United News of Bangladesh

Cumilla Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Mohammad Saiful Malik passed away on Thursday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. He breathed his last at 6:22 am, said Touhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge of Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station. According to district police sources, Saiful Malik suffered a brain stroke a few days ago. He was initially treated at Cumilla Modern Hospital before being transferred to Green Life Hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment. He was later shifted to Evercare Hospital, where he underwent surgery. Mohammad Saiful Malik was the son of freedom fighter Abul Kalam of Hajiganj Upazila in Chandpur. He joined the Bangladesh Police in 2016 as a member of the 34th BCS (Police) cadre. Following the July Movement, he joined the Cumilla district police as Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) on December 31, 2024. Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md. Anisuzzaman, along with members of the district police, expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul.

Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu, lawmaker from the Mymensingh-10 (Gafargaon-South Gafargaon) constituency, on Thursday said the long-neglected Gafargaon and South Gafargaon would undergo a visible transformation within the next three years not five years. "We want to work together to build a humane, modern and livable Gafargaon for the next generation," he said while addressing a views-exchange meeting titled "Development and Progress of South Gafargaon" at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The programme was organised by the South Gafargaon Upazila Forum. Bachchu said his team is working relentlessly and maintaining regular coordination with different government departments to implement development projects without delay. Speakers at the meeting claimed that South Gafargaon has witnessed visible development over the past five months, describing it as unprecedented since Bangladesh's independence. They said progress in education, healthcare and communications has accelerated following initiatives to establish the South Gafargaon Upazila and stressed the need to maintain unity to sustain the development momentum. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman Sohel said the current lawmaker had fulfilled the long-standing demand for establishing the South Gafargaon Upazila within just four months. He described Bachchu as a sincere representative and expressed hope that he would ensure transparency in the construction of the upazila complex and other development projects. Former BGAPMEA President Md. Moazzem Hossain Moti said the proposed site selected by the government for the South Gafargaon Upazila Parishad was appropriate. He also emphasised the need to ensure that the upazila headquarters remains well connected to every union and village to facilitate access to public services. Presiding over the event, former Assistant Attorney General Advocate Ashraf-uz-Zaman congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for fulfilling what he described as the long-cherished aspiration of the people of Gafargaon. He also called for effective measures to ensure the upazila's development, create a corruption- and drug-free environment, and prevent erosion of the Brahmaputra River. The programme was moderated by Ekushey Television News Producer Anwarul Qayyum Kajal. Among others present were former Senior Secretary Dr. Ahmed Munirus Salehin, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) President and UNB Deputy Editor Masudul Hoque, former Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director Prof. Dr. Sirajul Haque, Joint Secretary Hemayet Hossain, former Titas Gas GM Faizul Bari Golap, and former Assistant Superintendent of Police Hammad Hossain Nayan.  

An Awami League leader died while undergoing treatment after falling ill in Sirajganj District Jail on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Babul Mondal, 52, Forest and Environment Affairs Secretary of the Ratankandi Union unit Awami League and son of Ramzan Ali of Purba Bahuka village in Sadar upazila. Babul had been suffering from physical ailments since his admission to the jail. He fell seriously ill on Wednesday night and was taken to the 250-bed Sirajganj General Hospital, where he died on Thursday morning, said Sirajganj Jail Super Rafiqul Islam. The AL leader was arrested on June 21 in connection with assault and explosives cases filed with Sadar Police Station after August 5, 2024. He was sent to jail by a court the following day. The body was handed over to his family in the afternoon, said Jail Super Rafiqul. Earlier, on July 15, Aminul Islam, 47, a Jubo League leader from Belkuchi upazila, also died after falling ill in Sirajganj District Jail.

Police recovered the body of a nurse from a private hospital in Bagerhat's Sharankhola upazila on Thursday morning. The deceased was identified as Hasina Khanam, 34, a nurse at Grameen General Hospital located at Rayenda Five-Road intersection. She was the wife of Jasim Hawlader of Uttar Tafalbari village in the upazila. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rokeya Khanom of Sharankhola Police Station said Hasina had been resting in a room at the hospital. Hospital staff alerted police after receiving no response despite repeatedly calling her from outside the room. Police later broke open the door and rescued her before taking her to the Sharankhola Upazila Health Complex, where the attending physician declared her dead. The OC said a syringe was found in Hasina's left hand and there were injection marks on her body. According to the preliminary findings, investigators suspect she may have used an anesthetic drug, commonly administered to sedate patients, for intoxication. Police also learned initially that she had been struggling with substance abuse, the OC added. The body has been sent to the Bagerhat 250-bed District Hospital morgue for an autopsy. An unnatural death case has been filed, and further legal action will be taken after the autopsy report is received, the OC said.

A man who was stabbed allegedly by his rivals in Jashore city died early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Jitu, 35, son of Sirajul Islam and a resident of Mollapara in Barandipara area of the city. He was accused in several criminal cases, police said. Police said a group of unidentified people attacked Jitu with sharp weapons, leaving him injured around 11 pm near Phultala intersection in Barandipara allegedly over previous enmity.  After receiving call through 999, Kotwali Police rescued him in a critical condition and admitted him to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. As his condition deteriorated doctors referred him to Dhaka for advanced care but he succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhaka. His body has been kept at the morgue of Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. Kazi Babul, Inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station said police are investigating killing and working to identify and arrest those involved. Legal proceedings are underway, he added.

