United News of Bangladesh

A rapid assessment by Oxfam in Bangladesh has uncovered the staggering impact of the recent floods in Feni and Noakhali, the hardest-hit districts. The assessment shows that over 90% of the population has been severely affected, with nearly all shelters submerged, 48% completely destroyed, and 100% of sanitation and water facilities rendered unusable, Oxfam in Bangladesh said on Tuesday. As floodwaters slowly recede, the full scale of the destruction is becoming increasingly apparent. With the loss of livelihoods, food insecurity is a growing concern, with 72% of affected families only able to eat twice a day, often insufficiently. Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh said the situation is beyond anything seen in the recent past. “Floods have affected millions, submerging homes and farmlands and devastating livelihoods. The loss of livestock and the uncertainty of the future weigh heavily on the minds of the affected communities,” he said. Oxfam's Country Director said, “If organizations like ours don't stand by them, our existence is meaningless. We must unite all resources to support them—not just now, but for the long road ahead.” He said they are calling on the international community to stand with the people most affected by these floods. Rebuilding water and sanitation infrastructure will be crucial for their long-term recovery. The sanitation crisis is particularly dire, with open defecation becoming commonplace due to destroyed facilities, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases. Hosne Ara Begum, a 38-year-old Feni district’s resident, recounted her harrowing experience: "We spent days on the roof, with no food or clean water. The toilets were underwater, and we had no privacy. We had to use a saree (cloth) to cover and defecate on the roof. We've been sick, but there's no other option. This flood has taken everything from us." Abdul Karim, whose home and livelihood have been devastated by the floods. "The water is overwhelming this time," Karim says, recounting how he sought shelter on the roof as the waters surged. His small vegetable shop, his only income source, is gone, and now he needs to start from scratch. As relentless monsoon rains and rising river levels continue to batter Bangladesh, the country faces one of its most severe flooding crises in recent history. The catastrophic floods began in August 2024 and have submerged vast areas across 11 districts, including Feni, Cumilla, Chittagong, and Sylhet, displacing over 500,000 people and affecting more than 5.8 million. With infrastructure, homes, and agricultural lands extensively damaged, communities need immediate and sustained support. The affected communities immediately need safe drinking water, cash support, food packages, and hygiene kits.

