United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said martyr Sharif Osman Hadi would never be forgotten, stressing that he will remain alive through the lessons he left for the nation. “Dear Hadi, you wanted to take part in the election. In expressing your desire to contest, you also taught us how elections should be conducted. Let us all accept that process,” Prof Yunus said while speaking before the namaz-e-janaza of Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho. He said Hadi demonstrated how to run an election campaign and how to connect closely with people. “By embracing the lessons you gave us, we ensure that you remain alive in our memories. Hadi, you will never be lost. No one will ever be able to forget you. You will remain with us for decades,” Prof Yunus added. The Chief Adviser also said they would continue walking on the path of national progress while remembering Hadi. Thousands of people from different walks of life joined the Janaza at Manik Mia Avenue near the Jatiya Sangsad. Many arrived in processions, chanting slogans demanding justice for Hadi and vowing that his death would not go in vain. The Chief Adviser, in his recent televised speech said, Hadi was an enemy of the defeated forces and fascist terrorists. “The evil attempt to intimidate revolutionaries by silencing his voice will be completely thwarted. No one can stop the journey to democracy of this country through fear, terror or bloodshed. Shaheed Hadi was an integral part of this process. His sole desire was to contest the upcoming elections and play an active role in the next phase of building a new Bangladesh,” he said. The Chief Adviser said the government will take responsibility for Hadi’s wife and his only child. The nation is observing a one-day state mourning today (Saturday) following Hadi’s death. On this occasion, the national flag was flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions, educational institutions, as well as government and private buildings across the country and at Bangladesh missions abroad. At the same time, special prayers and munajat were held at every mosque across the country after Jum’a prayers on Friday for the eternal peace of martyr Hadi. Hadi’s janaza held at Manik Mia Avenue amid huge turnout Expressing deep sorrow and grief at Hadi’s untimely death, Prof Yunus said the loss is irreparable for the country’s political and democratic landscape. “I pray for the eternal peace of his soul and express my deepest condolences to his bereaved wife, family members, relatives and colleagues,” he added.    

The namaz-e-janaza of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Saturday afternoon. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, advisers and leaders and activists of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Inquilab Moncho, National Citizens Party (NCP) and the chiefs of the three services, among others, attended the namaz-e-janaza. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain and an Inquilab Moncho leader spoke before the namaz-e-janaza. Amnesty urges accountability over Hadi murder, mob violence Hadi’s brother Abu Bakar Siddique administered the janaza around 2:30 pm. Earlier, thousands of people gathered at Manik Mia Avenue in small processions to attend the janaza. Mourners chanted various slogans, including “We will all be Hadi for ages, we will fight” and “We will not let Hadi Bhai’s blood go in vain.” Osman Hadi, also a prospective candidate for Dhaka-8, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. For advanced treatment, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. People from different parts of the capital were seen using the Metro Rail from early morning to reach the janaza venue, resulting in heavy passenger pressure at key stations. Thousands gather at Manik Mia Avenue to attend Hadi’s janaza Additional police personnel and members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed at key points in the capital to maintain law and order during the namaz-e-janaza. Police personnel equipped with around 1,000 body-worn cameras have been deployed to ensure overall security and prevent any untoward incident. Besides, 20 platoons of BGB have been deployed in and around important areas of the capital including the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban to strengthen security, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB. Hadi will be buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on the Dhaka University campus in line with the wishes of his family, according to a Facebook post from Inquilab Moncho’s official page.  

Iran executed a man on Saturday who was convicted of spying for Israeli intelligence and military, state media reported. The executed individual, identified as 27-year-old Aghil Keshavarz, was accused of closely cooperating with Mossad and photographing Iranian military and security sites. He was arrested in May while taking pictures of a military headquarters in Urmia, about 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran. Authorities said he carried out more than 200 similar missions across Iran, including in the capital. Keshavarz was sentenced to death by a court ruling upheld by the Supreme Court. Reports indicate he had studied architecture. Since June, Iran has executed at least 11 people for espionage following a 12-day conflict with Israel that left nearly 1,100 dead in Iran and 28 in Israel. Trials of suspected spies in Iran are often conducted behind closed doors, with limited access to evidence for the accused.  

Taiwanese authorities said Saturday that the suspect behind knife and smoke-grenade attacks in Taipei, which killed three people and injured 11 others on Friday, had planned the assaults and set fires at multiple locations earlier in the day. The 27-year-old suspect, identified as Chang Wen, fell to his death from a department store building following the attacks. Taiwanese police said he began his assault at 3:40 p.m., setting fires to roads, vehicles, and his residence, and later targeting crowds with smoke grenades and a knife near Taipei Main metro station and outside the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store. Authorities said the suspect acted alone and purchased the smoke grenades online. Chang had previously served in the military but was discharged for drunk driving and had been wanted since July for failing to report to service. Investigators are still probing his motive. Six of the injured remain hospitalized, two in stable condition in intensive care. President Lai Ching-te has called for a full investigation into the suspect’s background, motives, and possible assistance.  

