United News of Bangladesh

At least seven people, including a woman and her son, were killed in separate lightning strikes in Gaibandha, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat and Mymensingh districts on Wednesday. In Gaibandha, a woman and her son were killed after being struck by lightning in Saghata upazila in the evening. The deceased were identified as Kalpona Rani, 55, wife of Shailen Chandra Das of Mandura village, and their son Sohag Chandra Das, 32. Locals said Sohag, who works in Dhaka, had returned home on leave. When the weather turned stormy in the afternoon, his mother asked him to bring in straw that was left to dry outside the house. Shortly afterwards, the mother and son went outside and were struck by lightning, leaving them injured. They were taken to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital, but doctors declared them dead on arrival, said Varotkhali Union Parishad Chairman Md Faruk Hossain. In Chapainawabganj, two people were killed in as many lightning strikes in Sadar upazila in the afternoon. The victims were identified as Miraj, son of Md Babu of Bhabanipur village, and Munirul Islam, son of Md Mangal Hossain of Shiala Colony village under Chapainawabganj municipality. Family members said Miraj was packing mangoes in an orchard around 4:00pm when lightning struck him. Locals rescued and took him to Chapainawabganj District Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. In a separate incident around 3:00pm, Munirul was struck by a thunderstorm while standing near his house. Relatives rushed him to the same hospital, where he was also pronounced dead. Officer-in-Charge of Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station Md Ekramul Hossain said police visited the locations after receiving the information and were taking necessary legal steps. In Joypurhat, two people, including a woman, were killed in separate lightning strikes in Sadar and Panchbibi upazilas. Joypurhat Sadar Police Station OC Noor Alam Siddiqui said Jahanara Begum, wife of farmer Harun Sheikh of Thiat Bilpara village in Dogachhi union, was struck by lightning while returning home after cutting paddy stalks. She succumbed to her injuries on the way to Joypurhat 250-bed General Hospital. In another incident, 59-year-old farmer Shamsuddin, son of late Mofiz of Kuatpur village in Panchbibi upazila, was killed by lightning during a sudden strike. In Mymensingh’s Dhobaura upazila, a teenage boy from an ethnic minority community was killed and another was injured in a lightning strike in Langaljora village. The deceased was identified as Orko Hajong, 18, son of Oshil Hajong. The injured was identified as Arkoddo, 14. According to local sources, the two friends went out to play football when lightning struck them during sudden rain. Locals rescued them and took them to Dhobaura Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Orko Hajong dead. The injured was later sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Dhobaura Police Station OC Shafiqul Islam said the body was handed over to the family following an inquest on request.

Joint Secretary General and spokesperson of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, has said that after the BJP came to power in West Bengal, it has spread extreme religious hatred.  In a statement on Friday, he alleged that the new WB government is using the state and federal administration against Muslims, that social hostility toward Muslims has been incited. the whole of West Bengal into a hostile environment for them.  As a result, he claimed, the number of persecuted people gathering at the Bangladesh border in West Bengal has increased, as many want to leave India. He expressed strong condemnation and concern over what he described as ethnic hatred and displacement in this era of modern civilization. He said that until 1947, West Bengal and present-day Bangladesh were part of the same country. Even after the partition, there are many people on both sides whose roots and histories remain connected across the border.  He said this is an unavoidable reality of partition.  He added that displacing people on the excuse that they once had an address in Bangladesh is neither lawful nor humane. He further alleged that the BJP government in West Bengal is carrying out such actions. He urged the Bangladesh government to raise the issue in the international arena, saying Bangladesh cannot become a victim of anyone’s political ambitions.  Referring to the ongoing Rohingya crisis, he said Bangladesh is already burdened with endless challenges and does not have the capacity to take in new refugees. He called for the matter to be discussed internationally and for resistance to be built against what he termed the inhuman act of displacing people.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram on Thursday extended Eid-ul-Azha greetings to the countrymen and expressed hope that the government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman would work for the welfare of the common people. “The holy Eid-ul-Azha has arrived with the message of sacrifice. After many sacrifices and struggles, democracy has returned to the country. We hope economic emancipation is now within reach,” he said. The Speaker said he expects a future government led by Tarique Rahman to dedicate itself to the welfare of the people. Recalling past political developments, he said the student-public movement and political activists had brought an end to prolonged misrule, helping remove the climate of fear from the country. “A democratic government will be able to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people,” he added. The Speaker also alleged that Muslim countries were facing oppression by global powers and claimed that an international conspiracy was underway against Muslims. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after offering Eid prayers at Lalmohan Eidgah in Bhola on Thursday morning. After the prayers, the Speaker exchanged Eid greetings with leaders of political parties and local public representatives from his constituency. Among others, Lalmohan upazila BNP President Jafar Iqbal and General Secretary Shafiqul Islam Babul were present.

