United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus arrived here on Monday night to attend the Earthna Summit 2025 and discuss the issues of mutual interest with the leadership of the gas-rich Gulf kingdom. Bangladesh is eyeing a stronger economic cooperation with Qatar and greater engagement in the energy sector. Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md. Nazrul Islam received Prof Yunus upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport at around 21:40pm (Doha time) by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Earlier, he departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a four-day visit at 7:00pm (Dhaka time). Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus will have a series of engagements during his stay in Qatar. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, among others, are accompanying the Chief Adviser. The Chief Adviser is paying the visit at the invitation of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Dr Yunus is likely to have meetings with both the Amir of Qatar and the Deputy Prime Minister in addition to other engagements. Since there is a long-term agreement with Qatar on LNG import, Press Secretary Alam said Bangladesh will have a discussion on greater energy sector cooperation. He said there will be an investment Summit on April 23 from which Bangladesh expects positive response. CA Prof Yunus off to Qatar to attend Earthna Summit Bangladesh stressed the need for a deepening trade and investment relationship with Qatar. Press Secretary Alam said the visa issues will also be discussed. He said there will be an event on the Rohingya issue where global stakeholders will participate. Alam hoped that the Rohingya issue would be brought back to global attention as there are efforts from the interim government. Earthna Summit The second edition of the Earthna Summit under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge” highlights Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, by drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems. The Summit serves as a platform for exploring how both traditional knowledge and innovation approaches can inform modern sustainability, shaping a more resilient and inclusive future. During the two days – April 22-23, the Earthna Summit will explore a wide range of topics through presentations, interactive panel discussions, workshops and roundtables. Besides, the Earthna Village in Barahat Msheireb will host a series of inspiring talks and discussions led by various experts and innovators to foster dialogue and inspiration. A number of side events by partners will host a series of networking activations and discussions lead by local stakeholders. Dr Yunus relentlessly devotes his time and energy to inspire people into creating a world of 3 Zeros - zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration for ending poverty once for all and zero unemployment by unleashing entrepreneurship in everyone. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home on April 25. Eminent Persons In a historic first, four national women athletes from Bangladesh are accompanying the Chief Adviser. The delegation includes footballers Afeida Khandaker and Shaheda Akhter Ripa and cricketers  Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana. Want to be good, close neighbours, says Prof Yunus seeking stronger Dhaka-Beijing ties  This is the first time a group of female athletes is travelling as part of an official delegation with a head of government of Bangladesh, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. The Qatar Foundation extended the invitation to the athletes through the Chief Adviser’s Office. On Thursday evening, the four athletes met Professor Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where they discussed their goals for the visit and expressed their excitement. "We are thrilled to be part of this visit. It's not just a personal honour but also a proud moment for our teammates and the sports community in Bangladesh," the footballers were quoted by the press wing as saying. They added that they hoped to invite the Qatari women's football team for a friendly match and were eager to explore Qatar's sports facilities and professional training methods. The cricketers expressed their desire to spark interest in cricket in Qatar, where the sport is not yet widely followed. "We've prepared a presentation to introduce both our men's and women's cricket journeys," they said. During the meeting, the athletes also shared their personal struggles and thanked the Chief Adviser for giving them the opportunity to represent the country abroad. Prof Yunus urges regional unity, youth innovations to tackle climate-urban challenges Dr Yunus praised the athletes for their resilience and passion. "You are Bangladesh's sports ambassadors. Share your real stories. Represent our country's spirit and progress through sports," he said. He assured full support from his office to ensure the success of their trip.

In recognition of his bravery and ultimate sacrifice during the 2009 Pilkhana mutiny, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has named its swimming complex in Pilkhana after Central Subedar Major Nurul Islam. From now on, the facility will be known as the Shaheed Nurul Islam Swimming Complex. Speaking to UNB, Nurul Islam’s son Md Ashraful Alam Hannan said, “Such honours inspire members of any force to deepen their love and dedication for the country.” During the mutiny, while many sought refuge to save their lives, Subedar Major Nurul Islam confronted the armed rebel troops. According to accounts, he was brutally beaten with a mosquito net stand and killed in a brush fire for resisting the mutineers. Hannan recalled that, like many others killed in the 2009 BDR carnage, his father’s body was recovered from a mass grave and taken to the morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was later buried on March 4, 2009, in his ancestral home at Char Lakshmi village in Ramgati upazila of Lakshmipur. Subsequent investigations revealed Subedar Major Nurul Islam’s valiant role. Six months after the incident, he became the only BDR member officially recognised as a martyr. On August 20, 2009, he was accorded state honours at his grave. Later, he was posthumously awarded BGB’s highest state accolade — the “Border Guard Bangladesh” medal. Hannan also noted that his father, a dedicated and principled officer, had received the DG’s Medal four times during his service. In recognition of his exceptional performance, the government also sponsored his pilgrimage to Makkah to perform Hajj.

