United News of Bangladesh

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.

As the Dudhkumar River continues to erode its banks following an untimely rise in water levels, more than a hundred families in the Kharuarpar Sabujpara area of Ghogadaha Union, Kurigram Sadar Upazila, are living in dire conditions after losing their homes. Locals have called for the formation of a separate Ministry of Char Affairs to address poverty, create jobs, and ensure overall development for people living in char (river island) areas who are affected by erosion. The demand was raised during a human chain and rally organised by the Char Development Committee, Ghogadaha Union branch, on Sunday morning. The event was presided over by the organisation’s President Abdul Jalil. Speakers at the rally included District Char Development Committee President Professor Shafiqul Islam Bebu, General Secretary and journalist Ashraful Haque Rubel, Senior Vice President Principal Khwaja Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rintu, and several local leaders and residents. Standing on the banks of the Dudhkumar River, Sharif said tearfully, “My house has been washed away by the river 18 times. It’s already afternoon, and I haven’t had a handful of rice to eat.” Sabura Begum, who lives with her three daughters and works in other people’s homes, said, “I didn’t get any work today. I don’t know if we’ll have anything to eat tonight.” Another resident Salema Begum said her husband is disabled and they live in a small tin house that could collapse into the river at any time.

The police recovered the body of a young man from the pond of the historic Shah Paran's (R) shrine in Sylhet on Sunday morning. The deceased was identified as Harun Mia, 30, was the son of Lal Mia from Mongolkata village under Sunamganj Sadar Police Station. Sylhet Metropolitan Police Media Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam said police recovered the body around 9:15 am. It bore deep cuts on the neck. But, it is too early to determine whether the death was a suicide or the result of foul play. The police officer added that reviewing CCTV footage from the area would provide further details. Preliminary reports indicate that he had been admitted to Osmani Medical College Hospital but left the hospital on Saturday without informing anyone. On Sunday morning, locals noticed a person lying in the pond near the shrine and found him dead. Upon receiving the information, police from Shah Paran Police Station recovered the body and sent it to the Osmani Medical College morgue for autopsy, Saiful Islam added.

Workers of Opsonin Chemical Industries in Barishal have continued their protest for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday to protest the retrenchment of over 500 employees. The agitated workers gathered in front of the factory early morning and blocked the road, demanding reinstatement of their jobs. Workers from other industrial establishments in Barishal also joined the protest in solidarity. Company authorities said  the layoffs were a result of the shutdown of a section of the factory. The terminated workers allege that the management plans to replace them with new hires at lower wages. “Our monthly salaries ranged between Tk 12,000 and Tk 16,000. First, we were told to take three days off, and then we received termination letters by post,” one worker said. “We’re struggling to survive with our families. If our jobs are not reinstated, we’ll be left destitute,”he said. Dr. Monisha Chakraborty, Barishal district coordinator of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) expressed solidarity with the workers, saying, “The dismissal of 500 workers in such an inhumane manner has thrown their families into crisis. Barishal’s workers are now united in the fight for their rights.”

In the quiet hours before dawn on Sunday, a village in Gaibandha’s Gobindganj upazila turned into the scene of a deadly episode of mob justice, as three men, suspected of attempting to steal cattle, were beaten to death by locals in Nasirabad area. According to police, the incident occurred around 2:30am when a group of eight alleged thieves tried to lift cows from the shed of one Abdus Salam Mia. Hearing noises, Salam shouted for help, drawing villagers out of their homes. What followed was a chaotic chase through the darkness as the locals pursued the fleeing group. While five of the suspected thieves managed to escape, three were caught and brutally assaulted by the mob. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gobindganj Police Station, Bulbul Islam, said two of them died on the spot, and the third succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Gobindganj Upazila Health Complex. Sirajganj man stabbed, beaten to death by mob over alleged cattle theft The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Gaibandha Police Nishat Angela, accompanied by senior officials, visited the scene later in the morning. “A murder case will be filed, as no one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” OC Bulbul told UNB. Local residents said incidents of cattle theft had been frequent in the area in recent weeks, leaving villagers frustrated and anxious. Police have intensified patrols in the area and launched an investigation to identify those involved in the killing, as well as the rest of the suspected cattle lifters who managed to flee. Read more: Mob justice not acceptable, says Attorney General  

The Lalmonirhat Battalion (15 BGB) seized a significant quantity of drugs during a special operation in the border area. The operation, conducted on Friday night and also during the day, led to the recovery of 160 bottles of Indian Iscaf syrup, 120 yaba tablets, and an easy bike. According to reliable intelligence, BGB patrols launched two separate operations in the Ramkhana BOP and Shingjhar BOP areas after observing suspicious movements of smugglers But, the smugglers fled, leaving behind the drugs and the vehicle, which were later seized. Continuous rain flattens half-ripe paddy in Lalmonirhat, farmers worried The total estimated market value of the recovered items is Tk 2,31,600. Commanding Officer of Lalmonirhat Battalion (15 BGB), Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, PSC, said, “BGB is always vigilant and ready to keep the youth of the country drug-free. Intelligence monitoring and patrols in sensitive border areas have been strengthened to prevent drug trafficking. This operation demonstrates BGB’s courage and strategic skill and is considered an important step towards building a drug-free Bangladesh.”  

