United News of Bangladesh

Four people have been detained in Istanbul for publishing a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad, which authorities say insults religious values. The arrests follow an investigation launched by Istanbul prosecutors into the alleged "public insult to religious values." The controversial cartoon appeared in the June 26 issue of satirical magazine Leman, referencing the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions and showing the Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses shaking hands over a devastated cityscape. The cartoon triggered widespread anger. Videos shared on social media show large crowds demonstrating outside Leman's Istanbul office, with some protesters attempting to enter the building by force. Fahrettin Altun, Türkiye's Communications Director, denounced the publication on social platform X, vowing that those who "shamelessly attack the sacred values of our nation" would face consequences. “This insult to our Prophet, who is the ultimate guide for Muslims, cannot be justified under the guise of press freedom,” Altun stated, calling the cartoon the product of a "sick mentality" that will be brought to justice. DU students protest BJP spokespersons’ derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad He urged the public to act with restraint and warned against provocations. Altun also assured that all state institutions are taking appropriate steps to address what he described as "this despicable attack on our faith and values." Additional security has been deployed around the magazine’s premises to prevent any untoward incidents, officials said. Depictions of prophets, including Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses — both revered in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — are strictly prohibited in Islamic tradition. Source: Anadolu 

What began as social media calls to avoid traveling to Turkey has snowballed into a major diplomatic fallout, with India suspending ties with Turkish businesses and academic institutions following Ankara’s backing of Pakistan in recent India-Pakistan tensions. The flashpoint came after Turkey vocally supported Pakistan following deadly clashes in Kashmir. In response, India has revoked security clearance for Turkish ground-handling company Celebi, effectively banning it from operating at Indian airports. The firm, which operated at hubs like Delhi and Mumbai, denies any wrongdoing and plans to challenge the decision. India’s aviation ministry confirmed the action was driven by national security concerns and widespread public demand. Minister of State for Aviation stated on X that the government acted to “protect national interests.”  Police probe theft of Melania Trump statue in her Slovenian hometown Several top Indian universities, including JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia, have also suspended collaborations with Turkish institutions. Backlash intensified online after reports claimed Turkish drones may have been used by Pakistan against Indian forces. Politicians like Rajeev Chandrasekhar echoed public sentiment, urging citizens not to spend “hard-earned rupees” in countries aiding India’s adversaries. Travel behavior has shifted sharply—bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan have dropped by 60%, and cancellations have surged by 250%, according to MakeMyTrip. Travel agencies are scaling back on trips to these destinations, fearing social media backlash and business losses. In 2024, over 330,000 Indians visited Turkey, a rise from the previous year, though they made up less than 1% of its total foreign tourists. Azerbaijan, with nearly 9% Indian arrivals, may feel a bigger hit.  2 dead and at least 3 injured in Las Vegas gym shooting, police say Despite boycott momentum, no major alternative destinations have seen a noticeable boost yet, with travel sites like Cleartrip reporting stable demand for other options such as Greece.

The number of suspects detained in connection with the deadly hotel fire at a ski resort rose to 14 on Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday. Erdogan also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that anyone who may have caused the blaze by prioritizing profit over safety is brought to justice. The fire, which tore through the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel, in Kartalkaya, in northwestern Bolu province early Tuesday, trapped many of the registered 238 guests inside, leaving 78 people dead and dozens of others injured. It struck at the start of a two-week winter break for schools, and 36 of the victims were children, local media reports said. The tragedy, which saw guests and staff jump out of windows to escape smoke and flame-filled rooms or dangle sheets out of windows to lower themselves out, sent shockwaves across Turkey and sparked widespread calls for accountability into negligence and safety violations. At least 66 dead, 51 injured in Turkey hotel fire “Those who caused our nation this great pain due to mistakes, negligence, irregularities and greed will definitely be held accountable to the courts,” Erdogan said in an address to his governing party’s local congress in the southern city of Malatya. A total of 14 people have been taken into custody as part of the investigation into the fire, including the hotel’s owner, staff members and three people from the Bolu mayor’s office, Erdogan said. His government has traded accusations of blame with the Bolu municipality, which is controlled by Turkey’s main opposition party. Eight of the suspects were scheduled to appear before prosecutors to face possible charges, HaberTurk television said. They include the hotel’s owner and managers, the acting Bolu fire chief, a retired architect and kitchen staff, the station reported. The blaze appeared to have started at the restaurant section on the fourth floor of the wooden-clad hotel and spread quickly to the upper floors, reports said. Witness accounts have pointed to a lack of proper safety systems at the establishment, including fire alarms, sprinklers and adequate emergency exits. Turkey continued to hold funerals for the victims on Friday, including for 6-year-old Dila Inal and her 8-year-old sister, Ela, who were buried in Istanbul along with their 44-year-old mother, Defne Arkadas Inal. Their Georgian nanny, Laura Kurtanidze, who also perished in the fire, would be buried in a ceremony in Georgia.

