United News of Bangladesh

No one will be spared involved in the wrongdoing of Milton Samaddar, founder of charity organisation ‘Child and Old Age Care’, Harun-or-Rashid, Additional Commissioner and Chief of Detective Branch has said. "We are investigating all the allegations against Milton Samader and no one associated with him will be spared," he said. He said these in response to questions from reporters at a press conference at Minto Road in the capital on Monday afternoon. He also said that Milton used to earn money by making videos with those staying in his Old Age Care but he did not spend this money for them. Milton placed on 4-day remand in human trafficking case Milton had many associates across the country who brought sick children, and old and paralysed people to his Child and Old Age Care Centre. The relatives of those people abandoned them and taking this opportunity,  Milton did not inform the police station when someone died and did not take them to the hospital for treatment, the DB chief stated. "Hopefully, we will get more information from him," he said. DB police arrested Milton from Mirpur area of Dhaka on Wednesday. This followed a storm of criticism and discussion triggered by an investigative report published in a daily newspaper. Now Milton Samaddar’s wife called for interrogation to DB office The report claimed that Milton, who had been recognized for his public service through various awards, was allegedly involved in significant wrongdoing. While his social media profile publicized his work in building an old age home for the helpless and providing shelter to the homeless, more sinister allegations have surfaced. Allegations included the illegal trade of human organs, specifically pointing to the cutting and selling of kidneys.

At least two people died when a bus hit a pickup van in the capital's Jatrabari area in the small hours on Monday. The deceased were pickup van driver Babul Chishti, 45, son of Abdur Rashid Akand of Samant Saha village in Shariatpur and Kabir Hossain, 50, son of Abdur Rashid Bepari of Singhdhala village under Vedarganj police station in the same district. Probe committee formed over Sundarbans fire They used to live in a rented house in Mridhabari area of Matuail. The accident occurred when the pickup van tried to take a U-turn on Dhaka-Chattogram highway around 2:00am, leaving two people critically injured, Jatrabari police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Abu Sayem said. They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Babul was declared dead upon arrival. Later, Kabir Hossain succumbed to his injuries early morning while undergoing treatment there. 3 killed in truck, autorickshaw collision in Noakhali Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said the bodies were kept in the morgue of the hospital's emergency department. The concerned police station was informed of the matter, he added.  

Newly elected chairman of Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad Abu Bakar Siddique Shymal took oath on Monday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath at a ceremony held in her office. BMD forecasts rains across country At the oath-taking ceremony, the premier asked the public representatives to work for fulfilling the public expectations keeping the demands of the people in mind, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon. She put emphasis on maintaining coordination at the local level to meet public expectations. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam and PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the event conducted by Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim. Bangladesh Bank dissolves National Bank Board again On April 03, Abu Bakar Siddique Shymal was elcted the chairman of Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad by-elections.

Bangladesh Meteorological  Department has predicted rains in eight divisions of the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday. "Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Dhaka and Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions with hails at isolated places," said a Met office bulletin. 9 flights from Dubai to Dhaka cancelled for inclement weather in UAE Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added. Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions and it may abate from most places. Deadly severe weather roars through several states in US, spawning potential tornadoes Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Chuadanga at 40.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday. On the other hand, the lowest temperature was recorded in Sylhet at 19.7 degrees Celsius on Monday.