Students of Khulna University (KU) on Thursday locked the administrative building and shut all academic activities, demanding justice over allegation of video recording through a hidden camera inside a female dormitory washroom. The protest followed an incident on Wednesday night when students of Bijoy '24 Hall found a mobile phone set hidden inside a washroom in a female dormitory. They later detained Imam Hasan, 24,  son of the hall canteen owner who had been working at the canteen for around two years, accusing him of secretly recording videos. Students said they became suspicious after spotting the mobile phone in the washroom around 10:30 pm on Wednesday. They alleged that several secretly recorded videos were found on his phone. Students further claimed that Imam had been secretly recording videos through the washroom ventilator for a long time and sharing them in various Telegram groups. They also alleged that his wife was aware of the activities. The incident triggered anger and concern among the hall's residential students over their safety. Students announced a protest rally at Hadi Chattar 12 pm, demanding a fair investigation and exemplary punishment  of those responsible. The protesters alleged that despite several hours passing after the incident, the university administration has not taken any effective action. They also claimed that previous allegations of sexual harassment involving university teachers has not been properly addressed. The students declared that all academic and administrative activities would remain suspended until a fair investigation is completed and those responsible are brought to justice. Contacted for comment, Bijoy 24 Hall Provost Prof Dr Selina Ahmed said the matter is under investigation. "The investigation is ongoing. It would not be appropriate to comment before it is completed. Necessary information and actions will be shared after the investigation report is received," she said.

A youth was killed in a fire that broke out at a Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) dealer's warehouse in Nachole upazila of Chapainawabganj on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Nayan Ali, 18, a van driver and son of Abbas Ali of Hatbakail village in the upazila. Md Emdadul Haque, Acting Station Officer of Nachole Fire Service and Civil Defence said the fire broke out around 8:30 pm on the ground floor warehouse of a two-storey building in Hatbakail. On receiving the information, firefighters rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after about 30 minutes. During the rescue operation, they recovered Nayan's charred body from the warehouse. The fire might have originated from an electrical short circuit, according to a preliminary assessment by the Fire Service. Emdadul Haque said TCB goods worth around Tk 1.5 lakh were damaged in the fire, while products valued at about Tk 10 lakh were salvaged. Officer-in-Charge of Nachole Police Station Sukomal Chandra Debnath said Nayan died while trying to extinguish the fire. Legal action will be taken in connection with the incident, the OC added.

The district administration has decided to remove the existing sculpture of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman in Jhenaidah and replace it with a new one that more accurately reflects the War of Liberation hero's appearance. The new sculpture is expected to be installed and unveiled at a suitable location in the town before Victory Day to be celebrated on December 16. The decision was taken at a preparatory meeting held with Deputy Commissioner Md Noman Hossain in the chair at his office. Officials, family members of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman, freedom fighters, journalists and representatives of political and social organisations attended the meeting. A 15-member committee has been formed to finalise the design of the new sculpture and recommend a suitable installation location. During the meeting, members of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman's family and representatives of freedom fighters expressed dissatisfaction with the existing sculpture, saying it did not resemble the war hero and remained incomplete since its construction in 2019. They also alleged that the structure deteriorated over time and that the surrounding area has become a gathering place for anti-social activities. According to participants, the previous project was marred by irregularities and negligence, which they described as disrespectful to the memory of the Bir Shrestha. The district administration said the new initiative aims to correct past mistakes by constructing a sculpture that accurately portrays Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman, allowing future generations to recognise and honour his contribution to the country's War of Liberation. The administration said work on the project will begin after the committee finalises the site and submits its recommendations, with the goal of unveiling the sculpture ahead of this year's Victory Day.

A physician at Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex in Jhenaidah has been accused of neglecting official duties by leaving the hospital during working hours, using a pharmaceutical company's medical representative (MR) for personal agricultural work and allegedly prescribing medicines from low-quality companies in return. According to allegations, Dr Arun Kumar Mondal, a dermatologist and venereologist, signed the attendance register at the health complex on Wednesday morning but left the hospital around 9:00am instead of attending patients. He allegedly travelled about four kilometres to his farmland at Narendrapur by the Mallikpur Road with a medical representative, identified as Maruf Hossain, and assigned him to carry out gardening and other agricultural work. A local resident, Kamruzzaman, alleged that this was not an isolated incident, claiming the doctor had previously used pharmaceutical representatives for personal household work at his residence in Jashore. He also alleged that the doctor prescribed medicines from certain pharmaceutical companies without medical necessity in exchange for such favours. A visit to the health complex found that Arun Kumar returned to the hospital nearly two hours later after completing the work at his farmland and resumed seeing patients. During that time, medical representatives of pharmaceutical companies were seen irregularly managing patient queues outside his chamber. Contacted, the physician acknowledged taking the representative with him but said it was not a regular practice. "I do not do this regularly. I went out with the medical representative for a specific reason," he said. Kaliganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Amanullah Al Mamun said such alleged irregularities and professional misconduct in a public healthcare facility are unacceptable and that the matter will be reported to the higher authorities. Jhenaidah Civil Surgeon Dr Md Kamruzzaman said he learned of the allegations and necessary action will be taken following investigation.

Four people suffered burn injuries as a gas cylinder exploded at a CNG filling station in Tilagarh area of Sylhet city on Tuesday. The injured were Abu Sayeed, 20 and Abu Sufian, 22, both employees of the filling station and Jewel, 20 and Habib, 22. A gas cylinder exploded with a big bang around 7am at Al Jalal CNG Filling Station under Shahporan Police Station when a bus was being refueled with compressed natural gas, leaving four people injured, said Mizanur Rahman, manager of Al Jalal CNG Filling Station. The injured were taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and later shifted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka around 12:30am on Wednesday. Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, resident medical officer of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Abu Sayeed sustained 15 percent burn injuries, Abu Sufian 9 percent, Jewel 12 percent and Habib 5 percent.