United News of Bangladesh

A sudden spell of rain and gusty winds has dealt a fresh blow to potato farmers in Rangpur division, who were already struggling with a sharp fall in market prices. Heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday inundated potato fields in several areas of Rangpur district, raising fears of crop damage and rot. The situation has left many farmers worried as they try to drain water from their fields to save the harvest. The damage was reported in areas including Mahiganj, Amashu Kukrul and Palichara in Rangpur Sadar upazila and Pirgachha upazila. During visits to several fields, large tracts of potato farms were seen submerged in rainwater in Tambulpur, Chaola, Annadanagar and Kandi unions in Pirgachha upazila. Farmers were trying to remove water from the fields in a desperate bid to protect the crops. “I cultivated potatoes on 10 bighas of land and the yield was quite good. But the sudden storm and rain have caused significant damage,” said Ismail Hossain, a farmer from Chaola union. “When I came to the field this morning, I saw water had accumulated everywhere. Now we are trying to drain it out,” he said. Farmers say the situation has become even more distressing as potato prices have already fallen sharply in local markets. “There is almost no price for potatoes in the market now. It is selling at only Tk 8 to Tk 10 per kg. After this rain, the price may drop by another Tk 2 per kg,” said Ismail, describing the rainfall as “a blow on top of an already dire situation.” Another farmer, Emdadul Haque Babu, said rising fertiliser prices and a shortage of storage facilities have also pushed growers into a difficult position. “We cultivated potatoes taking loans. But the market price is very low,” he said. “If we want to store potatoes in cold storage, we have to pay additional charges. Otherwise, we are forced to sell them cheaply to middlemen and syndicates. So I left some potatoes in the field hoping to sell them when prices improve. But the sudden rain may ruin everything.” Dhaka dwellers struggle with footpath occupation by hawkers during Ramadan He said many farmers in rural areas are facing similar financial risks due to the untimely rainfall. Several farmers from the Amashu Kukrul area said many growers have suffered losses in potato farming in recent years. Farmer Mohammad Arif said he invested nearly Tk 2.5 million in potato cultivation this season but now fears heavy losses. “On one hand, market prices are low and there are allegations of syndicate control. On the other hand, this rain has added to our worries. Like last year, we may again face losses,” he said. Another farmer said he had stored potatoes in cold storage last year hoping for higher prices but was unable to withdraw them due to the continuing price slump . Farmers have urged the government and the Department of Agricultural Extension to provide support to help them recover from the losses. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potatoes were cultivated on about 225,985 hectares of land across the eight districts of Rangpur division this season, producing roughly 5.67 million tonnes. In Rangpur district alone, potatoes were cultivated on 54,050 hectares of land this year, down from 66,280 hectares last year. The division has 116 cold storage facilities with a combined capacity of about 1.1 million tonnes. However, storage limitations and falling prices have left farmers facing heavy losses. Those involved in the sector estimate that potatoes kept in cold storage alone have caused losses of around Tk 19.97 billion this season. Additional Director of the Rangpur Department of Agricultural Extension Sirajul Islam said the sudden rainfall has created a risk of widespread crop damage. “A record amount of land was brought under potato cultivation this season. But the sudden rain may cause significant damage and lead to rotting of potatoes,” he said, adding that farmers are being advised to remove water from their fields as quickly as possible. Acting officer of the Rangpur Meteorological Office Md Mostafizur Rahman said 44 millimetres of rainfall was recorded between 4:00am and 9:00am on Friday. Similar intermittent rainfall may continue over the next four to five days, he added. Anwar Hossain Bablu, convener of the Rangpur district unit of the Bangladesh Khetmajur and Krishak Organisation, said potato prices in some places have fallen to as low as Tk 3 to Tk 4 per kg. “Potato is one of our major vegetables and a key cash crop with strong global demand. Yet farmers are not getting fair prices in the domestic market,” he said. He called on the government to ensure profitable prices for potatoes, curb corruption and black market practices, and guarantee fertiliser availability at subsidised rates for marginal farmers.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is not ready to agree to a ceasefire with Iran, stating that Tehran’s proposed terms for ending the ongoing conflict are “not good enough.” In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said Iran wants to reach a deal to end the military campaign but the United States is not prepared to accept the current conditions. “Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said, adding that any agreement would need to include “very solid” conditions. Iran threatens UAE ports as war enters third week Trump did not specify the full terms Washington would demand but said Iran would have to commit to completely abandoning any nuclear ambitions as part of a ceasefire agreement. The remarks came about two weeks after the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, escalating tensions across the Middle East. The conflict has already disrupted global shipping routes, pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about the stability of the global economy.

