United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested three people in connection with the murder of a 73-year-old woman who was hacked to death while offering prayers at her home in Madhabdi upazila of Narsingdi district. The details were disclosed during a press conference at Madhabdi Police Station on Thursday noon. The arrestees were identified as Hridoy Miah, 27, son of late Harun Miah; Kadir Miah, 27, son of Sayed; and Abu Miah, 29, son of Akman Miah. All three are residents of Swarpanigor village in Meherpara union under Madhabdi area. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md. Ashikur Rahman, the victim, Jahanara Begum,73, was attacked on the verandah of her house on the evening of July 30. Following the incident, the victim's son, Mohammad Ismail Miah, filed a murder case with Madhabdi Police Station. District Detective Police (DB) conducted an investigation using information technology and intelligence, identifying the suspects. Police subsequently arrested Hriday on August 9, Kadir on August 30, and Abu on September 16. They have been sent to jail through a court order. Referencing confessional statements made by the arrestees, police said the suspects had planned the theft seven to eight months prior at a local madrasa to steal the victim's gold chain. On July 30, taking advantage of a power outage, they entered the house while Jahanara was praying. When she recognized them and attempted to resist, they struck her on the head and back with sharp weapons before fleeing with the gold chain. Police added that operations are ongoing to recover the looted gold chain and that Hriday and Kadir have prior criminal records.

Dhaka University Quiz Society (DUQS) organized the “Amber Presents 8th Dhaka University Quiz Fest and Freshers’ Reception” on Thursday bringing together more than 1,100 participants from across the university. DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Admin) Professor Dr. Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane attended the event as the chief guest, while Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Mohammad Kazi Mahbubur Rahman was present as a special guest. The event featured five segments—Inter-Department, Inter-Hall, Inter-Club, Solo Quiz and Novice Quiz. The Inter-Department segment saw 79 teams, while 67 teams participated in the Inter-Hall written round. A total of 436 contestants took part in the Solo Quiz, which offered free registration as part of the society’s freshers’ reception initiative. The Inter-Club segment featured 36 teams, while 74 teams participated in the first round of the Novice Quiz. The final stage of the Novice Quiz featured six teams selected through zonal and semifinal rounds. DUQS President Rodaba Zaman Adrita said the society introduced the Inter-Club segment this year alongside its annual freshers’ reception. The event concluded with an award ceremony, cultural performances and a reception for newly admitted students.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested a man with a foreign-made pistol, four rounds of ammunition and two magazines during an anti-smuggling operation in Shibganj upazila on Thursday. The arrestee was identified as Md Mashiur Rahman. Two motorcycles were also seized. Acting on a tip-off, a special patrol team of Sonamasjid Border Outpost under Mahananda Battalion (59 BGB) conducted a vehicle search in Baliadighi Dhanipara area of Shahbazpur Union around 5:30pm, about one kilometre inside Bangladesh from Border Pillar 185/13-S. Sensing the BGB presence, Mashiur tried to flee. After firing a blank shot, BGB members chased and arrested him. A body search led to the recovery of the arms and ammunition, while another motorcycle was later seized based on information provided by him. Legal proceedings are underway against the arrested man and over the seized items. Mahananda Battalion Commander Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said BGB maintains a zero-tolerance policy against smuggling of arms, ammunition, drugs and other contraband along the border.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday greeted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on his 76th birthday, wishing him good health and high spirit in serving the people of India. In a message posted on his verified X handle at night, Tarique wrote: "Warmest birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wishing you many happy returns of the day. May your dedicated service to the people of India always be accompanied by good health and high spirit."  

A German parliamentary delegation led by Bundestag member Niklas Kappes paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram at his office on Thursday. The delegation included Bundestag members Gerold Otten, Johann Saathoff and Uhle Schaus, while German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Rüdiger Lotz also attended the meeting. The Speaker said Bangladesh and Germany have maintained longstanding friendly relations, noting that the German government had extended support to Bangladesh since the country’s independence. He said Germany is the second-largest destination for Bangladesh’s exports in the European market. Hafiz Uddin said elections had been held in Bangladesh since 1937, but the country had lagged behind in terms of democracy. He said Bangladesh achieved victory in the 1971 Liberation War in its struggle to establish democratic rights, but the people’s aspirations for democracy remained unfulfilled. The Speaker alleged that the Awami League government had undermined democracy and people’s voting rights through three consecutive “farcical” elections. He said a mass uprising led by students and people took place against enforced disappearances, killings, extrajudicial killings and “farcical” elections during the authoritarian rule. Against this backdrop, he said, democracy had been restored through an acceptable and neutral election.  

