United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has cancelled the registration certificate of a Hajj agency for failing to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and then delaying refund of their money while intimidating complainants. According to an official gazette notification, the license of Salam Abad Travels (Hajj License No. 1447), based in Jamalpur, has been revoked under the Hajj and Umrah Management Act, 2021 for violating several provisions of the law and committing misconduct. The ministry said six individuals from Islampur in Jamalpur, including one Md Nuruzzaman, had filed complaints alleging that they paid a total of Tk 26.18 lakh to the agency’s representative, Syed Abu Talha, son of the owner, to perform Hajj in 2024. However, the agency failed to send them. Over 1.5 million international pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for Hajj When the pilgrims asked for a refund, Talha repeatedly delayed repayment and even threatened the complainants. Following local arbitration, he refunded Tk 7.74 lakh on July 31 last year. Failing to recover the remaining amount, the victims submitted a formal complaint to the Religious Affairs Secretary on November 21. Subsequently, on December 1, the additional secretary (Hajj) held a hearing with both parties. During the hearing, Talha pledged to repay the remaining amount by January 30, 2025, and signed a written settlement. In line with the agreement, he paid an additional Tk 5 lakh in the second installment, the gazette noted. However, as of the deadline, Talha had only returned Tk 12.74 lakh out of Tk 26.18 lakh, leaving Tk 13.44 lakh unpaid. The complainants submitted another complaint on June 18 this year to the Religious Affairs Secretary. A second hearing was held on June 29 where both parties were notified. The ministry concluded that Salam Abad Travels collected money from intending pilgrims without sending them for Hajj, failed to return the full amount, issued threats, and breached the written agreement – all of which constitute serious violations of the Hajj and Umrah Management Act, 2021, specifically clauses 12(b), 12(j), 12(t), and 12(1). Citing these violations, the ministry cancelled the agency’s license under section 13(1) of the Act. It also ordered payment of the remaining Tk 13.44 lakh to the six affected individuals within 30 working days. If the agency fails to make the payment within the stipulated time, the ministry will compensate the victims from the agency’s security deposit, as per section 13(5) of the Act. Additionally, in line with section 13(6), the ministry directed that if any other pilgrims were pre-registered with Salam Abad Travels, they be transferred to agencies of their choice. The decision aims to uphold accountability in Hajj operations and ensure justice for affected pilgrims.  

The 6th edition of the four-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-20 Women’s Championship Bangladesh’2025 begins here on Friday at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital. Four South Asian nations –Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh-- will compete in the 11-day meet on double league basis, organised by South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) under the auspices of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Joints champions Bangladesh team will start their campaign taking on Sri Lanka in the opening match on Friday at 3 pm local time while Bhutan will encounter Nepal in the other opening day’s fixture at 7 pm local time. India, which emerged joint champions with Bangladesh in 2024 in Dhaka after playing 1-1 draw in the schedule time and 11-11 goals draw in penalty shootout in the final, did not compete this time. Ritu and Monika in Bhutan to join Paro FC for women’s league In the other double league basis matches, Bangladesh will play Nepal on July 13, Bhutan on July 15, again Bhutan on July 17, Sri Lanka on July 19 and Nepal on July 21. After the league basis matches, top team will be the champions.  Meanwhile, all the three foreign teams will make their practices on Thursday. Sri Lanka team will make their practices at the Bashundhara Kings practice ground at 3 pm, Bhutan team at APBN ground also at 3 pm while Nepal team also at APBN ground at 4:30 pm.  

