United News of Bangladesh

Six more children died from measles and similar symptoms in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, taking the death toll to 459. Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related while the remaining five were classified as suspected, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the suspected deaths, highest three were recorded in Dhaka division. With these, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 75 and suspected deaths to 384, it said. According to DGHS data, a total of 1,274 suspected measles cases were recorded in the 24 hours. The total number of suspected cases has reached 57,846 during the period. During this period, 243 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 7,767. Since March 15, a total of 42,092 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised of whom 37,744 have recovered.  

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal on Sunday stressed the need for long-term, sustainable and coordinated initiatives to protect the lives and livelihoods of people living in the country’s haor regions. He called for the formation of a special taskforce to identify the real problems facing the haor areas and recommend effective solutions. The Deputy Speaker made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled “Haor Disaster: Relevance of the Book ‘Chashabhushar Shontan’ and the Way Forward” as the chief guest. The seminar was organised by Netrakona Journalists Forum Dhaka at Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital. The event featured extensive discussions on natural disasters in the haor region, the struggles of farmers, sustainable embankment management, the impacts of climate change and future development planning. “I am a son of the haor,” Barrister Kayser Kamal said. “My birth and upbringing took place in the middle of the haor region. From my childhood, I have closely witnessed the suffering, struggles and deprivation of the people there. Our farmers and cultivators constantly fight natural disasters while making a significant contribution to the national economy. Yet, since independence, very few effective and sustainable initiatives have been taken for the haor region,” he said. He observed that discussions on haor issues usually emerge only after major damage occurs while long-term solutions remain neglected. “When losses occur, only then do discussions about the haor begin. But permanent solutions require research-based planning and practical initiatives,” he said. Referring to the book ‘Chashabhushar Shontan’, the Deputy Speaker said it vividly portrays the realities of the haor region, the struggles of its people and the multidimensional impacts of disasters. He said such research-oriented publications could play an important role in policymaking and raising public awareness. Barrister Kamal also alleged widespread irregularities in the name of fish farming in haor areas. “Through the so-called leasing system, a section of dishonest individuals is occupying haor resources. Genuine fishermen do not get leases. Large pits are being dug inside wetlands to create ponds, obstructing the natural flow of water,” he said. “As a result, farmers are being severely affected and have long been subjected to neglect and exploitation.” He further said that haor farmers are deprived of fair prices for their produce and are also unable to catch fish because of the leasing system. “I myself am a witness to these injustices and inequalities,” he added. The Deputy Speaker underscored the importance of effective water management, science-based research, innovation of technologies suitable for early seed plantation and preparing accurate lists of genuinely affected people in the haor region. “Since independence, the country has been run within a fixed framework. Obstacles emerge at every step. Therefore, everyone must come forward in unity,” he said. He also called for collective efforts to build a humane Bangladesh in line with the spirit and aspirations behind the country’s independence. Among others, lawmaker Anwarul Haque, journalists, researchers, writers, distinguished citizens and stakeholders related to the haor region attended the seminar. Speakers at the event called for coordinated initiatives to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of people living in the haor areas.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit has highlighted Bangladesh’s strong emphasis on primary healthcare as the foundation of universal health coverage and effective cancer prevention and control. At the Commonwealth Health Coordination Forum in Geneva on Sunday , he reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening equitable and resilient cancer care systems. Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva Nahida Sobhan accompanied the State Minister during the event, said the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva. The State Minister showcased Bangladesh’s ongoing initiatives, including national cancer management guidelines, expansion of cancer registries, HPV vaccination campaign for adolescent girls, community-based screening and early diagnosis, and strengthening oncology workforce and decentralized services. He also emphasised the need for stronger Commonwealth cooperation in workforce training, digital health, research collaboration, and affordable cancer care. The participation of the State Minister was facilitated by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.  

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) in a drive arrested two members, including the second-in-command of forest robber gang “Karim-Sharif Bahini” along with arms and ammunition from the Sundarbans in Dakop upazila of Khulna district early Sunday. The arrestees were identified as Rabiul Sheikh, 30, of Rampal upazila, and Rajon Sharif, 20, the second-in-command of the gang hailing from Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat. The BCG members also rescued four fishermen from the clutch of the robbers during the drive. Tipped off, a team of BCG, as part of “Operation Mangrove Shield”, conducted a drive in the Dhangmari area of the Sundarbans around 4:00am and arrested two members of the forest robber gang. At that time, they also rescued four fishermen, said BCG Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam. Later, the team recovered three guns and 24 rounds of bullets from the spot. Rajon Sharif had long been involved in kidnapping fishermen and others in the Sundarbans for ransom. He was wanted also in a murder case filed at Sadar Police Station in Bagerhat, said Sabbir.  

