United News of Bangladesh

Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday alleged that the government is trying to establish a one-party rule in the country by appointing its “own supporters” to key positions in banks, universities and local government institutions. “The government is trying to impose a one-party system by placing its party loyalists in various positions, including banks, vice-chancellors’ posts at universities and district council chairmen,” he said, adding that the people of the country will not accept such a system. Shafiqur Rahman made the remarks while addressing a workers’ rally at the Central Eidgah Ground in Narayanganj city organised by the city Jamaat. Referring to the previous Awami League government, he said it used to belittle opposition parties in Parliament, particularly the BNP and Jamaat.   “The current government is also labelling and targeting opposition parties in different ways. But the people of the country do not buy these narratives,” the opposition leader said. He urged the government to understand the pulse of the younger generation “Do not follow the path of the Awami League,” he said. The rally was presided over by Narayanganj city Jamaat Ameer Maulana Abdul Jabbar. Jamaat central executive council member Saiful Alam Khan, MP, Dhaka South city unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, MP, and Islami Chhatra Shibir President Nurul Islam Saddam also addressed the programme.

Australia scored 196 runs for five wickets in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Friday. Bangladesh now need 197 runs to win the match and stay in the series. The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first in the match. They got off to a brisk start in the match, scoring 27 runs in the first two overs. However, the Bangladeshi bowlers then tightened the grip, with Nasum Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman taking one wicket apiece to leave Australia at 44 runs for three in six overs. Matt Renshaw and Tim David later launched a counter-attack, paring for 97 runs in 8.2 overs. Tim David became the victim of Abdul Gaffar Saqlain after scoring second team highest 45 runs from 26 balls, featuring two fours and four sixes at 141. Matt Renshwa remined not out on 89 off 52 deliveries. He hit four 4s and five 6s. For Bangladesh, Nasum Ahmed took two wickets for 27 runs in four overs, while Mustafiz, Nahid Rana and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain scalped one each. Bangladesh made two changes in the playing XI, bringing in Nahid Rana and Nasum for Shoriful Islam and Shak Mahedi Hasan. For the visitors, Xavier Bartlett was replaced by Aaron Hardie. Australia are leading the series 1-0 after winning the opening match by four wickets in the same venue on June 17.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has won a parliamentary by-election in northwest England, a result that could set up a direct leadership challenge to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Burnham secured a clear victory in the Makerfield seat, defeating Rob Kenyon of the anti-immigration Reform UK party. He won nearly 55% of the 45,510 votes cast in a crowded field of more than a dozen candidates, finishing more than 9,000 votes ahead of his nearest rival. The result strengthens Burnham’s position as a leading figure in the Labour Party and fuels speculation that he could seek to replace Starmer as both party leader and prime minister. Known as the “King of the North,” the 56-year-old politician has led Greater Manchester since 2017 and is widely seen as a popular figure within Labour’s ranks. In his victory speech, Burnham signalled clear national ambitions. “Everyone knows that politics isn’t working. Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point,” he said. He also said Labour had “a final chance to change” and rebuild public trust, calling for “a new politics based on unity and hope” and warning against what he described as a “divided, dark politics” seen elsewhere. Starmer congratulated Burnham but defended his own leadership, saying voters backed Labour’s “campaign of hope and optimism over division and hate,” in a post on X. Labour currently holds power but has faced growing public dissatisfaction since its landslide win in July 2024. Starmer has struggled with sluggish economic growth, strained public services, and cost-of-living pressures, along with political setbacks including controversial appointments. The party is also losing support to both the Green Party on the left and the Reform UK party on the right, which has gained ground in post-industrial areas such as Makerfield. Burnham’s win is being seen as a boost for Labour’s chances of countering Reform UK’s rise. Reform leader Nigel Farage said he was “disappointed” by the outcome. The result follows months of internal pressure on Starmer after poor local election results in May led to calls from some Labour MPs for him to step down. While Starmer has rejected those demands, speculation over his leadership has continued to grow. Former health secretary Wes Streeting resigned in May, warning of a “vacuum” in leadership vision, and has said he would consider running if a contest opens. Makerfield MP Josh Simons stepped down to trigger the by-election, clearing the way for Burnham’s return to Parliament. Under Labour rules, a leadership challenge can be triggered if at least 20% of Labour MPs back a candidate, currently around 81 lawmakers. Burnham is expected to take his seat in Parliament soon and may push for talks with Starmer on the party’s future direction. Allies suggest he would favour an orderly transition rather than a sudden confrontation. However, Starmer has insisted he will not resign and told reporters at the G7 summit that he would “fight if there’s a challenge,” saying he remains committed to the mandate given in the 2024 election. Political observers say Burnham’s return to Westminster significantly increases pressure on Starmer, especially after defeating Reform UK in a key battleground seat. Analysts note that Burnham’s victory strengthens his claim that he can reconnect Labour with voters in areas where the party is losing ground. Professor Rob Ford of the University of Manchester said the result makes it harder for Starmer to ignore internal pressure, arguing that Burnham now has a strong political narrative built around electoral success and voter appeal.

