United News of Bangladesh

Miscreants set fire to a bus beneath the Farmgate Metro Station in the capital on Monday evening. Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ibn Mizan said the Lovely Paribahan bus was torched around 6:35pm. Duty Officer Rozina Akter at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters control room said two firefighting units from Mohammadpur Fire Station rushed to the scene after receiving information about the fire. The firefighters brought the blaze under control at 7:09pm, she said. In a separate incident, two crude bombs exploded in front of South East University in the Tejgaon area. However, no casualties or injuries were reported in either incident, Mizan said.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced greater flexibility in outward remittance facilities, doubling the foreign exchange release limit for medical treatment abroad from $15,000 to $30,000. The Foreign Exchange Policy Department (FEPD) of the central bank issued a circular on Monday outlining the updated regulations for Authorized Dealers (ADs) to facilitate legitimate current-account transactions without requiring prior central bank approval. The directives take effect immediately. Key changes introduced in the circular include: Medical Treatment Abroad: ADs are now authorized to release foreign exchange up to $30,000 (or equivalent) without prior approval from Bangladesh Bank, amending previous limits. Study Abroad: While prior central bank approval was previously mandatory for school-level studies abroad, ADs can now release foreign exchange without prior permission for secondary and higher secondary equivalent studies, provided the availability of free education has been verified. Correspondence Courses: In addition to certification and professional programs, ADs are now permitted to release foreign exchange without prior approval for regular academic studies pursued through correspondence courses. Additionally, to rationalize deposits amidst the expansion of individual outward remittance facilities for private travel, medical treatment, and studies, the central bank mandated that foreign currency brought into Bangladesh by resident Bangladeshis can only be credited to Resident Foreign Currency Deposit (RFCD) accounts if it is declared to Customs authorities via Form FMJ.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday told Parliament that 722 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had their registrations cancelled and their operations shut down by the NGO Affairs Bureau between 2009 and 2024. He said the registrations of the NGOs were cancelled for various reasons, including failure to apply for renewal within the stipulated time, embezzlement of funds through forgery of signatures, violation of conditions imposed at the time of registration and subsequent lawful directives of the Bureau, and submission of fake or forged Letter of Intent (LOI). The minister said this in a scripted reply to a question from BNP lawmaker Md. Jalal Uddin (Kishoreganj-2). Salahuddin Ahmed said NGOs were playing an important role alongside the government in improving the country's socio-economic condition. Since the establishment of the NGO Affairs Bureau in 1990, the Bureau, under the Prime Minister's Office, has been coordinating voluntary project activities undertaken by NGOs receiving foreign donations, he said. He said NGOs were playing an important role in implementing the current government's election manifesto and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Bureau was coordinating various NGO projects, particularly in poverty alleviation, ending hunger, public health, quality education, gender equality, addressing climate change risks, preventing violence against women, ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation, and promoting sustainable development, the minister said. He said the NGO Affairs Bureau carries out various activities under its own rules and relevant government regulations, including registration of new NGOs, renewal of registrations, approval of projects, release of funds, and monitoring, evaluation and supervision of projects taken by NGOs.

Police have arrested 81 leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliated organisations whose activities were banned in separate drives in Cumilla district on Monday. The drive began on November 6 and continued till November 8, said Additional Superintendent of Cumilla Police Md Lutfor Rahman while talking to reporters on Monday. Among the arrestees, 11 were detained from Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station area, four in Cumilla Sadar South Model Police Station area, 10 in Chauddagram, seven in Chandina, three in Burichang, five in Brahmanpara, 10 in Barura, four in Laksam, two in Monoharganj, four in Nangalkot, two in Daudkandi, one in Titas, three in Homna, two in Meghna, two in Debidwar, one in Muradnagar, four in Bangra Bazar and four in Lalmai. Besides, Detective Branch of Police also arrested two more people from the district, he said. Members of the banned organisation had allegedly been involved in processions and other criminal activities aimed at creating instability in the country, said police. To prevent such activities, police conducted coordinated operations across 18 police station areas in the district from November 6 until the night of November 8, he said. All 81 arrestees have been sent to Cumilla Central Jail in phases through court orders, the police official added.  

The foundation stone for what is being described as the world’s largest idol of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and the arts, among other things, was laid at Jagannath Hall of the University of Dhaka (DU) on Sunday evening, according to a press release issued today by the university. DU Vice-Chancellor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam laid the foundation stone of the permanent idol at a ceremony held at the Rabindra Bhaban premises of Jagannath Hall on November 8, attending the event as the chief guest. The programme was presided over by Jagannath Hall Provost Dr. Debashish Pal. Retired professor Dr. Sukomal Barua, President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Basudeb Dhar, its General Secretary Santosh Sharma, President of the Dhaka Mahanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee Gopal Chandra Debnath, its General Secretary Shubhashish Kumar Biswas (Sadhan), and leaders of the Jagannath Hall Students' Union and Jagannath Hall unit of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also addressed the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Professor A B M Obaidul Islam said people of all religions live in Bangladesh in an atmosphere of peace and harmony and practise their respective religious rituals without hindrance. "We want to build a Bangladesh where there will be no communal conflict. Everyone will be able to express themselves with equal rights and live as enlightened citizens," he said.

