Wednesday, 23 September 2026
The Dhaka News

2027 Hajj Registration to Continue Until September 24

Registration for the 2027 Hajj is currently underway. According to the schedule set by the Saudi government, Hajj pilgrims must complete their registration by September 24.The Ministry of Religious Affairs has said that the registration deadline will not be extended beyond the stipulated date. The ministry’s Hajj-2 branch issued a notice in this regard on September 9.According to the notice, Bangladesh has been allocated a quota of 78,500 pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj. Of them, 1,065 pilgrims are mentioned for registration under the government management system, while 2,676 pilgrims are mentioned under the private management system.The registration process for the 2027 Hajj began on July 27 and must be completed by September 24. Once registration is completed within the stipulated period, the final number of Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh will be communicated to the Saudi authorities.Following this, necessary procedures including the transfer of funds for the Saudi phase, health examinations, visa applications, vaccinations and Hajj training will be completed based on the final number of pilgrims.The Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested intending Hajj pilgrims, Hajj agencies, banks involved in Hajj-related activities and all concerned parties to complete the registration process within the stipulated deadline.Detailed information regarding Hajj registration and related matters is available on the Hajj-related website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
13 September 2026

Hasina’s daughter resigns as WHO regional director amid fraud allegations

Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director for Southeast Asia and daughter of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned on Wednesday amid fraud investigations by the UN agency and Bangladeshi authorities, according to her resignation letter seen by Reuters.Wazed’s resignation highlights how the fallout from Hasina’s ouster following a deadly uprising around mid-2024 has extended beyond her political allies to members of her family. Many of Hasina’s allies face criminal charges, including allegations of corruption in Bangladesh, while others, including Hasina, live in self-imposed exile.Wazed took office as WHO’s Southeast Asia regional director in early 2024 for a five-year term. The WHO placed her on unpaid administrative leave late last year. She was first sent on leave in July 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission, under the interim government that replaced Hasina, filed charges against her in March that year alleging fraud and forgery.According to a separate letter from Wazed’s lawyers to the WHO dated July 3, 2026, and seen by Reuters, the agency accused her of committing financial fraud related to travel to China and misrepresenting her academic credentials. Wazed has denied the allegations.The WHO also alleged that she had illegally acquired a plot of land in Bangladesh, according to her resignation letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Wazed said she had acquired the land before joining the WHO and was entitled to it under a Bangladeshi law covering the families of the country’s independence leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father.‘Loss of trust’: WazedIn her resignation letter, sent to Tedros late on Wednesday, Wazed said she had sincerely served the countries in her region since being elected to the position.“Since you continue to prevent me from effectively carrying out my duties, I have lost all trust and confidence in your leadership of WHO,” she wrote.She also said that after nearly a year without remuneration following the decision to place her on unpaid leave, her financial situation had become untenable. “In these circumstances, I am choosing to step aside,” she wrote.Wazed declined to comment further.The WHO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month, it said Wazed was on leave but declined to comment further on her case, citing confidentiality.WHO may hold fresh election in JanuaryTwo sources said earlier that the UN agency was planning to formally remove Wazed. One of them said the WHO would announce nominations for the position on October 12, vet applications in December and hold elections on January 24.The sources declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.Regional directors are among the world’s most influential health policy officials. Their responsibilities include responding to outbreaks and emergencies and adapting WHO policies to local conditions. They are elected every five years by member states, which include Bangladesh and India in the Southeast Asia region.In the July letter, Wazed’s lawyers denied the travel fraud allegation, saying it resulted from an administrative oversight by an assistant processing routine reimbursement requests and involved $901. Regarding the credentials allegation, Wazed said she held an honorary doctorate for her work on autism in Bangladesh and had been clear with Tedros about the qualification.Source: Reuters
10 September 2026