A 22-year-old youth died after being stabbed by a group of unidentified miscreants in Dhaka’s Tejgaon Industrial area on Monday evening. The deceased, Mohammad Arman, was the son of Md Ekram Hossain and a resident of Middle Begunbari under Tejgaon Industrial Police Station. He worked as a delivery man for Daraz. According to his father, the incident took place around 7:30 pm in front of Tejgaon Polytechnic Institute, near the Bangladesh University of Textiles, while Arman was crossing the road. Private university student stabbed dead on campus in Dhaka A group of three to four attackers, reportedly acting out of prior enmity, assaulted him and stabbed him in the left thigh. Locals immediately rushed him to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead around 9:30 pm. Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for an autopsy.

A 25-year-old youth was killed and another injuried in a shooting incident in Shaheberhat area of Agailjhara upazila in Barishal on Monday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Siam Molla, 25, son of Ripon Molla from Baheghat village in Uzirpur upazila. The injured, Rakib Molla, 27, son of Khalek Molla of the same village, is currently receiving treatment at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. According to police sources, the shooting occurred during an altercation in the Shaheberhat area. Siam was initially taken to Gouranadi Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. 6 arrested over Banasree gold trader shooting A member of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Zakir Hossain, 35, was also reportedly injured in the incident and is undergoing treatment at Goila Hospital, as confirmed by the hospital’s admission records. Law enforcement officials from both Agailjhara and Gouranadi upazilas stated that they were still gathering information regarding the circumstances of the shooting. Yunus Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gouranadi Police Station, said, “We received information that a bullet-hit person was brought to the hospital. Details are being verified.” Waliul Islam, OC of Agailjhara Police Station, said he had heard about the incident and was on the way to the scene for further investigation. “We can confirm more after visiting the spot,” he added. Sub-inspector Abdullah Al Mamun of Agailjhara Police Station, who was present at the location, said a group of plainclothes people, later identified as members of a law enforcement agency, were reportedly mistaken for miscreants and attacked by locals near the house of one Gawhar Howlader. Jatiotabadi Swecchasebok Dol leader injured in shooting in Rampura “Shots were fired during the scuffle, allegedly in self-defence,” Mamun said, adding that the two people who were shot are known locally for alleged involvement in drug-related activities. An investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen has sought cooperation from the people to bulid a corruption-free society. Speaking at a public hearing held at the Lalmonirhat Zilla Parishad Auditorium on Monday, he said that while everyone claims to oppose corruption, the presence of corruption remains a challenge. "Hundred percent of people say they do not want corruption, so how can there still be corruption?", Momen questioned, urging the public to actively cooperate with the ACC in identifying corrupt people for action. He acknowledged that the ACC itself has bad reputation but reiterated that the commission would take decisive steps if provided with public support. The public hearing, which focused on the theme "Rukhbo Durniti, Gorbo Desh Hobe Sopner Bangladesh" (We will eliminate corruption, and make the country the Bangladesh of our dreams), was organised by the Integrated District Anti-Corruption Commission in Lalmonirhat, in collaboration with the district administration. Momen also pointed out that while many government officials are honest, some fail to act effectively, which is detrimental to progress. Projects must focus on country's needs, not interests of contractors: ACC Chairman "This is also unacceptable," he remarked, emphasisng that the current government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is a corruption-free government. He mentioned that in the past, bribes even had to be given to the Prime Minister's Office. He further stressed the importance of sincerity among officials in preventing institutional corruption and urged that the needs of service recipients should always be prioritised. "Every project should be Bangladesh-friendly, not contractor-friendly," he added. Reflecting on his experience attending public hearings, Momen said that many of the issues raised are not long-term challenges. "If we are committed, we can solve these problems immediately," he said. ACC Commissioner Mia Muhammad Ali Akbar Aziji, Lalmonirhat Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam, and other officials were also present. Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner HM Rakib Haider chaired the event. ACC probes Hasina, Rehana over Tk 4,000cr Mujib Borsho spending During the hearing, a total of 106 complaints were filed against 33 government institutions in the district. Service providers present at the event were instructed to address several of the complaints promptly.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has summoned information on all types of bank accounts of model Meghna Alam. A letter in this regard was sent to all banks in the country on Monday. The BFIU has ordered the banks to send Meghna's personal information or documents, such as account opening forms and transaction statements, within seven working days from the date of the letter. On the night of April 9, the detectives of DMP arrested Meghna from her home in Bashundhara in the capital under the Special Powers Act. Two days after the arrest, she was sent to court which gave her a 30-day detention. Model Meghna shown arrested in fraud case The arrest incident sparked a storm of criticism. Later, on April 15, Dhanmondi Model Police Station Inspector Mohammad Abdul Alim filed a case against Meghna, businessman Dewan Sameer and two or three unidentified others on charges of extortion and fraud.

