United News of Bangladesh

President Mohammad Shahabuddin arrived in his home district Pabna on Saturday (8th November 2025) morning on a two-day official visit. The President landed at Pabna Stadium by a helicopter at 9:40am. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mofizul Islam and Superintendent of Pabna Police Mortoza Ali Khan received the President. A guard of honour was given to the President at the Pabna Circuit House. Read more: French Ambassador presents credentials to President The President is scheduled to visit the graves of his parents at Arifpur graveyard in Pabna Sadar to offer prayers around 11 am from where he will go to his ancestral home in Jubilee Tank area of Kalachandpara in Pabna town where he will spend some time and meet with relatives around 1pm. He will stay overnight at the Circuit House. On the second day, another guard of honour will be given to the President at 10:45am at the Circuit House. He is expected to depart for Dhaka from Pabna Stadium at 11am. Strict security measures have been taken in and around the stadium, Circuit House, Arifpur graveyard and his residence over the visit. Read more: New Saudi Ambassador presents credentials to President Shahabuddin 

Some 41 students of Kazirhat High School in Aminpur of Bera upazila in Pabna district, have reportedly fallen unconscious over the past two days, creating panic among students and local people. According to school authorities, 35 students from Class 6 and 7 suddenly fell unconscious around 10am on Monday while attending class on the second floor of the school building. A similar incident occurred on Sunday when six students lost consciousness during school hours. The affected students include Maimuna Khatun, Sumi, Sumaiya, Zerin Islam, Jannatul, Jakia Akter, Moriyam Khatun, Lima Akter, Saddam Hossain, Asif, Fatema Khatun, Dula Akter, Maria, Asif Mahmud, Jesmin, Muhammad Ali, Rifat Hossain, Shakila, Sanjida, and Afsana Khatun.  Locals lay siege to police station protesting killing of madrasah teacher in Narsingdi Sources said around 3pm on Sunday, six students from Class 7 suddenly fell unconscious. They were given first aid at a local hospital and later sent to their respective homes. The following day, 35 more students from Classes 6 and 7 fell unconscious in the same way. They were also given preliminary treatment and handed over to their families. A strong odor has reportedly been detected in both classrooms where the incidents took place, fueling suspicions that a chemical substance may have been used. As soon as the news spread, panic gripped among the parents and local people. Some parents criticised the school authorities for not taking immediate action after Sunday’s incident. They further alleged that the school environment is unhygienic and lacks security. “It’s possible that miscreants entered the classrooms and used some kind of sedative spray,” a guardian said. One child killed, 2 siblings hurt in Jashore crude bomb blast Acting Headmaster Md Farhad Hossain said, “We suspect someone may have sprayed an intoxicating substance. We are investigating and taking necessary steps. If anyone is found responsible, legal action will be taken in this regard.” Bera Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Tahmina Sultana Nila said, “The incidents may have been caused by extreme heat or food poisoning, but nothing can be confirmed without proper testing. Our medical team is on the ground and further health assessments will reveal the actual cause.” Bera Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Morshedul Islam said, “We have been informed about the situation and directed the school authorities to take immediate steps.”

Severe heat wave has gripped Pabna and Chuadanga districts, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Besides, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barishal and Chattogram divisions, parts of Rajshahi a Khulna divisions and Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram and Moulvibazar districts that may continue, said a Met office bulletin. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Country’s highest temperature was recoded in Chuadanga at 41.1 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga on Friday. Temperatures likely to rise across country Meanwhile, a thorough of low lies over West Bengal to North Bay across Southwestern part of Bangladesh.    

Police on Saturday recovered the bodies of a couple who drowned in the Padma River after the boat they were on sank on Friday. The deceased were identified as Hridoy Pramanik, 23, and his wife, Mou Akhter, 19, said Abdul Alim, in-charge of Sujanagar Fire Service. The accident occurred on Friday afternoon when the boat they were travelling in capsized while crossing the river. After being informed, rescue teams from the Sujanagar Fire Service, a diving team from Rajshahi, and the Nazirganj River Police Outpost launched an operation, said the fire official. Eid holidaymakers start returning to Dhaka via Paturia ferry ghat Despite their efforts, the couple was not found on Friday. The search resumed on Saturday morning, and their bodies were recovered around 10 am, he said. According to police and local sources, the incident occurred when a group of 20 to 25 people, including the couple, boarded a shallow-engine-powered boat for a trip across the Padma River near Kanchan Park in Satbaria, Sujanagar upazila. While most of the passengers were able to swim to safety with the help of locals, the couple went missing in the river.