16 Students Fall Ill After Pesticide Spray in Hatiya

Peace spread after 16 students fell ill at Jorkhali High School in Tamruddi Union of Hatia Upazila of Noakhali. A day after the incident, an administration investigation revealed that the students fell ill after toxic fumes from Acemix pesticide sprayed in a paddy field next to the school entered the classroom.Hatia Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Russell Iqbal visited Jorkhali High School on Tuesday (September 8) morning to investigate the cause of the incident. He was accompanied by police, intelligence agency representatives and members of an expert medical team. Earlier, on Monday afternoon, 16 students of classes 6, 7 and 10 of the school suddenly fell ill in the classroom.According to school sources, 16 students suddenly fell ill after feeling dizzy, nauseous and restless while at school on Monday. Later, 13 of them were admitted to the hospital in an unconscious state. After the necessary treatment, everyone returned home at night. After recovering, they returned to school on Tuesday and participated in teaching normally.An expert medical team led by UNO Russell Iqbal visited Jorkhali High School on Tuesday morning to investigate the cause of the incident. During the inspection, the investigation team received information about pesticide spraying on a land to the west-northeast of the school. The investigation revealed that the toxic vapors mixed with the air and entered the classroom as the pesticide was sprayed on that land right next to the school. This caused physical reactions among the students and some of them became unconscious.Jorkhali High School Headmaster Md. Jasim Uddin said that yesterday's incident had created extreme panic among teachers and guardians. However, relief has returned as the real cause of the incident has been revealed with the immediate action of the administration. About 500 students study in the school. The 16 affected students have fully recovered after treatment and returned home and all of them attended class on Tuesday.UNO Russell Iqbal said that a farmer sprayed Acemix pesticide on that land on Monday. Later on Tuesday morning, the farmer brought the pesticide bottle from his house to the investigation team. It is clearly mentioned on the bottle that the strong smell or contact with such a liquid can cause dizziness, nausea, restlessness and loss of consciousness. The pesticide bottle and other evidence have been seized in this incident.Meanwhile, strict warnings and instructions have been given by the administration to avoid such incidents in the future. UNO Russell Iqbal said that no type of pesticide can be sprayed on the land adjacent to the school boundary during school hours. If pesticides are to be used around the school, it should be done only on holidays like Fridays and Saturdays.It is worth noting that on Monday afternoon, 16 students of classes 6, 7 and 10 suddenly fell ill in the classroom of Jorkhali High School in Tamruddi Union. Of them, 13 were admitted to the Hatia Upazila Health Complex in an unconscious state.
8 September 2026
PM arrives in New York to attend 81st UNGA session

PM arrives in New York to attend 81st UNGA session

NEW YORK, Sept 21: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on Monday evening to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with Bangladeshi expatriates and BNP leaders and activists staging various programmes to welcome him.A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage landed at John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport at 6:20pm local time after a stopover in Istanbul, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony told BSS.The Prime Minister was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam.He was then escorted by a motorcade to the Hyatt Grand Central New York, where he will stay during his visit.BNP leaders and activists and members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community gathered outside the airport and along the roads leading to the hotel, carrying banners, posters and festoons and chanting slogans to welcome the Prime Minister.As the motorcade passed through the streets, they waved at the Prime Minister, who reciprocated by waving back.Jackson Heights, a major hub of the Bangladeshi community in New York, was also decorated with banners, posters and festoons to welcome him.The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver his address to the UNGA on September 24.September 22According to the programme schedule, the Prime Minister’s engagements will begin with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government and their spouses at the UN Headquarters.He will then attend the opening session of the 81st UNGA and hold a series of bilateral and courtesy meetings, including with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, European Council President António Costa, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Meta Platforms’ Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan.In the evening, the Prime Minister and his wife will attend a reception hosted by the US President for heads of state and government and their spouses.September 23On September 23, the Prime Minister will attend a breakfast meeting with representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organisations at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN.He will later join a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability”.He will also participate in a high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition” at the UN Headquarters and is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson is also scheduled to call on the Prime Minister at his hotel, where a signing ceremony involving Bangladesh government representatives is also scheduled.September 24On September 24, the Prime Minister will attend a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise and deliver the opening remarks.He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and attend a high-level event titled “From Commitment to Action: Integrating Midwifery into Primary Health Care to End Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths”, where he will deliver the opening remarks.The Prime Minister will meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before attending the general debate of the 81st UNGA.He is scheduled to deliver his address at around 5:30pm New York time, although the timing may change. His allotted speaking time is 15 minutes.Following his UNGA address, the Prime Minister will attend a dinner hosted in his honour by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission.September 25On September 25, the Prime Minister will attend a breakfast meeting with Wall Street representatives hosted by JPMorgan at its headquarters in Manhattan.He will then hold a bilateral meeting with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and is scheduled to have a lunch meeting with Prince Zeid Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute.The Prime Minister will also meet BNP leaders in the United States before leaving New York for Dhaka at 11:00pm local time by Emirates flight EK202 via Dubai.He is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on September 27./bss
14 hrs ago
National