A case has been filed in Bhola’s Charfesson upazila after a youth was allegedly taken out from his home and tortured for protesting the harassment of his sister. The incident took place on Friday (July 4) in the Char Madraj union in Meyazanpur village. It came to light four days later when a video of the torture was circulated on social media. Following the video’s circulation, a case was filed with Charfesson Police Station on Tuesday night. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Charfesson Police Station Md Mizanur Rahman Hawlader said that a case has been filed at Char Fashion Police Station over the torture of the young man and investigation is currently underway. According to the victim Zahidul’s mother, the accused, Tuhin, was known to their family for a long time. Taking advantage of this familiarity, he had been harassing her daughter, a student of class nine and later proposed marriage. After the family rejected the proposal, Tuhin allegedly lured Zahidul into a trap and tortured him in retaliation. Adverse weather halts launch service for fourth day in Bhola The victim’s family claimed that Tuhin and two others tied Zahidul to an electric pole and subjected him to inhumane torture. They allegedly pulled out his fingernails with pliers, submerged him in water and recorded the entire incident on a mobile phone. Zahidul’s father, Majed Rari, upon learning of the incident, rescued his son with the help of local village police and admitted him to Charfesson Hospital the same day.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred 16 senior officials of Bangladesh Police, including five additional deputy inspectors general (Additional DIGs), 10 superintendents of police (SPs) and one additional superintendent of police. The Public Security Division of the ministry issued a notification on Wednesday regarding this. According to the notification, among the Additional DIGs, one has been posted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), while the Additional DIG of Rajshahi has been transferred to Sylhet Range. Police killed 52 people at Jatrabari in Dhaka on Aug 5: BBC report An official from the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) has been moved to the Police Headquarters, another from Police Headquarters to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Headquarters and one from the Special Branch (SB) has been transferred to the Traffic Division in Dhaka, it said.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday directed the agencies concerned to complete all necessary preparations by December to ensure a peaceful national election. The Chief Adviser made the directive in a meeting that lasted for around two hours at the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital. Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, chiefs and high officials of different law enforcement agencies and other concerned departments were present in the meeting. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. India can’t protect individual accused of crimes against humanity: Shafiqul Alam Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad were present at the briefing.

Rivers in Bangladesh’s coastal and eastern districts continue to swell as heavy rainfall, triggered by a low-pressure system over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, lashes Chattogram, Khulna, and Barishal divisions. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board’ on Wednesday said the heavy downpour is likely to continue over the next 24 hours from 6 pm with forecasts of moderate to moderately heavy rain in the following two days. Over 35 Feni villages flooded as dams collapse at 17 points The persistent rainfall, triggered by a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, disrupted daily life in Dhaka and other parts of the country. According to the Met Office, Dhaka recorded 80 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours till 6pm today, while the highest rainfall during this period was 271 millimetres in another location. In Feni district, water levels in the Muhuri and Selonia rivers have crossed the danger level and the situation is expected to remain stable in the next 24 hours with a possibility of gradual improvement as water levels begin to recede, it said. However, heavy rainfall is likely in the basin over the next 24 hours followed by moderate to moderately heavy rainfall over the subsequent two days. In Chattogram district, the Halda River may rise above the danger level within the next 24 hours, which could trigger floods in low-lying areas along its banks. Water levels in the Feni, Sangu, and Gomti rivers are rising while the Matamuhuri River is currently receding, it said.. Forecasts indicate that the Gomti River may continue to rise in the next 24 hours while water levels in the Sangu and Matamuhuri may fall. All these rivers are likely to show a declining trend over the following two days. In Sylhet division, water levels in the Manu, Dhalai, and Khowai rivers continue to rise. The rising trend is expected to persist over the next 24 hours. The Ganges and Padma rivers are also witnessing rising trends and are expected to continue rising over the next five days, though they will likely stay below danger levels during this period. In Chattogram, a three-year-old child died after falling into an open drain amid waterlogging caused by continuous rainfall in Halishahar area on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Mosammat Humaiyra. Incessant rain floods Khulna city, adjacent areas Kamrul Islam, in-charge of Agrabad Fire Station, said, “On information, our team retrieved the child after about an hour of effort. She died on the way to a hospital,” he said. In Feni, More than 35 villages in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas have been submerged following the collapse of flood control embankments at 17 points along the Muhuri, Kuhua and Silonia rivers.  The damage, caused by incessant heavy rain and surging upstream water from India, has also disrupted power supply in several areas of the district, leaving thousands of residents in the dark. The floodwaters, however, have reportedly started to recede in Feni town, many low-lying areas remain inundated, disrupting daily life.  The Muhuri and Selonia rivers in Feni district are still flowing above danger levels. Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fariha Islam said, “Flood control dams have broken in at least seven places in the upazila. As a result, 14 villages have gone underwater.” More than 150 people took shelter in shelters, dry food and cooked food were arranged for them, she said. Meanwhile, continuous heavy rainfall over the past three days submerged the Feni-Parshuram road, severing direct road communication with Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas. Besides, continuous rainfall for the past few days has left parts of Khulna city, its suburbs and adjacent upazilas near the Sundarbans submerged. Several areas, including Royal Mor, Tutpara, Mistripara, Ahsan Ahmed Road, Boyra, Mujgunni, Sonadanga, and Fulbarigate went under water in the city. Rains entered the houses of the low-lying areas of the city, causing suffering of residents. Fish enclosures, ponds, and croplands were flooded and residents were facing an acute shortage of drinking water. Flood and waterlogging triggered by rains were also reported from Bagerhat, Barguna, Bhola and Madaripur districts.