Federico Valverde continued his impressive scoring run as Real Madrid defeated Elche CF 4-1 in La Liga on Saturday. The Uruguayan midfielder scored his fifth goal in three matches with a curling right-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area just before halftime, doubling Madrid’s lead. The goal came only three days after Valverde’s hat trick helped Madrid secure a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Valverde has now scored seven goals this season, all coming since the start of the year, stepping up at a crucial time when key players Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham are sidelined with injuries. Defender Antonio Rüdiger opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a volley following a free kick delivered by Valverde. Dean Huijsen later made it 3-0 before an own goal by Elche’s Manuel Ángel pulled one back for the visitors. Madrid’s fourth goal came in spectacular fashion in the 89th minute when Arda Güler lobbed a shot from well inside his own half, catching Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro off guard as the ball sailed into the net. The win at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium kept Madrid within one point of league leader FC Barcelona ahead of Barcelona’s match against Sevilla FC on Sunday. Madrid will travel to England on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League clash with Manchester City, aiming to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa said Mbappé remains doubtful for the match due to a lingering knee injury. Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid beat Getafe CF 1-0 after an early goal from Nahuel Molina. Getafe defender Abdel Abqar was sent off in the 55th minute. In other matches, Real Oviedo defeated Valencia CF 1-0, while Girona FC beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0.

Cast members of the hit comedy Bridesmaids reunited at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday as they rehearsed for their role as presenters at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards. Actors Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig and Ellie Kemper gathered on stage to run through their lines a day before the awards ceremony. Fifteen years after the film’s release, the group appeared delighted to reunite, sharing laughs and chatting while preparing for their cue. During the rehearsal, Wiig took on a directing role, asking about lighting and camera timing to ensure the segment would run smoothly. Byrne is also among the nominees at this year’s ceremony for her leading performance in the film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Other presenters were also seen rehearsing ahead of the event. Javier Bardem and Adrien Brody attended the practice session in casual outfits, both wearing sneakers. Bardem briefly stepped into the auditorium to greet Lynette Howell Taylor, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the academy’s chief executive Bill Kramer. The atmosphere inside the theatre was calm as producers, technicians and camera operators continued final preparations for the show. Rehearsals have been taking place for several days and will continue through Saturday evening. Producers have also teased several reunion moments during the ceremony, including appearances by Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. Another reunion will feature Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor from the film Moulin Rouge!. The awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien, will take place Sunday at the Dolby Theatre and will be broadcast live on ABC.  

U.S. President Donald Trump said “many countries” would send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open after Iran effectively blocked the vital shipping route during the ongoing war. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said countries “especially those affected by Iran’s attempted closure” of the strait would deploy naval forces alongside the United States. He mentioned China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom as potential contributors. The strait, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has remained largely closed since the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran intensified earlier this month. Most commercial ships are avoiding the waterway due to security concerns. Trump claimed U.S. forces had already “destroyed 100% of Iran’s military capability” but acknowledged Tehran could still disrupt shipping by launching drones, mines or short-range missiles. He vowed that U.S. forces would keep attacking Iranian positions along the coast to reopen the waterway. Iranian officials rejected the claim that the strait had been fully shut down. Alireza Tangsiri, head of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the waterway was “under control” but not militarily closed. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait was only closed to “tankers and ships of enemies and their allies,” not all shipping. He also warned that American vessels had no right to enter the Gulf. Despite the tensions, some ships have passed through the strait. Two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas crossed safely on Saturday after Iran granted special permission following talks between Narendra Modi and Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Indian officials. A Turkish vessel was also allowed to pass earlier in the week. The United States is reinforcing its military presence in the region, with about 2,500 Marines and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli heading toward the Middle East. Experts warn there may be no quick military solution to reopening the strait. Even occasional attacks could deter shipping insurers and keep the critical trade route largely closed, threatening global energy supplies and food security.

