United News of Bangladesh

A suicide bomber targeted protesters at an antimilitant rally in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 14 people, mostly civilians and police officers, and wounding more than two dozen others, officials said. The attack happened in Kabal, a town in Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where demonstrators had gathered near a police station, chanting anti-militant slogans and demanding peace, district police chief Omar Khan said. According to witnesses, shortly before the attack, speakers at the rally said ensuring security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility. They also accused authorities of failing to act decisively against militants, saying residents wanted to live without fear after years of violence that devastated the region. Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial emergency service, said the attacker struck dozens of people who were chanting antimilitant slogans and demanding peace. Police official Omar Khan said at least nine civilians and five officers were among the dead. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life. In separate statements they offered condolences to the families of those killed, prayed for the recovery of the wounded and directed authorities to ensure the wounded receive the best possible medical treatment. Zardari and Sharif also said Pakistan’s fight against terrorism would continue until it is eradicated. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack. In a statement, he extending condolences to the families of those killed and prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded. The Swat Valley was once a stronghold of Islamic militants who imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law, before the Pakistani military launched a major operation in 2007 that drove them out and restored government control. However, militants have resurfaced in Pakistan’s Swat Valley in recent months, fueling fears that the Pakistani Taliban are seeking to regain a foothold in the region. In response, residents have repeatedly staged anti-Taliban rallies to protest the militants’ presence across the valley. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The TTP is separate from, but allied with, Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. Many of its leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies. Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks in recent years, particularly targeting police and security forces. On Friday, Pakistan's military spokesman Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan has recorded 3,145 “terrorism incidents” since January. He said Pakistan had killed 2,084 militants since January, while 819 Pakistanis, including soldiers, police officers and civilians, had been killed. Chaudhry also said Afghanistan-based militants had carried out 28 suicide attacks in Pakistan since January and alleged that most were carried out by Afghan nationals or people associated with Afghanistan’s security forces. He said the TTP and other militant groups were carrying out attacks inside Pakistan with the support of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and Pakistan would continue to target the TTP and its support infrastructure.

At least five people were killed and 41 others remained missing after a passenger ferry carrying 271 people caught fire off Indonesia's main island of Java on Sunday, officials said. The Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry was travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi with 232 passengers and 39 crew members when the fire broke out between 6 am and 7 am in waters off Sumenep regency, according to Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). The ferry operator alerted rescuers about an hour later after receiving a distress report from the vessel's captain. However, communication with the ferry was later lost. Authorities located the burning ferry about 19 nautical miles north of Buruan Sapudi Island. A nearby cargo ship was unable to get close because it was carrying flammable cargo. Videos released by rescuers and shared on social media showed thick black smoke and flames engulfing much of the ferry as frightened passengers wearing life jackets waited for help or jumped into the sea. A tugboat and other nearby vessels began rescuing passengers shortly before 10 am. By Sunday afternoon, rescuers and nearby ships had evacuated 225 passengers and crew members and recovered five bodies. At least 41 people were still unaccounted for. The cause of the fire was not immediately known and remains under investigation. The National Search and Rescue Agency dispatched a rescue ship from Surabaya, while the Indonesian Navy sent a warship to assist in the operation. A rescue boat from Sumenep was forced to return because of rough seas and high waves. The 160-metre ferry operates on the Surabaya-Makassar route, a journey of around 40 hours that is widely used by domestic passengers and cargo transport. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferry services, although maritime accidents are frequent due to poor enforcement of safety regulations.

Seven suspected armed robbers were killed in a gunfight with Afghan police in Kabul on Saturday night. Khalid Zadran, Kabul police spokesperson, said the exchange of fire took place in Police District 8 at around 9 pm. He confirmed the incident in a statement posted on social media platform X early Sunday. Police recovered a vehicle along with several weapons and ammunition from the suspected robbers, the statement said. One security personnel was also injured in the incident, though no further details were immediately available.

The death toll in ongoing floods in India's northeastern state of Assam has risen to 82, with two people still missing, officials said Saturday. According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Sivasagar district reported the highest 42 deaths, followed by Charaideo and Jorhat districts with 21 and nine deaths respectively. According to Sarma, the floods hit 2,251 villages, affecting over 1.1 million people in the state. Floods have fully damaged 2,530 residential houses and another 9,668 houses have suffered partial damage. The authorities have set up 218 relief camps where 71,889 people have taken shelter. Besides, 1,811 relief distribution centers have been opened in the affected districts. "Relief operations continue to expand across the state, with the number of relief distribution centers increasing to 1,811 now," Sarma said. "Every effort remains focused on relief, rehabilitation and restoring normalcy."    

