United News of Bangladesh

A worker died after falling from an under-construction building in the Kalabagan area of the capital on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Md Yasin, 38, son of Habibur Rahman of Changirgaon village in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur district. According to police and witnesses, Yasin was working on the fifth floor of an under-construction building in the Bhuter Goli under Kalabagan Police Station around 9:30am when he accidentally fell and sustained critical injuries. His co-workers rushed him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 10:15am. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment around 11:40am. In-charge of the DMCH police camp Md Faruk said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Police Headquarters has issued a nationwide alert over fears of possible clashes between Awami League activists and members of other political parties, centring on the party’s founding anniversary on June 23. In a communication on Thursday, it directed all police units across the country to remain on alert and take necessary precautionary measures. According to the communication, leaders and activists of Awami League, which faces a ban on its activities, may try to hoist party flags at local offices and bring out processions carrying banners marking the party’s founding anniversary in different districts across the country. Such activities could trigger confrontations with activists of other political parties, especially members of the National Citizen Party and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, creating a risk of law-and-order deterioration. The directive also warned that Awami League activists could become hostile towards law enforcement personnel if they are obstructed from carrying out such programmes. Several officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and superintendents of police in different districts confirmed receiving the precautionary instructions. Sources at the Police Headquarters said the nationwide alert was issued as part of advance precautionary measures based on reports received from several intelligence agencies. Police have already begun preparations to strengthen security measures ahead of the AL anniversary, while intelligence surveillance has been intensified, the sources said.

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.

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.

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman has urged newly commissioned officers to remain prepared to make the utmost sacrifice to safeguard Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty while serving the nation with integrity, professionalism and commitment. He made the call while addressing the President’s Parade of the 90th Long Course at the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) in Bhatiari, Chattogram, on Thursday. The Army Chief advised the newly commissioned officers to develop themselves into skilled, competent and agile military leaders capable of meeting future challenges. He stressed the importance of discipline, dedication and patriotism, urging them to uphold the highest ideals of military service and remain ready to make any sacrifice required to protect the country's independence and sovereignty. Earlier in the day, General Waker-Uz-Zaman arrived at the parade ground and formally reviewed the parade after receiving a guard of honour. Hundreds of cadets took part in the colourful ceremony. Both local and foreign cadets participated in the event. This year, 191 cadets, including seven foreign nationals, were commissioned into the army. The foreign cadets came from four countries, including Palestine and Tanzania. Of the 184 Bangladeshi cadets commissioned, 166 were men and 18 were women. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated the newly commissioned officers on their achievement. Senior military officials, representatives of various countries' armed forces, public representatives and family members of the cadets attended the ceremony. Later, the Army Chief inaugurated the second battalion at Bhatiari and opened several facilities and development projects, including BM Park and a Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

A construction worker died after falling from the 7th floor of an under-construction building in the Shanir Akhra area of Jatrabari in the capital on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Md Fahim, 28, hailing from Shariatpur district. Co-worker Md Farid Mia, who took him to hospital, said Fahim fell from the building around 3:30pm while working at the site near Molla Kadam Ali Jame Masjid at Matuail. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 5:45pm, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Farid Mia also said Fahim lived in the Shanir Akhra Club Goli area and was the father of two sons. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue.

The prime accused in a case filed over the murder of seven-year-old girl Nandini Kanta Roy in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district reportedly confessed to this crime before a court on Wednesday. Bidhan Chandra Roy, 22, made a confessional statement before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Alauddin in the afternoon, said Superintendent of Police of the district Md Ashduszaman. After recording his statement, the court sent the accused to jail. His father Ranjit Chadra Roy was also sent to jail. On Tuesday, police recovered the body of Nandini Roy from a maize field at Folimari village under Bhelabari union, a day after she went missing. The SP said the accused confessed to committing the murder over a family dispute. Although the accused denied sexually assaulting the child, the matter will be clarified after the post-mortem report and further investigation, he said. Meanwhile, victim’s mother Sabitri Rani claimed that Bidhan killed her daughter reportedly over a gold earring weighing just one and a half tolas. "My daughter called him uncle. He even joined us in searching for her on the first day after she went missing. I want justice and the highest punishment for those who took away my child,” she said. Nandini's father Nalini Kanta Roy also demanded capital punishment for the accused, saying he could not understand why his daughter was targeted. Meanwhile, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said the trial of the murder case will be completed quickly. He made the comments after visiting the victim’s family in the afternoon. The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed for standing by Nandini’s family and ensuring all necessary assistance. “In line with the Prime Minister’s directive, we have come here along with three Members of Parliament.” Police arrested Bidhan Chandra Roy and his father from the spot in connection with the incident and the victim’s father filed a case over the incident. A clash broke out between police and some agitated villagers when police were taking the two suspects to the police station from the scene, leaving 30 people, including the SP and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Aditmari Police Station, injured. During the violence, seven vehicles, including those used by the deputy commissioner (DC) and SL, were also vandalised. Police and the district administration have formed separate probe committees to look into the incident.    

