United News of Bangladesh

Bus services from Nathullabad Bus Terminal in Barishal remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Monday (November 17), leaving thousands of commuters grappling with the crisis. The bus operations on 23 intra-district routes have been halted since Saturday night (November 15) after students of BM College allegedly vandalised over 150 buses following a clash with the transport works over half fare. According to bus owners, not a single vehicle was left in operable condition, making it impossible to resume operations. “Almost all our buses were damaged. We have asked the college authorities for compensation. Only after receiving it, we can repair the vehicles and return them to the road,” said Mosharraf Hossain, president of Barishal District Bus Owners’ Group. The deadlock began on Saturday night when a dispute broke out over a bus refusing to offer a student half fare. Several hundred BM College students allegedly stormed the terminal and smashed buses, the terminal building and ticket counters. Bus services cut off in Barishal after clash, 150 vehicles vandalised Since the suspension began on Sunday morning, passengers have suffered severe disruption. During a visit to the terminal on Monday, many were seen returning home in frustration, while others attempted to reach their destinations using three-wheelers or motorbikes. However, long-distance routes, including Barishal–Dhaka services, continue to operate normally.

Several crude bombs went off at different points in the capital on Sunday evening (November 16), heightening tension on the eve of the verdict in the cases against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others accused of crimes against humanity during last year’s July–August uprising. Around 9pm, two crude bombs exploded in front of the Central Road residence of Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources. However, no one was injured in the incident. Witnesses said unidentified miscreants hurled the bombs and fled the scene immediately after the explosions. Read more: BTV to broadcast live verdict on Hasina in July Uprising case Earlier, around 7:30pm, two crude bombs also went off near the Saarc Fountain intersection in Karwan Bazar. In a separate incident, two more explosions occurred minutes before 10pm in the Mohakhali Kacha Bazar and Amtoli areas. Police said no one was hurt. The series of explosions came a day ahead of Monday’s (November 17) scheduled verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal in the trial of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over allegations linked to last year’s July uprising. Amid the tense political climate, the Awami League last week announced a nationwide “lockdown” programme. Since November 10, incidents of arson attacks on buses and trains, along with crude bomb explosions in Dhaka and other districts, have occurred amid tight security. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has requested the Bangladesh Army to deploy troops to bolster security around the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) ahead of Monday’s verdict. Besides, BGB personnel have been deployed in Dhaka, Gopalganj, Faridpur, and Madaripur districts to maintain overall security and ensure law and order. Read more: Nation on alert as ICT set to deliver verdict in Hasina’s case

A 35-year-old man was shot and hacked to death by miscreants in the Sonadanga area of Khulna city, reportedly over a previous enmity. The victim was identified as Alauddin Mridha, son of Mona Munshi of the area.  The incident occurred around 8pm on Sunday near Karimnagar Syed Ali Hossain School under Sonadanga Police Station. Sumon Hawlader, sub-inspector of Sonadanga Model Police Station, confirmed the death but did not provide further details about the incident.

Jashore Superintendent of Police Rawnak Jahan has directed the Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station to take swift and necessary steps to conduct a DNA test on Afia, a newborn with albinism. OC Abul Hasnat said, “The Superintendent of Police has given me several instructions regarding Afia, including initiating a quick DNA test.” “I have already spoken with the family, and they have agreed. An application will be filed in court through legal aid. Once the court order is received, Kotwali Police will provide all necessary assistance,” he added. Three-year-old Afia has been rejected by her father, who accuses his wife of infidelity — forcing the mother and child into a life of hardship in Jashore. The victim Monira Khatun, 27, is now living in hardship with her infant daughter, at her father’s dilapidated home in Bajuadanga Paschimpara under Ramnagar Union of Jessore Sadar upazila. Monira claimed that her husband Muzaffar Hossain, son of Majid Molla of Baulia Chandpara village, began accusing her soon after Afia’s birth on November 13, 2022, because the baby had milky white skin and light brown hair and eyebrows. “He kept saying the child wasn’t his and stopped communicating with me. After seven or eight months, he divorced me and left the country,” Monira told UNB. “If Afia is proven to be Muzaffar’s child, legal action will be taken against him for making false accusations, neglecting his wife and child, and abandoning them," police said.

