United News of Bangladesh

Masud Hasan Jamaly, an avid sports enthusiast, passed away on Monday night at the age of 91, following prolonged health complications. He was laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard following Zuhr prayers on Tuesday, said a media release. He is survived by his wife Raushan Ara Masud , daughter Rumana Jamaly and a host of relatives. After graduating in Electrical Engineering from Ahsanullah Engineering College in 1958, Hasan Jamaly served the Water and Power Development Board (WAPDA) for nearly 30 years. He retired as Member (Generation) of the Power Development Board. He earned the distinction of being a “University Blue” in football during his student years at Ahsanullah Engineering College. He also served as General Secretary of the Bangladesh Tennis Federation.

Sukumar Ranjan Ghosh, former MP of Munshiganj-1 constituency, passed away at a hospital in Dhaka early Monday. He was 70. After being diagnosed with pneumonia a few days ago, Sukumar was put on life support at a hospital in the capital and breathed his last early Monday morning, said his family. Sukumar had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for about 18 years and had been staying at his Dhanmondi residence. He is survived by his wife, one son, two daughters and a host of relatives. Sukumar’s cremation was held at Baradeshwari Kali Temple in the capital, said his wife Ava Rani Ghosh. He was elected MP of Awami League from Munshiganj-1 constituency twice in 2008 and 2014. Apart from politics, he was also associated with the film industry and produced the popular movie ‘Keyamat Theke Keyamat’. He had served as president of the Awami League’s Srinagar upazila unit.

Inquilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi was laid to rest beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Hadi was buried beside the mosque beside Kazi Nazrul Islam’s grave at around 3:30 pm. Read more: Hadi’s brother questions failure to arrest killers After the namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, his body was brought to Dhaka University in a procession for burial. For security reasons, all entry points to Dhaka University were kept closed.  

Former Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force, Air Vice Marshal AK Khandker (Bir Uttam), passed away on Saturday due to complications related to old age. He was 95. AK Khandker, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mukti Bahini during the Liberation War, breathed his last at around 10:35am, according to an ISPR press release.  

Momena Khatun, the mother of Masumur Rahman Khalili, Executive Editor of the Daily Naya Diganta, member of the National Press Club Management Committee passed away on Wednesday afternoon. She breathed her last at Highcare Hospital in Sector 7, Uttara, Dhaka, due to age-related complications. She was 90 years old. The deceased leaves behind three sons, five daughters, and a host of relatives to mourn her loss. Her sons hold prominent positions in various sectors: Elder son Mahfuzur Rahman Khalili, a Chartered Accountant residing in Canada, second son Mamunur Rahman Khalili, a retired Additional Secretary, currently serving as the Treasurer of the Islamic Arabic University in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, third son Masumur Rahman Khalili, the Executive Editor of the Daily Naya Diganta. Following her passing on Wednesday, her body was transported to her ancestral home in Rampur village under Satkania Upazila in Chattogram. Her funeral prayer (Janaza) is scheduled to be held today, Thursday, after the Isha prayer, followed by her burial at the local family graveyard.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Anwara Begum, mother of DCAB member and Special Correspondent of Daily Manabzamin Mizanur Rahman. Anwara Begum, mother of Mizanur Rahman, breathed her last at a hospital in Dhaka on Monday evening. The namaz-e-janaza of the deceased will be held at her village home in Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar district on Tuesday. Later, she will be buried at a family graveyard. She is survived by three sons, three daughters and a host of relatives. In a condolence message, DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.    

