United News of Bangladesh

A fire broke out at a wood pile within the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district on Thursday. Abul Hashem, senior station master of Rooppur Green City Fire Service, said the fire erupted at an abandoned wood pile along the Padma River on the eastern side of the power plant around 12:20 pm and quickly spread. On information, eight firefighting units rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze after nearly an hour. The wood had been stored for use in the construction work of the project, he said. Abdur Razzak, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Pabna, said the Rooppur project area is under strict security surveillance. “It is not yet clear how the fire broke out within such a high-security zone, but initial findings suggest it may have been caused by a burning cigarette. An investigation is underway,” he added.

A Mymensingh court on Thursday sentenced a policeman and his wife to death for killing another policeman over ‘extramarital affairs’ in 2014. Judge of the Mymensingh Additional Session Judge Court-1, Harun-or-Rashid handed down the punishment. The condemned convicts are—Md Alauddin, a police constable and son of Monasef Ali and his wife Nasrin Neli of Nalchity upazila of Jhalokati district. According to the prosecution, Saiful Islam, a police constable was killed by the convicts for his alleged extramarital affair with Nasrin at her house at Kachijhuli in Mymensingh district town in 2014. Local people caught the couple red-handed when they tried to dump a sackcontaining the body of Saiful at Town Hall intersection.  Meleda Begum, mother of Saiful, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police.    

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has warned that the future of democracy could be in jeopardy if the incoming government fails to effectively combat misinformation and disinformation. “The government that will run the country should brainstorm about tackling misinformation. Otherwise, failure to address it will lead the country towards political turmoil,” he said at a dialogue session titled ‘Media Freedom: The Issue of Political Commitments in Manifesto’, held on Thursday (6th November, 2025) at the CIRDAP Auditorium and organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS). Shafiqul Alam reflected on the long and shifting relationship between the government and the media since 1947, noting that it has alternated between periods of openness and restriction. “During Ayub Khan’s time, there was media freedom, but after 1990, journalists enjoyed the highest freedom under the caretaker government,” he said. “During the Awami League government, journalism reached its lowest point. However, efforts are now being made to recover from that decline under Hasina’s leadership,” Shafiqul Alam added. He said there is widespread fear of mobbing now but the current government has no intention of restricting the press. Now, the question is whether this culture will continue under a future political government? Read more: Govt watching Hasina’s actions; she’s Bengal's ‘butcher’: Press Secretary Even those who should know better, including university professors, are now spreading misinformation, he said. The press secretary pointed out that misinformation has posed significant challenges for the government, particularly false news surrounding Saint Martin’s Island and Milestone. “The amount of false information circulated about Chittagong Port was unimaginable,” he said. Unlike in many other countries where penalties are imposed for spreading misinformation, no such mechanisms exist here, he said. “False information is being spread daily on ‘Talk Shows’. We have urged Meta to take stronger action against misinformation on Facebook, but it remains a long-term process,” he added. Read more: No pressure to bring AL into polls: Press Secretary

Representatives attending the 16th Meeting of the International Agencies and Expert Group (IAEG) under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have stressed the importance of accurate data for ensuring global development and achieving the 2030 targets. The call came on the opening day (Wednesday) of the four-day meeting of the IAEG, being held in the Japanese city of Kitakyushu. IOM, Bangladesh unveil migration manual to strengthen data-driven governance Representatives from member states and various international organisations are taking part in the high-level meeting to review progress and discuss strategies for strengthening data systems related to the SDGs. From Bangladesh, Director General of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman and President of the Global Economist Forum Dr Enayet Karim, among others, are attending the meeting.  

The High Court on Thursday granted bail to former minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The HC bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Sagir Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition seeking bail for him. The court also granted bail to journalist Manjur Alam, another accused in the same case. Senior Advocate ZI Panna, Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiya and Fazlur Rahman appeared for Latif Siddique, while Senior Advocate Sara Hossain and Ramjan Ali Shikdar represented Manjur Alam. Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Rubi and Assistant Attorney General Ibrahim Khalil stood for the state. Advocate Abdullah Al Harun said the court granted interim bail to his client, Abdul Latif Siddique, and if the state does not challenge the order, there will be no legal barrier to his release from prison. Court denies bail to Latif Siddique, Panna Assistant Attorney General Ibrahim Khalil, however, said they would file an appeal petition challenging the bail. Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique, brother of Latif Siddique, was present during the hearing. Police detained the former minister and several others after tensions broke out during an event organised by ‘Manch 71’, a platform of freedom fighters, in the capital on August 28. A group of youths identifying themselves as ‘July Fighters’ handed them over to police around noon, alleging that they had attempted to create chaos at the event held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). ‘Manch 71’ had organised a roundtable titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh”, which was attended by freedom fighters, lawyers, writers, journalists, teachers, and former bureaucrats. Later, Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station filed a case against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act. On August 29, a Dhaka court sent former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, and 14 others to jail in connection with the case. Latif Siddique, 15 others sent to jail The other accused are: Md Abdullah Al Amin, Manjur Alam, Qazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Md Mohiul Islam Babu, Md Zakir Hossain, Md Tousiful Bari Khan, Md Amir Hossain Sumon, Md Al Amin, Md Nazmul Ahsan, Syed Shahed Hasan, Md Shafikul Islam Delwar, Dewan Mohammad Ali, and Abdullahil Qaiyum.    

