United News of Bangladesh

President Mohammad Shahabuddin arrived in his home district Pabna on Saturday (8th November 2025) morning on a two-day official visit. The President landed at Pabna Stadium by a helicopter at 9:40am. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mofizul Islam and Superintendent of Pabna Police Mortoza Ali Khan received the President. A guard of honour was given to the President at the Pabna Circuit House. Read more: French Ambassador presents credentials to President The President is scheduled to visit the graves of his parents at Arifpur graveyard in Pabna Sadar to offer prayers around 11 am from where he will go to his ancestral home in Jubilee Tank area of Kalachandpara in Pabna town where he will spend some time and meet with relatives around 1pm. He will stay overnight at the Circuit House. On the second day, another guard of honour will be given to the President at 10:45am at the Circuit House. He is expected to depart for Dhaka from Pabna Stadium at 11am. Strict security measures have been taken in and around the stadium, Circuit House, Arifpur graveyard and his residence over the visit. Read more: New Saudi Ambassador presents credentials to President Shahabuddin 

A 54-year-old  hearing impared woman was crushed under the wheels of a train at Burimari rail route in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Janiron Begum, wife of Osman Goni of Singimari union. Quoting witnesses, Mahmudur Nabi, officer-in-charge of Hatibandha Police Station, said the woman crushed under the wheels of the Parbatipur-bound local train from Burimari, leaving her dead on the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital morgue.  

A 36-year-old man was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants at Maizpara in Halishahar area of the Chattogram port city on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Akbar, a resident of Halishahar area. Quoting local people, Zahid Kabir, officer-in-charge of Halishahar Police Station, said a group of unidentified assailants, riding on motorcycles, called Akbar, a father of three children, outside his house around 9:30 pm and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Jotsna Begum, sister of Akbar, alleged that her brother had long been running a cooperative association in the area and was involved in financial transactions. Some criminals had been demanding extortion from him and as refused to pay money, they killed him, she said. Police recovered the body and sent it to the Chattogram Medical College and Hospital morgue. “We are investigating the motive behind the murder. Operations are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the killing,” said OC.  

A 32-year-old fish trader was killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in Uttara area of the capital early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Yusuf Hossain, 32 of Mymensingh district. Quoting Saidul Islam, brother-in-law of Yusuf, Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the accident occurred at the dead of night when a vehicle hit Yusuf while he was crossing the road, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.  

Dhaka ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 187 at 9:03 am on Saturday morning. Dhaka’s air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking. India's Delhi, pakistan’s Lahore and Kuwait’s Kuwait City occupied the first, second and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 673, 336 and 183, respectively. An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' while 201-300 is 'very unhealthy' and 301-400 is considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents. Govt focused on reducing dust to control air pollution in Dhaka: Rizwana The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.    

A 20-year-old housewife reportedly committed suicide following a family dispute in the capital’s Banani area on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Monalisa Munni, daughter of Harunur Rashid from Char Kasia village under Raipur upazila in Lakshmipur. She had been living in a rented house at 196/6 Niazuddin’s tin-shed house in Banani with her husband, Rana, who works at a printing press. The incident occurred around 9:30 pm when Munni was found hanging from a ceiling fan with a scarf inside her room. She was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead around 10:45 pm. Rana said they had a minor argument the previous day. “Today, we quarreled again over a small issue. Out of anger, she went into the room and hanged herself,” he said. Youth stabbed dead at Banani They had been married for about two and a half years and had no children, Rana added. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue and the concerned police station has been informed for further legal procedures.  