National

PM arrives in New York to attend 81st UNGA session

PM arrives in New York to attend 81st UNGA session

NEW YORK, Sept 21: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on Monday evening to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with Bangladeshi expatriates and BNP leaders and activists staging various programmes to welcome him.A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage landed at John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport at 6:20pm local time after a stopover in Istanbul, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony told BSS.The Prime Minister was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam.He was then escorted by a motorcade to the Hyatt Grand Central New York, where he will stay during his visit.BNP leaders and activists and members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community gathered outside the airport and along the roads leading to the hotel, carrying banners, posters and festoons and chanting slogans to welcome the Prime Minister.As the motorcade passed through the streets, they waved at the Prime Minister, who reciprocated by waving back.Jackson Heights, a major hub of the Bangladeshi community in New York, was also decorated with banners, posters and festoons to welcome him.The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver his address to the UNGA on September 24.September 22According to the programme schedule, the Prime Minister’s engagements will begin with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government and their spouses at the UN Headquarters.He will then attend the opening session of the 81st UNGA and hold a series of bilateral and courtesy meetings, including with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, European Council President António Costa, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Meta Platforms’ Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan.In the evening, the Prime Minister and his wife will attend a reception hosted by the US President for heads of state and government and their spouses.September 23On September 23, the Prime Minister will attend a breakfast meeting with representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organisations at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN.He will later join a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability”.He will also participate in a high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition” at the UN Headquarters and is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson is also scheduled to call on the Prime Minister at his hotel, where a signing ceremony involving Bangladesh government representatives is also scheduled.September 24On September 24, the Prime Minister will attend a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise and deliver the opening remarks.He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and attend a high-level event titled “From Commitment to Action: Integrating Midwifery into Primary Health Care to End Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths”, where he will deliver the opening remarks.The Prime Minister will meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before attending the general debate of the 81st UNGA.He is scheduled to deliver his address at around 5:30pm New York time, although the timing may change. His allotted speaking time is 15 minutes.Following his UNGA address, the Prime Minister will attend a dinner hosted in his honour by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission.September 25On September 25, the Prime Minister will attend a breakfast meeting with Wall Street representatives hosted by JPMorgan at its headquarters in Manhattan.He will then hold a bilateral meeting with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and is scheduled to have a lunch meeting with Prince Zeid Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute.The Prime Minister will also meet BNP leaders in the United States before leaving New York for Dhaka at 11:00pm local time by Emirates flight EK202 via Dubai.He is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on September 27./bss
14 hrs ago
International

