United News of Bangladesh

A Rohingya woman and her daughter were killed in an attack by a herd of wild elephant  in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Thursday. The deceased were identified as Asma Bibi, 27, wife of Md Ekram Mia and their 3-year-old daughter Chemon Ara Begum , residents of Syed Colony in West Khuniapalong under Khuniapalong union. Locals said the elephants entered the locality around 6am, triggering panic among residents. Madrasa teacher Jubairul Islam said hearing noise, Ekram fled with their six-year-old son Rehan Uddin but Asma Bibi and her younger daughter failed to escape and died on the spot. Khuniapalong Union Parishad member Zainal Abedin said the herd consisting of three elephants was highly aggressive, leaving the victims no chance to escape. The elephants later moved toward nearby hills after damaging houses and feeding on fruits. Md Tosaddek Hossain, range officer of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division (Dhoapalong Range), said forest officials drove the elephants back into deep forest and are taking steps to control their movement. Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam Bhuiyan said police visited the scene, completed inquest procedures and handed over the bodies to the family. A case of unnatural death will be filed in this connection, he said .

Three youths were found dead in a remote hilly area at North Shilkhali in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday morning. The deceased were identified as Aminul Islam Robi, 19, son of Ruhul Amin, Mujibur Rahman, 38, son of Nurul Kabir and Nur Bashar, 20, son of Nurul Islam of Baharchhara union of the upazila. Ruhul Amin, father of one of the victims, Robi, said that after being informed by local people, he went to the area and identified his son. A police team rushed to the spot and is conducting a rescue operation, said Durjoy Sarkar, in-charge of Shamlapur police camp. However, the exact cause of their death will be determined after the post-mortem. The matter is being investigated with the highest importance, said ANM Sajedur Rahman, superintendent of Cox’s Bazar Police.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam on Wednesday told the Parliament that the upgradation of Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport will take a few more months. “The upgradation of Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport will take several more months,” she said while replying to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury (Cox’s Bazar-4) in the House. The Minister said that several key steps have already been taken to facilitate the commencement of international flights from the airport. To this end, certification has been obtained from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after ensuring compliance with international rules, regulations, and operational suitability. The runway of Cox’s Bazar Airport has been extended from 9,000 feet to 10,700 feet towards the sea to ensure safe landing and takeoff of large aircrafts at full load, along with enhancing overall operational capacity. A new international terminal building with a 17,955-square metres floor area has been constructed to support international flight operations. The terminal, equipped with all necessary operational facilities, is currently undergoing testing and commissioning, she said.

A student leader of July movement was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in Cox’s Bazar late Tuesday night. The deceased was Khorshed Alam, son of Shah Alam of  Isulur Ghona area of Cox’s Bazar, a local leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and a student coordinator. According to police and witnesses, a group of unidentified attackers swooped on Khorshed around 10:30pm while he was at Kobita Chattar area and stabbed him multiple times, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital by his friend Shah Alam and fellow studentswhere doctors declared him dead. Hospital sources said several stab wounds were found on his abdomen and legs. Police took into custody a female coordinator, identified as Tarin, who was accompanying him at the time, for questioning. The killing has sparked tension  in Cox’s Bazar town with leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal and other organisations gathering in front of the hospital upon hearing the news. Around 12:30am, agitated activists of Cox’s Bazar district Chhatra Dal brought out a protest procession , demanding immediate identification and arrest of those responsible. Officer-in-Charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Shamim Uddin said efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved.  

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh is set to launch a three-day post-Eid coastal clean-up awareness campaign in Cox’s Bazar from March 24-26. The initiative, with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation and in collaboration with the Cox’s Bazar District Administration and local partners, is being implemented under the Plastic Circularity Project. The campaign aims to reduce the surge of plastic waste generated on the beach during the Eid holiday period, promote responsible waste management practices, and protect the marine ecosystem and tourism economy of the world’s longest natural sea beach, said the UN agency on Monday. The official inauguration will take place on March 24 at 11am at Laboni Point, Cox’s Bazar, with activities spanning both Laboni and Sugandha points. The event will be attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Md. A. Mannan; Administrator of Cox’s Bazar Municipality, Md. Shamsul Al Imran; Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, Sardar M. Asaduzzaman; along with other distinguished guests. The campaign will feature a series of activities, including awareness rallies, direct engagement with tourists, businesses, shop owners, and hotel operators, as well as the installation of new waste bins at key entry points. Each day, 30 youth volunteers and 20 sanitation workers will be deployed on the ground to collect, sort, and measure plastic waste, ensuring its handover to local recyclers. As part of longer-term support, a total of 30 waste bins will be formally handed over to the Tourist Police. Through this initiative, UNDP Bangladesh and its partners expect to see a visible reduction in plastic waste on the beach following Eid, increased public awareness, and strengthened coordination among stakeholders involved in tourism and waste management.