A major fire that erupted in the Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Zone on Saturday afternoon has been successfully contained after over 29 hours of continuous efforts by multiple emergency teams. Mongla Station Officer Md Kaymuzzaman from the Fire Service confirmed that the coordinated efforts of the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Forest Guard, and Fire Service brought the blaze under control by around 8 pm Sunday. “The fire is under control but will remain under observation,” he stated, highlighting the caution with which the situation is being handled. The incident drew immediate attention from senior officials, including Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Bagerhat Mohammad Khalid Hossain, and Superintendent of Police Abul Hasnat Khan, who visited the site on Sunday afternoon.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) has expressed deep shock over the passing of Jahanara Begum, mother-in-law of its member and office secretary, Morshed Hassib Hasan. She was 65.  She had been battling cancer before her demise at Square Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday night. DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib and General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu expressed profound shock at her death. They offered prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has dissolved the board of National Bank again to bring back good governance in the bank. The BB informed this through a letter to the managing director of National Bank regarding the cancellation of the bank's existing board of directors. The central bank also formed a new board of directors and set the bank's sponsor director Khalilur Rahman as the new chairman. Earlier on December 21 in 2023, the central bank issued an order to dissolve the then board of National Bank and formed a new board. Then, the banking regulator then made Syed Ferhat Anwar, a former professor of the Institute of Business Administration under Dhaka University, the new chairman of the bank. This time, the banking watchdog removed most of the previous directors, including Syed Ferhat Anwar and Parveen Haque Sikder.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder on Sunday said within a very short time the central bank will go for a market-based interest rate and apply a crawling peg system to fix the foreign exchange rate. He said the BB is working with prominent economists and bankers to prepare a contractionary monetary policy measure for curbing inflation and restoring macroeconomic stability. Abdur Rouf said this while speaking as the chief guest at a plenary discussion session on ‘Fiscal and Monetary Policies in the evolving Economic Order: Risk, Vulnerabilities and Solutions’ held in a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday. The discussion session was held at the 1st Development Studies International Conference, Dhaka, jointly organized by the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, and Bangla Daily the ‘Bonik Barta’. The crawling peg is a system of exchange rate adjustments in which a currency with a fixed exchange rate is allowed to fluctuate within a band of rates. The method fully uses the key attributes of the fixed exchange regime, as well as the flexibility of the floating exchange rate regime. Former BB Governor Dr Atiur Rahman in the chair, former governors of BB Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Fazle Kabir, former finance secretaries Dr. M Tareque and Mohammad Muslim Uddin Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the event. Dr Salehuddin said that the central bank has to handle some issues strongly to give respite to honest businessmen and influence over the banks and more beneficiary groups. So that they cannot influence independent policy-making and its implementation. He said Pakistan’s economy fell into a trap for the last 50 years due to priorities of the policies set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Learning from that the BB has to be more cautious in the implementation of the IMF suggestions. He emphasized policy to ensure low-cost funding for small and medium industries and increase money flow for agriculture lending to grow food production. Former finance secretary Muslim Uddin Chowdhury said that Bangladesh has to improve the quality of data of various sectors especially the financial sector making proper policies based on it. He also suggested to all the offices and departments of government to cut additional and unnecessary expenditures, as the small expenditures altogether made a big amount and at last it caused the deficit of financial accounts. He suggested reducing the high-power money supply in the money market, which pushed up inflation.

Independent MP Abdul Latif Siddiqui on Sunday in parliament said he couldn’t become vocal for 60 years due to his affiliation with Awami League. “Today, you have untied the hook from my neck. Therefore, I will try to speak as long as I am here--no matter how many obstacles you create,” Latif Siddique said while speaking on a point of order. Siddiqui was expelled from the cabinet and the party in 2014 due to his controversial comments on Hajj. He was speaking in protest of placing a bill titled “Local Government (Union Parishad) (Amendment) Bill, 2024”. The bill has a provision to appoint administrators in Union Parishads on the expiry of five-year tenure of the elected representatives. LGRD Minister Tajul Islam placed the Bill which was sent to the respective ministry for further examination. Latif Siddique strongly opposed placing of the bill saying the provision of appointing administrator in the local government body is totally undemocratic. The bill states that the government can appoint administrators in Union Parishads after the expiry of tenure. But the appointment will be for one time and maximum 120 days. Pointing to the ruling Awami League MPs, Latif Siddique in his speech said those who have rope attached to their necks will not speak. “I also didn't speak for 60 years. Today you have untied the hook from my neck. So as long as I'm there - no matter how much you interrupt - I'll try to talk,” he said. He said this while opposing the introduction of the amended Local Government (Union Council) Bill-2024 in the National Parliament on Sunday. Before this, a bill was raised in the Parliament adding the provision of appointment of administrator in the Union Parishad. Latif Siddiqui was a member of the presidium of the Awami League and was a minister in AL government. He became completely inactive in politics for a long time. Latif Siddiqui was elected an independent MP in the January 7 parliamentary polls.

At least fifteen were killed and nine others injured by lightning strikes across the country in the last two days. Of the victims, the majority have been farmers. Aiming to save their lives, the social voluntary organization Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum (SSTF) has called upon the farmers working in the field to follow a three-point guideline. Besides, the members of the organization also said how farmers can keep themselves safe in case of lightning. The three pieces of advice are: 1. If you are under the open sky, take shelter in a safe place as soon as you see dark clouds in the sky. 2. Don't stay under trees when it's raining. 3. Wearing shoes while working under the open sky. "If there is a sudden lightning while in the field, lie down on the ground." SSTF conducted lightning awareness activities among more than two hundred farmers in the last two days. In two days, several delegations of SSTF sent their messages to the farmers who were busy harvesting paddy in different fields of Munshiganj's Sirajdikhan and Dhaka's Nawabganj upazilas. Rashim Mollah, general secretary of the organization, Abdul Alim, head of the research cell, joint secretary Mostak Ahmed and volunteer Md Shariful Islam conducted the awareness program. During this time, drinking water, syrup and saline were distributed among the farmers.