United News of Bangladesh

Twenty-eight more new dengue cases were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning, bringing the total number of cases to 4,977 this year. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), new cases were reported as follows: 10 in Chattogram Division (Out of CC), six in Dhaka Division (out of CC), ten in Dhaka South City Corporation and two in Dhaka North City Corporation. The number of deaths remained at 23, with no new fatalities reported during this period, the DGHS added. Currently, 417 dengue patients are receiving treatment in hospitals across the country. Dengue: 26 more cases reported in 24hrs Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. According to the DGHS, there were 101,214 dengue cases and 100,040 recoveries in the same year.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia on Monday said some 31,226 tonnes of sacrificial waste have been removed over three days of Eid-ul-Azha until Monday noon. Speaking at a press conference held at the WASA Bhaban in the capital, Shahjahan Mia said, “All the waste from the first phase was removed within 12 hours on the day of Eid. Waste from the following two days has also been cleared by DSCC.” He said aside from the day of Eid, a significant number of animals were slaughtered over the next two days.  “On the second day, 32,000 animals were sacrificed, and on the third day, the number stood at 16,000. All related waste was removed in phases,” said Shahjahan. This year, a total of 12,853 cleaning workers — 10,000 from the city corporation and over 2,000 from private organisations — were deployed by Dhaka South to handle waste removal.  85% of sacrificial waste cleared by evening: DNCC Administrator According to the DSCC administrator, the volume of waste was higher this year compared to the previous year, when around 22,000 tonnes were cleared. As part of the waste management initiative, 140,000 waste bags were distributed among residents of Dhaka South. Waste removal efforts are still ongoing, the administrator said. Since the day of Eid, DSCC has received 21 complaints related to waste disposal.  Shahjahan Mia said action was taken immediately upon receiving each complaint. “Although waste was seen in many areas of the south in the morning, newly generated waste was removed promptly. No one will see piles of waste lying around in Dhaka South anymore,” he said, adding that regular waste management operations will resume from Tuesday. Environment ministry urges people to ensure eco-friendly disposal of Qurbani waste Addressing the issue of waterlogging in Dhaka South, Shahjahan mentioned that recent rainfall had caused water accumulation in a few locations.  DSCC is currently working on those areas to resolve the issue, he added.

Police recovered the hanging body of a Khulna University student from her residence in the city’s Labanchora area on Monday morning. The deceased was identified as Mahfuza Afrin Upoma, 23, a third-year student of the Law department and daughter of Md Mahbubur Rahman, a resident of Amir Hossain Lane in Jinnapara. Quoting locals, police said Upoma went to bed after dinner around 11pm on Sunday.  Family members noticed she was not responding on Monday morning and upon peeking through her room's window found her hanging.  Police recovered the body and sent it to Khulna Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Husband-wife commit suicide in the face of financial crisis Labanchora Police Station Officer-in-Charge Touhiduzzaman said, “Upoma was known to be a bit stubborn. Her parents were aware of her suicidal tendencies and deliberately did not install a ceiling fan in her room. However, she used a scarf to hang herself from a fan hook.” An unnatural death case was filed with the police station in this regard.  The body will be handed over to the family after all legal formalities, he added.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Azaz on Monday said some 20,889 tonnes of sacrificial animal waste have been removed from the northern part of the capital in three days following Eid-ul-Azha. He shared the update during a press briefing held at Gulshan Nagar Bhaban, where he discussed the overall progress of waste management operations during the festival. According to Azaz, more than 4.5 lakh animals were sacrificed in Dhaka North this year, with cows being the highest in number, followed by goats, sheep, and buffaloes. No camels were sacrificed in the DNCC area this time. Although the number of sacrificial animals was lower compared to last year, the volume of waste was higher, he said.  The waste removal target of 20,000 tonnes was met by Monday afternoon, with household waste transported to Secondary Transfer Stations (STSs) before being moved to the landfill. 85% of sacrificial waste cleared by evening: DNCC Administrator Azaz said waste from city streets was prioritised first, while cleaning of makeshift cattle markets would begin from Tuesday. “There is no scope for negligence or irresponsibility when it comes to street waste. While there may be some delays in timing, there has been no lack of effort from the city corporation,” he added. He also expressed gratitude to the residents of Dhaka North for their cooperation, saying, “Those who performed sacrifices this year were far more conscious. Their support made it possible to remove such a large volume of waste so swiftly.” On the issue of complete waste removal, the DNCC administrator remarked that it is nearly impossible to ensure 100% waste removal in a city like Dhaka due to continuous waste generation.  Environment ministry urges people to ensure eco-friendly disposal of Qurbani waste He, however, affirmed that the DNCC remains committed to its efforts towards achieving full cleanliness.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicted rains in parts of the country including in Dhaka in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Monday. Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by lightning flashes and temporary gusty wind are likely at a few places over Chattogram division and at one or two places over Barishal, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions, according to a regular weather bulletin . Monsoon sets in early in Bangladesh; rains likely across country The weather may remain mainly dry with temporarily partly cloudy sky elsewhere across the country. A mild heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions, as well as Feni and Mymensingh districts and it may persist, said the Met Office. Day and night temperatures may rise slightly over the country.    

