United News of Bangladesh

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader announced gatherings of party leaders and activists across all wards in major cities and districts tomorrow. The announcement was made during a press briefing at the party president’s office in Dhanmondi on Saturday afternoon. Quader said, “Tomorrow, there will be gatherings in every ward of Dhaka City, and in all districts and metropolitan areas of Bangladesh. On August 5, Awami League will hold a mourning procession from the Engineers Institution to Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi 32.” “Killing children does not benefit the ruling party. The ones who benefit are those who want to exploit the deaths for their gain. We request UNICEF to provide the names and addresses of the 32 children. We will take action and find the truth,” he added. Emphasizing unity, Quader added, “We believe in unity, not division. We need the united efforts of all who believe in the country's independence, sovereignty, democracy, and progress to resist those who hold students hostage to obstruct the country's democracy, development, and achievements.” Quader condemned the opposition, stating, “The Awami League government is a democratically elected government. Under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, we have restored the people's right to vote and food. The communal BNP-Jamaat alliance is attempting to overthrow the democratically elected government. They have been repeatedly rejected by the people. Now, they are trying to turn the quota movement into an anti-government movement. The Sheikh Hasina government is addressing the situation with patience and restraint.” He continued, “Everyone knows the close relationship between BNP and Jamaat-Shibir. They are engaging in the politics of dead bodies, attempting to create chaos through sabotage and incitement. Two lives were lost yesterday. There have been attacks, vandalism, and arson across the country. We ask Mirza Fakhrul, who is responsible for the brutal killing of a police officer? Who set fire to and vandalized the Awami League office in Habiganj? We firmly believe that ordinary students are not involved in these violent movements. The Prime Minister has accepted the students' demand for quotas. A judicial inquiry commission has been formed for each killing, and it has already begun its work. The Prime Minister has made it clear that those who wish to participate in this investigation, including the United Nations, are welcome. The government has no objections to the UN joining for a fair and impartial investigation.” Quader also addressed the role of social media, saying, “Cyber terrorists are spreading rumors and misinformation. An anti-national group wants to keep the situation volatile to reap benefits. We cannot let this evil force succeed. We urge students to act responsibly. Bangladesh will move forward through the collective efforts of all, excluding no one. The Prime Minister has already announced her willingness to sit with the protesters and listen to them. She does not want conflict.” The press briefing was attended by Awami League Presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, Ahmad Hossain, Mirza Azam, Sujit Roy Nandi, and other central leaders of the Awami League.  

Students protesting against killings, oppression, and mass arrests blocked roads and held a demonstration in Naogaon on Saturday.  Students from various schools and colleges gathered at Kazi Mor in the town, initially blocking the road and chanting slogans around 11:30 am.  The protest march then moved to Mukti Mor, where several thousand students blocked the road for a second time.  Protesters again block Dhaka-Chittagong highway Later, the march reached Sarishahar Hati Mor in front of the district Awami League office, where Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League leaders and activists reportedly hurled brickbats at the students. In retaliation, the enraged students threw back brickbats and vandalized the Awami League office. In an attempt to control the situation and disperse the crowd, police fired five rounds. Seven students sustained injuries from rubber bullets and brickbats during the clash. The police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and other law enforcement agencies were seen in a state of alert to avoid any untoward incidents.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister and Chairman of Hospital Management Committee of Mugda Medical College and Hospital, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, has said that initiatives will be taken to make Mugda Medical College Hospital a self-sufficient hospital. All types of medical services will be provided in this hospital so that no patient needs to be referred to any other hospital. He said that due to the increase in the number of patient admissions, initiatives will be taken to convert it into a 1,000-bed hospital. Saber Hossain said these on Saturday at the hospital management committee coordination meeting of Mugda Medical College and Hospital. Mentioning that Mugda Medical College Hospital is the first hospital for patients from different parts of the country to enter through Jatrabari, the minister said that there will be a master plan for the development of this hospital. Initiatives will be taken to ensure that all the infrastructures here are properly used. Arrangements will be made to appoint the required number of doctors and ancillary manpower. When the attending doctors requested to take measures to establish thoracic surgery, neuro surgery department and appoint an oncologist, the minister assured to take all necessary initiatives for the development of this hospital. Members of Hospital Management Committee of Mugda Medical College and Hospital, doctors and representatives of various related departments spoke in the meeting. The Minister requested to submit the plan for the development of Mugda Medical College Hospital within one month. He advised the authorities to maintain adequate greenery and cleanliness in the hospital premises.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has issued a series of urgent directives to people, aimed at making the ‘non-cooperation movement’ successful.  The directives outline extensive measures to disrupt normal operations across the country. Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement , announced the directive in a Facebook post.  Key directives include: 1. No Tax Payments: Citizens are urged to withhold all forms of tax or levy payments. 2. Bill Payments Halted: Individuals are advised not to pay any electricity, gas, or water bills. 3. Institutional Closure: Both government and private institutions, including offices, courts, and factories, will remain closed. Employees are encouraged to collect their salaries at the end of the month without attending work. 4. Education on Hold: All educational institutions will suspend their activities. 5. Remittance Restrictions: Expatriates are urged not to send remittances through banking channels. 6. Government Events Boycott: Citizens should avoid participating in all government meetings, seminars, and events. 7. Port Workers Strike: Port workers are directed not to join work or handle any goods. 8. Factory Shutdown: No factories, including garment factories, will operate. Workers are asked to stay home. 9. Public Transport Suspension: Public transportation will be halted, and workers should not go to work. 10. Limited Banking Hours: Banks will open every Sunday for urgent personal transactions. 11. Police Duty Limitations: Police officers are instructed to refrain from protocol, riot, or protest duties, performing only routine station work. 12. Offshore Transaction Ban: All offshore financial transactions will be stopped to prevent money laundering. 13. Military Restrictions: Forces, apart from the BGB and Navy, will not perform duties outside cantonments. The BGB and Navy will remain in barracks and coastal areas. 14. Bureaucratic Absence: Bureaucrats should not attend the Secretariat, and DC or Upazila officials should stay away from their offices. 15. Luxury Goods Stores Closed: Stores selling luxury goods, showrooms, malls, hotels, motels, and restaurants will remain closed. Essential services, including hospitals, pharmacies, emergency transport services, ambulance services, fire services, media, essential goods transport, urgent internet services, and emergency relief support, will continue to operate. Stores selling essential goods will remain open from 11 am to 1 pm.

