United News of Bangladesh

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Sunday said they look forward to working together with Bangladesh in a forward-looking manner to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains.  "So, I think, of course, people-to-people exchanges are a very important part of our bilateral relations," he said, noting that they really hope to take forward things working together in a positive, constructive and forward looking manner. The High Commissioner made the remarks while responding to a question after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. During the meeting, the High Commissioner reiterated their position that they look forward to engaging with the new government in Bangladesh. "We want to strengthen our people's centric cooperation in all domains, working together in a positive, constructive and forward looking manner. And based on our mutual benefit and mutual interest," he said. "So that was the conversation that we had and we really look forward to it," said the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner also met Stare Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "It was my first meeting with the new Foreign Minister and Minister of State after the formation of the new Government in Bangladesh. So, it was more of a courtesy meeting and an initial exchange of views," he said. The High Commissioner referred to their recent high level communications with Bangladesh since the election. On February 13, a day after the elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. "They also spoke on the phone later that day," said the High Commissioner. Later, on February 17, when the new government was sworn-in, the Speaker of Lok Sabha visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony, representing the government of India. He also had a bilateral meeting with the new Prime Minister. "During the meeting, our Speaker handed a letter from Prime Minister Modi to Prime Minister Rahman," said the High Commissioner. In all these communications, he said, they expressed the desire to build on their historic ties with Bangladesh and strengthen the multifaceted bilateral relations. "We also underlined our commitment to support a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh," Pranay Verma said.  

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday said teachers would no longer need to take to the streets to realise their legitimate demands, as the government is giving the highest priority to the education sector and will implement justified claims of teachers and employees in phases. Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the Teachers-Employees Unity Council at the conference room of the Ministry of Education, the minister said although there are certain budgetary constraints, other demands of teachers will be placed before the Prime Minister. “As many issues could not be incorporated into the new budget, it is not possible to implement all demands immediately. However, the government is sincere in this regard,” he said. Referring to allegations raised against officials and employees of the ministry, Milon said the complaints would be reviewed and resolved gradually. “Discussions are also underway regarding school managing committees and governing bodies.” “The issue of not allowing one individual to hold responsibilities in multiple institutions will be considered at the managing committee level,” the minister said. On the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA), Milon said recent changes in the recruitment system would be reviewed and necessary decisions taken accordingly.  “We will assess where corrections are needed. The government is firm in its position – we neither engage in corruption nor allow it. Transparency and accountability will be ensured in the education sector,” he said. The minister also said meetings would soon be held to decide on financial matters, including retirement benefits and welfare trust issues. “Education is receiving the highest importance at the policy-making level of the current government. Education-related issues also received priority at the recent cabinet meeting.” State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj said the written demands submitted by teachers have been taken seriously. “Among the various demands, standing issues have been identified and initiatives taken for resolution. We do not want to take abrupt decisions. We seek long-term solutions through consultation so that teachers do not have to return to agitation over the same demands five or seven years later.” Highlighting teachers’ dignity, Hajjaj said proper evaluation of their responsibilities in classrooms would be ensured and the government is aware of the expectations of the teaching community. Chairman of the Teachers-Employees Unity Council and Cumilla-2 MP Selim Bhuiyan, along with other teacher leaders, were present at the meeting.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday filed two separate cases against former Jessore-1 MP Sheikh Afil Uddin and his wife Tahera Sobha, accusing them of amassing wealth worth about Tk 62.31 crore. The cases were lodged at the ACC’s Dhaka Integrated District Office by Assistant Director Syed Maidul Islam, ACC Deputy Director Aktarul Islam told UNB. According to the first case, investigators found assets worth Tk 45.43 crore in Sheikh Afil Uddin’s name, including immovable properties valued at Tk 1.47 crore and movable assets worth Tk 43.91 crore. ACC to file case over Tk 1,325cr loan scam involving Bashundhara Group, National Bank officials His lawful income was only Tk 7.60 crore, leaving unexplained wealth of Tk 46.26 crore. In the second case, Tahera Sobha was accused of acquiring illegal assets. Investigators found her movable and immovable properties valued at Tk 18.55 crore. Including expenditures, her total assets stood at Tk 19.23 crore, while her lawful income was Tk 3.18 crore, leaving unexplained wealth of Tk 16.05 crore. Besides, the ACC issued asset disclosure notices to the couple’s three sons — Sheikh Kutubuddin, Sheikh Tamim Uddin, and Afnan Uddin — after finding evidence of suspicious assets worth around Tk 50 million in their names. Case against 8 NHA officials over allocation of luxury flats for 2 ACC commissioners

