United News of Bangladesh

Police on Tuesday detained a madrasah teacher in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia on charges of raping a 10-year-old student. The detainee was identified as Md Mostafizur Rahman, 25, a teacher and head of Taloa Hafezia Madrasah and Lillah Boarding in Sadki union and son of Abdur Rahman of Taherhuda union in Jhenaidah's Harinakundu upazila. According to police, the victim's family and local residents, the alleged assault took place on July 12, when most senior students were away sitting examinations and only a few younger children remained at the madrasah. The allegations came to light on Tuesday after another child was reportedly beaten during discussions about the incident, prompting local residents to gather at the madrasah. The madrasah committee convened a meeting in the afternoon in an apparent attempt to resolve the matter. Local residents informed police after learning about the meeting. Police reached the madrasah around 5:15pm and detained the accused teacher. The child's father alleged that his son was sexually assaulted several times and demanded justice. Madrasah committee President Md Zulfikar Mahmud admitted that a meeting was held after they learned of the allegations but claimed the facts were still unclear. The accused teacher, however, denied the allegation. Officer-in-Charge of Kumarkhali Police Station Jamal Uddin said there is no scope for settling such an allegation through arbitration. "After receiving information about the incident, we detained the madrasah teacher. Preliminary investigation suggests the allegation is true. Legal proceedings are underway," he said.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to face tough questions from senators on Tuesday over the war with Iran as Republicans seek to advance a $95 billion budget package to fund military operations, along with aid for farmers and voting law changes backed by the White House. Hegseth, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins are scheduled to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee, days after the military announced that three more American service members had died in the conflict. The latest fatalities bring the US death toll to 17, while more than 100 troops have been injured since early July. Sen. Patty Murray, the committee's top Democrat, is expected to warn that the conflict with Iran "could be another forever war." According to her prepared remarks, Murray will say President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised that a deal is close and the war will end soon, yet is now seeking an additional $70 billion for the conflict. Military funding makes up the largest share of the Republican budget proposal, which also includes $10 billion in assistance for farmers affected by Trump's tariffs and another $10 billion for voting law changes, including likely new voter identification requirements. None of the spending is offset by reductions elsewhere. An AP-NORC poll found that most Americans continue to disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran conflict. Meanwhile, fuel prices have risen as Iran seeks to control oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, US munitions are running low amid continued missile strikes, and Trump has moved away from his earlier campaign pledge to avoid prolonged military conflicts. Despite growing concerns, Trump has shown no indication of changing course, while most Republicans have continued to support his strategy without using Congress' budgetary or war powers to limit the conflict. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the administration was working to bring the conflict to an end but acknowledged there were still many questions about how that would happen. Hegseth is also expected to face scrutiny over his leadership of the Pentagon. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused the defense secretary of focusing on promoting testosterone screenings for troops instead of publicly disclosing the latest casualty figures from the Iran war. Democratic lawmakers have also demanded the release of a Pentagon report into a deadly attack on an Iranian primary school at the start of the conflict and have threatened to withhold Hegseth's travel budget if the report is not made public. The Senate is also expected to consider another war powers resolution this week after voting several times to try to limit the conflict. Although the House has passed a measure restricting Trump's authority to wage war, no such resolution has yet cleared both chambers. Meanwhile, Republicans are moving the budget proposal through the reconciliation process, allowing it to pass with a simple majority despite Democratic opposition. The House is expected to vote on the proposal this week. However, some Republicans, including Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, have criticised the plan, arguing that it would increase the federal deficit because the new spending is not matched by spending cuts. Several other conservative Republicans have voiced similar concerns, while GOP senators are waiting to see whether the House can advance the measure.

Miscreants set fire to the country's first July Martyrs Memorial in Narayanganj early Tuesday, prompting police to launch an investigation. The memorial, located in the Hajiganj area on the Chashara-Adamjee Road, was inaugurated on July 14, 2025 in memory of those killed during the July-August 2024 mass uprising. It was the first July Martyrs Memorial established in the country. According to police, decorative cloth were installed around the memorial for a tribute programme held on July 16, marking July Shaheed Day. Around 3:00am on Tuesday, two men arriving on a motorcycle threw a small cloth bundle soaked in kerosene or another petroleum substance after setting it on fire. The burning bundle landed beside the memorial, igniting a fire near the structure. Officers stationed at a temporary police camp near the site quickly extinguished the blaze, preventing further damage. According to police, an unidentified person recorded a video of the incident, which was later circulated on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Tarek Al Mehedi said they were working to identify the perpetrators through analysing CCTV footage from nearby roads and buildings. He also said it will be known only after investigation whether activists of Awami League, which faces a ban on its activities, were involved in the incident. Officer-in-Charge of Fatullah Model Police Station Md Mahbub Alam also said they were investigating the incident.

Prime Minister's Adviser Mahdi Amin on Tuesday said the government is giving the highest priority to ensuring reliable gas and electricity supplies to industries, describing energy security as critical to sustaining industrial growth. Speaking as the chief guest at the “BAYLA Future Summit 2026” organised by the Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAYLA) at a city hotel, he acknowledged that many industrial units are still facing gas and electricity disruptions. "We are working on this issue and are committed to resolving these problems within a realistic timeframe," he said. Highlighting Bangladesh's core strengths in attracting investment – a large youth demographic, a massive domestic market, and an elected democratic government capable of ensuring policy continuity – Mahdi Amin stressed the need to ensure energy security, enhance port efficiency, and reduce the cost of doing business. He informed that the government is executing structural reforms to set up new industrial parks, simplify bonded warehouse facilities, cut bureaucratic hurdles, and ensure transparency, accountability, and good governance. Mahdi Amin, also Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) spokesperson, added that efforts are also underway to expedite incentive disbursements, encourage technology adoption, expand Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and implement supportive policies for genuine entrepreneurs, alongside investments in education, healthcare, and human resources. At the event, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Policy Exchange Bangladesh Dr M Masrur Reaz outlined a six-point strategy to elevate the country’s ready-made garment (RMG) export earnings to $100 billion. He noted that while the RMG sector is one of the biggest success stories of Bangladesh's economy, over-reliance on limited products and markets poses future risks. To reach the $100 billion export target, Masrur Reaz proposed a six-point roadmap – enhancing trade facilitation through customs, infrastructure, and regulatory reforms; boosting port capacity, implementing multimodal transport, and modernising supply chains; providing policy support for high value-added products, man-made fibre (MMF), and expanding exports to new markets; adopting a national strategy for sustainable development and the circular economy; strengthening PPPs for technology adoption and skill development; and making long-term investments in education, technical training, and human resource development. Managing Director of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Nuzhat Anwar pointed out that only 1 percent of corporate financing in Bangladesh currently comes from the capital market. She urged entrepreneurs in the apparel and textile sectors to utilise the capital market alongside bank loans for long-term financing needs. The summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and next-generation business executives to discuss the future of Bangladesh's garment industry, competitiveness, technology, investment, capital markets, skilled human resources, and sustainable growth. President of the Bangladesh Employers' Federation Fazlee Shamim Ehsan and Country Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Bangladesh Shams Zaman, among others, spoke on the occasion. At the summit, BAYLA organised the “BAYLA Future Leaders” competition for the first time, a practical business problem-solving contest involving over 100 teams from various universities across the country. Teams from North South University, BRAC University, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), and the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University reached the final round. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj attended the awards ceremony as the chief guest.