United News of Bangladesh

A young woman died on Monday morning after being bitten by a snake in Matlab Dakshin (South) upazila of Chandpur district. The victim, Sharmin Akhtar, 21, was treated at Chandpur General Hospital with anti-venom on Sunday and initially seemed to recover. But she fell ill again on Monday at her maternal grandmother’s home in Nobokolos village and later died. According to family members, Sharmin was bitten by a snake while going to the toilet on Saturday evening at her maternal grandmother’s home. Local traditional treatment was given before she was taken to the hospital, where she received anti-venom. But it was evidently too late. Sharmin was daughter of Hannan Mir from Char Nilakhshipur village of Matlab Municipality, and wife of Raju Patwari of Faridganj. Her maternal grandfather said, “She leaves behind a nine-month-old daughter.” Chandpur Sadar Hospital Superintendent Dr. AKM Mahbubur Rahman told UNB, “Snake bite victims must be brought to hospitals immediately, as delayed treatment can reduce the effectiveness of the anti-venom.” Senior doctor Sakhawat Hossain from the Civil Surgeon’s Office informed that in the past nine months, four people have died from snake bites in the district, and 555 were injured. The deaths occurred in Haimchar, Matlab South, and Kachua upazilas. All four victims sought treatment from traditional healers at first. Hospital closed in Chandpur after newborn burial shock Most snake bite injuries were reported in Matlab Uttar (170 patients) and Hajiganj (131 patients). Dr Nur Alam Din, district civil surgeon of Chandpur, told UNB, “Anti-venom is available in all eight upazila health complexes, but lack of awareness continues to make people rely on traditional healers.”  

A forest officer was injured Monday in the Sundarbans, when a group of poachers hunting deer attacked him. The incident took place at Dimer Char in the Sarankhola range of the Sundarbans East Division in Bagerhat. The injured officer, Rana Dev, received first aid at the temporary Dublarchar Health Centre. He serves as an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in the Sarankhola range. Dev said that the poachers hit him all over his body, and he bled from his nose and ears. The Forest Department later went after and arrested 3 members of the poaching gang. The detainees are - Rafi Hasan, 25, from Sugandhi village, Al-Amin Akunji, 28. from Jhalbari village, and Shahid Mallik, 27, from Sonatunia village. Additionally, authorities recovered 18 traps used for deer hunting from the suspects. ACF Dev said that he was patrolling the forest with 5 other officers when they spotted the poachers’ traps. They also saw five poachers in the forest. Bagerhat worker killed by falling tree After recovering the traps and detaining three of the poachers, a crowd of 25 to 30 people gathered and tried to rescue the detainees. Md. Shahidullah, Officer-in-Charge of Sarankhola Police Station, said that they were aware of the attack but had not received a written complaint from the Forest Department yet. Meanwhile, the Forest Department is preparing to file a case and continuing the search for other attackers.  

A 42-year-old man was killed when a speeding truck rammed into him in Keshabpur upazila of Jashore on Monday morning. The deceased was identified as Gabril Biswas, son of late Kashem Biswas of Shimulia village of nearby Jhikargacha upazila. Lutfor Rahman, sub-inspector (SI) of Keshabpur Police Station, said Gabril took his wife to a doctor's chamber in an area called Madhyakul Mandartala in the morning. Leaving her behind at the chamber, he went outside and was answering nature's call on a side of the road, he said, when the coal-laden truck- apparently having lost control - smashed into him from  behind, leaving him critically injured around 7:30am.   He was rushed to Keshabpur Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared him dead around 9am, the SI said. The truck driver and his helper managed to flee but the vehicle remained at the scene, he said, adding that it would be impounded and legal action would follow in this regard.

A 22-year-old youth was killed in a shootout between two rival BNP groups in Mollakandi Union of Munshiganj on Sunday night. The deceased, Tuhin Dewan, was the son of Selim Dewan of Dakshin Beherkandi village in Mollakandi. According to locals, the incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute over dominance at the Munshiganj Primary School grounds. The opposing groups, led by Mollakandi Union BNP leader Ozir Ali and Awlad Group follower Liton Bepari, reportedly targeted Tuhin with a cocktail explosion and gunfire. Brahmanbaria Gunfight: Death toll rises to 2 Tuhin was struck by bullets and fell to the ground. Relatives rushed him to Munshiganj General Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Tuhin was a follower of Mollakandi Union BNP President Wahid Mollah and BNP leader Atiq Mallick. Sources said the dispute between the groups was related to local political dominance. Multiple bullet wounds were found on Tuhin’s back and neck. Following the murder, supporters of Wahid Mollah and Atiq Mallick have reportedly gathered in the area, creating tension throughout the village. Additional police forces have been deployed to prevent further violence and maintain order. Munshiganj Additional Superintendent of Police Firoz Kabir said an operation is underway to apprehend the attackers and that police are actively monitoring the situation.  

