United News of Bangladesh

Iran has announced it will boycott next week’s 2026 World Cup draw in Washington after the U.S. reportedly denied visas to members of its delegation, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi said the officials faced visa hurdles that extended beyond normal sports considerations. The White House has not commented on the matter. Alavi noted that the federation has contacted FIFA, hoping the organization could help resolve the issue, but FIFA has yet to respond. In June, the Trump administration imposed a travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Iran and Haiti, which recently qualified for the World Cup. The ban included exemptions for athletes, coaches, support staff, and immediate family members attending major competitions like the World Cup or Olympics, but it remains unclear whether these exemptions cover attending the World Cup draw on December 5 at the Kennedy Center. Iran’s delegation would likely have been led by soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, a senior figure in Asian football who sits on two FIFA committees overseeing the World Cup. He is also a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation and a member of FIFA panels responsible for competitions and men’s national teams. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams and run from June 11 to July 19.

Bangladesh secured a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup after defeating Thailand 40-31, guaranteeing a medal in the tournament. The first half saw intense competition, with Bangladesh leading 14-12 at halftime. Thailand pushed hard in the second half, but the spirited Bangladeshi raiders, led by Rupa and Shraboni, maintained control, achieving a comfortable nine-point victory. The win gave Bangladesh six points in Group ‘A’, confirming their top-four position. Earlier, the team had beaten Uganda and Germany but lost to India in the group stage. During the match, Shraboni Mallik sustained an injury in the ninth minute but returned after treatment. Borsha Bishwas delivered crucial raids, including two all-outs, helping Bangladesh extend their lead to 31-18 before sealing the win. Speaking after the match, Borsha said the team had planned to beat Thailand from the group stage and was happy to see their strategy succeed. “Our focus was the Thailand match, and we gave our best. Now, our next target is the final against Chinese Taipei. We will give our maximum effort,” she said. By reaching the semi-finals, Bangladesh has guaranteed a podium finish. The team has also achieved its pre-tournament goal of surpassing their 2012 World Cup performance, where they had finished fifth. The semi-final berths have also been secured by 2012 champions India and runners-up Iran.  

Bangladeshi swimmer Sheikh Jamil Hasan, a third-year student of Political Science at the University of Dhaka, successfully completed the 10-kilometer open water swim at the international “Oceanman Thailand 2025” competition held in Phang Nga province, Thailand. He finished the race in nearly five hours. The event saw participants from 36 countries, with two swimmers representing Bangladesh—Sheikh Jamil Hasan and Pijus Mishra. Competing on an international stage is considered a major achievement for the country. The race took place in the open waters of the Andaman Sea, where strong currents, tides, and natural sea challenges posed additional difficulties for the swimmers. Overcoming these obstacles, Sheikh Jamil completed the 10-kilometer course successfully. The Oceanman series is a globally recognized open water swimming competition that attracts world-class athletes, professional swimmers, and long-distance swimming experts. Although Bangladesh has had limited participation in recent years, young swimmers are beginning to make their mark internationally.

Five people were killed and 12 others injured in a car accident in eastern Myanmar's Shan state on Sunday, an official from the Myanmar Fire Services Department said. The accident occurred at around 1:20 p.m. local time after the car's brakes failed, causing it to plunge into a roadside ditch in Kalaw township, the official said. Of the 17 people on board, two males and three females died, while six males and six females were injured, he said. The car was en route from Taunggyi to Mandalay when the accident took place, the official said. Local fire service personnel and rescue organizations rushed to the scene and transported the deceased and the injured to Kalaw People's Hospital, he added.

