United News of Bangladesh

An extraordinary surge of AI-generated misinformation linked to the US-Israel war with Iran is being exploited by online content creators who are using advanced generative AI tools to generate revenue, experts have told BBC Verify. Analysis by BBC Verify uncovered numerous instances of AI-created videos and manipulated satellite images being circulated online to support false or misleading claims about the conflict. Collectively, such content has drawn hundreds of millions of views across social media platforms. “The scale is deeply concerning and the current war has brought the issue into sharp focus,” said Timothy Graham, a digital media specialist at Queensland University of Technology. “What previously required professional video production teams can now be produced within minutes using AI tools. The barrier to creating convincing synthetic footage of conflict has effectively disappeared,” he added. The United States and Israel began launching military strikes on Iran on February 28. In response, Iran has carried out drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as several Gulf countries and US military assets across the region. As the conflict escalated rapidly over the past week, many people turned to social media platforms to follow developments, seek updates and share information about the unfolding situation. Social media platform X announced this week that it will temporarily remove creators from its monetisation programme if they share AI-generated videos of armed conflicts without clearly labelling them. Under the programme, eligible users receive payments when their posts attract large numbers of views, likes, shares and comments. Mahsa Alimardani, a researcher on Iran at the Oxford Internet Institute, said the decision signals that the platform recognises the scale of the problem. “It’s a significant indication that they understand this is a major issue,” she said. BBC Verify contacted TikTok and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to ask whether they plan to introduce similar measures. Neither company responded to requests for comment. One example of misleading AI-generated content identified by BBC Verify appears to show missiles hitting the Israeli city of Tel Aviv while explosions can be heard in the background. The clip has appeared in more than 300 separate posts and has been shared tens of thousands of times across multiple social media platforms. Some users on X asked the platform’s AI chatbot Grok to verify whether the footage was authentic. However, BBC Verify found that in several cases the chatbot incorrectly claimed the AI-generated footage was real. Another fabricated video, which has been viewed tens of millions of times, purports to show the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai engulfed in flames while crowds appear to run toward the building. The AI-generated clip circulated widely online during a period of heightened anxiety among residents and tourists following reports of drone and missile strikes targeting the city. According to Alimardani, such fabricated content damages public confidence in reliable information. “Videos like these undermine trust in verified information available online and make it far more difficult to document genuine evidence,” she said. BBC Verify also identified a new element emerging in the conflict: the spread of AI-generated satellite images. On the first day of the war, BBC Verify confirmed several authentic videos showing Iranian drones and missiles striking the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. However, a manipulated satellite image shared on X by the state-linked newspaper The Tehran Times began circulating the following day, claiming to show severe destruction at the military facility. The fabricated image appears to have been derived from a real satellite photo of a US naval base in Bahrain taken in February 2025, which is publicly available online. Google’s SynthID watermark detection system indicates that the altered image was generated or modified using a Google AI tool. Further examination shows that three vehicles parked outside the base appear in exactly the same positions in both the genuine satellite photo and the manipulated AI image, even though the pictures supposedly represent scenes captured a year apart. Google’s AI products, including the video-generation tool Veo, are among a growing number of widely used AI platforms. Others include OpenAI’s Sora model, the Chinese AI application Seedance, and Grok, which is integrated into X. Henry Ajder, a specialist in generative AI, said the range and accessibility of such tools has grown dramatically. “The number of tools now available to create highly realistic AI manipulations across different formats is unprecedented,” he said. “We have never seen these technologies so accessible, so simple to use and so inexpensive,” Ajder added. Victoire Rio, executive director of the technology policy non-profit What To Fix, said this has contributed to a sharp rise in AI-generated material online because the process of producing and distributing such content can now be largely automated. Meanwhile, X’s head of product said on Tuesday that about 99 percent of accounts sharing AI-generated war footage were attempting to “game monetisation” by posting content designed to attract high engagement and earn payments through the platform’s Creator Revenue Sharing programme. X does not disclose how many accounts participate in the programme or the amount of money creators can earn from it. However, Graham estimates that X may pay between eight and 12 dollars for every one million verified user impressions. To qualify for the programme, creators must generate at least five million organic impressions within three months and maintain an X Premium subscription, he said. “Once creators qualify, viral AI-generated content effectively becomes a money-making machine,” Graham added. “It has created the ultimate misinformation enterprise.” X did not respond to BBC Verify’s requests for comment or questions about the Creator Revenue Sharing programme. Experts told BBC Verify that although social media companies say they are attempting to improve moderation and detection systems to manage the rapid spread of AI-generated content, addressing the issue remains complex. “The deeper problem is that monetisation driven by engagement and the distribution of accurate information are fundamentally at odds,” Graham said. “No platform has fully solved that conflict, and perhaps none ever will.”