Nearly two in three adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh experience menstrual disorders, with many facing disruptions to their daily activities and education, according to a new study conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). The findings were unveiled on Thursday at a dissemination seminar held at the Canada Club in Dhaka, where health experts, policymakers, government officials and development partners discussed the current state of adolescent health in the country. The findings stem from the AdSEARCH study, a 24-month cohort study involving 2,713 adolescents from icddr,b’s Baliakandi Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). Data were collected every four months between 2023 and 2025. One component followed 1,255 adolescent girls aged 12–16 years and found that 64% of them experienced at least one menstrual disorder. Painful periods, or dysmenorrhoea, were the most common condition, affecting 56% of girls. One in three experienced painful periods during three or more menstrual cycles over the study period, while 9% reported persistent menstrual pain. Nearly 40% girls said menstrual pain interfered with daily activities, and around one in four missed school because of period pain or heavy bleeding. Among girls with persistent menstrual pain, 43% also experienced additional menstrual complications. A separate analysis involving 1,077 unmarried adolescents aged 16 years from Baliakandi and Rajbari, revealed major gaps in reproductive health knowledge. More than one-third of boys, 34%, did not know that girls can become pregnant after the onset of menstruation, compared  with 16% of girls. Awareness of family planning methods was also limited, particularly among  girls. While 84% of boys had heard of condoms, only 45% of girls had, and only 4% of girls knew about emergency contraceptive pills compared with 38% of boys. The findings suggest that reproductive health knowledge before marriage may influence later  outcomes. Girls who knew about family planning before marriage were about half as likely to  experience an unplanned pregnancy as those who lacked such knowledge, 5% compared with  10%. During the follow-up period, nearly 200 girls were married and 72 became pregnant,  underscoring the need for accurate reproductive health information before marriage. The event also highlighted two AdSEARCH innovations aimed at improving adolescents’ access to reliable information on sexual and reproductive health, safety, and wellbeing. These included a smartphone-based learning project in Matlab, which was preferred by 83% of participants,  and Koishor-Kotha, a free Bangla-language mobile app featuring animated videos, infographics, and myth-versus-fact explainers. The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr Fauzia Akhter Huda, Scientist at icddr,b. Discussants included Professor Dr Farhana Dewan, former President of the Obstetrical and  Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh; Syed Md Nuruddin, Advisor on Sexual and Reproductive Health  and Rights at Plan International; Nondini Lopa, Country Coordinator for the Global Financing Facility at  the World Bank; Dr Md Manjur Hossain, Assistant Director of the MCH Service Unit at DGFP; and Dr Asif Iqbal, Assistant Director for School Health at DGHS. During the panel discussion, Professor Dr Farhana Dewan called for greater attention to menstrual health stigma, particularly among adolescent girls in rural areas. Syed Md Nuruddin underscored the  need to prevent child marriage through school-based communication, girls’ education, and engagement of both girls and boys. Dr Md Manjur Hossain emphasised that family planning information must reach girls before marriage, noting that DGFP is working to incorporate pre-marital counselling into its  curriculum. Dr Asif Iqbal shared ongoing government efforts to expand adolescent-friendly health services and improve access to SRHR information. In his remarks Edward Cabrera, First Secretary - Development (Health), High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh highlighted Global Affairs Canada's commitment to adolescent SRHR in Bangladesh. The findings call for stronger investment in adolescent health education and services, including menstrual health support, reproductive health information, and adolescent-friendly care, so that young people can make informed decisions and stay healthy.

More than 50 workers at a garment factory in Gazipur fell sick apparently after drinking water supplied by the factory’ in Chandra area of Kaliakair upazila on Thursday morning. Workers of  Dressman Limited began experiencing symptoms including vomiting, stomach pain and dizziness after drinking water in the morning. The number of affected workers increased rapidly, prompting the factory authorities to arrange medical treatment. The sick workers were taken to Kaliakair Upazila Health Complex as well as several private hospitals and clinics in the area. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shahidul Islam of Kaliakair Police Station said that at least 40 to 50 workers fell sick. “Necessary treatment has been arranged for the affected workers. However, none of them is in critical condition,” he said. The cause of the incident is yet to be determined, he added.    

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has forecast flash flood in parts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Mymensingh and Sherpur districts due to rising river water levels and possibility of heavy rainfall.  “These(Surma–Kushiyara) rivers may flow around the warning level in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, and adjacent low-lying areas may be temporarily inundated at some locations,” said a bulletin of FFWC. During the last 24 hours, the water level of the Surma River in the north-eastern region of the country has increased, which may continue over the next three days, it said. On the other hand, the water level of the Kushiyara River has decreased and may remain stable for the next 01 day before increasing during the following two days. Besides, the water levels of the Someshwari and Kangsha rivers in the north-eastern part of Mymensingh Division have increased during last 24 hours. The water levels of these rivers may increase over the next  three days. During this period, Someshwari and Kangsha rivers may flow around the warning level in Netrokona, Mymensingh, and Sherpur districts, and adjacent low-lying areas may be inundated. During the last 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh Divisions within the country, while moderate-heavy to heavy rainfall was observed in the Indian state of Meghalaya upstream, it added According to information from meteorological agencies, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh Divisions and the adjoining upstream regions of West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya in India during the next five days. During the last 24 hours, the water levels of the Brahmaputra–Jamuna river system have increased. The water levels may remain stable over the next oneday and may increase during the following four days. The water levels of the Ganges–Padma river system have remained stable, which may continue over the next five days. During the last 24 hours, the water levels of the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers in northern Rangpur Division have increased, while the water level of the Dharla River has remained stable. The water levels of these rivers may increase over the next three days and during this period, the Teesta River may flow around the warning level in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts. The water levels of the Sarigowain and Jadukata rivers in the north-eastern part of Sylhet Division have increased which may continue over the next 03 days.  Besides, the water levels of the Selonia, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers in the eastern and south-eastern parts of Chattogram Division have increased, while the water levels of the Muhuri, Feni, and Gomti rivers have decreased. The water levels of these rivers may remain stable over the next 03 days.