Police recovered the bodies of a woman and her two young grandchildren from a house in the city’s Labanchora area on Sunday night, in what investigators are treating as a mysterious triple murder. The deceased were identified as Mahidunnesa, and her two grandchildren — Mustakim, 8, and Fatiha, 6. Police recovered the children’s bodies and sent them to Khulna Medical College Hospital, while the grandmother’s body remained at the house on Mukta Commissioner Kalvat Dorbesh Goli under Labanchora Police Station. Sub-Inspector Pishuj of Labanchora Police Station said the children’s parents both work full-time — the mother as a peskar at the Bagerhat District Registry Office and the father as a billing employee at the Khulna Chamber of Commerce. On Sunday morning, they left the two children in the care of their grandmother before leaving for work. When the parents returned home in the evening and knocked on the door, there was no response. With help from neighbours, they broke open the door and found Mahidunnesa lying dead inside the room. They immediately informed the police. Police later discovered the bodies of the two children in a nearby chicken shed adjacent to the house. Both had multiple injury marks on their bodies. The SI said the killings are believed to have taken place around midday. “We cannot yet confirm who carried out the murders or the motive behind them,” he added. Police say the incident appears “highly suspicious,” and an investigation is underway.

A passenger bus caught fire on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway in the Chaydana area of Gazipur city on Saturday evening due to an engine malfunction. The blaze erupted around 7:30 pm, burning all the seats of the bus. No injuries were reported, as both the driver and passengers were able to evacuate immediately after noticing the fire. According to local witnesses and police, flames suddenly broke out from the engine, prompting everyone onboard to escape. Fire service teams soon arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control. Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gacha Police Station (GMP), said the burnt bus was removed from the road after firefighters extinguished the flames. The traffic movement is normal now.

A local leader of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal was injured in a knife attack allegedly carried out by drug peddlers in the Masdair area of Narayanganj city on Saturday afternoon. The victim Md. Nahidur Rahman Parvez, is the organizing secretary of the Ward No. 13 unit of Krishak Dal. He also runs a grocery shop and an internet business. The incident occurred near Begum Rokeya School in Masdair. Narrating the attack, Parvez said he was returning from Masdair Bazar when he saw a man standing in front of the school. “At that moment, Buita Masud said, ‘Why are you staring at me?’ Moments later, he pulled out a weapon and tried to shoot me,” Parvez claimed. He added that Masud repeatedly questioned him, asking who he was. Soon after, Ripon allegedly approached from behind with a knife, and another man, Zahid, struck him on the head with an iron object. “Masud fired again, but luckily no bullet hit me,” he said. Parvez further claimed that Masud and his group are involved in drug dealing in the alley and believed he was watching them. “I was actually looking at someone else. I want justice,” he said. Parvez’s mother, Mokarima, also alleged that the attackers intended to kill her son and demanded justice. CCTV footage from the area shows four people attacking Parvez in the middle of the road, with one of them holding what appears to be a firearm. Anwar Hossain, inspector (Investigation) of Fatullah Police Station, said they have not found any evidence of gunfire. “Parvez was not shot, and neither witnesses nor locals reported hearing gunshots. However, something resembling a firearm is visible in the CCTV footage,” he added.

