of rural people in line with its election manifesto. He made the remarks while addressing a programme as the chief guest at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) auditorium in the capital, marking the organisation's 47th founding anniversary and the second World Rural Development Day. "The development process must be inclusive, equitable and rural-centric. Genuine prosperity cannot be achieved if cities move ahead while villages are left behind," the minister said. He said this year's observance of CIRDAP's 47th anniversary and the second World Rural Development Day is particularly significant as, for the first time, ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries in the Asia-Pacific region have participated in the event. Fakhrul said World Rural Development Day is observed every year on July 6. CIRDAP was established in 1979 through the initiative of Bangladesh, other countries in the region and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the day commemorates that milestone. He said Bangladesh is currently serving as the Chair of the CIRDAP Governing Council and has played a leading role in proposing UN recognition of the observance. Highlighting CIRDAP's contributions, the minister said the organisation has played a significant role over the past five decades in promoting regional integration, reducing poverty and strengthening the capacity of its member states. According to him, CIRDAP has implemented 215 research programmes and 350 capacity-building initiatives, while arranging training for more than 8,000 government officials. Through its digital networks and publications, the organisation now reaches over 120,000 stakeholders, creating a bridge between policymaking and implementation, he added. The minister said rural communities are now facing new challenges, including climate change, digital transformation, food security and youth unemployment. To address these issues, he said, CIRDAP is taking a leading role in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and rural entrepreneurship. He also said the organisation is expanding its regional activities by pursuing the inclusion of 40 more Asia-Pacific countries as members and strengthening partnerships with the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF). As the host country, Bangladesh considers supporting CIRDAP both a responsibility and a matter of pride, he said, adding that since independence the country has emerged as a global model in rural development. Fakhrul said the government has completely waived agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000 for small farmers, benefiting more than 1.2 million farmers. He also announced that the government will implement a programme to re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years to restore irrigation systems and increase agricultural productivity. The minister said the government is providing monthly financial assistance to low-income women-headed families through the Family Card programme. He added that under the Farmer Card programme, farmers will have easier access to subsidised agricultural inputs, loans, insurance and market facilities. He also said the government has given priority to the education and health sectors, which will help enhance the capabilities of rural communities. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government remains committed to bringing qualitative improvements to the lives and livelihoods of rural people, Fakhrul said. In his speech, the minister praised CIRDAP's 47 years of service and welcomed the international recognition of World Rural Development Day.

Vice President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and eminent physician Dr Zubaida Rahman on Monday urged children to prepare themselves as the builders of tomorrow's Bangladesh, saying they are the future of the nation and will play the leading role in shaping the country's future. She made the remarks while visiting child care and rehabilitation facilities run by the Department of Social Services in Tejgaon, Dhaka, and speaking at an interaction programme with children. Members of the government children's home welcomed her with dance, songs and cultural performances. Zubaida Rahman watched the performances with keen interest and praised the children's talents. Expressing optimism about their future, she said proper education and moral upbringing would enable the children to succeed in their respective fields and showcase Bangladesh's talent on the global stage. She stressed the importance of honesty and discipline from early childhood, saying a strong moral foundation would help children grow into responsible and ideal citizens. Highlighting the importance of early childhood care, Zubaida Rahman said women constitute about 50.58 percent of Bangladesh's population, or around 90.42 million people, while children aged between 0 and 14 account for 28.36 percent of the total population. Recalling a personal memory from her school days, she said one of her teachers had to leave her young daughter alone at home after school hours while working as a private