United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in separate statements condemned Bangladesh Bank’s decision of banning journalists' entry into the central bank headquarters. The DUJ in a statement on Saturday said that for 53 years reporters have been entering the central bank premises and collecting reports freely, sudden banning of entry in the central bank would create misunderstanding regarding the banking sector. DUJ President Sohel Haider Chowdhury and General Secretary Akhtar Hossain in the statement said that such a ban would raise the possibility of publishing wrong information due to lack of verification option. They urged the BB governor to allow reporters in the central bank freely, which was happening during the last 53 years, as part of assisting independent journalism. Acting President of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) Shafiqul Islam Shamim and General Secretary Mohiuddin in the statement on Friday said that reporters have always been freely collecting information from the BB and publishing independent news. “Sudden entry barriers are against independent journalism. As a result, there will be a risk of wrong reporting about the banking sector, which is not desired by any party,” they said. The DRU leaders demanded that journalists should be assisted in fulfilling their professional duties by ensuring unhindered access to the BB immediately. Earlier, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) termed the ban on access of journalists to the BB as a reprehensible example of arbitrary imposition of secrecy. Expressing deep concern over such action, the organisation has called for the immediate withdrawal of such ban on disclosure of banking and financial sector information in the public interest. TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said that most of the news of big scams in the financial sector in the last few years have come from the sources of journalists. Such steps have been taken to hide the fact that the policy and leadership of the BB has become hostage to the criminal gang, he said.

Bangladesh reported 10 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 20, 49, 955, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29, 494 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. The daily case test positivity rate was 4.57 percent as 219 samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Saturday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, 15 patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS. Of them, nine were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest were outside the capital. A total of 114 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, 2,126 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year. Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.

Protesting the bus burning by Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) students centring the deaths of their two fellows in a tragic road crash on April 22, a transport organisation called for a 48 hour bus strike beginning from 6am on Sunday in Chattogram division to press home their four-point demand. Brihattor Chattogram Ganaparibahan Malik Sramik Oikkyo Parishad, meaning ‘Greater Chattogram Public Transport Owners Workers Unity Council,’ announced the programme from an emergency meeting of the organisation on Saturday afternoon, confirmed its member secretary Md Musa. As per the programme, the strike will end at 6am on Tuesday, he said, adding that all kinds of emergency vehicles including ambulances will remain out of purview of the strike. Demanding security of property and lives of transport workers, Musa alleged that their vehicles were burnt despite the issue related to the deaths of two students was resolved.    “We called for a 48 hour strike with effect from 6am tomorrow on four- point demand including protesting the burning of vehicles,” he said. On April 22, two Cuet students—Shanto Saha, a 3rd year student and Tawfiq Hasan, a 2nd year student of Civil engineering department, died when a bus of ‘Shah Amanat’ paribahan hit a motorbike on Chattogram-Kaptai road at Zianagar in Rangunia upazila. As soon as the news spread, some Cuet students vandalised three buses and set one more on fire on that day. The students took to the streets boycotting classes and examinations and continued their protests till April 25 blocking the Chattogram-Kaptai road by setting fire on logs and tyres to press home their 9 point demand for safe road. They demanded arrest of the bus driver and his assistant and their exemplary punishment. The other demands include providing compensation to the deceased and bearing the medical expenses of the student injured in the accident, establishment of modern treatment centre with all facilities on the campus, proving ambulances with modern equipment, stopping movement of all local buses including Shah Amanat and AB Travels on the road, examining licenses of the buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws that ply the road , making the Student Welfare Council under accountable and forming students representative group. Bus driver Md Tazul Islam was arrested from the Kotwali area of Chattogram city on April 25. On the same day, the Cuet was declared closed for an indefinite period as students burst into protests demanding road safety and they were asked to vacate their dormitories. Protesting the move, the students again blocked the road and burnt buses. Considering the circumstances, the Cuet administration held a meeting with the protesting students at night of the same day. Later, the students postponed their movement and said they would return to academic activities. Again on April 26, the Cuet authority decided to keep campus closed till May 9 after holding an emergency meeting of the syndicate committee. A day after, the transport organization called for the strike.    