Rumours of a possible fuel shortage amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has triggered an unusual rush of customers at petrol pumps in parts of the capital. Many motorists were seen lining up to fill their vehicle tanks in advance, fearing a disruption in fuel supply.  

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will attend the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) at Lancaster House in London on Sunday, an event that is also being viewed as an opportunity for Bangladesh to seek broader support for its candidature for the Presidency of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir will accompany the foreign minister during the five-day official visit to London, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Saturday. During the visit, the foreign minister and the adviser are expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CFAMM with their counterparts from participating countries. Bangladesh has been actively engaging with different countries to garner support for its candidature and has already secured broad backing from member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several other partners beyond the bloc, a diplomatic source told UNB. "Bangladesh will definitely seize the opportunity in London," he said. The CFAMM will begin with a Retreat from 10:00-13:00 and a formal meeting from 14:00-16:00 on Sunday (London time). Representing the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, the Minister of Finance of the Independent State of Samoa, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o, will welcome Foreign Affairs Ministers to the retreat and offer remarks. Dhaka sees messages from Myanmar’s FM, AA chief positively The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, will then offer her remarks. A total of 56 independent countries make up the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and 33 of the world’s 42 small states are Commonwealth members. This CFAMM is significant as it will signal the start of Commonwealth Day activities, marked every year on the second Monday in March.  This 26th meeting will bring together Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers to address the role of the Commonwealth in a fast-changing international landscape; and explore impactful and transformative solutions to unlock opportunities together for shared prosperity across the Commonwealth, in the face of a fractured global climate. It is the first time that Foreign Ministers will come together within the platform of an executive retreat, which will provide a plan of action for a bold, practical Commonwealth, according to the Commonwealth headquarters. This will be Secretary-General Botchwey’s second meeting with Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers at CFAMM. Ministers will shape policy priorities leading up to the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 1-4 November 2026. Antigua and Barbuda will provide updates on the CHOGM preparations; consider reform proposals; and discuss Member Country situations. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is meeting at Marlborough House, London today (Saturday) in advance of the 26th CFAMM. Together, these meetings will provide a vital platform for Ministers to reflect on how Commonwealth countries and the Secretariat can work together to defend multilateralism in a challenging global context, harnessing the Commonwealth Advantage driving global innovation, trade and investment – as the impetus for a more prosperous Commonwealth. Palestine has recently withdrawn its candidature for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the 2026–2027 term. Following the withdrawal of the Palestinian candidature, Bangladesh will now compete with Cyprus. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has nominated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman for the position. The election of the President of the United Nations General Assembly for the eighty first session will be held on June 2 in the General Assembly Hall, UNHQs, in line with Rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure. In accordance with the established regional rotation, the President of the eighty first session of the General Assembly will be elected from the Asia Pacific Group. The President of the eightieth session of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock will convene the informal interactive dialogues with the candidates in May 2026. Bangladesh last held the prestigious position in 1986 (1986-87), when the then Foreign Minister Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury was elected as President of the 41st General Assembly. Forty years later, Bangladesh is seeking to reclaim the post. The 81st session of the UNGA will open on September 8, 2026, with the high-level General Debate beginning on September 22, 2026. Commonwealth Day Meanwhile, Commonwealth Day 2026 will be celebrated across the Commonwealth on Monday. Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe. It is the highlight of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the Commonwealth – including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events. This year's theme 'Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth,' highlights how the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth can rally together to face today’s challenges and unlock opportunities that can deliver shared and lasting prosperity for all who live in the  Commonwealth - from the smallest, most remote communities to the biggest cities. The theme for Commonwealth Day 2026 aligns with the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) theme, ‘Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.’ CHOGM 2026 will take place in Antigua and Barbuda from 1-4 November. The Foreign Minister and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs are expected to return home on March 12.

Gulf countries reported intercepting additional ballistic missiles and drones on Saturday as Iran launched another round of retaliatory attacks. Saudi Arabia said it thwarted four drones targeting its vast Shaybah oil field, marking the second attempted strike in just a few hours. In Dubai, residents heard multiple explosions in the morning, with authorities describing a “minor incident caused by debris falling after an interception.” Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut and Tehran, with the death toll continuing to rise. Officials reported at least 1,230 fatalities in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel. Six U.S. troops have also been killed. In a sign of Moscow’s potential involvement, two U.S. intelligence sources said Russia has supplied Iran with information that could aid attacks on American warships, aircraft, and other assets in the region. The conflict shows no signs of abating. The Trump administration approved a $151 million arms sale to Israel after the U.S. president reiterated he would not negotiate with Iran without “unconditional surrender.” Tensions Spread to Civilian Areas At Dubai International Airport, passengers were directed into train tunnels after missile alerts sounded. Emirati authorities also sent mass mobile alerts warning of possible missile threats and confirmed that air defenses were activated. In Jerusalem, loud booms prompted residents to rush to bomb shelters following Iranian missile attacks, though Israeli emergency services reported no immediate casualties. Trump Criticizes Reporter Over Russia Question During a White House briefing on college sports, President Donald Trump rebuked Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for asking about Russia’s potential role in the conflict. “What a stupid question to ask at this time. We’re talking about something else,” Trump said, despite acknowledging the reporter’s past cordiality.