Iran on Saturday threatened to target infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates for the first time since the start of the war, warning that several ports in the Gulf country could be attacked because they were allegedly used by U.S. forces. Iran’s military command said ports, docks and locations sheltering U.S. forces in UAE cities would be considered “legitimate targets,” urging people to evacuate areas around the facilities to avoid harm. Iranian media specifically mentioned the ports of Jebel Ali, Khalifa and Fujairah. The escalation comes as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its third week, intensifying regional tensions and raising concerns over global energy supplies. The Strait of Hormuz — a crucial shipping route that carries about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil — has effectively been shut down as most commercial vessels avoid the area due to security risks. Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf countries during the conflict, saying it is targeting U.S. assets in the region. Gulf states including the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have reported repeated missile and drone attacks since the war began on Feb. 28. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces had “obliterated” military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, which hosts the country’s main oil export terminal. Iranian authorities reported at least 15 explosions on the island following the strikes but said oil infrastructure was not damaged. Iran warned that any attack on its oil facilities could trigger retaliation against U.S.-linked energy infrastructure across the region. Meanwhile, missile sirens sounded in Tel Aviv early Sunday as Israel reported a new wave of Iranian missile launches. In Iran, at least 15 people were killed in a strike in an industrial area of Isfahan, according to local media, though Israel denied targeting the site. The conflict has also spread across the region. In Iraq, a drone strike caused a fire at an oil refinery near Irbil, forcing operations to halt, while in Lebanon Israeli strikes have killed more than 800 people since renewed fighting with Hezbollah began earlier this month. Authorities say the war has already killed more than 1,200 people in Iran and displaced hundreds of thousands across the region, raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict and severe disruptions to global energy markets.

The business situation at this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been described as even worse than the pandemic-affected fair of 2021, with around 90 percent of participating publishers failing to recover even their initial stall construction costs. The information was revealed on Saturday afternoon at an emergency press conference organized by the publishers’ platform Prokashok Oikko at the Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room of the Bangla Academy. Publishers said that nearly 30 percent of the participating publishers could not sell books worth even Tk 5,000 during the fair. A total of 549 publishing houses took part in this year’s book fair—81 at the Bangla Academy premises and 468 at the Suhrawardy Udyan. Compared to last year, overall book sales have dropped by around 80 percent, they claimed. Reading out a written statement, Managing Director of University Press Limited, Mahrukh Mohiuddin said publishers participated in the fair despite anticipating financial losses. “We joined the fair as a message of support and cooperation for the newly elected government, even though we knew it could result in business losses due to the post-election situation and the observance of the holy month of Ramadan,” she said. “Unfortunately, our initial fears have turned into a harsh reality,” she added. Mohiuddin said publishers dream of turning the book fair into a Tk 100 crore event. “In a country of 180 million people, selling 5 to 10 million books is not an unrealistic dream. With proper management, coordinated initiatives, and a dedicated marketing budget of Tk 5–10 million, this goal could be achieved within three to five years,” she noted. She also emphasized that the fair could undergo significant transformation if publishers are placed in the driving seat of the overall organisation, with authorities providing necessary support. “If book sales continue to decline and publishers keep suffering losses, the fair may eventually turn into a ‘dead tradition,’ which nobody wants,” she warned. Describing the current sales situation as a “disaster,” Mahbub Rahman of Adarsha Prokashoni presented five recommendations to overcome the crisis. These include an urgent initiative to purchase 300 to 500 copies of at least one quality book from each severely affected publisher, formulating a realistic government budget for book procurement, and arranging government-sponsored training programs to enhance professional and creative publishing skills. He also called for upgrading school and college libraries, reopening closed libraries, and making library classes mandatory in educational institutions. Rahman further suggested that the date for next year’s book fair should be decided immediately after the current fair ends through discussions with stakeholders. He also urged authorities to reach a rational decision on stall rents in consultation with publishers and to implement the national book policy. Publisher of Ananya Prokashoni, Monirul Haque said none of the stakeholders in the publishing sector—Bangla Academy, the publishers’ association, or Prokashok Oikko—should see each other as opponents. “We must focus on realistic planning that protects the interests of writers, readers and publishers. Personal ego or interests should never take precedence over collective interests,” he said.  

