United News of Bangladesh

A fire broke out at a jhut warehouse along the Dhaka–Narayanganj Link Road on Friday evening, damaging several nearby warehouses and shops. The fire erupted in the Sastapur area near the jail road and quickly spread to adjacent establishments, including a tea stall, a motorcycle shop and other warehouses, locals said. Three units of Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control around 8:45pm after about an hour of efforts. Witnesses said the fire originated at a jhut warehouse and intensified rapidly due to highly flammable garment waste, with flames rising high into the air. No casualties or injuries were reported till filing of this report, though multiple structures were damaged. Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Director Abdullah Al Arifin said their units working to fully douse the fire and further details would be provided later. The cause of the fire could not be immediately determined.

Police in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna have conducted a crackdown operation and arrested 21 leaders and activists of the banned Awami League, its student wing Chhatra League and youth wing Jubo League. The arrests were made early Friday (April 24) during a special anti-terror operation in the Mathurapur area of Sujanagar upazila. However, identities of the detainees could not be immediately confirmed. Police said all of them are supporters of Sujanagar Upazila Awami League president and former upazila chairman Abdul Wahab. Woman sent to jail on charges of killing 8 puppies in Pabna Mozzafar Hossain ,Sujanagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), said they were detained on charges of involvement in anti-social and subversive activities. Later, they were shown arrested in cases and sent to jail through court order. It is worth mentioning that on February 2, 2025, Abdul Wahab was arrested from the same Mathurapur area. However, after he was placed in a police van, local Awami League leaders and activists allegedly snatched him away forcefully, leaving eight police personnel injured in the process. He was re-arrested three days later on February 5. Police further said that after securing bail, Abdul Wahab has allegedly been trying to regain influence in Sujanagar area along with his supporters and continue subversive activities.

A woman was killed after being run over by a sand-laden truck in Jhenaidah on Friday afternoon. The accident occurred around 1:30pm in the Arappur Jamtala area of the district town. The deceased, Shammi Akter (40), was the wife of Mizanur Rahman from Minapara area in Kushtia district. She was travelling with her husband to her daughter’s house in Jhenaidah town from Kushtia when the incident took place. Fire Service official Abdur Razzak said the couple was travelling by motorcycle when Shammi Akter lost control and fell onto the road after reaching the Arappur Jamtala area. At that time, a sand-laden truck coming from behind ran her over, killing her on the spot. Fire Service personnel later recovered the body and handed it over to police. Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Samsul Arefin said the body was sent to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, adding that efforts are underway to identify the truck involved.

Bus services on all routes, including long-distance ones, were suspended in Chapainawabganj on Friday following a dispute between two transport workers’ unions over toll collection, causing severe public suffering. Passengers faced major inconvenience as buses stopped operating from the morning due to a work abstention called by one of the workers’ groups. Transport sources said a long-standing dispute between the Chapainawabganj District Truck, Tank Lorry and Covered Van Workers’ Union and the District Motor Workers’ Union over toll collection has escalated over time, with both groups allegedly collecting fees from buses operating on different routes. Rail link on Rahanpur-Rajshahi route resumes after 9hrs in Chapainawabganj Following the dispute, members of the Truck, Tank Lorry and Covered Van Workers’ Union began an indefinite work stoppage from the morning, resulting in a complete halt in bus movement. General Secretary of the Truck, Tank Lorry and Covered Van Workers’ Union, Anarul Islam Anar, said previously both organisations collected tolls through coordination at fixed rates. However, tensions escalated after a faction of the Motor Workers’ Union started separate toll collection in Haripur area of the municipality. He said the protest was launched against what they described as “unauthorised toll collection outside designated terminals.” Meanwhile, General Secretary of the District Motor Workers’ Union Abdul Rouf Julmat claimed their organisation is collecting tolls in line with regulations, while accusing the rival union of collecting fees beyond permitted limits. Chapainawabganj Additional Superintendent of Police A.N.M. Wasim Firoz said attempts were made to resolve the dispute through meetings between the two sides, but no agreement has been reached yet. He added that police are working to resolve the issue and have instructed both parties to refrain from illegal toll collection on roads.