A three-day national workshop at Holiday Inn, Dhaka, under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) wss held to assess existing capacities and strengthen climate risk analysis for the education sector. To support evidence-based policy planning and build institutional readiness, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME), with UNESCO, the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO-IIEP), Save the Children, and support from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), launched the workshop. Running from 10 to 12 May 2026, the workshop brings together over 30 officials, technical experts and education planners from national and sub-national levels. Inaugurating the workshop, the Chief Guest, Mr. Abdul Khaleque, Secretary, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education, said, “This workshop is particularly significant because it focuses on examining the capacities we already have within our system and identifying where further strengthening is needed Speaking at the event as the Guest of Honour, Dr. Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, said, “This workshop moves beyond identifying risks and focuses on understanding the existing capacities, systems, and institutional mechanisms required to address those risks effectively. Strengthening evidence-based planning, improving coordination and enhancing preparedness at both national and sub-national levels are essential to ensure learning continuity and protect the wellbeing and future of children and young people.” Special Guest Bodrun Nahar, Additional Secretary (Development), MoE also addressed the opening with special focus on climate data and climate financing for education. Participants represent SHED, DSHE, BANBEIS, NCTB, DPE, BMD, University of Dhaka, district and upazila Education officers among others. UNESCO-IIEP specialist Ms. Yi Shi is leading the technical facilitation alongside the UNESCO Dhaka Office and Save the Children International. Bangladesh remains one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in South Asia. According to the 2025 Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, Bangladesh ranks 178th out of 187 countries, while national education data show that nearly 16,000 educational institutions were affected by climate-related disasters in 2023. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, floods, cyclones, and salinity intrusion continue to affect school attendance, infrastructure, and children’s learning outcomes. UNESCO-IIEP’s climate risk analysis also shows that while Bangladesh has strong policy foundations on climate resilience, climate adaptation is not yet systematically integrated across education planning, teacher development, risk assessments, and infrastructure planning. The workshop is part of a broader national process under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative, which began in Bangladesh in 2024 with a joint scoping mission and country work planning process. In October 2025, Bangladesh held its first national workshop to identify and analyse climate hazards, vulnerabilities and risks facing the education sector. 

Golam Sarwar Milon, president of Janata Party Bangladesh and a former deputy minister, died of a cardiac arrest here on Sunday morning. He was 69. Family members said he suffered a sudden heart attack at their residence early in the morning and was rushed to Popular Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Golam Sarwar Milon is survived by wife Fatema Sarwar, son Sabayer Sarwar and daughter Tanzia Sarwar Omi. Sabayer Sarwar said the first namaz-e-janaza was held after Zohr prayers at Singair Pilot High School ground in Manikganj. He will be buried after second janaza in the capital. Golam Sarwar Milon was elected a Member of Parliament from the then Manikganj-4 constituency as a Jatiya Party candidate in the 3rd and 4th parliamentary elections. He also served as Deputy Minister for Education in the cabinet of President HM Ershad. Golam Sarwar Milon served as the founding president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal during the 1981-82 term and was known as an influential student leader at Dhaka University. He was previously involved with a left-leaning student organisation supported by Bhasani NAP and was arrested during the anti-Ershad movement. Later, he joined the Jatiya Party in 1986 and became a Presidium member. During the 2007 caretaker government period, he joined the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), led by Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi, but later returned to the Jatiya Party. Before the 11th parliamentary elections, he joined Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, led by former President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, and contested Manikganj-2 constituency with the “Kula” symbol but was defeated. In April 2025, he joined the newly formed Janata Party Bangladesh. The party was initially led by actor Ilias Kanchan as president, with Golam Sarwar Milon serving as executive president and journalist Shaukat Mahmood as general secretary. Later, after Ilias Kanchan stepped aside due to illness, Golam Sarwar Milon took charge of the party leadership. END/UNB/ARJ/AM 2422 Hrs

