United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday test-drove locally manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) and praised the initiative, assuring necessary government support for the country’s emerging EV industry. In the morning, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition of electric vehicles brought to his office in Tejgaon by Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. During the visit, he said Tarique Rahman personally drove a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a covered van manufactured by the company. Shiplu said representatives of the company informed the Prime Minister that Bangladesh Auto Industries Limited is the country’s first EV manufacturer. They said the vehicles are fully battery-powered and environment-friendly, requiring no fuel oil and comparatively lower electricity costs. They also said efforts have been made to keep the prices of the vehicles affordable for ordinary people.  

UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers has said UNICEF is deeply shocked and saddened by the recent brutal violence against children reported across Bangladesh, including the rape and killing of girls and boys in settings where they should have been safe. "Every child has the right to protection everywhere, in communities, schools, at home, and even in how their stories and images are treated in public spaces," she said in a statement, stressing that brutality against children must stop. UNICEF conveyed sincere condolences to all the affected families. The rise in reports of brutal and sexual violence against women and children across Bangladesh thus far in 2026 underscore the urgent need for immediate action to strengthen child and GBV protection systems and prevention measures nationwide, said Rana Flowers. She said the culture of impunity enjoyed by perpetrators must end, and the gaps in prevention, reporting, institutional safeguarding, child friendly police and justice, community protection and social services be addressed. There is also need for psychosocial support for the women and children, with far stronger accountability of schools, madrasas, workplaces, neighbourhoods and care settings, Rana Flowers said. "Violence spreads when communities stay silent. UNICEF appeals for children, women, families and community members to report violence, abuse or exploitation through available protection services, including Child Helpline 1098, which provides support and referral services for children in need of assistance," she said. Children and women who suffer at the hands of an abuser deserve their dignity to be respected, Rana Flowers said. "The sharing of photos videos or identifying personal details represents a further abuse of each of them," she said, adding that all who share and reshare are adding to the trauma of survivors, the trauma of families, the disrespect of the victim. "UNICEF appeals to the public, media outlets and social media users to respect the rights of the victims and their families and to refrain from any such sharing," Rana Flowers said. "Instead, please raise your voice calling for the protections and the systems and for an end to impunity of perpetrators," she added. Bangladesh on Friday witnessed protests over rising incidents of child rape as residents and activists in Pallabi and other parts of Dhaka demanded justice for eight-year-old Ramisa Akhter, who was raped and killed on May 19. Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) alao expressed deep concern over the recent surge in child abuse, rape, and murder cases, saying the killing of seven-year-old Ramisa Akter in Pallabi, along with other recent incidents, has once again exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s child protection system. ASK reported that between January and May 20, 2026, at least 118 children were raped, while 46 others were victims of attempted rape. At least 17 children were killed following rape or attempted rape during the same period. Ramisa, a class two student, was allegedly raped, killed, and beheaded by her neighbour, Sohel Rana, on May 19. In its statement, ASK said such incidents were not isolated crimes but reflected systemic failures in state protection mechanisms and a broader crisis of social accountability.

