United News of Bangladesh

The Depression over Westcentral Bay and adjoining area   moved northwestwards, intensified into a Deep Depression over Westcentral Bay and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal (near lat. 16.9°N and long. 86.0°E), according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Thursday. It was centered at 6am on Thursday about 875 km southwest of Chattogram port, 830 km southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 735 km southwest of Mongla port and 740 km southwest of Payra port, according to third special weather bulletin of the met office. It is likely to move north­ northwestwards direction further. Under its influence, steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay. Gusty or squally weather may affect the maritime ports, the North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, reads the bulletin. Maximum sustained wind speed within 48 km of the depression centre is about 50 kph rising to 60 kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain rough near the Deep Depression centre. Depression weakens into well-marked low: BMD Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No-3. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice, so that they can take shelter within a short notice.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $30 million sustainability-linked loan facility agreement with Envoy Textiles Limited, marking ADB’s first such loan in Bangladesh. The financing will support the design and construction of a new automated, energy-efficient spinning unit at Envoy’s manufacturing plant in Jamirdia, Mymensingh, boosting the company’s annual yarn production capacity by 4,550 tons. The loan will also finance the installation of 3.5 MWp rooftop solar panels and refinance short-term local working capital loans. Sustainability-linked loans are performance-based debt instruments tied to predefined key performance indicators, assessed against sustainability performance targets. For Envoy, these include rooftop solar generation capacity and greenhouse gas emission reductions. ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong said that the ready-made garment industry is a key driver of Bangladesh’s economy, accounting for over 80% of the country’s total export earnings, and Envoy is the leading denim fabric manufacturer. ADB projects 4% growth for Bangladesh in FY2025, 5% in FY2026 “ADB is pleased to support Envoy with its first sustainability-linked loan in Bangladesh. This partnership advances environmental sustainability and industrial modernization, setting a new standard for the garment sector,” he said. Envoy Chairman Kutubuddin Ahmed said that This new loan will enable us to expand our production capacity, invest in renewable energy, and further reduce our environmental footprint. Envoy Textiles is the world’s first denim manufacturer with a platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council. The company produces 54 million yards of denim annually—about 10% of Bangladesh’s total capacity.  

Four members of a family, including two children, sustained burn injuries in a fire at their flat in Basurhat Municipality of Companiganj upazila, Noakhali, on Wednesday night. One of the victims was later shifted to Dhaka. Kumod Chandranath, father of the children and a pharmaceutical sales representative, told UNB that the fire broke out around 8pm at their rented flat in ward No-8 of the municipality. According to him, the incident occurred when a family member lit a candle in the kitchen. A sudden loud sound was heard, and the room instantly caught fire. Hearing screams, three other family members rushed to the kitchen and sustained burns while trying to rescue each other, he said. Kumod suspected that accumulated gas in the stove or pipeline ignited, triggering the fire and causing it to spread rapidly. Some household items were also damaged. 8 burned in hydraulic gas cylinder explosion in Ctg Neighbours and locals rushed to the scene, helped evacuate the family, and took them to Companiganj Upazila Health Complex. Resident Medical Officer Main Uddin said the injured were identified as Edirka, 8, Turya, 4, their father Kumod Chandranath, 43, and mother Savitabani Das, 32. Of them, Edirka suffered 20 percent burns and was referred to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka. The others sustained minor injuries, the physician added.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has expressed deep shock at the death of his friend and world renowned zoologist, primatologist, anthropologist and conservationist Dr Jane Goodall. "I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Dr Jane Goodall....May your soul rest in peace, Jane. The world will miss you," Prof Yunus said in a condolence message on Thursday.  A tireless activist till her last day, Jane dedicated her life to the cause of peace, sustainability, justice and the inter connectedness of all of them on the planet, said the Chief Adviser.  "The natural world has lost one of its greatest advocates and left us with a very heavy heart. Today, I salute and honor her achievements and accomplishments which will continue to have its impact beyond her earthly passing," Prof Yunus said.  'Muslim Ummah loses guiding voice', Prof Yunus on Saudi Grand Mufti’s death A long time friend of Bangladesh, Jane took keen interest in ways Grameen Bank empowered women, visiting in the 1990s, and incorporated its principles in her own work in Africa and elsewhere.  "She remained  a close friend of our nation. Jane always inspired  me and appreciated our work mentioning about it in many of her speeches including one she conveyed just recently during the June 2025 the Social Business Day Conference," Prof Yunus said.  The Chief Adviser said he will be forever grateful for her support and the inspiration that she has been to him and millions around the world.    

