United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Bank is in the process of formulating a comprehensive policy to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the banking sector. The primary goal of the policy is to ensure the safe and effective deployment of AI technology for purposes including fraud prevention, risk management, economic forecasting, enhancing internal efficiency and improving customer service. A special seven-member team from the central bank's Information Technology (IT) Division has started work on the policy. According to sources, the team is expected to prepare a draft based on international standards within the next two months. They said Muhammad Zakir Hossain, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, is coordinating the entire process. A key component of the central bank's initiative is the plan to develop its own Large Language Model (LLM) for AI implementation. This crucial step is designed to maximise data security by eliminating the need to send the country's sensitive financial information abroad. By leveraging AI, the central bank anticipates being able to analyse vast amounts of economic data to provide more accurate forecasts for critical indicators, including inflation, GDP Growth and foreign currency reserves. Besides, AI is expected to play a vital role in managing credit, market, and liquidity risks, as well as accelerating innovation in the Fintech and digital banking sectors. This policy initiative comes in the wake of a recent study by the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), which revealed a significant policy gap. The study found that nearly 60 percent of local banks currently lack any policy for using AI in cyber security, with only 40 percent having formulated guidelines on the matter. The new central bank policy is expected to establish a unified, modern, and secure framework for AI usage across the nation's financial sector.      

Four school children drowned in a water body (beel) while collecting water lilies at Rajnagar village in Sadar upazila in Meherpur district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Fatema, 14, Afia, 10,  Alsia, 10 and Meem, 14, daughters of two brothers—Majibor Rahman and Shaharul Islam of the village. Local people said all the four girls went to Masuribhaja water body (beel) at noon to collect water lilies. Their bodies were found in the water body. On information, divers from the local fire service rushed in and recovered the bodies, said Meherpur police station Officer-in-Charge Mesbahuddin. A pall of gloom descended the area over the tragic death of the children

There is no reason to be worried about the upcoming national election, as the government is determined to hold the polls in the first half of February, reaffirmed Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul on Sunday (9th November, 2025). “There is no issue of postponing the election, as it will definitely be held, and all necessary steps will be taken to ensure a festive atmosphere,” he said while talking to reporters at the Legal Aid Office of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court building in Rajshahi. Mentioning that the political parties often make various statements to put pressure on each other and on the advisers, the law adviser said, “Their words create doubts in the public mind about the election.” “There hasn’t been an election for 16–17 years; so naturally there is some anxiety among people. About five crore citizens have never had the chance to cast their votes. So, this election is very important to them and the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting for it with great enthusiasm,” he said. Asif Nazrul decries political rift, says CA to decide on referendum Referring to the bail granted by the court, the adviser said, “Granting of bail does not depend solely on judges, it also depends on police reports. If there is video footage or recorded voice evidence that becomes an exception.” “Bail can be granted where it is suitable to do so. However, if those who get bail might commit similar crimes, disrupt the country's law and order situation, harm the environment or act as members of a banned organisation, then it would be cause of concern,” he added. Noting that three judges are being appointed in place of one in certain courts to ease backlogs, the adviser said, “We are taking various initiatives to reform the judiciary and the public will definitely benefit from these efforts.” Read more: NCP accuses Asif Nazrul of political biasness over amendment issue

Locals have allegedly snatched an activist of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from police custody in Lalpur upazila of Natore district. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon during a football match at the Bilmaria playground. The freed man, Shahed Ali, is known to be an activist of the Bilmaria Union unit of BCL. Witnesses said plainclothes cops from Lalpur Police Station detained Shahed at the playground and handcuffed him. College student detained for 'hurting religious sentiment' in Habiganj As the news spread, hundreds of spectators surrounded the police, forcing them to release him. A video showing the officers unlocking the handcuffs under pressure from the crowd later went viral on social media. Officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam of Lalpur Police Station described the incident as a ‘misunderstanding’ and declined to make further comments.    

Fifty-six elected members from nine Union Parishads (UPs) in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila have formally joined the BNP, leaving the Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party (JaPa). The formal induction and discussion programme was held at the Puratan Lalmonirhat Zilla Parishad building around 9pm on Saturday. Earlier, on October 20, the UP members had jointly announced their resignations at a meeting held in the Mahendranagar UP hall. District BNP president and central organising secretary, as well as former state minister, Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, attended the event as the chief guest. Some political parties’ actions may endanger people’s rights, warns Tarique Welcoming the new members, Dulu said, “Your decision is not merely a change of political party, but marks a new horizon in the struggle for democratic freedom. As representatives closest to grassroots people, you now carry the message of change.” He said people across the country want their voting rights and democratic liberties restored and that BNP remains the ‘sole torchbearer’ of that aspiration. Several of the newly joined UP members shared their personal experiences and criticised what they described as the AL’s ‘misrule’ over the past 17 years. During the ceremony, each member received a BNP membership card and an umbrella bearing the party symbol.  

A policeman in Cumilla died on Saturday after suddenly falling ill while on duty. The deceased was identified as Md Ashraf, son of the late Kamrul Islam from Imrail village in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria. Ashraf was posted at the Debpur Police Outpost under Burichang Police Station, said Shahidul Islam, inspector of the outpost. According to police, Ashraf had been on night duty and began feeling unwell in the morning. He was rushed to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex, but his condition deteriorated on the way, and doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Woman hacked by ‘stepson’ in Cumilla dies Mohammad Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Burichang Police Station, said Ashraf’s family has been informed of his death. “His body will be taken to Cumilla Police Lines, where colleagues and officials will pay their respects before it is handed over to his family,” the OC added.  

