United News of Bangladesh

Eleven crew of a coal-laden vessel swam ashore after a crack developed in its bottom in the Pashur River on its way to Jashore from Mongla sea port in Bagerhat on Saturday morning. Kazi Kamrul Islam, master of cargo vessel ‘MV Ishra Mahmud’, said the vessel sailed out for Jashore’s Naowapara after loading 950 metric tonnes of coal from a merchant vessel at the sea port on Friday evening. When the vessel anchored in the Charkana area of the river 11 am, a crack developed in its bottom and water entered, he said. Md Makruzzman, deputy director (public relations) of the Mongla Port Authority, said the coals are being shifted from the vessel to a barge. Moreover, movement of vessels remained uninterrupted on the Pashur Channel, he added.

An inmate of Dhaka central Jail in Keraniganj died after falling sick on Saturday morning. The deceased was Md Nadim, 30, son of late Jabbar of Christian Lane in Basabo of Dhaka. Sources at the central jail said Nadim fell sick suddenly and later he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Physicians at the emergency department of the DMCH declared him dead upon arrival, said Md Bachhu Miah, in-charge of the hospital police outpost. The body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.

The World Bank’s Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, arrives in Dhaka Saturday evening on her first official visit to Bangladesh. During her one-day visit, Bjerde will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Finance Minister, senior government officials, civil society, and private sector leaders. She will be accompanied by Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region. The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh after its independence. Since then, it has committed more than $41 billion to Bangladesh, mostly in grants or concessional credits. Bangladesh currently has the largest ongoing programme supported by the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA).  

At least nine Rohingya people including five children sustained burn injuries in a fire which broke out in a Rohingya camp in Noakhali’s Bhashan Char on Saturday morning. The injured were first taken to Noakhali 250 Bed General Hospital. Later, five of them were transferred to the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital’s (CMCH) burn unit. Hasina Jahan, Deputy Director of Noakhali 250 Bed General Hospital, confirmed the matter.

Dhaka's air quality has been categorized as ‘unhealthy’ this morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 164 at 9 am, Dhaka ranked 5th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Karachi, Myanmar’s Yangon and Nepal’s Kathmandu occupied the first four spots on the list, with AQI scores of 228, 170, 166 and 165, respectively. Dhaka’s air quality 3rd worst in the world this morning An AQI between 150 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Dhaka’s air quality 4th worst in the world this morning Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.      

Night guards would be appointed at union and municipal land offices across the country to ensure the security of valuable documents stored in the land offices, Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda said on Friday. The minister said this while addressing a reception accorded to him by the Bangladesh Land Officers' Welfare Association at the council hall of the Institute of Diploma Engineers (IDEB) at Kakrail in the capital. Reiterating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firm determination to implement corruption-free smart land management as part of the master plan to build Bangabandhu's smart Sonar Bangla, the land minister also said that, every citizen of the country is involved with land, as well as the overall economy of the country is also involved. He stressed the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy against corruption in the land sector and emphasized the need to ensure that no uninvited third parties or brokers are present in land offices. International Qirat Conference held at Baitul Mukarram The Minister urged Union Land Assistant Officers (ULAOs) and Union Land Sub-Assistant Officers (ULSAOs) from across the country to provide transparent and efficient land services, moving away from past inefficiencies. He called on them to serve as the frontline soldiers in establishing smart land management and contributing to the realization of Bangabandhu's vision of Sonar Bangla. Addressing the newly appointed Union Land Sub-Assistant Officer, the land minister said: "The nation has special expectations from you. As civil service exam passers, you symbolize merit in public service. I trust that you will work honestly, valuing the trust of the country and its people, and innovate to provide people-friendly land services."  Mohiuddin Ahmed, a lawmaker from Munshiganj-1 constituency, was present as a special guest. Chinese ambassador visits ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ with his spouse Among others, President of the Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh Land Officers' Welfare Association Md. Motahar Hossain Khan, Executive President Md. Abul Hossain, and Secretary General Md. Asaduzzaman were present. Besides, Union Land Assistant Officers and Union Land Sub-Assistant Officers from all over the country were also present. There are 3,468 union and municipal land offices across the country.    

The dead body of a 30-year-old Indian Border Security Force (BSF) member, who went missing during a storm when a BSF patrol boat sank in the Ichamati River on the Harddaha border in Satkhira, has been recovered by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The deceased Mohammad Riaz Uddin's body was recovered on Friday morning. BGB recovered the body based on information from locals. After a meeting between BGB In-Charge Naib Subedar Anisur Rahman and Indian 85 BSF Commandant Anurag Moni, the body was returned to the BSF.

The day-long International Qirat Conference 2024 was held on Friday at the national mosque Baitul Mukarram premises with various activities. Minister of Liberation War A. K. M. Mozammel Haque formally inaugurated the programme as the chief guest. Mozammel Haque said such a beautiful arrangement for presenting the recitation of world famous reciters (Qirat) is really appreciating as it is very important to spread the message of Quran among people. The day-long eventful arrangement was preceded by a discussion session. President of International Qirat Organization Bangladesh Allama Qari Abu Rayhan and central leaders participated in the programme. In the evening, famous Qaris from India, Iran, Afghanistan, England came to the stage one by one where the audience was mesmerized by the recitation of their melodious voices. Secretary general of International Qirat Organization Bangladesh Sheikh Saad Saifullah Madani said that this is a series of conferences of the organization. There is a plan to organize this conference every year for Quran lovers. International Kirat organization Bangladesh is working hard to spread the message of Allah's word among people.  Highlighting the glorious achievements of Bangladesh in various international competitions held by the organization, he said that due to the transparent selection process, Bangladesh is able to show surprises one after another in all major competitions of the world.

No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Friday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, three more patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS. Of them, one was admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest was outside the capital. A total of 29 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, 1,319 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3,18,749 recoveries last year. Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen visited the month-long ‘Amar Ekushey Boi Mela’ Friday afternoon. He accompanied by his spouse came to the fair to visit it and gifted books to children after buying from stalls. Upon his arrival at 3 pm, the ambassador was welcomed by a lion dance and other Chinese traditions in front of the China Book House, (stall no 791-792). After exchanging greetings, Yao entered the Chinese stall and gave books to children from it. Later, he visited other stalls on the fair premises of Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Uddyan and bought two books from two stalls. After visiting the fair, the ambassador shared his feelings with the media about his visit. He said, “This is the second time I’m visiting this book fair with my wife. I’m very happy to see most of the books written in Bangla which is also an indicator of enriched Bangla culture and literature. There are cultural presentations I think this will help to enrich both Bangla and Chinese cultures.”