A mobile court in Naldanga upazila of Natore on Friday seized 1,000 litres of illegally stored fuel and fined a trader in connection with the incident. The accused dealer, Mukul Hossain, was fined Tk 20,000. According to officials, the operation was conducted at a fuel dealer’s shop at Pirgacha Bazar. Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Ashikur Rahman led the drive, during which 500 litres of diesel and 500 litres of petrol were recovered from illegal storage. Following the seizure, the mobile court directed that the confiscated fuel be sold to farmers and motorcycle riders at government-fixed prices.

A Class VIII girl died under mysterious circumstances in Kholahati area of Gaibandha Sadar upazila, police said on Friday. The deceased was identified as Monalisa Akhter, 15, daughter of Hannan Mia of Paschim Komornoi area under Kholahati union. She was a student of local NG Modern High School. According to police and Kholahati Union Parishad Chairman Masum Hakkani, Monalisa had reportedly developed a relationship with a Class IX student of the same school. On Tuesday, the two allegedly left their homes together with the intention of getting married. Later, Monalisa’s family filed a general diary with Sadar Police Station over her disappearance. Following mediation by local representatives, Monalisa was brought back and taken to the nearby house of her elder sister Lima. On Thursday night, she suddenly fell seriously ill. Instead of taking her to hospital, the family reportedly called a local physician to the house for treatment. She died while undergoing treatment there. Additional Superintendent of Police Biplob Kumar Kundu said police visited the scene on Friday and sent the body to Gaibandha General Hospital for autopsy. He said the exact cause of death can be known after the post-mortem report.

A man was killed after being knocked down by a pickup van in the city’s Siddheswari area on Friday. The deceased was identified as Harun Or Rashid, 45, son of Tamij Uddin of Patka Kathalia area in Sadar upazila of Kishoreganj. He was a private car driver by profession. Harun was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 10:45am in a critical condition. He died while undergoing treatment at the One Stop Emergency Centre of the hospital’s Casualty Department. Private car owner Kazi Lutfor, who brought Harun to the hospital, said the victim was gossiping with some other drivers in front of their garage near Monwara Hospital while preparing to return to his residence at Tejgaon on completion of duty. Suddenly, a pickup van hit him violently, leaving him injured. Later, he died at hospital, he said. Police seized the pickup van and detained its driver.

The daily life has turned into a struggle for residents across 21 southern districts, including Khulna, due to frequent power outages amid an intense heatwave, largely driven by fuel shortages linked to the Middle East crisis. With temperatures soaring and electricity disappearing for hours at a stretch, common people, office-goers and students – particularly Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees – are bearing the brunt of the worsening crisis. Many residents say the frequent and prolonged power cuts in both day and night have left them frustrated and exhausted. Customers in different areas reported that electricity supply is frequently interrupted for hours at a stretch, with outages even during early morning and midnight periods. Md Mahfuz, a private bank employee at Shibbari intersection in Khulna city, on Thursday said repeated power disruptions were affecting office work. “I came to the office as usual in the morning, but power has already gone out three times by noon. Work gets disrupted every time. When electricity is available, we can work in comfort, but during outages the office becomes extremely hot and unbearable,” he said. Echoing Mahfuz, Nurjahan Khatun from Arash Nagar village in Dumuria upazila said the situation at home has become equally difficult. “The sun is scorching and the heat is unbearable. Electricity goes out 8 to 10 times a day. It comes for an hour or so and then disappears again. People are getting sick due to the heat, and electronic appliances are also being damaged,” she said. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Khulna office, the maximum temperature on Thursday was 37.5 degrees Celsius, compared to 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Officials said the ongoing heatwave is intensifying the discomfort. “Weather conditions indicate that the heatwave will continue today (Friday) as well, although there is a possibility of rain on April 25 or 26,” said Md Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the Khulna Met office. Officials from the West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL) claimed that the crisis has deepened due to a supply shortage. Md Abdul Majid, Chief Engineer (Energy, System Control and Services), said load-shedding has increased since Tuesday afternoon due to lower electricity supply. “We are getting less electricity supply, so we are forced to provide less. This situation is linked to fuel shortages triggered by the global situation,” he said. The WZPDCL is responsible for supplying electricity to 21 districts, covering parts of Khulna, Barishal, and Greater Faridpur regions. The company serves over 17,28,316 consumers in these areas. At 3:00pm on Thursday, the supply stood at 619 MW against a demand of 756 MW, resulting in a shortage of 182 MW. As the heatwave continues, residents say they see no immediate relief in sight, with both weather conditions and power shortages compounding their suffering. Meanwhile, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit on Thursday told Parliament that the government has decided to introduce a trial of 110 megawatts of load-shedding in the capital to ensure uninterrupted electricity for irrigation and reduce the urban-rural disparity.    

