United News of Bangladesh

A former University of South Florida student has been charged with killing his roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend — two doctoral students from Bangladesh who disappeared earlier this month, authorities said Saturday. Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, is facing two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, students at USF, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Limon’s remains were found on the Howard Frankland bridge Friday morning, but Bristy is still missing, Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said on Friday. However, Bristy’s brother has claimed that his sister has also died. “Our sister is no longer with us. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un,” her brother, Zahid Hasan Pranto, said in a Facebook post on Saturday. Abugharbieh, a native-born U.S. citizen, was initially taken into custody on Friday at his family’s home on preliminary charges that include unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery. Officers encountered Abugharbieh as they responded to a report of domestic violence at his family’s home, just north of the campus, and were able to move his relatives to safety. But then he barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. A SWAT team responded — along with a drone, a robot and crisis negotiators — before Abugharbieh came out with his hands up, apparently wearing nothing but a blue towel. Limon and Bristy, both 27, were considering getting married, a relative said. They disappeared from campus on April 16. Limon was last seen at his home in an off-campus apartment complex where he lived with Abugharbieh. Bristy, who lived on campus, was last seen an hour later at a campus science building. An autopsy is being done on the remains to determine the manner and cause of Limon’s death, and those results are expected Saturday morning, Maurer said Friday. Abugharbieh had been a USF student but was not currently enrolled. University records showed he had attended the school from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023, and had pursued a BS in Management, a university spokesperson said. Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, and Bristy was studying chemical engineering. She was a graduate of Noakhali Science and Technology University. The school, which spelled her last name as Brishti, said in a statement Saturday that she was a Ph.D. candidate and described her as a talented and promising student. “Her sudden passing has deeply saddened all of us,” Vice Chancellor Mohammad Ismail said. “The university family pays deep respect to her memory. At the same time, we demand punishment for those involved in her death and compensation for the victim’s family.” The search for Bristy continues. Anyone with information regarding her disappearance is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Abugharbieh had several previous arrests, the sheriff’s office said. He was charged with battery and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling in September 2023, and with battery that May — both classified in court records as misdemeanors. Court records show Abugharbieh entered into a diversion program for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors. He completed the program in 2024 and the charges were discontinued. A phone call to his lawyer in that case was not immediately returned. Hillsborough County Court records also showed two domestic violence petitions filed by a family member in 2023. A judge granted an injunction in one case and denied the other petition. He also was accused of traffic violations.  

Youth members from several organisations on Saturday staged a march and formed a human chain in the capital, demanding increased allocation and greater opportunities for young people in the upcoming national budget for 2026. The programme began in front of the National Press Club in the afternoon and ended in Agargaon, where the human chain was held. Around 50 youths participated. The event was organised by Prochesta Foundation, Amrai Agami, and Youth Foundation of Bangladesh, with support from the Democratic Budget Movement and SAAPE. During the programme, participants placed a six-point demand. These include increasing budgetary allocation for youth, introducing a “Youth Card” to support skills development and employment, launching paid internship opportunities, reducing what they termed “unjustified” VAT and taxes on working individuals, ending misleading promises in the name of development, and ensuring an inclusive and equitable budget for all age groups. They also called for greater youth participation in the budget formulation process and a more inclusive approach to national budgeting. Sekendar Ali Mina, joint secretary of the Democratic Budget Movement, said the national budget is not merely an economic document but a policy instrument directly linked to people’s lives. However, he noted that youth concerns are still not adequately reflected in budget planning. Youth representative SZ Opu said more emphasis should be placed on job creation and skills development for young people. Another representative, Rakibul Islam, stressed the need for paid internships and a fair tax system, describing them as urgent demands of the time. The organisers expressed hope that the upcoming budget would reflect youth aspirations and contribute to building a more inclusive national economy.    

Bangladesh Navy seized a total of 3,000 litres of illegally stockpiled diesel and arrested one person in a joint operation conducted in Hatiya on Saturday, according to ISPR. Acting on secret information, the Bangladesh Navy contingent, in coordination with Hatiya Police Station, carried out the operation late Friday night in the Kalamchar area near Swich Ghat under Jahajmara union of the upazila. During the drive, law enforcers recovered 15 barrels containing 3,000 litres of diesel from an area adjacent to “Ma-Babar Doa Borof Kol” establishment. Navy steps up security for fuel-carrying vessels on sea routes Authorities arrested Md Mahmududdin, 45, on charges of stockpiling fuel illegally and creating artificial scarcity in the market for higher profits. The seized diesel and the detained individual were handed over to Hatiya Police Station for further legal action. Officials said the Bangladesh Navy continues regular operations to prevent illegal fuel hoarding and smuggling in the national interest and will maintain a zero-tolerance policy against such activities amid global energy concerns.