International

Hasina’s daughter resigns as WHO regional director amid fraud allegations

Hasina’s daughter resigns as WHO regional director amid fraud allegations

Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director for Southeast Asia and daughter of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned on Wednesday amid fraud investigations by the UN agency and Bangladeshi authorities, according to her resignation letter seen by Reuters.Wazed’s resignation highlights how the fallout from Hasina’s ouster following a deadly uprising around mid-2024 has extended beyond her political allies to members of her family. Many of Hasina’s allies face criminal charges, including allegations of corruption in Bangladesh, while others, including Hasina, live in self-imposed exile.Wazed took office as WHO’s Southeast Asia regional director in early 2024 for a five-year term. The WHO placed her on unpaid administrative leave late last year. She was first sent on leave in July 2025 after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission, under the interim government that replaced Hasina, filed charges against her in March that year alleging fraud and forgery.According to a separate letter from Wazed’s lawyers to the WHO dated July 3, 2026, and seen by Reuters, the agency accused her of committing financial fraud related to travel to China and misrepresenting her academic credentials. Wazed has denied the allegations.The WHO also alleged that she had illegally acquired a plot of land in Bangladesh, according to her resignation letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Wazed said she had acquired the land before joining the WHO and was entitled to it under a Bangladeshi law covering the families of the country’s independence leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father.‘Loss of trust’: WazedIn her resignation letter, sent to Tedros late on Wednesday, Wazed said she had sincerely served the countries in her region since being elected to the position.“Since you continue to prevent me from effectively carrying out my duties, I have lost all trust and confidence in your leadership of WHO,” she wrote.She also said that after nearly a year without remuneration following the decision to place her on unpaid leave, her financial situation had become untenable. “In these circumstances, I am choosing to step aside,” she wrote.Wazed declined to comment further.The WHO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last month, it said Wazed was on leave but declined to comment further on her case, citing confidentiality.WHO may hold fresh election in JanuaryTwo sources said earlier that the UN agency was planning to formally remove Wazed. One of them said the WHO would announce nominations for the position on October 12, vet applications in December and hold elections on January 24.The sources declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.Regional directors are among the world’s most influential health policy officials. Their responsibilities include responding to outbreaks and emergencies and adapting WHO policies to local conditions. They are elected every five years by member states, which include Bangladesh and India in the Southeast Asia region.In the July letter, Wazed’s lawyers denied the travel fraud allegation, saying it resulted from an administrative oversight by an assistant processing routine reimbursement requests and involved $901. Regarding the credentials allegation, Wazed said she held an honorary doctorate for her work on autism in Bangladesh and had been clear with Tedros about the qualification.Source: Reuters
10 September 2026
Campus

Campus

Entrepreneurship Fair 2026 held at JKKNIU

Entrepreneurship Fair 2026 held at JKKNIU

Entrepreneurship Fair 2026 - Season 4 was successfully held at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) on Monday, August 31, with "Team Sparks" securing the championship title for their outstanding business pitch and creativity.Organized in association with the 4th batch of the university's Marketing Department, the event aimed to transform theoretical classroom concepts into practical business ventures. The initiative was guided by course instructor Kumar Biswazit Saha, who provided students with a platform to experience real-time entrepreneurial challenges, teamwork, and problem-solving.Dr Md Abdul Momen, Chairman of the Marketing Department at JKKNIU, attended the event as the chief guest. Professor M Mahbubar Rahman from the Department of Marketing at Rajshahi University served as the chief judge, offering valuable evaluations and practical industry feedback to the young participants.JKKNIU Marketing lecturers Mahmuda Akter and Sumona Akther Sumi were also present as honourable guests to encourage the competing teams.The fair concluded by celebrating the collective effort and innovative spirit of all participating students, leaving the campus community inspired and already looking forward to the next season.
8 September 2026
Web Story