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus returned home on Thursday morning, concluding a nine-day visit marked by extensive engagements during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). An Emirates Airlines commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9am. Prof Yunus left New York on Tuesday night (US time) for Dhaka via Dubai. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury saw him off at John F Kennedy International Airport, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Prof Yunus began his UNGA tour on September 22 and concluded it by attending the high-level conference on the “Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities” held at the UN General Assembly Hall on Tuesday. Prof Yunus to return home Thursday morning He delivered his address at the 80th UNGA on September 26 and held a series of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the session. BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat’s US spokesperson Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party member secretary Akhter Hossen, and first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara joined the delegation at Prof Yunus’s invitation. Speaking broadly at the UNGA, Prof Yunus warned, the “truth before us is frightening” and stressed that “extreme nationalism, geopolitics that thrive on the suffering of others, and indifference to human pain are destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle”. This tragedy is most visible in Gaza, he said, adding that the two-State solution must be implemented now. Prof Yunus described three goals on which young people must be able to build the future: zero carbon, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment. “Let the dream of a three-zero world be the dream of all nations.”  

The Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) has launched a new mobile application, GenieA, aimed at making police services more accessible, efficient, and citizen-friendly for residents of the city. SMP Commissioner DIG Abdul Khuddus Chowdhury officially inaugurated the app on Wednesday at the SMP office. Commissioner Khuddus said, “I have always dreamt of a police service using advanced technology to ensure public safety. The GenieA App is a step in that direction.” Through the app, citizens can quickly access police assistance and connect directly to emergency services. The app will be launched at Moglabazar Police Station in Sylhet on October 16, with plans to expand to all Sylhet city police stations within a month. Its features include an SOS button that instantly notifies the relevant police station, allowing officers to respond rapidly to emergencies. “Residents can register on the app and seek police help at any time,” the Commissioner said. He added that the GenieA App is available on both Play Store and App Store, and will serve as a powerful safety tool for all Sylhet citizens. The app also offers services such as filing general diaries (GDs), reporting cases, legal advice, and access to other emergency services including fire, ambulance and traffic updates. The GenieA App and enhanced monitoring systems are expected to mark a new era for Sylhet’s security, representing a major step toward crime prevention and public safety.

Professor Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman has been elected as the new President of the Bangladesh Society of Cardiovascular Intervention (BSCI), while Senior Consultant Dr. Khondaker Asaduzzaman has been elected as the Secretary General. Associate Professor Dr. Md. Abul Khair was nominated as Treasurer, and a 27-member executive committee has been newly formed to lead the organization. The decisions were made during an emergency general meeting held at a convention center in the capital's Dhanmondi on Wednesday, aimed at revitalizing the organization. The meeting was chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Touhidul Haque and moderated by Associate Professor Dr. Mohammad Ullah Firoz. Poor management, corruption hinder Narsingdi BSCIC expansion’s success In the meeting, members unanimously agreed to dissolve the inactive three-year-old committee and elect a new leadership to make BSCI more active, dynamic, and forward-looking. Several prominent figures in the field of cardiology and cardiovascular intervention, including Professor Dr. Afzalur Rahman, Professor Dr. Khaled Mohsin, Professor Dr. Syed Azizul Haque, Professor Dr. A.F. Khabir Uddin Ahmed, Professor Dr. Amiruzzaman Khan, Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Professor Dr. Mohiuddin Bhuiyan, Professor Dr. Nur Hossain, Professor Dr. Habibur Rahman, and Associate Professor Dr. A.T.M. Nurunnabi Shah, were also present.