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited Evercare Hospital in the capital on Thursday night to see BNP leader Mirza Abbas, who is currently undergoing treatment there. During the visit, he spoke with Abbas’s wife Afroza Abbas and inquired about his physical condition and ongoing treatment. He also prayed for the BNP leader’s speedy recovery. Dr Shafiqur Rahman was accompanied by Dr SM Khaliduzzaman, president of Dhaka Metropolitan North Jamaat Medical Thana. Mirza Abbas hospitalised Earlier on Wednesday evening, Mirza Abbas was admitted to Evercare Hospital after he suddenly fell unconscious while drinking water during iftar, according to his wife. As his condition did not improve, he was taken to the hospital later that night for treatment.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said two suspects in Hadi murder case who were arrested in India will be brought back to Bangladesh under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries. “The Home Ministry has already taken steps regarding the arrest of the two accused while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been requested to take necessary measures to bring them back in line with the the extradition agreement,” said the minister. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending a district law and order committee meeting in Cox’s Bazar, his first such meeting in his home district after assuming office. Efforts on to bring back 2 Hadi murder suspects held in India: IGP Salahuddin Ahmed also said a list of drug traders is being prepared in a highly professional manner. “The list will not be made public as doing so could create political influence and lead to possible errors,” he said. Incidents of mob violence will not be allowed in the country and all terrorists and extortionists will be brought under the law to ensure good governance, said Salahuddin. The minister also announced measures to restore discipline in the tourism sector of Cox’s Bazar. He said illegal permanent and temporary structures set up on the sand dunes along the sea beach will be removed within a week and the tourist areas will be kept clean. He further said CCTV cameras will be installed at important points in the town to improve the law and order situation. Among others, lawmakers Shahjahan Chowdhury and Lutfur Rahman Kajol, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman and Cox’s Bazar district BNP general secretary Shamima Ara Swapna were present.  

National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam has criticised the appointment of National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister in the newly formed BNP government, saying it casts doubt on the impartiality of the national election and the interim administration. Talking to reporters after taking oath as Member of Parliament, Nahid said Khalilur’s appointment in the cabinet of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) substantiates long -tanding allegations of ‘election engineering’. “For the sake of neutrality, student advisers were asked to resign and they did so. But Khalilur Rahman joining the BNP cabinet proves that he had been working for a particular party while serving in the interim government,” Nahid said. Nahid alleged that BNP secured a two-thirds majority by strategically defeating his party in several constituencies. “This has now created an opportunity for them to complicate the constitutional reform process.” Referring to the oath-taking ceremony, Nahid said members were scheduled to take oath as part of the Constitutional Reform Council at the same venue and before the same authority immediately after being sworn in as MPs. BNP lawmakers, however, declined to take that oath, arguing that the Constitution does not provide a legal basis for such a council. “This is tantamount to disregarding the mandate of the referendum. The July Charter clearly mentions the formation of a Constitutional Reform Council. By signing that charter and now refusing to take oath, the government has broken its commitment on the very first day,” Nahid claimed. He warned that BNP’s refusal to join the reform council has created fresh legal complications, as the July Charter provides the basis for both the council and the referendum’s legitimacy. Nahid urged BNP MPs to take oath in the Constitutional Reform Council without delay to resolve the crisis.

Newly elected MPs are set to take oath as members of the 13th parliament and also the Constitution Reform Council on Tuesday. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath in line with the Constitution as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the oath-taking room of the Jatiya Sangsad.   BNP’s MPs-elect will take oath at 10am, while those of Jamaat-e-Islami will do so at 12pm, said Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Moula. “Both oaths of the elected MPs as members of parliament and as members of the Constitution Reform Council will be held at a time (the same event),” she told UNB on Monday evening. Besides, the Election Commission on Monday wrote to the Parliament Secretariat asking to take necessary measures as the Chief Election Commissioner will administer the oath of newly elected members of the 13th parliament and also members of the Constitution Reform Council at 10am on Tuesday. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed wrote the letter to the Secretary of Parliament Secretariat. However, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday raised constitutional concerns regarding the oath of the Constitution Reform Council, casting uncertainty over whether such an oath can legally be administered now. DMP issues traffic guidelines for oath-taking ceremony “If the Constitutional Reform Council is incorporated into the Constitution through an amendment, and if a specific oath format is included in the Third Schedule of the Constitution with a designated authority to administer that oath—only after all these conditions are met could such a process take place,” he said. While the Third Schedule of the Constitution specifies the oaths for various offices, including that of Members of Parliament, it does not mention any oath for members of a Constitution Reform Council, he said. Responding to questions from journalists, Salahuddin Ahmed, also a newly elected MP, said the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission is to conduct the national parliamentary and presidential elections. Officials at the Parliament Secretariat said newly elected MPs will sign the oath book and provide fingerprints, images and digital signatures for preparation of their digital identity cards following the ceremony. The 13th parliamentary election and referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025 were held on Thursday last (February 12) in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies amid festivity and peaceful atmosphere. On Friday last, the EC published a gazette of 297 elected MP candidates. The election results of two other constituencies – Chattogram-2 and 4-- were withheld as per the court orders. Besides, the election to Sherpur-3 was earlier cancelled following the death of a contesting candidate. But BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has left Bogura-6 seat for by-election as he is set to take oath as a member of parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency. In the election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured 209 parliamentary seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68. Besides, National Citizen Party-NCP settled victory in six constituencies, independent candidates in seven constituencies, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in two, Islami Andolan Bangladesh in one, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in one, Ganaodhikar Parishad in one, Ganasamhati Andolan in one and Khelafat Majlish in one parliamentary seat. So, the BNP-led electoral alliance sealed victory in a total of 212 constituencies, while the Jamaat-led electoral alliance won in 77 constituencies. According to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025, a Constitution Reform Council shall be formed with the representatives elected in the general election, which could apply all authorities related to the constitutional reform. The representatives elected in the election shall act as the members of the parliament and also members of the Council simultaneously. The Constitution Reform Council shall complete the implementation of the July National Charter and the Constitutional Reforms in line with the mandate gained through the referendum within 180 working days since the formation of the council and then the tenure of the council will end immediately. The Order also states that the authority entitled to administer the oath of MPs will likewise administer the oath of members of the Constitution Reform Council. According to the Constitution, newly elected MPs must take their oath, typically administered by the Speaker within three days of the gazette notification. Due to the resignation/absence of the 12th Parliament Speaker, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) or a President-nominated person will administer the oath. Maldives' President, FM to join oath-taking ceremony The Article 148 (2A) states, ”If, within three days next after publication through official Gazette of the result of a general election of members of Parliament under clause (3) of article 123, the person specified under the Constitution for the purpose or such other person designated by that person for the purpose, is unable to, or does not, administer oath to the newly elected members of Parliament, on any account, the Chief Election Commissioner shall administer such oath within three days next thereafter, as if, he is the person specified under the Constitution for the purpose.” Tenures of all Parliaments The tenure of first parliament was from 07-04-1973 to 06-11-1975 (2 years 6 months and 30 days), the second parliament from 02-04-1979 to 24-03-1982 (2 years 11 months 22 days), the third parliament from 10-07-1986 to 06-12-1987 (1 year 4 months 26 days), the fourth parliament from 15-04-1988 to 06-01-1990 (1 year 8 months 22 days), the fifth parliament from  05-04-1991 to 24-11-1995 (4 years 7 months 19 days), the sixth parliament from 19-03-1996 to 30-03-1996 (11 days),  the seventh parliament from 14-07-1996 to 13-07-2001 (4 years 11 months 29 days), the eight parliament from 28-10-2001 to 27-10-2006 (4 years 11 months 29 days), the ninth parliament from 25-01-2009 to 24-01-2014 (4 years 11 months 30 days), the 10th parliament from 19-01-2014 to 28-01-2019 (5 years 9 days), the 11th parliament from 30-01-2019 to 06-01-2024 (4 years 11 months 7 days) and the 12th parliament from 10-01-2024  to 06-08-2024 (6 months 27 days).

Independent candidate Atikul Alam Shawon has won the Cumilla-7 seat in the 13th national election by a wide margin. Shawon, contesting on the “Pitcher” symbol, received 90,819 votes, said Assistant Returning Officer and Chandina Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Ashraful Haque at 11:45pm on Thursday night. His closest rival, BNP-nominated candidate Dr. Redwan Ahmed, representing the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, obtained 47,925 votes. Other candidates included Maulana Solaiman Khan of Khelafat Majlish with 24,597 votes on the “Wall Clock” symbol, Maulana Ehteshamul Haq Qasemi of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with 14,080 votes on the “Hand Fan” symbol, and Sajol Kumar Kar of the Cultural Liberation Alliance with 259 votes on the “Stick” symbol. A total of 182,274 votes were cast in the constituency, representing 56.35 percent of the 329,166 registered voters. After 4,594 invalid votes, the number of valid votes stood at 177,680. The District Returning Officer, Mu. Reza Hasan, will announce the unofficial results of the elected MPs, including postal votes, on Friday.