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has removed a total of 1,25, 000 illegal banners and festoons across the city over the past month. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz disclosed this following a review meeting on the ‘Banner and Festoon Removal Campaign’ at the city corporation headquarters on Thursday. Urging all not to dirty the city with banners and festoons, he said they removed nearly 1, 25, 000 banners and festoons in the last month, describing it a challenging work for them. During the meeting, officials presented detailed statistics from the campaign conducted across 52 wards in DNCC’s 10 zones. Commemorating July Uprising: ‘Mukti Toron’ and ‘Swadhinota Toron’ unveiled in DNCC According to the report, Zone-3 saw the highest number of removals at 29,441, followed by Zone-2 with nearly 25,000, Zone-4 with 18,000, Zone-5 with 12,000, and Zone-9 with around 11,000 banners and festoons cleared. Since last month, DNCC has designated nearly 30 locations across the city for free poster placements, after which a coordinated operation to remove illegally installed banners, posters, and festoons was launched. The campaign covered all 52 wards under the 10 DNCC zones and will continue as part of the city’s ongoing cleanliness efforts.

The government has made Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Kamal Hossain of Nachol, Chapainawabganj an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for allegedly using fake information to get a government job under the freedom fighter quota. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Wednesday making the decision official. Kamal Hossain is accused of using the names of his uncle, freedom fighter Md Ahsan Habib, and aunt, Mosammat Sanowara Khatun, as his parents instead of his real father Md Abul Kashem and mother Mosammat Habiya Khatun. He reportedly did this to qualify for the freedom fighter quota in the 35th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination and later joined the administration cadre. Following allegations of forgery, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against him on December 26 last year. The case was lodged by ACC’s Assistant Director Md Manzurul Islam Mintu of the Integrated District Office, Dhaka-1. On Tuesday, the ACC decided to conduct a DNA test to confirm Kamal Hossain’s biological parents, and the following day, the Ministry of Public Administration issued the order transferring him as OSD.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A.F.M. Khalid Hossain has written to key government officials asking for the appointment of Dawra-e-Hadith certificate holders to various religious teaching positions and other posts. On Tuesday, Dr Khalid Hossain issued three separate semi-official (DO) letters to the Education Adviser, Law Adviser, and Defense Secretary, according to sources at the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In his letter to Education Adviser Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, the Religious Affairs Adviser mentioned that the National Parliament passed the Al-Hayatul Ulaya Lil-Jami’atil Qawmia Bangladesh Act, 2018, granting Daura-e-Hadith (Takmeel) certificates from Qawmi madrasas the equivalent of a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies and Arabic. This was in line with a demand of the Hefazat e Islam, the alliance of Qawmi madrasahs of which the adviser is a vice president. Despite the law’s passage and its publication in the Bangladesh Gazette, students of Qawmi institutions have yet to benefit from it, “Delay in implementing the law is undermining its purpose and creating frustration among Qawmi students,” the adviser wrote, urging the Education Adviser to personally ensure the appointment of Dawra-e-Hadith certificate holders as assistant teachers (religion) in secondary and higher secondary schools. Besides, Dr Khalid Hossain requested the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser to prioritise Dawra-e-Hadith certificate holders when issuing Nikah Registrar licences. He also sent a letter to the Defense Secretary seeking the appointment of Dawra-e-Hadith certificate holders as religious teachers in the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force.  

Supporters of the Awami League working in the media are trying to destabilise the country in different ways, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam said on Wednesday. “Many Awami League people are still working in the media. They may not be seen openly, but most people in the second and third tiers of the media are Awami League supporters. They are trying to create unrest in various ways,” he said. The adviser made the remarks while speaking at a certificate-giving ceremony for the ‘Investigative Journalism Training for July Fighters’ held at the National Institute of Mass-communication (NIMCO) in Dhaka. He urged those who took part in the July mass uprising to join the country’s media sector, saying their involvement is needed for the nation’s well-being. “The July fighters must take up the challenge to bring positive change to the media ecosystem,” he said. Highlighting the ministry’s initiatives for the July fighters, Mahfuj Alam said that under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB), the National Media Institute and the Film and Television Institute (BCTI) are providing training to July fighters and families of the martyrs of the mass uprising. By December, at least 300 participants are expected to receive training in journalism and film.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has directed the security forces to spare no effort in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators and to bring them swiftly to justice, stressing that violence and intimidation have no place in our political and social life. "The CMP has already launched a manhunt for the attackers," he said. The interim government on Wednesday (5th November 2025) strongly condemned the violent attack at an election campaign event of Ershad Ullah, the nominated candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for Chattogram-8. In a statement, the government called upon all political actors and their supporters to uphold calm, show restraint and ensure that the February general election takes place in an atmosphere of peace, dignity, and fairness. Read more: Five BNP men wounded in Raozan gun attack "The government will do its part by taking all necessary measures to guarantee the secure and peaceful conditions required for free, fair, credible and festive elections across Bangladesh," said the statement issued by the Chief Adviser's press wing. Immediate investigation by the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) indicates that Ershad Ullah was not the target of the attack, but a stray bullet hit and injured him.  The government wishes him an early recovery. A full probe has been ordered. The government expressed its deep concern at this criminal act and reiterated its unwavering commitment to protecting the safety and rights of all candidates and citizens participating in the democratic process. Read more: One killed, BNP candidate Ershad Ullah injured in Ctg gun attack