United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the re-excavation of historic Patali Canal in Pmkhali Union of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila, a canal closely associated with the memory of former President Ziaur Rahman. Soon after arriving in Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, the Prime Minister went to Pmkhali and formally launched the re-excavation programme at around 10:50am. Forty-eight years ago, in November 1979, then President Ziaur Rahman personally inaugurated the excavation of the canal by cutting earth with a spade. During the visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a reminder of that historic initiative. Despite heavy rain, Tarique Rahman proceeded to the site and formally inaugurated the re-excavation work by cutting earth with a spade. He also planted an almond sapling on the canal bank. Home Minister and Cox’s Bazar-1 lawmaker Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Choudhury Anee, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for  LGRD Mir Sahe Alam, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Md Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, Cox’s Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman Kajal, Chattogram-10 MP Sayeed Al Noman and Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan were among others present. Thousands of people from Patali village and surrounding areas gathered along the canal bank from the morning braving heavy rain to witness the programme and greet the Prime Minister. Patali Canal is regarded as a landmark irrigation project launched during Ziaur Rahman’s rule. According to local officials, the initiative drew international attention at the time. Former World Bank President Robert McNamara, Nepal’s King Birendra, Bhutan’s King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike visited Bangladesh to observe the country's rural development and agricultural initiatives. Officials said irrigation from the canal helped bring nearly 12,000 hectares of previously uncultivated land under farming, contributing to a significant boost in agricultural production and the local economy. However, after remaining operational for several years, the canal gradually became clogged with silt due to inadequate maintenance, while parts of it were encroached upon, disrupting irrigation facilities for local farmers. The eight-kilometre canal is expected to benefit around 40,000 people once re-excavation is completed, according to local engineers of the Water Resources Ministry. Local farmer Khorshed Alam said he was delighted to see Tarique Rahman inaugurate the restoration of a canal originally excavated by his father. “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman excavated this canal, and today his son has come to restore it. We are happy to see Tarique Rahman in person,” he said. “The canal has become filled up over the years. Once it is re-excavated, we farmers will benefit greatly and will no longer have to worry about irrigation water for our crops,” Alam added. Earlier, the Prime Minister and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman arrived in Cox’s Bazar around 9:50am by air. After inaugurating the re-excavation work, Tarique Rahman went onto a temporary stage beside the canal and waved to the crowd, exchanging greetings with local residents.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday morning on a daylong visit to attend a series of development and environmental programmes. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the Prime Minister reached Cox’s Bazar International Airport at around 9:50am on a commercial flight amid rain. After the formal reception at the airport, the Prime Minister left directly by road for Pmkhali Union to attend a programme marking the re-excavation of the Patali Canal. At the airport, he was received by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Md Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan and other officials. He is also scheduled to address a public gathering there following the inauguration of the canal re-excavation work. According to the programme schedule, Tarique will later visit the Dulahazara Safari Park and formally launch the nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees by planting saplings at the Malumghat Reserved Forest. PM leaves for Cox’s Bazar with his wife

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left for Cox’s Bazar on Saturday morning on a day-long visit to attend a series of development, environmental and public engagement programmes. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the Prime Minister reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:30am after leaving his Gulshan residence. “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is travelling to Cox’s Bazar by air. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, is accompanying him,” he said. The flight left the airport for Cox's Bazar around 9:00am, Rumon said. PM Tarique to visit Cox’s Bazar Saturday He said the Prime Minister will return to Dhaka at night after attending various programmes, including a tree plantation campaign and canal re-excavation activities. After arriving in Cox’s Bazar, the Prime Minister is scheduled to begin his official engagements around 10:30am by inaugurating the re-excavation of the Patali Canal in Pmkhali in Chakaria upazila and addressing a public gathering there. According to the programme schedule, Tarique Rahman will later visit the Dulahazara Safari Park and formally launch the nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees by planting saplings at the Malumghat Reserved Forest. He is also expected to visit the grave of Md Wasim Akram, one of the martyrs of the July 2024 mass uprising, in Pekua and meet members of his family. The Prime Minister will then lay the foundation stones of the newly created Pekua municipality and Matamuhuri upazila. In the afternoon, he will attend a public rally organised by the district BNP in front of the Chakaria Municipal Bus Terminal. Later, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inspect the Marine Drive and Cox’s Bazar sea beach before joining an interaction with distinguished citizens at a hotel in the evening. He will return to Dhaka by air after completing the programmes. This is Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Cox’s Bazar since assuming office as Prime Minister following the BNP’s victory in the 13th parliamentary election. After spending more than a decade and a half in London, he returned to Bangladesh on December 25 last year. Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister after his party secured a majority in the national election held on February 12.  

