United News of Bangladesh

A murder case has been filed against a woman who used to work as a domestic help in the Mohammadpur flat where a woman and her daughter were found dead on Monday (December 08, 2025). AZM Azizul Islam, husband of the deceased woman and father of the girl, filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station against their domestic aide Aysha. The accused has not been arrested yet. Read more: Motives behind Mohammadpur mother-daughter murders still unclear: Police Assistant Commissioner (Mohammadpur Zone) of DMP's Tejgaon Division Abdullah Al Mamun said an investigation is underway over the murder of Layla Afroz, 48, and her daughter Nafisa Binte Aziz, 15. According to the case statement, the accused, Ayesha, started working as a part-time domestic help at the flat four days earlier. Azizul Islam said he found his wife dead with multiple cut injuries and his daughter critically injured when he returned home around 11am on Monday. His daughter was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital where she was declared dead. Read more: Mohammadpur double murder: Maid disguised herself in victim’s school uniform to flee The complainant said CCTV footage showed the accused entering the flat at 7:51am and leaving around 9:35am with valuables, leading him to believe she killed the two during that period.

Dhaka has ranked second on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 250 at 8:58 am this morning (December 09, 2025). Dhaka’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy' on Tuesday, according to the air quality index. India’s Kolkata, Egypt’s Cairo and India’s Delhi, occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 262, 239 and 232 respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Read more: Air pollution: 5 ways to protect yourself from poor air quality The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh?

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked second on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 266 at 9:45 am this morning (December 8, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’ referring to an alarming threat, according to the AQI index. Such air quality persisted over the past few days, underscoring an urgent measure.   When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Read more: Dhaka’s air quality world’s 3rd worst this morning Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Egypt’s Cairo cities respectively occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 408, 261, and 259 respectively. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh?

Mobile phone traders and employees blocked the road in front of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission office in Agargaon on Sunday (December 07, 2025) in protest against the government move to disable unapproved handsets. Police said the demonstration began around 10:30am when the protesters took position on the road in front of the BTRC building, halting traffic on one side of the Shyamoli–Agargaon route. Read more: BTRC to deactivate extra SIMs beyond limit from Saturday Long tailbacks were created at the Shishumela intersection, Shyamoli’s Mirpur Road and parts of Agargaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar due to the blockade. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam said vehicle movement from Shishumela towards Agargaon remained suspended as the traders occupied the road. Traffic on the opposite lane was moving normally, he said. One side of the road remained blocked till filing of this report at 2:20 pm. Read more: No phone purchased before Dec 16 would be blocked using NEIR: BTRC Commissioner

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Sunday (December 07, 2025) said democratic institutions alone cannot guarantee the quality of democracy unless political behaviour and political culture change. “A parliament elected by people, a government accountable to that parliament, and independent watchdog institutions are all prerequisites.But the real test will always lie in political behaviour something that cannot change overnight,” he said an event at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) in the capital. Dr Wahiduddin  said Bangladesh must prioritise an effective democratic transition, stronger accountability systems and a long-term roadmap for building a fair, discrimination-free society. The Planning Adviser was addressing as the chief guest at the Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2025: Democracy and Development organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) held at the conference hall of the Parjatan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon area.BIDS Director General Prof Dr AK Enamul Haque gave the opening remarks. “The expectations today are modest — we are trying to secure the basic foundations of a representative democratic system. It is unfortunate, yet we must move forward with the hope that a stable and lasting framework for governance will emerge in new Bangladesh,” he said. Read more: Misinformation big threat to democracy: Shafiqul Alam Dr Wahiduddin said nearly five and a half decades after independence the nation is still striving to establish a ‘functional democratic arrangement, which should have been achieved long ago. The Adviser highlighted the link between political patronage, youth unemployment and the spread of cadre-based politics, saying these interconnected problems cannot be solved by blaming politics alone. “Poor-quality education, high dropout rates and youth joblessness are closely tied to why many young people choose political patronage as a livelihood,” he said. On the economic front, he said democratic governance does not automatically ensure development unless accompanied by deep administrative reforms and an end to the informal networks of collusion between business and bureaucracy. “Reforms through new rules and regulations may help but their success depends entirely on the behavioural environment — the incentives created, the culture of trust, and the social norms within which markets operate,” he said. Read more: US-based IRI assessing environment ahead of Feb polls  He pointed to global experiences to argue that market liberalisation has produced widely different outcomes in different countries. “In some East Asian economies, discipline, trust and strong internal accountability systems delivered sustained growth,” he said citing China and Vietnam’s reform experiences. “Administrative accountability must be matched with a sense of responsibility.” Turning to Bangladesh’s statistical system, he said greater transparency in data production is essential for evidence-based policymaking. Digitalisation of BBS datasets would allow researchers and journalists to independently examine national statistics, ultimately improving their quality. “But even then, political will remains crucial. If there is political demand for illicit gains, no regulation alone can prevent it,” he said. Addressing the broader goal of creating a discrimination-free society, the Adviser said the debate naturally falls outside political consensus-building initiatives like the July Charter or the Consensus Commission. “Questions of redistribution, social protection, market-state relations and reducing inequality are inherently ideological,” he said. “Parties must articulate these issues clearly in their manifestos.” No country can prosper if it fails to ensure the minimum livelihood needs of all citizens and achieving this requires both an appropriate economic structure and genuine political commitment, said the adviser. He said that three issues are very relevant at the present stage of the country after the July Revolution and these are transition to an effective representative democratic system, that democratic system will ensure economic development and third the quality of that development. Read more: Tarique hails Australian MPs’ call for democracy, election integrity in Bangladesh

