United News of Bangladesh

Saleem Samad, an award-winning investigative journalist, a writer and a media rights defender, died at his residence in the capital on Sunday. Saleem, also a member of the Jatiya Press Club, was Special Correspondent of English dailies The News Times, The Bangladesh Observer and The Asian Age. His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at the Jatiya Press Club around 2:30 pm while his second namaz-e-janaza will be held at 3 pm on Dhaka Reporters Unity premises. His articles appeared in TIME magazine, India Today and Outlook magazines in India and South Asia magazine published from Pakistan. He was a facilitator for capacity building courses for small-town journalists in Bangladesh on key social development issues. He conducted workshops on environment and development journalism for South Asian journalists in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. He was former Media Specialist for US-based non-profit organisation Academy for Educational Development (AED), Environment & Social Development Organisation (ESDO), Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC), Bangladesh Human Rights Journalists Forum (BMSF), and Forum of Environmental Journalist, Bangladesh (FEJB).

The long-clogged Dadna canal in Daganbhuiyan has regained its natural flow after a clean-up drive removed years of accumulated waste and debris, ending more than two decades of stagnation. For over 20 years, the canal had remained blocked by piles of rubbish, preventing water from flowing. Nearly one-third of the canal had also been illegally occupied by an influential group. Although the upazila and municipal authorities cleared the encroachment earlier this year, the canal remained choked with garbage. Ahead of the recent election, Tajwar M Auwal, the youngest son of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, took an initiative to clean the canal and requested a private organisation named ‘Footstep’ to carry out the work. Kushtia farmers upset over canal blockage, fear permanent waterlogging

BNP Standing Committee Member and former minister Selima Rahman remained under treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of United Hospital in the capital with cardiac complications. She was taken to the hospital on February 19 after experiencing sudden chest pain, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He said Selima Rahman is currently under close medical observation. “She suddenly fell ill due to a heart-related problem and was admitted to United Hospital. She is now receiving treatment at the CCU,” Sayrul told UNB. He said her family members and party leaders have requested the country’s people to pray for her speedy recovery.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Dhaka Dr Abdullah ibn Dhafer ibn Ubayya paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday. The meeting was held at 11am at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahaman Rumon. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and the Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir were present at the meeting. Three services' chiefs meet PM Tarique Rahman Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister arrived at the Cabinet Division at 9:05am, where Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar received him.  

The low-pressure area over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a well-marked low over Southeast Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian Ocean. It is likely to move west-northwestwards, said a Met office bulletin. Meanwhile the ridge of Sub-continental high extends up to Bihar and adjoining area. Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Night and day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.  

Three shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Lahinipara in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia district early Sunday. The fire started at a furniture shop in the area around 3:30 am and spread to two adjoining shops, said Ali Hossain, leader of Kumarkhali Fire Station. On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze after an hour. A furniture shop, a computer and photocopy shop and a pharmacy were completely destroyed in the fire. The affected shop owners claimed that the estimated loss caused by the fire could be Tk 25-30 lakh. However, the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage will be determined after an investigation.    

Dhaka has ranked second on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 227 at 9:12 am this morning. Dhaka’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy' on Sunday, according to the air quality index. Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Kolkata and Delhi occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 406, 218 and 212 respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is 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. Severe air pollution pushes Dhaka to second spot globally 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. 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.    

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has said that the Bengali language has no connection with the words ‘Inqilab’ and ‘Azadi’. “If the people of Bangladesh truly embrace Bangla as their mother tongue, slogans like ‘Inqilab Zindabad’ should not continue,” he said at a discussion held on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day at the Sirajganj District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Saturday afternoon. The minister said that today’s children often say ‘Inqilab Zindabad’, but it is the language of those who once tried to take away the right to speak Bangla. “It makes my heart bleed to hear them say ‘Inqilab Zindabad’. I consider myself a nationalist from head to toe,” he added. Tuku said some may brand him an agent of India or RAW for his remarks, but he stressed that he fought in the Liberation War and became a minister because this country was born. “We must be trained, not just talk, to love our country. Only then can the Bengali language be truly protected,” he said. He added that nationalism did not fully develop among Bengalis because people did not try to understand their own language. “Inqilab and Azadi, which are not our language, have become the words of our children. Even after the mass uprising of 2024, we could not protect our language because we were not careful about history. A nation that does not know its history cannot progress,” he said. The minister highlighted the rich history of the Bengali language and urged people to build their own language and culture. “Celebrating February 21 with flowers, songs, meetings and seminars is not enough. Efforts must go beyond the ceremonies,” he said. Commenting on Jamaat-e-Islami, he said the party had influenced households, particularly among half-educated mothers and sisters, which affected voting patterns. The event was presided over by Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Aminul Islam, and the keynote address was delivered by former principal of Sirajganj Government College Karuna Rani Saha.

A police constable was injured after being stabbed by miscreants at a checkpost in the Kutubkhali Pocket Gate area under Jatrabari Police Station on Saturday afternoon. The injured constable, Md Shah Alam (28), is posted at Jatrabari Police Station. He was later taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital by his colleagues. According to Shah Alam, he was on duty at the checkpost when two unidentified men carrying bags arrived. When he attempted to search the bags, the attackers suddenly stabbed him in the neck with a sharp weapon and fled the scene. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed the matter. He said the injured constable was brought to the hospital around 4:45 pm with a bleeding neck wound and is currently undergoing treatment in the emergency department’s operation theatre. The incident has been reported to the concerned police station, he added.

The 13th National Parliament is likely to go into its maiden session on March 12 next month or one or two days earlier, said Home Minister and BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed. “The first session of the National Parliament will begin on March 12 next month or one or two days earlier,” he told journalists on Saturday night. The BNP leader said the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected during the session. “During this session, the ordinances promulgated during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before Parliament, and an obituary motion will also be presented,” he added. Earlier, on February 17, the newly elected members of the 13th Parliament--from both the treasury and opposition benches--were sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Later, the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) unanimously elected party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Leader of the House. Meanwhile, Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has been chosen as the Leader of the Opposition by opposition MPs. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12. Out of 300 seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, results for two seats have been suspended, while polling in one seat was cancelled following the death of a candidate. Of the remaining 297 seats, BNP secured 209, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami 68, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) six, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish two, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Ganosamhati Andolon and Khelafat Majlish won one seat each. Independent candidates secured seven seats.