Friday, 10 July 2026
The Dhaka News

Autopsy Reveals Signs of Brutal Torture on Child Victim of Rape and Murder in West Bengal

The preliminary autopsy report on a child who was raped and murdered in Baruipur, West Bengal, has revealed a horrific picture of torture. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has ordered exemplary punishment for those responsible. He visited the site of the incident in Baruipur and the deceased child's home on Tuesday. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and current opposition leader Mamata Banerjee has been granted permission to hold a protest march in Kolkata against the incident.South 24 Parganas police said that, according to the preliminary autopsy report, more than 28 injury marks were found on the minor's body. Water was found in her stomach, indicating she was alive when thrown into the pond. She died from drowning and excessive bleeding from a head wound. Scratch and bite marks, signs of injury, and evidence of blood clotting in the brain were also found on various parts of her body. The exact cause of death will be confirmed once the forensic report is received.According to local sources and police, the child was forcibly abducted by four young men on Saturday afternoon while on her way to a friend's house. She was taken to a shed by a pond, where she was tortured and raped. When the child appeared close to death, the perpetrators attempted to put her in a plastic bag; when the bag tore, they threw her directly into the pond. Her body was recovered from the pond the following morning, Sunday. Police have arrested three accused  Anand Sardar, Prabhas Mondal, and Dibakar Sardar  in connection with the incident.On Tuesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur and spoke with the deceased child's parents. He assured them that no one involved in this heinous crime would be spared and that all perpetrators would receive exemplary punishment. He later also met with the family of another young man named Prasenjit at the Baruipur Superintendent of Police's (SP) office. It was initially reported that Prasenjit died after being lynched by an angry mob following the recovery of the child's body, but police later said he was killed by five young men in a dispute that arose over a game.Meanwhile, the Trinamool Youth and Students Congress had filed a petition with the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a protest march in Kolkata on Wednesday, July 8, against the Baruipur incident. Calcutta High Court Justice Sougata Bhattacharya granted permission for the march on Tuesday, subject to certain conditions. The march will begin at Ballygunge outpost at 2:30 PM and conclude at Hazra crossing at 4:30 PM. Per the court's order, the march must proceed along one side of the road, and no more than one thousand people may participate. Former Chief Minister and Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee is expected to take part in this protest march.
8 July 2026

Boro Kuthi to be handed over to Rajshahi University: Minu

Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu today announced a grant of Tk 10 lakh for the development of Rajshahi University (RU) and assured that Boro Kuthi, the birthplace of the university, would be handed over to the institution.He was addressing a discussion marking the university's 73rd founding anniversary as the chief guest.Announcing the financial assistance, the minister said, "In the name of my father, Faiz Rahman, I will donate Tk 10 lakh for the development of Rajshahi University within a week."Minu said Rajshahi University had played an undeniable role in the country's anti-fascist movement and democratic struggles."Many graduates of this university are now serving with distinction across the world. I pay my respects to the late Madar Bakhsh, who made the greatest contribution to the establishment of the university. I also express my gratitude to all those who contributed to its founding," he said.The minister said the university's Vice-Chancellor had placed several demands before him, reiterating his longstanding support for the institution."I have always been a well-wisher of Rajshahi University. President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia visited this university and made significant contributions to the welfare of its students," he said.Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Education Minister were also committed to the development of Rajshahi University, he added."I hope all existing challenges, including those related to residential halls and academic buildings, will be resolved soon. I will place these issues before the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity," he said.Referring to the university's upcoming milestone, the minister said, "The university will celebrate its 75th founding anniversary in two years. I will invite Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the event and I hope he will be present."He also said the Vice-Chancellor had requested government intervention to reclaim Boro Kuthi for the university."I will place this matter, along with the issues concerning the university's halls, academic buildings and other development needs, before the Prime Minister," he added.Among others, former Vice-Chancellor Professor Faisul Islam Faruqi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Abdul Alim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Mamunur Rashid, MP Shafiqul Haque Milon, Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, university teachers, officials, staff, students and invited guests attended the programme.
6 July 2026

Modern Infrastructure Vital for Fast Public Services, Says State Minister

Delivering fast, transparent, and reliable government services requires modern administrative infrastructure, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury said today.Speaking at the inauguration of the newly expanded administrative building and hall room at the Fulbaria Upazila Parishad, Choudhury stated that the government is continuously working to strengthen administrative capacity at the upazila level to ensure better public service delivery across the country.According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), construction on the extended facility began in January 2024 and was completed at a cost of Tk 8.07 crore.Following the inauguration, the state minister planted several saplings on the complex grounds. He used the occasion to highlight Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s nationwide initiative to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, urging local residents and institutions to participate in the effort to maintain Bangladesh's environmental balance.The event was attended by local government officials and political figures, including Members of Parliament Nilofar Chowdhury Moni and Kamrul Hasan Milon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahidul Islam Sohag, and Fulbaria Upazila BNP Convener Aktarul Alam Faruk, along with other local representatives.
5 July 2026
Chandina Municipality roads in poor condition, people in suffering