Election campaigns must be intensive and people-friendly to increase public participation in the upcoming polls, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana said on Wednesday. She made the remarks at a Zoom meeting held to guide district information officers on field-level strategies for the 13th National Parliament Election and the referendum. The meeting was organized by the Department of Mass Communication. Director General of the Department, Md. Abdul Jalil, presided over the event, which was joined by employees from 68 field offices. Mahbuba Farzana said the upcoming polls will be “unique and unprecedented,” as instructed by the Chief Adviser. She noted that district information offices will have a major role in promoting the election and shaping public opinion, and directed officers to begin campaign activities immediately. She highlighted that, for the first time, the national election and a referendum will be held on the same day, making communication at the grassroots level—from unions to villages—a significant challenge. She expressed confidence that information officers would meet this challenge successfully. The Secretary said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will work jointly with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs for election publicity. She also instructed information officers to stay connected with Bangla Fact, led by PIB, for rumor control and fact-checking. Officers were told to work innovatively and maintain close coordination with district administrations and election officers. Speaking at the event, the Director General said the Department of Mass Communication has 102 years of experience in campaign work. He shared that 34 election-related songs have been prepared in line with the code of conduct, to be performed in regional languages across different areas. Demonstrations on how to vote “yes” or “no” will also be shown in village markets. Yunus calls for joint effort to make national election festive He said efforts are being made to make the campaign more modern and appealing to encourage voter participation. Additional Secretary Dr. Mohammad Altaf-ul-Alam, Joint Secretary Mahfuza Akhtar, and Directors Mir Mohammad Aslam Uddin and Syed A. Mu’men also spoke at the event.    

Hallmark Group Managing Director (MD) Md. Tanvir Mahmud, who had been serving a jail term in connection with the Hallmark loan scam, died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday night (November 29). He was 55. AIG (Development) of the Prisons Department Md. Jannat-ul Farhad confirmed that Tanvir Mahmud passed away around 10:30 pm. Tanvir had been imprisoned in cases filed with Ramna Police Station and Kafrul Police Station. Read more: HC rejects Hallmark chairperson’s bail plea in graft case Prison authorities said he had been suffering from multiple health complications, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, diabetes, benign prostatic enlargement (BEP), bronchial asthma, chronic pancreatitis, vomiting, and urinary retention. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken from Dhaka Central Jail to DMCH at 1:35 pm on Saturday and admitted around 4 pm. He was placed in Bed No. 19 of ward number 602 under medical supervision. His health worsened rapidly after admission, and doctors later declared him dead at around 10:30 pm, the prison official said. Read more: Dhaka court sentences 9 including Hallmark MD Tanvir, wife to life imprisonment

Md Matiul Islam, the first Finance Secretary of independent Bangladesh and a key figure in rebuilding the nation's post-war financial system, has passed away at the age of 95. A statement released by his family confirmed his demise, sharing the news with deep sorrow. "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father and grandfather," the statement read, adding that he breathed his last earlier this morning. "He will always remain in our hearts for the love he gave, his wisdom, and his quiet but powerful influence on all around him," the family expressed. Matiul Islam began his distinguished career in 1952 when he joined the Pakistan Civil Service. Following Bangladesh's independence, he took on the crucial and challenging role of the nation's first Finance Secretary in 1972. His responsibilities included the difficult tasks of rebuilding a shattered financial system and implementing the nationalization of the banking sector. His impactful career extended beyond the finance ministry. According to the website of IIDFC, a non-bank financial institution where he served as a director, he subsequently held positions as: Secretary of the Ministry of Industries. Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank. Chief of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)/World Bank Co-operative Program in Vienna.UNIDO Country Director in India. Mr. Islam was academically brilliant, having secured first class first position in B. Com from Dhaka University. He later earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University in the United States. In recognition of his immense contributions to the nation’s financial governance and public life, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.    

The Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has expressed profound sorrow over the death of its founding director, Md. Matiul Islam. In a statement on Thursday, CRAB described Matiul Islam as a visionary leader who played a pivotal role in shaping Bangladesh’s financial landscape. His guidance was instrumental in establishing CRAB as a high-standard credit rating agency in the country. “The CRAB board, management team, and staff extend their heartfelt condolences to the family and well-wishers of Md. Matiul Islam,” the statement said. Matiul Islam, who was also the first Finance Secretary of independent Bangladesh, passed away at his residence in Dhaka on Thursday morning. He was 95.