United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday expressed strong dissatisfaction over the unhygienic environment at the Azimpur Government Officers’ and Employees’ Residential Quarters in the capital and gave the authorities two weeks to improve cleanliness and ensure a liveable environment. He issued the directive during a surprise visit to the residential area, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. During the visit, the prime minister inspected the residential area, walkways and overall surroundings. He questioned the authorities about the lack of cleanliness and expressed dissatisfaction with the maintenance and cleaning arrangements. Tarique instructed the authorities concerned to ensure visible improvements in the overall cleanliness of the quarters within two weeks. Residents of the quarters raised various complaints with the prime minister about the unhygienic environment and the law and order situation in the area. They sought effective measures to improve the  environment and ensure security. The prime minister listened to their complaints and asked the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to resolve the problems. During the visit, Tarique also exchanged greetings with children living in the quarters. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam were present.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday visited Dhaka Residential Model College in the capital where he studied and urged students to play an active role in building the country by keeping it clean and green.  During the visit to the college at Mohammadpur where he studied, the prime minister spoke to students, calling on them to take responsibility for keeping their homes, educational institutions and surroundings clean and raising awareness among others. Tarique said everyone, particularly the younger generation, must work together to make the country clean and liveable, as the government alone could not achieve this goal. Referring to the 2024 mass uprising, the prime minister asked the students whether it has  been achieved by any single political party. “You made the 2024 movement successful through the mass uprising. Was it done by a single party? Everyone worked together, didn’t they?” he said. Tarique said the collective efforts of young people have  already proved that they could bring about major changes.  However, he said, their responsibility did not end with taking part in a movement as they must also contribute to rebuilding the country and creating a better Bangladesh. Expressing concern over air pollution in Dhaka, Tarique said the capital’s air is  becoming increasingly polluted, exposing people, particularly children, to various health risks.  He stressed the need to plant more trees to help address the situation. The prime minister said the government has already taken initiatives to make the country clean and green, but those efforts could not fully succeed without the active participation of young people. Tarique urged students to take responsibility for keeping the country clean and planting more trees. “You are the future of this country. I have two requests to you: keep the country clean and plant more trees. This is your country, and its responsibility also rests with you,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged young people to take the lead in preventing dengue, protecting the environment and keeping the country clean and green, saying efforts to build a clean and healthier Bangladesh for future generations must begin now. “You will run this country in the future. So, we must start working now to build a beautiful, clean and healthy Bangladesh for the next generation,” he said. The prime minister made the call while addressing members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and Scouts during a visit to Mirpur Bangla College in the capital. Tarique said Bangladesh is a densely populated country, particularly in Dhaka, where keeping the city clean is a major challenge. However, the prime minister said, it is possible through collective efforts. He said young people should not limit their cleanliness activities to organised programmes but also take initiatives on their own and encourage their friends, relatives and neighbours to keep their surroundings clean. Highlighting the close link between cleanliness and public health, the prime minister said people are more likely to remain healthy when their homes and surroundings are clean, while an unhygienic environment increased the risk of various diseases. “If so many people fall ill, it will be difficult to arrange enough doctors and medicines to treat everyone. So, our first task is to keep people healthy. And to keep people healthy, we must keep the environment clean,” he said. Stressing the importance of cleanliness in preventing dengue, Tarique said many people are infected with the disease every year and some die from it. “Destroying mosquito breeding grounds and keeping homes and their surroundings clean are among the most effective ways to prevent dengue,” he said. The prime minister said the government is placing special emphasis on conducting cleanliness drives every Saturday until November as part of its dengue prevention efforts. He urged people to keep the areas around their homes, schools, colleges, workplaces and other institutions clean, particularly by ensuring that water did not accumulate anywhere. Tarique also called for an end to the practice of dumping waste on roads, in canals, rivers and other water bodies, saying accumulated rubbish pollute the environment and created favourable conditions for the spread of germs and mosquito breeding. Urging BNCC and Scouts members to raise public awareness, he said they should try to explain the importance of cleanliness to anyone found throwing rubbish on the street and help them dispose of it in designated places if necessary. “Remember, you are working not just for yourselves but for the benefit of everyone,” the prime minister said. Expressing concern over Dhaka’s air pollution, Tarique said the capital often ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, which he described as embarrassing. He said protecting the environment required planting more trees as well as other measures. Recalling his past tree-planting initiatives, the prime minister said around 80,000 neem saplings have been planted in Dhaka alone in 2004-05 through an organisation established in his father’s name. Addressing the students, he said they should surpass his efforts by planting even more trees. “Now you have to go beyond me. You will plant more trees. InshaAllah, you can do it.” The prime minister also recalled the history of neem trees on Saudi Arabia’s Arafat plain. He said the area had once been almost treeless before then-President Ziaur Rahman sent neem saplings there. Neem was selected on the advice of Bangladeshi scientists because it was suitable for Saudi Arabia’s climate, he said, adding that the trees later spread across the area and became known as “Zia trees”. Citing Japan as an example of cleanliness, Tarique said its streets have very little rubbish, partly because people have developed the habit of not littering, rather than relying solely on cleaning services. He stressed the need to keep rivers, canals and other water bodies clean and prevent water and environmental pollution. “People should stop throwing plastic bottles, polythene bags, food packets and other waste indiscriminately.” The prime minister said collective efforts by BNCC and Scouts members and other citizens could help build a better Bangladesh. “The future belongs to you. You will run this country,” he said. Tarique visited Mirpur Bangla College as part of his surprise visits to hospitals and educational institutions to assess the dengue situation and cleanliness activities.