Chandina Municipality roads in poor condition, people in suffering

Days change, years turn, but the wheels of fate of the residents of Chandina Municipality seem to have stopped at one place. For a long time, the condition of the roads in this municipality has been so fragile that it has now become a cause of extreme suffering for the common people. Thousands of people are constantly suffering while moving on the dusty and potholed roads. However, no effective initiative is being seen from the authorities responsible for resolving this civic suffering, which is now the anger and dissatisfaction of the local residents.Although people can somehow move by blowing away the dust during the dry summer season, the situation suddenly goes out of control as soon as the monsoon arrives. With just a little rain, the roads turn into small canals. Far from vehicular movement, the common people had to walk. School and college students, office workers and businessmen have to face extreme hardships every day while traveling on the roads that have become clogged with mud and water. These roads have become death traps, especially for the elderly, children and pregnant women. There is no longer even the minimum environment left to take a patient to the hospital in case of emergency. Minor and major accidents occur almost every day when rickshaws or easy bikes overturn on the potholed roads.The main area of ​​concern for the residents of the municipality is the issue of their regular tax payments. The aggrieved common people claim that they have been paying taxes and other fees to the municipality regularly every year. As citizens, they are being continuously deprived of their rights to the state and the local government. Despite fulfilling their duties as taxpayers, the kind of civic amenities or services they were supposed to receive from the municipality are no longer as expected. Despite repeatedly going door to door with the demand for repairing the broken roads, no permanent solution is found. They have to spend their days listening only to assurances for years.The main condition of a modern municipality is an improved communication system and drainage. But in the case of Chandina Municipality, this basic need seems to have remained neglected. Due to the poor condition of the drainage system, rainwater accumulates on the roads for a long time, as a result of which the asphalt roads are quickly deteriorating and creating large potholes. This artificial waterlogging, which is created with a little rain, paralyzes public life in the entire area. Local traders said that due to the poor roads, they have to bear additional costs in bringing and taking their goods, and due to the poor condition of the transportation system, the number of buyers in the market has also decreased alarmingly. As a result, they are facing huge economic losses.The locals clearly stated that if they have to face basic problems like transportation even after paying taxes, then where is the point of this civic identity? They do not want to hear any more empty assurances or stories of long-term plans. The general public of Chandina Municipality now wants to see a sustainable and quick solution.In this situation, the backs of the municipality residents are now against the wall. Their humble and strong demand is that the municipal authorities should come forward to solve this public problem very quickly without further delay. To relieve the people from the terrible suffering of mud and water during the monsoon and to ensure normal movement of people, the roads should be renovated on an urgent basis. As a responsible local government institution, Chandina Municipality will correctly assess the taxes of the people and take quick and effective steps to bring smiles back to the faces of the residents, this is now the only hope of the general public of the entire municipality.
9 July 2026
National

National

Bangladesh, Tajikistan Emphasize Diversifying Bilateral Relations

Bangladesh, Tajikistan Emphasize Diversifying Bilateral Relations

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has emphasized building a more diversified and institutionalized foundation for bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Tajikistan. He called for strengthening mutual cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, connectivity, tourism, and cultural exchange.Tajikistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Idibek Kalandar held a courtesy meeting with the Foreign Minister on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the first-ever Foreign Office Consultations held between the two countries. During the meeting, both sides discussed various issues of mutual interest and agreed to expand cooperation.In the discussion, Tajikistan's Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized building institutional frameworks —such as memorandums of understanding and various agreements  to expand bilateral cooperation. Both sides reached consensus on quickly finalizing agreements on trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchange, visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders, tourism development, avoidance of double taxation, investment protection and promotion, and industrial sector cooperation.Describing the current volume of bilateral trade as very limited, the Foreign Minister emphasized increasing private sector engagement and mutual visits by business delegations to tap into the untapped potential.The meeting also discussed the possibility of establishing permanent diplomatic missions in each other's capitals, launching direct flight connectivity, simplifying visa processes, increasing people-to-people contact, organizing exhibitions of each country's exportable products, facilitating bilateral trade and investment, and ensuring the effective movement of goods, labor, and services.Emphasis was also placed on strengthening the activities of the joint working group on trade and economic cooperation, and on the need to increase effective engagement between the two countries' parliaments and business organizations. The Foreign Minister welcomed the proposal to form a Bangladesh-Tajikistan Parliamentary Friendship Group aimed at increasing regular contact between members of parliament.Dr. Khalilur Rahman thanked Tajikistan for supporting Bangladesh's candidacy for the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly. Both countries also agreed to continue mutual cooperation at various international and regional forums, including the UN and the OIC. Discussions at the meeting also touched on several important regional and global issues.Considering the strategic importance of South and Central Asia, they also discussed expanding broader inter-regional connectivity. During this discussion, Tajikistan's Deputy Foreign Minister expressed positive support for Bangladesh's interest in obtaining membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
9 July 2026
International