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Sunday instructed field-level police officers to take tough action against extortion, robbery and drug-related crimes. Speaking at a virtual meeting from Police Headquarters with all unit chiefs, metropolitan police commissioners, range DIGs and district superintendents of police, the IGP emphasised that law and order must be maintained at any cost. He said legal action should be taken against anyone involved in extortion, terrorism or drug offences, regardless of political affiliation. The IGP also directed the Highway Police to intensify measures to prevent highway robberies and urged district police to cooperate closely to stop such crimes. Additional IGPs from the police headquarters were present during the meeting.  

New Burimari Express train service will begin operating from Burimari within the next 180 days, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said on Sunday. He made the announcement while speaking to journalists after a meeting with administrative officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Lalmonirhat in the afternoon. The minister said the government is working to implement Lalmonirhat Airport, four-lane road, economic zone and Teesta master plan as promised to people. He added that work on the projects will be accelerated through coordination among different ministries to ensure swift completion. Dulu also announced that a ‘Family Card’ programme will initially be launched in eight upazilas as a pilot project. Under the scheme, the poorest families will be identified in phases and brought under the card system to receive necessary facilities and benefits. He said discussions with local officials focused on development initiatives that can be implemented in Lalmonirhat within the next 180 days. Members of Parliament Hasan Rajib Pradhan and Rokon Uddin Babul were present at the meeting.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Sunday said Dhaka and Beijing have been engaged in long-standing discussions over the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, expressing the hope that work on the long-awaited initiative will begin soon. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. The Chinese Ambassador described the recently held election as smooth and orderly and found it as the victory of democracy. He said the high-level visits between the two countries would continue. On February 17, 2026, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Tarique Rahman on his inauguration as Bangladeshi Prime Minister. Li Qiang wrote in the message that China and Bangladesh are neighbors enjoying long-standing friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partners. Friendly ties between the two countries go back a long way. Over the past 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Bangladesh have always respected and treated each other as equals, pursued mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win results, setting a fine example of exchanges between countries, Li said. The Chinese government supports the new Bangladeshi government in exercising smooth governance. Li said he stands ready to work with the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to carry forward the long-standing friendship, enhance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and exchanges in all sectors, elevating the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a new level, so as to bring more benefit to the two peoples.

A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced four people to life imprisonment for violating a young girl at Kamrangirchar in Dhaka in 2009. Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Munshi Md Mashier Rahman pronounced the punishment. The lifers are—Shahidul Islam, Saiful Islam, Nizam and Manir Hossain alias Sentu. Among them, Saiful was tried in absentia. The court also fined Tk one lakh each, in default, to suffer one year more in jail. 5 arrested in Dhaka for breaching election code; awarded jail terms, fines The court also asked the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka to deposit the fine money after selling the assets of the convicts. According to the prosecution, the 25-year-old victim along with her friend went to Beribadah at Ashrafabad in Kamrangirchar on September 25, 2009. At one stage, her friend went to her home leaving her alone in the area. Later, the convicts picked up the girl to a boat and violated the girl in turns on boat. Meanwhile, the convicts kept the girl confined to a room of the house of one Salam Contractor. Being informed, the parents of the girl rescued her from the house and took her to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Biman MD, his wife, sent to jail for torturing domestic help A case was filed with Kamrangirchar Police Station. Sub-inspector of Kamrangirchar Police Station Shafiqul Islam Shikdar submitted chargehseet against them on October 31, 2010.

