United News of Bangladesh

The European Union has decided to suspend retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods that were set to take effect Monday, in a bid to reach a trade agreement with the Trump administration by the end of the month. “This is now the time for negotiations,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels on Sunday, following a letter from President Donald Trump announcing new U.S. tariffs of 30% on goods from the EU and Mexico, effective August 1. The EU, the United States’ largest trading partner and the world’s biggest trading bloc, had planned to implement “countermeasures” starting Monday at midnight Brussels time (6 p.m. EDT). Trade negotiations on behalf of the EU’s 27 member states are handled by the European Commission. Von der Leyen said the EU would delay implementing those measures until August 1, noting that Trump's letter “shows that we have until the first of August” to strike a deal. European leaders have been urging both sides to allow more time for negotiations. Trump plans to hike tariffs on Canadian goods to 35% “We have always been clear that we prefer a negotiated solution,” she said. “If no deal is reached, we will continue to prepare countermeasures so we are fully prepared.” Speaking alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, von der Leyen also emphasized the need to diversify the EU’s trade relationships, citing ongoing tensions with the U.S. Trump has argued that global tariffs are essential to address a U.S. trade deficit he considers a national security threat. The EU-U.S. trade relationship was valued at €1.7 trillion ($2 trillion) in 2024, according to Eurostat, with major European exports including pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. EU trade ministers are set to meet Monday to review trade ties with the U.S. and China.

Traffic congestions are expected in several areas of Dhaka on Tuesday (May 6) as BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is set to return from London, police officials said. Party leaders and activists are set to stand along the route from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Gulshan to welcome her, causing significant gatherings. According to BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Khaleda Zia is scheduled to arrive at the airport at 10:30am by air ambulance. Khaleda to reach Dhaka at 10:30am Tuesday He shared the information during an emergency press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office on Sunday. The BNP has assigned its different wings to designated spots along the route. Dhaka North BNP will be positioned from the airport to Le Meridien Hotel; Chhatra Dal from Le Meridien to Khilkhet; Jubo Dal from Khilkhet to Radisson Hotel; and Dhaka South BNP from Radisson to Army Stadium. The Swechchhasebak Dal will be stationed from Army Stadium to Banani graveyard; Krishak Dal from the graveyard to Kakoli intersection; and Sramik Dal from Kakoli to Banani Sheraton. Olama Dal, Tanti Dal, JASAS, and Matsyajibi Dal will occupy the area from Sheraton to Banani kitchen market. The Muktijoddha Dal and other professional bodies will position themselves from the kitchen market to Gulshan-2. Mohila Dal, along with members of the BNP’s National Executive Committee, will stand along Gulshan Avenue, from the Gulshan-2 roundabout. Party members have been instructed to stand on one side of the road holding party and national flags. They are not allowed to walk or ride motorcycles alongside Khaleda Zia’s motorcade. Entry to the airport and her residence has also been restricted. Asked about traffic measures, Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Traffic Gulshan division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “There could be large gatherings from the airport to Gulshan on Tuesday. “A meeting has already been held to prepare for this. All necessary steps will be taken to ensure smooth traffic flow. However, if disruption occurs, alternative measures will be implemented,” he said, adding specific alternative plans are yet to be finalised.  

The Traffic Department  of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has filed 2,728 cases in two days till Friday during a special drive against traffic rules violation in the capital. The operations were conducted on Thursday and Friday when 125 vehicles were dumped and 51 were towed for serious rules violations, according to a DMP release issued on Saturday.  Biman bomb threat came from Pakistani number: DMP The DMP's Traffic Department  reiterated that similar drives will continue to ensure discipline on the city’s roads and to promote adherence to traffic regulations.

