United News of Bangladesh

A couple was killed after an unidentified vehicle ran them over while they were walking along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla early Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Nazrul Islam, 62,from Jinglatali village in the upazila, and his wife Jharna Begum, 48. According to locals, the couple had left their home in Jinglatali village after offering Fazr prayers and were walking along one side of the highway for their morning walk when an unidentified vehicle hit them around 7am near Haripur Mosque  and fled. About an hour later, other pedestrians spotted them and took them to Gouripur Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead. Their bodies were later handed over to their family members. Officer-in-Charge of Daudkandi Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Prem Lal Das said police would examine CCTV footage along the highway to see whether the vehicle involved could be identified.

Police recovered the body of a 70-year-old woman from a house in the Kedurmor area of Rajshahi city on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Khaleda Khanam Beli, who lived alone on the second floor of a two-storey building named Beli Villa. Boalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Masuma Mustari said the body was recovered from a room in the building around 11:30 pm. “Initially, it appears to be a murder. There are signs of injury on her body, and the police are investigating the matter,” she said. Police have detained two women and a man for questioning in connection with the incident. A team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is also working to determine the circumstances surrounding her death. A case will be filed over the incident, police said. Local residents said Beli was a widow who lived alone on the upper floor of the two-storey building, while other tenants lived on the ground floor. She is survived by four children: a son in the United States, a daughter in England, another daughter in China and a son in Dhaka. Neighbours said no one had seen her since Saturday. Concerned about her absence, they checked on her and noticed a foul smell coming from near the house. They then informed the police. Some neighbours suspect the murder took place sometime between Saturday and Sunday, after which the perpetrators locked the door from the outside and fled. Police are investigating the incident.

Kakoli Begum was expecting her husband, Shahed Ahmed Ashik, to call again after reaching Jeddah. Instead, she waited for a call that never came. Shahed, 35, a Bangladeshi expatriate from Bogura, was killed in a missile attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, leaving behind his wife, two young children and a grieving family. His nine-year-old and four-year-old children have lost their father, while Kakoli faces an uncertain future without the family's main breadwinner. Shahed was the son of Rafiqul Islam alias Mithu, of Malipara village in Madla Union under Shajahanpur upazila of Bogura. He had been working in Saudi Arabia for three years. On September 7, he returned home on a two-month leave, hoping to spend some time with his family. But amid the tense situation in the Middle East, he decided to return to Saudi Arabia earlier than planned to protect his job. After spending only a month at home, he left for the kingdom on Friday evening, October 9. His destination was Jeddah, where he worked, and he was scheduled to travel there via Riyadh. Victim’s brother Masum Rana said Shahed last spoke to his wife by mobile phone at around 5:00 pm local time on Saturday (October 10) after arriving at King Khalid International Airport. He told Kakoli that he had reached Riyadh and would call her again after arriving in Jeddah. That was the last time she heard from him. The family could not contact Shahed afterwards, leaving them anxious about his whereabouts until news of his death emerged. On Sunday night, Shajahanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Taifur Rahman confirmed the death, citing information from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. He said a missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi forces struck the King Khalid International Airport Terminal at around 3:20 pm on Saturday, killing Shahed among other passengers. The UNO said the death had been confirmed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Officials have visited the family's home to offer assistance, and steps are being taken to bring Shahed's body back to Bangladesh at government expense, following the necessary procedures, he added. Grief has engulfed the family as they struggle to come to terms with the loss. Shahed's father Rafiqul Islam is also in Saudi Arabia for work, while his mother, Shahera Begum, is there to perform Umrah. The tragedy has thus left Kakoli and her two young children facing the immediate pain of losing their loved one, with the family's future suddenly uncertain. For Kakoli, the loss is not only that of a husband but also of the person with whom she shared the responsibility of raising their children and building their future. As arrangements are made to bring Shahed's body home, his family in Bogura waits to bid him a final farewell. A missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people, including two Bangladeshis, and injured more than 300 others, Saudi civil aviation authorities said Sunday, with several victims in critical condition. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday said two Bangladeshis were killed and four others are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital following an attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The State Minister said the government is working to identify the deceased, determine their districts of origin and collect information about their families so that they could be contacted without delay. “Our mission is working closely with the Saudi government to identify those killed and injured, as nationals of many countries have been affected amid the conflict situation,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A 40-metre section of a Water Development Board embankment collapsed into the Dhaki River near Botbunia Bazar in Dacope upazila of Khulna on Sunday night, flooding several areas. The embankment gave way around 8:00 pm under pressure from the rising tide, leaving 15 families severely affected. During the subsequent low tide, the Water Development Board temporarily stopped tidal water from entering the area by placing sand-filled geo-bag tubes at the affected site. Several families have suffered heavy losses, with some losing their homes to river erosion. Others have started dismantling their houses and moving their belongings to the nearby embankment for safety. The affected families are now taking shelter in the open, facing severe hardship and food shortages. Among those affected are Zadubar Sardar, Niranjan Sardar, Krishnapada Sardar, Prashanta Sardar, Pradip Sardar, Ajit Sardar, Lokesh Sardar, Gopal Sardar, Gobinda Sardar, Shekhar Sardar, Paritosh Sardar, Suryakanta Sardar and Nilu Sardar. The residents said cracks appeared in the embankment before it suddenly collapsed into the river, allowing tidal water to inundate a large area. Tildanga Union Parishad Chairman Jalal Uddin Gazi said the flow of tidal water had been temporarily stopped using sand-filled geo-bag tubes at the breach site. However, the area remained at serious risk, as the embankment could collapse again at any time, he said, adding that efforts to reinforce it were continuing. Madhusudan Pal, sub-divisional engineer of the Water Development Board, said work was under way to stabilise the erosion-affected section through block dumping and the placement of sand-filled geo-bag tubes.

