United News of Bangladesh

A 55-year-old woman was killed when a bus ran over her in the Shahjahanpur area of the capital on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Sathia Begum, 55, wife of Hazrat Ali of Shahjahanpur Railway Water Tank colony. Quoting witnesses, SM Rashedul Islam, sub-inspector of Shahjahanpur Police Station, said the accident occurred around 10 pm near Shahjahanpur level crossing when a staff bus of Aman Graphics & Design Company hit the woman while crossing the road, leaving her injured. Later, she was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared her dead. Police arrested the bus driver and seized the bus.  

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a 10-member Election Steering Committee, naming its Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary as the head. The announcement came through a press release signed by NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, issued on Monday (3rd November 2025) night. Dr Tasnim Jara, the party’s Senior Joint Member Secretary, has been appointed as the committee’s secretary. Read more: BNP announces possible candidates for 237 constituencies Other members of the committee include Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adib; Joint Conveners Mahbub Alam Mahir, Khaled Saifullah, and Ehtesham Haque; Joint Member Secretaries Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, Alauddin Mohammad, Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, and Advocate Humayra Noor; Joint Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Saifullah Haidar; and Joint Chief Coordinator and National Youth Force Convener Advocate Md Tarikul Islam. According to the media  release, the committee will oversee NCP’s overall preparation and planning for the 2026 national election, covering areas such as candidate selection, field coordination, legal and administrative affairs, media and publicity, and training and monitoring activities. Read more: JnUCSU Election: Student bodies move to form ‘inclusive panels’

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 10th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 105 at 09:02 am this morning. Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ referring to a health threat, according to the AQI index. Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Kolkata and Delhi and Uganda’s Kampala occupied the first four spots on the list, with AQI scores of 359, 248, 231 and 159, respectively. An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with acceptable air quality usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. 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. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.  

Three people have sustained burn injuries in an  explosion reportedly triggered by gas leakage at a house in Feni Sadar upazila. The injured were identified as Md Rafiqul Islam, 40, Abul Kashem, 55, and Jesmin Akhter, 30. All three victims were taken to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Professor Dr Bidhan Sarkar, chief of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at DMCH, said, “The three burn victims were brought from Feni following an explosion.” Rafiqul sustained 22 percent burns, Kashem 20 percent, and Jesmin 13 percent. All of them have also suffered respiratory burns, he said. Quoting family members, Dr Sarkar added that the explosion occurred due to gas leakage at their residence in Feni. Police are investigating the incident.    

A total of 12 entities have submitted applications to Bangladesh Bank (BB) for licenses to establish Digital Banks. These institutions aim to offer banking services entirely through internet- and app-based platforms, relying solely on mobile phones and digital devices for a cashless operation. The central bank began accepting applications for Digital Bank licenses on September 1. Although the initial deadline was September 30, it was extended to November 2, which served as the final day for submission. The 12 institutions that have applied to set up Digital Banks are: 1. British Bangla Digital Bank PLC 2. Digital Banking of Bhutan-DK 3. Amar Digital Bank-22 MFI 4. 36 Digital Bank PLC 5. Boost-Robi 6. Amar Bank (Proposed) 7. App Bank-Farmers 8. Nova Digital Bank-Banglalink & Square 9. Moitri Digital Bank PLC 10. Upokari Digital Bank 11. Munafa Islami Digital Bank-Akij 12. bKash Digital Bank Bangladesh Bank issued the Digital Bank Policy on June 14, 2023. Key requirements and characteristics include: Capital Requirement: A minimum paid-up capital of Tk300 crore is required to establish a digital bank. Branchless Operation: Digital banks must operate without any physical branches, sub-branches, ATMs, CDMs, or CRMs. They will not provide any Over-The-Counter (OTC) services. Service Delivery: All services must be app-based and delivered through digital devices, offering 24/7 service. Products: They may issue virtual cards, QR codes, and other technology-based products but cannot issue plastic cards for transactions. Customers can, however, use the ATM and agent services of other conventional banks. Bangladesh Bank proposes full ministerial rank for Governor Lending Restrictions: Digital banks are prohibited from opening Letters of Credit (LCs) and cannot provide loans to large or medium industries. They are only permitted to offer small loans. IPO Mandate: Every digital bank must launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within five years of receiving the Bangladesh Bank’s approval. The IPO amount must be at least equal to the initial investment made by the promoters. Digital banking is a broad segment of online banking that provides comprehensive banking services primarily via the internet and digital channels.    