Traffic congestion in Narayanganj city is becoming increasingly severe as many drivers, including those of private cars, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and human haulers, continue to flout road rules. To avoid the daily gridlocks, some drivers are choosing to travel in the opposite direction creating new traffic jams. In addition, the situation is worsened by illegal vehicles parked along the roads, which are narrowing the streets. This traffic problem has been affecting city residents year-round, with major roads such as Bangabandhu Road, Shayesta Khan Road, Nawab Sirajuddaula Road, and the Dhaka-Narayanganj Old Road experiencing frequent jams. Several factors including ongoing roadwork, illegal parking, hawkers blocking footpaths, and illegal vehicle stands, contribute to the congestion. During a recent visit to the area, it was observed that renovation work is underway along Bangabandhu Road, with piles of gravel, soil, bricks, and stones blocking parts of the road. Govt intensifies efforts to improve Dhaka's traffic management As a result, one lane between Nitaiganj and Chashara is now unusable. At Rail Gate No. 2, traffic from Chashara is also being held up by ongoing construction, causing a queue that stretches back to Digubabur Bazar. Auto-rickshaws and human haulers have been going in the wrong direction from Narayanganj Club towards Rail Gate No. 2, picking up passengers and slowing down the already blocked traffic. Auto-rickshaw drivers said that rather than wait for long periods in traffic, they prefer to drive on the opposite side of the road, believing it will allow them to drop off passengers faster. Siam Ahmed, a government employee, said that the lack of following traffic laws is making the situation worse. He said that illegal parking and hawkers have already made it difficult to navigate the roads. The additional issue of vehicles travelling in the wrong direction is adding to the chaos, and the risk of accidents is increasing. He urged the police and local authorities to take strict action to restore order on roads. A local pedestrian, Rifat, mentioned that vehicles often drive the wrong way near Popular Diagnostic Center, Friends Market in Kalir Bazar, and Rail Gate No. 2, which leads to traffic jams and frequent quarrels between drivers. Delay in Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road expansion causes severe traffic disruptions Ruhul Amin Sagar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic), said that road renovation projects are causing some of the congestion. He said that renovation work is underway on various roads in the city. Drain renovation work is underway towards Rail Gate No. 2. Almost half of the road is occupied with soil, bricks, stones, and machinery, he added. He also noted that work by DPDC in Chashara has resulted in soil being dumped in the area, further restricting traffic. To address the issue, traffic police are conducting operations with the army, magistrates, and local authorities, issuing fines, making arrests, and taking action against violators. Despite these efforts, many drivers continue to disregard traffic laws. He mentioned that since August last year, many have been ignoring traffic rules and regulations, with cars that were previously prohibited from entering the city now being driven there. However, the officer remains hopeful that once the roadwork is completed, the situation will improve and road order will be restored.

The Traffic Department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has filed 2,085 cases for traffic rule violations during a special drive conducted across the capital. During the drive 81 vehicles were dumped and three others were towed, said Deputy Commissioner (media) of DMP Talebur Rahman on Wednesday. The drive was conducted on Tuesday by eight traffic divisions of the DMP to ensure traffic discipline, he said. The operations of DMP will continue to ensure traffic discipline. DMP files 1702 cases for traffic rules violation

 The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has filed 2,678 cases for traffic law violation during  drives conducted in different areas of the capital on Thursday and Friday.   As part of the operation, 77 vehicles were dumped, and 94 others were wrecked.  The drives were carried out to ensure adherence to traffic regulation and maintain discipline on the roads.  DMP's Traffic Division has announced that such operations will continue to uphold traffic discipline in s Dhaka Metropolitan area.