At least 76 people died, and 51 others were injured when a fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, a popular ski destination in Turkey’s Bolu province, reports AP. The fire started in the restaurant area on the fourth floor and quickly spread upwards. The blaze occurred just before schools were set to begin their winter break, a time when local hotels are fully booked. At least 66 dead, 51 injured in Turkey hotel fire Esra Karakisa and Halime Cetin, friends who were at a nearby hotel, were left in shock as they witnessed people trapped in smoke-filled rooms, crying for help, and some deciding to jump from windows to escape the flames. Cetin, who works at a hotel next door, recalled, "There was no one there to help. They were screaming for firefighters, breaking windows. Some couldn’t stand the smoke or fire and leapt out." Karakisa added, "It was terrifying. We were horrified, especially by the children's screams. We wanted to help, but there was nothing we could do. It was too frightening to watch." Six prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the cause of the fire. The hotel, a wooden structure, had been inspected in 2021 and 2024, and no fire safety concerns were noted. Nine people have been detained for questioning, including the hotel owner. Explosion at in Northwest Turkey leaves 12 dead Flags were lowered to half-staff as Turkey observed a national day of mourning for the victims. As of late Tuesday, only 45 of the 76 bodies had been identified. One of the injured remains in critical condition, and 29 others were treated and discharged. The hotel had 238 registered guests, and the fire was reported at 3:27 a.m., with firefighters arriving at 4:15 a.m. Authorities noted that the hotel’s location on the side of a cliff complicated rescue efforts. Karakisa later helped by providing clothes and water to the survivors, while others tried to assist by setting up mattresses or leaning ladders against the wall for those inside to escape. Syrians line up at Turkish border crossing, awaiting return home Among the rescuers was Baris Salgur, a cleaner at a nearby hotel. He recalled, "People were crying for help, saying, 'We’re burning!' We tried to calm them down, but there was nothing we could do. We couldn’t reach them." Salgur described the heart-wrenching moment when two women jumped from the top floor after the flames reached their room. He also witnessed a man with a baby on the top floor, desperately asking for a mattress to cushion his fall. Sadly, the baby died from smoke inhalation before the fire department arrived to rescue them.