Eight people were killed and 27 injured in a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in southern Ukraine’s Odesa late Friday, Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported Saturday. Some of the wounded were on a bus near the strike’s epicenter. Trucks and cars in the parking area were also damaged, and fires broke out, according to a Telegram post by the service. Odesa regional head Oleh Kiper confirmed the attack involved ballistic missiles. In a separate development, Ukraine said its forces targeted a Russian warship and other facilities using drones. The warship “Okhotnik” was patrolling near an oil and gas platform in the Caspian Sea, while a drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field operated by Russian company Lukoil was also struck. Ukrainian drones reportedly damaged a radar system in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.  

Bondi Beach reopened on Friday as residents gathered to remember the 15 people killed in a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration earlier this month. Thousands of people formed a large circle in the ocean, observed a minute’s silence, and stood near remnants of the crime scene, paying tribute to the victims and those who helped during the attack. Armed officers were stationed at synagogues and mosques to ensure public safety. Life gradually returned to the beach and boardwalk as people walked, jogged, and surfed, while community members acknowledged acts of bravery, including that of Ahmed al Ahmed, who helped disarm one of the attackers despite being injured. A menorah was projected onto the Sydney Opera House, and record numbers of blood donations were reported. Authorities and community leaders continue to discuss ways to address antisemitism and prevent similar incidents in the future.  

A large number of mourners thronged the Metro Rail on Saturday to attend the namaz-e-janaza of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. People from different parts of the capital were seen using the Metro Rail from early morning to reach the janaza venue, resulting in heavy passenger pressure at key stations. The namaz-e-janaza of Hadi will be held at 2 pm at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan.He initially underwent surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital. For advanced treatment, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. His body arrived in Dhaka on Friday evening.  

Former Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force, Air Vice Marshal AK Khandker (Bir Uttam), passed away on Saturday due to complications related to old age. He was 95. AK Khandker, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mukti Bahini during the Liberation War, breathed his last at around 10:35am, according to an ISPR press release.  

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton featured prominently in the first set of documents released Friday by the Justice Department from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files include several photos of Clinton, some showing him on a private plane with a woman whose face was redacted, and others depicting him in a pool and a hot tub with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and unidentified individuals. The timing and location of the images remain unclear. Clinton, 79, has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. His spokesman, Angel Ureña, said the White House was attempting to deflect attention and stressed that the issue “is not about Bill Clinton.” Republicans have seized on Clinton’s association with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee had subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton earlier this year, seeking depositions, but the couple offered written statements instead. Committee Chair Rep. James Comer has threatened contempt proceedings if they fail to testify in person. Clinton’s connections with Epstein, including multiple flights on Epstein’s private jet and White House visits during his presidency, have long been documented. The newly released files, part of hundreds of thousands tied to the investigation, underscore the complex network surrounding Epstein and Maxwell, complicating both Democratic and Republican narratives in the ongoing political debate.  

The United States military carried out strikes in Syria on Friday targeting Islamic State (IS) fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush that killed two American soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter last week. U.S. officials described the operation as “large-scale,” hitting around 70 IS targets across central Syria. More strikes are expected, they added. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media that the action was “not the beginning of a war” but “a declaration of vengeance,” emphasizing that the U.S. would protect its personnel under President Donald Trump’s leadership. President Trump earlier pledged “very serious retaliation” and described the operation as a “massive strike” against IS fighters attempting to regroup in Syria. He also warned terrorists against attacking U.S. personnel again, saying they would face unprecedented consequences. The strikes involved F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft, AH-64 Apache helicopters, F-16 jets from Jordan, and HIMARS rocket systems. U.S. Central Command said over 100 precision munitions were used against IS targets. Syria’s foreign ministry condemned last week’s attack, underlining the need for international cooperation against terrorism, and confirmed its commitment to continue fighting IS. Syrian state media reported that U.S. strikes hit IS facilities in Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Jabal al-Amour near Palmyra. The ambush that prompted the retaliation killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, and U.S. civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. Three other American troops and Syrian security personnel were injured. The gunman, who had recently been reassigned as a security guard over suspected IS links, was killed during the attack. Trump met with the families of the slain Americans before attending the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, honoring the fallen service members.