United News of Bangladesh

Two suspected cattle lifters were killed in a lynch-mob attack at Imannagar village in Singair upazila of Manikganj district early Monday. The deceased were identified as Majnu, 35, son of Tota Mia of Dashani village and Deen Islam, 23, son of Bandu Mia of Choyani village in the upazila. Mazharul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Singair Police Station, said when Majnu and Deen entered the house of one Shakil around 2 am local people chased and caught them. They beat them up mercilessly, leaving both critically injured. Later, they were first taken to Singair Upazila Health Complex and then shifted to Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka where they died. Police said both were wanted in different cases.  

MPO-enlisted Teachers’ Nationalisation Aspirants’ Alliance on Monday warned of tougher programmes if the government fails to issue the gazette of the 9th national pay scale by February 4. Alliance Member Secretary Principal Delwar Hossain Azizi said human chain programme will be staged in all districts on February 5 and memorandums will also be submitted to the Chief Adviser through deputy commissioners. If the demands remain unmet, stricter programmes will be announced after consultations with alliance leaders, he said at a press conference held at the Maulana Akram Khan Hall of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. In his written statement, Azizi said the interim government formed the National Pay Commission-2025 on July 27 last year to adjust government employees’ salaries in line with inflation. Former Finance Secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan was appointed chairman of the commission, which was tasked with reviewing existing pay, allowances and other benefits and recommending a time-appropriate pay structure. He said the commission formally began operations with its first meeting on August 14 and collected opinions online through four questionnaires from employees, the general public, institutions and organisations. It also held meetings with leaders of almost all professional stakeholder groups to gather their views. As stakeholders representing more than 600,000 teachers and employees, leaders of the MPO-enlisted Teachers’ Nationalisation Aspirants’ Alliance were invited to a formal meeting with the Pay Commission-2025 chairman and members, where they placed their demands and proposals. The commission assured them that their proposals would be reflected in its recommendations, he added. Azizi said the 7th pay scale was announced in 2009 and the 8th in 2015, but no new pay scale has been declared in the last 11 years despite the need for two new scales during this period. “If the gazette of the pay scale is obstructed through conspiracies, frustration will spread among republic employees and normal state activities may be hampered,” he said, urging the interim government to issue the 9th pay scale gazette within its tenure. Finance adviser urges patience on new pay scale, backs referendum He said MPO-enlisted teachers and employees form the country’s largest professional group, supporting more than 600,000 families and around five million people, yet remain the most neglected among government-paid professionals. Speakers at the press conference included joint conveners Md Matiur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Secondary Technical Teachers’ Council; Md Nurul Amin Helaly, convener of Bangladesh MPO Teachers’ Council; Md Mizanur Rahman, its president; and Md Habibullah Raju, president of Bangladesh Madrasa General Teachers’ Association.

The government has ordered the deposition of all licensed firearms at the nearest police stations by January 31, ahead of the national election scheduled for February 12. The directive was issued through a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday. The notification also bans the carrying or public display of firearms until the completion of the national election and referendum. The restriction will, however, not apply to candidates whose nomination papers have been validly submitted and accepted by the Election Commission, or to armed ‘retainers’ duly authorised for them. The notification warns that any violation of the order will be dealt with in accordance with the law. All superintendents of police and the authorities concerned have been instructed to take necessary measures to ensure the implementation of the directive. The government on December 15 formulated a policy on issuing firearm licences and appointing armed retainers for politically important individuals and candidates ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election slated for February 12. Titled ‘Firearm Licence and Retainer Appointment Policy–2025 for Politically Important Persons and Candidates for the Post of Member of Parliament’, the policy was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry said the policy was formulated to ensure public security, maintain law and order and prevent election-time violence. Under the policy, a ‘retainer’ is defined as an armed person appointed and authorised to protect a politically important individual or a candidate. DMP chief orders use of firearms to stop arson attacks in Dhaka  A ‘politically important person’ refers to a current or former high-ranking political figure recognised by the government. To be eligible for a firearm licence, an applicant must be a recognised politically important person or a candidate who has submitted nomination papers for the 13th Parliamentary Election, and must face a verified security threat as assessed by the relevant authorities, including intelligence agencies.

Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) M. Sakhawat Hossain has said decision has been taken to sell the assets of Nassa Group as per a court order to pay the dues and service benefits of the company’s workers. He made the remark on Sundat while presiding over the 15th meeting of the Advisers’ Council Committee on review of labour and business condition of industrial units at Beximco Industrial Park at the Secretariat, said the ministry in a statement. The adviser said that Tk 76 crore has already been paid to workers through the sale of Nassa Group shares by an administrator appointed by the court. Besides, Nassa Group has made down payments to eight banks as per the instructions of Bangladesh Bank. Interim govt formulated Bangladesh’s best labour law ever: Adviser Sakhawat The remaining down payments to 15 banks and the outstanding dues of the workers will be settled by selling some of Nassa Group’s assets through open competition, he added. Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Dr. Md. Sanowar Zahan Bhuiyan, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police, senior officials from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, Nassa Group’s administrator and other representatives, and officials from various commercial banks were present.

