United News of Bangladesh

Israil Uddin had taken his 11-year-old son to four different hospitals in Thakurgaon district after a venomous snake bit him, but none had the life-saving anti-venom and the boy tragically died. “I went to four hospitals but nowhere could I find the vaccine (anti-venom). At last my son, Sakibul, breathed his last on my lap. I couldn’t save him. I urge the government to act now so that no other parent suffers like this,” said a heartbroken Israil Uddin, a resident of Kadamtala village in Baliadangi upazila. Baliadangi Upazila Health Complex, Haripur Upazila Hospital, Thakurgaon General Hospital and Birganj Hospital in Dinajpur all failed to save the boy’s life as none had the vaccine to treat snakebite victims. Similar deaths have been reported from other parts of the district. Among the deceased are Tareq, a seventh-grade student from Pirganj, Moksed Ali, a college student from Ranisankail, and Shampa Rani, a housewife from Haripur. Family members said they died from venomous snakebites after failing to access anti-venom in time. Shampa’s husband, Jiten, recalled a desperate search for treatment, taking her to three upazila hospitals — Haripur, Ranisankail and Thakurgaon Sadar — none of which could provide the necessary care. HSC examinee dies of snakebite in Magura “Out of desperation, we even took her to a traditional healer but she didn’t survive. Now I’m left with a young child and unbearable grief,” he said. As the monsoon rains swell rivers and flood low-lying areas, venomous snakes increasingly enter human settlements in search of shelter,  a seasonal phenomenon that has turned deadly in northern Bangladesh’s Thakurgaon district. The situation has become particularly alarming this year, as no hospitals in the district have anti-venom injections in stock. Locals said snakebite deaths are a recurring issue during the rainy season. Rural doctor Azmul Haque said that every year 10 to 15 people in Thakurgaon die from snakebites during the monsoon. “Although hospitals send requests for antivenom in advance, the supplies often arrive after the monsoon is over,” he said. Thakurgaon Civil Surgeon Dr Md Anisur Rahman admitted the shortage of anti-venom in district hospitals. “Despite sending demand letters we haven’t received any supply from Dhaka. We’ve heard there’s a shortage at the central medical depot. We are trying to procure some doses through alternative channels,” he said. Child dies from snakebite in Manikganj Although snakebites and related deaths are common, hospitals in Bangladesh continue to lack sufficient supplies of anti-venom, which is not produced locally. A government study released in 2023 found that around 4.03 lakh people are bitten by snakes every year in Bangladesh and 7,511 of them die. Meanwhile, the High Court on August 18 directed the Health Ministry Secretary, the Director General of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) and other authorities concerned to ensure availability of anti-venom in all upazila health complexes across the country as soon as possible. 2 farmers die from snakebites in Dinajpur The directive came following a writ petition seeking adequate supplies of anti-venom in hospitals. Citing newspaper reports, the writ stated that at least 38 people had died and 610 were injured from snakebites between February and July 1 this year across the country.

Amid rising disaster risks caused by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation or fuelled by climate change, the government has taken up a project to set up and rebuild 20 Fire Service and Civil Defence stations in different parts of Bangladesh. The project aims to save lives and property during human-made or natural disasters in the country, said  a Planning Commission official wishing anonymity. Under the Tk-650.96 crore project, he said, 20 fire stations will be built in vulnerable locations in 14 districts to strengthen the disaster management capacity in one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. The country frequently experiences severe cyclones, floods, major fire incidents in high-rises or factories, road or waterway accidents.  Besides, earthquake risk is high due to Bangladesh’s position at the collision zone of tectonic plates. Although not well-equipped, the Department of Fire Service & Civil Defence in Bangladesh has a crucial role to ensure quick responses during such disasters. The fire stations will be built or renovated in 10 important areas in 14 districts under Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions which are not under the coverage of the Fire Service, the official said. Of them, there will be new fire stations at 12 places and other eight will be renovated. The three-year project, to be implemented between July 2025 and June 2028, will be fully funded by the government and implemented by the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate with delegated works to the Public Works Department. Besides, it has been decided to form specialised units and expand fire service and civil defense services nationwide, considering the changing nature and type of disasters. At least 25 injured in fireworks storage blast in Karachi According to the project document obtained by UNB, the initiative aims to bring the country under a stronger disaster safety network by ensuring quick and effective response to both natural