United News of Bangladesh

The SAARC Journalist Forum (SJF) and ICJ Global Media Group LLC, operator of the Intercontinental Connection of Journalists (ICJ), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a three-year strategic partnership aimed at strengthening international cooperation among journalists, promoting press freedom, and expanding professional opportunities for media professionals across South Asia and beyond. The agreement was signed by Raju Lama, International President of the SAARC Journalist Forum, in New York, and Saša Dobrijević, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ICJ Global Media Group LLC, in Belgrade, Serbia. SAARC Journalist Forum to host Dhaka Conference this year According to the MoU, both organizations will collaborate to advance independent journalism, enhance professional standards, and increase the global visibility of journalists from South Asia. The partnership is based on mutual respect, professional ethics, and institutional cooperation. The agreement reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to defending press freedom and supporting responsible journalism. Under the agreement, the SAARC Journalist Forum will join the ICJ Friends institutional network. The partnership includes reciprocal digital promotion, with both organizations displaying each other’s official logos and website links, as well as the creation of an official institutional profile for SJF on the ICJ platform to showcase its activities, achievements, and initiatives. The MoU also encourages SJF-affiliated journalists to become ICJ members, providing access to an international media network, professional training, publishing opportunities, press credentials, participation in global media panels, and eligibility for ICJ awards. Premium members will also gain access to the ICJ Marketplace for the international distribution of investigative and exclusive journalism. The agreement outlines cooperation in joint projects, information sharing, online exchanges, and coordinated initiatives designed to strengthen media solidarity across South Asia and globally. It further clarifies that the MoU is an expression of goodwill and does not create legally binding financial or commercial obligations between the two organizations. The partnership will remain in effect for an initial period of three years, with the option of renewal by mutual written agreement. Either party may terminate the agreement by providing 60 days’ written notice. The signing of the MoU marks a significant milestone in expanding international media cooperation, creating new opportunities for journalists in the SAARC region to engage with a broader global network while reinforcing the shared values of press freedom, ethical journalism, and professional development.

A Sri Lankan court on Friday sentenced former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to death after convicting him of criminal negligence for failing to prevent the Islamic State-inspired Easter Sunday bomb attacks in 2019 that killed more than 260 people. Although sentenced to death, Jayasundara is unlikely to be executed as Sri Lanka has maintained an informal moratorium on capital punishment since 1976, meaning death sentences are generally commuted to life imprisonment. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake supports retaining the moratorium. The coordinated bombings targeted three churches- two Catholic and one Protestant- and three tourist hotels, killing more than 260 people, including 42 foreign nationals. A parliamentary committee investigating the attacks found that police and intelligence officials failed to act despite receiving repeated intelligence warnings before the bombings. Jayasundara may appeal Friday's verdict delivered by a three-member High Court bench. The court was also scheduled to issue a verdict later Friday on former Defense Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, who faces the same charge. Authorities blamed two Sri Lanka-based Islamic militant groups for carrying out the attacks. All suspects believed to have directly participated are dead, while separate trials are continuing for individuals accused of links to the perpetrators. Sri Lanka's Catholic Church has maintained that those identified so far were not the masterminds behind the Easter Sunday attacks, alleging that a broader conspiracy was behind the bombings.

The death toll from an overnight deadly militant attack on a police post in northwestern Pakistan rose to 11 early Thursday, police and a government official said. Security forces killed 15 militants in an hourlong gunbattle after they targeted the Khazina police post in Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, police official Irfan Khan said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. Suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which has stepped up attacks on Pakistani security forces in the region in recent months. Among those killed was Diyar Khan, a senior police officer who led reinforcements to the scene, according to a provincial police statement. More than two dozen police officers were also wounded in the attack. Police said the militants attacked the police post with heavy weapons. Reinforcements dispatched to the scene were ambushed en route, damaging an armored personnel carrier before officers fought back, according to the statement. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, much of it blamed on the TTP, a separate group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing sanctuary to TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies.  