The Home Ministry has issued a stern warning against “vigilante action, forced resignation, looting, extortion, and pressuring police to indiscriminately file charges” following the fall of the authoritarian government. In a notice issued on Tuesday, the Home Ministry said, in the aftermath of the student-mass uprising, when the Awami League government was overthrown on August 5, an interim government has been formed. The previous regime’s brutal crackdown on the uprising led to significant loss of life and numerous injuries. For years, the Awami League government had been widely criticized for human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and other forms of oppression, fueling deep-seated public anger. The interim government, committed to addressing these past atrocities, has pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice, the notice says. The government has also invited the United Nations to conduct an independent investigation, emphasizing a transparent and fair judicial process. However, the Home Ministry has expressed concern over the recent rise in vigilante actions and unlawful activities by certain groups. These groups have been engaging in actions such as illegal blockades, forced resignations, vandalism, arson, unauthorized searches, looting, extortion, and pressuring police to indiscriminately file charges. There have also been instances of attacks on accused individuals in court, all of which threaten to destabilize the nation. In response, the government has assured the public that legal proceedings will be conducted judiciously, and arrests will not be made indiscriminately. All cases will undergo thorough investigation before any legal action is taken. The Home Ministry has made it clear that any activities disrupting public safety will be met with strict legal action. The government plans to identify and swiftly act against those involved in these criminal activities, regardless of their political affiliations. The notice further instructs that any allegations against individuals should be reported to senior officials and relevant authorities, rather than resorting to unlawful actions such as blockading institutions or engaging in violent behavior. The government has reiterated its commitment to following established legal procedures in conducting searches and accepting cases, with measures in place to prevent harassment. Finally, the government has called on all citizens to cooperate in maintaining law and order during this transitional period.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday called national cricket team captain Najmul Hossain Shanto over phone to congratulate him and the team for their historic Test series win against Pakistan. "Heartiest congratulations on behalf of the government and myself. The whole nation is proud of you," the Chief Adviser told Shanto moments after Bangladesh completed a six-wicket victory in the Second Test in Rawalpindi to complete a 2-0 clean sweep victory in the two Test series. CA Prof Yunus greets Bangladesh cricket team for their historic Test win against Pakistan According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, Professor Yunus also said the Bangladesh team would be accorded a reception after it returns home. Mushfiqur Rahim emerges as 2nd Bangladeshi to reach 15,000 runs in International cricket.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said steps are being taken to improve the law and order situation and control narcotics. He said this while talking to reporters after holding a meeting of with the Law and Order Advisory Committee at the Secretariat. "This was the first meeting of the Law and Order Advisory Committee. We mainly discussed the law and order situation in the country and how can the law and order situation be improved. We will take some more steps in this regard,” he said. The adviser said, "You know the deadline to submit all the illegal firearms will end today. The operation of the joint forces will start from 12 pm tonight to recover the arms.” The adviser emphasised controlling drugs. “That's why we're going to take various steps. So that it comes under control and we can bring the godfathers of drugs under the law.” Jahangir Alam said they are taking various steps so that the upcoming Durga Puja can be held in a peaceful manner.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday wanted to hear from top editors of the country regarding a “reasonable” tenure for the interim government, as discussed with political parties earlier. The Chief Adviser did not mention any specific timeline, but he listened to all, noting that it is a “lifetime opportunity” to repair the state and strengthen the institutions. During the meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, several editors suggested that the tenure of the Interim Government could be around two to three years, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. "Most editors, however, said the tenure of the Interim Government should be determined by the time needed to carry out vital reforms,” he said. Some of the editors talked about two years as a “reasonable” tenure for the interim government, while some said the interim government’s reform initiatives should determine the reasonable tenure. Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said the Chief Adviser earlier wanted to know from political parties what reforms should be prioritised. “Today, editors shared their ideas. The discussion was recorded and each adviser will listen to the opinions shared by the editors,” he said while briefing reporters along with Press Secretary Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir at Foreign Service Academy. One of the major outcomes of the discussion with the political parties was a reasonable timeframe for the government to carry out reforms before the next election. The Press Secretary said the Chief Adviser and the editors talked about national unity and laid emphasis on proper reforms. “Political parties talked about reasonable time. He (Chief Adviser) wanted to know directly from the editors what that means,” said the Press Secretary. Issues related to rewriting or amending the constitution were also discussed. “It’s a major opportunity and this opportunity needs to be utilised properly,” Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted Prof Yunus as saying. There was also a proposal to form a Media Commission in the meeting. Twenty editors joined the meeting. The meeting was held at the state guest house Jamuna. Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, The New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Daily Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, The Business Standard Editor Enam Ahmed, and Kalbela Editor Santosh Sharma, among others, were present at the meeting.

Torrential rain earlier this morning has triggered waterlogging on some streets in Dhaka, causing significant disruptions to daily commute. In some parts of the city, water levels have risen to knee height. The waterlogging has caused severe hardship for commuters, with office workers and students struggling to navigate the inundated roads. The road from Mirpur-10 to Shewrapara was submerged. Traffic on Rokeya Sarani slowed to a crawl due to the waterlogged conditions. Assistant Commissioner of Traffic for Pallabi Zone, Tania Sultana, confirmed the extent of the waterlogging and stressed the importance of strict traffic control measures. CNG-run auto-rickshaws were spotted stuck in water on Green Road, and in Karwan Bazar, the water had risen up near rickshaw seats. Similarly, roads in Malibagh and Merul Badda are heavily waterlogged, adding to the traffic chaos. In addition to the waterlogging, severe traffic congestion was reported on the road near Jamuna Future Park, stemming from an oil-laden truck’s engine breakdown late last night near the Badda U-loop. “We are working swiftly to resolve the situation,” said Abdul Momen, Deputy Police Commissioner of the DMP Traffic (Gulshan Division), as efforts to clear the congestion continue.

