United News of Bangladesh

Some foreign tourists who were reported missing after devastating floods in Nepal have contacted authorities, officials said Wednesday, as rescue and search operations continued. At least 1,118 people have died and more than 3,900 remain missing following the disaster, which began on Aug. 26. Nepal's Foreign Ministry said 324 foreign nationals had been rescued so far, while around 590 people from 39 countries were still reported missing a week after the floods. Some tourists confirmed safe Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that the number of Australians reported missing had fallen from 43 to 38 after five people were confirmed safe overnight. “Amidst all of this tragedy, we are seeing some positive news. Today, another five Australians have been confirmed safe,” Albanese told reporters in Palau, where he was attending a regional summit. “We hope, of course, for positive news further, and we're doing everything we can to work with authorities,” he said. Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, said at least five other foreign tourists who had earlier been reported missing contacted authorities by phone or email in recent days. China builds road to disaster site Meanwhile, Chinese rescue teams have built a temporary road to reach the disaster-hit area around Gyirong Port on the Nepal-China border, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported Wednesday. The access road will allow heavy machinery to reach the area and assist search operations. The border crossing complex was swept away by the floods, while roads leading to it were destroyed and buried under water, mud and rocks. China separately reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing as of Sunday. The disaster began on Aug. 26 after a glacial collapse in the Himalayas sent huge amounts of rock, ice and meltwater into nearby valleys. The resulting floods caused rivers in Tibet and Nepal to rise rapidly, sweeping away homes, buildings, roads and bridges. Mud and rocks were also carried downstream, causing widespread destruction. Search and rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate those still missing and provide assistance to survivors.

Parliament on Thursday adopted a condolence motion expressing profound shock and sorrow at the death of former acting President and Speaker Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, several other former Members of Parliament (MPs), four noted personalities and loss of lives in the Nepal flash flood. The motion was unanimously adopted in the House shortly after the third session of the current Parliament began at 3:00pm, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair. The Speaker moved the condolence motion, which was adopted after the House observed a one-minute silence in memory of the deceased. Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad) later conducted a munajat seeking eternal peace for the departed souls. In the motion, the Speaker said the nation lost former acting President, Speaker, Minister and MP Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar on July 12, 2026. “Profound sorrow and shock have been expressed by Parliament at his death,” he said. The House also expressed grief over the deaths of former MPs, including Md Rustam Ali Molla (BNP), Farid Uddin Chowdhury (Jamaat-e-Islami), former chief whip and state minister Advocate Harun Al Rashid (BNP), Mosharraf Hossain Mia (Jasod), Selima Ahmad (Awami League), Sharfuddin Khasru (Jatiya Party/BNP), former state minister Nazrul Islam Chowdhury (Awami League), Golam Sarwar Hiru (Islami Oikya Jote), former minister Freedom Fighter Satish Chandra Roy (Awami League), Muhammad Rafiqul Islam (Awami League) and former minister Major General (retd) Mohabbat Jan Chowdhury. Parliament also expressed deep grief at the deaths of noted personalities, including Ekushey Padak-winning poet Al Mujahidi, Ekushey Padak-winning artist Mustafa Monwar, eminent political thinker, writer, researcher and academician Prof Abul Kasem Fazlul Haq, and educationist Dr Makbul Hossain. Besides, the House expressed profound shock at the loss of lives in the recent flash flood in Nepal. The condolence motion also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in accidents at home and abroad and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families.