For the village children across Bangladesh, December was not just the end of the year; it was the start of an annual period of pure, unadulterated joy. The whole month became electric with a feeling of true holiday freedom, a feeling amplified by the weather itself. The air was thick with the winter fog (kuasha in Bangla) and an intense, joyful spirit of camaraderie. These were, quite simply, the golden days of childhood. The minute December arrived, the village landscape underwent its annual transformation. A cool, beautiful mist began to cloak the mornings, setting a uniquely serene tone for the day. This chill was the first signal of winter, quickly bringing with it the irresistible smell of pithas (sweet rice cakes) a culinary cornerstone of Bengal and spreading a visible warmth of community through every home. Read more: Delicious Winter Pithas in Bangladesh: Where Savory, and Innovation Meets Tradition The Great Village Reunion While the core group of children played together year-round enjoying classics like Cricket and Football December brought a massive expansion to their crew. As the first week of the month saw school exams conclude, the village became a hub for a grand reunion. Relatives, cousins, and friends who had gone away to towns and cities for their studies would return home, turning quiet lanes into bustling playgrounds. Multiple children would converge at various homes, instantly doubling, even tripling, the number of playmates. This influx of fresh faces and high spirits intensified the festive atmosphere, making the simple fun of everyday games feel twice as exciting. The children lived for this time of year, eagerly soaking up the collective energy. Some Popular Bangladeshi Winter Village Games The long break meant days that stretched out forever, perfect for every game imaginable. Beyond the mainstream international sports, the children brought back traditional village games that needed a huge crowd to work properly. While Cricket and Football completely took over the open fields, turning foggy mornings into chaotic, unforgettable matches, the real heart of the playtime was in the indigenous games. These included: Satchara  Satchara (seven tiles) a team game with an equal number of players on both sides, played with seven potsherds or flat stones. The stones are placed one on another. A member of one team (the seekers) throw a ball at a pile in an attempt to knock them over. The seekers try to restore the pile of stones while staying safe from the opposing team's (the hitters’) throws. The hitters' objective is to hit the seekers with the ball before they can reconstruct the stone pile. If the ball touches a seeker, that seeker is out and the team which the seeker came from continues, without the seeker. A seeker can always safeguard themselves by touching an opposite team member before the ball hits the seeker.

Iran executed a person convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad in the city of Qom, the official judiciary news agency reported Sunday. The sentence was carried out early Saturday after the Supreme Court upheld the ruling and a request for a pardon was denied, the Mizan news agency said. The report didn't identify the person, but said that the individual was accused of “intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime” and found guilty of “corruption on Earth” and “enmity against God” — crimes punishable by death under Iran’s Islamic penal code. Mizan said that the person began contacts and cooperation with Israeli intelligence services in October 2023 and was arrested four months later, in February 2024. The defendant had allegedly provided sensitive information to Mossad and carried out missions inside Iran on behalf of Israeli intelligence, according to the report. No further details about the nature of the alleged espionage or the date of the person's arrest were made public. Iran’s judiciary has repeatedly described such executions as necessary to safeguard national security, particularly amid what Tehran calls Israel’s “infiltration and sabotage operations.” The execution in Qom, home to a sacred Shiite shrine about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of the capital Tehran, follows a recent series of similar cases involving alleged cooperation with Israel. On Oct. 4, Iran executed six people accused of conducting bombings and armed attacks in Khuzestan Province while allegedly working with Mossad. Authorities said that the group had “operated in direct connection with the Zionist regime’s intelligence apparatus.” Days earlier, on Sept. 29, Iran hanged another defendant, identified as Bahman Choobiasl, who was convicted of spying for Israel. Choobiasl was executed in Arak Prison, after being found guilty of collecting sensitive information and providing it to Israeli handlers. Since the “12-day war” earlier this year and a series of Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military sites, Iran is known to have executed at least nine people accused of espionage. The conflict — marked by Israeli airstrikes that killed about 1,100 people, including senior Iranian military commanders — triggered Iranian missile barrages targeting Israeli territory in retaliation. The exchange left both sides on high alert and further inflamed tensions across the region. Human rights organizations and Western governments have condemned Iran’s increasing use of capital punishment, particularly for political and espionage-related offenses. Activists argue that many of the convictions rely on coerced confessions, and that trials often take place behind closed doors, without access to independent legal representation. Tehran, however, maintains that those executed were “agents of hostile intelligence services” involved in acts of terrorism or sabotage. Iranian officials have accused Israel of orchestrating a campaign of covert attacks inside Iran, including assassinations of nuclear scientists and cybersabotage of strategic facilities.