Bangladesh’s export earnings in October 2025, reaching US$3.82 billion, which represents a 5.41 percent increase compared to the $3.62 billion recorded in September 2025. However, the export performance for October 2025 recorded a 7.43 percent decline when compared to the corresponding month (October) in the previous fiscal year FY 2024-25. Despite the year-on-year drop in October, the overall export trend for the first four months of the current fiscal year (July–October 2025–26) remains positive. Total exports reached $16.13 billion, marking a 2.22 percent growth over the same period in the previous fiscal year (July–October 2024–25), which stood at $ 15.78 billion. The apparel sector continues to be the backbone of the country's export revenue, contributing $ 3.01 billion in October 2025. Both knitwear and woven garments remained the major export earners within this sector. Other key products that reinforced Bangladesh’s export basket include: Leather and Leather Goods,Agricultural Products, Jute and Jute Goods, Home Textiles, Pharmaceuticals,Ships,Shrimp and Light Engineering Products The largest export markets, the United States and the United Kingdom, maintained their leading positions, recording growth rates of 6.89 percent and 2.82 percent, respectively. Bangladesh’s exports also saw significant growth in several other major markets during this period. Such as China by 25 percent, Saudi Arabia 15.37 percent, Canada 12.36 percent, and Spain 12.64 percent. The steady monthly growth trend and positive performance in these key sectors underscore the resilience and competitiveness of Bangladesh’s export industries in the global market, despite any challenges indicated by the year-on-year slowdown.    

The government has rejected what it described as a misleading portrayal of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in a recent photo feature published by Netra News, which indicated the region as ‘occupied,’ ‘militarised, or ‘under military rule.” In a statement issued by the Home Ministry on Monday, the government said such descriptions are ‘factually incorrect, misleading, and disrespectful’ to the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Bangladeshi nation as a whole.” “Since independence in 1971, the Chittagong Hill Tracts have always been an integral and inseparable part of Bangladesh’s sovereign territory,” the statement read. “The region is administered under the civilian authority of the government, not under military rule.” It said as in other parts of the country, security forces are present in the area to maintain peace, protect all citizens and uphold stability and development. The government also categorically rejected any comparison between the CHT and the “West Bank” or any other occupied territory, calling such analogies ‘baseless and a gross distortion of reality.’ “Bangladesh is a sovereign and independent state, and no part of its territory is under any form of occupation,” it added. The statement reaffirmed Bangladesh’s full commitment to upholding human rights, fostering inclusivity, and promoting the welfare and development of all communities in the CHT. “We welcome credible, evidence-based reporting on human rights issues,” the statement continued. To date, no verified or substantiated reports of systematic abuses by security forces in the region have been found, it added. Reiterating that Bangladesh values responsible journalism and freedom of expression, the government stressed that such freedom must be exercised with responsibility and factual accuracy. “We urge all media and creative platforms to practice professionalism, sensitivity, and adherence to factual integrity while reporting on complex historical and social contexts,” the statement added.

Speakers on Monday said that active involvement from the private sector is crucial for the sustainable expansion and improvement of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)–nutrition services. They made the remarks at the national closing ceremony of Right to Grow, a major multi-stakeholder collaborative initiative in the nutrition, health, and WASH sectors, held at Hotel Le Meridien in Dhaka. They noted that institutionalising the successful approaches and lessons of Right to Grow within government frameworks and community-led local systems will play a crucial role in Bangladesh’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event was organised under the leadership of Max Foundation Bangladesh on behalf of the Right to Grow Country Consortium. Senior government officials, representatives from development partners, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations, and community leaders from programme areas attended the event. Md Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Special Guests included  Annelies Kanis, Global Lead of the Right to Grow Consortium and Country Director of The Hunger Project Netherlands; Osman Haruni, Senior Policy Adviser, Embassy of the Netherlands; Dr Md Rizwanur Rahman, Director General of the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC); Khandaker Md Najmul Huda Shamim, Joint Secretary, Local Government Division; and Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Member, National Nutrition Council. Among others, Suman Sengupta, Country Director, Save the Children in Bangladesh; Prashanta Tripura, Country Director, The Hunger Project Bangladesh; Mohammad Aqmal Sharif, Country Director, Action Against Hunger; and Chandan J. Gomez, Senior Director – Operations, World Vision Bangladesh were present, along with senior representatives of consortium and partner organisations. Dr A.T.M. Tarikul Islam, Chairperson of the Right to Grow Country Steering Committee and Country Director of Max Foundation Bangladesh, said: “Right to Grow has demonstrated that sustainable change in child and maternal nutrition, health and sanitation is possible when government, civil society and local communities work hand in hand.” The day-long event featured three key sessions. The inaugural session showcased the journey, achievements, and lessons of the programme, presented by Iqbal Azad, Team Lead of the Right to Grow Consortium. The session concluded with closing remarks from His Excellency Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh. A short video titled “Stories of Change: Impact in Motion” and an Impact Gallery exhibition were also presented. The second session focused on “Institutionalising WASH–Nutrition Budgeting and Expenditure Management at Local Government Level.” The discussion featured Prof. Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka; Osman Haruni, Senior Policy Adviser, Embassy of the Netherlands; Md Emtiazul Hasan Majumdar, PPP Specialist, Public–Private Partnership Authority; A.H.M. Khalekur Rahman, Superintending Engineer, Store Circle–Dhaka, DPHE; Mohammad Aqmal Sharif, Country Director, Action Against Hunger; Mohammad Monirul Alam, WASH Specialist, UNICEF; and Dr Salah Uddin Ahmed, Additional GM, Star Network (SMC). The session was moderated by Suman Sengupta, Country Director, Save the Children in Bangladesh. The third session explored “Institutionalising WASH–Nutrition Budgeting and Expenditure Management at LGI Level,” featuring Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Director, BNNC; Md Najmul Huda Shamim, Joint Secretary, LGD; Prashanta Tripura, Country Director, The Hunger Project Bangladesh; Chandan J. Gomez, Senior Director – Operations, World Vision Bangladesh; Dr Md Muhsin Ali, Public Health and Nutrition Specialist; and Mohammad Zobayer Hasan, Deputy Executive Director, DORP. The session was moderated by Dr Md Enamul Haque, Director General, Health Economics Unit, MoHFW. The afternoon’s closing session brought together beneficiaries, Union Parishad chairmen, civil society leaders, and health promotion agents. A “Recognition and Appreciation Award” ceremony honoured partner organisations, local champions, and community innovators for their outstanding contributions. Dr Tarikul Islam thanked all partners and called for continued collaboration to sustain and scale up the achievements of Right to Grow in the years ahead.