Four days of continuous rain caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal have flattened half-ripe Aman paddy fields across all five upazilas of Lalmonirhat district, leaving farmers deeply worried as their crops face damage just before harvest. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), paddy plants have lodged in several areas due to the prolonged rain, though officials are still assessing the extent of the damage. This season, Aman has been cultivated on 86,645 hectares of land across the district. A visit to different upazilas on Saturday (Nov 1) found golden paddy ears lying flat on the ground, raising fears among farmers of reduced yield and poor grain quality. Salam Mia, a farmer from Duhuli village in Kaliganj upazila, said he cultivated Aman on one acre of land and planned to harvest it in about 15 days. “I worked so hard to grow this crop, and just when it was time to harvest, the nonstop rain brought everything down,” he said. “Water has accumulated in the fields, soaking the paddy. The yield may drop by half.” Dr. Saikhul Arefin, deputy director of the district DAE, said officials are working to determine the total loss and are providing necessary advice and assistance to affected farmers. He added that tying up and bundling the fallen paddy plants can help reduce some of the damage.

Rising tensions were reported in Jhenaidah on Saturday as rival rallies by Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP supporters coincided, prompting police deployment to maintain order. The incident occurred around 6 pm at Surat Bazar in Sadar Upazila. Local sources said the Surat Union Jamaat office had called for a protest rally after alleging irregularities in the distribution of government fertilizer and seeds the previous night. The rally began Saturday afternoon. Later, local BNP activists alleged that Jamaat leaders made provocative remarks targeting BNP during the rally. When BNP supporters asked them to refrain from such comments, tensions flared between the two groups, prompting police to deploy additional forces at the scene to restore order. Jamaat leader Iqbal Hossain claimed, “We were holding a peaceful protest. BNP activists attempted to attack us with sticks, but local residents intervened and calmed the situation.” In response, at 7 pm, the Surat Union BNP organized a protest march at the same location, led by former UP chairman Billal Hossain. Speaking at a short gathering after the march, Hossain accused Jamaat leaders of making provocative statements against BNP, attempting to trap party supporters, and urged patience while countering such schemes. He also noted that the seized fertilizer and seeds had indeed come from the Jamaat office and criticized attempts to cover up the facts. Maulana Habibur Rahman, Sadar Upazila Jamaat Amir, alleged that since August 5, Jamaat support in Jhenaidah had increased, prompting BNP to orchestrate a mob under the pretext of fertilizer recovery to discredit the party. He said locals had recognized the BNP’s alleged conspiracy. Sadar Thana Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed that heightened tensions had emerged between the supporters of the two parties. He said, “As soon as we received reports, police were deployed at Surat Bazar. We have called on all parties to maintain peace and public order.” The situation reportedly remained under control after the deployment of additional police personnel.

A worker died after being crushed by a tree in Sarankhola upazila of Bagerhat on Saturday morning. The deceased was identified as Sultan Hawladar, 60, a laborer and son of Anis Hawladar of Khuriyakhali village in Southkhali Union. Md. Shahidullah, Officer-in-Charge of Sarankhola Police Station, said, “The tree, a monkey jack tree, had been purchased by local timber trader Shahidul Islam. Around 9 am, workers went to the location to cut the tree down. While trying to pull it down with ropes after cutting, Sultan was trapped under the falling tree and died on the spot.” No complaint has been filed by the family. An accidental death case has been recorded at the police station.    

The newly built Khulna District Jail was inaugurated on Saturday with 100 convicted prisoners, who were transferred from the old Khulna Jail. The inmates were brought to the new facility under tight security and were welcomed with flowers upon arrival. Khulna Divisional Prisons Department’s Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (DIG Prison) Md Monir Ahmed, Khulna District Prison Jail Superintendent Nasir Uddin Pradhan, Deputy Jail Superintendent Abdullah Hal Al Amin, Muhammad Munir of the district, and other senior officials were present at the inauguration. Jail Superintendent Nasir Uddin Pradhan said the long wait had ended with the transfer of the first 100 prisoners. “Since it is a new prison, there may be many challenges. These 100 convicts are part of the initial stage. We will monitor the issues they may face,” he added. The new prison features paved roads, colourful buildings, tiled sidewalks, parking areas, a mosque, and a hospital. Each building has a separate boundary wall to prevent interaction between different categories of prisoners. A total of 57 structures have been built, including 11 buildings specifically for inmates. A five-kilometre-long internal wall has been constructed to strengthen security. The gallows, located in the southwest corner of the prison, is made of grey tin sheets and corrugated iron roofs, and authorities claim it is the most modern in the country. The prison complex, built on 30 acres along Khulna City Bypass (Rupsa Bridge Road), was originally approved in 2011 by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) with a budget of Tk 144 crore and a deadline of June 2016. After multiple extensions and two budget revisions, the project cost rose to Tk 288 crore. Although the jail has a capacity for 4,000 prisoners, the current infrastructure can accommodate 2,000.