United News of Bangladesh

The water level of the major rivers in the northeastern region of the country may increase at some points for short term in 24 hours commencing at 9 am on Tuesday, said Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC). According to information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall is expected over the northern, northeastern and adjoining upstream in the next 72 hours, it said. Flood situation in the low-lying areas of Sylhet district may improve at a slow rate during the period. 4,000 families in Sylhet city stranded due to flash flood The Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours while the Ganges river is in steady state and the Padma river is in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours. The water level of the major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country are in falling trend . Flash flood leaves over 5 lakh people stranded in Sylhet  

A three-day National Fruit Fair will begin on Thursday at the Krishibid Institution (KIB) in the capital's Khamarbari area, under the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture. The fair, organised with the theme "Fruits, Nutrition, and Smart Agriculture for a Wealthy Bangladesh," will conclude on Saturday, June 8. Fear of fruit failure grips mango growers in Chapainawabganj as heatwave Intensifies A total of eight government and 55 private organisations will participate in this year's fair. Various types of fruits and fruit cultivation technologies will be displayed at 63 stalls. The fair will be open to all from 10 am to 8 pm daily. Visitors to the fair will be able to learn about various fruit cultivation technologies and buy chemical-free fruits of different varieties. On Thursday, a rally will be held from Manik Mia Avenue in front of the Sangsad Bhaban to the KIB premises at 9:30 am. Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdus Shahid will inaugurate the fair at the KIB premises at 10 am. A seminar on fruits will be held at KIB Milonayatan. The Agriculture Minister will be the chief guest, and State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu will be the special guest. Dr Abdur Razzaque, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Agriculture and former Agriculture Minister, will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the fair at BARC Milonayatan on Saturday afternoon. Jatiya Press Club celebrates fruit festival with baul songs According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the total fruit production in the country in the fiscal year 2022–23 was 1,50,33,000 metric tonnes. Of this, mango production was 27 lakh MT, litchi 230,000 MT, jackfruit 18,24,000 MT, and pineapple production was 580,000 MT.

A total of 175 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order during the 4th phase of the 6th Upazila Parishad Election. BGB will work as a mobile and striking force to maintain peace and order in the electoral areas from June 3 to June 7, 2024. BGB-BSF flag meeting held to cooperate in curbing border crimes It will be implemented under the "In Aid to the Civil Power" to assist the civil administration. During the 3rd phase of Upazila election, 300 BGB troops were deployed, in the 2nd phase 457 BGB troops, and in the 1st phase, a total of 418 troops were deployed.  

A 38-year-old man sustained a bullet injury while cleaning a weapon at an arms shop in the Dhaka’s Paltan on Monday. The incident happened at the F Ahmed Arms shop at Tropicana Tower. The victim, Mohammad Shahin, is an employee of the shop. Shakil, who took Shahin to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said while cleaning a weapon in the shop, suddenly a bullet came out of it and hit the floor first and then Shahin’s waist. Shahin is under treatment at the emergency department of the hospital, said Inspector Md Bacchu Mia, in charge of the DMCH Police Outpost. “Paltan Police Station is aware of the matter," he added.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast light to moderate rains or thundershowers in eight divisions, including Dhaka, in the next 24 hours starting from 6pm on Monday. “Light to moderate rains or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions,” it said. Rains likely to drench Dhaka, 7 other divisions The country’s highest 268 mm rainfall was recorded in Sylhet in 24 hours till 6pm today. Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and it may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere over the country. The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 37.2°C today in Rajshahi’s Ishwardi. Earthquake measuring 5 magnitude jolts Dhaka, some other areas Meanwhile, a mild heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia and it may continue, reads the bulletin.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Shafi Ahmed, former deputy secretary of Awami League. In a condolence message, she prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. President mourns death of ex-lawmaker Manjur Hossain Bulbul Ahmed breathed his last this evening at his residence in the capital. He was one of the key organisers of student protests during the anti-dictatorship movement in the 1990s. PM mourns death of veteran politician Haider Akbar Khan Rono

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised serious concerns about the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and RAB chief Benazir Ahmed who is accused of amassing illegal wealth and property through misuse of power. TIB emphasized that unchecked power abuse by high-ranking officials creates "Frankenstein-like figures" and undermines state accountability. The organisation called for decisive legal action against those aiding such abuses and demanded compensation for individuals coerced into selling their land by the former police chief, according to a press release. No travel ban issued against Benazir anywhere: Foreign Minister Reports indicate the former IGP used fear tactics and hostage-taking to force land sales, primarily targeting minorities. He allegedly employed personnel from his own and other state agencies to carry out these acts. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman described the situation as outrageous, highlighting that properties were forcibly acquired through intimidation and collusion with law enforcement and government agencies. Victims’ chances of justice were systematically blocked, necessitating exemplary punishment for the main accused and compensation for the victims, it said. Fakhrul’s remark on Benazir “sneaking off”: Quader refers to Tarique Rahman’s lavish lifestyle abroad The ongoing investigation into the former IGP’s corruption has revealed new details about his illicit wealth. Iftekharuzzaman questioned how Benazir Ahmed and his family fled the country amid these serious allegations. He noted that media reports suggest the former police chief withdrew significant funds from banks before leaving, raising suspicions of collusion or assistance from bank officials in laundering money abroad. Iftekharuzzaman emphasized that justice requires prosecuting not only the former IGP but also those who aided him. The release also said. Law to take its own course, says Salman F Rahman about Aziz, Benazir He criticised the government for failing to notice the former police chief’s actions, suggesting governmental complicity or active encouragement of his corruption. The TIB executive director called for the release of names of all corrupt individuals and accountability for all involved to demonstrate the government’s commitment to zero tolerance against corruption. He warned that failure to act would reinforce public perception of the government's anti-corruption efforts as mere theatrics. “According to the ruling party's general secretary and the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Obaidul Quader, the government possesses information on all corrupt individuals. Despite such acknowledgments being rare, the government must address how a high-ranking police official could establish such a flagrant culture of corruption, added the release. “Releasing the names of corrupt individuals and ensuring accountability for all involved is imperative to demonstrate the government’s commitment to zero tolerance against corruption. Failure to do so will only reinforce the perception among citizens of such commitments as mere theatrics,” added Iftekharuzzaman.