Veteran actor Ilias Kanchan is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor at a London hospital, his son revealed while attending a virtual press conference on Wednesday. Ilias Kanchan is also a proponent of the road safety movement in Bangladesh. His activism frequently brought him back into headlines as road accidents continued to plague Bangladesh. The actor underwent brain surgery on August 5, 2025 at Wellington Hospital, led by Professor Demetrius, said the actor’s son at a press conference attended virtually by him from Canada. The surgery could not get rid of the brain tumor, for its complete removal threatened to cause life-threatening complications, including paralysis and loss of speech or mobility, Joy said. So, only a portion of the tumor was surgically removed, he said, adding that the remaining portion will be targeted through radiation and chemotherapy. The press conference was organised by Nischa at the National Press Club. The surgery followed three months of medical examinations. The next phase of his treatment—consisting of 30 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy—is scheduled to begin this month and will last for six weeks, followed by a four-week observation period. Doctors will then assess his condition and possibly his time to return to Bangladesh. Joy said Ilias Kanchan moved to London on April 26, 2025 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in Dhaka. The actor was first diagnosed with the brain tumor at Anwar Khan Modern Hospital in Dhanmondi in the first half of April. Following the diagnosis, Kanchan’s condition was evaluated at the National Institute of Neurosciences in Agargaon. The board had advised that surgery would be highly risky as the tumor was deeply embedded in the brain, at the junction of critical nerves. Joy, also acting chairman of Nischa, requested that the people of Bangladesh pray for his father’s swift and complete recovery.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain on Wednesday said the Madrasa-e-Alia is not only educational institutions but also a shining chapter in the history of education, culture, social reform and national awakening of the subcontinent’s Muslim society. “The historic Madrasa-e-Alia stands as a monument of heritage. It is not just an educational institution, but a shining chapter in the history of education, culture, social reform, and national awakening of the Muslim society of this subcontinent,” he said. The adviser was addressing a discussion on the premises of Dhaka Madrasa-e-Alia premises, marking the 246th founding anniversary of the historic institution here in the capital. He said the Madrasa-e-Alia has a glorious legacy spanning over two and a half centuries. Khalid Hossain said thousands of its graduates have contributed in the civil administration, armed forces, law enforcement agencies and other sectors of the country. “The contribution of this madrasas is unforgettable. Many qualified people have been produced from here,” he said. Noting that Dhaka Alia Madrasa has played a crucial role in shaping the society and the state over the ages, Dr Khalid expressed optimism that the institution will continue to serve the welfare of the country and the nation in the coming days. Calling for unity, he urged all to forget small differences and spread the message of harmony from Madrasa-e-Alia. Recalling the early history of Alia madrasa education in the subcontinent, the adviser said the journey of the Alia system started through many struggles and sacrifices. “The British rulers never welcomed this system, they controlled its curriculum. Despite that, the Islamic scholars of that time carried out religious education and made immense contributions, which we recall today with deep respect,” he said. Sharing his personal attachment, Dr Khalid said, “I myself was a madrasa student. My first lessons began with Alif, Ba, Ta, Tha. I went on to achieve a PhD degree, but madrasa was my foundation. It was my greatest achievement, and later my general education added another dimension.” He cautioned against sidelining traditional subjects like Quran, Hadith and Fiqh under the weight of modern disciplines. “Of course we must embrace modern education, but madrasa education is specialised. A madrasa is a factory for producing Islamic scholars. Arabic education in particular must be given due importance,” said the adviser. Religious education being introduced for prisoners: Religious Adviser Education Adviser Prof Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar (CR Abrar) attended the event as the chief guest, while Secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division Muhammad Rafiqul Islam and Principal of Dhaka Alia Madrasa Mohammad Obaidul Haque spoke on the occasion.

Flashfloods are likely to hit seven districts--Feni, Chattogram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Sherpur, Netrakona and Mymensingh--as major rivers continue swelling due to heavy to very heavy rainfall in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions of Bangladesh, as well as in upstream regions of India’s Tripura and Assam states. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Water Development Board came up with the warning on Wednesday. According to the FFWC, water levels in the Gomti, Muhuri, Selonia and Feni rivers in Chattogram division have risen over the past 24 hours and are expected to keep increasing over the next three days. The Muhuri and Selonia rivers may flow above the danger level in Feni, causing short-term flooding in adjacent low-lying areas. Meanwhile, the Feni River may reach the warning level in Chattogram district, leading to temporary inundation of low-lying zones. In Rangpur division, water levels in the Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers have fallen during the last 24 hours, while the Teesta has remained stable. However, all three may rise again within the next three days. During this time, the Teesta may reach the warning level, temporarily flooding low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. In Mymensingh division, the Kangsha River has receded slightly in the past 24 hours, while the Someshwari and Bhugai rivers have remained steady. These rivers are likely to swell in the next three days, with the Someshwari, Bhugai and Kangsha rivers potentially flowing at warning level in Sherpur, Mymensingh and Netrakona districts, causing temporary inundation of surrounding low-lying areas. The FFWC also noted that coastal rivers in Barishal, Khulna and Chattogram divisions are experiencing higher-than-normal tides, a situation expected to persist for the next three days. Low over Bay intensifies into depression Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that a well-marked low-pressure area over the west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay. It is likely to cross the south Odisha–north Andhra Pradesh coast within the next 48 hours. During the last 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions, as well as in upstream areas of Tripura and Assam. Similar conditions are likely to prevail across Bangladesh and adjoining upstream regions of India in the next three days, from 9 am Wednesday until October 4 (Saturday).