United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been actively involved in rescue operations, relief distribution, and medical services for flood-affected people in the northeastern districts of Bangladesh. BGB Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam said the BGB rescued 2,914 people from the flood-hit areas till Wednesday. Besides, relief and food items have been distributed by BGB to around 40,716 families and provided free medical treatment and medicines to 6,978 patients. In Feni district, relief has been provided to a total of 5,297 families, including 150 in Feni Sadar, 1,777 in Fulgazi, 1,175 in Parshuram, 815 in Chhagalnaiya, 500 in Sonagazi, and 880 in Daganbhuiyan. In Cumilla district, 1,170 families received relief, including 650 in Adarshanagar, and 520 in Burichang and Brahmanpara. Additionally, 30 flood-affected families in Barkal, Rangamati, received relief. BGB's medical camps provided free treatment and medicines to a total of 1,812 people in remote flood-affected areas, including 500 people in Bakshimool High School area of Burichang, Cumilla; 487 people in Jinarhat Paschim Madhugram area of Feni; and 825 people in Chandpur Adarsha School area of Senbagh, Noakhali.

A pregnant woman died on Wednesday after being stabbed by unidentified attackers at her home at Jatrabari in the capital on Tuesday. The victim, Seema Akter, 22, was the wife of Jewel, a fruit trader at Jatrabari. Seema died around 3:20 pm while undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). According to the sources, Seema and her husband lived in a rented house behind Shaheed Zia School and College in Jatrabari. Around 10 pm on Tuesday, miscreants entered their house and attacked Seema with a sharp knife leaving her critically injured. Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH, said relatives of the woman brought her to the hospital in critical condition around 11 pm on Tuesday. Seema died on Wednesday afternoon, he said.

Three people, including a woman, were killed in two separate road accidents in Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila on Wednesday. Morjina Khatun, 50, daughter of Mujibur Rahman of Nazirpur village of the upazila, Monirul Islam, 50, son of Tajimul Islam of Srimantpur Mohalla of Godagari Municipality and Milan Ali, 38 of Bujrukpara area. Ataur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Godagari Police Station, said Marzina Khatun was killed on the spot when a pickup van knocked her down from behind while she was walking beside the road around 5.30 am. Meanwhile, auto-rickshaw driver Monirul Islam and his passenger Milon Ali were also killed on the spot when a passenger bus hit their auto-rickshaw at the fire service intersection of Godagari Upazila Sadar around 8.30 am. Police detained the bus driver in connection with the accident. Two separate cases were recorded with Godagari Police in these connections, added the OC.

Md. Mahfuz Alam has been appointed as special assistant to the interim government’s chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus with the status of a secretary on a contractual basis. The public administration ministry issued a gazette notification to this end on Wednesday. The notification mentioned that Mahfuz Alam would remain in office for the duration of the chief adviser’s term or subject to his satisfaction from the date of his joining. Other terms of this appointment would be determined by the approved contract. The order was issued in the public interest, reads the notice. Earlier on August 23, Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Interim government’s Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has said that the boards of all state-owned companies under his ministry will be restructured and secretaries will be removed from those boards. “It is a conflict of interest if the secretary of the ministry becomes the chairman of a board of directors of a company, and it is immoral,” he told reporters after a meeting with officials of Petrobangla, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) at the Petrobangla auditorium on Wednesday. Instead, representatives of students will be included in the boards of the companies, he said. Responding to a question on corruption through signing of deals, he said that these cases involve legal matters and it may require some time to take action. “But if necessary, steps will be taken to review the terms of the existing contract by forming a committee consisting of former judges,” he added. Issuing a stern warning to the officials and employees of the entities under power and energy ministry against any sort of corruption and irregularities, he said, “You have to understand people's expectations with the change of the regime.” The adviser said if they fail to understand the “language of the street,” they should consider what would happen. “You have to understand why people took to the streets, why they gave blood.” He also urged everyone to understand the philosophy behind the current government and act accordingly. Responding to another question, Fouzul Kabir instructed the officials to take immediate actions to sever illegal gas and electricity connections and report to him on a regular basis. Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md. Nurul Alam, Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar, BPC Chairman Md. Amin Ul Ahsan and senior officials of various departments were present in the meeting.