At least eight people were injured in a clash between football teams from Jashore and Bagerhat during the quarterfinal match of the National Championship Football Tournament in Barishal on Saturday. Among the injured, five are students of Barishal University. The match began at 2:40 pm at the Barishal District Stadium. Tensions escalated in the second half following verbal exchanges between players, which soon spread to the spectators. According to witnesses, Bagerhat players and fans allegedly provoked Jashore supporters, leading to a physical altercation. Several Barishal University students, who were supporting the Jashore team, were injured in the ensuing scuffle. Following the incident, Barishal University students gathered in front of the stadium in protest. 4 sentenced to death for 2016 rape in Barishal About an hour later, as the Bagerhat team attempted to leave the stadium, some agitated students reportedly attacked them, leaving three more people injured. At the time of filing this report, the Bagerhat team was still inside the stadium, while Barishal University students continued their demonstration outside.    

An expatriate female tourist went missing on Saturday after a tourist boat capsized while returning from a trip to the Sundarbans. The missing woman has been identified as Riyana Azad, 28, wife of Touhidul Islam, from Bakerganj Upazila in Barishal district. Surjit Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Sundarbans East Division’s Dhankhari Station, said a group of 13 tourists had stayed overnight on Friday at the Mangrove Valley resort in Dhankhari and set out for Mongla on Saturday in a boat. Around noon, the boat carrying 13 tourists, including women and children, sank in strong currents at the estuary of the Pashur River in the Dhankhari canal of the Sundarbans. Twelve of the passengers managed to swim ashore with local help; however, Riyana was swept away, he added. A search operation was launched by the Forest Department, Coast Guard, and River Police, but as of 6 p.m. on Saturday, the missing woman had not yet been found, OC Surjit said. Riyana's father Abul Kalam Azad told reporters that the boat carrying 13 people capsized due to strong waves. He said Riyana was a pilot who later moved to the United States and currently resides in Dhaka’s Uttara area.

The government is going to build a cable-stayed bridge, first of its kind in the country, the visually stunning Matlab-Gazaria Bridge, connecting Matlab Uttar in Chandpur with Gazaria in Munshiganj across the Meghna-Dhonagoda River. Officials involved with the project say the bridge will stand as a remarkable symbol of modern engineering, ensuring both environmental sustainability and navigational safety. The Bridge Division under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Bridges has given top priority to the bridge’s design, environmental considerations, and preservation of river navigability, according to a team of experts visiting the site. On Thursday afternoon, Bridge Division Secretary and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Mohammad Abdur Rouf visited the project site to inspect the progress of land acquisition and road connection works. He said that land acquisition and detailed design work are nearing completion. “The government has placed this project among its key priorities,” Rouf told UNB, expressing optimism that construction could begin in the first half of next year. Once completed, the bridge will not only improve regional connectivity but also facilitate the construction of a four-lane road atop the Meghna-Dhonagoda embankment under the irrigation project, he said. This road will serve as a faster and shorter alternative route from Chandpur to Feni and Chattogram, effectively acting as a bypass for the N-1 National Highway, the secretary said. Rouf added that funding for the project under South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) has made significant progress, with the preliminary agreement framework finalized. He noted that tenders will be invited and construction will start as soon as the funds are released, calling for the cooperation of all related departments and stakeholders. Joint Secretary of the Bridges Division Md Bhikaroddoula Chowdhury told UNB that the 1.85-kilometer-long bridge will be entirely eco-friendly. To preserve river flow, a 25-meter vertical clearance will be maintained, allowing smooth passage of vessels during tides. The bridge will feature a six-lane connecting road, including a four-lane main carriageway and two service lanes. Woman becomes fourth to die of snakebite in just 9 months in Chandpur Besides, around 2.5 kilometers of river training work will be carried out to maintain navigability, prevent erosion, and ensure the bridge’s longevity. Chowdhury also mentioned that the existing Meghna-Dhonagoda embankment will be widened and upgraded into a durable roadway. The inspection visit was attended by senior officials of the Bridge Division, Project Director Md Abul Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmuda Kulsum Moni, Assistant Commissioner (Land), and officials from the Roads and Highways Department.    

A three-year-old girl was killed in a road accident in Sherpur on Friday noon. The accident took place around 1:30 pm near the Khoyarpur–Jailkhana Mor road in the BSCIC area of the town. The deceased kid was identified as Ayra Moni, daughter of Engineer Likhon Mia who is the convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) of Sherpur District, According to police and local sources, she went near the roadside while her mother, Moni Mala, was disposing of trash near their home. Suddenly, she was caught between a coming CNG auto-rickshaw and a microbus and was seriously injured. Both vehicles fled the scene, making it difficult to identify them. Jubo Dal activist dies during anniversary rally in Sherpur Local people rescued the child and rushed to Sherpur District Hospital. Due to her critical condition, she was referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, but she died on the way. Zubaidul Alam, officer-in-charge of Sherpur Sadar Police Station, confirmed the incident.