United News of Bangladesh

Two siblings drowned in a pond at Khalapara village in Mithamoin upazila of Kishoreganj district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Rifat Mia, 4, and Safa Akter, 2-- two children of Rubel Mia of Khalapara village. The two children were playing near a pond beside their house around 10 am, said Rezaul Karim, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Mithamoin Police Station. At one stage, Safa fell into the water and drowned. Rifat also drowned while trying to save his sister. Locals rescued the two children and took them to Mithamoin Upazila Health Complex, where the doctors declared them dead. Mithamoin Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdullah-Al-Shafi said the children had died before they were brought to the hospital.          

Police in a drive arrested four people including alleged top criminal of Chattogram Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon from Jhumjhumpur area in Jashore district town early Wednesday during their reported bid to flee to India. The other arrestees are Al Islam Alif alias Tamal, 25 of Shyampur area in the capital, Md Shamim, 28, of Cumilla district and Shafayet Hossain, 28 of Noakhali district. Nine teams of DB police and Kotwali Police conducted a drive in the area around 4 am and arrested them, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Mirajul Islam. Police said David Emon was the mastermind behind a recent extortion attempt targeting the owner of an Internet Service Provider(ISP) in Chattogram. After the victim refused to pay the demanded amount, the establishment was attacked, vandalised, and looted, prompting police to intensify drive to arrest him. During preliminary interrogation, the arrestees told investigators that they had planned to cross into India through Jhikargacha border, he said. All were handed over to Chattogram District Police around 10 am on Wednesday and were later taken to Chattogram under tight security, he added. Jashore Superintendent of Police Syed Rafiqul Islam, said the operation was conducted based on intelligence information. Police also seized a private car from their possession, he said. Law enforcement agencies describe David Emon, son of Md Musa of Kanchannagar area of Fatikchhari upazila in Chattogram, as one of the most-discussed figures in Chattogram's underworld in recent years. Police said he had a key role in the criminal group led by ‘top criminal’ Sajjad Ali Khan, also known as "Boro Sajjad," and established dominance in Bayezid Bostami, Panchlaish, Chandgaon, Patenga, Hathazari and Raozan areas of Chattogram. Police said David Emon was wanted in multiple cases including that of murder, attempted murder, extortion, illegal possession of firearms and criminal activities.

Two people died from electrocution while removing a fallen coconut tree from a road in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district on Wednesday morning. The deceased were identified as Mowla, 35, son of Aibuddin of Patharepara village and Azimuddin, 60, son of Basir Uddin of Darapara village. Swapan Kumar Sarkar, Officer-in-Charge of Gobindaganj Police Station, said a coconut tree being cut down fell onto an overhead power line in the Darapara area, snapping an electric wire. Mowla and Azimuddin came into contact with the live wire while trying to remove the fallen tree. At one stage, Mowla died on the spot, while Azimuddin sustained critical injuries, he said. Azimuddin was later taken to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.  

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday directed the officials concerned to prioritise long-term national needs, accountability and public welfare in planning and implementing development projects, saying government spending must deliver tangible improvements to people’s lives. Speaking at a review meeting at the Secretariat, the minister said every stage of project formulation and implementation there should be focus on public interest, efficiency, transparency and long-term national priorities rather than short-term visibility or popularity. The meeting reviewed ongoing projects and unapproved new schemes included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2026-27 fiscal year under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division. State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki attended the meeting as special guest. Officials presented an overview of the ADP implementation status for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, highlighting the progress of ongoing projects and identifying areas where projects could be restructured or revised. The LGRD minister said development initiatives should be evaluated based on their real impact on people’s quality of life rather than the construction of visible infrastructure alone.“We must formulate development plans with a vision of where we want the country to stand in the next five, 10 or even 50 years,” he said. He stressed the need for more realistic project planning, greater emphasis on results-based evaluation and stronger scrutiny during project preparation. The minister also suggested revising, restructuring or merging similar projects where necessary to improve implementation efficiency. Describing public funds as the hard-earned money of citizens, he said every taka must be utilised efficiently, with greater emphasis on timely implementation, quality, cost effectiveness and accountability. He said the Local Government Division plays a vital role in infrastructure development, safe water supply, sanitation, waste management, strengthening local government institutions, rural development and employment generation, urging officials to perform their responsibilities with greater dedication and professionalism. Highlighting waste management as a priority, the minister said modern and sustainable waste management projects are essential for building a cleaner and greener Bangladesh. He also underscored the importance of training and research to develop skilled human resources capable of promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship, while appreciating the division’s initiatives for women’s development and economic empowerment. State Minister Saki said development projects are being reviewed regularly in line with the government’s policy priorities and should reflect the election manifesto and broader development agenda through restructuring where necessary. He proposed grouping projects into thematic clusters to enable integrated monitoring, evaluation and more effective implementation. Senior officials from the Local Government Division, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, Planning Commission and other government agencies attended the meeting.

Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, Additional Inspector General of Police (Addl IGP), on Wednesday formally assumed charge as the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police. A notification was issued about his appointment by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 28. Before joining the CID, he served as Director of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) on deputation. During his tenure at the NSI, he was promoted to the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police. A member of the 15th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadre, Mosharraf joined Bangladesh Police as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1995. During his nearly three-decade career, he has served in a wide range of operational, investigative, intelligence, training and administrative roles across the police force. He held several key positions at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah where he was involved in training, research and curriculum development. He also served for a considerable period as Superintendent of Police at the CID headquarters as well as in its Chattogram and Cumilla units. At the field level, he served as Superintendent of Police in Pirojpur and Chapainawabganj districts. He earned a Master's degree in Economics from Islamic University in Kushtia. He later completed his Bar-at-Law from City University London in the United Kingdom. Senior CID officials, including deputy inspectors general, additional deputy inspectors general, superintendents of police and additional superintendents of police, were present at the ceremony and welcomed the newly appointed CID chief.  