and human-made disasters, thereby reducing casualties and property losses. In the context of increasing industrialisation and urbanisation,  the nature of disasters is also changing, the project document says. Alongside natural disasters, disasters such as chemical-caused accidents, building collapses, fires in multi-storey buildings, gas cylinder blasts, fire incidents in power plants, oil refineries, and container depots are increasing. Fire stations have already been set up in important places in districts and upazilas of the country under various development projects. The government has decided to establish at least one fire service and civil defence station in each upazila with the aim of developing an effective and sustainable response system to deal with disasters, the document says. Key components of the project include construction of main station buildings, utility and residential facilities, water supply systems, external electrical works, training towers, reception areas, drainage systems and procurement of fire-fighting and rescue equipment. Fire at Mohakhali’s Saat Tola slum brought under control A total of 8.71 acres of land will be acquired or purchased for the stations to be built in various city corporations, municipalities and upazilas under six administrative divisions. For the main buildings of 20 fire stations Tk 211.8227 crore has been allocated while Tk 12.08 crore for external water supply (car wash and hose wash) of 20 fire stations, Tk 49.8860 crore for external electricity of 20 fire stations, Tk 80.8364 crore for Utility cum residence building of 20 fire stations, Tk 9.7387 crore for drain, training tower, reception, walkway and fuel store of 20 fire stations, Tk 33.8391 crore for acquisition/purchase of 8.71 acres of land, and Tk 190.60 crore for fire fighting equipment and rescue equipment. The Planning Commission official said the project aligns with the 8th Five Year Plan’s objective to enhance the capacity of the Fire Service and Civil Defence through necessary technology, and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of reducing disaster risks at all levels. Once implemented, he said, the project will expand fire service coverage to key disaster-prone areas, strengthen institutional capacity and make immediate and effective disaster response more achievable.  

The centuries-old tradition of bamboo craft in the northern districts of Bangladesh is fast fading, as modern lifestyles, high prices and declining demand drive artisans away from their ancestral trade. For generations, bamboo has been an inseparable part of rural life, providing baskets, trays, hand fans, fishing traps, poultry cages, mats and other essentials that once defined the household economy of Bangladesh.  But today, the craft that once flourished in villages across Rangpur and adjoining districts is struggling to survive. According to the Rangpur Divisional Office of the Department of Small and Cottage Industries, people in 114 villages across eight northern districts were directly engaged in bamboo craft.  Additional Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur, Abu Zafar, points out that nearly 70,000 families once earned their living from this profession, but today only around 12,000 families remain. “Every day the usage of bamboo products is decreasing, forcing artisans to leave their profession,” he said. In Moniram village, 85-year-old Abdul Wahed still works with bamboo.  His voice carries both pride and pain as he recalls the past, “I learnt this work from my father. He raised our family of 14 siblings only by making bamboo products. In his time, we never faced needs. But nowadays, even though I make the same products, they do not sell like before.” The crisis has been deepened by deforestation and urbanisation, which have made raw bamboo scarce and costly.  A single piece of bamboo, which once cost Tk 50–100, now sells for Tk 300–400. Another artisan, Kenzul, laments the fall of what was once a thriving livelihood. “The golden past of bamboo craft is now only a memory. From one bamboo we can make six poultry cages. Each cage sells at Tk 100 to wholesalers. After all the hard work, nothing much remains for us,” he said. Needle to Nations: Bagerhat’s women weave global impact with eco-friendly crafts For women artisans, the struggle is even harsher. Hasna Begum, who learnt the craft from her mother-in-law and later passed it down to her children and grandchildren, says they are trapped in debt. “Now the prices of everything, including bamboo, are too high. We borrow money from local moneylenders with interest. If we take Tk 1,000 every month, we pay Tk 100 as profit. On Tk 5,000, we must pay Tk 500. This loan is a huge burden. Sometimes we fail to pay on time and face humiliation. With government help, we can continue this profession," she said.  Another artisan, Dulali, echoed her frustrations, “Even if we buy bamboo at high prices and make products, these do not sell. No one is willing to give us loan nowadays. Government also does not provide us any help.” A Lost Heritage Local Union Parishad member Lebu Mia insists that Moniram village is home to many skilled artisans but lacks financial support, training, and marketing facilities. “If the government takes proper initiative, this tradition can be revived,” he said. Academics, too, see the heritage value of bamboo craft.   