The 35th Bangladesh World Tennis Tour Junior J-30 will start on Saturday at the National Tennis Complex in Dhaka. The tournament will see participation from 75 young players representing 12 countries. A press conference was held at the Tennis Federation office on Wednesday to discuss the tournament where secretary general of the Tennis Federation, Ishtiak Ahmed Karen, called the event a new milestone for tennis in Bangladesh. Participating countries include Bangladesh, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, the UK, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Maldives, Singapore, Thailand and the USA. In the boys’ section, 25 players will compete in the qualifiers. Ten players will join 22 others in the main draw. In the girls’ section, 27 players will take part in the main draw. The tournament is sponsored by Suzuki Motorbikes, Bank Asia, and Dana Petroleum Ltd. Ishtiak Ahmed Karen thanked the sponsors at the press conference. Tennis players distrust doping agencies after Sinner case: Djokovic Representatives from Bank Asia, including Head of Brand and Communication Taimur Ali and Brand Manager Imran Sami, were present. Other officials, including Tennis Federation Treasurer M A Jinnah and BTF Training, Selection and Development sub-committee chair Zayan Omar, also graced the event. Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam will be present at the opening ceremony as the chief guest.  

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has hailed José Mourinho as a “legend” ahead of the Portuguese coach’s return to Stamford Bridge, where he enjoyed two trophy-laden spells. Mourinho, now in charge of Benfica, is back in the Champions League after five years away, with his first group-stage game set for Tuesday against Chelsea — a club where he remains a revered figure among fans. At his pre-match press conference, held in a Stamford Bridge suite decorated with photos of Mourinho’s Premier League triumphs in 2005, 2006 and 2015, Maresca faced repeated questions about the man once known as the “Special One.” “For me personally, he is a legend for this club,” Maresca said. “And from Italy, he is also a legend for Inter Milan where he won the Champions League, so he is a legend for different clubs around the world. That shows how good he is, how good he has been.” Chelsea have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, adding pressure on Maresca despite his success in guiding the team to the Conference League and Club World Cup titles last season. He stressed those achievements while noting that four of the team’s five defeats in the past six months came after red cards. Asked how he could gain similar popularity to Mourinho, Maresca replied: “Probably continue to win trophies. I remember last season when fans started to sing ‘we have our Chelsea back.’ That makes me happy already.” Maresca also confirmed injury concerns over Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro, who are dealing with “small problems.” Mourinho was due to hold his press conference later Monday.

England clinched a 2-0 victory in its Twenty20 series with Ireland after winning the third match by six wickets on Sunday. Chasing 155 to win, England got there with 17 balls to spare thanks to 55 runs off 35 balls by Jordan Cox and an unbeaten 37 off 26 balls by Tom Banton at Malahide. The visitors finished on 155-4. Pakistan skip press duties as ICC keeps Pycroft for India clash Gareth Delany's 48 off 29 helped Ireland to a competitive total of 154-8. The second T20 was abandoned on Friday without a ball being bowled after persistent rain on the Irish coast. Bangladesh eye Asia Cup final after Saif Hassan’s statement knock Opener Phil Salt smashed 89 runs as England won by four wickets with 14 balls remaining in the first match on Wednesday.  

The final of the Inter-Base Basketball Competition-2025 of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was held on Thursday at BAF Base Bir Uttam A K Khandker in Dhaka, with BAF Base Zahurul Haque emerging as champions. According to an ISPR release, the final match was played between Bangladesh Air Force Base Zahurul Haque and Bangladesh Air Force Base Bir Uttam A K Khandker. The Zahurul Haque team clinched the title with a convincing 32–22 victory. LAC Md Aminul Islam Monna of BAF Base Zahurul Haque was named the Best Player of the tournament, while Flight Lieutenant Khandaker Imamur Rahman of BAF Base Cox’s Bazar received the Best Rising Player award. Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration) Air Vice Marshal Rushad Din Asad attended the final match as the chief guest and distributed prizes among the champion and runner-up teams. The event was also attended by Air Officer Commanding, senior BAF officers, airmen, and other members of the host base. The competition, which began on September 14, was inaugurated by Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Khair Ul, Air Officer Commanding of BAF Base Bir Uttam A K Khandker. A total of seven teams from various air bases across the country participated in the tournament.