United News of Bangladesh

Two tilers were dead and two fish traders were injured in a collision between a pickup van and a motorbike in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Imran Sheikh, son of Mohammad Sheikh, and Nayeem Sheikh, son of Ziaur Sheikh — both from Hatkholarchar village under Moyna union of the upazila. The identities of the injured could not be known immediately. They, fish traders by profession, were passengers of the pickup van. Boalmari police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahidul Islam said the pickup van hit the motorbike coming from the opposite direction on Majhkandi-Bhatiapara regional road in Binnahuri area around 5 am, leaving the duo on the bike dead on the spot and the rest injured. Boalamari Upazila Health Complex’s physician Dr Sabrina Haque Tumpa said one of the injured was released after receiving first aid and the rest was shifted to Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital.

In a tragic incident in Sadar upazila of Munshiganj, an employee of the Munshiganj municipality was killed last night, reportedly over a long-standing land dispute. The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Ujjal Mollah, a resident of the Mathpara area under Sadar municipality, though his specific role within the municipality remains unclear. The conflict, rooted in a contentious land ownership issue, involved the victim and his neighbor, Humayun Ahmed. According to eyewitness accounts, the situation escalated dramatically at around 10:30 pm when Humayun, accompanied by his younger brother Sohel and several associates, launched a violent attack on Mollah’s residence. The assailants reportedly fired upon entering before brutally assaulting Mollah, leaving him critically injured. The local community promptly intervened, rushing Mollah to Munshiganj General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by medical professionals. Officer-in-Charge Aminul Islam of the Munshiganj Sadar police station confirmed the arrests of Humayun and Sohel in connection with the murder. The deadly encounter appears to have been driven by the ongoing dispute over land ownership, he remarked.

At least 18 houses and two cattle were burnt to ash in another devastating fire in Karnaphuli upazila of Chattogram early today. The incident was reported hours after a massive fire at S Alam Sugar Refined Mill in the same upazila on Monday afternoon. Karnaphuli Fire Service Senior Station Officer Shoaib Hossain Munsi said the fire erupted from a mosquito coil in a cattle shed owned by Md Ismail in Ichhanagar village under Charpatharghata union of the upazila around 3:30 am, engulfing nearby houses. By the time a firefighting unit rushed to the spot, at least 18 houses were burnt along with two cattle, he said. The fire caused damages of around Tk 35 lakh, the fire service officer said, adding that the victims were needy. The devastating fire that broke out in the sugar mill in Karnaphuli upazila around 4 pm yesterday was brought under control around 10:30 pm. On February 29, a massive fire that broke out in a commercial building on Dhaka’s Bailey Road left at least 46 people dead and dozens of people burnt.

The fire that broke out at S Alam Refined Sugar Mill at Karnaphuli upazila Chattogram, was brought under control about six and a half hours after breaking out on Monday. Karnaphuli Fire Service Senior Station Officer Shoaib Hossain Munsi said that the fire was completely brought under control at around 10:30 pm on Monday. Fire at S Alam's Chattogram sugar mill still raging; 13 firefighting units deployed Meanwhile, a seven-member investigation committee formed on Monday night headed by the Additional District Magistrate to investigate the fire incident, Karnaphuli Upazila Nirbahi Officer Masuma Jannat confirmed the matter. After visiting the spot, Additional Divisional Commissioner Anwar Pasha formed a 7-member investigation committee. Additional District Magistrate Mamunur Rahman has been made the head of the committee, she said. Fire breaks out at Chattogram sugar mill A large number of members of law enforcement agencies, including 100 members of Bangladesh Army, two 12-member teams of Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, RAB, police are assisting in extinguishing the fire at S Alam Refined Sugar Industries, added the UNO. The fire broke out at S Alam Sugar Mill in Ichanagar area of Karnaphuli upazila around 4 pm on Monday. The factory authorities claimed that 1 lakh tonnes of unrefined sugar stored in their warehouse was completely destroyed in the fire. The total loss has been estimated at Tk 1,400 crore.

Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation, Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation and Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation have called off the strike they called earlier. Water transport workers withdraw indefinite strike The leaders of the three shipping workers federation made the announcement after State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury held a meeting with the Shipping Owners' Association and senior officials of the concerned departments of the government at the Secretariat on on Monday. Day 2 of water transport workers’ strike: Passengers bear the brunt as always

US-Bangla Airlines is going to start daily direct flights from Dhaka and Chattogram to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates from April 19. Abu Dhabi is US-Bangla Airlines' third destination in the UAE. The direct flights on Dhaka-Abu Dhabi route will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and on Chattogram-Abu Dhabi route on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 5.50 pm, according to a press release. The flight will leave from Abu Dhabi at 10:10pm local time on the same days and will land at at 4:50am. One-way fare for traveling from Dhaka and Chattogram to Abu Dhabi is Tk 41,155 and return Tk 71,300. The flight is planned to be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Ticket sales for Dhaka-Abu Dhabi-Dhaka and Chattogram Abu Dhabi-Chattogram routes have started from Monday. All distribution channels of US-Bangla Airlines are simultaneously opened for sale. Detailed information regarding flight schedule, ticket price is available from US-Bangla Airlines website WWW.USBAIR.COM. Also contact 01777777800-6 or 13605 for ticket related information.        

A new book titled “Bangladesh on a New Journey: Moving Beyond the Regional Identity” will be unveiled on Wednesday. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies (BFRS) will host the book launching ceremony jointly at the BIISS auditorium. Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will join the occasion as the chief guest. Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam will grace the occasion as special guest.        