Despite the peak of the Hilsa season, the supply of the prized fish has not increased at Chandpur's renowned "Boro Station Fish Landing Center" (Big Station Fish Ghat). Consequently, the price of Hilsa from the Padma-Meghna rivers remains steep in both wholesale and local markets, with prices reaching Tk 1,700 per kilogramme. The bustling fish landing center saw traders busy on Monday as Hilsa and other fish were packed and shipped to various districts across the country, often through online orders. Trucks delivered Hilsa from regions like Noakhali, Hatiya, Bhola, Lakshmipur, Char Fasson, and Barguna, where the fish were swiftly sold at wholesale prices. Shabebarat Sarker, the general secretary of the local Fish Traders Association, mentioned that approximately 100 traders are operating in the area. Fishermen docking their boats along the Dakatia River are selling their catches from the Padma and Meghna rivers, but they report a disappointing haul this season. Fishermen Musha Patwary and Solaiman noted that despite loans taken for nets and boat repairs, their Hilsa catch remains low, even during the peak season. However, the current high prices are a relief for them as they prepare for the upcoming fishing ban meant to protect mother Hilsa. Yet, there is concern about repaying loans under these uncertain conditions. Local buyer Ibrahim Khalil shared that he purchased Hilsa to send to relatives in Dhaka, but with prices ranging from Tk 1,600 to Tk 1,700 per kg, buying in larger quantities is difficult. Similarly, SM Shaheen, a tourist from Narsingdi, expressed his surprise at the high prices, having expected better deals in Chandpur, a region famous for its Hilsa. Delwar Hossain Bepari, a manager at Bhai Bhai Fish Wholesale, acknowledged a slight increase in local Hilsa supply but noted that prices have not eased. The market also offers other fish varieties, including poa, shrimp, and locally farmed fish. Omar Faruq, a manager at Messrs Mizanur Rahman Kalu Bhuiyan Wholesale, compared the current situation to last year, stating that their daily Hilsa intake has dropped from 1,500-2,000 maunds to just 500-700 maunds this year. Smaller Hilsa fish are selling for Tk 30,000-35,000 per maund, while medium-sized fish (700-800 grammes) are priced at Tk 1,100-1,200 per kg. The largest Hilsa, weighing over 1 kg, is being sold for Tk 2,000-2,100. Hilsa from southern districts like Hatiya is slightly cheaper by Tk 100-200 per kg.

The Office of the Chief Adviser has issued a directive to halt the unauthorized use of government vehicles by officials. A letter was sent on Monday from the Office of the Chief Adviser to the secretaries of all ministries and departments, instructing them to enforce this directive. The letter noted that the government had observed that many public servants were using government vehicles in violation of existing rules and without proper authorization. In some cases, vehicles are being requisitioned from various departments, directorates, agencies, banks, insurance companies, and other organizations without any valid reason. Furthermore, the letter pointed out that certain officials, who have already received interest-free loans for vehicles under the 'Interest-Free Loan and Vehicle Service Monetization Policy-2020,' are still using vehicles from various government institutions in an unethical and unauthorized manner, despite receiving the full maintenance allowance of BDT 50,000. Clause 17 of the policy explicitly prohibits such irregularities. The letter further stated that the tendency of some public servants to use unauthorized vehicles is causing disorder within the civil service, leading to financial waste, and raising ethical concerns that severely damage the public image of government employees. This, in turn, is creating doubts among the public about the government’s commitment to accountability. In light of this, the secretaries were urged to strictly prohibit the unauthorized use of vehicles by officials in their respective ministries, departments, and subordinate offices.

Leaders of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) have expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of journalist M Siddiqur Rahman. In a condolence message, DUJ President Sohel Haider Chowdhury and General Secretary Akhtar Hossain expressed their deep shock at the death of Siddiqur Rahman, said a DUJ press release. They also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. Siddiqur Rahman died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital at 2:15 pm on Monday. He was 74. He was undergoing treatment in the hospital after suffering a brain stroke. He is survived by his wife, four sons, one daughter and a host of relatives to mourn his death. He worked as senior sub-editor of Daily Alokito Bangladesh for so long.

The officers-in-charge (OC) of 12 police stations out of sixteen in Chattogram have been withdrawn from their positions. They were withdrawn by an office order of new District Superintendent of Police (SP) Raihan Uddin Khan, said ASP Abu Taib Mohammad Arif Hossain. The 12 OCs are Mir Nurul Huda of Fatikchari police station, Moniruzzaman of Hathazari, Zahid Hossain of Raujan, Molla Zakir Hossain of Anwara, Jasim Uddin of Patia police station, Obaidul Islam of Chandanaish police station, Mizanur Rahman of Satkania police station, Kamruzzaman of Bhujpur police station, Md Ahsab Uddin of Boalkhali police station, Tofail Ahmed of Banskhali Police Station, Mohammad Sahidul Islam of Mirsarai Police Station and Md Kabir Hossain of Sandwip Police Station. Besides, they have been attached to the District Police Lines, he added. The order will be effective immediately. The new OCs will be posted in these police stations shortly, added the ASP.