United News of Bangladesh

Ziaur Rahman Foundation Vice President Dr Zubaida Rahman on Tuesday called on people to rise above political differences and work together for the welfare of those affected by national disasters. “During any national disaster, we must think of people first,” she said while addressing the '21 July Milestone Tragedy Tribute and Remembrance Programme' at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital as the chief guest. She said standing beside disaster victims is the highest expression of humanity and helps strengthen compassion and solidarity in society. “It is our moral responsibility to stand by those who have suffered. Such humanitarian support sets a unique example of love and empathy in society,” she said. Paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the Milestone tragedy, Zubaida prayed for the eternal peace of the victims and asked Allah to grant them Jannatul Ferdous. She remembered the students and the mothers who lost their lives in the tragedy. “Today is a day when our nation is deeply saddened and grief-stricken. Everyone was shocked and helpless in the face of this sudden, horrific and unexpected tragedy,” she said. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, she wished a speedy recovery to the injured and urged them to transform their grief into strength. She praised the courage and resilience shown by the injured teachers, students and staff members, saying their determination had become a source of inspiration for the nation. “Even after such a terrible experience, the courage and determination with which you are moving forward will never be forgotten by the nation,” she said. She added that the difficult experience would give the victims strength to face future challenges, strive for excellence and stand beside others in times of distress. “Your courage, resilience, humanity and selfless support will remain exemplary for the nation,” she said. Although the painful memories may still cause fear, she said the victims had demonstrated remarkable bravery by overcoming that fear. “You are the heartbeat of the nation. Your example teaches us never to lose hope in the face of adversity,” she added. She said the courage, compassion and self-sacrifice shown during the tragedy had become a rare example in history and had been witnessed by people around the world. “To serve humanity, one must overcome fear,” she said. She assured the affected families that the helping hands they felt on the day of the tragedy would continue to remain beside them in the future. Among those present at the event were bereaved family members of the Milestone tragedy, Special Guest Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain, State Minister Dr M A Muhit, Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Dr Farhad Halim Doner, injured student Abidur and other injured students, physicians, nurses and officials of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, representatives and dignitaries from the United Kingdom, China, India and Singapore, and volunteers. At the programme, several organisations and individuals who had assisted during the Milestone tragedy were honoured for their contributions.

Four more children died with symptoms consistent with measles in 24 hours until 8:00 am on Tuesday, bringing Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 797.  The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified the latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 702 while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 95. A total of 878 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 119,448. Meanwhile, 130 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 14,708. Since March 15, a total of 102, 244 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 98,411 have recovered, according to DGHS data.  

Police arrested 16 people during a special drive in the capital's Jatrabari area on Monday. The arrestees were Md Farhan Habib, 33, Md Shuvo, 22, Abdul Alim, 39, Md Anisuzzaman, 48, Md Rabbi, 20, Md Robiul Gazi, 23, Mehedi Hasan alias Sagar Ahmed, 30, Mehedi Hasan, 26, Md Sujon Mia, 40, Md Raju, 34, Robin, 30, Riel Khan, 38, Md Ariful Islam, 23, Mehedi Hasan, 21, Nurunnabi, 33, and Apon, 20. Niaz Mehedi, additional deputy commissioner of Media and Public Relations Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said the arrestees included suspects wanted in various cases and others involved in various criminal activities. He said such drives would continue to maintain law and order in the capital. Legal action against the arrestees is under process, he added.

The morning air at Milestone School and College’s Diabari campus was heavy with silence as teachers, staff and members of the institution gathered on Tuesday to remember those whose lives were cut short in last year’s devastating tragedy.

Three people including two women were killed and two others injured when a truck rammed into a battery-run auto-rickshaw on Mymensingh-Kishoreganj highway at Shambhuganj in Sadar upazila of Mymensingh district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Debraj Ghosh 35, son of Dilip Ghosh of Jubili ghat area of the city, Shila, 25, daughter of Abdul Motaleb of Tarakanda upazila and Abeda Sultana, 35, wife of Rafiqul Islam of Shambhuganj Majhipara area. The accident occurred around 12 pm near Shambhuganj Palli Bidyut office when the speedy truck hit the battery-run auto-rickshaw, leaving one killed on the spot and four others injured, said Shibirul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station. The injured were taken to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared two of them dead.    