The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway is seeing a surge in protests as more students join the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to demand justice for recent killings and mass arrests. In response to the movement's calls, students began gathering on the streets, with the crowd swelling as the day progressed.  The UNB correspondent observed people blocking the Jatrabari-Signboard area on the highway on Saturday afternoon.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Saturday predicted light to moderate rains across the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Saturday.“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country,” said a bulletin of Met office. Weather forecast: Rainfall may continue for 4 daysDay and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the countryBesides, the axis of monsoon trough runs through Punjab, Hariyana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal to Assam across central part of Bangladesh.One of its associated troughs extends up to North Bay.Monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over North Bay.Meanwhile, maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal no three.Due to strong monsoon deep convection is taking place over North Bay, gusty squally weather may affect maritime ports, North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice.  

10 Minute School, Bangladesh’s largest education platform, has suspended all their online and offline classes for an indefinite period. The announcement was made from the official Facebook after Friday midnight. According to the Facebook post, all live classes, revision classes and offline classes of English Center of 10 Minute School will be closed indefinitely from Saturday. Startup Bangladesh cancels Tk 5 crore proposed investment in 10 Minute School 10 Minute School started its journey in 2015, and has taught over millions of students in the country through various academic, skill development and job preparation courses.  

Dhaka has ranked 60th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 56 at 09:08 am this morning. Today’s air was classified as 'moderate', and even Dhaka’s air quality remained in moderate zone for the past few days, indicating an improvement of the air quality. Bahrain’s Manama, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kinshasa and Indonesia’s Medan, occupied the first, second, third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 197, 180 and 137, respectively. Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘moderate’ When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. Dhaka’s air quality in ‘moderate’ zone this morning The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.  

 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday  said the nationwide mass movement of students and the general public has demonstrated the nation’s unity against the 'murderous and autocratic' Awami League government. In a statement, he also said the government has continued killing, brutally attacking, and torturing people, disregarding the concerns raised by the UN and voices from both within the country and abroad. “Braving natural and governmental adversities, the spontaneous mass mobilization of lakhs of people, including students, teachers, and guardians, proves that the entire nation is united against the treasonous, murderous, and authoritarian regime,” he said. The BNP Secretary General called upon the government to immediately resign without causing any further harm to the country after apologising to the nation for its acts of genocide and oppression. He said the government has already been despised and condemned for carrying out brutal and heinous genocide to suppress the students' movement. Fakhrul strongly condemned the attacks on students in different parts of the country, including in Dhaka’s Uttara, Sylhet, Habiganj, Khulna, Chandpur, and Laxmipur, by the law enforcers and the armed ruling party cadres that left Mustaque Mia dead in Habiganj. He also protested the arrest of many opposition leaders and workers and innocent people in false cases and demanded the immediate release of those arrested. The BNP stated that a record number of false cases have been filed across the country concerning the students' movement. “Lawyers are being harassed when they attempt to obtain case documents. Innocent students, common people, and opposition leaders and activists are being arrested en masse, creating a scope for the law enforcers to indulge in arrest trade,” he said. Fakhrul urged the government to stop the 'arrest trade' and harassing the students, common people, and opposition leaders and activists.

 In a series of clashes between students and police in Khulna, a police constable named Suman has been killed. He was stationed at the police lines. The confrontations took place between Friday afternoon and evening at Zero Point, Gallamari Intersection, and around Khulna University.   Mohammad Mozammel Haque, Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police, confirmed the incident and stated that 20 to 25 individuals, including police, were seriously injured, and Constable Mohammad Suman from the police lines was killed.   Commissioner Mozammel Haque remarked, “The police showed maximum restraint. Despite that, my colleague was beaten to death.” He is the fifth police officer to have died in the violence that has engulfed the nation since July 15.