All 15 positions on the Board of Directors of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA) have been filled unopposed, with Saiful Islam being reelected  as president for the 2026–2027 term. Alongside him, Md Moniruzzaman, Managing Director and CEO of Prime Bank Securities Ltd, has been elected Senior Vice President and Md Nafiz-Al-Tariq, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank Securities Ltd, has been elected Vice President. The 12 newly elected directors are M Rafiuzzaman Bokhari, Managing Director of A.B. & Company Ltd; Barrister Mohammad Iftekhar Zonaed, Managing Director of SCL Securities Ltd; Md Nadim, Managing Director of RN Trading Ltd; Ahmed Kabir Majumder, Managing Director of Azam Securities Ltd; R.Y. Shamsher, Managing Director of New Era Securities Ltd; Aminul Islam, CEO of One Securities Ltd; Alhaz Nahid Ahmed, Managing Director of GMF Securities Ltd; Nayeem Md Kaiyum, Managing Director of Kaiyum Securities Ltd; Mohammad Ibrahim, Managing Director of Vision Capital Management Ltd; Dr Osman Gani Chowdhury, Managing Director of Expo Traders Ltd; Khandaker Shafiqur Rahim, Managing Director of Phoenix Securities Ltd; and Sharif Ataur Rahman, Managing Director of SAR Securities Ltd. According to DBA sources, the election schedule was announced on August 28. The last date for submission of nomination papers was October 19, when a total of 15 candidates--one for each position--submitted their nominations. After scrutiny, the Election Board declared all nominations valid on November 1. Since no candidate withdrew by the final date for withdrawal, November 3, and the number of valid candidates matched the number of posts, the Election Board declared all 15 candidates elected unopposed in line with the Trade Organization Rules 2025. As a result, no voting was required. The newly elected board members will formally assume their responsibilities at the association’s upcoming Annual General Meeting.    

The Shura-e-Nezam faction of Tablighi Jamaat, who proclaim themselves to be the followers of Maulana Mohammed Zubair, on Monday placed a six-point demand addressing the government ahead of its Ijtema, the annual gathering it hosts on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi each winter. The demands were announced at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club, after it was announced that there may be a change in the timing of the next Ijtema, in view of the security situation surrounding the country's parliamentary election, which the interim government has promised in the first half of February. The Bangladeshi chapter of Tabligh's Ijtema is consistently the largest among all its chapters worldwide, in terms of attendance.  It has traditionally been held in January, broken down in recent years over two weekends, and even more than that, after it became clear that the cracks within the Tablighi movement were irreconcilable. The presence of the two factions at the same spot often led to violence, including last year in the period leading upto the main event.  Addressing today's press conference, Mufti Kefayetullah Azhari, a key leader of the Shura-e-Nezam group, relayed the government's proposal to organise the next Ijtema in March 2026. He also expressed his group's consent to the proposal in principle, as long as it is announced ahead of time. “If the government wants the Ijtema to be organized on its proposed date, the official announcement must be made by December,” Azhari added. Azhari further stated that the followers of Maulana Saad Kandhalwi will not be allowed to hold their congregation on the Tongi Ijtema ground this time. “As per the government’s previous decision, the Saad followers had promised that the last Ijtema would be their final one at the Tongi ground,” he said. Among the six points, the most important seemed to be that Maulana Saad followers not be allowed to organise or attend their Ijtema in Tongi. The Shura e Nezam also called for the declaration of the Tongi Ijtema ground as a temporary Key Point Installation (KPI) for security purposes, and for easing of visa procedures for their foreign guests. They also said the perpetrators of the murder on Ijtema grounds, on the eve of last year's Ijtema, must be brought to justice swiftly. Mentioning Tablighi Jamaat as a symbol of global Muslim unity, Mufti Kefayetullah said the upcoming Ijtema can be held peacefully and successfully with proper government cooperation and security measures. Senior members of the Tabligh’s Shura, Islamic scholars, and administrative representatives were also present at the press conference.