Web Story

Election

Election

HSC and Equivalent Exams Postponed in All Districts Under Chattogram Board

HSC and Equivalent Exams Postponed in All Districts Under Chattogram Board

Due to adverse weather conditions, today's (Wednesday) HSC and equivalent exams have been postponed in all districts under the Chattogram Education Board.This was announced in an order signed late Tuesday night by Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman, Chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee.Earlier, two separate orders had postponed Wednesday's exams in Chattogram, Rangamati, and Cox's Bazar districts.Today's HSC and equivalent exams will proceed as scheduled under all other education boards except those under the Chattogram Board. The revised schedule for the postponed Chattogram Board exams will be announced later.
17 July 2026
New Leadership Elected at Haimchar Press Club Through Peaceful Voting

New Leadership Elected at Haimchar Press Club Through Peaceful Voting

17 July 2026
Cricket

Cricket

Bangladesh Beat Pakistan by 23 Runs to Move Up to Third

Bangladesh Beat Pakistan by 23 Runs to Move Up to Third

Powered by a cameo from batter Swarna Akter and impressive spells from left-arm spinners Sanjida Akter Meghla and Nahida Akter, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in their third Group 1 match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The victory lifted the Tigresses to third place in the standings with four points from three matches, keeping their semifinal hopes alive.Pakistan, meanwhile, are still winless after three games and are on the brink of elimination. Australia lead the group with six points from three matches. After winning the toss in Southampton, England, Bangladesh opted to bat first but found themselves in trouble early, losing their third wicket for just 13 runs in the fifth over.Captain Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary steadied the innings with a 35-run partnership off 29 balls for the fourth wicket. Sobhana scored 22 off 19 balls, hitting three boundaries. Nigar then added 24 runs off 29 balls with Ritu Moni and a further 20 runs off 19 balls alongside Swarna Akter. Ritu managed seven runs, while Nigar struck five fours in her 38-ball 36 before departing.With Bangladesh on 92 runs, Swarna launched a late assault to guide her side to a competitive total. Bangladesh finished on 123/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Swarna remained unbeaten on 39 off 22 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Rabeya Khan stayed not out on four. Fatima Sana claimed two wickets for Pakistan.Chasing 124, Pakistan got off to a solid start with an opening stand of 49 runs from 45 balls. Nahida Akter broke the partnership in the eighth over, triggering a collapse.Nahida and Meghla then wreaked havoc with their spin, reducing Pakistan from 49 without loss to 84 for eight. The duo accounted for eight wickets for just 35 runs as Pakistan's batting line-up crumbled.Pakistan eventually finished on 100/8 in 20 overs, with opener Muneeba Ali top-scoring with 25 runs. Nahida Akter returned figures of 3 for 18, while Meghla claimed 3 for 21. Swarna Akter was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 39 off 22 balls.Bangladesh will face India in their fourth group-stage match on June 25.
21 June 2026
Nationwide

Nationwide

Journalist Osman Gani Elected Enthusiastic Education Member of Mehar Govt Primary School

Journalist Osman Gani Elected Enthusiastic Education Member of Mehar Govt Primary School

Osman Gani, a prominent journalist and columnist, has been elected as the Enthusiastic Education Member (Bidyutsahi Sodosyo) of the Managing Committee of No. 53 Mehar Government Primary School in Chandina Upazila, Cumilla. He was unanimously nominated for this position during a special meeting of the school's managing committee.According to local sources, Osman Gani has long been playing an important role in social development and the promotion of quality education through his journalism and column writing. He holds a strong reputation in the area as an education patron and social worker. He has been included in this role to strengthen educational management, overall student development, and infrastructural growth at Mehar Government Primary School.Upon assuming his new responsibilities, Osman Gani stated, "Quality primary education is the foundation of a prosperous society. I am committed to working together with teachers, parents, and local dignitaries to transform Mehar Government Primary School into one of the best educational institutions in the upazila. Special efforts will be made to ensure regular attendance, prevent dropouts, and enhance the overall quality of education."Teachers, students, and local guardians expressed relief and satisfaction over his inclusion in the school managing committee. They voiced optimism that his strong leadership and direction will bring a positive change to the school's educational activities and developmental endeavors.
17 July 2026