Persistent complications in land acquisition and repeated alignment adjustments have pushed the implementation timeline of a project linked to Dhaka–Sylhet–Tamabil highway , forcing the government to extend the deadline for the fourth time. The project titled “Land Acquisition and Utility Relocation in Support of Dhaka (Kanchpur)–Sylhet–Tamabil Highway Four-Laning with Separate Service Lanes on Both Sides (1st Revised)” will now run until December 2027, nearly seven years beyond its original completion target. The project spans seven districts and 25 upazilas in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. It aims to complete land acquisition and relocate utilities in advance to facilitate the eventual expansion of the Dhaka–Sylhet–Tamabil highway into a six-lane corridor with separate service lanes on both sides. Officials said the project, implemented by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division has faced persistent delays since it was approved in September 2018 with an initial deadline of December 2020. Workers block Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Rupganj over unpaid wages According to project documents, the slow pace of land acquisition remains the main obstacle. The original acquisition plan was prepared using outdated State Acquisition (SA) maps. Since then, most corresponding Bangladesh Survey (BS) records have been published, forcing authorities to revise the acquisition proposals in line with the latest mouza maps as required under the Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act, 2017. Officials said converting the earlier SA-based plans into updated BS maps proved technically complex and time-consuming, significantly slowing implementation. The process became even more complicated after several new government and strategic installations were built along the proposed alignment following the project’s approval. These include the Shah Paran (R) Mazar Gate, parts of  Sylhet Cantonment, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) office, and other key establishments. Road to Heaven: Gujarat’s surreal highway flanked by water and salt pans Their construction forced repeated adjustments to the highway alignment, requiring fresh land acquisition proposals and additional administrative approvals. Legal disputes over land ownership have also contributed to the delay. In several land acquisition (LA) cases, inconsistencies between ownership records from different surveys particularly RS and BS records resulted in multiple claimants for the same plots. These disputes have led to court cases that are still pending, preventing authorities from completing acquisition and handing over land in several sections of the highway. Officials involved in the project said such legal complications often take years to resolve under existing procedures, further prolonging the acquisition process. Despite these setbacks, the project has made some progress where land-related obstacles have been cleared. Hili land port highway upgrade delayed again, cost jumps to Tk 588cr As of October 2025, cumulative spending reached Tk 5,782.90 crore, accounting for 72.51 percent of the total revised cost. Financial and physical progress are reported at the same level, indicating that implementation has advanced in available sections. The project’s revised cost now stands at Tk 7,975.31 crore, up from the originally approved Tk 3,885.72 crore, with the entire funding coming from the government. In the 2025–26 fiscal year, the project received an allocation of Tk 748.22 crore under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil road corridor forms part of the Asian Highway-1 route, designed to connect India’s Meghalaya and West Bengal with Bangladesh through the Tamabil-Sylhet-Kanchpur-Dhaka-Jashore-Benapole corridor. The initiative also includes construction of new bridges and flyovers. Implemented in phases by Chinese and local joint ventures, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time and strengthen regional trade and economic activity. Experts say repeated deadline extensions reflect deeper structural weaknesses in project preparation, particularly inadequate initial surveys, reliance on outdated land records and insufficient anticipation of future urban and institutional developments.

Most Americans will "spring forward" for daylight saving time this Sunday, losing an hour of sleep a change that can leave people tired, irritable, and even impact their health. The shift in daylight darker mornings and longer evenings can disrupt the body’s internal clock, potentially causing sleep problems for days or weeks. Research shows a slight increase in heart attacks and strokes immediately after the March time change. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, and clocks will “fall back” on Nov. 1. Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not observe the spring switch. Globally, many countries also follow daylight saving time, though start and end dates vary. Experts recommend getting morning sunlight to help reset the circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and alertness. The extra evening light from daylight saving time delays melatonin release, making it harder to fall asleep. Sleep deprivation can affect heart health, metabolism, stress levels, and cognitive functions. The change also temporarily increases risks on the road, with more fatal crashes reported in the days after the shift, particularly in the morning. Heart attacks and strokes also see a small rise, possibly due to disrupted circadian rhythms combined with existing risk factors. To adjust, sleep specialists suggest morning sunlight, shifting daily routines like meals and exercise earlier, avoiding late naps and caffeine, and reducing evening exposure to screens. Although there have been repeated calls to end the time change including former President Donald Trump’s promise  health experts recommend sticking with standard time year-round, which better matches human biology and supports more consistent sleep.