A man was hacked to death allegedly by his drug-addicted son while he was offering prayers at their home in Puran Bhadurdangi village of Chartarapur union under Pabna Sadar upazila on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Nizam Pramanik, 60, son of late Entaj Pramanik of the same area. Police detained the accused, Mostafa Pramanik, 30, from the scene soon after the incident. During the detention, Mostafa attacked police personnel, leaving three sub-inspectors — Abu Bakar Siddique, Ziaur Rahman and Abu Raihan — injured. SI Ziaur Rahman was admitted to Sujanagar Upazila Health Complex, while the other two were given primary treatment. According to police and locals, Nizam returned home after selling milk in the market and began offering his Isha prayers after dinner. While he was praying, Mostafa reportedly locked the door from inside and attacked him with a knife, killing him on the spot. When family members realised something was wrong, they broke the door open and found Nizam lying in a pool of blood. Locals informed police, who recovered the body and detained the accused. Mizanur Rahman, another son of the deceased, said, “He hacked my father to death while he was praying. He had previously tried to kill me as well. He frequently tortured my father and the rest of us for drug money. Whenever we refused to give him money, he would vandalize the house. I demand that justice be served and that this murder be properly punished.” Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdus Salam said that additional police personnel have been deployed in the area. “Legal action will be taken following a thorough investigation,” he added.

A youth was killed and another critically injured during a motorcycle race in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj on Sunday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Ruhan Uddin, 25, son of Md Liton of Goyhatta village in Ullapara upazila. The injured, Badsha, is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The accident occurred around 2:30pm at Tetiarkanda on the Bogra–Nagarbari highway, said Md Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station. He said several youths were racing three motorcycles from Ullapara towards Baghabari when one of the bikes lost control, collided with another, and crashed into a roadside tree. Ruhan died on the spot. Locals rescued Badsha and took him to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Police recovered Ruhan’s body and handed it over to his family as no complaint was filed. A case has been registered in connection with the incident, the OC added.

A painter died after being electrocuted while working in Lama Jhingabari village of Jhingabari union under Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Jasim Rana, son of Nur Mohammad of Nawamati village in the same union. Locals said Jasim had gone to Lama Jhingabari a few days ago for painting work. On Sunday morning, while painting a house, he accidentally came into contact with a live electric wire and was severely electrocuted. Locals rescued him and took him to Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Rajaganj Union Parishad Chairman Maulana Shamsul Islam confirmed the incident, saying, “Jasim Rana from Nawamati village died of electrocution while working as a painter. We express our heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.” Jasim, who was married just a year and a half ago and leaves behind a young child.

The death toll from a gunfight over local dominance in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria has risen to two. Hotel employee Yasin, son of Shafiqul Islam of Alamnagar village in Barikandi union, died from his injuries while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Sunday afternoon, police said. Earlier, Shipon, son of Abdul Monnaf alias Manek Dakat of Nurjahanpur village in the same union, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Saturday night. Two others, Nur Alam and Emran Master, were also shot in the incident and are currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. According to police and local sources, the violence erupted due to a dispute between Rifat of Thollakandi village and Shipon over local dominance and other issues. Rifat, Arafat, and several others allegedly opened fire on Shipon while he was eating at a hotel near the Ganishah shrine on Saturday night, injuring him and three others. During the same period, associates of Manek Mia reportedly attacked his rival, Emran Master, who was also shot and sent to Dhaka for treatment. The incidents caused panic in the area. Additional Superintendent of Police of Nabinagar Circle, Piyas Bosak, said the situation is now under control. No case has been filed yet, and police are conducting operations to apprehend those involved, he added.

At least 25 people were injured in a violent clash between residents of two villages in Gopinathpur, Hamirdi Union of Bhanga Upazila, Faridpur, over land disputes. The confrontation on Sunday afternoon also saw houses and shops vandalized and looted. Local sources said the conflict traces back to a dispute between Simon Matubbar and Kuddus Matubbar on Friday, which escalated into a fistfight. A reconciliation meeting (shalish) was scheduled on Sunday, attended by mediators from nearby villages. However, tensions escalated during the meeting, and villagers from both sides attacked each other with homemade weapons including shields, sharp sticks, machetes, and stones, wearing helmets for protection. The violent clash continued along the road for around two hours, leaving more than 25 villagers injured. Seriously injured individuals were rushed to Bhanga and Faridpur Medical College Hospitals for treatment. Eyewitnesses said residents from neighboring areas — Chhoto Hamirdi, Khara Kandi, and Baisha Khali — also joined the fight, taking sides with the two groups. In the absence of effective law enforcement on-site, the clashes resulted in extensive property damage, with homes and shops broken into and valuables looted. Bhanga police officer-in-charge Ashraf Hossain said the police arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the violence. “We found the situation uncontrollable and had to step back. Additional police and military personnel have been informed and are expected to help restore order,” he said.

A human chain was formed in Jhenaidah on Sunday protesting the appointment of a “corrupt” Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and alleging widespread irregularities and corruption in government departments. The Anti-Fascist Student Unity organised the protest in front of the Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner’s office, joined by former leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and other student organisations. Participants carried banners and festoons during the hour-long programme. Abu Huraira, former convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s Jhenaidah district branch; member secretary Saidur Rahman; Islami Chhatra Shibir city branch general secretary Masud Parvez; Islami Chhatra Andolan vice president M Abdur Rahman; and KC College Shibir president, among others, spoke at the event. They alleged that Sudipto Kumar Singh, the UNO of Sharankhola upazila in Bagerhat—accused of corruption, extortion, and acting against students and the public—had been transferred to Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah. The protesters declared that they would not allow him to take charge in Jhenaidah. The speakers also demanded immediate action to stop corruption and irregularities in various government departments, warning that officials involved in such activities would face strong public resistance.