Researchers from Bangladesh, China and India have identified Dundubia annandalei, a species of cicada, in Bangladesh for the first time, adding a new species to the country’s recorded cicada diversity. The identification was confirmed through field surveys, morphological analysis and an assessment of environmental data, according to the researchers. The study was jointly conducted by Professor Dr Mohammad Abul Manjur Khan of the Department of Entomology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Kong Wei, a researcher at Northwest A&F University in China. Indian researcher Babu Saddam and BAU postgraduate student Shahmot Jawad were directly involved in collecting field data and specimens and identifying the insect. The research paper has been published in the international scientific journal Insects. The research team told UNB that they collected 63 specimens during field surveys conducted in different parts of Bangladesh between February and March 2025. The specimens are preserved at the Entomology Department Museum at BAU. One female cicada was collected from beneath a streetlight on the university campus. The species was found in orchards of mango, litchi, dragon fruit, guava, pineapple, banana, jackfruit, lemon and orange. Adult cicadas and their discarded exoskeletons were also identified on trees and in vegetation, including sal, bamboo, teak and jarul. Morphological analysis showed that Dundubia annandalei is generally grass-green in colour when alive but turns brown when dried. Although it resembles Dundubia terpsichore in appearance, a distinctive structural feature of the male insect is one of the key characteristics used to distinguish the species. Before this discovery, only one species of the genus Dundubia — Dundubia ensifera — were documented in Bangladesh. The researchers also used the MaxEnt species distribution modelling approach to assess the cicada’s current and potential future habitat suitability, Professor Manjur Khan said. The model incorporated species occurrence records alongside environmental variables, including rainfall, temperature and elevation, to identify areas that could provide suitable habitats. The findings showed that rainfall was the most influential factor in determining the species’ distribution. Variations in rainfall during warmer periods could particularly affect the availability of suitable habitats, while elevation and temperature were also important factors. According to the researchers’ estimates, about 861,000 square kilometres within the study area are currently suitable for the species. Of this area, around 300,000 square kilometres were classified as highly suitable and 179,000 square kilometres as moderately suitable. Climate change projections indicated that suitable habitat could expand to approximately 1.752 million square kilometres by 2060 and 1.94 million square kilometres by the end of the century under a relatively lower global warming scenario. Under a higher-warming scenario, suitable habitat could temporarily contract around the middle of the century before expanding substantially, potentially reaching approximately 2.63 million square kilometres by 2100. However, the researchers cautioned that these figures represent model-based projections of environmental suitability, not confirmed future distribution or evidence of increased agricultural damage. Cicadas feed primarily on xylem sap — the fluid that transports water and minerals through plants  during their immature stages. Although some cicada species can damage trees and crops, the study did not determine the extent to which the newly identified species affects agriculture in Bangladesh. Professor Manjur Khan told UNB that cicadas are present in fruit orchards across the country. Their loud breeding calls can often be heard around mango trees during the summer, particularly as mangoes mature, providing an indication of their presence in orchards. He said commercial fruit cultivation was expanding in the country’s hilly regions, some of which the MaxEnt model identified as potentially suitable for the species. However, insufficient research has been conducted to establish how the cicada affects commercial fruit orchards in those areas, particularly in terms of crop production and normal tree growth. Identifying a new species is not enough; its distribution, life cycle, feeding habits and potential economic impact on agriculture must also be investigated, he said. If the species is found to cause significant economic damage, effective management strategies will need to be developed. Professor Manjur Khan stressed the need for long-term field research to assess potential agricultural risks. He said cooperation from public and private institutions and funding agencies would be necessary to determine the species’ presence, the extent of any damage and appropriate management measures in commercial fruit orchards in hilly areas. The researchers said sustained research support and systematic monitoring would help establish reliable evidence of the species’ ecological distribution and actual agricultural impact. Such findings would enable authorities and researchers to take timely and effective preventive measures if future studies identify a risk of economic damage.