tutor to support the family. She said she still remembers seeing the child peering through a window grille, anxiously waiting for her mother to return home. Although the girl later received advanced treatment after suffering mental distress and eventually became well-educated and professionally established, Zubaida Rahman said such childhood experiences leave lasting emotional scars. She noted that in many places without daycare centres, working mothers still face similar challenges. Even if the situation has improved somewhat, many women remain compelled to leave their children unattended while earning a livelihood. Referring to government statistics, she said 123 Child Development Centres currently provide daycare services to only 7,360 children, representing just 0.034 percent of the country's child population. She said mothers cannot fully concentrate on their work while worrying about their children's safety, and children deprived of quality early childhood care miss opportunities for social interaction, play, learning and healthy development. Zubaida Rahman said universal access to quality pre-primary education and early childhood development programmes would help build strong cognitive and social foundations for children. She thanked caregivers working at daycare centres for their dedication and humanitarian service. "They are not only caring for children with affection but are also helping mothers participate in the workforce with peace of mind while ensuring children grow up in a safe environment," she said. Describing early childhood as the most critical stage of human development, she said daycare centres are far more than safe places for children, they are institutions that help build the country's future. Addressing caregivers, she said they are simultaneously performing two important national responsibilities: laying the foundation of Bangladesh's future by nurturing children's education, culture, humanity, tolerance, discipline, curiosity, perseverance, mutual respect and patriotism, while also helping reduce unemployment among women by enabling them to remain economically active. As part of her visit, Zubaida Rahman first inspected the Government Children's Home (Girls) in Tejgaon at around 10:30 am. She later visited the Child Daycare Centre at the Land Bhaban at around 11:00 am and the Child Daycare Centre at the Water Bhaban on Green Road at 11:30 am. At 11:45 am, she attended a workshop titled "Early Childhood Care and Development" under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs' daycare centre programme as the chief guest at the Multipurpose Hall of the Water Bhaban. Among those present as special guests were Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anne, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin. The workshop was chaired by Minister for Women and Children's Affairs and Social Welfare A Z M Zahid Hossain.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Bangla Academy President Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq. In a statement issued on Sunday night, the party said Prof Huq made significant contributions to the educational and cultural sectors. The party also remembered his contributions to education, research and creative works with deep respect. Eminent writer, researcher and academic Prof Huq passed away around 2:30 pm on Sunday at the National Heart Foundation in Mirpur after falling ill at a family programme. He received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1981.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu on Sunday urged party leaders and activists to remain patient, saying it is natural for them to feel restless after enduring 18 years of political repression and struggle. Dudu made the remarks at a prayer programme organised by the Jatiyatabadi Karmajibi Dal at the Jatiya Press Club for the recovery of three ailing senior BNP leaders: Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan and Rafiqul Islam Miah, as well as those injured during the July-August movement. "Our three senior leaders- Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah- are undergoing treatment. We have joined you in praying for their recovery, and I thank you for organising today's programme," he said. Dudu said BNP leaders and activists, along with their families, had suffered persecution during the past 18 years and were deprived of opportunities, including employment, under the previous government. "Those who deserved jobs could not get them during Sheikh Hasina's rule. So a sense of frustration is understandable. But our leaders and activists must remain patient," he said. He claimed the current government is sympathetic towards those who were subjected to injustice during the previous government. Calling for continued support for the government, Dudu said some groups are trying to magnify isolated incidents to create instability and urged everyone to remain vigilant against any attempts to create disorder. The programme was chaired by Jatiyatabadi Karmajibi Dal President Salahuddin Khan and conducted by its General Secretary Altaf Hossain Sardar.    