A clash broke out in Rajshahi on Thursday over the control of the Rajshahi district motor workers’ union office, leaving the area tense amid explosions, display of firearms and crude weapons, and widespread vandalism. The violence took place from around 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the city’s Shiroil Bus Terminal area. According to allegations, the takeover attempt was led by Rofiqul Islam Pakhi, convener of the city Jubo Dal and acting general secretary of the district motor workers’ union. Local and union sources said that following the fall of the previous Awami League government, Pakhi had assumed the role of acting general secretary replacing former leader Mahtab Hossain Chowdhury. However, tensions escalated after several workers were allegedly assaulted by Pakhi’s supporters over a trivial incident on Wednesday. In protest, agitated workers confined Pakhi, assaulted him and locked the union office, demanding immediate elections. On Thursday, rival groups of workers gathered in different parts of the city, with Pakhi’s opponents assembling in the Shiroil area and his supporters gathering near Railgate. Both sides were seen carrying rods, pipes and locally made weapons. Around 4:30pm, Pakhi, accompanied by BNP, Jubo Dal and labour wing activists, entered the Shiroil area with a procession of around 200 supporters. Eyewitnesses said his supporters exploded 5–6 crude bombs upon arrival, triggering panic in the area. As rival workers retreated under pressure, Pakhi’s group took control of the union office and vandalised several shops, building windows and multiple motorcycles. After about an hour of unrest, they returned to the Railgate area. Locals alleged that police were present at the scene but failed to take effective action during the violence, remaining largely silent observers. However, police were later reinforced in the area to prevent further escalation. Rofiqul Islam Pakhi claimed that “pro-Awami League labour leaders had locked the office using general workers” and said his group had “recovered the office.” He added that the situation is now under control. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Additional Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said both groups had left the area and the situation was now calm. Responding to allegations of police inaction, he said additional forces were deployed and assured that legal action would be taken after reviewing CCTV footage.

Two activists of Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision between two motorcycles in Brahmanbaria on Thursday evening. The deceased were identified as Md Rabbi, 32, son of Rafiq Mia of Shyamgram in Nabinagar upazila, and Mahim Khandaker, 26, son of Mobarak Hossain of Serampur. Among the injured is Chhatra Dal leader Yasin Arafat Rimon, who is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. According to locals, the accident occurred in front of Narui bridge when two motorcycles collided head-on, leaving five riders injured. They were rescued and taken to Brahmanbaria District Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared two of them dead. Dr Md Sifat, on duty at the emergency department of the 250-bed Brahmanbaria General Hospital, confirmed that the two victims were brought dead. The bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue. District Chhatra Dal Member Secretary Sameer Chakraborty rushed to the hospital after hearing the news and said the deceased were dedicated activists of the organisation.