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Saturday urged authorities to prioritise public transport, rail and waterways over fossil fuel dependent private vehicles, stressing that such a shift is essential to ensure energy security and build a sustainable transport and communication system in the country. The call came at a press conference titled “Energy Security and Sustainable Transport and Communication,” held at the BIP conference hall in the capital. The event was chaired by BIP President Dr Muhammad Ariful Islam, while the keynote paper was presented by the institute’s General Secretary Prof Md Musleh Uddin Hasan, with Joint Secretary Kazi Salman Hossain moderating the session. Presenting the keynote, Prof Hasan said ensuring energy security requires reducing reliance on fossil fuel–based private transport and giving priority to mass transit, rail and water transport. He noted that the power sector accounts for the largest share of national carbon emissions, followed by the transport sector, underscoring the urgency of reforming transport planning. Highlighting the environmental cost of motorisation, he said the amount of metal used to manufacture a single motor vehicle could produce around 150 bicycles, demonstrating the efficiency and sustainability of non-motorised transport. Hasan stressed equitable distribution of energy use in the transport sector and proposed urgent introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), implementation of bicycle-sharing schemes and formation of a national urban transport fund. He also emphasised the need to control the growing use of motorcycles and private cars, and called for infrastructure development and policy reforms to support walking, non-motorised transport and electric buses. BIP President Arif said the institute has long been advocating environment-friendly, sustainable and public transport oriented mobility systems, but road-based transport including private vehicles and motorcycles has increased significantly in recent years. “As a result, the country’s transport system has become increasingly dependent on fossil fuels and imported energy.” To strengthen energy security and achieve self-reliance, Arif urged faster adoption of renewable energy projects such as solar power, hydropower and waste-to-energy initiatives, along with local-level implementation. He also called for an integrated transport system combining road, rail and waterways, and ensuring pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly environments. Arif welcomed the formation of a 10-member special parliamentary committee to address the ongoing energy crisis and said BIP is ready to provide technical support to the committee. “Ensuring energy security will require firm steps toward sustainable transport, efficient communication and integrated spatial planning.” Speaking at the event, senior planner and fellow member Syeda Monira Akhter Khatun recalled that Dhaka Integrated Transport Study (DITS) in 1992 had provided important directions for the capital’s future transport structure. “But those recommendations were not aligned with the Dhaka Structure Plan of the 1990s. As a result, the country’s transport and communication system becomes unstable whenever global oil shocks occur,” she said. BIP also placed a set of short- and medium-term recommendations, including strict measures to curb motorcycle growth, regulation of battery-operated three-wheelers, rapid introduction of electric buses, and major initiatives to promote cycling and bus use. The institute proposed launching bicycle-sharing schemes in 90 wards of Dhaka North and South city corporations with around 100,000 bicycles, expanding the scheme to other cities within a year, and forming a national urban transport fund to support mass transit through public investment and subsidies. Among other recommendations, BIP called for reducing taxes on buses, minibuses and public transport equipment, increasing taxes on private cars and motorcycles, introducing water taxi services in cities, boosting rail and waterway freight transport, and developing a national multimodal transport plan. It also suggested preparing mobility management and accessibility improvement plans for cities, formulating non-motorised transport and pedestrian policies, ensuring transit-oriented development around MRT and BRT stations, expanding sidewalks, and redesigning roads to allocate more space for pedestrians, bicycles and public transport. Additionally, the institute proposed introducing bus-based official commuting for the prime minister, cabinet members and senior government officials to promote public transport use.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday encouraged children to focus on both studies and physical activities, saying sports play a vital role in developing intelligence. “Alongside studies, you must engage more in sports. Playing helps increase intelligence,” he told students during a surprise visit to BIAM Laboratory School in the capital. The Prime Minister’s unannounced visit  created a festive atmosphere at the school, as students were seen rushing forward to greet him. Many shook hands with him, while others sought autographs, visibly excited by his presence. PM asks officials to be ‘servants, friends of people’ Tarique appeared delighted, spending lively moments with the students. Entering a classroom, he warmly asked, “How are you? How are your studies going?”—instantly drawing cheerful responses from the children. As he spoke about the importance of sports, several students responded enthusiastically, agreeing with his remarks. The prime minister, in turn, affectionately patted some of them on the head, further lifting their spirits. Teachers present at the scene were visibly moved by the spontaneous interaction between the prime minister and the children. In one classroom of second-grade students, Tarique Rahman spoke with children and teachers, while the students proudly showed him their drawings and shared their aspirations for the future. The Prime Minister listened attentively as the children spoke about what they wanted to become when they grow up. The students became visibly excited during the interaction, expressing their joy upon seeing the Prime Minister up close. After spending some time, Tarique waved goodbye, and the students stood up, waving back as he departed, bringing the heartwarming encounter to an end. Officials said the Prime Minister remained at the school for around 15 minutes after entering at approximately 11:05am. Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the new Training-cum-Dormitory Building of BIAM Foundation in Eskaton and later addressed officials at its auditorium. Founded on December 29, 1991, BIAM was later transformed into the BIAM Foundation in November 2002.