Globally renowned production giants Sony Pictures Television and Nippon TV are set to mark a milestone with the 50th edition of their acclaimed format, “Shark Tank”, hitting screens in Bangladesh.  Scheduled to be broadcast on popular OTT platforms Bongo and Deepto TV, the show promises to be a groundbreaking addition to the country's entrepreneurial landscape, reads a press release.  Following the resounding success of its Indian counterpart, which garnered over 75 million views upon its 2021 launch, “Shark Tank Bangladesh” aims to further amplify the spirit of entrepreneurship in the region. With plans underway for productions in Pakistan and Nepal, the show is poised to ignite a wave of innovation and investment across South Asia, it said.  Since its inception as “Money Tigers” on Nippon TV in Japan in 2001, the “Shark Tank” format has captivated audiences worldwide. From its introduction to the UK on the BBC in 2005 to its American debut on ABC Channel as “Shark Tank” in 2009, the show has consistently showcased aspiring entrepreneurs securing investments from leading business moguls. Reflecting on the significance of bringing “Shark Tank” to Bangladesh, Ahad Mohammad Bhai, CEO of Bongo, expressed enthusiasm for the potential impact on the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. “Bangladesh is a nation teeming with dynamic entrepreneurs, yet often lacking the necessary infrastructure and platforms for growth,” stated Bhai. “With the arrival of 'Shark Tank' in Bangladesh, we aim to bridge this gap and provide a global platform for our homegrown talent. It is an honor to be able to bring such a renowned format to our country and contribute to the empowerment of our entrepreneurs.”    

In a historic decision on February 29, the New York State Supreme Court, First Appellate Department, ruled in favour of Bangladesh Bank in its pursuit of justice against Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and key individuals involved in the infamous theft of approximately $81 million. The First Appellate Department confirmed that New York would be the venue for litigation arising from RCBC's theft of Bangladesh Bank's funds, highlighting the significance of the ruling, according to a press release of Bangladesh Bank. BB Heist: Dhaka wants fined money back; also identities of perpetrators Notably, the court affirmed the trial court's decision that RCBC, along with its senior executives Lorenzo Tan and Raul Victor B. Tan, and Kam Sin (Kim) Wong, could be held liable in New York courts for their involvement in the elaborate heist, it said. The court ruling holds RCBC and its senior management accountable for their role in the fraud perpetrated against Bangladesh Bank. It allows Bangladesh Bank to pursue the defendants for the funds they controlled, which were knowingly laundered through foreign exchanges and the RCBC Treasury. The court emphasized the defendants' failure to respond to Bangladesh Bank's stop payment request and return the stolen funds. Report on BB heist put on hold for the sake of probe: Minister   Additionally, the court addressed the transfer of approximately $58.2 million of stolen funds to accounts under fictitious names after RCBC received stop payment requests. The judgment highlighted RCBC's creation of fictitious accounts, the use of New York correspondent accounts for the theft, and profitable foreign exchange trades on the stolen funds, said the release. The court also ruled against Wong, stating that the bank had sufficiently alleged his involvement in the conspiracy, including theft and money laundering. For Lorenzo Tan, the court underscored allegations of his close association with Wong and failure to take action after the stolen funds were transferred to fictitious RCBC accounts. BB Heist: Court again seeks CID report by March 13 While the First Department dismissed some individual RCBC employees and conversion claims, it allowed Bangladesh Bank to move forward with claims in fraud, unjust enrichment, trespass, and money had and received against the defendants. The decision strengthens Bangladesh Bank's resolve to pursue justice in New York, where the money was stolen, showcasing a significant step forward in recovering the stolen funds, added the release. Bangladesh Bank expressed satisfaction with the decision, emphasizing its commitment to holding the alleged co-conspirators accountable. The ruling sets the stage for further legal proceedings, with Bangladesh Bank considering its response, including potential appeals and responses to any appeal by the remaining RCBC defendants and Kim Wong. This landmark decision is a crucial victory for Bangladesh Bank, bringing the institution one step closer to recovering the stolen funds and holding those responsible for the heist accountable.

Nagad, a popular mobile financial service provider in Bangladesh, has come up with an exciting offer for its customers to get a cash bonus of up to Tk 500 on doing add-money transactions of specific amounts to their Nagad wallets from Visa card. To avail of this cash bonus, a Nagad wallet holder must go to the “Add-Money” option on his or her mobile app and select “card to Nagad”. Then, they will choose a Visa card and add the selected amounts to their Nagad accounts. The cash bonus will be deposited into their accounts within three working days, says a press release issued on Monday. Prothoma book fair held at Nagad’s head office Starting from March 1, the campaign will remain valid till March 31. Only an active and full profile account is a must to enjoy this cash bonus. They can enjoy such cash bonuses on each amount only once. Talking about this campaign, Md Shihab Uddin Chowdhury, deputy managing director and chief commercial officer of Nagad Ltd, said “Nagad has continued its efforts to bring more and more people under digital financial services, to accelerate Bangladesh’s transition to a cashless society. We also want to make their digital lifestyle more rewarding alongside giving them all comfort. As part of it, we have launched this cash bonus campaign on add-money from Visa card.” Nagad will not request its customers to disclose their card number, card CVV, secret PIN or OTP for anything related to this campaign. Nagad introduces Islamic merchant accounts Besides, the MFS operator will not ask users to make any payment to anyone or add money to any number whatsoever, and if they become a victim of any kind of fraud, Nagad will not be liable. Customers will be solely responsible for any transaction made from their Nagad accounts.