Bangladesh looks on as its upstream neighbours China and India kept up their efforts to build dams to unilaterally control the water flow in the trans-boundary river Brahmaputra, the lifeline of water supply during the dry season. Accounting for 70 per cent of all natural water flow during the dry season, which covers winter and a part of pre-monsoon time, the Brahmaputra is essential for Bangladesh’s economic activities, which substantially depend on agriculture, sustaining millions of people fighting poverty tooth and nail. China is actively pursuing the world’s single-largest hydroelectric project with plans to re-route 70 per cent of the Brahmaputra’s water to generate 60 GW of electricity, more than double the current installed power generation capacity of Bangladesh. India is planning to dam the Siang River, a major tributary to the Brahmaputra, with nearly double the Chinese capacity to store water from the river to generate 11GW of electricity. “The basic idea here is that the upstream countries will take away water by interrupting the Brahmaputra’s natural flow with promises to return it after meeting their own needs,” said Md Khalequzzaman, who teaches geology at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. Theoretically, Khaleq explained, the process of re-routing water by China meant building a dam, creating tunnels through hills and letting the water flow through gorges using its power to generate electricity. International newspaper reports suggest that the re-routing could expand over a stretch of 50 km. Little is officially known about the dams as upstream neighbours are reluctant to share reports of their projects’ feasibility studies or their environmental or disaster impact assessments. Teesta master plan still at policy making stage, says BWDB DG “There is a high chance for India to divert water for irrigation following electricity generation,” said Tuhin Wadud, director of Riverine People, a civil society movement to restore and conserve rivers. Tuhin’s apprehension is founded in years of India arbitrarily controlling water in the Teesta River, which was reduced into rather dry land, separated by occasional patches of shallow water, particularly during the dry season. India also announced a plan to divert water from the Dharla River. Teesta and Dharla are two major Brahmaputra tributaries. Water and river experts warned that Bangladesh could see the Brahmaputra flow dangerously decline before long. “Bangladesh faces a very big threat. There is no reason to believe in the rhetoric used by upstream countries about fair use of water unilaterally taken away, interrupting natural river flow,” said Khaleq. Called Yarlung Zanbo in China, the Brahmaputra rises near Mount Kailash in the Himalaya before entering India and then flowing into Bangladesh to sink into the Bay of Bengal covering a length of 2,900km and catchment of 5.83 lakh sq km. The massive river, one of the largest in the world, is held sacred by many tribes in India. The river also flows along one of the world’s most active geological fault lines, where some of the world’s worst earthquakes occurred over centuries. Communities’ resistance to the state’s move to interrupt the Brahmaputra dates back to the 1980s. Building a mega-dam such as the one China is planning, dwarfing even the famous Three Gorges Dam, which reportedly slows down earth’s spin, in such a geologically sensitive area is considered by experts a bad idea. Implement Teesta management and restoration master plan: IFC International newspapers reported that the project will cost China $137bn. The sheer size of the dam is so massive that it involves water falling down 5,000 metres, about five times the height of Bangladesh’s highest mountain peak. Climate-induced rapid glacier melt, which recently burst more than one dam, heightens the risk of disaster manifold, experts warned. Large dams also trap sediments, leading to riverbed degradation and soil fertility loss, river and environmental experts said, adding that interrupting natural water flow threatens to abruptly affect aquatic ecology and the delta-building process occurring through rivers carrying sediments. Trans-boundary rivers in the 1960s used to carry to Bangladesh about two billion tons of sediments, which dropped to one billion tons lately, experts said. “Brahmaputra flow contributes the most in preventing saline water intrusion in coastal Bangladesh,” said Malik Fida A Khan, executive director, Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, a state-owned organization. “Bracing for so many disastrous impacts requires good planning, which is denied by upstream countries refusing to share information on the proposed projects,” he said. Bangladesh has no bilateral treaty with India or China about sharing water in the Brahmaputra River. None of the countries are signatories of the UN’s international watercourse convention. Bangladesh’s request sent this year to China about sharing feasibility studies done on its massive dam failed to yield any result. Joint Rivers Commission member Mohammad Abul Hossen said that they requested China two years ago to share any studies conducted on the potential impacts of constructing the dam without receiving any response yet. Experts seek master plan for sustainable river dredging “Dams, if properly operated in consultation with downstream countries, could be beneficial in terms of flood control,” said Hossen. But experts are not so optimistic. They called on China and India for conducting a joint Strategic Environmental Assessment to determine the impacts of the proposed dams. They also urged Bangladesh to become proactive, taking initiatives such as signing the UN’s international watercourse convention and working together with India to diplomatically put pressure on China against its potential unilateral control of common river water. Bangladesh should also take the opportunity to highlight India’s arbitrary control of water on the Teesta River and the disastrous consequences the Farakka barrage in Ganges bore for downstream Bangladesh. Barring natural water flow resulted in increased erosion in the rivers’ banks as well. Hundreds of families had to leave their ancestral homes behind or saw those get devoured during monsoon, when India releases water, often without warning. Fishermen lost their livelihoods following fish populations falling. In 2020, the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, argued in a report that control over rivers rising from the Tibetan Plateau essentially gives China a 'chokehold' over India’s economy.    