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday said that former President Abdul Hamid has not been arrested as there is no warrant issued against him. He made the remarks while replying to a question from journalists at the end of his visit to Jatrabari Police Station in the capital. “There is no warrant against him. That’s why he was not arrested,” said the adviser, adding, “No innocent person will be punished—that’s why no action has been taken so far. If allegations against Abdul Hamid are proven, he will also be brought under the law.” Addressing journalists, he said, “You have emphasised that no innocent person should be punished or arrested without reason. We are working in that direction.” He said legal measures are being taken after proper verification to ensure no one is harassed.  This verification process is applicable to all citizens. A three-member committee of the ministry is handling the matter, he added. Referring to the actions taken earlier on May 8 against the Superintendent of Police in Kishoreganj and the investigating officer regarding the former president’s departure abroad, the adviser said the investigation into those issues is still going on. Former President Abdul Hamid returned to Dhaka on a Thai Airways flight around 1:30 am on Sunday.  

In a significant step towards bolstering food security and supporting millions of smallholder farmers, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) and with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched a major initiative aimed at transforming rice production across Asia and the Pacific. Rice, the staple diet for over half of the region’s population, is also a vital source of income for rural communities.  But, the sector faces serious threats from declining productivity, water scarcity, and its considerable carbon footprint.  Experts have warned that, without swift intervention, these issues could jeopardise food security and rural livelihoods. “Rice is essential to food security in Asia, supplying over a quarter of the region’s calorie intake—and as much as half in Southeast Asia,” said ADB Vice-President for Sectors and Themes, Fatima Yasmin.  “For hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers, rice is not just food—it is their livelihood. That livelihood is increasingly at risk due to climate change and environmental degradation," she said.  The newly launched initiative, anchored by the ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse Facility and co-financed by the Gates Foundation, will promote the adoption of resilient, high-yield, and low-emission rice farming practices.  It will also support sustainable water use, inclusive value chains, and improved nutrition outcomes, particularly targeting vulnerable communities. ADB has committed to investing up to $1.5 billion from 2025 to 2030 under this programme. This investment forms part of ADB’s broader pledge of $40 billion to transform food systems across the region by 2030, as announced earlier in May. This joint initiative will reinforce CGIAR’s strategic collaboration with ADB and scale up CGIAR’s innovations in rice   with partners like ADB and the Gates Foundation, we aim to drive sustainable and resilient transformation of Asia’s rice sector and positively impact millions of smallholder farmers. Bangladesh has been included among the countries selected for initial project development, alongside Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Founded in 1966, ADB is one of the leading multilateral development banks, comprising 69 member countries, including 50 from the Asia-Pacific region.  The bank continues to drive inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth through strategic partnerships and innovative financial solutions.  