A passenger bus caught fire apparently due to a motorcycle's oil-tank explosion in the city's Banani on  Saturday afternoon. Quoting eyewitnesses, firefighter officials said the fire might have been caused due to a motorcycle tank explosion. The incident took place at around 4:00 pm when a passenger bus from Mymensingh was going to Mohakhali Bus Terminal. In the meantime, a motorcycle went under the wheels of the bus while it was taking a U-turn in front of the Navy headquarters, said senior station officer of the Kurmitola Fire Station Atiqur Rahman. "The bus pulled the motorcycle some ways. It might be that the bus caught fire due to the motorcycle's tank exploding underneath," he said.  Being informed, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the flame at around 4:37 pm, the Station Officer added. Two riders of the motorcycle were injured in the incident. They are undergoing treatment at nearby Kurmitola General Hospital. He also said that there were very few passengers in the bus. Due to this, no passenger of the bus was reported to be injured.

A six-year-old boy died after falling from the roof of a six-storey building in Dhaka's Bangshal on Saturday.  The deceased was identified as Ayan Chowdhury, a student in class two and the son of Emon Chowdhury, an auto parts business owner. Ayan lived on the second floor of the building with his parents and younger brother, said his uncle Masum Mia. “I can’t comprehend how he fell, the roof has a parapet and grills on top of it,” he said. Ayan was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, where doctors pronounced him dead. The body has been sent for an autopsy, and the concerned police station has been informed about the matter, said Inspector Bacchu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH Police Outpost..

The Awami League and its affiliated organisations have paid homage to  Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq at his tomb on the occasion of his 62nd death anniversary. Tributes were paid first on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and then by the Bangladesh Awami League. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and other senior leaders of the party were present at that time. Speaking on the occasion, Quader said that national leader Sher-e-Bangla was one of those who took politics to the masses. The AL leader said that farmers in Bengal’s rural areas would never forget Sher-e-Bangla for protecting them from moneylenders through the Tenancy Act and Debt Settlement Board. Awami League Dhaka South City unit, Jubo League, Swechasebak League, Tanti League, Dhaka University Chhatra League and various affiliated organisations of Awami League paid tribute later.  

Two people including a woman, died and four others were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a CNG-run autorickshaw in the Alalpur area of Mymensingh Sadar upazila on Saturday morning. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Main Uddin confirmed the matter. Reckless driving by teen driver takes 3 lives in Bagerhat According to police and locals, the accident happened about 11:00 am when a Nalitabari-bound bus collided with an autorickshaw in front of Alalpur Sabjipara Millers Auto Rice Mill on the Mymensingh-Sherpur road, killing two passengers and injuring four others. The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment. The bus was seized, but the driver fled the scene, said the OC. Legal action is under process in this regard, he added.

Respite from the prevailing heat wave condition across the country is unlikely and it has turned very severe in three districts. Very Severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Chuadanga and Pabna, said a regular bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Saturday. Besides,  Tangail, Bogura, Bagerhat, Jashore and Kushtia are experiencing severe heat wave while parts of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Barishal divisions, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and Bandarban districts are experiencing  a mild to moderate heat wave and it may continue, it said. The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 42.7 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga on Friday while today’s minimum temperature was recorded at 21.5 degrees Celsius in Srimangal. Chuadanga witnesses season’s highest temperature at 42.7°C Meanwhile, rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Due to increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist.

Dhaka's air quality has been identified as ‘unhealthy’ this morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 143 at 09:05am, Dhaka ranked 6th on the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality. Nepal’s Kathmandu, Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Vietnam’s Hanoi occupied the first three spots, with AQI scores of 188, 162 and 160, respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 151 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', and a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Dhaka’s air quality again ‘unhealthy’ this morning In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in the winter and improves during the monsoon. Amid heat wave, Dhaka's air quality is still "unhealthy"