A fire at a hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday killed at least 66 people, Turkey's Interior Minister said. Ali Yerlikaya said at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster. “We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” Yerlikaya told reporters after inspecting the site. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in serious condition. The fire broke out at around 3:30am in the restaurant of the 12-story Grand Kartal hotel in the resort of Kartalkaya in Bolu province, officials and reports said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Two of the victims died after jumping from the building in a panic, Gov. Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency. Private NTV television said some people tried to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets. Landslides, flash floods in Indonesia kill 17, missing 8 There were 234 guests staying at the hotel, Aydin said. Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire erupted and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel. He said the hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to locate the fire escape. “I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,” the ski instructor told the station. Television images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel on fire. Witnesses and reports said the hotel’s fire detection system failed to operate. “My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,” Atakan Yelkovan, a guest staying on the third floor of the hotel, told the IHA news agency. “We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here (outside),” he said. Yelkovan said it took about an hour for the firefighting teams to arrive. Fire crews in Southern California quickly extinguish brush fires amid extreme fire weather “People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung down sheets ... some tried to jump,” he said. The government appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the fire. NTV television suggested that the wooden cladding on the exterior of the hotel, in a chalet-style design, may have accelerated the spread of the fire. The 161-room hotel is on the side of a cliff, hampering efforts to combat the flames, the station also reported. NTV showed a smoke-blackened lobby, its glass entrance and windows smashed, its wooden reception desk charred and a chandelier crashed to the ground. Kartalkaya is a popular ski resort in the Koroglu mountains, some 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Istanbul. The fire occurred during the school semester break when hotels in the region are packed. Aydin's office said 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were sent to the site. Other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution and guests were placed in hotels around Bolu. Meanwhile, a gas explosion at a hotel at another ski resort in central Turkey injured four people. The explosion took place at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province. Two skiers and their instructor were slightly injured while another instructor received second-degree burns on the hands and face, the Sivas governor’s office said.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday urged Türkiye to bring their technologies to Bangladesh, invest more, relocate factories and use Bangladesh’s youth forces. “You are the leader of the technology; you can build your defence industry here. Let’s make a beginning…we are available for anything that you need,” he said when a delegation led by Türkiye Trade Minister Prof Dr Ömer Bolat called on him at the state guest house Jamuna. We back interim govt, reform agenda: EIB VP tells Dr Yunus Mentioning Bangladesh as the 8th most populous country in the world, Dr Yunus said that the interim government was working to create work opportunities for the country’s youths and sought Turkey's help in this regard. “We have to give our young people an opportunity, so we want your help; this is my appeal to your country. Use our young people to run your factories here so that you can supply your products in the region,” he said. The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh and Turkey have the potential to build a dream relationship through mutual cooperation in various fields. Jamaat Ameer discusses reforms, national unity with Chief Adviser Yunus “The relationship between Bangladesh and Turkey is very warm; we want to build it in all sectors.”  There are so many things to be done, some we want your support, your technology, and your investments," Dr Yunus said. Turkey Trade Minister Prof Dr Ömer Bolat said that Bangladesh and Turkey can diversify their cooperation beyond the textile industry, which was their primary import from Bangladesh. He said that there can be economic cooperation in the field of defence industry, health care, pharmaceuticals, and farm machinery. “We can replace India and other markets in Bangladesh’s imports. There can be cooperation in economic and social fields at all levels.” He also said that Bangladesh and Turkish universities can have reciprocal cooperation. Bangladesh's exports to Turkey stood at around 581 million USD in 2023-24, while imports were around 424 million USD. Now nearly 20 large Turkish companies are operating in Bangladesh in garments and textiles, accessories, chemicals, engineering, construction, and energy sectors. Among the Turkish companies operating in Bangladesh, notable ones include the Turkish LPG company AYGAZ, Coca-Cola Içecek, and the refrigerator and AC manufacturer ARCILIK (which has acquired Singer Bangladesh Ltd.). During the meeting, the Chief Adviser recalled his telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in August, following which an eight-member Turkish delegation visited Bangladesh in October. Create a team for economic diplomacy; promote Bangladesh abroad: Dr Yunus asks BEPZA Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Adviser Mahfuz Alam, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, SDG Affairs Secretary Lamiya Morshed, and BIDA Chairman Ashik Mahmud Chowdhory were, among others, present on the occasion.