Police have recovered the hanging body of a student of Jagannath University (JnU) from the Bhatikhana area of Old Dhaka. The body was recovered on Sunday (January 18) from a mess in the area. Preliminary investigation suggests that it may be a case of suicide. The deceased was identified as Akash Sarkar, a student of the Department of Theatre at Jagannath University. He belonged to the department’s 10th batch. His home district was Faridpur. Abu Laek, Sadi get UTL JnU Chapter Leadership Ishtiaq, a housemate, said, “I was studying for an exam. Later, my brother’s girlfriend called me, after which I started knocking on the room door. At one point the door opened  and I saw his body hanging. Then I called the police.” Nazmul Hasan, an investigation officer of Gandaria Police Station, said, “We arrived at the scene around 9:30pm after receiving the information. The body was recovered in a hanging condition and later sent to Mitford Hospital for an autopsy.”

Leaflets titled ‘Yes’ for the upcoming referendum will be delivered to every household in Dhaka Metropolitan City. The information was shared at a meeting held at the office of Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Ali Riaz on Sunday, attended by Local Government Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Zahedi, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Mahmudul Hasan. As part of the awareness campaign, drop-down banners, billboards on high-rise buildings, festoons on road islands, and stickers at various establishments will be displayed across the metropolis to encourage city residents to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum. The campaign aims to inspire voters with the resolve to build a democratic, humane and prosperous Bangladesh, said a handout. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider (Consensus) was also present at the meeting.

A group of Dhaka University female students have staged a symbolic protest titled “Burn the Administration Barbecue” and submitted a memorandum, demanding a safe, equal-rights-based and discrimination-free campus for women. Dhaka University Central Students’ Union executive member Hema Chakma explained about the event at a press conference held on the university’s central field on Sunday evening. Also present were DUCSU Research and Publications secretary Sanjida Ahmed Tonni, Shamsu Nnahar Hall Vice-President Kaniz Kurratul Ain, Israt Jahan Imu, a member of the DU unit of Biplobi Chhatra Maitri, along with female students from various departments and residence halls. Addressing the press conference, Hema Chakma said that for more than a year, DU authorities have imposed a ban on female students entering the central playground after evening hours under the pretext of preventing so-called ‘obscenity’. She added that women students are also being forcibly removed from areas such as the Mall Chattar and other parts of the campus if they are seen there after 10:00 pm. Victory Day observed at Dhaka University through numerous programs “These restrictions are not mentioned in any written policy, public notice, or legal provision. The administration is enforcing them unlawfully. In the name of security, questioning, interrogation and harassment have now become a regular reality,” she said. She further alleged that under the guise of special security, female students are facing continuous discrimination and harassment, while male students are allowed to move freely, stay, and socialize in the same spaces-calling it a clear case of double standards. “We want to state clearly that curtailing women’s freedom of movement under the excuse of protection amounts to structural discrimination against women. Until this discrimination is eliminated and a truly women-friendly campus is established, we will continue to hold the administration accountable,” she said. Following the press conference, the students submitted a memorandum to the Proctor, outlining a series of demands to ensure a women-friendly campus. The demands include immediate withdrawal of all forms of harassment and discriminatory restrictions imposed on women in the name of special security, urgent renovation of the non-functional women’s toilets at the TSC, and ensuring an adequate number of safe, usable female toilets across the entire campus. Dhaka University observes Martyred Intellectuals Day with due solemnity The demands also include granting entry to any women’s residence hall to all legitimate female students of the university upon submission of their identity cards, reconstitution and prompt activation of the university’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Cell and allowing mothers and sisters of resident female students to enter residence halls upon submission of the student’s identity card and a formal application.

The Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) has unveiled plans to construct a multi-storied, environmentally sustainable office building in the capital’s Agargaon administrative hub, aligning the project with the government’s Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) policy. As part of the preparatory process, BPPA organised a pre-procurement conference on Sunday at its conference room on the Bangladesh Planning Commission campus to engage key stakeholders and industry experts ahead of the proposed construction of the new BPPA Bhaban. The conference was presided over by BPPA Chief Executive Officer and Secretary S M Moin Uddin Ahmed, while BPPA Director Shah Eyamin-Ul Islam presented an overview of the proposed project, outlining its objectives, scope and sustainability aspirations. Around 30 participants attended the event, representing private-sector builders and developers, architects, civil and electro-mechanical engineers, as well as officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Department of Architecture, House Building Research Institute (HBRI), Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), Department of Environment (DoE), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) and the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB). Among the senior officials present were Chief Engineer of PWD Dr Md Khalequezzaman Choudhury, Chief Architect of the Department of Architecture Md Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan and Director General of HBRI Dr Mohammad Giasuddin Haider. They, along with other experts, shared technical and policy-level suggestions aimed at enhancing the sustainability and functionality of the proposed building. Unnecessary honking must stop to curb noise pollution: Environment Adviser The conference marked the first such initiative held under the newly enacted Public Procurement Rules, 2025 (PPR, 2025). The rules formally introduce early market engagement mechanisms, including pre-procurement conferences, to help procuring entities formulate effective procurement strategies from the outset of the process. Addressing the participants, BPPA CEO S M Moin Uddin Ahmed said a feasibility study for the project had already been undertaken, with sustainability placed at the centre of the design and construction philosophy. “Our focus will be on reducing the overall weight of the structure by using a lesser quantity of materials, thereby enhancing sustainability,” he said, adding that engaging experts and practitioners at this early stage was crucial to achieving that objective. Participants highlighted the importance of developing a comprehensive framework for sustainable building construction rather than limiting the approach to isolated green features. A representative from the Department of Environment suggested using the term “sustainable building” instead of “green building,” noting that sustainability encompasses environmental, economic and social dimensions. Commending BPPA’s initiative, speakers observed that the proposed office building could serve as a model for other public-sector projects and contribute meaningfully to the government’s broader efforts to institutionalise sustainable public procurement practices. They also recommended that BPPA organise a separate, dedicated conference focusing specifically on building design, with the inclusion of electrical engineering experts. According to them, integrating sustainability features at the planning and design stages would be far more effective and cost-efficient than retrofitting them later. Experts stress reducing raw material use across industries to protect the environment The BPPA CEO said a working group would be formed to follow up on the recommendations and oversee each stage of the construction process to ensure that sustainability objectives are fully realised. The proposed BPPA Bhaban is expected to reflect best practices in sustainable public infrastructure and reinforce the authority’s leadership role in promoting responsible and forward-looking procurement in Bangladesh.

The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) has announced its new executive committee for the year 2026. In the first meeting of the 19th Council, Md. Kausar Alam FCMA was elected as the President of the Institute. The council also elected a distinguished panel of professionals to serve as office bearers alongside the President. Vice-Presidents Abdul Matin Patwary FCMA and SM Zahir Uddin Haider FCMA, Secretary Monjur Md. Saiful Azam FCMA, Treasurer Dr. Md. Musfiqur Rahman FCMA. Read More: ICMAB rolls out nationwide digital push to enhance CMA education Md. Kausar Alam FCMA brings a wealth of corporate and regulatory experience to the role. He currently serves as the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Company Secretary of Seven Rings Cement Bangladesh Ltd. Beyond his corporate role, he is a Director of Janata Bank PLC and an honorary director of ARK Foundation. The newly elected team consists of industry veterans with diverse backgrounds: Abdul Matin Patwary (Vice-President), the Managing Director of Rivazure Pvt. Limited. SM Zahir Uddin Haider (Vice-President), currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hosaf Group. He also serves as an Independent Director at Premier Leasing and Finance Limited and has a long history with ICMAB, including a stint as Secretary. Read More: ICAB refutes ICMAB's claims on audit profession, alleges misinformation Monjur Md. Saiful Azam (Secretary): The Managing Director of Sysmark Limited and Precision Trading Limited. He has previously held key leadership positions within the Dhaka Branch Council (DBC) of ICMAB. Prof. Md. Musfiqur Rahman (Treasurer): A distinguished academic serving as a Professor in the Department of Accounting & Information Systems at the University of Dhaka.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Sunday issued warrants for arrest of 24 people including ex-minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former DSCC mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, in a case over crimes against humanity during the July Mass Uprising. The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder passed the order after taking cognisance of the formal charges submitted against  the accused. The tribunal also fixed January 29 for producing them before the tribunal. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District and Sessions Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. Of the 28 accused, four are currently in jail — banned Chhatra League’s Mohammadpur Thana unit president Naimul Hasan Russell and its vice-presidents Sajjad Hossain, Omar Faruk and Fazle Rabbi. Tribunal’s verdict in Hasina case to be executed: Home Adviser Speaking to journalists after the order, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said at the instigation and provocation of the accused and with their direct and indirect presence, gunfire was opened on innocent students and other people during the Mass Uprising on July 18 and 19, 2024. “As a result, nine people, including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Farhan Faiyaz, were martyred in Mohammadpur area while many others were injured,” he said, adding that the prosecution has sufficient evidence. The chief prosecutor further said that the case has 50 witnesses.