United News of Bangladesh

Eyewitnesses say actress and activist Rokeya Prachy was beaten up by a group during a lamp-lighting sit-in held in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at Dhanmondi 32 on Wednesday evening. The event was organized to seek justice for the murders related to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Earlier this afternoon, the actress had announced the program on Facebook, marking the occasion of August 15, previously observed as National Mourning Day. According to eyewitnesses, several people from different walks of life, including a group of cultural activists, gathered in front of the Dhanmondi-32 house. Meanwhile, another group of 30-35 people appeared there with sticks during the lamp-lighting session. They asked the crowd to move away from there and then vandalized Bangabandhu’s portrait. When Prachy tried to intervene, they started beating her with sticks. She was quickly moved aside by her acquaintances and the army was called who brought the situation under control. After the Sheikh Hasina-led government’s fall on August 5, Bangabandhu’s house at Dhanmondi 32 was vandalized and burnt by miscreants. A series of arson attacks also burnt musician Rahul Ananda’s home on the road.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed asked officials to work fearlessly to prevent money laundering and bring back laundered money. "The officials have nothing to be afraid of if they work in the interests of the country as per rules and regulations," the finance adviser told a meeting of the National Coordinating Committee on Prevention of Money Laundering at the Secretariat on Wednesday. The committee held the meeting after nearly two years. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur along with senior officials of relevant agencies and departments were present in the meeting. Later speaking to reporters, the finance adviser said, "We will find out where and how money had been smuggled. We will work to bring the money back from abroad.” In this case, there are issues regarding international relations and laws. These things have been discussed in today's meeting, he said.

People from various religious groups, Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinators, and political parties jointly held a “Sampriti Samabesh” in Dhaka’s Shahbagh. The gathering, held in memory of martyr Fayyaz, began with the national anthem, followed by a minute of silence. Participants later marched towards Rapa Plaza in Dhanmondi. Tahmid Alam, a coordinator of the recent movement, delivered the welcoming speech, emphasising a unified Bangladeshi identity. "We are Bangladeshi; it is our main identity. We must fight together against forces trying to create unrest by inciting communal sentiments," he declared. Mahadi Al Mahmud, one of the event's organisers, led the attendees in taking an oath to build a harmonious Bangladesh for all its citizens, regardless of caste, class, or religion. The rally saw participation from teachers and students of various educational institutions, including madrasas. Santosh Sharma, the editor of daily Kalbela, emphasised the need for equal rights, stating, "We do not want special rights for the minority community; we want equal rights like every citizen. We have not received justice for the attacks on our people in the past 52 years." Sharma referenced a recent visit by Chief Advisor of the interim government, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, to the Dhakeswari Temple, where he affirmed that all citizens, regardless of religion, are members of the same family. "We know who carried out attacks on us in previous years and who protected us. Their political identity does not matter; they must be treated as culprits," he added. Nurul Islam Saddam, another speaker, warned against the resurgence of dictatorship in Bangladesh, asserting that students and freedom-loving people would resist such forces. "We want to build a country based on human values, where there is no discrimination between Hindus and Muslims," he stated. Sarjis Alam, one of the main coordinators of the student movement, highlighted the long history of resistance against various forms of coups and unrest. "The fascists trying to create unrest will find no one attending their janaza (funeral) if they are caught red-handed," he warned. The event concluded with a march towards Rapa Plaza, where participants observed “Resistance Week” and paid tribute to the martyrs, including Fayyaz, a student killed during a clash with police and Awami League supporters on July 18.

Lamiya Morshed has been appointed as the Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) affairs at the office of the Interim Government’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus with the status of a senior secretary on a contractual basis. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification to this end on Wednesday. According to the notification, Lamiya Morshed will remain in office for the duration of the chief adviser’s term or subject to his satisfaction. The order was issued in the public interest, read the notice. Meanwhile, the remaining term of the ongoing contract of Md Akhter Hossain, principal coordinator for SDG Affairs is hereby scrapped.

A student of Jagannath University who sustained bullet injuries during the student movement in the capital's Mirpur on August 4 died on Wednesday. Ikramul Haque Sajid, student of Accounting and Information System Department of the university, died while undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka at 2:15pm, said Dr. Md Humayun Kabir Chowdhury, treasurer of the university. Expressing grief over Sajid's death, he said Sajid succumbed to his injuries as he suffered critical  injuries. Meanwhile, after getting the news of Sajid's death, the students of the university held a protest march demanding justice for all those responsible for the killing. Shaheen Alam San, a student of the university said, "We cannot let our brother's blood go in vain. We will continue our movement until Sajid's killers are brought to justice."