Students of Jahangirnagar University locked the university’s new administrative building on Sunday, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused in an attempted rape case and the resignation of the proctor. The protesters gathered in front of the new administrative building around 9:30 am and locked both the main and inner gates at about 11 00 am before starting a sit-in programme. The demonstrators said they would continue the blockade of the administrative building until their demand is met. Speaking about the blockade, Fahmida Moon, a student of the 52nd batch of the Urban and Regional Planning Department and one of the protesters, said one of their six demands is the resignation of the entire proctorial body if the accused is not arrested within 48 hours. She alleged that a series of negative incidents have taken place on cthe ampus since the current proctor assumed the office. “The registrar building will remain locked. The authorities must come and inform us how many more hours they need to arrest the accused. We will continue our programme until the administration gives us a clear assurance,” she added. Adrita Roy, a student of the 53rd batch of the Drama and Dramatics Department, said the university administration has failed to demonstrate the sense of responsibility and judgment expected in dealing with the incident. An unidentified man attempted to rape a female student after dragging her into nearby bushes adjacent to the old Fazilatunnesa Hall and the extended part of Al Beruni Hall on the university campus around 11:30 pm on May 12.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday sent Prof Hasibur Rashid, former Vice Chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), who was sentenced to 10 years’ in prison in connection with the killing of Abu Sayed during the July 2024 uprising, to jail. The ICT-2, chaired by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order when he was produced before the tribunal, said Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed. The former BRUR Vice Chancellor can appeal against the verdict after getting the certified copy of the judgment. Earlier on Saturday, police arrested Hasibur Rashid from a house in Mohammadpur in the capital. He was one of the main accused in the Abu Sayed killing case. On April 9, the ICT-2 sentenced two accused to death and three others to life imprisonment, while several others received different terms of jail in the case. Hasibur Rashid was awarded 10 years in prison in the case. Abu Sayed, a 12th-batch student of the Department of English at BRUR, was shot to death by police during student protests on July 16, 2024 in front of the university. His killing intensified the movement which later escalated into a mass uprising, ultimately leading to the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Prof Hasibur Rashid resigned from his post on August 8, 2024.  

A mentally challenged Bangladeshi youth has returned from India 13 days after he went missing, following coordinated efforts by border guards of the two neighbouring countries. The return of Bakul Mondal, 35, was facilitated through a flag meeting between members of Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force on Saturday night. Bakul, son of Lutfor Rahman Mondal of Charuikuri village under Ramkrishnopur union in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia, had been missing since May 3 after he left home, family members said. Despite extensive searches, his family failed to trace him. Being mentally challenged, Bakul reportedly crossed the border unintentionally and reached Kolkata. Family members later identified him after photographs and information about an ill Bangladeshi man lying on a street in Kolkata went viral on social media. After his identity was confirmed, locals on the Indian side helped him attempt to return to Bangladesh illegally. However, members of the BSF detained him from a house near the border and took him to their camp after realising the matter, family members and BGB officials said. Later, the BSF informed the BGB of the matter. Around 10:00pm on Saturday, a flag meeting was held near border pillar 157/2(S) in the Charuikuri border area between members of BGB’s Char Chilmari camp and BSF’s Char Bhadra camp. Following official formalities, the BSF handed Bakul over to the BGB. Around 11:00am on Sunday, BGB members formally handed him over to his family. “We had almost lost hope of getting him back. After seeing his photo on Facebook, we recognised him. With the help of BGB and local representatives, we got our son back. We are grateful to everyone,” said Bakul’s father Lutfor Rahman. Member from ward No. 1 of Ramkrishnopur Union Parishad Abul Kalam Azad said Bakul had crossed the border accidentally due to his mental condition, and close coordination with BGB helped ensure his safe return. Company Commander of BGB’s Char Chilmari camp, Subedar Mosharraf Hossain, said Bakul was brought back through mutual understanding between the border forces of the two countries.  

At least  25 people including five policemen were injured in a clash between two groups on Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) campus on Sunday centering the joining of newly appointed Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Mohammad Iqbal. The unrest began after a government appointed Dr Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as the new VC of DUET, said witnesses. Soon after the announcement, a section of students of the university rejected the appointment and demanded a vice-chancellor appointed from within DUET. Dr Iqbal was scheduled to join the office on Sunday. Since morning, some students started demonstrations rejecting the new VC and declared him ‘persona non grata’ on the campus. The protesters locked the university’s main gate and observed a ‘red card’ programme demanding cancellation of the appointment, said witnesses. Meanwhile, some students who supported the new VC gathered outside the campus, triggering tension between the two groups. At one stage, a clash broke out between two groups, leaving at least 25 people injured. Aminul Islam, Office-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station they are trying to bring the situation under control. As DUET is a specialised engineering university, the protesting students argued that teachers from the institution have better understanding and experience regarding its academic and administrative structure. They said appointing a VC from among DUET teachers would help ensure the university’s overall development, research activities and academic environment.

River ports in some regions have been asked to hoist cautionary signal no 1 as a temporary west or northwesterly gusty or squally wind is likely to occur in many parts of the country, according to the special bulletin Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary west or northwesterly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 kph is likely to occur over the regions of Rangpur, Pabna, Tangail, Mymensingh, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram and Sylhet wherein river ports shall hoist cautionary signal no one,” it said. The warning for Inland River ports to remain valid till 6 pm on Sunday, according to a bulletin.    

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday paid his last respects to former State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mizanur Rahman Sinha. The Prime Minister placed a wreath at the coffin of the deceased at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban around 11:30am. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, BNP Secretary General, and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan also paid tribute to him by placing wreaths at the coffin. Before that, the Speaker, the LGRD Minister and the Chief Whip delivered reminiscence speeches in memory of the late BNP leader.