United News of Bangladesh

Local Government and Rural Development Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan carried a magazine mistakenly to the airport but it was not from an AK-47 rifle, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday. “It was a magazine, not an AK-47,” he said responding to questions from reporters after a meeting of the law and order core committee at the Secretariat. How it went undetected during the initial airport screening is currently under investigation, he said. Earlier on Saturday, a firearm's magazine containing a single bullet was recovered from the travel bag of adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Magazine containing bullet found in Asif Mahmud's travel bag at Shahjalal; from licensed firearm, he says The incident went viral on social media after the UK-based Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer posted a video shot on the airport's security cameras, sparking uproar. The authorities, however, have been instructed to exercise greater caution moving forward. Referring to the meeting, the adviser said preparations are underway to ensure that the events in July and August are held smoothly and without disruption. Responding to another question, the Home adviser said there is currently no specific threat centering the July-August observances. Asking about the recent rape incident in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla, the adviser said law enforcement agencies have taken swift action against those involved in it. The 25-year-old woman was reportedly raped at Ramchandrapur Panchkitta village in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla on the night of June 26. The video footage of the torture incident went viral in the social networking sites on June 28 (Saturday).  

Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan on Tuesday announced the construction of 13 ten-storey buildings and one six-storey building to ensure housing facilities for the Harijan community in Dhaka. He made the announcement while speaking at a views-exchange meeting titled “Improving the Living Standards of the Oppressed Harijan Community,” organised by the Somaj Kallyan Jubo Songho in Hazaribagh, Dhaka. According to the adviser, two ten-storey buildings will be built in the Ghanakutuli Sweeper Colony, two in the Miranjilla Sweeper Colony, nine in the Dhalpur area, and one six-storey building in the Postogola area. BUET to host country's first Renewable Energy Festival from Wednesday Each building will feature one floor dedicated as a school for the education of children from the Harijan community. He further said that small playgrounds will be developed in these residential areas to keep children away from drugs and criminal activities. The Ministry of Youth and Sports will also send sports equipment for the children of the community, he added. Adviser Asif also said that strict directives have been issued to law enforcement agencies to curb drug abuse in these areas. Additionally, he instructed Dhaka South City Corporation officials to initiate a new project for constructing modern buildings for two temples in Hazaribagh. The project will also include measures to prevent the temple premises from being submerged during the rainy season. Land-based LNG terminal near Matarbari to be implemented under PPP To address unemployment within the community, the adviser said vacant posts at various city corporations will be filled with eligible candidates from the Harijan community as a priority. He expressed hope that one day the word “oppressed” would no longer be needed on banners, as everyone will work together to build a healthy and inclusive city—like one big family.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan said on Wednesday that Bangladesh is now fully independent and that its citizens will never feel enslaved on this land again. "The country is now fully independent. The bloody people’s uprising of February 24 protected the independence we gained in 1971. This independence will remain in the days to come. Never again will the people of this country feel enslaved on an independent land,” he told reporters after paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar on the occasion Independence and National Day. 1971 and 24 are naturally interlinked: Nahid Islam He reflected on the significance of the 1971 Liberation War, saying, "1971 gave birth to the country, which is why we have gained independence. We believe that the successful people’s uprising of the July Revolution of 24th February protected that independence. As a result, the fascists fled. The country is now fully independent, in exchange for blood." The adviser spoke about the concept of independence in the past 16 years. He said that despite the struggle for independence, the essence of that independence had been undermined in recent years. There’s nothing like ‘2nd independence’ in sovereign Bangladesh: Mirza Abbas "We believe that until every citizen of the country feels that they are free, that they have freedom of speech, and freedom of expression, there is no benefit in a land being independent. We believe that 24th February protected that independence. The self-sacrifice of the student masses has completed that independence,” he said.

Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan said on Saturday that there would be no gender-based discrimination in New Bangladesh following the July Uprising. The adviser said that women's presence at all levels would be guaranteed to ensure the success of the major reform programmes undertaken by the government. He made the remarks during the "Best Self-reliant Women Award 2025" event, organised by LGED in Dhaka, marking International Women's Day 2025 at LGED Bhaban. Sajeeb Bhuiyan, also adviser to Youth and Sports, said that it is now widely recognised that preventing women from participating in power and decision-making processes hinders the development progress of the entire nation, particularly when women make up about 51 percent of the country's population. FAO introduces improved fish drying technology in Bangladesh He also said that just as independence was achieved through the combined efforts of men and women, a new victory was realised in 2024. In the post-July uprising, however, some individuals are attempting to disrupt security by exploiting religion and negatively portraying women's clothing and behaviour. He called on law enforcement agencies to take strong action against the wrongdoers, and assured that exemplary punishment would be ensured in recent cases of rape involving women and children. The local government adviser also expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the 10 women honoured with the Best Self-Reliant Women Award. “It's completely contrary to ‘New Bangladesh’ dream”: Dr Yunus about attacks on women He urged them to inspire other women, encouraging them to turn their lives around as they had done.   The adviser also urged the officials concerned to prioritize increasing the number of women involved in all LGED activities.

LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has said the government is moving away from a submissive foreign policy towards India. Instead, the foundation of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will now be based on equality and justice, he said at the closing ceremony of a training workshop in Cumilla on Wednesday. 'Tarunner Utsab' aims to rebuild nation and strengthen unity: Asif Mahmud Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA) organized the workshop titled "Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Financial Inclusion & Rural Transformation" Saif Uddin Ahmed, director general of BRDA, chaired the closing ceremony. "After the July Uprising, the Interim Government has moved away from a submissive foreign policy with India; the bilateral relations between the two countries will now be built on the basis of equality and justice,” said Asif. Govt committed to ensuring cost-effective, high-quality energy: Rizwana He also expressed strong discontent over the attack at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India’s Agartala, saying that the Interim Government had officially protested over the matter. The adviser reiterated that national development could be achieved through financial inclusion and rural development. He lauded the event by LGRD ministry, BRDA, and the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (ARDO), encouraging more such programs and expressed his optimism that participants would use the knowledge gained to contribute to rural development. Cumilla to be made division soon: Asif Mahmud  

There are no legal barriers for cricketer Shakib Al Hasan to return to Bangladesh, said Asif Mahmood Sojib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Tuesday.“There are currently no legal obstacles to Shakib Al Hasan coming to the country,” said Asif. We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of every player, and we will do it,” he said while speaking at the “BSRF Exchange of Views” event at the media centre of the Secretariat. Shakib Al Hasan ‘sorry for silence’ during student movement He further explained that he had sought clarity on the legal situation over Shakib's potential return, given the ongoing murder case against him.When asked whether Shakib would be arrested upon his arrival, Asif said, “Legal matters are legal matters; I cannot comment on that. The case is sub judice, and the Ministry of Law is the appropriate authority to address any concerns related to it.”“If the court issues any order that are a matter for the court. So far, there are no legal barriers,” he said. BFIU seeks bank account information of Shakib Al Hasan, his wife BSRF General Secretary Masudul Haque conducted the session, while Fosiha Uddin Mahtab presided over the event.

Youth and Sports Affairs Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan on Wednesday stressed the need for building social awareness to restore order on the streets. “We could not yet create awareness among our people. You should abide by traffic rules and laws. We don’t follow traffic light signals in most cases. We will have to build social awareness in this regard,” he said. The adviser made the remark while addressing the inaugural session of a workshop (phase-II) on traffic management and social awareness at the auditorium of the National Sports Council in the city’s Purana Paltan area. The Youth Development Department arranged the workshop to impart training to some 2,100 youths in phases. Committee to address labor issues and complaints formed: Adviser Asif Pointing at the trainees, Asif asked them to play a strong role in building social awareness over traffic rules and signals. He hoped that the trainees would gather field-level experiences from this training. Asif thanked the youth as they have been helping the government and traffic police to restore order on the streets since August 5 last. Youth and Sports Secretary Rezaul Maksud Jahedi also spoke at the function presided over by Director General of Youth Development Department Dr. Gazi Md. Saifuzzaman.