The government has sent samples of Dhaka WASA water to Sweden for fresh laboratory tests after a recent study detected Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination above the permissible level in one of the samples, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan told Parliament on Monday. In a written reply to a question from MP Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan during the question-and-answer session, the minister said a research team from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University had collected water samples from eight automated teller machine (ATM) booths operated by Dhaka WASA. Tests conducted in a European country found PFAS contamination above the tolerable level in one of the samples, he said. However, Dhaka WASA was not informed about the collection of the samples, the minister said, adding that the research findings had not yet been published anywhere. The minister said the matter was being treated with utmost importance. Dhaka WASA contacted the research team and held a meeting with them to discuss the findings. Subsequently, an 11-member committee comprising representatives of the research team and Dhaka WASA was formed to look into the matter. As such tests are not available in Bangladesh or neighbouring countries, the committee was formed on October 27 to assess the cost of retesting the samples, he said. “Based on the committee’s recommendations, water samples will be sent to a laboratory in Sweden for retesting,” the minister said. The MP asked whether researchers had found cancer-causing contaminants in Dhaka WASA water, referring to a study that reportedly detected toxic PFAS, pesticides and pharmaceutical residues in samples collected from eight WASA ATM booths. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that can persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water. Exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to adverse health effects, including an increased risk of some cancers. Dhaka WASA operates around 300 ATM water booths, according to the minister. Replying to another question from MP Rokyea Begum, Moyeen Khan said Dhaka WASA currently supplies around 314 crore litres of water daily and has no shortage in meeting consumer demand. He also said the authorities test 40 to 50 water samples every day to ensure the quality and safety of the water supplied to consumers.  

The opposition has proposed a parliamentary discussion on the expiry of the water-sharing treaty with India, scheduled to expire on December 12, 2026, and called for effective measures to protect Bangladesh’s national water security and interests. Jamaat MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, elected from Dhaka-14, submitted the proposal under Rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, seeking a review of the situation and discussions on the necessary steps to safeguard the country's interests. Under the same rule, Jamaat parliamentary party spokesperson Muhammad Nazibur Rahman proposed a general discussion on the ongoing labour unrest, energy crisis and other structural challenges facing the country's ready-made garment (RMG) sector, as well as ways to realise its potential. Nazibur, elected from Pabna-1, informed the media of the proposals on Monday. If admitted under Rule 147, the proposals will be discussed in Parliament. The Speaker has the authority to determine the duration of the discussions. Meanwhile, Jamaat submitted two more proposals for discussion under Rule 68. Jamaat MP Md Shafiqul Islam, elected from Patuakhali-2, proposed that the government take immediate and visible measures to address shortages of fertiliser for farmers in different parts of the country, allegations of fertiliser being sold at inflated prices on the black market, irregularities in the distribution system, and alleged corruption and politicisation in the appointment of fertiliser dealers. Jamaat MP elected from Kurigram-3 Md Mahbubul Alam proposed a discussion on the government's failure to control abnormal price hikes of LPG and other fuel products, the alleged failure to follow public hearing and legal procedures in fixing prices, and the sale of fuel at rates higher than officially determined prices. Nazibur also said three more proposals would be submitted under Rule 68. Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman is expected to propose a discussion on the Prime Minister's visit to Japan and the Matarbari deep-sea port. Jamaat MP Mohammed Kamal Hossain, elected from Dhaka-5, will propose a discussion on passenger harassment and mismanagement at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, while Mir Quasem will propose a discussion on the Rohingya crisis. If admitted under Rule 68, each proposal is generally taken up for a one-hour discussion in Parliament.  

Five people died of dengue and 2,260 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the 24 hours to 8:00am on Monday. With the latest fatalities, the country's dengue death toll has risen to 466 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the latest deaths, three were reported in Dhaka and one each was recorded in Mymensingh and Barishal division. Since January 1, a total of 152,173 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 145,593 have recovered. Currently, 6,114 patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country.  

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Prof Dr Nahreen Islam Khan on Monday said the right to information is a fundamental human right, stressing the need for effective implementation of the relevant law to ensure transparency, accountability in government activities and people's access to information. She made the remarks while addressing a session on the Right to Information Act, 2009, of the Basic Training Course for grade-9 officers of city corporations, organised by the National Institute of Local Government at Agargaon. During the session, she discussed the law's key provisions, procedures for accessing information, the role of designated officers in providing information, and institutions' responsibilities in implementing the law. She said the right to information is an important tool for empowering citizens. Nahreen stressed that effective implementation of the law is essential to ensuring transparency and accountability in government activities and promoting good governance. She also emphasised that government officials must perform their duties with sincerity, commitment, and a positive attitude to ensure people can access information. The CIC urged the participants to properly implement the law in their respective workplaces and make public services more transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly.  

Two children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours ending at 8:00am on Monday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 1,284 this year. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest fatalities as suspected measles deaths. With these, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 1,179, while confirmed deaths from measles have remained the same at 105. A total of 1,359 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, pushing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 240,199. Meanwhile, 81 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 24,523. Since March 15 this year, a total of 214,251 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 205,383 have recovered, according to DGHS data.