Former President Abdul Hamid returned home from Bangkok early Monday on a Thai Airways flight. He landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 1:25am, following medical treatment in Bangkok. According to a reliable source at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Abdul Hamid completed his immigration formalities and was later seen resting in the VIP lounge. He left the airport premises at around 3:10am under strict security measures, an officer of a leading intelligence agency posted at the airport told UNB. Earlier, on the night of 8 May last month, the former President had departed for Bangkok on another Thai Airways flight for medical purposes. His return comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding a case filed against him on January 14 this year at Kishoreganj Sadar Police Station.  The same case also names several high-profile figures, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. The departure of Abdul Hamid following the filing of the case sparked widespread controversy and debate across the country.  

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has said  sacrificial animal rawhides  are being sold at the prices fixed by the government.  A special team from the Ministry of Commerce is working to ensure the  enforcement of the set prices, he said while speaking to reporters on Sunday after inspecting the activities related to proper management of sacrificial animal hides in Posta, Lalbagh. Responding to queries from journalists, the adviser said “The prices we fixed were inclusive of salt. The ones being sold for Tk 700 to Tk 800 are without salt. Compared to the prices of many previous years, this year’s prices are higher.” When asked about allegations that seasonal traders are not getting fair prices, Sk Bashir said, “That is true in some cases, but mostly untrue. It’s untrue because some seasonal traders with no experience in hide preservation are ending up with half-rotten hides. If half-rotten hides are selling for Tk 700 or 800, that is actually a high price. Good quality hides are selling for Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,300.” The adviser added, “Under the direction of the Chief Adviser, we took steps to promote local storage and salting to make the hides suitable for preservation and storage. This has helped stabilise the market and balance supply and demand.” He mentioned that district and upazila administrations are working on the ground to manage the hides.  “At the national level, we have established a control room. Rawhide management is being monitored 24 hours a day. In most cases, salted hides are fetching appropriate prices as fixed by the government,” he said. About misinformation, the adviser said some social media platforms and even parts of the mainstream media are spreading incorrect information.  “I saw a report from Rangunia in Chattogram claiming hides had rotted. A seasonal trader brought in around 620 hides but did not preserve them properly. They became half-rotten. This is now being used to run a smear campaign. Unscrupulous traders are trying to destabilise the market again,” he said.  “The government has generously supplied salt only to make hides suitable for preservation. It is not acceptable to shift all responsibility onto the government if individuals fail to perform their own duties,” Sk Bashir added.  He said the government has initiated efforts to build capacity and everyone must come forward to support this work. “Apply salt and preserve the hides properly. If you demand fair prices, you must ensure quality. I hope you will get fair prices, even more than expected,” he said. To stimulate demand, the government has lifted the export ban on raw and wet blue leather. It has also disbursed Tk 220 crore in incentives.  “Salt has been delivered to every district, upazila, and village mosque across the country. Now everyone needs to get involved. It is unacceptable and reprehensible to solely blame the government and circulate false or misleading information that harms the leather market,” he added. Sk Bashir said rawhide prices have increased compared to the previous day and expressed hope that salted hides would fetch even higher prices tomorrow.  “We have built the capacity to preserve hides for two to three months. I urge you not to sell until fair prices are available,” said the adviser. “We have done as much as possible to make the process viable for fair prices and to secure the rights of orphans. I believe the political government will do even more next year based on what we’ve learned this year,” he mentioned. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Additional Secretary (Export) Md Abdur Rahim Khan, and President of the Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) Md Shahin Ahmed were also present.  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on rallies, processions, demonstrations and gatherings in front of Secretariat and Chief Adviser’s residence and its adjacent areas including Hotel Intercontinental, Kakrail Mosque intersection, Mintu Road and Officer’s Club The ban has been imposed for the sake of the security of the chief adviser. The restriction effective from Monday will remain in place until further notice, according to a public notification issued by DMP Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali. The ban has been enforced under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance (Ordinance No. III/76) to maintain discipline in light of the prevailing situation, it said.