A violent clash erupted on Saturday evening at Barishal Central Nothullabad Bus Terminal between students and transport workers over student half-fare, leaving over 50 people injured and one bus set on fire. According to Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mamun Ul Islam, BM College students claimed around 25 of them were hurt in attacks by transport workers. Meanwhile, transport workers reported that 20–25 of their members were seriously injured during the confrontation, and more than 50 buses were vandalized. Transport worker leader Arju Mridha said the dispute began earlier in the day when a student traveling on the Barishal-Muladi route requested the half-fare, leading to an argument with a bus worker. Later in the evening, several hundred BM College students gathered at Nothullabad Stand, vandalized over fifty buses, set one on fire—which was later extinguished by the Fire Service—and caused extensive damage inside the terminal, injuring 15–20 transport workers. Students at the scene insisted half-fare is their right and said the clash escalated after a student was physically assaulted while traveling from Muladi to Barishal city. They accused transport workers of trying to blame students for the vandalism and fire. By around 8:45 pm, BM College teachers had calmed the agitated students, and the arrival of army personnel restored full order. OC Mamun Ul Islam confirmed that law enforcement remains at the site and the situation is now stable.

Sand pirates opened fire on locals who attempted to stop illegal sand extraction from the Meghna River in Bhola on Saturday, leaving four people injured — three of them with bullet wounds, police said. The injured were identified as Shajahan Mir, 70, Md. Ali, Apurba Patwari, and Shafiur Rahman. The attack occurred around 11:30 am in the Bhabanipur Char area of Meghna under Kachia Union in Bhola Sadar Upazila. Police and local resident A. Sattar said a dredger had been illegally extracting sand from an erosion-prone area outside the Meghna government sand mining zone since morning. More than a hundred locals in two trawlers blocked the dredger and notified district and upazila authorities. Police and magistrates were dispatched, but before they arrived, a group of armed sand miners in a speedboat attacked the protesters and opened fire. Locals later rescued them and took them to the Bhola 250-bed General Hospital. Hospital superintendent Dr. Taibur Rahman said three gunshot victims were admitted and are receiving proper treatment. All are out of danger. According to Sattar and Shajahan Mir, 6–7 armed men led by Choket Jamal and Shahin carried out the attack. However, Choket Jamal (Jamal Uddin Choket) denied the attack and the shooting, saying that there was a planned conspiracy against him. No sand is extracted from outside the government sand pit. Neither he nor his nephew were in the area at the time of the incident. Assistant Commissioner (Land) SM Mashiur Rahman said the shooting took place before officials reached the scene. The dredger has since been removed, and a case will be filed over the incident. Bhola Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Shahadat Md. Hachanain Parvez said police have launched an investigation and will take legal action against those involved.

No police officer with a controversial background will be assigned to leadership roles in the upcoming national election, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said on Saturday (November 15). “Although the list of controversial officers has not been prepared yet, SPs and DIGs of the respective districts are in the process of identifying them,” he told reporters at a press briefing at the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) lines. Earlier, the IGP attended an internal training programme aimed at preparing police personnel to conduct the next election in a fair and peaceful manner. He said people across the country are eagerly waiting to cast their votes, while the current interim government is committed to ensuring a free, impartial and credible election. Read more: Over 48,000 police officers complete election training: Police HQ Referring to controversies surrounding the last three national elections, the IGP said the police are undergoing extensive training to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated. “Some members of Bangladesh Police deviated from their duties or were compelled to make mistakes in the last three elections. This time, the training is focused on correcting those mistakes. Our members are motivated to help deliver a successful election.” He mentioned that the previous elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024 had drawn various forms of criticism. “Unfortunately, we were also subjected to that criticism because we were involved. We made mistakes—or were forced to make them. This time, we aim to avoid all bad practices, malpractices and biases, and fulfill the interim government’s promise of holding the most credible election.” On the issue of countering terrorism, the IGP said, they do not want to suppress terrorism through crossfire. “We want to maintain the rule of law by ensuring criminals are brought before the court. Every individual in society is a source of our strength. Policing cannot succeed through police efforts alone,” he added. Addressing concerns over cyber threats in the upcoming election, he admitted that law enforcement remains vulnerable. “Some people are making anything viral on social media using AI in the name of freedom of expression. We first inform the BTRC, which then notifies Meta. Sometimes Meta removes about 40 percent of such content, but not all. The police have limitations in this area.” Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Haider, Khulna Range DIG Md. Rezaul Karim, and senior officials from various units of the Khulna Division Police were present at the event. Read more: Effective election management foundation of credible democracy: CEC