The second season of the ‘Beautiful Bangladesh Run 2026’ was held on Saturday at the capital’s scenic Hathirjheel area with festive enthusiasm, drawing nearly one thousand runners from across the country. The event, organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB),  began early in the morning and concluded successfully amid spirited participation from people of different professions, particularly those associated with the aviation and tourism sectors. The run started at 6:00 am from Police Plaza Point and featured two categories— a 7.5-kilometre competitive race and a 2-kilometre fun run. Civil Aviation and Tourism State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the event as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the winners. The minister said initiatives like this by ATJFB play an important role in raising health awareness while also contributing to the promotion of Bangladesh’s tourism sector. “Such programmes are truly commendable. I am personally inspired by this initiative and look forward to participating in the future,” he added. He further said the government is working to attract foreign investment for developing international-standard tourism infrastructure in Bangladesh. “We are in discussions with world-renowned companies such as Emaar Properties of the UAE, which built the Burj Khalifa. Through public-private partnerships we plan to involve them in developing tourism infrastructure in Bangladesh,” he said. Title sponsor Rhythm Group’s Deputy Managing Director Abir Hossain expressed satisfaction at the enthusiastic participation. “I am truly impressed to see people of all ages taking part in such a health-conscious initiative. This kind of event sends a positive message to society. Next year, we aim to take this event to the international level,” he said. ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar said the initiative aims to promote Bangladesh’s tourism sector through large-scale public engagement. “Such events are organised globally for different purposes. Our goal is to promote tourism in Bangladesh, and this has now become one of our flagship events. We plan to expand it beyond Dhaka, including organising it on Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive next year,” he said.

Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on Saturday called on the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to frame the forthcoming national budget as a support mechanism for businesses rather than a burden as domestic industries continue to weather high interest rates and a persistent dollar crunch. MCCI President Kamran T Rahman handed over the chamber's pre-budget proposals to NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan at a meeting at NBR office in the capital. Noting that member institutions of MCCI contribute nearly 50% of national revenue, Kamran said the chamber remained committed to working as a close partner of the NBR in building an investment-friendly and transparent tax regime. “At a time when high interest rates of 12% to 14% and dollar shortages are driving up raw material import costs, small and medium entrepreneurs are bearing the heaviest burden,” he said, urging that the next budget prioritise relief over restriction. Key proposals On broadening the tax net, the MCCI president noted that despite more than one crore e-TIN holders, fewer than half file returns regularly, a structural weakness the chamber has repeatedly flagged. With around 90% of Bangladesh's economy dependent on the informal sector, he proposed introducing a symbolic minimum tax of Tk 100 to Tk 1,000 and a one-page digital return filing system via mobile app to draw the informal workforce into the tax fold and curb tax evasion. On the effective tax rate, the MCCI observed that advance income tax (AIT), tax deducted at source (TDS) and various restrictions push the actual tax burden on many businesses to between 40% and 50% far above the nominal rate. The chamber called for the unconditional reduction of the corporate tax rate and a shift from turnover-based to actual income-based taxation. On digital transformation of the tax system, MCCI proposed replacing the separate platforms for income tax, VAT and customs with a unified taxpayer profile, rationalising VAT rates, automating input tax credits and introducing online hearings at the assessment, appeal and tribunal stages to reduce cost and improve administrative efficiency. On the rationalisation of the Primary Source Rule (PSR), the chamber said mandatory PSR compliance across 39 categories is hampering ease of doing business. It urged that the system be simplified, made logically consistent and rendered digitally verifiable to ease the compliance burden on taxpayers. On the super-rich tax, MCCI cautioned that raising tax rates on high-income earners risks discouraging honest taxpayers and increasing the likelihood of capital flight. It argued that expanding the tax net is a more effective and sustainable route to revenue growth than hiking rates. On SME support, the chamber called for a separate and enabling tax framework for small and medium enterprises, including reduced turnover taxes, input tax credit facilities and rational cuts in VAT and duties on raw materials, measures it said would lower production costs, sharpen competitiveness and ultimately boost revenue collection over the long term. Kamran also welcomed the NBR's reform initiatives under the newly elected government and expressed hope that the chairman would provide clear direction on the overall reform roadmap, including the future of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance 2025, which lapsed without being enacted into law. “A clear institutional separation between policy formulation and revenue administration would significantly improve transparency, accountability and predictability in the tax system.” MCCI President concluded by expressing confidence that, under the farsighted leadership of the Prime Minister and the guidance of the Finance Minister, a pro-growth tax policy would be enacted that simultaneously raises government revenue and expands the space for business and employment.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Saturday inaugurated a modernised and redesigned Secondary Transfer Station (STS) for waste management in Kalabagan area as part of its efforts to improve urban waste management and environmental condition in the capital. DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam inaugurated the upgraded STS under the initiative of the corporation’s Waste Management Department. Speaking at the event, the administrator said residents in the area had long suffered from foul odour and traffic congestion due to poor management of the facility. He also said DSCC plans to gradually redesign all of its STSs following the same model if public cooperation continues. Following the inauguration, DSCC launched a large-scale cleanliness and mosquito control drive at Dhanmondi Lake and its surrounding areas. Around 600 workers from the corporation’s Waste Management and Health departments took part in the drive. Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Affairs Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam attended the programme as a special guest. During the campaign, the DSCC administrator warned that the environmental balance of Dhanmondi Lake would be protected at any cost. “Businesses operating around the lake must remain within the boundaries allocated under their lease agreements. Any violation of lease conditions or encroachment beyond the permitted area will result in immediate cancellation of the lease,” he said. Speaking at the event, Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said DSCC has shown visible improvement in mosquito control and waste management activities despite various limitations. The minister added that the administration’s strict monitoring and proactive measures have significantly accelerated mosquito control and overall civic management activities. A public awareness rally was brought out with the participation of members of the Dhanmondi Society and local residents.