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has agreed to install around 200 dustbins across the Dhaka University campus, considering the waste management needs of the entire campus, following demands and discussions by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s (JCD) Dhaka University unit. The decision came as part of a series of environment-friendly initiatives undertaken under the themes “Green & Clean Campus First” and “Develop the habit of cleanliness, build a vibrant campus” by JCD. Representatives of Chhatra Dal’s DU unit held a discussion with the university administration at the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Thursday to determine suitable locations for the dustbins and discuss volunteer-based support for cleaning various unhygienic areas on the campus. Speaking at a brief press conference after the meeting, Chhatra Dal DU unit General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon said the DSCC had decided to install 200 dustbins on the campus following their demands and discussions. “As part of our ongoing programs under the ‘Green & Clean Campus First’ theme, the DSCC has decided to install 200 dustbins on the campus in response to our demands and discussions,” he said. He said the meeting also discussed the locations for installing the dustbins and how Chhatra Dal leaders and activists could participate in the DSCC’s volunteer-based cleanliness campaign titled “Clean Day”, scheduled to be held on the Dhaka University campus on October 3. “We discussed in detail how our leaders and activists can participate in the ‘Clean Day’ cleanliness campaign of the Dhaka South City Corporation,” Shipon said. He added that the university teachers responded positively to each of the issues raised during the discussion. “We hope these discussions will continue and produce fruitful results,” he said. Chhatra Dal DU unit President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas said the cleanliness initiative could succeed through coordinated efforts by the university administration, DSCC, teachers, students, officials and employees.

Officer-in-Charge of Cantonment Police Station Md Rakibul Hasan has been withdrawn and attached to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters. The DMP headquarters issued an office order in this regard on Thursday. According to the office order, the decision was taken for administrative reasons. The action came after an audio clip went viral on social media where the OC is allegedly heard criticising the government, administration, Bangladesh Army and the police force.

A total of 99 judges have been transferred and given new postings in a major reshuffle in the judiciary. The transferred judges include 44 district judges, 26 additional district judges, 25 joint district judges, two senior civil judges and two civil judges. The Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued five separate notifications on Thursday in consultation with the Supreme Court. Of the transferred judges, 17 holding the rank of joint district and sessions judge have been appointed as chief legal aid officers. Several district and additional district judges have also been transferred to legal posts in different ministries, the Law and Justice Division, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission Secretariat. The notifications said the transferred judges must hand over charges to the designated officials and join their new workplaces by September 22. Judges currently undergoing training or on leave will join their new workplaces after completing their training or returning from leave.  