Two people were killed and two others injured when a CNG-run auto-rickshaw crashed into a road divider while taking a U-turn in Tejgaon Industrial area of the capital on Friday night. The deceased were identified as Alim, 48, a CNG driver and passenger Harunur Rashid, 32, of Kishoreganj district. The accident occurred around 10 pm when the Mohakhali-bound CNG-run auto-rickshaw, carrying three passengers, hit the road divider while taking a U-turn, leaving four people injured. Father, daughter killed in Dhaka road crash Inspector Faruk, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the injured were taken to the hospital where doctors declared the CNG driver and one passenger dead. The injured female passengers—Happy Akter, 22, and Brishti Akter, 25—are undergoing treatment at the hospital, he added.

President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the U.S. collegiate sports system could collapse without immediate cost controls and more revenue for players. Speaking at a White House summit with lawmakers and sports officials, he said he plans to issue an “all-encompassing” executive order within a week, which could prompt a lawsuit revisiting court-approved NIL payments. Trump said the court settlement that created the NIL system had left many schools in financial distress and threatened the broader educational system. “The whole educational system is going to go out of business because of this,” he said, stressing the urgent need to reform college athletics. Trump says he ‘does not care’ if Iran play in World Cup Meeting participants agreed on the need to save the industry from escalating NIL costs and largely supported the SCORE Act, which would provide limited antitrust exemptions for the NCAA and preempt state NIL laws. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated the bill may now have enough support to pass. Officials also flagged Olympic and women’s sports as particularly at risk, since their funding depends on revenue from football and basketball. U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said economic pressures threaten both men’s and women’s programs, underscoring the need for immediate action.

Real estate developer House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) has sold a 2.67-acre plot in Ayodhya to Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan for Rs 35 crore. According to the company, the deal was completed on Friday by Rajesh Yadav, managing director of AB Corp Ltd. The land is situated close to HoABL’s 75-acre luxury development project, The Sarayu. In January 2024, Bachchan had already purchased plots within the same project. This marks his third investment in Ayodhya through HoABL and his fourth investment in the city overall. Previously, Bachchan also bought a 10,000-square-foot plot in HoABL’s Sol de Alibaug project. Abhinandan Lodha, chairman of HoABL, said Bachchan’s investment highlights the belief that land is a long-term asset capable of preserving value for future generations. He added that Ayodhya is gaining attention as a promising location for land ownership due to continued infrastructure development and public investment. Established in 2020, HoABL has grown into one of India’s major branded land developers, focusing on transparent, technology-driven land transactions. Over the past five years, the company has sold more than 13 million square feet of developed land and currently has around 34 million square feet under development. HoABL operates projects in several locations including Alibaug, Anjarle, Vrindavan, Dapoli, Goa, Khopoli, Nagpur and Neral. The developer also plans to launch new projects in Amritsar, Shimla and Varanasi. Looking ahead, HoABL aims to expand its presence to 48 cities across India to meet growing demand for plotted developments in areas driven by infrastructure growth and tourism. Recently, the company also entered the vertical real estate segment, launching three residential projects in Mumbai with a combined development area of about 3.1 million square feet.    

A prolonged dry spell has created a severe water crisis in the haor areas of Sunamganj, leaving Boro farmers worried about their crops and livelihoods. With almost no rainfall in the region for nearly five months, croplands across several haors are facing an acute shortage of water, severely affecting Boro paddy cultivation this season. Farmers said the lack of irrigation water has already begun to damage many paddy fields. In some areas, plants are drying up due to drought while in others they are being attacked by insects and diseases. Funding delays stall haor embankments, putting Sunamganj’s Boro harvest at risk If the situation continues, farmers fear that overall production may drop significantly, they said. Most haor areas in the district depend heavily on natural water reservoirs and rainfall for irrigation. But this year’s prolonged dry weather has left many fields without sufficient water. Local farmers also alleged that some water bodies have been drained prematurely by unscrupulous people. They said the absence of effective government initiatives to address the water shortage has added to their anxiety, with many fearing financial losses if the drought continues. During a visit to Khushdar haor in Sunamganj Sadar upazila, UNB correspondent found large stretches of farmland suffering from severe water scarcity. In some upstream areas of the haor, the soil has cracked due to drought. With no alternative irrigation system in place, farmers are anxiously looking to the sky hoping for rain. Nazir Ali, a farmer from the Baraghat area, said he cultivated Boro rice on six khanis of land this season but the lack of water has put his crop at risk. “The soil has cracked and the rice plants are turning reddish and drying up,” said the 50-year-old farmer. “I thought it would rain, but there has been no rainfall for a long time. If rain does not come soon, we will face heavy losses. Many farmers like me in the haor areas are in the same situation.” Race Against Water: Delayed funds put Sunamganj’s Boro crop in danger