Traders at the Jatrabari wholesale kitchen market are running business directly on the highway, narrowing a vital thoroughfare and creating significant challenges for pedestrians and vehicles. A visit to the area by the UNB correspondent reveals a chaotic scene where vehicles transporting vegetables frequently load and unload on the road from midnight onwards. Private cars remain parked on much of the highway throughout the day, aggravating the congestion. In the afternoons, a makeshift wholesale kitchen market operates on the road, blatantly violating traffic regulations. Vegetables and fish are sold here, further contributing to disorder and disruption. For the traders, occupying the road seems to have become the norm. “We operate our businesses with proper permissions. Customers appreciate the convenience of finding us on the roadside and enjoy wholesale rates on essential items,” claimed Rahim, a vegetable trader. Circular Waterway Project around Dhaka fades amid neglect, poor planning But these practices have led to severe traffic problems. Wholesalers distribute goods to other parts of the country from this road, causing consistent gridlock. One wholesaler dismissed concerns, advising reporters to focus on other matters and claiming no complaints had been received about their operations. Regular commuters, however, paint a different picture. Abu Bakr, a private job holder who travels through the area daily, described the experience as “hellish,” particularly during the summer. “Police and the administration witness this chaos every day but remain completely indifferent,” he said. Veteran driver Abdul Halim, who has navigated the Dhaka-Comilla route for over two decades, shared his frustration. “Crossing just half a kilometre in the Jatrabari kitchen market area can take more than 30 minutes due to the mismanagement. Both sides of the road are problematic,” he said. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dhaka South City Corporation Mizanur Rahman told UNB that they have taken all measures to hand over the shops to the traders as soon as possible. " We have already discussed the issues in our recent meeting. It will be solved immediately to bring the discipline in the kitchen market," he said. The Jatrabari wholesale kitchen market was one of three such facilities built by Dhaka City Corporation to relocate traders from Karwan Bazar. Completed in 2015, the four-storey market on five bighas of land was designed to accommodate 895 shops. BB drafting separate rules for Islamic banking; ‘bankers divided’ But the facility remains largely unused. Traders operating in open spaces have refused to move into the market, citing difficulties in conducting their business from within the building. The abandoned structure has since become a hotspot for drug addicts. The third and fourth floors lie vacant, and parts of the second floor are being used as a garage for rickshaw vans. In the middle of the building, darkness prevails even during daylight hours. Many shop shutters have been stolen, and some units are filled with waste from the fish market. Dhaka’s two city corporations have officially approved 64 kitchen markets across the capital, but countless unauthorised markets continue to spring up, particularly at major intersections. These illegal establishments are often backed by influential local groups. Traders at such markets argue they pay rent comparable to legal markets but remain silent about who receives these payments. Critics point out that much of Bangladesh’s marketing sphere, including kitchen markets, is controlled by powerful financial syndicates. Even in regulated markets, government-imposed pricing is frequently ignored. Customers’ lack of awareness and indifference often make enforcement ineffective, leaving buyers at the mercy of fluctuating prices.

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 1,799 cases during operations against traffic rule violators in the last two days in various areas of the capital. Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, shared this information in a media release on Saturday afternoon. During the operations, 52 vehicles were impounded, and 58 others were towed. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) carried out the operations on Thursday and Friday (Dec 12 and 13). The DMP's drives will continue to enforce traffic regulations in the Dhaka metropolitan area, Rahman added.  

The drivers of battery-powered rickshaws blocked roads in different parts of the capital on Thursday morning, protesting a ban on their movement in city streets. The roads include Mohakhali, Basila Dhaka Uddyan, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-12, Kazipara, Shewrapara and Mirpur Golchattar and Agargaon areas of the capital. Commuters have been experiencing a gridlock in different parts of the capital following the blockade programme. JU student dies in rickshaw accident, protests erupt for justice Besides, the rail communication between Dhaka and other parts of the country got snapped as the protesting drivers blocked the rail tracks in Mohakhali area at the same time, causing immense sufferings to travellers.

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 2,131 cases and imposed fines totalling Tk 77,65,500 during operations targeting traffic rule violations on Wednesday. The fines were for various offences, including speeding, illegal parking, and driving without the necessary documentation or safety measures, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, in a media release on Wednesday. In addition, 240 vehicles were seized and impounded, while 68 others were towed due to poor driving practices, he added.