Bangladesh Bank has found many banks are not complying with the instructions to ensure the security of bank outlets and branches. As a result, gold from bank lockers is disappearing and bank money is being looted by robbery. In such a situation, the BB has once again gave instructions to keep CCTV in operation at all times and sufficient armed guards for security in the bank branches. On Monday, the Banking Regulations and Policy Department (BRPD) of BB issued a directive and sent it to the top executives of banks to ensure the security of bank branches. According to this directive, to ensure the security of the bank outlet of all scheduled banks, the required number of CCTV or IP cameras or spy cameras should be installed at the entrance of the bank branch, inside the branch, outside the branch, and in all types of IT rooms. Effective measures should be taken to keep the CCTV or spy cameras connected to the central information network of the bank, keep them under continuous monitoring, and the nearest police station can obtain the video footage recorded in the cameras, the directive stated. The directive also states that a sufficient number of armed security guards should be kept for the security of the bank along with trained armed security guards should be arranged. But the central bank said that some banks are not following these instructions properly. In such a situation, the regulator has again given instructions to the banks to ensure the security of outlets and branches of the bank. The central bank issued the notification after missing a client's 149 bhori gold worth approximately Tk1.5 crore has allegedly went missing recently from a locker at Islami Bank's Chawkbazar branch in Chattogram.

Dr Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, is not suffering from a divine curse but from the consequences of deceiving 1.05 crore members of the Grameen Bank, according to Masud Akhtar, the bank's Chief Legal Advisor. In a conversation with reporters in front of the Supreme Court Annex Building on Monday, Masud claimed that Yunus had engaged in fraudulent activities against the bank's customers. "He did not take any personal or familial benefits, but he did issue work orders worth hundreds of crores of taka to his own printing press at rates 30%-40% higher than usual," Akhtar said. Yunus speaks on humiliation of being made to stand inside cage in courtroom He also accused Yunus of abusing a general manager who protested against these actions, keeping him under house arrest. The allegations of corruption against Yunus date back to 1997. Although he left Grameen Bank in 2011, Masud suggested that Yunus managed to keep his corrupt practices under wraps as his associates continued to run the bank. However, a 2020 audit revealed significant corruption, and more incriminating evidence surfaced in 2023. Court sets June 12 for decision on whether Yunus to go on trial in embezzlement case Masud emphasised that the bank has no personal vendetta against Yunus. "Our grievance lies with his actions and the undue familial benefits he secured. Yunus is suffering the consequences of his own greed. This is not fabricated – he deceived the customers of Grameen Bank, and now he is facing the repercussions," he stated. Yunus Centre refutes Grameen Bank allegations centring Packages Corporation

Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Monday asked the police force to ensure safe transporting of the sacrificial animals to their respective destinations ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. He also asked to ensure uninterrupted eid-journey for the homebound people. The IGP came up with the order while speaking at a meeting over the overall law and order situation including road, railways and waterways and traffic management on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. IGP in Sylhet: 'We are working to become Smart Police' Additional IGP Quamrul Ahsan, Additional IGP of Special Branch Manirul Islam, Additional IGPs of police headquarters and chief of different units of Dhaka police were present at the meeting. Besides, the Metropolitan police commissioners, range DIGs and superintendent of police of all districts joined the meeting virtually. The IGP directed the highway police and district police to ensure the movement of homebound people comfortably during Eid. Besides, the movement of vehicles without fitness and registration on the highways and roads will remain out ahead of Eid. The IGP also urged all to hang the banner of the designated cattle market in front of the vehicles or river vessels carrying sacrificial animals. He also asked people to make an emergency call at the national emergency service 999 if they face any obstacles in transporting sacrificial animals. Managed to effectively control militancy and terrorism with joint efforts: IGP IGP Abdullah also asked the policemen to provide necessary security for the cattle trader while dealing money. He also urged police to take steps against the dope gang who remained active during Eid. The police boss also requested people to refrain from travelling by any animal laden vehicles or trucks to avoid accidents. The IGP directed police to take adequate security measures at important Eid congregation centres.