United News of Bangladesh

US Special Envoy for Best Future Generations Charles J. Harder will pay a three-day visit to Bangladesh from April 18 to strengthen Bangladesh-US strategic cooperation on education and the well-being of children. The US Special Envoy will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday to advance the 'strategic cooperation' on education and the well-being of children, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Friday. The mission of Special Envoy Harder’s office is to protect and promote the interests and well-being of children (0-17) throughout the world. US announces $235,000 grant to restore historic Musa Khan Mosque at DU Special Envoy Harder will meet with senior government officials and stakeholders to expand partnerships that support Bangladesh's next generation. The focus of his office is the protection and well-being of children throughout the world, with particular focus on food security, education, healthcare, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), and ending child labor, trafficking, and recruitment into gangs and armed conflict. Special Envoy Harder meets with senior government officials both domestically and internationally on these issues, as well as senior members of foundations, corporations, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations and international governmental organizations, to find 'creative and common-sense solutions' to these issues for children, their families and their communities, according to US Department of State.

Two brothers were killed and another individual was critically injured in a mob attack after an eight-year-old missing girl was found dead in Sadar upazila of Manikganj on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as Pannu Mia, 48, an auto-rickshaw driver, and his brother Fazlu Rahman, 28. Pannu’s son Nazmul sustained critical injuries in the incident. According to locals, Atika, daughter of Dudul Mia of Bonparil, went missing around 5:00pm on Thursday, prompting her family to launch a frantic search, including announcements over loudspeakers and appeals on social media. A cousin of the victim later claimed she saw Nayeem, 15, younger son of Pannu Mia, taking the girl away. When confronted by locals, Nayeem allegedly confessed and indicated that the girl was in a nearby maize field. Around 10:00pm, locals rushed to the field and found the girl dead with her hands and legs tied, triggering outrage in the area. Nayeem managed to flee from the scene. Angry locals then swooped on his house and detained Pannu, Fazlu and Nazmul. They later gave them a good beating, leaving the former two dead on the spot and the latter injured. The injured was taken to hospital. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. Superintendent of Police of the district Md Sarwar Alam said police were investigating the incident and had deployed additional forces in the area.

Five more people have died from measles and measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am Friday, pushing the death toll to 211 this year. Of the latest fatalities, three were confirmed measles cases, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). During the same period, 127 confirmed measles patients and 1,115 suspected cases were reported across the country. The DGHS said a total of 13,898 suspected patients have so far been hospitalised. Of them, 11,243 have recovered and been discharged. Division-wise data showed Barishal recorded the highest number of suspected measles-related deaths in the last 24 hours with two fatalities, while Barguna district also reported two deaths. The DGHS added that between March 15 and April 17, the total number of confirmed measles deaths stood at 37, while 174 deaths remained classified as suspected ones.

A disturbing scene of animal cruelty has emerged at a roadside pet market set up on a street in a residential area at Mirpur-1 amid intense heat in Dhaka. Cats and various birds are being kept in the open for sale in a manner that is not only disorganised but clearly inhumane.

Two brothers drowned in a pond in Singra upazila of Natore on Friday. The victims were identified as Tamim, 12, and Fahim, 13, sons of expatriate Abdul Momin from Bara Adimpur village. According to locals, the two boys went to bathe in a pond beside their house around noon but went missing. Family members began searching when they did not return, and they were found floating in the pond around 2:30pm, said Officer-in-Charge of Singra Police Station Rafiqul Islam. The two brothers were taken to the Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared them dead, he said. A pall of gloom descended on the area following the tragic incident. The brothers had been living with their mother at their maternal grandparents’ home while their father works abroad.