Drones have been used for searching for fire victims who got trapped inside the Gazi Tyre Manufacturing Factory in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj. No victim has yet been found using drones, said Talha Bin Zasim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's (media cell). Representatives of district and upazila administrations were present at that time. Besides, a technical committee will be formed by the district administration regarding the physical search operations. "Rescue work will be conducted based on the committee's report on the load capacity of the building," he added. Earlier, on Tuesday, an eight-member committee was formed to investigate the fire incident at the Gazi Tyre Manufacturing Factory in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj.

A committee has been formed for the preparation of a comprehensive “White Paper” on the state of Bangladesh economy. The committee will be chaired by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Convenor of the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh. List of Members: - Professor A.K. Enamul Haque, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics, East West University. -Ferdaus Ara Begum, Chief Executive Officer, Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD). -Imran Matin, Executive Director, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University. -Dr. Kazi Iqbal, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). -Dr. M. Tamim, Professor, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and former Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor (2008). -Dr. Mohammad Abu Eusuf, Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka. -Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). -Dr. Selim Raihan, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, and Executive Director, South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM). -Dr. Sharmind Neelormi, Professor, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University. -Dr. Tasneem Arefa Siddiqui, former professor, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka, and founding chair, Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU). -Dr. Zahid Hossain, former lead economist, World Bank and eminent columnist. Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus authorised the formation of the ten-member panel to prepare a white paper on the state of Bangladesh’s economy, according to a source in the Secretariat. This document will outline strategic recommendations aimed at stabilizing the economy, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and addressing the challenges faced by Bangladesh as it transitions from the least developed country (LDC) status.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday said it will investigate the graft allegations against former fisheries and livestock minister Abdur Rahman. ACC's spokesman Aktraul Islam told UNB that the ACC is investigating allegations of corruption, money laundering, and illegal acquisition of wealth against him. According to the primary statement, he constructed a building in Madhupur, Faridpur, and bought plots in various locations including Purbachal while he opened savings (Sanchapatro) in multiple banks. Additionally, his wife, Mirza Nahida Hossain, has the ownership of several properties in Dhaka in different areas.

Religious Affairs Adviser. AFM Khalid Hossain has visited Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, at the Combined Military Hospital in the capital. During the visit, the adviser enquired about his physical condition and spoke with the on-duty doctors. He prayed for him and wished for his swift recovery, according to a press release on Wednesday. Later, the adviser went to the hospital's eye ward, spoke with those injured in the anti-discrimination movement, and checked on their treatment. Religious Affairs Secretary MA Hamid Jamaddar was present at the time. Hasnat Abdullah was injured on Sunday in an attack by agitating Ansar men in front of the Secretariat.

Adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Asif Nazrul, has expressed hope that Bangladeshi star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan will not be arrested despite the murder case filed against him. Speaking to journalists at his office in the Secretariat on Wednesday, the adviser addressed questions regarding the case. The murder case against Shakib Al Hasan has sparked widespread discussion both domestically and internationally. When asked about his thoughts on the matter, Asif Nazrul responded, “It was the Awami League that started this trend. Shakib has not brought anything for the state of Bangladesh; he has achieved a lot for himself. Aminul, the footballer, brought awards for Bangladesh and was the national team’s captain. Did you ever raise questions when Aminul was persecuted? Aminul was jailed. Shakib only has a case against him.” He further clarified, “This is a matter for the police administration. We have tried to say as much as we can. Filing a case does not mean an arrest. I believe our Ministry of Home Affairs will take steps to ensure that no one becomes overly enthusiastic about making an arrest.” “I hope Shakib will not be arrested. As far as I know, our police force has been given certain instructions,” the adviser said.