A Russian worker was found dead in a washroom of the residential Green City of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project in Pabna, police said on Friday. The deceased Ivan Kaitmazov (40) was employed at the power plant as an electric circuit installer with the project’s Skem Company, said Inspector (Investigation) Monirul Islam of Ishwardi Police Station. Russian female worker allegedly kills self at Rooppur Nuke Plant His body was discovered five days after his death in the washroom of Flat No. 95, located on the 9th floor of Building 14, on Thursday (January 9) around 7 PM, police said. Kaitmazov’s body was found with a rope tied around his neck. Green City doctor declared him dead at the scene. "Initially, it is suspected that he may have committed suicide," the inspector said. Rosatom readies Rooppur NPP unit-1 for 2025 launch A post-mortem examination will provide further details, he added. This incident follows the death of another Russian worker, 40-year-old Pashataruk Ksenella, who jumped from the fourth floor of a 20-storey building at Green City on January 4.

A 16-year-old boy was killed in a head-on collision between a motorcycle and a CNG-run autorickshaw in Pabna, police said on Wednesday. The accident occurred around 11:00 pm Tuesday in front of Yakub Filling Station in the town's bypass area. The deceased was identified as Yasin Arafat, son of Milon Hossain. He was a tenth-grade student at Pabna Ideal Laboratory School and College and was set to sit for the SSC examinations in April. 7 kidnapped from autorickshaws in Teknaf According to police and family sources, Yasin was heading towards the terminal on his motorcycle from the Meril Bypass area when the collision occurred. He fell on the road and was critically injured. Locals rushed him to Pabna General Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Jahirul Islam, Director of Pabna Ideal Laboratory School and College, said, "Yasin was a brilliant student of our school. It is heartbreaking to lose him so soon." 4 dead in gas line explosion at Habiganj Abdus Salam, officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station, said police were sent to the spot after being informed and the body is currently in the hospital. Legal actions will be taken as necessary, he added.

An activist of the local unit of Jubo League was shot dead allegedly by miscreants at Baghoil Rooppur intersection in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district on Monday. The deceased was identified as Walif Hossain Manik, 35, an active member of Jubo League and son of Yunus Ali of the upazila. He was also a former vice-president of Pakshi union unit Chhatra League. Quoting family members of the deceased, Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police Station, said Manik was an accused of Chhatra League activist Tafsir Ahmed Mana killing case and he also served in jail in the case. Recently, Manik walked out of jail after securing bail in the case. On Monday morning, Manik went out from his home to appear before the court following the case. When he reached at Baghoil Rooppur intersection, 8-10 miscreants opened fire on him around 9 am and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving Manik dead on the spot. Police sent the body to Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Chhatra League and Jubo League in the area had been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy for the past several days and the murder might have taken place over the issue.    