Over the past decade, the government of India has built a robust ecosystem of open, interoperable and inclusive digital platforms that have transformed public service delivery, promoted financial inclusion, fostered innovation and created new opportunities for citizens and businesses, said the Press Information Bureau of India. The government's vision now extends beyond domestic digital transformation towards building a globally connected, trusted and inclusive digital ecosystem. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) was one of the key priority areas of the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) meetings during India's G20 Presidency in 2023. The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration explicitly recognised DPI, as a development accelerator for economic growth. In furtherance of this vision, the Government of India has signed MoUs with 24 countries for cooperation in sharing successful population-scale digital solutions to accelerate digital transformation globally. These MoUs provide a framework for cooperation in capacity building, knowledge and best-practice exchange, joint workshops and expert consultations, feasibility and e-readiness assessments, and the development, piloting and scaling of proven digital solutions. The country-wise list of signed MoUs is provided at Annexure-I. The government of India has undertaken virtual consultations and technical workshops with partner countries to showcase India Stack and other population-scale digital solutions and identify areas of interest. Based on the solutions identified, detailed technical discussions have held with the concerned Indian technical agencies and partner countries including feasibility studies to assess the readiness of the partner country’s digital ecosystem. Significant progress has been achieved with countries of the Global South, including the conclusion of Implementation Framework Agreement (IFA) and a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Kenya for implementation of DigiLocker. Development of a foundational DigiLocker solution in Cuba has also commenced. Further, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme of MEA, a course on DPI was conducted for Cuban delegation in December 2025. Additionally, bilateral consultations have progressed with partner countries such as Lao PDR, Seychelles, Venezuela, Armenia, Fiji, Guyana Colombia for the potential adoption of key Indian digital solutions, including e-Sanjeevani, e-Office, e-Hospital etc. Moreover, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is linked with the payment systems of various countries to facilitate Person-to-Person (P2P) remittances and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions. The government regularly facilitates study visits and technical interactions for foreign delegations, enabling them to engage with key institutions like Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), National e-Governance Division (NeGD), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), National Informatics Centre (NIC), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), etc. These engagements enable partner countries to discuss implementation challenges and draw on India’s experience in developing its Digital Public Infrastructure. Some of the recent study visits include delegations from Kenya, Rwanda, Nepal, Indonesia, and South Africa. The government has also approved the Social Impact Fund (SIF), which is a government led, multistakeholder initiative to provide financial support and technical assistance for DPI pilot implementation in the Global South particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Rights groups have voiced concern over escalating violence during regional elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after a banned activist organisation boycotted the polls and staged protests, with the group claiming more than 30 protesters were killed.   Leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) said clashes between police and demonstrators earlier this week left over 30 people dead. In a video statement on Wednesday, JAAC member Sardar Umar Nazir alleged that 20 supporters were killed during a protest march on Monday, the day the first phase of voting was held. He also claimed at least 10 more protesters died the following day in Rawalakot, Mirpur and other areas, including during sit-ins. Dozens arrested ahead of protest by banned group in Pakistan-administered Kashmir “Our demand was peaceful... we tried to keep it non-violent and bullets were fired,” Nazir said. Pakistani authorities said one security official was killed and five others injured in Monday’s violence. Amnesty International described reports of lethal force against protesters as “disturbing” and called for an independent investigation, while conflict monitor ACLED warned the violence could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. The first round of voting covered Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts, with two more phases scheduled for August 2 and August 10. Pakistan’s ruling PML-N secured nine of the 13 seats contested in Monday’s vote. JAAC was banned under anti-terrorism laws in June, triggering widespread unrest that disrupted banking, road transport and internet services. Pakistani authorities alleged India-backed armed elements joined the protests, an accusation India has previously denied. Amnesty also condemned the JAAC ban as unlawful, urging authorities to restore communications, allow media and independent observers into the region, and refrain from using deadly force against protesters. JAAC has demanded the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, arguing they allow major Pakistani political parties to influence the regional parliament. Political analyst Hasan Askari said any future regional government dependent on those seats would struggle to resolve the dispute. Several parties also alleged ballot stuffing and vote rigging after Monday’s polling. With inputs from Al Jazeera

The death toll from the ongoing floods in India's northeastern state of Assam has increased to 75, while eight people remain missing, officials said on Wednesday. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Chief Minister, said Sivasagar district recorded the highest number of fatalities at 37, followed by Charaideo with 20 deaths and Jorhat with nine. The floods have affected 2,185 villages in 25 districts, impacting more than 1.14 million people across the state. Authorities have established 215 relief camps, providing shelter to 71,312 displaced people. In addition, 1,718 relief distribution centres have been opened in the flood-hit districts to support those affected. According to Sarma, the disaster has completely destroyed 1,368 residential houses, while another 11,066 homes have sustained partial damage. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said more than 45,341 hectares of cropland remain under floodwaters.

The total population of Japanese nationals in Japan fell below 120 million for the first time in 42 years to 119,736,483 as of Jan. 1 this year, government data showed Wednesday. The figure marked a decline of 917,000 people compared to the previous year, the largest drop since comparable data became available in 1968, according to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Of Japan's 47 prefectures, Tokyo was the only one that recorded an increase of 0.09 percent in the number of Japanese nationals, data showed. The number of foreign residents, meanwhile, increased 354,000 to a record 4,031,159. The figure is the highest since the ministry began taking count in 2013. Japan's total population, including foreign residents, stood at 123,767,642, down by approximately 563,000 from the previous year. Population growth was reported only in Tokyo, Chiba and Osaka prefectures. 