A Rohingya woman and her daughter were killed in an attack by a herd of wild elephant  in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Thursday. The deceased were identified as Asma Bibi, 27, wife of Md Ekram Mia and their 3-year-old daughter Chemon Ara Begum , residents of Syed Colony in West Khuniapalong under Khuniapalong union. Locals said the elephants entered the locality around 6am, triggering panic among residents. Madrasa teacher Jubairul Islam said hearing noise, Ekram fled with their six-year-old son Rehan Uddin but Asma Bibi and her younger daughter failed to escape and died on the spot. Khuniapalong Union Parishad member Zainal Abedin said the herd consisting of three elephants was highly aggressive, leaving the victims no chance to escape. The elephants later moved toward nearby hills after damaging houses and feeding on fruits. Md Tosaddek Hossain, range officer of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division (Dhoapalong Range), said forest officials drove the elephants back into deep forest and are taking steps to control their movement. Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam Bhuiyan said police visited the scene, completed inquest procedures and handed over the bodies to the family. A case of unnatural death will be filed in this connection, he said .

Three youths were found dead in a remote hilly area at North Shilkhali in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday morning. The deceased were identified as Aminul Islam Robi, 19, son of Ruhul Amin, Mujibur Rahman, 38, son of Nurul Kabir and Nur Bashar, 20, son of Nurul Islam of Baharchhara union of the upazila. Ruhul Amin, father of one of the victims, Robi, said that after being informed by local people, he went to the area and identified his son. A police team rushed to the spot and is conducting a rescue operation, said Durjoy Sarkar, in-charge of Shamlapur police camp. However, the exact cause of their death will be determined after the post-mortem. The matter is being investigated with the highest importance, said ANM Sajedur Rahman, superintendent of Cox’s Bazar Police.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam on Wednesday told the Parliament that the upgradation of Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport will take a few more months. “The upgradation of Cox’s Bazar Airport into an international airport will take several more months,” she said while replying to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury (Cox’s Bazar-4) in the House. The Minister said that several key steps have already been taken to facilitate the commencement of international flights from the airport. To this end, certification has been obtained from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after ensuring compliance with international rules, regulations, and operational suitability. The runway of Cox’s Bazar Airport has been extended from 9,000 feet to 10,700 feet towards the sea to ensure safe landing and takeoff of large aircrafts at full load, along with enhancing overall operational capacity. A new international terminal building with a 17,955-square metres floor area has been constructed to support international flight operations. The terminal, equipped with all necessary operational facilities, is currently undergoing testing and commissioning, she said.

A student leader of July movement was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in Cox’s Bazar late Tuesday night. The deceased was Khorshed Alam, son of Shah Alam of  Isulur Ghona area of Cox’s Bazar, a local leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and a student coordinator. According to police and witnesses, a group of unidentified attackers swooped on Khorshed around 10:30pm while he was at Kobita Chattar area and stabbed him multiple times, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital by his friend Shah Alam and fellow studentswhere doctors declared him dead. Hospital sources said several stab wounds were found on his abdomen and legs. Police took into custody a female coordinator, identified as Tarin, who was accompanying him at the time, for questioning. The killing has sparked tension  in Cox’s Bazar town with leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal and other organisations gathering in front of the hospital upon hearing the news. Around 12:30am, agitated activists of Cox’s Bazar district Chhatra Dal brought out a protest procession , demanding immediate identification and arrest of those responsible. Officer-in-Charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Shamim Uddin said efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved.  