Two youths were killed after being beaten by an angry mob in Dhaka's Sayedabad area on Wednesday morning. The deceased have been identified as Saif Arafat Sharif, 20, son of Kabir Hossain from Araihajar upazila in Narayanganj, and Saidul Islam Yasin, 19, son of Sakhawat Hossain. Both had been working as volunteers on the streets for some days. Arafat and Yasin were brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 10:30 a.m. in critical condition. The on-duty doctors declared them dead upon arrival. Samrat Sheikh, a scout member who brought Saif to the hospital, reported that the youths were attacked by some unidentified individuals in Sayedabad over a dispute involving a woman. The victims were initially left at Jatrabari Police Station around 8:30 am, where they were found in severe pain. Samrat also mentioned that it was reported they were "physically tortured in a hotel in the Sayedabad area." Their condition worsened, leading to their hospitalisation where they were declared dead after examination. Shilpi Akhter, the mother of Saidul Islam Yasin, shared that her son had been working as a volunteer for 15 days. He left home in Dhalpur Boubazar, Jatrabari, on Tuesday morning and had spoken to her multiple times since. Yasin last communicated with his mother around 4:00 am today, assuring her of his well-being. Shilpi said she was later informed that her son’s condition was deteriorating and rushed to the police station, finding Yasin in critical condition. She added that while being transported to the hospital, Yasin had told her they were beaten on false charges and had not committed any crime before he lost consciousness. The bodies have been placed in the hospital morgue, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH Police Outpost. “We are investigating to determine the exact circumstances of the incident,” he said.

Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), has resigned from his position. He submitted his resignation letter to the Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division on Wednesday afternoon. In his resignation letter, Md Mohiuddin Ahmed cited health issues as the reason behind his resignation. Md Mohiuddin Ahmed had been serving as the Chairman of BTRC since December 14, 2023.

Md Jahangir Alam, Senior Secretary to the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been sent on compulsory retirement. A notification signed by Deputy Secretary of Public Administration Ministry Md Alamgir Kabir was issued on Wednesday. According to the notification, Md Jahangir Alam was sent on retirement under the Section 45 of the Government Service Retirement Act 2018 as he completed 25 years of service and the government considers it necessary in the public interest.

The contractual appointments of National Board of Revenue Chairman Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim and nine other secretaries have been cancelled. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification regarding this decision on Wednesday. The list of canceled contractual appointments includes, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim, Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat KM Abdus Salam, Secretary of the Road and Transport Department ABM Aminullah Nuri, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Mia, Senior Secretary of the Planning Division Satyajit Karmakar, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mokammel Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Begum Wahida Akhter, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Md. Ali Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, and Executive Member (Secretary) of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Md. Khairul Islam.

The family members and the relatives of the martyrs who embraced martyrdom during the recent student-led mass uprising have demanded trial and exemplary punishment of ex-prime minister Shiekh Hasina and her accomplices. The families of the martyrs and injured victims of the movement came up with the demand from a human chain held at the Central Saheed Minar at 10:30 am on Wednesday. Students, university teachers, common people, family members of the martyrs and injured victims joined the human chain. Brother of martyr of Jobayer Omor Khan came to join the rally from Naraynganj. He said, “I have pain of losing my brother but I have no regret now after the successful revolution. My brother died at Naraynganj during the movement. It is my request to the state that it recognizes all those killed and injured during the movement, and August 5  to be recognized as the national revolution day.” Prof. Rubayet Ferdous of Mass communication and Journalism department of Dhaka University joined the rally to consolidate with the family members of the martyrs, and the injured. Speaking in the rally, he said, “I came here on behalf of the teachers’ society. We are indebted to the families of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives spontaneously. You all know that during the 1969 mass uprising a total of 61 people were killed over the year but Sheikh Hasina and her collaborators killed more than ten times people within only 20 days of the movement. The government took away our democratic rights, we couldn’t cast our votes freely during the last three national elections. Meritorious military officers were abducted, imprisoned, and killed without any reason.” Seeking recognition of the martyrs, he said, “We know there is no compensation of blood, but the compensation to the families have to be paid; the injured must be rehabilitated with proper employment. Finally, the state must recognize the martyrs.” The younger sister of a martyr Juel said, “The movement was not the movement of the students only. People from all walks of life joined the movement. My brother Juel was not a student. He was an employee and the only earner of our family. He died being hit by a bullet on July 19.” Breaking into tears, she said, “My father had a major heart operation on July 15. He still does not know that his son is no more. My mother and I tried to stop my brother several times from joining the movement but he did not listen to us saying that it a mass movement like 1971. Even after showing papers at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), the hospital authority has not issued any death certificate until now.” Dhaka University’s Law Department students set up a booth near the human chain site to offer the victims advocacy and legal support.