DHAKA, April 17, 2026 (BSS) - The namaz-e-janaza of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman was held this afternoon following Jumma prayers at the Secretariat Residence (Sajib Nibash) premises at Eskaton area in the city.  Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari were present at the janaza.  Among others, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Gani, and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land A S M Saleh Ahmed were also present.  Secretary Mahbubur Rahman passed away at 6:25am while undergoing treatment at Square Hospital in the capital.  He had been admitted to the hospital on April 13 after falling ill. Medical examinations during his stay in intensive care revealed he was suffering from malaria, which had caused his blood platelet count to drop to a critical level. Family sources have confirmed that the late Secretary will be laid to rest in the Gacha area of Gazipur district. 

KHULNA, April 17, 2026 (BSS) - A discussion meeting on public welfare  activities and the inauguration of an arsenic removal filter were held in  Khulna today. The programme was organised on Friday at Shaheed Hadis Park in the city by  the non-government organisation ADAMS Foundation with the assistance of donor  agency Bridge of Light, Germany. A 30-liter capacity arsenic removal filter, jointly developed by ADAMS  Foundation, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), and  Japan's Ritsumeikan University, was inaugurated at the event. Speakers said Bridge of Light, Germany has been financing various welfare- oriented projects in Bangladesh for the past 40 years through ADAMS  Foundation and other stakeholders. These initiatives include establishment of technical training centers to  enhance youth skills, construction of 10-bed hospitals in remote rural areas,  implementation of renewable technologies to face climate change impacts,  promotion of human and civic rights through awareness and human resource  development under the 'Community Forum' project, and assistance during  disasters such as Cyclone Sidr, Cyclone Aila and the COVID-19 pandemic. Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Khulna Agricultural University Professor Dr Md Nazmul  Ahsan attended the event as the chief guest. Among others, Khulna University Architecture Discipline Head and Acting Dean  of Fine Arts School Prof Dr Sheikh Sirajul Hakim, KUET Civil Engineering Prof  Dr Hamidul Bari, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Chief Executive Officer Rajib  Ahmed, Managing Director of Bridge of Light, Germany Holger Tricho, former  mayor of the KCC and trustee of Community Forum Bir Muktijoddha Mohammad  Moniruzzaman Moni, and Community Forum Central Committee President Sheikh  Kamruzzaman spoke as special guests. Executive Director of ADAMS Foundation S M Ali Aslam presided over the event. A discussion was also held in memory of the late founders of the donor  agency-- Friedel Klipp and Methilde von Luninck Klipp. Presidents, general secretaries and members of Community Forums from  different wards of the city, along with youth forum members and officials and  staff of ADAMS Foundation's urban healthcare, climate and other projects,  were present at the event.