What was once a mosaic of fertile fields and vibrant villages in Bhabodah of Jashore district has now been swallowed by weeks of floodwater, showing no sign of receding! More than five lakh people in over 150 villages across Jashore and Khulna districts are trapped in a worsening humanitarian crisis, their homes, schools, farmland and livelihoods devastated. The deluge, triggered by torrential July rainfall, has been compounded by years of river siltation, poor drainage and what locals describe as ‘decades of mismanagement’. The worst-hit areas are Abhaynagar, Manirampur, and Keshabpur in Jashore and Dumuria and Phultala in Khulna. On August 7, the Bhabodah Water Management Songram Committee submitted a six-point demand to the Jashore Deputy Commissioner, holding the Water Development Board (WDB) directly responsible for it. Among their demands are the opening of all sluice gate vents, acquisition of land for the Amdanga canal, and fast-tracking the 81-kilometre river dredging project. At present, only eight of the 21 vents in the Bhabodah sluice gate are operational, far from sufficient to drain the floodwaters. The committee alleges that poor decisions by the WDB have severely hindered natural water outflow. Though an estimated Tk 1,250 crore was spent on Bhabodah-related projects over the past decade, locals claim no sustainable solution has been achieved. Allegations of corruption in project implementation are rife, with much of the funding reportedly misappropriated. A Chinese expert team recently visited the Bhabodah sluice gate and offered long-term solutions, yet public trust remains low. Repeated unfulfilled promises and a lack of transparency have eroded confidence among flood-affected residents. Severe waterlogging forces closure of two schools in Kushtia Experts continue to advocate for the TRM (Tidal River Management) method, which utilises natural tidal flows to remove silt and restore river navigability. A pilot TRM project in Beel Khukshia was previously successful and is now seen as a potential long-term remedy for Bhabodah. The local committee has urged immediate implementation of TRM as part of their demands. Nearly five lakh residents face an uncertain future, their only hope lying in urgent government action—grounded not merely in funding and promises but in transparent and accountable delivery of sustainable solutions. Experts also point to unplanned human interference in natural waterways as a major cause of the crisis. Tidal flows, once instrumental in keeping local rivers navigable, have been disrupted by the construction of coastal polders in the 1960s and poorly planned sluice gates and embankments. Excessive silt buildup now causes floodwaters to spill into residential areas during monsoons. A visit to several villages in Manirampur upazila, including Kultia, Lakhidanga, Baje Kultia, Aminpur and Hasadanga, revealed the dire conditions. Laxmi Rani Biswas of Lakhaidanga lamented, “How long must we live in water like this? There’s no point in asking anyone for help anymore.” Mita Khatun of Aminpur said their home has remained flooded for over a month, forcing them to cook on the veranda. Waterlogging hampers goods handling at Benapole port

Leading hospitals in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, are increasingly attracting Bangladeshi patients seeking advanced but affordable medical treatment for critical diseases, with authorities pledging faster visas, smoother procedures and language support to ease medical tourism. Chinese officials said urgent visas can be issued within a day under a ‘green channel’, with many requirements already eased. They said their hospitals provide high-quality treatment at about one-fourth the cost of Thailand, cheaper than Malaysia, and only slightly higher than top Indian hospitals. Bangladesh authorities said China offered support while the interim government explored alternatives beyond India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia for timely and cost-effective treatment. “We are exploring how to expand services and work with travel agencies to attract more Bangladeshi patients,” Yunnan Health Commission deputy director Wang Jiankun told a Bangladesh media delegation during a visit to the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. He said strengthening medical cooperation is part of broader ties