The supervisor of a bus was killed after his vehicle crashed into another bus on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla early Friday. The deceased was identified as Md Alamgir Hossain, 50, son of late Abdul Karim Mridha of Raja Narayanpur village in Bera upazila of Pabna district. He was working as a supervisor of Shyamoli NR Travels. According to highway police, a Chattogram-bound Saintmartin Shohardo bus allegedly attempted to stop on the left side of the highway without giving any signal. At that moment, a Dhaka-bound Shyamoli NR Travels bus travelling behind it rammed into the rear of the vehicle around 4:30am in the Hari Sardar area, said Md Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Miabazar Highway Police Station. The collision caused damage to both buses and left Alamgir critically injured. Locals rescued and took him to Chauddagram Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. The OC said preliminary findings suggest that the accident occurred after a bus tried to stop abruptly without any warning signal. After the accident, drivers of both buses fled the scene, he said, adding that the two vehicles were seized and legal proceedings are underway.

A intellectually impaired young man was found dead with his face severely bruised on the bank of the Kalni River in Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Md Shafique Mia, 31, son of late Azizul Haque of Abdullahpur village. He worked as a labourer at a local market. On information, police recovered the body around 9:00am at the village. Locals said Shafique Mia had intellectual disabilities and was father of two daughters. He has recently gone through a divorce with his wife, which was later settled through local arbitration. As part of the settlement, it was decided that Tk 50,000 would be paid as alimony to his former wife. Residents said Shafique was carrying around Tk 40,000 and was trying to arrange the remaining Tk 10,000. He usually kept the money with him, raising suspicion among locals that he might have been killed for looting his money. Officer-in-Charge of the Austagram Police Station Md Rokonuzzaman said preliminary findings suggest he might have been killed sometime on Thursday night. He also said they were investigating the matter.

Japanese football fans, long admired for cleaning stadiums after World Cup matches, are now facing criticism at home over a perceived double standard in household responsibilities. After recent match photos showed fans collecting litter from the stands with trash bags, social media users in Japan raised concerns that while some men are diligent in public spaces, they may not be equally involved in domestic chores. A viral post compared a man cleaning up at a stadium with the same man relaxing at home, using his phone while his wife handled household work such as dishes and laundry. The post urged Japanese men to “pitch in more at home,” noting that the country ranks among the lowest globally in time spent by men on housework. The post has been widely shared, gaining around 60,000 likes on X (formerly Twitter). “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help mom do the dishes,” one user commented, quoting American author PJ O’Rourke. Another user wrote that some of the fans seen cleaning stadiums likely leave childcare duties to their wives in order to attend matches. Cleanliness and discipline in public spaces are deeply rooted in Japanese culture. However, data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows a significant gender gap in unpaid domestic work. As of 2021, Japanese women spent more than three hours per day on unpaid labour, over five times more than men, who averaged just 47 minutes. The gap is even wider in families with young children. A 2021 government survey found that in dual-income households with children under six, women spent over seven hours a day on housework and childcare, compared to less than two hours for men. Some social media users also questioned whether the praise for overseas cleanliness overlooks similar issues within Japan, where public areas can become littered after large events. Despite the debate, many others defended the fans, arguing that their stadium cleanups should be appreciated rather than criticised. “There’s nothing embarrassing about it. It’s far better than headlines saying Japanese people are littering abroad,” one user wrote. The practice has also inspired fans from other countries. A recent viral video showed Portuguese supporters collecting rubbish from stadium seats, with some users crediting Japanese fans for popularising the trend. With inputs from NDTV