Motorbike accidents accounted for more than four out of every 10 road deaths in January, as road crashes across Bangladesh claimed 586 lives, according to a report released by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. Motorcycles were involved in 209 crashes, or 37.86 percent of all road accidents, resulting in 223 deaths and 132 injuries. Motorcycle crashes alone accounted for 40.84 percent of total road fatalities during the month, it said. The report signed by the organisation’s Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury was prepared based on monitoring of national, regional and online media outlets. Besides, 1,238 people were injured in 597 road, rail and waterway accidents across the country. Of the total accidents, 552 were road accidents that left 546 people dead and 1,204 injured. Railway-related accidents numbered 37, killing 33 people and injuring 28, while eight waterway accidents claimed seven lives, injured six people and left three missing. Dhaka division recorded the highest number of road accidents, with 132 crashes killing 133 people and injuring 328. Sylhet division had the lowest toll, reporting 29 accidents that left 28 people dead and 63 injured. Among those affected in road accidents were 131 drivers, 89 pedestrians, 53 transport workers, 79 students, nine teachers, 62 women and 67 children. Those killed included two police personnel, two army members, one navy member, four physicians, one freedom fighter, 127 drivers, 89 pedestrians, 54 women, 48 children, 57 students, 21 transport workers, eight teachers and 11 political activists. A total of 829 vehicles were involved in road crashes. Motorcycles made up 28.46 percent, followed by trucks, pickups, covered vans and lorries at 23.64 percent, buses at 14.35 percent, battery-run rickshaws and easy-bikes at 13.63 percent, CNG-run auto-rickshaws at 5.54 percent, locally made vehicles such as Nasimon, Karimon, Mahindra, tractors and legunas at 9.04 percent, and cars, jeeps and microbuses at 5.30 percent. In terms of crash patterns, 48.36 percent were run-over incidents, 28.62 percent head-on collisions, 16.84 percent involved vehicles plunging into ditches after losing control, 5.61 percent occurred for miscellaneous reasons, 0.18 percent were caused by scarves getting entangled in wheels and 0.36 percent were train-vehicle collisions. 503 killed in Bangladesh road accidents in December: RSF report The analysis shows that 42.57 percent of accidents occurred on national highways, 27.89 percent on regional highways and 24.09 percent on feeder roads. Another 4.52 percent took place in the Dhaka metropolitan area, 0.54 percent in the Chattogram metropolitan area and 0.36 percent at rail crossings. The organisation identified several key causes, including policy and strategic weaknesses in the road transport sector, unchecked movement of battery-run auto-rickshaws and other slow-moving vehicles on highways, inadequate road signs and markings, lack of medians and street lighting, construction flaws, unfit vehicles, unskilled drivers, overloading, reckless driving and operating vehicles without adequate rest. The Samity urged urgent and coordinated measures to strengthen road safety management and enforcement to curb the rising number of fatalities.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan resigned on Sunday. He submitted his resignation letter to Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon at the Ministry of Education in the morning. Dr Niaz Ahmed also submitted an application to the President seeking to return to his original post as a Grade-1 Professor of Department of Development Studies. During the meeting, the Education Minister sought his views on the university’s current and future challenges and ways to strengthen education and research. Dr Khan briefed him on academic and research activities, campus security, and future plans, reaffirming his commitment to contribute to Dhaka University and the broader education sector. The Education Minister thanked Dr Niaz Ahmed for his notable contributions to the university’s development during a critical period and extended best wishes. Dr Khan announced his intention to resign during a special press conference on February 10, two days before the national election.

Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H. bin Abiyah on Sunday said that his country has issued 750,000 work visas and altogether 1.4 mn visas for Bangladeshi citizens in 2025. "There is scope for skilled and semi-skilled workers to jobs in the Kingdom as many development works are going on there," he said when he met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. During the meeting, they discussed the issues of mutual interest. The Ambassador conveyed greetings from his government and expressed his commitment to further strengthening Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh bilateral relations. Welcoming the Ambassador, the Foreign Minister described Saudi Arabia as a trusted and longstanding partner of Bangladesh. He recalled that diplomatic relations between the two countries began during the presidency of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with the establishment of the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia in 1976. President Zia also paid a historic visit to the Kingdom in 1977. Both sides acknowledged his historic contribution to promoting Muslim unity.