In the heart of Urumqi,  Xinjiang Islamic Institute is carving out a new identity as a center of religious excellence, challenging prevailing Western media narratives through a blend of traditional Islamic scholarship and modern social integration. As Xinjiang continues its role as a pivotal hub for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the institute is being highlighted as a model for how religious education can coexist with state-led stability and economic development. The state-approved institute serves as a premier destination for students across the region seeking to become imams and religious scholars. The curriculum is rigorous, balancing core Islamic theology with the practical needs of a modern society.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for immediate action to curb the ongoing measles outbreak in Bangladesh, warning that continued spread is likely without stronger surveillance, faster response systems, and improved vaccination coverage. WHO recommended ensuring at least 95% coverage with both doses of the measles-containing vaccine across all municipalities alongside strengthening integrated surveillance systems to quickly detect suspected cases in public and private healthcare facilities. Special emphasis has been placed on high-traffic border areas, where enhanced monitoring is needed to rapidly identify and respond to suspected infections. The agency also stressed the importance of deploying trained rapid response teams and activating national protocols to contain imported cases and prevent the re-establishment of endemic transmission. Close coordination between national and local authorities is considered essential. During outbreaks, WHO advisee strict hospital management measures, including isolating patients and minimizing contact with others to prevent in-hospital transmission. Vaccination efforts should prioritise high-risk groups such as healthcare workers, transport and tourism staff, and international travelers. The agency also recommended targeted immunization campaigns for migrant populations in border regions to boost overall immunity. Maintaining adequate vaccine stockpiles and ensuring access for vulnerable groups—including displaced and underserved populations—are also critical. Despite the outbreak, WHO does not advise any travel or trade restrictions at this stage. The agency has assessed the national risk as high due to ongoing transmission, a large number of susceptible children, immunity gaps, and suspected measles-related deaths. Most cases are among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children, including infants too young for vaccination, raising concerns about severe outcomes and uninterrupted spread. The outbreak marks a setback in Bangladesh’s earlier progress toward measles elimination and highlights growing vulnerability to sustained transmission. Cross-border movement further increases the risk, particularly through major urban hubs such as Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Cox’s Bazar. Measles remains a highly contagious disease and a leading cause of child mortality worldwide. In Bangladesh, the outbreak is driven by low immunity levels, with many affected children either unvaccinated or having received only one dose. Most cases—about 91%—are among children aged 1 to 14 years, indicating significant immunity gaps. Although Bangladesh had previously achieved strong vaccination coverage and reduced measles incidence, recent vaccine shortages, gaps in routine immunization, and the lack of nationwide campaigns since 2020 have increased vulnerability. Regionally, the risk remains high, with continued transmission across South-East Asia. Cross-border movement with India and Myanmar—where vaccination challenges and rising cases persist—further heightens the threat, particularly in border districts like Jashore and Chapainawabganj. Globally, WHO rates the risk as moderate due to high population mobility and ongoing measles transmission worldwide, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance and immunization efforts.