Police arrested alleged top criminal “Auto Sajal” from the Sayedabad area of the capital on Thursday night. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Nazrul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Friday morning. He said a team from Jatrabari Police Station carried out an operation in the Sayedabad area around 9:10pm and arrested Sajal. During preliminary interrogation, Sajal reportedly revealed that weapons and drugs had been stored at a rented house in Swamibagh. Acting on the information, police conducted another drive at the house and recovered two Taurus-brand pistols, four magazines and 77 rounds of live ammunition. Police also seized 59 grams of heroin, 87 grams of a substance locally known as “Medi” (allegedly used in heroin processing), Tk 22,960 in cash and four handsets allegedly used in criminal activities. According to police, the recovered firearms are suspected to be among looted weapons. DMP official Nazrul said Sajal's name emerged during the investigation into a shooting incident in the Sayedabad Bus Terminal area on March 2, in which an inspector of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) was shot during a raid. Three suspects had earlier been arrested in connection with the incident. They were identified as Bappi, Hanif and Mosammat Shamsunnahar. Nazrul Islam said Sajal had long been involved in illegal arms supply and drug trafficking. Although he worked as a transport helper, he allegedly carried out criminal activities under disguise. Police said Sajal faces 11 cases filed at different police stations under the DMP.

Australia have won the toss and decided to bat first in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series agaisnt Bangladesh in Chattogram. The visitors got off to a brisk start in the match, scoring 27 runs in the first two overs. However, the Bangladeshi bowlers then tightened the grip, with Nasum Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman taking one wicket apiece to leave Australia at 44 runs for three in six overs. Bangladesh made two changes in the playing XI, bringing in Nahid Rana and Nasum for Shoriful Islam and Shak Mahedi Hasan. For the visitors, Xavier Bartlett was replaced by Aaron Hardie. Australia are leading the series 1-0 after winning the opening match by four wickets in the same venue on June 17.

Police Headquarters has issued a nationwide alert over fears of possible clashes between Awami League activists and members of other political parties, centring on the party’s founding anniversary on June 23. In a communication on Thursday, it directed all police units across the country to remain on alert and take necessary precautionary measures. According to the communication, leaders and activists of Awami League, which faces a ban on its activities, may try to hoist party flags at local offices and bring out processions carrying banners marking the party’s founding anniversary in different districts across the country. Such activities could trigger confrontations with activists of other political parties, especially members of the National Citizen Party and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, creating a risk of law-and-order deterioration. The directive also warned that Awami League activists could become hostile towards law enforcement personnel if they are obstructed from carrying out such programmes. Several officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and superintendents of police in different districts confirmed receiving the precautionary instructions. Sources at the Police Headquarters said the nationwide alert was issued as part of advance precautionary measures based on reports received from several intelligence agencies. Police have already begun preparations to strengthen security measures ahead of the AL anniversary, while intelligence surveillance has been intensified, the sources said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has said it sees no specific security threat centring on the June 23 founding anniversary of the Awami League, but remains on alert. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on the Minto Road on Friday morning, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Nazrul Islam said they have taken necessary security measures to ensure public safety. “June 23 is the founding anniversary of a political party. We are on alert centring on the day,” he said while responding to questions from journalists. Nazrul Islam said security checkpoints remain active at different locations across the capital and the measures will continue as part of efforts to maintain law and order. Responding to another question regarding alleged extortionist “Kalya Faruk,” who was arrested in Mohammadpur and later released on bail to resume extortion activities, he said matters related to bail fall under the jurisdiction of the court. “Whether they will punish someone or not is a matter for the court. But we will continue to do our job,” the DMP official said. He added that police will continue arresting terrorists, drug traffickers and extortionists, and sending them to court for legal proceedings.