Kenya’s President William Ruto on Wednesday broke his silence over the recent wave of anti-government protests that have left dozens dead, vowing to prevent what he described as “anarchy” disguised as peaceful demonstrations. Addressing the unrest, President Ruto declared “enough is enough” and directed police to take firm action, including shooting looters and arsonists “in the leg,” to protect property and restore order. Kenya has been gripped by unrest in recent weeks following the death of a popular blogger in police custody—a case that sparked widespread anger and renewed accusations of police brutality. Public outrage intensified when a protester was shot at close range by a police officer during a demonstration. Massive rallies took place on June 25, marking one year since large-scale protests against tax hikes. At least 8 dead in Kenya protests against police brutality On Monday, police set up roadblocks across all main routes into Nairobi’s city center, restricting movement to essential workers. Clashes broke out between protesters and police on the outskirts of the capital and in 17 of Kenya’s 47 counties, resulting in 31 deaths and over 100 injuries. Authorities also arrested more than 500 people. According to reports, at least 50 people have been killed during two separate waves of protests over the past two weeks. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday called on the Kenyan government to address the root causes of the public grievances. President Ruto alleged that the protests were politically driven and warned that the destruction of public and private property would not be tolerated. “You can call me any name, but I will ensure peace and stability in Kenya at all costs,” he said, accusing his political opponents of attempting to destabilize his administration through violent means. “Attacking police stations amounts to a declaration of war,” he added. Ruto emphasized that leadership in Kenya is determined through democratic elections—not violence. Meanwhile, civil society organizations have continued to urge restraint by law enforcement during demonstrations. In a recent development, five police officers were charged in connection with the blogger’s death and the shooting of a civilian. Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat, who had filed a complaint against the blogger over corruption allegations, has stepped aside pending the outcome of the investigation.

More than 35 villages in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas of Feni district have been submerged following the collapse of flood control embankments at 17 points along the Muhuri, Kuhua and Silonia rivers.  The damage, caused by incessant heavy rain and surging upstream water from India, has also disrupted power supply in several areas of the district, leaving thousands of residents in the dark. However, the floodwaters have reportedly started to recede in Feni town, many low-lying areas remain inundated, disrupting daily life.  According to the Feni Power Distribution Division and Rural Electrification Board, power supply in the flood-affected areas has been suspended for safety as water submerged electric meters and substations in many areas. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Feni said that the Muhuri River in Parshuram was flowing 1.57 meters above the danger level as of midnight on Tuesday, recording a rise of 6.92 meters in just 15 hours. Feni Meteorological Office recorded 439 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours until Wednesday morning.  More moderate to heavy showers are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, said Md Mojibur Rahman, acting officer of the local met office. According to local administration, the embankment along the Muhuri River has collapsed at several points, including of two at Jungleghona, three at Olka, and one at Shaldhar in Parshuram and one at Uttar Sreepur in Fulgazi. Along the Silonia River, collapses have occurred at Gadanagar in Parshuram and two spots in Derpara of Fulgazi. Feni’s Muhuri, Selonia rivers still above danger level; floodwaters likely to recede The Kuhua River embankment has broken at Satkuchia and Berabari in Parshuram and at Daulatpur in Fulgazi. “Water entered our home around 8pm. We had to evacuate with essentials,” said Zakia Akhter of Chitholia village in Parshuram. “We lost everything in last year’s floods, and now we’re facing the same again.” Rafiqul Islam of Mirzanagar alleged negligence by WDB officials in failing to close the entry point of the Ballamukha embankment on time. Parshuram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Arifur Rahman said local authorities are monitoring the situation closely, though many people are still unwilling to take shelter. Fulgazi UNO Fahria Islam informed that collapses occurred at four spots and over 100 people had taken shelter, with food support provided. BWDB Executive Engineer Akhtar Hossain warned that if rain continues upstream in Tripura, India, water levels could raise further, risking new collapses. District Commissioner Saiful Islam said 131 schools have been prepared as shelters, with 150 people already relocated. Relief worth Tk 6.5 lakh and 400 food packets have been allocated. A control room has been opened and all public and private institutions have been instructed to safeguard vital documents and equipment. Over 2,500 trained volunteers are on standby, added the DC.  Mentionable, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Cumilla districts experienced an unprecedented flooding last year, causing immense damage of lives, valuables, and crops.  Feni residents now fear another flood this year considering circumstances.  

