United News of Bangladesh

The well-marked low over West Central Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay moved west or northwest direction and intensified into a monsoon depression over West Central Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay of North-Andhra-South Odisha coast at 6 am on Saturday. It is likely to move west or northwest direction further and likely to cross north Andhra-South Odisha coast by midnight on Saturday, said a special bulletin Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Cyclone Remal moves northwards over Bay Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist distant cautionary signal No 1. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice.    

Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the ‘moderate’ zone this morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 75 at 9:05 am, Dhaka ranked the 27th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kinshasa, Pakistan’s Lahore and Uganda’s Kampala occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 199, 166 and 155, respectively. An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with acceptable air quality. However, there may be a health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘moderate’ Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in the winter and improves during the monsoon. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. Dhaka’s air quality in 'moderate’ zone  

 Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) has urged the interim government to dismiss murder charges brought against professional journalists following recent political changes in the country. The DUJ expressed concern that journalists across Bangladesh, including in Dhaka, are being implicated in murder cases since the shift in power earlier this month. In a statement released Friday, DUJ President Sohel Haider Chowdhury and General Secretary Akhtar Hossain called on the interim government’s Chief Adviser and relevant ministry advisers to take immediate action for withdrawal of these cases.  The DUJ leaders highlighted that, since  August 5, over 50 journalists have been accused of murder in various districts. Many of those implicated hold leadership roles in journalist unions and press clubs. The DUJ leaders said that these individuals are being targeted unfairly, despite their role in upholding the public's right to information and leading the journalist community. “While it is appropriate for any journalist to face charges if specific allegations are proven, it is not justifiable to entangle them in murder cases merely on accusations of assisting the previous government,” reads the statement. The DUJ also condemned the harassment and abuse of journalists following their arrests, which has reportedly occurred on court premises. The union called for those responsible for such attacks to be swiftly identified and prosecuted. The DUJ leaders warned that the widespread filing of murder charges against journalists is instilling fear within the media community and spreading panic among the general public. They cautioned that this could undermine efforts to build a society free from discrimination. The union has called for the immediate withdrawal of these cases to protect both journalists and the broader societal commitment to justice and fairness.    

The death toll from the recent flood in 11 districts has climbed to 54 with 2 more deaths reported in Feni district till Friday, according to the report of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry. Among the deceased, 14 people died in Cumilla, six in Chattogram , 19 in Feni, eight in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur districts respectively. Besides, 10, 09, 522 families have been stranded in 64 upazilas of 11 flood-hit districts--Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox’s Bazar. Moreover, 54, 64, 167 people have been affected in 486 municipalities or unions of the 11 districts. One people still remain missing in Moulvibazar district. Meanwhile, at least 4, 69,687 people have taken shelter in 3,269 shelter centres while 38, 192 domestic animals were kept there, according to data from the ministry. A total of 567 medical teams are providing medical services in the flood affected areas. So far, a sum of Tk 4.52 crore has been allocated in the flood-stricken districts while 20,650 tonnes of rice, 15,000 pieces of dry foods or other foods and baby foods and fodder worth Tk 35 lakh each were allocated, said the ministry.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources have contributed a total of Tk 92 lakh to the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund for those affected by the recent floods. The Environment Ministry donated Tk 46.4 lakh, while the Ministry of Water Resources contributed Tk 46 lakh, according to a press release on Friday. These funds were raised through a day’s salary from the officers and employees of the two ministries and their subordinate departments.

A 20-year-old woman's body was recovered from her house in Harirampur upazila of Manikganj on Thursday evening, according to the police. The deceased Sriti Sarkar was the wife of Sanjit Saha, a battery-run autorickshaw driver of Jatrapur village of Boyra union of the upazila. Inspector (Investigation) Mojibur Rahman of Harirampur Police Station confirmed the matter. According to locals, Sanjit's mother, Niyoti Saha, found Sriti’s body on her bed when she went to the room hearing the cries of her two-year-old grandson. At the time, Sanjit was away from home, having left with his vehicle around 4:00 pm. The victim had a visible injury to her body. Sanjit has been detained for questioning, said the police official. The victim’s mother, Rani Das, along with others, has alleged that Sriti was murdered in a premeditated manner, citing that Sanjit had a history of torturing her. The body was sent to Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy, added the inspector.

The interim government’s Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum said over 1,000 people had been killed and over 400 students lost their eyesight in the recent student-led mass upsurge that toppled the Awami League government. She disclosed the figures while visiting the injured police personnel and others undergoing treatment at Central Police Hospital (CPH) in Dhaka’s Rajarbagh on Wednesday, said a media release signed by Mohammad Shahdat Hossain, senior information officer of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Affairs . “So far, over a thousand people have been reported dead and more than 400 students have lost their vision, with many having lost sight in one or both eyes,” she said. Replying to a question, the health adviser said many police officers at the hospital have sustained injuries, with some suffering from wounds to their legs and others from head injuries and a student coordinator, who was also injured, is currently receiving treatment there. She informed that the government has committed to bearing the costs of treatment for those injured and taking responsibility for the families of the deceased. The Seba Foundation has been contacted to assist those with severe eye injuries, and it has agreed to send medical teams to provide treatment as soon as possible. The patients will receive care at the Isphahani Islamia Eye Institute, the National Institute of Ophthalmology, and hospitals in Chattogram and Dinajpur, she shared. The adviser also mentioned that numerous individuals have suffered leg injuries, with some requiring amputations. Discussions are ongoing with various donor agencies and the World Bank to facilitate the arrival of international medical teams to provide specialized care. She also met with hospital authorities and doctors to discuss the medical services being provided. Hospital Director Deputy Inspector General of police Sheikh Md. Rezaul Haider, other hospital officials, doctors and members of the central sub-committee on health from the anti-discrimination movement were present during the visit.

MA Momin Patwari, a former leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), succumbed to his injuries early on Friday. According to a post on the Awami League's verified Facebook page, Momin, who served as the Social Welfare Secretary of the Awami League, passed away at 4 am. The post alleged that Momin was severely injured by "BNP-Jamaat terrorists" on August 15 at Dhanmondi 32, where he was paying tribute to Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A fire broke out in a police patrol vehicle while it was patrolling Dhaka’s Malibagh Flyover on Thursday night. The incident occurred around 11:20 pm due to a technical glitch in the vehicle, according to Rakibul Hasan, duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defense. A firefighting unit responded to the scene and extinguished the fire by 11:42 pm, he added. No injuries were reported, he said.

Human rights organis ation Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) has congratulated Interim Government’s Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus for signing the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. In a statement, MSF expressed its belief that this accession will significantly contribute to ending the practice of enforced disappearances, combatting impunity, establishing justice, and providing support to the victims and their families. MSF also praised the interim government for setting up a commission to investigate cases of disappearances. Additionally, MSF hoped that the current government will play a crucial role in establishing justice by thoroughly investigating each case of past disappearances, revealing the truth, and taking legal action against those responsible.