A teacher was sentenced to 10 days in jail for alleged sexual harassment of a female SSC candidate during exam in Naria upazila of Shariatpur district on Monday. The offender Julhas Uddin is an assistant teacher at Panchpalli Gururam High School of the upazila. Julhas harassed the SSC candidate while she sat for the exam at Dogree Ismail Hossain School and College centre. Upon a complaint from the victim and her family, the teacher was detained from the examination centre. Later, a mobile court led by Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Aminul Islam Bulbul awarded the sentence. The UNO said, “The administration is taking a firm stance to ensure the safety of female students. Any form of misconduct or harassment will not be tolerated.”

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam on Monday urged the European Union (EU) to open a visa centre in Dhaka for citizens seeking visas to EU countries that currently do not issue them from Bangladesh. The adviser made the request during a meeting with EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller at the latter’s office in the Ministry of Home Affairs.   The meeting discussed several issues, including law and order, Rohingya crisis, migration, human trafficking and smuggling, and ongoing reform initiatives in Bangladesh. Jahangir said Bangladesh is a major manpower-exporting country to the EU and that many Bangladeshis regularly travel to EU nations for business, education, healthcare, tourism and other purposes. He pointed out that traveling to New Delhi to apply for EU visas is time-consuming, difficult and expensive for Bangladeshi citizens. “Given the size of our population, opening a visa centre in Dhaka for EU countries is essential,” the adviser said. 7 Bangladeshis return home through Beanpole after serving jail terms in India In response, Ambassador Miller said he would discuss the matter with stakeholders. Welcoming the ambassador, the adviser described the EU as one of Bangladesh’s largest development partners, with significant contributions to trade and infrastructure since Bangladesh’s early days. He expressed the EU’s support for Bangladesh’s reform initiatives and proposed training workshops in EU countries for Bangladeshi professionals to help overcome the shortage of skilled manpower in the country. Govt taking steps to improve police accommodation, meals: Home Adviser “Reform is a continuous process,” the adviser said, stressing the need for political will and stakeholder consensus to ensure its success. Regarding law and order, the adviser informed the overall situation in Bangladesh is satisfactory and improving steadily. Replying to the question, the adviser shared that various types of crimes are declining, while stressing the importance of accurate information in countering misinformation. “One of our neighbouring countries is spreading false propaganda about Bangladesh,” he said, adding that the media has been urged to ensure the dissemination of factual information. Highlighting several aspects of the Rohingya issue, adviser Jahangir said that while officially 1.2 million Rohingya refugees reside in Bangladesh, the actual number is higher. EU ambassador Miller expressed the EU’s willingness to work closely with Bangladesh to combat human trafficking and smuggling. He noted that every year a significant number of Bangladeshis attempt to reach Europe via Libya and the Mediterranean, often falling victim to traffickers, suffering financial losses, or losing their lives. He proposed a trilateral dialogue involving Bangladesh, Libya, and the EU to address the issue, potentially leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The adviser welcomed the idea and requested the EU to take the lead in organizing the initiative, assuring Bangladesh’s full cooperation. Representatives from both Bangladesh and the EU attended the meeting.

Inspecto of Gurudaspur Police Station Abu Raihan, who allegedly ordered to open fire on students during July uprising, was closed to the office of superintendent of Natore district. Inspecto Abu Raihan was attached to the office of Superintendent of Natore on Monday by an order signed by Natore police chief Natore Superintendent of Police (SP) Amzad Hossain. When performing duty at Sadar Police Station, Abu Raihan ordered his junior officers to open fire and to unleash torture on the students during the movement. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, Abu Raihan was transferred to the Gurudaspur Police Station with promotion instead of taking action against him.  

The University Grants Commission (UGC) will host a three-day regional higher education conference in Dhaka this December, aimed at bringing together UGC representatives from SAARC countries. The decision to host the conference was taken from a meeting chaired by UGC Chairman Professor Dr. S M A Faiz on Monday. The conference, will be held at a city hotel, aims to foster regional collaboration in higher education and research and to explore strategies for advancing the quality of education in universities across the region. Chief Adviser and Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is expected to attend the event's opening ceremony as the chief guest. A steering committee has already been formed to ensure its successful organisation. UGC chairman expects 7 colleges' issue to be resolved amicably Apart from UGC representatives from SAARC nations, vice-chancellors, academics, and researchers from various universities in Bangladesh are expected to attend the event. The conference will be funded by the ongoing Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project, implemented by the UGC with support from the World Bank. UGC members Prof Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, Prof Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, and Prof Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, among others attended the meeting.