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan has risen to 18 as soldiers and emergency workers continued searching through collapsed buildings and debris for survivors, authorities said Wednesday. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on Kyushu, Japan's southern main island, on Tuesday, leaving at least 62 people injured, including six critically, according to the prefectural government. Officials warned the number of casualties could increase as search operations continue. Rescuers worked in sweltering heat to search damaged homes and commercial buildings, though authorities said it remained unclear how many people were still missing. One of the hardest-hit locations was an Aeon Mall shopping centre in Kashima city, where thousands of shoppers were present when the quake struck. The company said about 3,000 customers were evacuated before a gas explosion occurred in another section of the mall. The mall's second floor collapsed, trapping several people. Aeon President Akio Yoshida said four people were confirmed dead at the site, while three others remained missing. "We take it seriously that an explosion happened and precious lives were lost," Yoshida told a news conference. Elsewhere, a collapsed chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in nearby Yatsushino killed five workers and injured others. Authorities said seven people were rescued from the debris, while four remained trapped. In the first reported foreign fatality, a Vietnamese technical intern was killed after a crane collapsed at the factory where he worked. Seven other Vietnamese interns escaped safely, while the wife of one worker was injured when a wall fell and was receiving hospital treatment. The earthquake also disrupted essential services, leaving nearly 34,900 households without electricity and about 15,000 without running water. More than 8,800 residents took shelter at over 400 evacuation centres, where authorities were installing additional power sources to provide air conditioning. Japan's Self-Defense Forces joined rescue teams in the search operation, assisted by firefighters from Taiwan. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government was making every effort to locate survivors and deliver food and other emergency supplies to the worst-hit areas. Bullet train services remained suspended, while some flights were canceled despite the reopening of Aso Kumamoto Airport. Kumamoto was also devastated by a major earthquake in 2016 that killed at least 50 people. Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries.

Nearly 500 Afghan civilians have been killed and more than 1,200 injured in months of cross-border fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United Nations said Tuesday, warning of mounting civilian casualties and worsening human rights conditions in Afghanistan. In its latest human rights report, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it documented 499 civilian deaths and 1,216 injuries between October and the end of June as clashes between the neighboring countries intensified despite international efforts to ease tensions. The report cited incidents in which civilians attempting to rescue victims from airstrikes were hit by subsequent attacks. In one of the deadliest incidents, two successive airstrikes on a residential building in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province on June 28 killed 22 people, including five children, and wounded at least 185 others. Most of the casualties occurred during the second strike as residents tried to rescue survivors from the first. UNAMA Human Rights Director Fiona Frazer stressed that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on first responders, medical personnel and humanitarian workers carrying out rescue operations. Fighting between the two countries has escalated in recent months. Tensions sharply increased in February after Afghan forces launched raids into Pakistan following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, prompting Islamabad to describe the situation as an "open war." Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has consistently rejected the allegations. The UN report also referred to a March airstrike on a drug treatment center in Kabul that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians. Rights group Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the incident as a possible war crime. Responding to the report, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry maintained that its military operations targeted only militant hideouts and infrastructure linked to groups carrying out attacks in Pakistan. It did not address the reported civilian casualties. Beyond the conflict, UNAMA expressed concern over Afghanistan’s deteriorating human rights situation, particularly for women and girls. The report documented a crackdown in the western city of Herat in June, where at least 30 women were arrested for allegedly violating the Taliban’s dress code. At least one person was killed and several others injured after security forces opened fire during a rare protest against the detentions. UNAMA also said officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice have instructed health facilities and businesses in several areas to deny services to women not accompanied by a male guardian. Additionally, the report warned that newly introduced regulations governing marriage effectively permit child marriage by allowing marriage contracts to be arranged for minors, raising further concerns about the erosion of women's and children's rights under Taliban rule.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Turkey on Tuesday for high-level talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with discussions expected to focus on a proposed oil pipeline, security cooperation and broader bilateral ties. According to Turkish officials, the leaders are set to discuss energy, trade, transportation, water management and regional security, while the Iraqi prime minister’s office said the meeting would also explore joint infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two neighboring countries. A key topic is a proposed pipeline linking Iraq’s southern oil hub of Basra to Haditha in western Iraq and onward to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, with a further connection to Syria’s Baniyas port. The project is intended to reduce Iraq’s dependence on Gulf shipping routes, which remain vulnerable to regional tensions. Al-Zaidi’s visit follows recent trips to Washington and Tehran. During his meeting with US President Donald Trump earlier this month, US companies signed agreements worth about $60 billion with Iraq, including energy and infrastructure projects designed to diversify the country’s oil export routes. Security issues are also expected to feature prominently in the Ankara talks as Turkey continues efforts to end its decades-long conflict with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), whose fighters have long been based in northern Iraq. The PKK announced last year that it would disband and lay down its arms as part of an ongoing peace process. Turkey is preparing legislation that could include limited amnesty measures for some militants seeking to return home. The PKK has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Following his Turkey visit, Al-Zaidi is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Thursday amid heightened regional tensions after Riyadh accused Iran-backed Iraqi militias of launching drone attacks against the kingdom. The Iraqi leader has pledged to disarm non-state armed groups by the end of September, although analysts view the target as difficult given resistance from several powerful militias. On Monday, Al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the alleged drone attacks, reaffirming Iraq’s commitment to ensuring its territory is not used to launch attacks against neighboring countries. The accused militias denied involvement, while the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed factions, dismissed the Saudi allegations as fabricated and suggested the attacks were carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The group also warned that any Saudi retaliation would provoke a strong response.