aimed at improving healthcare access, disease control and people-to-people links. During hospital visits, Bangladeshi journalists saw patients receiving treatment for serious conditions, including liver cirrhosis, breast cancer and heart problems. Treatment for intellectually disabled patients available in China Patients said facilities were modern, staff attentive, and care affordable. Language remains a challenge, but hospitals are recruiting Bangladeshi exchange students and Chinese medical students as volunteer interpreters. The 23-member media delegation, led by Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, visited Kunming from August 6–9 to review medical facilities. Wang said the province has 29,678 health institutions, including 1,319 hospitals, 122 tertiary hospitals, and 472 secondary hospitals, with 370,000 beds in total. Of them, he said five major hospitals – Yunnan First People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, and Zhongshan Hospital – are prepared to treat Bangladeshi patients. “These hospitals have special units for international patients, official contact channels and staff to respond quickly to queries. Our international medical pricing is fair, and Bangladeshi patients in pilot hospitals have expressed high satisfaction,” Wang said. Lu Jiang, assistant to the president of Fuwai Yunnan Hospital, said treatment costs in Kunming are much lower than in neighbouring countries, depending on the type of examinations and equipment used. “The quality is comparable to Thailand but about one-fourth the cost. Prices are also lower than in Malaysia,” he said. Chinese officials responded to queries on language barriers, accommodation, travel expenses, credit card use, follow-up care, billing and repatriation of deceased patients. Wang said they are aware of the challenges and are working to ensure a smooth treatment experience. China vows hassle-free healthcare for Bangladeshi patients in Yunnan The delegation also visited Kunming Tongren Hospital, a leading private facility. Vice-President Shen Ling said the hospital has sufficient doctors and medical staff, with international-standard diagnostic and laboratory tools ensuring accurate diagnoses and treatment. She said the hospital has a strong team dedicated to treating intellectually disabled children and presented case studies of Bangladeshi patients treated for critical illnesses and disabilities. Shen said the hospital’s new International Medical and Oncology Centre will open in 2026, offering advanced services and making it an ideal choice for Bangladeshi patients seeking high-quality care. Two attendants of Bangladeshi patients expressed satisfaction over Tongren Hospital’s services. Omar Faruque from Jashore, who brought his cousin Jannatul Naim for a back problem, praised doctors’ hands-on care and careful use of medicine, though he mentioned language barriers and high food costs. Sagor Hossain from Chattogram, who brought his mother for cancer treatment, said he was pleased with the services but stressed the urgent need for English-language documentation, as Bangladeshi doctors cannot read Chinese. Hospital authorities said they offer overseas patients full support, including halal meals, prayer facilities, interpreters, and detailed treatment information. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of China–Bangladesh diplomatic relations and the year of people-to-people exchanges. “Healthcare cooperation has become a key achievement. The first Bangladeshi patients travelled in March, and about 600 have since received treatment. We expect 4,000–5,000 by year-end,” he said. Deputy Press Secretary Azad Majumder said only one direct Dhaka–Kunming flight operates at present, keeping fares high, but a Chattogram–Kunming route is being planned. “A direct Chattogram–Kunming flight is expected by year-end, making travel easier for patients and businesspeople,” he said. Official sources said some 800,000 Bangladeshi citizens travel abroad each year for medical treatment, mostly to India, Thailand and Singapore, citing higher standards of care and specialised services. According to data from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and figures referenced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this medical tourism results in an annual outflow estimated between $2 billion and $5 billion.