The government on Tuesday announced the Hajj packages for 2027, setting the cost of maximum hajj package at Tk 6,15,263 and minimum package at Tk 5,05,648. The two Hajj packages were fixed for pilgrims travelling under the government arrangement, said Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain at a press briefing held at Secretariat. Pilgrims under first hajj package will be accommodated within 1,000 to 1,400 metres of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and in Markazia area of Madinah, he said. They will stay in Zone-2 tents in Mina, while services and meals in Mina and Arafat will be provided under Service Package-3 through authorised Moallems. The expected stay in Saudi Arabia will be between 35 and 40 days, with options to upgrade rooms or choose a shorter-duration package by paying additional charges, said the minister. Pilgrims under the second package will stay within two to three kilometres of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and within 800 metres of Masjid an-Nabawi outside the Markazia area in Madinah. Accommodation in Mina will be arranged in Zone-5 tents. Shuttle bus services (Salawat buses) will be provided in line with Saudi riles if hotels are located more than two kilometres from the Grand Mosque, said the minister . Besides, pilgrims intending to travel under private Hajj agencies, the cost of the standard package has been set at Tk 5,13,648, said the minister Under the private package, accommodation must be arranged within three kilometres of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and within one kilometre of Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. A maximum of six pilgrims will be allowed in each room and pilgrims will stay in Zone-5 tents in Mina, while services and meals in Mina and Arafat will be provided under Service Package-3. Salawat bus services will be mandatory if hotels are located more than two kilometres from the Grand Mosque. The minister said the government's election manifesto pledged to ensure an affordable, accessible, humane and expatriate-friendly Hajj management system. As part of that commitment, he said, the airfare for Hajj flights has been reduced by Tk 24,830 from previous year’s to Tk 1,30,000. He noted that Hajj airfare stood at nearly Tk 2,00,000 in 2023 during the Sheikh Hasina’s government and it was reduced to Tk 1,67,820 in 2025 under the interim government and has now been further lowered to Tk 1,30,000 for the 2027 Hajj.

A youth was allegedly beaten to death by a neighbour in the capital’s Jatrabari area on Monday evening. The deceased was identified as Rifat Mridha, 18, a resident of Khan Bari intersection in Rayerbagh under Jatrabari Police Station. The incident occurred in front of Rifat’s house around Monday evening. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared him dead around 9:30pm. Rifat, son of Hashem Mridha hailed from Chanpura village in Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali. He used to work at a carton factory and lived with his family in Rayerbagh. Rifat’s father said his son was sitting on the road in front of their house when a neighbour named Shakil came there and asked him why he was sitting there and whether he wanted to smoke marijuana. “Rifat replied that he did not take marijuana and accused Shakil of doing so. Following the exchange, Shakil started abusing and beating him,” Hashem said. He said the matter was initially settled, but after some time Shakil returned and again assaulted Rifat with punches, kicks and blows. At one point, Rifat lost consciousness and Shakil fled the scene. Family members later rescued him and took him to a local hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Hashem alleged that Shakil and his mother lived in a rented house beside their residence and fled after locking the house following the incident. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue and the matter has been reported to the concerned police station.

Two more children died with measles symptoms in Sylhet division in the past 24 hours till 8:00 am on Tuesday, while 51 new patients were admitted to hospitals during the same period. With the latest deaths, the number of fatalities linked to measles and related symptoms in the division has risen to 105, said Sylhet divisional office of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The deceased children were identified as seven-month-old Nusiba, daughter of Renu Mia of Nabiganj area in Habiganj, and two-year-two-month-old Raksa, daughter of Tarek Ahmed of Atigram in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet. Nusiba died while undergoing treatment at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, while Raksa died at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital. Health officials said a total of 545 measles patients have been identified in Sylhet division since January this year. Among the four districts, Sunamganj recorded the highest number of cases with 267 patients, followed by Sylhet with 180, Habiganj with 56 and Moulvibazar with 22. Currently, 273 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals across the division. Of them, 101 are admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and 105 to Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital. The remaining patients are undergoing treatment at district hospitals in Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj, as well as various private healthcare facilities.

Former army officer Mozzafar Hossain, who was arrested after 45 years in connection with the assassination of former president Ziaur Rahman, is set to be accused in a case before the International Crimes Tribunal. Tribunal sources confirmed the development, saying the prosecution has submitted an application seeking to show him arrested in the tribunal case. The hearing on the petition is scheduled to take place at the tribunal on Tuesday. Mozzafar was arrested last Thursday based on information from a conversation involving former military officer Masud Uddin Chowdhury. He was later taken to the spot where Ziaur Rahman was assassinated. Earlier, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the accused in the Zia murder case would face trial in a military court. However, the prosecution said preparations have been completed to arrest and prosecute Mozzafar in a case related to crimes against humanity. An investigation into the allegations against him has already begun, it added.

River ports in some regions have been asked to hoist cautionary signal No 1 as a rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary south or southeasterly gusty or squally wind is likely to occur in many parts of the country, according to the special bulletin Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary south or southeasterly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 kph is likely to occur over the regions of Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar wherein river ports shall hoist cautionary signal No 1,” it said. The warning for Inland River ports to remain valid till 6 pm on Tuesday according to a bulletin.