Police recovered the bodies of a young man and a young woman from a beach along the Marine Drive road in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday. One of the bodies was found near Uttar Lombrori and another near Mitapani Chhara boat terminal areas. Locals spotted the bodies and informed police who recovered the bodies, said Saiful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Cox’s Bazar Model Police Station. ‘Stray bullets’ leave 2 teenagers injured near Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar Police are working to identify the deceased and determine the cause of death, said the OC.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said it continues to work closely with sector partners to scale up assistance and address urgent and evolving needs, stressing that fire risks remain high in the Rohingya camps. While immediate assistance continues, the latest incident underscores the persistent fire risks facing refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar, which hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, it said. The fire risks remain high, particularly during the dry season, due to the dense layout of the camps and the use of highly flammable materials in temporary shelters, IOM said. It launched an emergency response following a large fire in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar early Tuesday morning. Read more: Canada reaffirms commitment to dignity and justice for Rohingya Relief efforts are being carried out in close coordination with the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian partners to ensure timely and appropriate assistance to affected families. “When fires strike in overcrowded camp settings, the impact extends far beyond damaged infrastructure,” said Lance Bonneau, IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh. “Families lose shelter, essential belongings, and access to basic services, increasing immediate protection risks. Our response is guided by a clear responsibility to protect lives, uphold dignity and ensure that those affected receive assistance quickly and safely, so families can begin to regain a sense of normalcy.” The fire affected more than 2,000 refugees, causing extensive damage to shelters and camp-based facilities. No fatalities or major injuries have been reported.  More than 400 shelters were damaged and camp infrastructure was severely impacted, including over 160 water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities such as water points and latrines, as well as 11 learning centres and two mosques. Beyond the destruction of shelters, the fire also destabilized the hillside terrain on which much of the camp is constructed, damaging drainage networks and public infrastructure, and increasing risks related to access and erosion. After the fire was contained, IOM deployed health teams and ambulances to support those with minor injuries and worked with partners to rapidly assess damage and immediate needs. Building on these assessments, IOM and its partners rapidly deployed specialized teams in shelter, WASH, and protection to support affected families. Within 24 hours of the incident, IOM’s camp management team, together with refugee volunteers, cleared debris from the fire-affected areas to restore safe access for emergency assistance and essential services. Over 49.5 lakh Bangladeshis internally displaced by natural disasters: IOM In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), emergency food assistance was provided, while affected households received emergency shelter assistance, blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, and portable solar lights. Following previous devastating fires, including the March 2021 incident that displaced 45,000 people, IOM and humanitarian partners have continued to strengthen refugee-led emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to enable faster, safer, and more effective action when hazards occur.

A young man lost his right leg in a landmine explosion along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday. The incident occurred around 10:30 am in the Hauserdip area of the Hoikkhong Lombabil border under Teknaf upazila, police said. The victim was identified as Mohammad Hanif, 22, son of Md Fazlul Haque of Lombabil under Ward No. 3 of Hoikkhong union. According to family members, Hanif went to a shrimp enclosure in the border area to catch fish when a landmine buried in the embankment exploded. The blast severed his right leg at the ankle and caused serious injuries to his left leg. Minor girl struck in cross-border gunfire in Cox’s Bazar Fazlul Haque said his son was rescued around noon with the help of locals and taken to the MSF Hospital in Kutupalong for treatment. Confirming the incident, sub-inspector Khokon Kanti Rudra, in-charge of Hoikkhong Police Outpost, said a landmine planted near the Bangladesh–Myanmar border exploded, leaving the youth injured. The injured was sent to hospital for medical treatment, he added.

