United News of Bangladesh

The 42nd death anniversary of Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, former chief of the Bangladesh Navy and former minister for communications and agriculture, will be observed on Thursday. Elaborate programmes have been chalked out to observe the day with due respect, both at home and abroad, said a press release. The day’s programmes will begin with the placing of floral wreaths at his grave, where Quran Khatam, Khawani and special prayers will be held. His grave is beside his favourite Naval Headquarters. On August 6, 42 years ago, Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, also the father-in-law of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, sacrificed his life while serving the nation. The Bangladesh Navy will pay tribute to him by laying a floral wreath at his grave in the morning. Food will also be distributed among underprivileged people, while special doa mahfils and prayers will be held after Zohr prayers at naval mosques across the country for the eternal peace of his departed soul. Quran Khatam, Quran Khawani, doa mahfils and special prayers will also be held at Mahbub Bhaban in the capital. Begum Mahbub Ali Khan has requested all well-wishers to pray for the deceased. A doa mahfil and special prayers will also be organised at SUROVI, a charitable organisation for underprivileged children founded by Begum Mahbub Ali Khan in 1979. Quran Khatam, Quran Khawani and doa mahfils will be held at several madrasahs and orphanages in Dhaka, including Jamia Qurbania Talimia Women's Madrasah and Orphanage at Bawniabad, Jamia Qurbania Arabia Madrasah and Orphanage at Bhashantek, and Sanmandi Khan Bari Daryl Quran Hafizia Madrasa and Orphanage in Sonargaon. Special prayers have also been arranged at numerous mosques in Dhaka, including the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The anniversary will also be observed in his birthplace, Sylhet, with doa mahfils, remembrance meetings, Quran Khawani and food distribution. Similar programmes have been arranged in Bogura and Jamalpur. Overseas, commemorative programmes, including Quran Khatam, doa mahfils and special prayers, will be held in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Singapore and the Maldives.

Ferdousi Shahriar, Additional Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. She was 54. She breathed her last at around 4:30 pm at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital, the ministry said in a statement. Ferdousi Shahriar joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an Assistant Secretary on January 25, 1999. During her distinguished career, she served at several Bangladesh missions abroad, including in Bangkok, Rome, Manchester and Washington DC. She last served as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Singapore. She is survived by her husband, three children and many well-wishers. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and officials and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow at her death. They prayed for the eternal peace of her departed soul and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.

Senior journalist and Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) executive committee member Abu Hena Rasel died at a hospital in the capital on Wednesday. He was 57. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital at 1:20pm, according to CRAB. Rasel was taken to the hospital following a sudden chest pain while taking fuel for his bike at a filling station near the Asad Gate in the capital. He is survived by wife, a son, a daughter and a host of relatives and admirers. His first namaz-e-janaza was held on the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) premises in the afternoon. Meanwhile, CRAB President Mirza Mehedi Tamal, General Secretary MM Badshah and other leaders expressed deep sorrow over the death of Rasel and conveyed condolences to his bereaved family. Rasel had been working as a special correspondent at the Khobor Sangjog. He earlier worked for several newspapers, including Bhorer Kagoj, Samakal and Kaler Kantho. He also served in various leadership roles at DRU and CRAB.

The 6th death anniversary of freedom fighter Shajahan Siraj, who read out the manifesto of Bangladesh’s independence at a historic rally in 1971, will be observed on Tuesday. Shajahan Siraj, a former minister and veteran politician, died in Dhaka on July 14, 2020 at the age of 77. Various programmes have chalked out by the Shajahan Siraj Foundation, Kalihati Shajahan Siraj College and Shajahan Siraj Welfare Trust to mark the occasion. The programmes include placing of wreaths at his grave at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka, recitation of the Holy Quran in Kalihati of Tangail and Dhaka, food distribution among needy children, and special prayers in mosques and temples of various unions in Kalihati. Shajahan Siraj College will organise a special commemorating meeting and prayers at 10am on the college campus in Kalihati. Shajahan Siraj played a very important role in the Six-Point Movement of 1966 and the Mass Uprising of 1969. On March 3, 1971, he read the manifesto of the great independence at a rousing rally of students and the public at Paltan Maidan. Shahjahan Siraj was one of the initiators of the formation of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) after independence and later joined the politics of BNP. He was elected as MP five times from the Tangail-4 (Kalihati) constituency. In his colourful political life, he served as state minister for shipping, and forests and environment minister.

Bangla Academy president and eminent writer Professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq passed away on Sunday afternoon. He was 86. He breathed his last at around 2:30pm at the National Heart Foundation in Mirpur after falling sick at a family progrmame, said Serajul Islam (Seraj Salekeen), chairman of the Department of Bangla of Dhaka University. Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq was a distinguished literary critic and a professor who taught for 40 years in the Department of Bangla at the University of Dhaka. He graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1965 and completed his master's degree at the same university in 1966. He served as the convener of the Rashtrabhasha Bangla Rokkha Committee (State Language Bengali Protection Committee). He also served as the president of Bangla Academy. He received several awards for his contributions to literature and research, including the Bangla Academy Award (1981), the Alakta Memorial Literary Award (2004), the Bangladesh Writers’ Association Humayun Kabir Memorial Award (1974), and  Kolkata Little Magazine Library and Research Center Award (1991), according to Bangla Academy. His first book, Muktisangram was published in 1972. More than 250 research articles of Prof Huq were published in national and international journals. His works included 32 books, 1 translation and he edited a total of 23 books. His son, publisher Faisal Arefin Dipon, who owned Jagriti Prokashony, was killed by Islamist militants on October 31, 2015.