Poverty has risen to 27.93 per cent in Bangladesh, while about 31 million people in the "fragile middle" remain one shock away from falling below the line, according to a new study by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC). The findings were presented Saturday at the launch of the book "State of the Real Economy: Dynamics of Reversals and Resilience in Bangladesh" at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the city. The launch coincided with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. PPRC Executive Chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman and Senior Research Associate Namira Shameem, who edited the book, presented the key findings. The book draws on the PPRC State of the Real Economy (SORE) survey, a nationally representative survey of 8,067 households across all eight divisions, conducted in May 2025. According to the study, 27.93 per cent of people were below the upper poverty line in 2025, up from 18.7 per cent in the 2022 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). The lower poverty line figure rose to 9.35 per cent from 5.6 per cent. The expenditure Gini coefficient rose from 0.334 to 0.436, with urban inequality (0.532) far higher than rural (0.347). The study found that 17.97 per cent of households are "vulnerable non-poor", above the poverty line but below median expenditure. This is about 31 million people. More than half of these households have a chronically ill member, and only 27.5 per cent receive any safety-net support. Average monthly household income of Tk 32,685 is almost equal to expenditure of Tk 32,615, leaving a surplus of just Tk 70. The bottom 40 per cent spend more than they earn and food accounts for 54.9 per cent of household spending. The presentation said the problem is less a lack of work than a lack of adequate work. About 37.7 per cent of working adults worked fewer than 40 hours a week, including 65.5 per cent of employed women. Besides, medical expenses triggered 67.4 per cent of financial crises as some 79.31 per cent of health spending is paid out of pocket. Household debt exceeds savings by 44.6 per cent on average, and by 218 per cent in the poorest decile. Some 48.9 per cent of households reported “harassment and informal payments” in health services. The presentation described a "politico-governance trap" that took hold between 2014 and 2024 and, it said, largely remains in place. It cited a non-performing loan ratio of 33.2 per cent in June 2026, tax-to-GDP below 7 per cent in FY25 and net FDI of about 0.3 per cent of GDP in FY26. Citing the IMF, World Bank and ADB, it noted FY27 growth projections of 3.2, 3.4 and 4.0 per cent respectively. The study called for a "transition compact" with five pillars: economic democracy, new growth drivers, quality education, productive transformation and governance for speed. Its sequenced action plan includes real-time household monitoring, a national skills intelligence system, a resilience floor for the vulnerable non-poor and safety-net targeting based on vulnerability rather than static poverty.

Delhi Police placed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke under preventive arrest and released All India Students' Association (AISA) chief Neha Bora early Saturday after detaining them ahead of Friday's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest march at Connaught Place in the Indian capital. Dipke was arrested under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) over concerns about a possible breach of peace. He is scheduled to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court later Saturday. Bora was released after the authorities completed the necessary detention formalities under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. CJP legal head Ratna Singh alleged that Dipke's whereabouts remained unknown and that lawyers had not been allowed to meet him. “Abhijeet is arrested & will be produced before SEM court. His location still unknown, lawyers haven't met,” Singh wrote on X. In a subsequent post, she said Dipke would appear before the court at noon. The CJP, opposition parties, student groups and civil society organisations have held protests in several parts of India demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Bora alleges detentions intended to create fearAfter her release, Bora alleged that protesters were being detained without valid reasons and held for hours, claiming the practice was intended to intimidate ordinary citizens. She said such detentions had become increasingly common during the ongoing movement, with protesters frequently taken into custody and released the following morning or evening. Bora demanded the immediate release of Dipke and other detained demonstrators, saying they were ordinary citizens seeking accountability and the right to vote. She argued that there was no justification for holding protesters overnight at police stations. On Friday, both the CJP and AISA expressed concern over the whereabouts of their leaders, alleging that Delhi Police had denied them access to lawyers and associates after detaining them during the protests. The two leaders were taken into custody while travelling to join the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' demonstration. The CJP alleged that Dipke had been moved to an undisclosed location and that the party had lost contact with him. In a post on X, the party said he was not being allowed to speak with lawyers. AISA, meanwhile, alleged that Bora had been held alone at the Anti-Narcotics Task Force facility in Mangolpuri. Source: NDTV

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday morning began visiting hospitals and educational institutions in the capital to assess the dengue situation and cleanliness activities. The Prime Minister left his Gulshan residence at 9:10am for the surprise visits, his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said. He said Tarique Rahman first went to Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital in Uttara to see firsthand the measures taken by the hospital authorities to tackle dengue. He then visited Rajuk Uttara Model College, where he addressed members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), urging them to play an active role in cleanliness drives to help prevent dengue.