A man killed as a fire that broke out on a St Martin’s Island-bound cruise ship at BIWTA jetty in Cox’s Bazar town on Saturday morning. The deceased was identified as Nur Kamal, 25, a staff of the vessel. Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners' Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), said the fire broke out at the anchored the vessel,  Atlantic Cruise, around 7 am at the BIWTA jetty in Nuniachhara of Cox’s Bazar district town. “Smoke was seen billowing from inside the vessel and, within a short span, flames became visible,” he said. The fire erupted before any passengers had boarded the vessel. Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tanjila Sharmin said the fire incident occurred in the presence of the officials of the local administration who were stationed at the jetty area to monitor the boarding of tourists as per the government directives. Rooftop warehouse of shopping complex catches fire at Gulistan   On receiving information, three firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze. The vessel was completely damaged by the fire. They also recovered the charred body of the  staff of the vessel from it, he said. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Cox’s Bazar Md Shahidul Alam said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. A probe body was formed to look into the fire, he said adding some 180 passengers were supposed to go to Saint Martin by the ship. Bus set on fire after pedestrian killed in Cumilla  

The government of Bangladesh has taken a project aimed at strengthening the resilience and livelihoods of poor and marginal communities in Cox’s Bazar, one of Bangladesh’s most disaster-prone districts,  through sustainable, nature-based solutions. The project, titled “PRO-ACT Bangladesh – Resilience Strengthening through Agri-Food Systems Transformation in Cox’s Bazar,” will be implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture and is set to run until June, 2028. With an estimated cost of Tk 53.01 crore, fully funded by foreign grants, the project seeks to improve food and income security, promote sustainable agriculture, and reduce disaster risks in four upazilas — Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ramu, Ukhiya, and Teknaf. Under the initiative, 10,000 farmers will receive training and input support to cultivate nutrient-rich crops, while 600 families involved in aquaculture will be trained in modern fish-farming techniques. Besides, 1,050 farmers will be supported in toxin-free dry fish processing including branding and market access development. Read more: Access to credit for agri sector can enhance food security: Bangladesh Bank Governor The project also envisions creating five agricultural aggregation centres to boost market connectivity and promote ICT-based agricultural extension services. Local service providers and farmers’ groups will be trained on financial literacy, digital tools, and business planning to improve access to agricultural credit and strengthen value chains. To enhance disaster preparedness, communities will receive training on the Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) and crop-based land use maps will be developed to integrate disaster risk reduction into agricultural planning. According to the Planning Commission, the project will play a pivotal role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and addressing the environmental degradation worsened by the Rohingya refugee influx — including deforestation, land erosion, and waterlogging. Funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Forest Department, and Department of Fisheries, PRO-ACT Bangladesh focuses on restoring ecosystems and strengthening the adaptive capacities of vulnerable populations. With a target to reach more than 54,000 beneficiaries, including smallholder farmers, women, and marginalised groups, the initiative aims to transform Cox’s Bazar’s agri-food systems through climate-smart agriculture, sustainable resource management, and inclusive economic opportunities. Officials said the project aligns with Bangladesh’s long-term climate adaptation goals and underscores the government’s commitment to building a resilient future in the face of worsening climate challenges. Read more: Bangladesh's food security at risk as farmland shrinks by 3.75 percent in 8 Years: BBS Survey Cox’s Bazar is facing frequent exposure to a wide range of natural hazards and extreme weather conditions such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, landslides, flash floods and  storm surges. In recent years, the district has been particularly vulnerable to recurring landslides and cyclones. The severity of these disasters is worsened by widespread poverty and the limited coping capacity of local communities — with about 33 percent of the district’s population living below the poverty line, according to UNDP. Since 2017, Cox’s Bazar has also hosted around one million Rohingya refugees, which has significantly increased the population at risk. The influx has contributed to new environmental and safety challenges, including deforestation, hill-cutting, and mounting pressure on infrastructure. Because of overcrowded settlements, hilly terrain, and temporary housing conditions, Rohingya families are particularly susceptible to severe weather events. Read more: Dream project derails; Khulna-Mongla railway struggles without freight flow