Train service between Dhaka and the northern regions of Bangladesh was halted following the derailment of two bogies of the Burimari Express at Muladuli Railway Station in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna. The incident occurred early this morning (May 09, 2024). Sundarbans fire: Expert committee to visit affected area Thursday The derailment took place as the train was passing through the Muladuli station area. Railway authorities are currently on the scene, working to re-rail the affected bogies and clear the tracks. Rajshahi Railway Station Manager Abdul Karim confirmed the derailment, and said that efforts are in progress to restore service as quickly as possible.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $121.55 million financing package with Dynamic Sun Energy Private Limited to build and operate a 100-megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant in Pabna, Bangladesh.  The plant is the country’s first private sector utility-scale solar facility to secure support from global financiers, said the Manilla-based lending agency on Monday (April 29, 2024).  ADB arranged, structured, and syndicated the debt package as the sole mandated lead arranger and bookrunner.  The financing package comprises a $46.75 million loan from ADB, a syndicated B-loan of $28.05 million from ILX Fund I, an Amsterdam-based emerging market private credit fund focused on supporting the Sustainable Development Goals with ADB as lender of record, and a syndicated parallel loan of $46.75 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.  Competition policy can unlock increased FDI flows into Bangladesh: ADB Country Director to MCCI “As Asia’s climate bank, ADB welcomes the opportunity to support renewable energy in Bangladesh, where obtaining long-term financing for such projects is a challenge,” said ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury. “This partnership exemplifies our lead role in mobilising financing for clean energy facilities and stimulating further investment in sectors where it’s needed the most.” The solar power plant will generate 193.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and avoid 93,654 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. “We are delighted to secure financing for one of the largest private sector solar projects in Bangladesh to date, with the support of international lenders led by ADB,” said PT Managing Director Shakhawat Hossain.  “Partnering with an internationally reputable financial institution such as ADB affirms PT’s dedication to sustainability and marks a significant stride in our journey towards sustainable growth.” Banks tailoring offshore services with lucrative benefits aimed at wealthy NRBs DSE is owned by Paramount Textile PLC (PT), one of the largest woven textile manufacturers in Bangladesh, which also operates several power plants.  PT manufactures high-quality yarn-dyed and printed woven fabrics using a wide range of yarns, modern weaving technologies, and print types.  PT was publicly listed on the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges in 2013. 

The ongoing heat wave condition and drought have posed a serious threat to the production of litchi, a mouth-watering summer fruit, in Pabna district. Pabna’s Iswardi upazila is known as one of the leading litchi production zones in the country. But this year, farmers and traders are fearing losses as small litchi pods are falling from the trees due to the prevailing heat wave. At the beginning of this season, litchi farmers had expected a bumper production of litchi but 50% of buds had fallen due to the heavy rains with hails in the middle of Chaitra (Bangla) month. On the other hand, due to the extreme heat at the beginning of summer, a large part of the litchi pods are now falling. If summer heat continues, the litchi farmers have to count a huge loss this year. High temperature, lack of rain threaten lucrative litchi production in Magura Besides, the wholesale traders who had bought the orchards with the sprouting of trees have become worried over possible losses this season. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year, a total of 4,721 hectares of land have been brought under litchi cultivation and among these, 3,150 hectares are in Ishwardi upazila of the district. They also set a target to produce 48,801 metric tonnes of litchi this year. During a recent visit to some litchi orchards, the UNB correspondent found that at the beginning of the month of Falgun, there were enough buds coming in each litchi tree. Seeing a lot of buds on trees, the traders bought the orchards at a higher price in advance. But due to the ongoing drought and untimely rains with hailstorm at the end of Chaitra, most of the buds have been damaged. Mirajul Sheikh, a litchi grower of Ishwardi upazila, said about 40-50 percent litchi buds were destroyed during hailstorm but now a large portion of litchi pods are dropping due to the prevailing heat wave. Sonargaon litchi growers expecting bumper yield Manirul, a trader, said he had bought a litchi orchard at a cost of Tk 25 lakh but he is too frustrated. He is now doubtful whether he will be able to sell litchi worth Tk 10 lakh.Though the DAE officials suggested the farmers to spray water and continue irrigation but farmers said it is not possible to spray water in vast tract of land that was brought under litchi cultivation.However, the DAE officials are still expecting bumper production this year.Sheikh Mehedi, a litchi grower and trader, said the biggest economic activity of the farmers of Ishwardi upazila depends on litchi production. Farmers of the upazila will be severely affected if they don’t get expected output . Jamal Uddin, deputy director of Pabna DAE, said this year, litchi trees saw profuse flowering and if litchi comes from half of those it will be huge. However, some litchi are being damaged due to drought and the current heat wave. Farmers are being suggested to spray water on the upper side of the litchi trees and irrigate the lands, he added.Read more: Severe heatwave in Khulna: Day labourers forced to work in dangerous conditions