United News of Bangladesh

A 75-year-old prisoner died after falling sick at Dhaka Central Jail on Tuesday night, the authorities said. The deceased was identified as Abdul Matin, son of late Mirjan Ali. Details about him are yet to be known. Prison officer Mirza Harun said Matin suddenly felt sick at night prompting them to rush him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where physicians declared him dead around 11:15pm upon arrival. Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost, said that the body has been kept in the morgue for autopsy. The body will be handed over to the family after legal procedures.

The price of gold in Bangladesh has been reduced by Tk 1,050 per bhori, according to the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS). In a notification issued on Tuesday, the association set the new price of 22-carat gold at Tk 2,11,095 per bhori after the reduction. The revised rates will come into effect from Wednesday morning. BAJUS said the prices were adjusted as the local market rate of pure gold declined, prompting a review of overall pricing. Under the new tariff, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 2,01,496 per bhori, while 18-carat gold will be priced at Tk 1,72,709 per bhori. Gold under the traditional method will be sold at Tk 1,43,689 per bhori. In addition to the base price, buyers must pay the government-fixed 5 percent VAT and a minimum 6 percent making charge set by BAJUS. Making charges may vary depending on design and craftsmanship. Gold prices make big jump in Bangladesh after two rounds of cuts BAJUS last revised gold prices on December 1, when the rate for 22-carat gold was increased by Tk 1,575 to Tk 2,12,145 per bhori. With the latest adjustment, gold prices have been revised 83 times so far this year — increased 56 times and reduced 27 times, according to BAJUS.    

The chiefs of Army, Navy and Air on Tuesday night (December 02, 2025) visited ailing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. According to Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR), chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, chief of Naval Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, chief of Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan visited the former prime minister. Read more: Tarique Rahman’s return a personal, family decision: Khosru Several political leaders and others are visiting Khaleda Zia who has been undergoing treatment at the hospital since November 23. Meanwhile, two specialist medical teams from the UK and China are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday morning (December 03, 2025) to support the medical board formed to ensure treatment of the BNP chairperson. Read more: Concern for Khaleda Zia goes far beyond BNP, says Rizvi

The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase on Tuesday approved two major proposals for purchasing 1.50 crore litres of edible oil to strengthen the domestic supply chain and maintain market stability. The approval came from the 48th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year held virtually with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. Under the Ministry of Commerce, the government will procure 50 lakh litres of soybean oil from Sonargaon Seeds Crushing Mills Ltd. at a cost of Tk 89.92 crore, with the per-litre price fixed at Tk 179.85. Purchase committee nods 2 proposals under RHD The Committee also endorsed the purchase of 1 crore litres of refined rice bran oil through local competitive bidding. Of this, 30 lakh litres will come from Tamim Agro Industries Ltd., and 70 lakh litres from Majumder Bran Oil Mills Ltd. The total contract value is Tk 161 crore, with a per-litre price of Tk 161.  

Ansar members detained two women on charge of attempting to steal a newborn boy from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday evening. Detainees Nahar, 47, and her sister Hasina, 38, were handed over to Shahbagh Police Station later. Ansar members detained the duo while trying to flee with the newborn baby in front of ward No-106, said Alamgir Hossain, platoon commander (PC) of the hospital. During interrogation, the detainees admitted that they hit upon a plan to steal newborns from the DMCH and selling at a good price, he said. Of them, Nahar confessed to running a medical centre in Tongi’s Hossain Market area. Navy, Coast Guard rescue 39 kidnappees in Teknaf; 2 traffickers arrested One Komila Begum gave birth to the boy on November 29, the PC said. Alamgir said the detainees also confessed to luring poor mothers with money and selling their babies elsewhere. They had faced several cases for the same job.    

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury assured on Tuesday that the recommendations placed by national independent investigation commission to look into the BDR carnage (now BGB) will be fully implemented. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting of the law-and-order core committee at the Secretariat. On the commission report, the adviser said his ministry is taking the matter seriously. “The report is very voluminous. We have not read it completely yet. Once we do, we will implement all the recommendations.” Regarding the report’s attribution of responsibility to a neighbouring country, the adviser declined to comment, saying that he is yet to go through it fully. Asked about sensitive polling centres, Jahangir said the list is being kept confidential as it may change with circumstances, assuring that sufficient body cameras would be procured for election security. BDR mutiny a planned conspiracy to destabilise Bangladesh: Inquiry Commission chief About border security, he asserted that measures would be taken to prevent unauthorised entries and to avoid any provocative campaigns from outside the country. Responding to an allegation that a particular political party influenced the posting of a Superintendent of Police, he said no one has made a complaint, claiming that he heard it for the first time.

Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam on Tuesday warned that any attempts to snatch votes in the upcoming election will not be successful. “At every polling station, you (party supporters) will guard so that no one can snatch away votes. They (snatchers) may come with two hands, and you also have two hands so they cannot go away with their hands after snatching votes,” he said. Addressing a party rally at Ambika Maidan of Faridpur district town, the Jamaat leader they risked their lives to reach this point. “We want nothing for ourselves; we want to see this country as a golden Bangladesh. For this, everyone must vote diligently,” he said, alleging that their top leaders faced judicial killings due to opposition to foreign dominance over Bangladesh. Azharul said that the country would truly become independent, self-reliant and corruption-free if the party can form a government with people’s mandate through the election. Calling the next national election as a chance for all, he said that it would be an election to eliminate terror and extortion and to secure the country’s full sovereignty from foreign dominance. ‘Eight-party alliance’ fighting for people’s victory: Jamaat Ameer Earlier in the day, he visited the grave of late Abdul Quader Molla, former assistant secretary general of the party, offering prayers for his departed soul. Chaired by Faridpur’s Jamaat Ameer Muhammad Badruddin, central committee members Muhammad Delwar Hossain, Shasul Islam Al Barati, and constituency candidates Prof Abdut Tawab, Prof Dr Md Ilias Molla, Sohbur Hossain, and Maulana Sarwar Hossain addressed the gathering.

The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase on Tuesday approved two key proposals under the Road Transport and Highways Division (RHD) aimed at accelerating the construction of the Mirganj Bridge over the Arial Khan River on the Rahamatpur–Babuganj–Muladi–Hizla Highway (Z-8034). The approval came from the 48th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year held virtually with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The Committee recommended approval of the construction work under Package WP-01, awarding the contract to China Road and Bridge Corporation at a cost of Tk 1,072.32 crore. To ensure effective supervision of the project, the Committee also approved another contract worth Tk 280.61 crore. The supervision will be carried out by a joint venture of international and local firms, including Nippon Koei Co. Ltd., Oriental Consultants Global, DevConsultants Ltd., and others. Officials said the construction of the Mirganj Bridge will significantly improve regional connectivity and facilitate socio-economic development in the southern districts.

The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule seeking explanation as to why guidelines for determining house rents in all city corporations including Dhaka have not been formulated. A High Court bench headed by Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Razi issued the rule after primary hearing of a writ petition in this regard. The authorities of Dhaka North and South City Corporations along with other relevant officials, have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks. Advocate Parvez Hossain represented the petitioner during the hearing. Imtiaz Uddin, a resident of Azimpur area in Dhaka, filed the writ petition seeking a directive to formulate guidelines for fixing house rents. Earlier, on November 27, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said the City Corporation would determine rents based on the location and services of houses in Dhaka city and prepare a list accordingly. “Although the House Rent Control Act was enacted in 1991 many provisions of the law are not being followed. We will prepare guidelines for tenants and landlords according to the law which we aim to complete by the first half of December,” the DNCC administrator said. The writ petition also sought directives for the prompt implementation of the 1991 law on house rent as well as instructions to provide houses by collecting one month’s rent in advance as a security deposit.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur will formally inaugurate the newly formed Sammilito Islami Bank PLC on Thursday, marking a significant step towards the restructuring of the country’s Islamic banking sector. Talking to reporters, a Bangladesh Bank official on Tuesday confirmed that Governor Ahsan Mansur will inaugurate the new bank on Thursday. The bank began operations on Tuesday, following the final approval and licensing from the central bank on Monday. The new bank, formed by merging five struggling Islamic banks, aims to stabilise the sector and restore public confidence under the leadership of its chairman, former Secretary Dr Mohammad Ayub Mia, who has pledged to rebuild depositor trust. “The launch of a new state-owned Islamic bank is a positive message for the nation. Our main objective is to restore the confidence of the depositors. Sammilito Islami Bank will become a symbol of trust for the nation,” Dr Ayub said. Analysts and stakeholders view the creation of Sammilito Islami Bank PLC as a crucial move in the effort to address long-standing financial instability and revive the confidence of depositors. The Bangladesh Bank announced that depositors will be able to withdraw up to Tk 2 lakh starting next week, with a roadmap for phased release of larger deposits in preparation. The move is seen as critical for stabilising the Islami banking sector and accelerating the return of long-held deposits. Sammilito Islami Bank PLC is the result of a merger of First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, and Union Bank. The merger was approved during a special board meeting of the central bank, chaired by Governor Dr. Ahsan H Mansur, on Sunday. Dr Mohammad Ayub Mia appointed chairman of Sammilito Islami Bank This new bank features one of the largest capital structures in the country’s banking history, with an authorised capital of Tk 40,000 crore and a paid-up capital of Tk 35,000 crore – Tk 20,000 crore contributed by the government and Tk 15,000 crore through conversion of depositors’ shares. Officials said the original shareholders of the merged banks, deemed ‘non-viable’ with negative net asset values, did not receive compensation for their shares. The bank is intended to operate under state ownership temporarily, with the possibility of eventual transfer to private ownership, including potential participation from former foreign investors, once stability is achieved.