Bangladesh’s economic progress must be judged by its impact on people’s lives, speakers said at the Syed Humayun Kabir Memorial Research Symposium 2026, calling for evidence-based policy, stronger public institutions and greater attention to inequality. Delivering the keynote address virtually, internationally acclaimed economist Professor Kaushik Basu said Bangladesh could take a leading role among emerging economies by strengthening fairness, justice, the rule of law and democratic institutions. “GDP is not the only indicator; the real question is how progress translates into wellbeing,” said Professor Basu, a professor of economics at Cornell University and former Chief Economist of the World Bank.  He also warned that the rise of artificial intelligence could create new forms of inequality, making the question of who benefits from progress more urgent. SAJIDA Foundation organised the daylong symposium in partnership with Banglar Pathshala Foundation at Dhaka Sheraton. Centred on the theme “Justice, Capabilities and Wellbeing: Rethinking Human Development for a More Just Bangladesh,” the event brought together researchers, policymakers, academics and development practitioners to consider how research can inform programmes and national policy. SAJIDA Foundation Chairman Farooq Sobhan stressed the importance of sustaining the organisation’s founding values. “Institutions earn public trust through leadership, accountability, and a system built on merit, driven by results,” he said. Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman said improving public education and healthcare would require stronger government revenue. “We need a better tax-to-GDP ratio if government services are to improve,” he said. In her closing remarks, SAJIDA Foundation CEO Zahida Fizza Kabir said the discussions raised questions that would guide the organisation’s work. “How do we translate economic growth into wellbeing? Is inequality rising even as we grow?” she asked. She said SAJIDA would draw on the symposium’s insights as it works to strengthen its systems and carry its founder’s values forward. Inspired by Professor Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, the symposium examined health and livelihoods, urban resilience, climate adaptation, institutional quality and governance. Ahmed Javed Chowdhury, founder of Banglar Pathshala Foundation, delivered the welcome remarks. Dr Sajeda Amin, Sociologist and Demographer and Senior Research Advisor at SAJIDA Foundation, underscored the need to connect research with action. “Doing good research is important, but communicating the research is equally, if not more, important,” she said. The “Leading with Purpose: Governance, Transparency & Accountability” panel was moderated by Barrister Rashna Imam, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Panellists were Farooq Sobhan; M Syeduzzaman; Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh; and Shehzad Munim, Independent Director of Linde Bangladesh Limited. Journalist Farabi Hafiz moderated “Building for Tomorrow: Institutions, Innovation & Quality,” featuring Md Fazlul Kader, Managing Director of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation; Syed S. Kaiser Kabir, MD and CEO of Renata Limited; Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Member of the Board of Trustees of BRAC University; human rights activist Dr Hameeda Hossain; and Dr Firdausi Qadri, Emeritus Scientist at icddr,b and Founding Chairman and Lead of iDeshi. The “Health, Livelihood & Capability Expansion” session featured research presentations by SAJIDA Foundation’s Jyotirmoy Saha and Shamira Mostafa. Dr Kazi Iqbal, Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, chaired the discussion, joined by Professor Dr A. I. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed of the University of Dhaka and Dr Imran Matin, Executive Director of BIGD. At “Agency, Wellbeing & Urban Resilience,” Namira Shameem, Senior Research Associate at the Power and Participation Research Centre, presented research findings. Professor Sabina Faiz Rashid of the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health chaired the session, with Barrister Sajeda Farisa Kabir of SAJIDA Foundation and Kabita Bose of Plan International Bangladesh as panelists. The “Climate Adaptation, Knowledge & Structural Constraints” session opened with a presentation by SAJIDA Foundation Lead Researcher Md Nurul Islam. Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus at BRAC University, chaired the discussion with Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of the Center for Participatory Research and Development, and Professor Shaheen Islam of the University of Dhaka. Barrister Sara Hossain, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and Honorary Executive Director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, moderated the closing session, “From Evidence to Programme and Policy.” Speakers were Dr Shamaruh Mirza of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care; Dr Foara Tasmim Palmy of the Directorate General of Health Services; Dr Leslye Obiora of the University of Arizona; Farah Kabir of ActionAid Bangladesh; Dr Malabika Sarker of Brown University; and physician and entrepreneur Dr Tasnim Jara.

A Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation, led by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, on Thursday held a meeting with Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretary General Stephen Twigg in Cape Town, South Africa, to discuss ways to strengthen parliamentary democracy and enhance the capacity of lawmakers. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, according to a press release. The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including strengthening parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, enhancing lawmakers’ skills and capacity, women’s political empowerment, the Rohingya crisis and expanding cooperation between Bangladesh and the CPA. Stephen Twigg assured the delegation of all necessary cooperation in strengthening the country’s parliamentary institutions and enhancing the capacity of its lawmakers. He said an international four-day training seminar for Bangladeshi lawmakers, featuring experienced parliamentarians, will be organised in Bangladesh in November and that he will personally attend the seminar. The CPA secretary general thanked the Deputy Speaker for including opposition and women lawmakers in the Bangladesh delegation, describing it as a positive example of inclusive and representative parliamentary practice. Highlighting the CPA’s activities aimed at women’s political empowerment, leadership development and increasing women’s effective representation in parliament, he called on Bangladeshi women lawmakers to actively participate in various initiatives of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP). Stephen Twigg also advised Bangladeshi lawmakers to join the online training programmes of the CPA Parliamentary Academy. He said the training programmes will further enrich lawmakers’ knowledge and skills in parliamentary proceedings, legislation, accountability and democratic governance. During the meeting, the CPA chief expressed deep concern over the prolonged Rohingya crisis and humanitarian situation of the Myanmar’s forcibly displaced nationals. He praised Bangladesh’s humanitarian role in hosting a large number of displaced Rohingyas and providing them with assistance over a long period. Stephen Twigg congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and also praised the country’s growing role and stature in the international arena. Kayser Kamal sought continued cooperation from the CPA in advancing parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh and enhancing the capacity of lawmakers. Both sides expressed hope that cooperation between Bangladesh, and the CPA and its UK chapter will deepen further and play an effective role in the country’s democratic and parliamentary progress. Members of the delegation, including lawmakers Humam Quader Chowdhury, Shakila Farzana and Md Mahbubul Alam, and Secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat Barrister Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan, were present at the meeting.