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh is set to launch a three-day post-Eid coastal clean-up awareness campaign in Cox’s Bazar from March 24-26. The initiative, with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation and in collaboration with the Cox’s Bazar District Administration and local partners, is being implemented under the Plastic Circularity Project. The campaign aims to reduce the surge of plastic waste generated on the beach during the Eid holiday period, promote responsible waste management practices, and protect the marine ecosystem and tourism economy of the world’s longest natural sea beach, said the UN agency on Monday. The official inauguration will take place on March 24 at 11am at Laboni Point, Cox’s Bazar, with activities spanning both Laboni and Sugandha points. The event will be attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Md. A. Mannan; Administrator of Cox’s Bazar Municipality, Md. Shamsul Al Imran; Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, Sardar M. Asaduzzaman; along with other distinguished guests. The campaign will feature a series of activities, including awareness rallies, direct engagement with tourists, businesses, shop owners, and hotel operators, as well as the installation of new waste bins at key entry points. Each day, 30 youth volunteers and 20 sanitation workers will be deployed on the ground to collect, sort, and measure plastic waste, ensuring its handover to local recyclers. As part of longer-term support, a total of 30 waste bins will be formally handed over to the Tourist Police. Through this initiative, UNDP Bangladesh and its partners expect to see a visible reduction in plastic waste on the beach following Eid, increased public awareness, and strengthened coordination among stakeholders involved in tourism and waste management.

Police recovered the bodies of a young man and a young woman from a beach along the Marine Drive road in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday. One of the bodies was found near Uttar Lombrori and another near Mitapani Chhara boat terminal areas. Locals spotted the bodies and informed police who recovered the bodies, said Saiful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Cox’s Bazar Model Police Station. ‘Stray bullets’ leave 2 teenagers injured near Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar Police are working to identify the deceased and determine the cause of death, said the OC.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said it continues to work closely with sector partners to scale up assistance and address urgent and evolving needs, stressing that fire risks remain high in the Rohingya camps. While immediate assistance continues, the latest incident underscores the persistent fire risks facing refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar, which hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, it said. The fire risks remain high, particularly during the dry season, due to the dense layout of the camps and the use of highly flammable materials in temporary shelters, IOM said. It launched an emergency response following a large fire in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar early Tuesday morning. Read more: Canada reaffirms commitment to dignity and justice for Rohingya Relief efforts are being carried out in close coordination with the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian partners to ensure timely and appropriate assistance to affected families. “When fires strike in overcrowded camp settings, the impact extends far beyond damaged infrastructure,” said Lance Bonneau, IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh. “Families lose shelter, essential belongings, and access to basic services, increasing immediate protection risks. Our response is guided by a clear responsibility to protect lives, uphold dignity and ensure that those affected receive assistance quickly and safely, so families can begin to regain a sense of normalcy.” The fire affected more than 2,000 refugees, causing extensive damage to shelters and camp-based facilities. No fatalities or major injuries have been reported.  More than 400 shelters were damaged and camp infrastructure was severely impacted, including over 160 water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities such as water points and latrines, as well as 11 learning centres and two mosques. Beyond the destruction of shelters, the fire also destabilized the hillside terrain on which much of the camp is constructed, damaging drainage networks and public infrastructure, and increasing risks related to access and erosion. After the fire was contained, IOM deployed health teams and ambulances to support those with minor injuries and worked with partners to rapidly assess damage and immediate needs. Building on these assessments, IOM and its partners rapidly deployed specialized teams in shelter, WASH, and protection to support affected families. Within 24 hours of the incident, IOM’s camp management team, together with refugee volunteers, cleared debris from the fire-affected areas to restore safe access for emergency assistance and essential services. Over 49.5 lakh Bangladeshis internally displaced by natural disasters: IOM In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), emergency food assistance was provided, while affected households received emergency shelter assistance, blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, and portable solar lights. Following previous devastating fires, including the March 2021 incident that displaced 45,000 people, IOM and humanitarian partners have continued to strengthen refugee-led emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to enable faster, safer, and more effective action when hazards occur.