International

Trump Warns of Even More Devastating Strikes on Iran

Trump Warns of Even More Devastating Strikes on Iran

Military tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated to an extreme once again. President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran does not halt its attacks, US strikes will become far more devastating.Posting on social media on Wednesday, July 8, local time, along with several images and videos taken in the aftermath of strikes on Iran, Trump said the strikes were retribution for Iran's bombing of ships the previous day (Tuesday), warning that if it happens again, the situation will become "much worse."David Des Roches, a former NATO operations director at the Pentagon, told Al Jazeera that the US retaliatory strikes came mainly in response to Iranian attacks on neutral civilian vessels operating in Omani waters.He said that under the memorandum of understanding, the US side's obligation was to lift the blockade on Iranian ports and withdraw sanctions on oil sales — which Washington did — while Iran's condition was not to obstruct civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. However, he said Iran attacked civilian ships in an apparent attempt to impose new rules asserting its dominance over the waterway, which was unacceptable to Trump. Des Roches added that a rebel faction within Iran's Revolutionary Guard could potentially have carried out the ship attacks in order to derail the diplomatic process.Meanwhile, in response to the US strikes, Mohsen Rezaee, military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, issued a stern warning on social media platform X by posting a verse from the Holy Quran, writing that the enemy and its collaborators would be severely punished.Regarding damage inside Iran, state television reported that at least eight loud explosions were heard in the city of Bandar Abbas. Additionally, two missiles struck the port of Sirik, while two others exploded near the port of Jask.According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, loud explosions were also heard in the southeastern city of Iranshahr.Fars News Agency also reported that US strikes on the port of Chabahar damaged a maritime traffic control system and a depot. According to ISNA news agency, of the three power lines disconnected in Chabahar due to US airstrikes, local authorities have already managed to restore two.
9 July 2026
Campus

Campus

Boro Kuthi to be handed over to Rajshahi University: Minu

Boro Kuthi to be handed over to Rajshahi University: Minu

Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu today announced a grant of Tk 10 lakh for the development of Rajshahi University (RU) and assured that Boro Kuthi, the birthplace of the university, would be handed over to the institution.He was addressing a discussion marking the university's 73rd founding anniversary as the chief guest.Announcing the financial assistance, the minister said, "In the name of my father, Faiz Rahman, I will donate Tk 10 lakh for the development of Rajshahi University within a week."Minu said Rajshahi University had played an undeniable role in the country's anti-fascist movement and democratic struggles."Many graduates of this university are now serving with distinction across the world. I pay my respects to the late Madar Bakhsh, who made the greatest contribution to the establishment of the university. I also express my gratitude to all those who contributed to its founding," he said.The minister said the university's Vice-Chancellor had placed several demands before him, reiterating his longstanding support for the institution."I have always been a well-wisher of Rajshahi University. President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia visited this university and made significant contributions to the welfare of its students," he said.Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Education Minister were also committed to the development of Rajshahi University, he added."I hope all existing challenges, including those related to residential halls and academic buildings, will be resolved soon. I will place these issues before the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity," he said.Referring to the university's upcoming milestone, the minister said, "The university will celebrate its 75th founding anniversary in two years. I will invite Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the event and I hope he will be present."He also said the Vice-Chancellor had requested government intervention to reclaim Boro Kuthi for the university."I will place this matter, along with the issues concerning the university's halls, academic buildings and other development needs, before the Prime Minister," he added.Among others, former Vice-Chancellor Professor Faisul Islam Faruqi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Abdul Alim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Mamunur Rashid, MP Shafiqul Haque Milon, Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, university teachers, officials, staff, students and invited guests attended the programme.
6 July 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.
27 April 2026
New Leadership Elected at Haimchar Press Club Through Peaceful Voting

New Leadership Elected at Haimchar Press Club Through Peaceful Voting

27 April 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

Modern Infrastructure Vital for Fast Public Services, Says State Minister

Modern Infrastructure Vital for Fast Public Services, Says State Minister

Delivering fast, transparent, and reliable government services requires modern administrative infrastructure, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury said today.Speaking at the inauguration of the newly expanded administrative building and hall room at the Fulbaria Upazila Parishad, Choudhury stated that the government is continuously working to strengthen administrative capacity at the upazila level to ensure better public service delivery across the country.According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), construction on the extended facility began in January 2024 and was completed at a cost of Tk 8.07 crore.Following the inauguration, the state minister planted several saplings on the complex grounds. He used the occasion to highlight Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s nationwide initiative to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, urging local residents and institutions to participate in the effort to maintain Bangladesh's environmental balance.The event was attended by local government officials and political figures, including Members of Parliament Nilofar Chowdhury Moni and Kamrul Hasan Milon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahidul Islam Sohag, and Fulbaria Upazila BNP Convener Aktarul Alam Faruk, along with other local representatives.
27 April 2026