Residents of Botbunia in Khulna’s Dakope upazila are living in fear as work on a permanent alternative embankment has yet to begin five days after a 50-metre section of the existing flood protection embankment collapsed into the Dhaki River. Around 5,000 bighas of Aman paddy land are at risk due to the breach, said locals. Around 50 metres of the Water Development Board (WDB) embankment near the Harisabha temple at Botbunia Bazar collapsed into the river on the night of October 11. The WDB immediately placed sandbags and tubes at the site to prevent extensive flooding. However, a visit to the area found that the condition of the damaged embankment remained unchanged, with no work on a permanent alternative embankment having started in the past five days. Mohammad Abdul Rahman, sub-divisional engineer, and Mohammad Nayan Ali, assistant sub-assistant engineer of the WDB’s Khulna office, said the alternative embankment would be constructed after monitoring the direction and condition of the erosion. They said the assessment is taking some time but claimed that construction work would begin within this week. The devastating erosion has already swept away the homes and belongings of seven families living in the affected area. Krishnapada Sardar, one of the victims, said he has moved his home to another location after an earlier erosion incident, only to lose everything in the latest collapse. “My house and belongings, including gold ornaments, have been washed away into the river. Now I am living with my family under the open sky in extreme hardship,” he said emotionally. The families of Prashanta Sardar, Jadubar Sardar, Niranjan Mistry, Ajit Sardar, Alokesh Sardar and Ranjit Sardar have also suffered similar losses due to the erosion.    

Customs intelligence officials have seized goods including including a gold bar, alcohol, cosmetic injections, worth an estimated Tk 3.23 crore in four separate drives at Dhaka and Chattogram airports over two days. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) conducted the operations on Thursday and Friday at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and the foreign post office at Dhaka airport, a CIID press release issued on Saturday. At Shah Amanat International Airport, customs intelligence officials recovered a 117-gram gold bar from passenger Abdullah Al Noman, who arrived from Dubai on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on Wednesday. On the same day, officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport seized 30 litres of alcohol worth an estimated Tk 6 lakh in separate operations. On Friday ,customs intelligence officials seized 155 dermal fillers and skin booster injections from the baggage of passenger Md Rakib Hossain, who arrived from Colombo on SriLankan Airlines flight UL189 at 11:13am. The seized products included Restylane Lidocaine, Restylane Lyft Lidocaine, Juvederm Voluma with Lidocaine and Profhilo, which are used in cosmetic procedures to reduce wrinkles and improve skin appearance. The products were valued at Tk 57.76 lakh. The CIID said the legality of the products’ import and their regulatory approvals were being examined. It said administering such injections without proper medical supervision could cause infections, blocked blood vessels, permanent skin damage and, in severe cases, loss of vision. In a separate operation at the foreign post office at Dhaka airport, customs officials seized 37 cartons containing 1,104kg of banned Gauri skin-whitening cream and 23 used Core i5 laptops. The seized goods were valued at Tk 2.38 crore, according to the release. The CIID said it would continue surveillance and anti-smuggling operations at international airports, seaports, land ports and other customs stations to prevent revenue evasion, protect public health and safeguard consumer interests.

Ten shops were gutted in two separate fire incidents in Tongi of Gazipur district early Saturday. However, no casualties were reported. Fire Service officials said eight shops were damaged in a fire that broke out at Kadira Gate in the Millgate area of Tongi around 12:30am. Two firefighting units from the Tongi Fire Station rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control in about one hour and 15 minutes. Goods worth Tk 5 lakh were damaged in the fire. Meanwhile, two semi-pucca shops were damaged in a fire that broke out on Kha Para Road in Auchpara, Tongi, around 1:45am. On information, three firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control in about one hour. The affected shop owners estimated their losses at Tk 20 lakh. Fire Service officials initially suspected that electrical short circuits might have caused the fires. However, the actual causes will be confirmed after an investigation.