A delegation of the visiting Turkey's International Jurists Union had a meeting with BNP leaders on Friday and discussed a wide range of issues, including the judicial system of Bangladesh and the prosecution of individuals involved in repressive acts who have fled the country in the face of a mass uprising. The 16-member delegation of the International Jurists Union went to the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office around 3pm and held the meeting with a BNP team led by party standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. Fakhrul asks adviser Nahid to withdraw his comment on political parties Talking to reporters after the meeting, Khosru said the discussion focused on several critical issues, including Bangladesh's judicial system, the return of individuals who fled the country in the wake of a mass uprising, and how to hold accountable those involved in extrajudicial killings. “We discussed Bangladesh's judicial system during this transitional period, following the ouster of the autocrats. We also talked about how to bring those who fled the country to trial, drawing on Turkey's experience and practices in this regard,” he said. The BNP said the discussions also covered how to prosecute politicians and those who abetted the autocratic government in perpetrating mass killings during the uprising, forcibly making people disappear, carrying out extrajudicial killings, and committing other repressive acts. He also talked about the legal procedures required to bring back the autocratic ruler and her cohorts, who had fled the country. "Our discussions with them will continue as we work towards reforming our judiciary. It's impossible to maintain order if the judicial system is not functioning properly.” BNP criticises Adviser Nahid over remarks on political parties Khosru also said out of 12,000 judges and prosecutors in Turkey, 4,000 were removed for their alleged links to a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said many politicians and government officials fled Turkey following their failed attempt to oust Erdogan. “We discussed how we can draw from their experience in this regard.” Apart from Khosru, BNP Chairperson's Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee Member Tasvir Ul Islam, along with party leaders Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim and Shama Obed, were also present at the meeting.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen on Sunday said his country will work with Bangladesh at the international level to resolve the Rohingya crisis. He made the pledge during a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.  The Turkish envoy met Fakhrul and discussed bilateral issues and the upcoming national election in Bangladesh. The meeting, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, began around 4pm at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office. Dhaka voices “deep concern” over recent influx of 40,000 Rohingyas BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obed were also present at the meeting. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Khosru said they covered a range of issues, including the Rohingya crisis. He recalled that Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu were the first foreign dignitaries to visit the Rohingya camps in 2017, shortly after Myanmar's persecuted citizens sought refuge in Cox’s Bazar. Foreign aid for Rohingya programmes drops: Roundtable “Turkey has shown strong commitment to the Rohingya people and resolving the crisis. They have continued their cooperation through providing healthcare and donations for the Rohingyas," the BNP leader said. Khosru said the Turkish envoy informed them that his country will work with Bangladesh at the international level, particularly through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to resolve the Rohingya crisis in the future. "I hope we’ll be able to do that.” During the meeting, the BNP leader mentioned that the discussion also touched on Bangladesh's upcoming general election. "Every foreign friend has the same question: when will the election be held? We told them what we usually say," he said. He said the international stakeholders are waiting to decide on their future engagement with Bangladesh, depending on the restoration of a democratic order through an elected government. "Turkey has an interest in this, and they also wanted to know when the election will be held.” Khosru shared that Turkey is considering setting up a cultural centre in Dhaka in the near future. He said they also discussed how to enhance trade relations between the two countries by improving people-to-people and business-to-business connections. Besides, the BNP leader mentioned that Turkey plans to offer discounted treatment packages for Bangladeshis who wish to seek medical care there. "Many Bangladeshis are already going to Turkey for treatment, and Turkey wants to encourage this further. The standard of medical treatment in Turkey is comparable to that of Western countries," Khosru said. He also said the Turkish envoy expressed a willingness to assist Bangladesh in building capacity across various sectors and supporting institutional reforms, including within the Election Commission.  

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey on Wednesday, causing widespread panic among residents, though there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or damage. The earthquake occurred at 10:46 a.m. (07:46 GMT) near the town of Kale in Malatya province, as reported by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). It was felt in surrounding cities including Diyarbakir, Elazig, Erzincan, and Tunceli. Read: Unusual earthquake raises alarms: Is Iran testing its first nuclear bomb? Malatya Mayor Sami Er stated that there had been no reports of significant issues so far, but officials were assessing potential damage in more remote areas. Many people fled their homes and offices in fear and waited outside in streets and parks, hesitant to return indoors. As a precaution, schools in Elazig were ordered to close. Malatya was previously impacted by a devastating earthquake last year that resulted in over 53,000 fatalities in Turkey, along with significant destruction in parts of Turkey and northern Syria.

In recent years, several earthquakes have devastated different parts of the globe. Earthquakes are caused by sudden movement along tectonic plates within the surface of earth. These movements release energy in the form of seismic waves that cause the earth's surface to shake. These geological events disrupt lives and economies, standing as stark reminders of the need for earthquake preparedness. Let's take a look at the top earthquake-prone countries across the world and understand their vulnerabilities. The World's 10 Most Earthquake-prone Countries Japan Japan occupies a precarious position in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc characterized by fault lines and volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean basin. This is the convergence of four tectonic plates: the Pacific, Philippine, Okhotsk, and Eurasian. The primary reason behind Japan's seismic vulnerability is the collision and subduction of these tectonic slabs. The Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate, creating deep ocean trenches and mountain ranges. Read more Earthquake Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe The 2011 Tohoku earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1, triggered a devastating tsunami, claiming around 19,759 lives. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, measuring magnitude 7, caused about 273 fatalities.