Dhaka University is now abuzz with festivity and anticipation as the much-hyped Ducsu election edges closer. With the deadline for the nomination submission wrapped up on Wednesday, various panels, including Chhatra Dal Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's student body Chhatra Shibir, are drafting manifestos and setting campaign strategies to woo voters. Zakaria Ahmed, a student of Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, expressed excitement, saying, "We are thrilled because Ducsu elections are being held after a long time. The campus has turned festive and we hope this election is conducted fairly so that representatives truly work for students’ welfare." From Chhatra Dal panel, Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, who is contesting for the General Secretary post, said their priority is to ensure students’ basic rights and build a student-friendly, research-oriented environment on the campus. "Our manifesto will reflect the demands raised by students. We want a democratic space where opinions can be freely expressed. But accountability is lacking—those involved in past violence and irregularities have not been brought to justice. Without addressing this culture of impunity, a free Ducsu election will be difficult," he said. Hamim, however, welcomed the Election Commission’s efforts so far, saying that they expect the administration to deliver a neutral election. Chhatra Shibir has announced its panel under the banner of 'Oikyoboddho Chhatra Jote' (United Students’ Alliance), fielding activists from diverse backgrounds, including women, indigenous students and July Uprising participants. Shibir-backed Vice President candidate Md Abu Shadik Kayem, said, "After the July changeover, we must set an example of inclusive democracy at DU. Our panel represents not only our activists but also student leaders from different communities, including the Chakma. We want everyone’s voice heard and we will compel the administration to recognise students’ rights." Expressing concerns over administrative neutrality, he said the level playing field must be ensured and extending the deadline for nominations without consulting panels shows favouritism. Many provosts and officials represent a certain camp. He pledged that, if elected, his panel will focus on safety, security and welfare. Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad announces 27-member panel for Ducsu polls 'Female students' dormitories need urgent reconstitution and renovations. Non-residential students must have access to facilities. Guardians should have waiting lounges, and campus transport must be modernised. Female students are strongly supporting us, and we will not betray their trust," he said. Responding to complaints, Returning Officer Prof SM Shamim Reza explained that the nomination deadline was extended by a day due to overcrowding at submission centres. Another Returning Officer Prof Kazi Maruful Islam, said, "No major violations of the code of conduct have been reported so far. Minor incidents are being investigated and strict action will be taken if necessary." Panels and Key Candidates From JCD, Abidul Islam Khan is running for Vice President (VP), Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim for General Secretary (GS) and Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed for Assistant General Secretary (AGS). Chhatra Shibir’s panel has nominated Kayem for VP, SM Farhad for GS and Mohiuddin Khan for AGS. Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad has announced a panel titled ‘Anti-Discrimination Students’ Union fielding Abdul Kader for VP, Abu Bakar Mojumdar for GS and Ashrefa Khatun for AGS. Chhatra Dal announces full panel for DUCSU elections Left-leaning organisations have formed the Democratic Students’ Alliance under the banner of 'Protirodh Parishad' (Council of Resistance). Its VP candidate is Sheikh Tasnim Afroze Emi, former VP of Shamsunnahar Hall Students’ Union in 2019. Meghmallar Basu, president of Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, will contest for GS, while Jaber Ahmed Jubel of Revolutionary Students’ Unity will vie for AGS. Former student leader and anti-discrimination activist Umama Fatema has also submitted nominations with her panel, yet to be formally announced. She is expected to contest for VP, with journalist leaders Al Sadi Bhuiya (GS) and Mahmudun Mujahid Mahi (AGS) also in the lineup. Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangsad’s panel includes Jamal Uddin Khalid (VP), former NCP leader Mahin Sarkar (GS), and Fatema Sharmin (AGS). Several independent candidates have also emerged, including Julius Caesar and Shamim Hossain, both running for VP. Massive Participation According to the EC, a total of 658 nomination papers were sold for 28 positions, of which 509 were submitted while 149 were not returned. DUCSU election: Leftist alliance announces full panel ‘Protirodh Porshod’ A draft list of candidates is scheduled to be published today (Thursday). The deadline for withdrawal is August 25 and the final list of candidates will be released on August 26 at 4 pm. With colourful posters, slogans and promises filling the campus, DU students now await what many see as a landmark election, one that could reshape campus politics and revive the historic role of Ducsu in national democratic life.