All three freezers at the morgue of Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital, the only morgue in the district, have been out of order for more than six months, causing difficulties in preserving bodies. The air conditioner (AC) in the autopsy room is also broken, while dirty water accumulates at the morgue entrance even after light rain, adding to the suffering of doctors, staff and the relatives of the deceased. With the freezers out of order, some families have been forced to rent refrigerated ambulances from private providers to preserve bodies, incurring additional expenses. The problem recently caused hardship for the family of Shuvo Chandra Das, also known as Md Billal, 32, who was shot dead in the Chashara area of the city following a dispute over drugs. As the morgue could not preserve his body, his family had to keep it in a refrigerated ambulance parked outside, spending around Tk 47,000 over four days. Shuvo's brother Md Ibrahim said they could not even properly care for his brother's body. It was left in the morgue and began to decompose. "We eventually arranged a refrigerated ambulance ourselves. After requesting the police, we managed to move the body to a cold storage facility in Dhaka.” A visit to the morgue found stagnant, dirty water pooled at its entrance, with ducks swimming in it. Inside, all three freezers intended for preserving bodies were found to be out of order. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a morgue employee said bodies were brought there without adequate facilities to preserve them. Families who could afford it rented refrigerated vehicles from outside, while those with limited means brought ice from elsewhere and placed it around the bodies to slow decomposition. Morgue attendant Darpan Das said many bodies did not need to be preserved for more than a day or two. “Even when partially decomposed bodies arrive, they are kept inside the morgue. However, if a body in good condition needs to be preserved, a refrigerated vehicle must be rented from outside,” he said. Darpan also said dirty water accumulated at the entrance even after light rain, making it difficult to reach the morgue without using a rickshaw or van. The facility is located next to the administrative building of Narayanganj City Corporation. He called for an overhaul of the drainage system in front of the morgue to ensure proper water drainage. Hospital sources said the morgue receives an average of 30 to 32 bodies a month, with autopsies generally conducted between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Dr Nazmul Hossain Bipul, resident medical officer (RMO) of Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital, said the morgue's freezers had been out of order for nearly six months. He said a letter requesting repairs had been sent to the relevant department and expressed hope that the problem would be resolved soon. Asked whether the broken freezers affected autopsies, the RMO said a roster of doctors is maintained for conducting autopsies at the hospital. Generally, examinations were conducted on the day a body arrived, while those arriving after dusk were examined the following day. Therefore, he said, bodies did not usually need to be preserved for two or three days. Narayanganj District Civil Surgeon Dr SM Sakhawat Hossain said he was aware of the problem and would coordinate with the relevant authorities to resolve it.

A 21-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a truck on the Joypurhat-Bogura regional highway in the Baniyapara area of Joypurhat Sadar upazila on Sunday night. The deceased Mahir Wasif Mitul was the son of Anwar Hossain of Sahalapara village in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat. Witnesses said Mitul was riding his motorcycle from Khetlal towards Joypurhat when a truck heading towards Bogura collided head-on with his motorcycle around 10:00 pm, leaving Mitul dead on the spot. Nur Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Joypurhat Sadar Police Station, said police recovered the body from the scene and sent it to the morgue of the 400-bed Joypurhat General Hospital for an autopsy. He said further legal action would be taken upon receipt of a formal complaint from the victim's family.