The Tagore University of Creative Arts (TUCA) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Selina Rahman Chowdhury, wife of Saidur Rahman, Chairman of the university's Board of Trustees. In a statement issued on Monday, TUCA said it was deeply saddened by her passing and prayed for the eternal peace of her departed soul. Selina Rahman died at her residence in Priyanka City, Uttara, at 5:00pm on Sunday. She was 63. She is survived by her son, Sourav Rahman, and daughter, Shatila Rahman Disha, as well as numerous relatives and well-wishers. She was laid to rest at 10:30pm following her second namaz-e-janaza at Priyanka Western City in Birulia. Thousands of people from all walks of life attended her janaza and offered prayers for the forgiveness of her soul.

Eminent artist and cultural personality Mustafa Monwar passed away at a hospital in Dhaka on Monday. He was 90. The renowned artist breathed his last around 8:30 am while undergoing treatment at the hospital due to old-age complications, said his family. In a condolence message, Bangla Academy Director General Prof Mohammad Azam said Bangladesh’s legendary cultural figure and honorary fellow of Bangla Academy, Mustafa Monwar, passed away on Monday morning. He said Monwar’s contribution to the creative development of the country’s media including Bangladesh Television is unforgettable. He also prayed for the eternal peace of the artist’s soul and expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved family. According to family sources, Monwar had been suffering from various age-related health complications for several years. Mustafa Monwar is known as the "Puppet Man of Bangladesh". During the Liberation War in 1971, he organised puppet shows at the refugee camps in West Bengal to make people aware about the war. His television puppet show ‘Moner Kotha’ ran on BTV for 12 years, which told the story of a little girl called Parul and her seven brothers named Champa who were cursed and turned into flowers. It is based on the folklore ‘Saat Bhai Champa’. Born on September 1, 1935 in Jashore, Monwar was the youngest of six siblings. His father was renowned poet Golam Mostafa. Mustafa Monwar studied at Narayanganj Government School before briefly enrolling in science at Scottish Church College, Kolkata. He later shifted to the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, graduating in 1959 with first class first in Fine Arts. After beginning his professional career as a lecturer at the then East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts, Mustafa Monwar went on to serve as Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Television, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and National Institute of Mass Communication.  In his illustrious and successful career, he held the position of director general at Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the National Media Institute. He also served as the managing director of the FDC, and the founder president of Directors Guild Bangladesh. This eminent art maestro earned the prestigious All India Fine Arts Competition award, Zainul Abedin Gold Medal and most notably country’s highest honor, the Ekushey Padak in 2004. His creative works enriched the childhoods of several generations and left a lasting impact on Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Sunday said the Budget Helpdesk plays an important role in helping lawmakers conduct data-driven analyses of the national budget and gain a deeper understanding of the government's fiscal policies and strategies.  “The nation will benefit if lawmakers take a greater interest in the budget and engage more actively in parliamentary initiatives,” the Speaker said while inaugurating a budget debriefing session organised under the Budget Helpdesk-2026 programme at the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat. He encouraged members of parliament to make greater use of the parliamentary library to enrich their knowledge and strengthen their participation in budget discussions. “People are eagerly looking to this parliament. The roadmap for their future will be shaped here,” he added. Describing the initiative as a timely and significant step towards strengthening parliamentary democracy, he said such sessions help enhance MPs’ capacity to scrutinise the national budget and understand broader public financial management issues. He also identified revenue mobilisation, debt management and maintaining macroeconomic stability as some of the key challenges facing the national economy. The Speaker said programmes supported by the European Union aimed at strengthening parliamentary institutions were helping meet public expectations through effective participation and accountability of lawmakers. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the event while Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni spoke as a special guest. Addressing the event, Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal said public expectations of parliament had always been high since independence and that the government formed after the July uprising represented a unique chapter in the country's democratic journey. “People in every constituency are closely observing this parliament,” he said. He described parliament as the foundation of economic, social and state policy and said budget debriefing sessions contribute to the establishment of an evidence-based legislature. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented a practical and forward-looking budget aimed at ensuring the best use of limited resources. He said the Budget Helpdesk provides valuable support to lawmakers in collecting and analysing budget-related information. “There was a time when MPs had to struggle to obtain budget information. Thanks to this commendable initiative by the European Union, essential data and information are now readily available, creating opportunities for thorough budget analysis,” he said.    

Four members of a family died as they fell into an abandoned pit while trying to save a goat at Joloi village in Madhupur upazila of Tangail district. The deceased were identified as Babul Hadima, 48, his son Neimar Mrong, his brother-in-law  Ratan Nakrek, 26 and another brother-in-law Gabriel Sangma, 42, of the upazila. AKM Fazlul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Madhupur Police Station, said a goat of Babul Hadima slipped into the abandoned pit around 8:30 am. To save it, Babul and three others went down into the pit one after another and dell unconscious inside it. Getting to respond from the well, local people informed the matter to local Fire Service and Civil Denfence who recovered the bodies. Local Union Parishad member Hasmat Ali said toxic gas might have been accumulated in the old pit and it is presumed that they might have died after inhaling the gas. A pall of grief descended the area following the tragic deaths.    

Ayesha Begum, the mother of Premier Bank PLC Managing Director Md Monzur Mofiz, died on Tuesday due to old-age complications. She was 78. She breathed her last at her Bakalia residence in Chattogram city, according to a press release. Ayesha Begum is survived by two sons, two daughters and numerous relatives. Meanwhile, the Premier Bank family expressed deep shock at her death. They prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.