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday (December 07, 2025) expressed the hope that their critically ill party chairperson Khaleda Zia will recover with 'divine blessings'. “People all over the country are praying for her, regardless of their political affiliation. We have faith in Allah, and we believe that with the prayers of so many people for her recovery, Allah will surely respond to them,” he said. Fakhrul made the remarks while inaugurating BNP’s six-day “Plan to Build the Country” programme at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka’s Farmgate area. Read more: Fakhrul urges BNP followers to strongly counter misinformation in cyberspace He said highly reputed national and international doctors are providing treatment to Khaleda at Evercare Hospital. “None of us can feel happy at this moment. We are heavy-hearted because our great leader, the guardian of Bangladesh — now called the Guardian of Democracy of Bangladesh — is critically ill and receiving treatment in hospital,” the BNP leader said. He said Khaleda has never bowed to injustice and has never compromised on the country’s independence, sovereignty, or the principles of democracy. Fakhrul said all necessary measures are being taken for her treatment, and BNP Acting Chairman and her eldest son Tarique Rahman is personally monitoring her situation. Read more: Zubaida visits Evercare Hospital to stand beside ailing Khaleda The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit on November 27 with multiple health complications. Her treatment is being supervised by a medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, with both local and foreign specialists involved. Her daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman--also a member of the medical board--arrived in Dhaka from London to accompany her abroad once she is cleared to fly. Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, one of her physicians, on Saturday (December 06, 2025) said Khaleda’s travel to London for advanced treatment will be delayed until she is medically declared fit to fly by an air ambulance. Read more: Khaleda’s London trip to be delayed until she’s fit: Dr Zahid

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked third on the list of cities with the worst air quality Sunday morning (December 07, 2025). At 10 am, Dhaka’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 228, according to IQAir. Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Delhi occupied the first and second spots, with AQI scores of 300 and 260 respectively. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered unhealthy, particularly for sensitive groups. Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is classified as poor, while a reading between 301 and 400 is deemed hazardous, posing serious health risks to residents. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh? AQI — an index for reporting daily air quality — is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air in a particular city is, and what associated health effects may be of concern. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO₂, CO, SO₂ and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution. Its air quality usually becomes unhealthy during winter and improves during the monsoon. A report by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the World Bank pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka “are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles, and dust from construction sites”. With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality deteriorates sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources. Read more: How Can One Person Reduce Environmental Pollution? Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Onion prices have surged by Tk 40–50 per kg within just two days, with the kitchen markets in Dhaka now selling it at Tk 140–150 per kg. A visit to several city markets on Saturday (December 06, 2025) found wholesalers charging Tk 650–680 for a palla (5 kg), pushing retail prices up sharply. Aminul Haque, an onion trader at Uttar Badda, said, “Just on Tuesday, onions were Tk 100 per kg at wholesale. A palla was selling for Tk 485–500, which is now Tk 680.” Read more: After saving one year, onion and ginger imports to halt within three years Another trader, Robiul, said, “Prices have increased by around Tk 50 per kg in two days. The price of each sack has gone up by Tk 850–1,000.” Harunur Rashid, an onion trader from Rampura, said there is no logical reason for the sudden spike. “The early-season 'murikata' onions have started arriving. Prices should have gone down, not up.” Market visits showed that 'murikata' onions are now available in small quantities, but their prices have also increased by Tk 10 per kg. Recently selling at Tk 70–80, they now cost around Tk 90 per kg. Onion imports withheld to protect farmers: Agriculture Adviser Karwan Bazar trader Mominul said the price of old onions has pushed buyers toward murikata, but limited supply has driven prices higher. Consumers expressed frustration over the abrupt hike. “How can onion prices rise by Tk 50 in two days?” said Rabeya Akhter, a shopper at Rampura. Another buyer, Ehsanul Haque, complained about the lack of market monitoring. “Traders are running the market however they want. Without monitoring, consumers will suffer.” Buyers urged strict monitoring to stabilise the market, while experts warned that lack of oversight will make the situation more volatile. Read more: Kitchen Market: Onion prices still high, hilsa out of reach

Six members of a family including a child suffered burn injuries in an explosion apparently from gas line leak at a house in Agargaon area of the capital early Saturday (December 06, 2025). The victims were identified as Jalil Mia, 50, Aneza Begum, 40, Asif Mia, 19, Sakib Mia, 16, Monira, 17 and Eva, 6. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the explosion occurred at the house of Jalil Mia around 4:30 am, leaving six members of the family injured. Later, they were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 7:45 am and received treatment there. Read more: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked the third on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 254 at 9:06 am this morning (December 06, 2025). Today’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy’ and such air quality continued for the past few days, according to the AQI index. Iraq’s Bagdad and India’s Delhi, occupied the first and second spots in the list, with AQI scores of 285 and 264, respectively. Read more: How Can One Person Reduce Environmental Pollution? When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh?