United News of Bangladesh

Advocate Saifur Rahman, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) of Bangladesh and Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate for the parliamentary election from Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), has called upon students to play a proactive role in shaping the nation’s future. He made the remarks while attending a meet-and-greet session and quiz competition at the historic Aburhat High School in Ward 1 of Ichakhali Union, Mirsarai Upazila on Thursday. Saifur Rahman said, “If students do not take an active role in building the country, the nation will never move forward on the path of progress.” The event featured quiz competitions for students across all grades to enhance their academic and general knowledge. Winners were then awarded prizes. School Principal Nasima Akhtar and Assistant Headmaster Harunur Rashid attended the event, along with local Jamaat leader Abdul Gafur and other dignitaries.

Around 100 illegal establishments have been evicted from Joydebpur Railway Junction area in Gazipur on Thursday. A mobile court conducted the  drive in the area in the afternoon and evicted around 100 illegal establishments. A number of shops including fruit, tea shops and dwelling houses were evicted during the drive. Gazipur Metropolitan Police, Railway Police and City Corporation members were present during the drive.    

Three shops were gutted in a fire which broke out at Gobra Bazar in Sadar upazila of Narail district early Thursday. Masud Rana, Station Master of Narail Fire Service, said the fire broke out at a shop around 5 am and spread soon. On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze after an hour. 6 jhut warehouses gutted in Gazipur fire Saiful Islam, owner of one of the affected shops, sustained injuries while trying to douse the flames. He was taken to Narail Sadar Hospital. The affected shop owners claimed that valuables worth around Tk 5 lakh were damaged in the fire. Initially, it is suspected that the fire might have originated from an electrical short circuit.  

Tensions flared at the Lalmonirhat-Patgram border as the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) fired three rounds of sound grenades early Wednesday morning, triggering panic among locals. The incident occurred near the Serampur Union in Patgram Upazila, in proximity to the Bangladesh-India border at Sub Pillar 3, Main Pillar No. 854. According to local sources and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the BSF fired the grenades around 5:20 am, suspecting smuggling activity. However, no casualties were reported. In response, the BGB quickly mobilized from nearby camps, and a flag meeting was held to address the situation. The BGB lodged a formal protest, calling the grenade attack an unnecessary attempt to intimidate civilians. They urged the BSF to enhance communication and coordination to prevent such incidents in the future. Smugglers flee as BGB swoops in, huge drugs haul seized in Lalmonirhat Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 61 BGB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Sheikh Mohammad Musahid Masum said, "I have heard the incident. A flag meeting has already been held at the BOP commander level. We have protested." The BSF, in turn, said that the grenades were used in pursuit of a group of cattle smugglers crossing into India, but assured that they would avoid similar actions going forward. The BGB said that the situation in the area is now calm and under control.    

Activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) allegedly attacked the Nokla Upazila Agriculture Office in Sherpur on Wednesday afternoon, vandalizing furniture and physically assaulting the upazila agriculture officer. The attack took place around 3pm, reportedly after the names of certain individuals were not included in the list of beneficiaries under a government agricultural incentive programme. According to local sources, the attack was led by Rahat Hasan Kaiyum, member secretary of Nokla Upazila JCD and a resident of Dhukuria village, along with several others including student leader Fazlul Haque. They allegedly vandalized office furniture and assaulted Agriculture Officer Mehedi Morsalin during the incident. Deputy Director of Sherpur’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain confirmed the occurrence. BNP candidate Ershad Ullah, another injured in Ctg gun attack Additionally, he said that the upazila administration, including Nokla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Jahangir Alam, are taking legal action. Abul Kashem, Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Nokla Police, said, “Preparations are underway to file a case over the attack and vandalism.”  

Three BNP activists were killed in a road accident in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat on Tuesday evening. According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place in the Belai Bridge area on the Khulna-Mongla highway when a passenger bus hit their motorcycle, followed by a truck running over it; leaving all three dead on the spot. The deceased were identified as Jamir Master Ijaradar, 60, son of Abbas Ali Ijaradar; Mizan Sheikh, 55, son of Saha Sheikh; and Haripad Halder, 54, son of Monindrir Halder — all residents of Kalekhar Ber village in Rampal upazila. According to local sources, the three were returning home on a motorcycle after attending a BNP meeting at Bhaga Balur Math in the afternoon. Martyr Mugdha's brother steps into politics with BNP Md Zafar Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Katakhali Highway Police Station, said that the police recovered the bodies from the scene, but the vehicles involved fled immediately after the incident. “Efforts are underway to identify and seize the vehicles and detain the drivers responsible,” the OC added.    

Bangladesh’s third oldest library, the historic Rammala Library in Cumilla, will be digitized to preserve its valuable manuscripts and books, said Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam on Tuesday. The adviser visited the library at Ishwar Pathshala premises and told media, “Rammala Library is a priceless treasure of our cultural heritage. The manuscripts and books kept here are important records of the nation’s history and heritage. Each copy must be scanned and stored digitally. I will inform the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to take quick steps for digital preservation.” Media infrastructure being opened for anti-fascist voices, says Information Adviser He also noted that the small museum attached to the library holds old coins, artworks, historical artifacts and modern preservation systems are needed to protect these resources. Earlier, he inspected the designated site for a modern information complex along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Jagurjhuli area and inquired about the progress of the project.  

Experts and officials have urged urgent improvements to make digital services more accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs), emphasising that inclusivity benefits all users, including older adults and first-time users. The call came at the ‘Dissemination Workshop on Accessible Digital Services’, held at the District Social Services Complex. The event was jointly organized by the a2i Programme, the Center for Disability in Development (CDD), and CBM Global Disability Inclusion. Deputy Commissioner of the district Afia Akhtar attended the workshop the chief guest and highlighted the importance of ensuring accessibility in all digital services. Md Nahid Alam of a2i stressed that websites, apps, and other digital platforms must be designed so that PwDs can perceive, navigate, interact with and contribute online. Govt to raise job-entry age for doctors, persons with disabilities to 34 Md Rashidul Mannaf Kabir said simple adjustments—such as screen-reader compatibility, larger text, and keyboard navigation—can remove major barriers, empowering PwDs to use services independently. DC Afia Akhtar pledged to make accessibility a mandatory step in every service, praising a2i’s work on assistive technologies and inclusive design. The experts also emphasised the need for technical support and digital literacy programmes, particularly in remote areas, to ensure that PwDs can fully participate in education, work and everyday life, according to a media release.

Five people including two women were killed when a speeding truck rammed into a CNG-run autorickshaw on Basurhat-Sonapur regional road in Kabirhat upazila of Noakhali district on Tuesday afternoon. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. Farid Ahmed, assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Noakhali district town, said the accident occurred around 2:40pm when the truck crashed into the autorickshaw in front of Kabirhat Senior Alia Madrasha, leaving two women and the auto driver dead on the spot and two others injured. Two other victims succumbed to their injuries on the way to Kabirhat Upazila Health Complex, he said. The truck was heading towards Kabirhat from Basurhat, he said, adding that details about the accident will be shared later.

At least two people were killed and 30 others injured in a head-on collision between two buses on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway on Tuesday afternoon. The identities of the deceased yet to be confirmed yet. Shayestaganj Highway Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Taher Dewan said  Sylhet-bound  Ena Paribahan bus lost control and collided head-on with  a Royal Coach bus around noon in Kadamtoli area, leaving two people dead. Woman killed in Dhaka road crash On information, fire service personnel rushed to the scene and rescued the injured. Several seriously wounded passengers were taken to Habiganj Sadar Hospital and other nearby hospitals for treatment, the OC added. The accident caused severe traffic congestion on the highway. Police later removed both buses and then traffic returned to normal, he added.