A namaz-e-janaza for Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, who passed away on Friday morning, was held after Jummah prayers at the Secretary Apartment Complex in the capital’s Eskaton area. Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari, Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Ghani and Senior Secretary of the Land Ministry ASM Saleh Ahmed, among others, attended the janaza. Senior government officials, business leaders, public and family members were also present. Special prayers were offered seeking eternal peace for the departed soul. Recalling his brief working experience with the late secretary, the commerce minister said he had the opportunity to work with Mahbubur Rahman for about two months and found him to be a sincere and efficient officer devoted to his duties and the country. Mahbubur Rahman passed away around 6:25am on Friday while undergoing treatment at a city hospital. He was admitted to the hospital on April 13 after falling ill, with his platelet count dropping to a critical level. During treatment, he was diagnosed with malaria while under close observation. According to family sources, he will be laid to rest in Gacha area of Gazipur.

A mobile court has sentenced 15 fishermen to different jail terms – ranging from 15 days to three months – for catching jatka in violation of the ongoing ban on fishing in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary area of Chandpur. The Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh Coast Guard and River Police conducted a joint drive in the sanctuary area of Sadar upazila from on Thursday afternoon, said Assistant Fisheries Officer Md Mizanur Rahman. During the drive, 22 fishermen were detained while catching Hilsa fry defying the ban. Five illegal current nets and five fishing boats were also seized. Of the detainees, 15 were sentenced to different jail terms through a mobile court. Fine was also slapped on some of them. Besides, six of the detainees were released on undertakings as they were minors, while another sick fisherman was released after realising Tk 500 as fine. The convicted fishermen were later sent to jail, said Inspector (Investigation) of Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station Mintu Dutta.

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two groups of people over an unpaid tea bill in Shailkupa municipality of Jhenaidah on Friday morning. The injured include Nayeb Ali, son of Kamal Sheikh; Ripon Hossain, son of Murad Ali; Rubel Hossain, son of Jamal Uddin; Tamal Hossain, son of Abdur Rahim; Abdur Razzak, son of Abul Hossain; and Ripon Hossain. They were admitted to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex. Officer-in-Charge of Shailkupa Police Station Humayun Kabir Mollah said Ripon Hossain went to a tea stall owned by Shahjahan in the Khaldharpara area of the municipality in the morning. When the shopkeeper refused to serve him tea on credit due to previous unpaid dues, an argument broke out between them, which later turned into a scuffle, he said. The OC said locals from both sides later joined the altercation with locally made weapons, triggering a clash that left at least 10 people injured.

The Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCCI) has expressed deep condolence at the death of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman. In a Facebook post, BCCCI President Mohd Khorshed Alam said the business community has lost a wise, competent and compassionate guardian whose guidance and integrity will be deeply missed. He expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. “May Almighty Allah grant him eternal peace in Jannah and give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss,” he added. Mahbubur Rahman breathed his last around 6:25am on Friday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital. He was 58. He was admitted to the hospital on April 13 following a sharp drop in blood platelet levels. He was later diagnosed with malaria. Mahbubur Rahman was an officer of the 13th BCS (Customs and Excise) cadre.

A worsening fuel crisis has gripped Rangpur, leaving motorcyclists and private car owners stranded in long queues for hours as petrol pumps struggle with limited supply across the district. According to local sources, around 350 petrol pumps operate in the city and eight upazilas of the district, but more than half of them are not supplying fuel regularly. A visit to several petrol pumps on Friday morning found severe shortages of petrol and octane, with many displaying “no fuel” signs. At the pumps still operating, customers were being rationed to a maximum of Tk 200 worth of fuel each. A similar situation has been seen across eight upazilas, including Mithapukur, Pirganj, Pirgachha, Kaunia, Badarganj, Taraganj and Gangachara, where many people said they waited 10 to 12 hours without receiving fuel. Affected drivers said the shortage is disrupting urgent work, with office-goers, businesspeople and ambulance services among the worst affected. Motorcyclist Sohel Mia said he waited for two hours at a pump in the morning but was later told that fuel had run out, forcing him to look for another station. Private car owners reported similar experiences. Pump managers said each station is currently receiving only 3,000 to 4,000 litres of petrol-octane per day, which is far below the demand, forcing them to ration supply. Authorities said the crisis has arisen due to a mismatch between supply and demand triggered by the Middle East conflict, adding that efforts are underway to stabilise the situation.