Two speedboats were set on fire and later sunk in the Padma River in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia on Sunday in what locals suspect was a clash between two groups of river pirates over territorial dominance. The incident took place around noon in the river near Bahadurpur Union of the upazila. According to local sources, four speedboats belonging to suspected pirate groups were seen operating in the Padma near Arkandi, Lisendia and Madhabpur areas along Bahadurpur Union. At one stage, one group chased two speedboats belonging to the rival group over a dispute over dominance in the area. Those on the two boats fled after leaving them on the riverbank. Members of the rival group later poured petrol on the boats, set them on fire and left the scene, the sources said. Farmers working in betel leaf gardens along the riverbank heard several gunshots during the incident. Shortly afterwards, they saw flames and thick black smoke rising over the river. Locals rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. Officer-in-Charge of Bheramara Police Station Md Shamim Sheikh said they had heard about the incident. As the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the river police, they would conduct the necessary investigation and take appropriate action, he said. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact Md Shafiqul Islam, in-charge of the Laxmikunda River Police Outpost, for details were unsuccessful.

Police recovered the laptop stolen from a German tourist  at Natore Railway Station from a clothing shop in the town on Sunday night and detained a shop employee for questioning. The laptop was recovered from Noor Cloth Store in Nichabazar area around 9:30pm following a tip-off, said police. A special team of Natore Sadar Police Station detained the shop employee identified as Antar for interrogation. Natore Superintendent of Police Shariful Haque visited the police station after learning about the recovery and questioned the detainee. Confirming the recovery at a briefing, the SP said police are working to arrest the main person involved in the theft. Krill Lander Weber, a German national of Ukrainian origin, visited several heritage sites in Bogura on October 7. He travelled by train to Santahar Railway Station in the afternoon before boarding another train for Natore. At Natore Railway Station, he met an unidentified young man who gained his trust through conversation. Kiril left his bag containing a laptop, a DSLR camera and other essential items in the young man's custody in the station's waiting room while he went to an ATM booth to withdraw money and purchase a ticket for a train bound for Darshana. He planned to enter India through the Gede border crossing after reaching Darshana. However, when he returned to the waiting room after purchasing the ticket, he found that both the young man and his bag were missing. He searched different parts of the station in distress and eventually broke down in tears after failing to recover his belongings. Fellow passengers later directed him to Natore Sadar Police Station. After speaking with the tourist police and collecting the necessary information, Sadar police promptly sent a team to the railway station. The team collected CCTV footage and identified the suspect, after which efforts to apprehend him began. However, the absence of a trackable device made it difficult for investigators to establish the suspect's location, officials said. Natore police later recorded a general diary (GD) over the incident and sent the tourist to the Rajshahi railway police authorities on the night of October 7. He returned to Dhaka the following day.

Rangamati district administration has imposed a ban on tourist visits to Sajek Valley in Baghaichhari upazila. It also asked tourists currently staying there to leave the area by 5pm on October 13. The restriction was announced by the district administration on Sunday and will remain in effect until further notice. The decision came amid an indefinite road blockade called by the Sajek Public Rights Protection Committee and the Sajek Karbari Association on  Sajek-Dighinala road that began at 6am on Sunday. The blockade disrupted vehicular movement, leaving tourists who had travelled to Sajek stranded in the area. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have stepped up their activities to maintain normalcy in Sajek. Tourists planning to visit Sajek Valley have been advised not to travel there until further notice.

Mufti Md Nasrullah Badrpuri of Nangalkot upazila in Cumilla was killed in a Houthi missile attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia while on a trip to perform Umrah. A pall of grief has descended on a family at Badrpur village of the upazila. His death has left his family devastated, while relatives, neighbours and residents of the entire area remain in shock. The family members were inconsolable following the loss of their loved one and urged the authorities to take steps to bring his body back home to Bangladesh. On Saturday a missile strike by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reportedly left 12 people dead  and at least 309 others injured. Bangladesh on Sunday strongly and unequivocally condemned Saturday’s deadly Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 12 people, including two Bangladeshi nationals, and injured more than 300 others, many of them critically. The Bangladesh mission in Riyadh is in contact with the Saudi authorities to ascertain details of the deceased and injured Bangladeshis and to facilitate necessary assistance to those affected.