Opposition Leader in Parliament and Jamaat Ameer Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday expressed hope that Bangladesh-US relations would continue to deepen based on shared democratic values and mutual respect. He made the remarks while speaking at the "Freedom 250" event marking the 250th anniversary of American independence at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Dr Shafiqur also extended his heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of the United States on the 250th anniversary of the country's independence. He called for transforming the current Bangladesh-US relationship from one of friendship into a genuine partnership based on trade, security cooperation and mutual support for democratic institutions. The Opposition Leader also thanked the United States for its long-standing humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees sheltered in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. Referring to the Middle East, Dr Shafiqur said, "I welcome the recent diplomatic efforts of the United States to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, including the ceasefire agreement with Iran, and call for continued efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region." The Bangladesh Parliamentary Caucus on America and the US Embassy in Dhaka jointly organised the event. Dr Shafiqur congratulated the Parliamentary Caucus on America for its work and said the core responsibility of parliamentary diplomacy is to protect the interests of disadvantaged and marginalised groups, including refugee families, people in flood-affected areas and voiceless working people. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal attended the event as the chief guest. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen also spoke at the programme, which was conducted by Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman, MP, co-chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on America.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Faridpur-2 MP Shama Obaed on Saturday called for a broad-based social movement to build a society free from drugs, corruption, terrorism and extortion. Speaking at a civic discussion organised by the Citizens' Committee in Faridpur town on Saturday, she said such a movement must begin from every household, village, ward and union. Hospitals can deliver better services even with limited budgets if corruption is curbed: Shama Obaed "Our 17 years of struggle must not be wasted because of our own mistakes. We must stay away from corruption and extortion at any cost and work together to build a drug-free, corruption-free, terrorism-free and extortion-free society," she said. Shama also said declaring Faridpur a division and upgrading its municipality to a city corporation were long-standing demands of the district's people. She urged local business leaders to form a business platform for the proposed Faridpur division to help raise the concerns of entrepreneurs before the prime minister. Highlighting the need for unity, she said people of all religions and political beliefs should work together for the district's development. Leaders from different political parties, business organisations and civil society also addressed the programme.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday announced that it will hold marches in 100 municipalities (pourashava) and upazilas across the country from July 6, demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, employment generation and stronger border security. As part of the programme, the party will organise the "July March 2026" in 100 upazilas and municipalities across all 64 districts. NCP describes proposed budget as 'ambitious, fiscally unrealistic' The announcement was made at a press conference held at the party's central office in Banglamotor by NCP's Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam. Party leaders said the marches would begin simultaneously in the northern and southern regions on July 6. The northern campaign will be led by Sarjis Alam and NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, while the southern campaign will be led by Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah and party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. Sarjis alleged that those who supported the perpetrators of the July killings have become increasingly emboldened because they have not yet been brought to justice. He said the marches would also introduce the party's potential local election candidates and urged people from all walks of life to participate in the programme. According to the announced schedule, a march will be held in Kaliganj Upazila at 4 pm on July 6, followed by another in Savar Upazila later that evening. On July 7, the party will organise a march in Cox's Bazar. Sarjis also announced that a farmers' rally will be held in Kurigram on July 15, where the party's new platform, Jatiya Krishak Shakti (National Farmers' Power), will be formally launched. On July 16, NCP leaders and activists will visit the grave of July movement martyr Abu Sayeed in Rangpur. Addressing the press conference, Sarjis said the NCP wants to see the Home Minister's remarks regarding the banned Awami League reflected in concrete action. He alleged that because justice has yet to be ensured against those who assisted the perpetrators of the July killings, some of them have returned to the public sphere and are making provocative remarks about the July movement. Senior NCP leaders, including Ali Ahsan Junayed and Mahin Sarkar, were also present at the press conference.

State Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Mir Shahe Alam on Saturday visited the Rajabari-Damdama road in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman after a section of the newly constructed road collapsed within months of its completion. The damage of nearly one-kilometre stretch of the road, built at a cost of around Tk nine crore, sparked widespread criticism over the quality of the construction works. Govt committed to implementing every election manifesto: Shahe Alam As the media highlighted the allegations of the substandard construction, the issue came to the notice of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which prompted him to direct the state minister to take necessary steps in this regard. Following the prime minister's instructions, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam visited the site and inspected the damaged sections of the road. During the inspection, he was briefed by the officials concerned on the overall progress of the construction work, its technical standards and the possible causes behind the collapse. The state minister instructed the authorities concerned to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse, identify those responsible and take necessary action against anyone found accountable. He also directed officials to take effective measures to minimise public suffering caused by the damaged road. Local MP Dr Rafiqul Islam Bacchu (Gazipur-3) and senior officials of the district administration were present, said a PID handout here.