The SAARC Journalist Forum (SJF) and ICJ Global Media Group LLC, operator of the Intercontinental Connection of Journalists (ICJ), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a three-year strategic partnership aimed at strengthening international cooperation among journalists, promoting press freedom, and expanding professional opportunities for media professionals across South Asia and beyond. The agreement was signed by Raju Lama, International President of the SAARC Journalist Forum, in New York, and Saša Dobrijević, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ICJ Global Media Group LLC, in Belgrade, Serbia. SAARC Journalist Forum to host Dhaka Conference this year According to the MoU, both organizations will collaborate to advance independent journalism, enhance professional standards, and increase the global visibility of journalists from South Asia. The partnership is based on mutual respect, professional ethics, and institutional cooperation. The agreement reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to defending press freedom and supporting responsible journalism. Under the agreement, the SAARC Journalist Forum will join the ICJ Friends institutional network. The partnership includes reciprocal digital promotion, with both organizations displaying each other’s official logos and website links, as well as the creation of an official institutional profile for SJF on the ICJ platform to showcase its activities, achievements, and initiatives. The MoU also encourages SJF-affiliated journalists to become ICJ members, providing access to an international media network, professional training, publishing opportunities, press credentials, participation in global media panels, and eligibility for ICJ awards. Premium members will also gain access to the ICJ Marketplace for the international distribution of investigative and exclusive journalism. The agreement outlines cooperation in joint projects, information sharing, online exchanges, and coordinated initiatives designed to strengthen media solidarity across South Asia and globally. It further clarifies that the MoU is an expression of goodwill and does not create legally binding financial or commercial obligations between the two organizations. The partnership will remain in effect for an initial period of three years, with the option of renewal by mutual written agreement. Either party may terminate the agreement by providing 60 days’ written notice. The signing of the MoU marks a significant milestone in expanding international media cooperation, creating new opportunities for journalists in the SAARC region to engage with a broader global network while reinforcing the shared values of press freedom, ethical journalism, and professional development.

A Sri Lankan court on Friday sentenced former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to death after convicting him of criminal negligence for failing to prevent the Islamic State-inspired Easter Sunday bomb attacks in 2019 that killed more than 260 people. Although sentenced to death, Jayasundara is unlikely to be executed as Sri Lanka has maintained an informal moratorium on capital punishment since 1976, meaning death sentences are generally commuted to life imprisonment. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake supports retaining the moratorium. The coordinated bombings targeted three churches- two Catholic and one Protestant- and three tourist hotels, killing more than 260 people, including 42 foreign nationals. A parliamentary committee investigating the attacks found that police and intelligence officials failed to act despite receiving repeated intelligence warnings before the bombings. Jayasundara may appeal Friday's verdict delivered by a three-member High Court bench. The court was also scheduled to issue a verdict later Friday on former Defense Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, who faces the same charge. Authorities blamed two Sri Lanka-based Islamic militant groups for carrying out the attacks. All suspects believed to have directly participated are dead, while separate trials are continuing for individuals accused of links to the perpetrators. Sri Lanka's Catholic Church has maintained that those identified so far were not the masterminds behind the Easter Sunday attacks, alleging that a broader conspiracy was behind the bombings.

The death toll from an overnight deadly militant attack on a police post in northwestern Pakistan rose to 11 early Thursday, police and a government official said. Security forces killed 15 militants in an hourlong gunbattle after they targeted the Khazina police post in Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, police official Irfan Khan said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. Suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which has stepped up attacks on Pakistani security forces in the region in recent months. Among those killed was Diyar Khan, a senior police officer who led reinforcements to the scene, according to a provincial police statement. More than two dozen police officers were also wounded in the attack. Police said the militants attacked the police post with heavy weapons. Reinforcements dispatched to the scene were ambushed en route, damaging an armored personnel carrier before officers fought back, according to the statement. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, much of it blamed on the TTP, a separate group but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing sanctuary to TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies.  