Bangladesh currently has a total of 189 tigers  in the Sundarbans, the country's only tiger habitat, and in zoos across the country which is not sufficient to protect the species from extinction, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said on Wednesday. “Tigers are one of the most important wildlife species in the world and an indispensable part of biodiversity. It is extremely important to raise public awareness and build a conservation mindset among the new generation to protect this animal,” the state minister told reporters after a rally at Bangladesh National Zoo marking Global Tiger Day. He said the global tiger population was around 100,000 about a hundred years ago but has now dwindled to roughly 5,000, a figure that clearly signals the species is under serious threat. “If we do not take effective initiatives now and fail to raise public awareness, this species will face an even deeper crisis in the future,” he said. Breaking down the current numbers, the state minister said the Sundarbans is home to 124 tigers, while Bangladesh National Zoo has around 15 and other zoos across the country together have about 50. He said tigers are a national asset, and the government will continue taking necessary measures for their conservation so that future generations can learn about tigers and understand the importance of protecting them. Responding to a question from journalists about the budget allocated for tiger census and transparency in the process, the state minister said tiger counting falls under the Forest Department and not the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, adding that the Forest Department carries out the exercise transparently through its own process. The state minister later inaugurated a souvenir shop at Bangladesh National Zoo.

A six-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, has sat  in a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday. The meeting began at around 11:00am at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin attended the meeting along with Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Tahmida Ahmed and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Bangladesh Bank, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police and bKash are jointly running a special campaign to raise awareness against online gambling among people from all walks of life, particularly the youth. Under the campaign, awareness advertisements have been initiated to highlight the severe social and financial consequences of online gambling, according to a press release. The advertisements place strong emphasis on relevant legal provisions and punitive measures that may lead up to two years’ imprisonment, fines as high as Tk 1 crore, and arrest without a warrant. These awareness advertisements are being broadcast across various television channels, published in newspapers, and social media platforms. Additionally, several news outlets have published reports detailing the damaging effects of gambling. Driven by social responsibility, this collaborative push by the regulator, law enforcement, and financial service provider goes beyond driving awareness. It delivers a stern warning to perpetrators and their associates that all stakeholders remain committed to showing zero tolerance towards criminals.

Retired government employees on Tuesday called for the swift formulation of rules under the amended Tobacco Control Act 2026 and stronger measures to protect public health from the harmful effects of tobacco and emerging nicotine products. The association also urged the government to take effective steps to safeguard young people from the growing use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The demands were made at a discussion titled "Protecting Public Health from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco: The Way Forward" jointly organised by the Bangladesh Retired Government Employees Welfare Association and the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor-DORP at the Obosor Bhaban in the capital. Speaking at the event, Administrator of the Welfare Association Ismail Hossain said protecting public health and ensuring effective tobacco control are among the key commitments of the current government's election manifesto. He added that discouraging the use of tobacco and nicotine products and protecting future generations from their harmful effects are among the government's highest priorities in building a healthy and productive nation. Retired Secretary Md Shamsul Alam Khan said the national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 imposed taxes on nicotine pouches, nicotine granules and heated tobacco products (HTPs). As a result, these emerging nicotine products are effectively receiving legal recognition and greater opportunities for market expansion.  Director of the Welfare Association Mohammad Ali said Bangladesh has the highest tobacco use prevalence in South Asia (35.3%), and tobacco-related diseases cause nearly 200,000 premature deaths every year. In 2024, the economic cost of tobacco-related health and environmental damage amounted to approximately Tk 87,000 crore, more than double the revenue generated from the tobacco sector, he said.  Ali emphasised that, in light of this reality, the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2026) must be strictly enforced, and effective measures must be taken to prevent the spread of emerging nicotine products in order to protect public health. The speakers thanked the government for amending the law and expressed optimism that, in line with the commitments outlined in the government's election manifesto, appropriate measures will be taken to strengthen tobacco control efforts, particularly to protect future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Tuesday said the July mass uprising was built upon the foundation of BNP's 17-year-long movement against authoritarian rule. "Every uprising needs a foundation. BNP created that foundation through 17 years of struggle," he said while speaking at a discussion titled "Unity, Not Division, for Building a Just and Discrimination-Free Society" at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. The minister questioned the role of the current opposition during the anti-government movement. "Where were they over the past 17 years? We formed alliances and carried out simultaneous movements. But after August 5, they claimed they alone led the movement. It is undeniable that every uprising requires a foundation, and that foundation was BNP's 17 years of struggle," he said. The programme was organised by an organisation called Amra Bangladeshi. Referring to the Awami League, which faces a ban on its activities, Anee, also BNP joint secretary general, said not all of its leaders had fled the country and not all cases against them were identical. Criticising the opposition further, he said they had not participated in any significant movement against military ruler HM Ershad since 1986 or against Awami League fascism. "They thought they would come to power this time, but in reality, Delhi is still far away. They have won some seats, but BNP faced organisational problems in certain constituencies, including having multiple candidates. That is why they performed relatively well," the minister said. He also alleged that BNP had weaknesses in expatriate voting in several constituencies and added that overseas votes had been influenced. Anee said BNP had struggled for 17 years to restore democracy and acknowledged that people now expected a normal life. "The government has been in office for only five months. We cannot say we have already solved many problems. But the Prime Minister is trying and has already undertaken several programmes. If we all cooperate, I hope there will be no shortages in the country," he said. The minister said the country continues to face multiple challenges because of what he described as widespread corruption and looting during the previous 17 years. The discussion was chaired by Amra Bangladeshi Coordinator Syed Ehsanul Huda.