A three-year-old child died after falling into an open drain amid waterlogging caused by continuous rainfall in Chattogram’s Halishahar area on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Mosammat Humaiyra. Kamrul Islam, in-charge of Agrabad Fire Station, said, “On information, our team retrieved the child after about an hour of effort. She died on the way to a hospital,” he said. Two friends die after fall from Melkhum Trail in Mirsarai According to locals, torrential rains throughout the day caused severe waterlogging in the area. Around 3 pm, Humaiyra slipped into a drain in front of a shop near the Tasfia Community Centre in the Anandipur area and went missing. At least 14 people, including several children, have died after falling into open canals and drains in Chattogram city over the past six years. Among them, two died in 2020, five in 2021, three in 2023, three in 2024, and one so far this year.  

At least 52 people were killed in police firing in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area on August 5, 2024, according to a BBC Eye investigation published on Wednesday. The mass killing occurred on the same day then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and fled to India following weeks of anti-government demonstrations. Initial reports at the time suggested 30 dead in Jatrabari on that day. To uncover the sequence of events, BBC Eye examined hundreds of photos, videos, eyewitness testimonies, and conducted several on-site visits to Jatrabari. While various media and UN reports had previously addressed the incident, BBC says its investigation sheds new light on how the violence started and escalated, and provides new figures on the death toll. A spokesperson for Bangladesh Police said, “During the July uprising, such tragic events occurred, where some police personnel used excessive force and acted unprofessionally while attempting to control protesters.” A critical piece of video evidence, recorded by protester Miraj Hossain who was later killed in the shooting, shows the initial moments of police firing at 2:43 PM near the main gate of Jatrabari Police Station, it said. The video, extracted from his phone by family members, reveals army personnel initially stationed in front of the protesters suddenly withdrawing before police opened fire. Hasina approved lethal force against Bangladesh protesters: BBC report Other CCTV footage shows protesters fleeing through alleys as gunfire erupted. Another video captured police kicking injured people lying on the ground, according to the BBC report. The BBC also clarified misinformation surrounding a viral video that was previously believed to show the August 5 incident. Metadata analysis and visual inconsistencies revealed that the viral footage was actually from August 4 when a separate clash occurred outside Jatrabari Police Station. Drone footage analysed by the BBC showed police firing continued at least until 3:17 PM on August 5. The video also captured bodies lying on the highway and injured protesters being rushed to hospitals in vans and rickshaws. Initially, it was believed around 30 protesters were killed. After verifying hospital records, interviews with families, media reports, and social media posts, BBC found that at least 52 civilians were killed that day. Besides, six police officers were reportedly killed when a group of protesters later set fire to the police station. Cases have been filed against several Jatrabari police officials, including then-Officer-in-Charge Abul Hasan, who was present during the shooting. Police said they have begun necessary proceedings to hold those responsible accountable. Sources: BBC Eye, BBC Bangla