Over the past decade, the government of India has built a robust ecosystem of open, interoperable and inclusive digital platforms that have transformed public service delivery, promoted financial inclusion, fostered innovation and created new opportunities for citizens and businesses, said the Press Information Bureau of India. The government's vision now extends beyond domestic digital transformation towards building a globally connected, trusted and inclusive digital ecosystem. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) was one of the key priority areas of the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) meetings during India's G20 Presidency in 2023. The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration explicitly recognised DPI, as a development accelerator for economic growth. In furtherance of this vision, the Government of India has signed MoUs with 24 countries for cooperation in sharing successful population-scale digital solutions to accelerate digital transformation globally. These MoUs provide a framework for cooperation in capacity building, knowledge and best-practice exchange, joint workshops and expert consultations, feasibility and e-readiness assessments, and the development, piloting and scaling of proven digital solutions. The country-wise list of signed MoUs is provided at Annexure-I. The government of India has undertaken virtual consultations and technical workshops with partner countries to showcase India Stack and other population-scale digital solutions and identify areas of interest. Based on the solutions identified, detailed technical discussions have held with the concerned Indian technical agencies and partner countries including feasibility studies to assess the readiness of the partner country’s digital ecosystem. Significant progress has been achieved with countries of the Global South, including the conclusion of Implementation Framework Agreement (IFA) and a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Kenya for implementation of DigiLocker. Development of a foundational DigiLocker solution in Cuba has also commenced. Further, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme of MEA, a course on DPI was conducted for Cuban delegation in December 2025. Additionally, bilateral consultations have progressed with partner countries such as Lao PDR, Seychelles, Venezuela, Armenia, Fiji, Guyana Colombia for the potential adoption of key Indian digital solutions, including e-Sanjeevani, e-Office, e-Hospital etc. Moreover, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is linked with the payment systems of various countries to facilitate Person-to-Person (P2P) remittances and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions. The government regularly facilitates study visits and technical interactions for foreign delegations, enabling them to engage with key institutions like Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), National e-Governance Division (NeGD), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), National Informatics Centre (NIC), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), etc. These engagements enable partner countries to discuss implementation challenges and draw on India’s experience in developing its Digital Public Infrastructure. Some of the recent study visits include delegations from Kenya, Rwanda, Nepal, Indonesia, and South Africa. The government has also approved the Social Impact Fund (SIF), which is a government led, multistakeholder initiative to provide financial support and technical assistance for DPI pilot implementation in the Global South particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Rights groups have voiced concern over escalating violence during regional elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after a banned activist organisation boycotted the polls and staged protests, with the group claiming more than 30 protesters were killed.   Leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) said clashes between police and demonstrators earlier this week left over 30 people dead. In a video statement on Wednesday, JAAC member Sardar Umar Nazir alleged that 20 supporters were killed during a protest march on Monday, the day the first phase of voting was held. He also claimed at least 10 more protesters died the following day in Rawalakot, Mirpur and other areas, including during sit-ins. Dozens arrested ahead of protest by banned group in Pakistan-administered Kashmir “Our demand was peaceful... we tried to keep it non-violent and bullets were fired,” Nazir said. Pakistani authorities said one security official was killed and five others injured in Monday’s violence. Amnesty International described reports of lethal force against protesters as “disturbing” and called for an independent investigation, while conflict monitor ACLED warned the violence could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. The first round of voting covered Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts, with two more phases scheduled for August 2 and August 10. Pakistan’s ruling PML-N secured nine of the 13 seats contested in Monday’s vote. JAAC was banned under anti-terrorism laws in June, triggering widespread unrest that disrupted banking, road transport and internet services. Pakistani authorities alleged India-backed armed elements joined the protests, an accusation India has previously denied. Amnesty also condemned the JAAC ban as unlawful, urging authorities to restore communications, allow media and independent observers into the region, and refrain from using deadly force against protesters. JAAC has demanded the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, arguing they allow major Pakistani political parties to influence the regional parliament. Political analyst Hasan Askari said any future regional government dependent on those seats would struggle to resolve the dispute. Several parties also alleged ballot stuffing and vote rigging after Monday’s polling. With inputs from Al Jazeera

The death toll from the ongoing floods in India's northeastern state of Assam has increased to 75, while eight people remain missing, officials said on Wednesday. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Chief Minister, said Sivasagar district recorded the highest number of fatalities at 37, followed by Charaideo with 20 deaths and Jorhat with nine. The floods have affected 2,185 villages in 25 districts, impacting more than 1.14 million people across the state. Authorities have established 215 relief camps, providing shelter to 71,312 displaced people. In addition, 1,718 relief distribution centres have been opened in the flood-hit districts to support those affected. According to Sarma, the disaster has completely destroyed 1,368 residential houses, while another 11,066 homes have sustained partial damage. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said more than 45,341 hectares of cropland remain under floodwaters.