The government is set to appoint new deputy commissioners (DCs) in all districts ahead of the upcoming national election to hold it in a credible manner. Sources at the Ministry of Public Administration said the appointments of new DCs are expected to be finalised within September as the national election is scheduled to be held in February 2026. Amid criticisms over appointing officials who benefited during the Awami League’s tenure as DCs, the government is now exercising greater caution in making such postings, sources said. Like the previous years, the DCs are expected to be appointed again as returning officers during upcoming parliamentary elections. The preparation of the new ‘fit list’ is already at its final stage. According to the sources at the Ministry of Public Administration, this time no controversial official or those who have political affiliation will be made a DC. If anyone secures a DC appointment through deception or concealing information, administrative action will be taken against him or her once verified. On August 18, Md Sarwar Alam, a well-known executive magistrate for his strict action against food adulteration and irregularities, was appointed DC of Sylhet. The change came amid much-talked-about allegations of large-scale stone looting from Bholaganj, Jaflong and other areas of Sylhet. The ministry started preparing the ‘fit list’ on January 11 this year. As part of the process, interviews were held in six phases with 269 deputy secretaries from the 25th and 27th batches of the BCS Administration Cadre. Local administration involved in Bholaganj stone looting: Rizwana Hasan Over 50 officers have been included in the fit list so far and viva voce for officers of the 28th batch are underway, according to the Public Administration Ministry. Currently, 26 officers of the 24th batch, 25 officers of the 25th batch and 12 officers of the 27th batch are serving as DCs. Although 21 officers of the 24th batch were promoted to joint secretary on March 20 they have not yet been withdrawn from field administration. Earlier, on September 8, 2023, DC appointments were made in 61 districts from a fit list of 108 officers, sparking huge controversy. Many officers claimed they were ‘deprived,’ and created unprecedented disorder in the ministry. Md Erfanul Haque, Additional Secretary (Appointments, Promotions & Transfers) of the Ministry of Public Administration, said, “The DC appointment process is underway. The Public Administration Committee will decide the timeline but we expect the appointments to be made soon.” Senior Secretary Dr Mokhles-ur Rahman said, “The DCs will be appointed from the fit list. Qualified and competent officers will be placed ahead of the election to avoid any question of credibility.” Former secretary and administrative expert AKM Abdul Awal Majumdar said, “Interim governments (caretaker governments) in 1991, 1996, and 2001 did not face such disorder. The current administrative weaknesses must be addressed quickly. Governance is impossible without an honest, skilled and professional bureaucracy. There is still time to restore the administration by appointing capable officers in key positions.” According to the Public Administration Ministry, a ‘Public Administration Committee’ comprising four advisers, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Secretary of Public Administration has been formed to provide guidance on appointments, transfers, and disciplinary matters for divisional commissioners, DCs, joint secretaries and higher positions. This committee makes the final decisions on DC appointments and other matters. Govt to fast-track implementation of ‘Administrative Reform’ proposals In February, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin instructed the DCs of all 64 districts to apply the full extent of the law in their roles as returning officers in the upcoming national election, according to official sources who preferred to remain anonymous. The interim government has already taken action against the government officials who played key roles in the engineered elections during the previous Awami League regime. This year the government has sent 21 former DCs into compulsory retirement due to their roles in the controversial elections as they had served as returning officers in the general elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 which are widely criticised for fraudulence. Besides, 43 former DCs were made officers on special duty (OSD). Those with less than 25 years of service experience were made OSD while those who have served for more than 25 years were sent on compulsory retirement.

Unchecked sand extraction from the banks of the Meghna River in Matlab North upazila of Chandpur is putting the 64-kilometre embankment under the Meghna-Dhanagoda flood control project in serious risk. The embankment protects 14 unions of Matlab North and a village of Matlab South, home to around seven lakh people. As per the Sand Fields and Soil Management Act), 2010 extraction is prohibited within one kilometre of critical infrastructure such as bridges, culverts, dams, roads, and residential zones. Locals alleged that despite months of open sand lifting no strict action has been taken by the local administration. Erosion threat looms over historic Munshiganj Market Miscreants extracted soil with dredgers from Dashani, Shatnal, Nasira Kandi and Borchar areas along the river recently, they said. They alleged that a sand syndicate led by Kibria Miaji have been running the illegal business for years. Rivalries over such activities led to clashes and even deaths in the past and cases are still ongoing. “They are lifting sand day and night with dredgers. Our croplands and homesteads being washed away due to riverbanks erosion,” said Majedur Rahman, a resident of Dashani village. Moulvibazar’s roads in ruins, locals plead for repairs “If the embankment collapses, vast areas of Matlab North and South will go under water but no action is being taken,” he said.