The pressure of homebound Eid travelers has increased on the 105-kilometer stretch of  Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Cumilla. The number of cattle-carrying and goods-laden trucks has also risen  ahead of Eid. Travellers and drivers said the growing number of passenger vehicles and freight trucks is putting added pressure on the highway, causing delays in reaching destinations compared to normal travel times. There was no major traffic congestion on the 105-kilometer stretch from the Meghna-Gomti Bridge toll plaza in Daudkandi to Padua in Chauddagram as of 1100 am on Saturday when this report was filed. However, vehicles were seen moving slowly at different points due to heavy traffic volume. Meanwhile, indiscriminate picking up and dropping off passengers by vehicles at various markets and station areas including Gouripur, Madhaiya, Chandina, Cantonment, Alekhar Char, Paduar Bazar, Miar Bazar, Chauddagram and Padua is disrupting the normal flow of traffic to some extent. Traffic pressure on the highway may increase further as the Eid holidays draw closer.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka by road for Mymensingh’s Trishal on Saturday morning to inaugurate the national-level programme marking the 127th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. His motorcade started the journey from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Tejgaon at around 11:06 am, PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu told UNB. He said Tarique Rahman arrived at the PMO at around 10:05 am and visited a sports car and electric vehicle (EV) exhibition held there. During the visit, he inspected various modern technology-based vehicles and exchanged views with representatives concerned. Later, he attended another programme before starting his journey for Trishal, Shiplu added. According to the Prime Minister’s tour schedule, he will inaugurate the re-excavation work of Dharar Khal in Bailor Union of Trishal upazila. Later, he will inaugurate the national programme marking the poet’s 127th birth anniversary at Nazrul Mancha in Trishal at 3:00 pm. After the programme, he will attend an organisational meeting of Mymensingh North, South and city BNP units at Trishal Nazrul Auditorium. The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave for Dhaka around 6:30pm.

Two people were killed in separate lightning strikes in Sadar and Shibganj upazilas of Chapainawabganj district on Friday. Monowara Begum, wife of Mainul Islam Bishu of Gidhonipara in Sadar upazila was killed when a thunderbolt struck her while collecting mango amid rain on Friday evening, said Tanjumul Islam, administrative officer of Charbagdanga Union Parishad. In another incident, Abdul Malek, son of Mohbul Islam of Babupur-Chalkipara village in Shibganj upazila was killed when a streak of thunderbolt struck him while working at a paddy filed during storm in the afternoon, said Mizanur Rahman, Shibganj Upazila Project Implementation Officer.    

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked 9th among the world’s most polluted cities on Saturday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 102 at 09:20 am. The air was classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive group’, meaning affect people with underlying conditions, children, and older adults, while the general public is likely unaffected, according to the AQI scale. India’s Delhi, Chile’s Santiago and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kinshasa were the three most polluted cities, with AQI scores of 208, 164 and 160. An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while 151–200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 301 is ‘hazardous’ and can cause serious health problems. The AQI measures daily air quality, showing how clean or polluted the air is and what health effects people might experience. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five main pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone. Dhaka has long faced serious air pollution. The situation usually gets worse in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization says air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illness, lung cancer and acute infections.  

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has rescued an abducted contractor during a drive in Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban District and a kidnapper was arrested with Tk 3 lakh. The rescued was identified as Md Amu Hossain ,50, engaged in various development projects as a contractor in Thanchi upazila. According to BGB, armed criminals abducted Amu Hossain on May 21 and took him to an undisclosed location. Considering the victim’s security, his family was compelled to pay the ransom demanded by the abductors, BGB said. After receiving information about the incident, BGB’s Bolipara Battalion (38 BGB) launched an operation and rescued him. A special operational team led by Assistant Director Md Zakir Hossain, acting adjutant of the zone, immediately started gathering intelligence, analysing the situation and closely monitoring the movements of the abductors. During the drive, Mangley Mro, a member of the armed kidnapping group, was arrested red-handed from the scene. BGB members also recovered a motorcycle used in the abduction and the ransom money amounting to Tk 300,000 in cash. Legal action against the arrested individual is under process, the statement said.