The Association of Engineers, Bangladesh (AEB), the only professional platform of nationalist-minded engineers in the country, organized a discussion marking the National Revolution and Solidarity Day 2025 on Thursday evening at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in Dhaka. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended the event as the chief guest. Special guests included AEB Acting President and former secretary Engineer A.N.H. Akhter Hossain, AEB Chief Adviser and BNP Media Cell Convener Professor Dr. Mowdud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, BNP Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Ashraf Uddin Bokul, and “Amra BNP Poribar” Convener Atikur Rahman Ruman. Former MP and AEB Convener Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin presided over the event. Engineer Kazi Abul Kashem delivered the welcome address, while Engineers Shamim Rabbi Sonchoy and Shafiul Azam Fahim jointly conducted the session. In his remarks, Advocate Rizvi said that although Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971, “true freedom” came through the spirit of the November 7 uprising. “The Bakshal system distorted the people’s identity and curtailed democracy,” Rizvi said. “But the National Revolution and Solidarity of 1975 restored sovereignty, democracy, and people’s self-determination under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.” He added that Ziaur Rahman was “the architect of modern Bangladesh,” who introduced agricultural mechanization, ensured food self-sufficiency, and laid the foundation of national industrialization. “Even today, Sheikh Hasina cannot erase Zia’s legacy — because Bangladeshi nationalism remains deeply rooted in the people’s hearts,” he said. Speaking as a special guest, Engineer A.N.H. Akhter Hossain said that “while independence was achieved in 1971, the people could not taste real freedom under the Awami League regime.” “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman respected the nation’s engineers and used their talents for nation-building,” he said. “When constructing the Teesta Barrage, Zia insisted that Bangladeshi engineers would do the job, not foreigners.” Professor Dr. Mowdud Hossain Alamgir Pavel described BNP as “a humane political party” that always stands by the people during crises. “November 7 brought true independence for the people,” he said, noting that President Ziaur Rahman was the first to insert ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim’ in the Constitution of Bangladesh. He also called on party members and professionals to work in unity ahead of the 2026 national election. In his presidential address, Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin said that Ziaur Rahman’s leadership was indispensable for Bangladesh’s liberation. “If Ziaur Rahman had not been born, the country’s independence might have never been achieved,” he said. “Without BNP, Bangladesh would have turned into another Bhutan or Cambodia.” He further alleged that both Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina attempted to “undermine the people’s national identity.” The discussion was attended by AEB Convener Committee members along with other members of various subcommittees. Engineers from across the country took part in the event, recalling the historical significance of November 7 and the contributions of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to national development and sovereignty.

A two-day 4th international conference and mushaira titled ‘The Role of Iqbal and Nazrul Islam in National Awakening’ is set to commence from November 9 to 10. The Department of Urdu of the university, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT), is organizing, said associate prof Md. Golam Mawla, chairperson of the department, at a press briefing at the office Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) on Friday. The conference will take place at four separate venues, including the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on the campus. Participants from 22 countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, England, the United States, Qatar, Egypt, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iran, Turkey, Nepal, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Japan, among others, are expected to join the event, with scholars presenting 127 research papers across 18 academic sessions. On November 9 evening, renowned poets from home and abroad will perform Mushaira and Ghazal. DU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan is expected to attend as the chief guest at the inaugural session, with teacher Golam Mawla chairing. Prof Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, dean of the Faculty of Arts, will join as special guest while BIIT Director General Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz and Daily Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman will attend as honurbale guests.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast that both night and day temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged across the country over the next 24 hours. Light fog may occur in some northern and northeastern areas during the early morning, the weather office added. On Thursday, the country’s highest temperature was recorded at 34°C in Chandpur, while on Friday, the lowest was 19.8°C in Rangpur. Meanwhile, light rain or thundershowers are expected at one or two places over the Chattogram division, while weather is likely to remain mainly dry with temporarily partly cloudy skies elsewhere. The seasonal low lies over the south Bay of Bengal, extending its trough to the north Bay, according to the BMD.

Bangladesh Bank has said that under the Bank Resolution Ordinance 2025, there is currently no scope to consider the protection of investors’ or shareholders’ interests in the ongoing merger of five Shariah-based banks. In a statement issued on Thursday night, the central bank clarified that the ordinance does not provide any provision to safeguard general investors or shareholders during the merger process. However, the government may consider compensating small investors to protect their interests. The merger of the five Islamic banks — First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, EXIM Bank, and Social Islami Bank — has sparked widespread debate and concern among stock market investors. Earlier, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said the shares of the troubled banks have become worthless, with the value of Tk 10 face-value shares turning negative, leaving investors with nothing to recover. According to the central bank, the Bank Resolution Ordinance 2025 has been formulated in line with international best practices and with technical support and feedback from the IMF, World Bank, and the UK’s FCDO. The ordinance clearly defines the rights of depositors, shareholders, and other creditors of the banks under its jurisdiction. As per four provisions of the ordinance, Bangladesh Bank may impose losses on shareholders, responsible persons, Additional Tier-1 and Tier-2 capital holders (except subordinated debt holders) of any scheduled bank placed under resolution. Besides, Section 40 of the ordinance allows for compensation to shareholders if they suffer losses greater than what they would have incurred under a liquidation scenario. Such compensation will be determined based on an independent valuation appointed by Bangladesh Bank after the resolution process is completed. The central bank said analyses of data from the Asset Quality Review (AQR) and special inspections conducted by international consulting firms show that the banks are facing massive losses with negative net asset values. In a meeting of the Banking Sector Crisis Management Committee held at Bangladesh Bank in September, it was decided that the shareholders of the five troubled banks would have to bear the burden of the losses during the resolution process. Given this context, the central bank reiterated that there is currently no scope to consider the protection of general investors or shareholders in the merger process, though the government may explore compensation measures for small investors.