Towards the end of July, the highly anticipated date for elections to the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union was announced, delivering on a key promise of the interim government to restart the culture of student politics centering students’ union elections at the country’s leading public universities. DU will hold its first students’ union election in six years on September 9. The final voter list containing 39,775 eligible voters- 20,871 male and 18,902 female- was published last week. Through its long yet chequered history DUCSU has authored some glorious chapters in the history of Bangladesh. From fiery speeches and protest rallies on the DU campus to the corridors of parliament, DUCSU’s influence over the life of the nation has been unmistakable — not just as a student body, but as a breeding ground of leadership, courage and conscientious rights-based movements from its birth. As a leadership incubator, it shaped many prominent figures who began their political life through activism on the DU campus. According to political analysts, several factors contribute to DUCSU’s role in grooming national leaders. From the beginning, DUCSU has contributed to many democratic movements. Its political environment and students’ active participation on issues make it a political incubator. Dr. Rushad Faridi, assistant professor of economics at DU, said, “Any organisation is a place for developing leadership qualities. Various posts in DUCSU and the hall's unions are platforms for practicing and nurturing leadership. I wouldn’t say only DUCSU is a place for producing leaders—any organisation, no matter how small, can serve as a ground for leadership development.” Before the 2019 election that was won by Nurul Huq Nur, the last DUCSU election was held six months before the fall of the Ershad regime, in June 1990. Yet strangely, the advent of democracy on the national stage spelled doomsday for DUCSU and its equivalent bodies in the other public universities, as nearly all of them went into limbo around the same time. Why or how this was allowed to happen, is still worthy of deeper study. One theory is that the university administrations failed to organise the elections under pressure from the ruling parties, or their student wings. Yet history tells us that when what would’ve been the first DUCSU election following the fall of Ershad was announced in 1994, it eventually couldn’t be held due to opposition from the Awami League. It was the same again the following year. Whatever the reason may have been, one thing that almost everyone can agree on is that the absence of SU elections has a very negative impact on the overall standard of student politics. “We know why elections are not held. One major reason elections have not taken place since the 1990s is that whichever party comes to power, its affiliated student organisations do not want elections as they already hold leadership positions on campus. They fear that if elections are held, leadership might pass into others hands. As a result, the campus ends up under the control of the ruling party. No work is then done to protect the interests of general students,” Dr. Rushad said. He added that the path for the development of new student leadership or those who want to engage in genuine politics gets blocked. “Consequently, we don’t see any new energetic and mature politicians at the national level either. Thus, a culture of thuggery is practiced on campus, and this trend is reflected in national politics as well.” Years in the Wilderness After the 1990 election, the last DUCSU election was held in 2019. In a case of supreme irony, the advent of democracy following the fall of the autocratic government of H.M. Ershad saw DUCSU pushed to the backburner. There are allegations that due to pressure from the ruling party’s student organisation and various quarters, the university administration could not organise the election. However, experts opine that there are harmful consequences of not holding the DUCSU election. Rushad Faridi said that the absence of elections has a very negative impact. “We know why elections are not held. One major reason elections have not taken place since the 1990s (till 2019) is that whichever party comes to power, its affiliated student organisations do not want elections as they already hold leadership positions on campus. They fear that if elections are held, leadership might pass into others hands. As a result, the campus ends up under the control of the ruling party. No work is then done to protect the interests of general students.” He added that the path for the development of new student leadership or those who want to engage in genuine politics gets blocked. “Consequently, we don’t see any new energetic and mature politicians at the national level either. Thus, a culture of thuggery is practiced on campus, and this trend is reflected in national politics as well.” DUCSU leaders who became MPs: Over the decades, a number of leaders of DUCSU have gone on to become members of the parliament. Ataur Rahman Khan, GS in 1929-30; Farid Ahmad, VP in 1946-47; Professor Ghulam Azam, GS 1947-49 (twice); S. A. Bari, VP, and Julmat Ali Khan, GS in 1953-54; K M Obaydur Rahman, GS in 1962-63; Rashed Khan Menon, VP and Matia Chowdhury, GS in 1963-64; Ashraf Ud-Doullah Pahloan, GS in 1964-65; Tofayel Ahmed, VP and Nazim Kamran Choudhuri, GS in 1968-69; A. S. M. Abdur Rab, VP in 1971, Abdul Kuddus Makhan, GS in 1971, Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, GS in 1982, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, VP in 1989-90, Amanullah Aman, VP in 1990-91 and Khairul Kabir Khokon, GS in 1990-91.