A businessman in Sylhet city was allegedly robbed of around Tk 2 lakh and three mobile phones early Saturday. The incident occurred around 2am in the Kumargaon bus station area of the city. The victim, businessman Apu of Kumargaon, is a resident of Sheikhpara village adjacent to the bus station. He runs a flexiload and electronics shop in the area. According to local sources, six robbers riding three motorcycles intercepted Apu and his cousin while they were returning home after closing the shop. The robbers, wearing helmets and masks, reportedly put a machete around their necks and demanded that they hand over their valuables. Fearing for their lives, the businessman handed over the cash and mobile phones. Within about five minutes, the robbers fled the scene with around Tk 2 lakh in cash and three mobile phones. Inspector Mohammad Harunur Rashid of Jalalabad Police Station under Sylhet Metropolitan Police said a general diary (GD) has been filed over the incident. He said police have also lodged a GD on their own initiative and are working to identify the criminals. Earlier, on February 24, a woman was robbed in the city’s Elite Housing Estate area. A video of the incident later went viral on social media. Nine days later, on the morning of March 5, another woman was robbed on Road No. 3 in the Sagardighi Par area.

A 42-year-old man was detained for allegedly raping a minor girl in Gobindaganj Upazila on Friday night. Locals caught the accused, Momin Mia, a hotel worker at Chandpara Bazar, and handed him over to police led by Sub-Inspectors Shibli Imrul Kayes and Mominur Rahman of Gobindaganj Police Station. Momin Mia is a resident of an area adjacent to Chandpara Bazar in Kochashhar Union of Gobindaganj upazila. Locals said that around 8 pm on Friday night, the rapist Momin forcibly violated the girl, causing her to fall ill due to bleeding. The accused allegedly tried to flee after the incident, leaving the girl injured. Hearing her screams, nearby people and her family members rushed to the spot. Locals later chased and caught the accused, Momin, and handed him over to the police. Mozammel Haque, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gobindaganj Police Station, said preparations were underway to file a case in this regard. The girl, who fell ill after the incident, has been sent to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, he added.

Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, chief editor of the daily Manab Zamin, has been elected president of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) for the 2026–2027 term. The election was held on Saturday, and the committee members were elected unopposed, the NOAB election board chairman M. Masrur Riaz announced the new committee. Other office bearers of the committee include: ASM Shahidullah Khan, chairman of the editorial board of New Age, as vice president; Altamash Kabir, publisher of Dainik Sangbad, as treasurer; AK Azad, publisher of Dainik Samakal, as member; Matiur Rahman, editor and publisher of Prothom Alo; Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star; Tasmima Hossain, editor of Ittefaq; AMM Bahauddin, editor of Inqilab; Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of Bonik Barta; Md Mozammel Haque, editor of Kartoa; MA Malek, editor of Azadi; Dr. M. Ramiz Uddin Chowdhury, editor of Purbokone; and Syed Nasim Manzur , publisher of The Financial Express.