Advocate Mohammad Ali, the newly elected Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, on Friday said he is ready to extend any necessary legal assistance to ensure justice in the rape and killing of child Ramisa. He expressed deep grief, strong condemnation, and protest over the brutal and tragic murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter. In a statement, the Supreme Court Bar leader said such brutality against an innocent child has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. "Such a heinous crime can never be acceptable in any civilized society," he said. Advocate Mohammad Ali extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Law Minister, alongside the authorities concerned, for taking prompt actions.He noted that the leadership has already issued directives to ensure an immediate, neutral investigation to bring the actual perpetrators to justice and deliver exemplary punishment in the shortest possible time. Expressing profound condolences to Ramisa’s bereaved family, the elected Secretary of the apex court bar announced that he stands ready to provide any necessary legal assistance to ensure justice is served. "Ensuring the safety of children and establishing justice is a collective responsibility of the state and society. Let us all raise our voices against such injustice," he added. According to police sources, Ramisa, a class-II student, was brutally killed inside a residential flat in the capital's Pallabi area on May 19, an incident that sparked widespread public outrage and condemnation across the country.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque on Friday said the government is rebuilding Bangladesh’s sports structure from the grassroots to national level to keep young people regularly engaged in physical activity alongside their studies. He said a structured athlete development pathway is being introduced—from union to upazila, district, divisional and national levels—to ensure children and youth remain involved in sports for an extended period each year. Long-term plan taken for youth development: State Minister Aminul The state minister made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a programme marking the 78th founding anniversary (Engineers Day) of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at the Engineers Recreation Centre (ERC) auditorium in Dhaka. The event featured a seminar titled “Healthy Aging” and an award ceremony for the Sports Tournament-2026. Presided over by Engineer Khan Ataur Rahman Santu and moderated by Engineer Md Abdul Majid, the programme was attended by Engineer Mohammad Riazul Islam (Rizu), Prof Dr Engineer Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan and Engineer AKM Shoaib Bashari Hablu as special guests. Aminul Haque said the sports calendar has already progressed through upazila, district and divisional stages, while the national phase is expected to begin after Eid. “The next full sports season will begin in September and continue until March or April, ensuring that children and young athletes remain engaged in sports for nearly six months every year,” he said. The minister said eight sporting disciplines have already been made mandatory under the new framework, with volleyball and table tennis expected to be added from the next season, raising the number to 10. He added that exceptionally talented athletes identified through competitions would receive government support, including educational and professional sports training opportunities at divisional-level BKSPIs and the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) in Dhaka.Highlighting the health benefits of sports participation, Aminul Haque said earlier generations remained physically active through regular outdoor play using improvised local equipment. “If children regularly go to playgrounds, they are less likely to become ill and will lead healthier lives,” he said. Referring to the concept of healthy ageing, the state minister stressed the importance of walking, physical exercise and sports participation in maintaining physical and mental wellbeing. He also said newly developed playgrounds across the country are being planned with walking tracks to create healthier environments for people of all ages. Aminul Haque praised the initiative taken by IEB, saying engineers play an indispensable role in the country’s infrastructure development, but maintaining physical and mental wellbeing is equally important for a long and productive professional life. Speaking as a special guest, Engineer Mohammad Riazul Islam (Rizu) said IEB has remained a unifying platform for the country’s engineers for the past 78 years. He emphasized the need to promote the idea of healthy ageing among both senior and younger engineers to ensure people remain productive throughout their lives. Prof Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan said engineers in technology-driven professions often neglect physical exercise due to demanding work schedules, underscoring the importance of regular fitness, health check-ups and mental wellbeing. Engineer AKM Shoaib Bashari Hablu said personal wellbeing is essential alongside professional excellence, noting that sports and health awareness can improve engineers’ long-term productivity. The keynote paper at the seminar was presented by SM Monjurul Islam Chowdhury, who highlighted the scientific importance of maintaining physical and mental balance, proper nutrition and regular exercise with advancing age. In his presidential remarks, Engineer Khan Ataur Rahman Santu said IEB’s commitment on its 78th founding anniversary is to contribute to building a healthier and more prosperous Bangladesh. He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring engineers remain physically fit and capable of continuing their contribution to national development. At the end of the programme, trophies and awards were distributed among winners of different events under Sports Tournament-2026. Senior IEB officials, ERC Dhaka members and a large number of engineers attended the event.

Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, General Waker-uz-Zaman, left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Friday along with his wife to perform the holy Hajj. He is visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a royal guest upon invitation from the Saudi government. During the visit, the Army Chief will perform Hajj rituals in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. He is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on June 1, 2026 after completing the Hajj pilgrimage. Army to return to barracks after new govt’s oath: Waker-Uz-Zaman