United News of Bangladesh

The Jamuna Bridge authorities have collected Tk 20.34 crore in tolls in the past six days as more than 2,62,000 vehicles crossed the Jamuna Bridge ahead of eid-ul-Azha. Data from the Jamuna Bridge authorities showed that a total of 2,62,908 vehicles used the bridge between May 22 and midnight on May 27, said source at Jamuna Bridge authorities. Of them, 1,59,243 vehicles crossed through the eastern toll plaza, while 1,03,665 vehicles used the western toll plaza. During the period, toll collections from both sides of the bridge amounted to Tk 20,34,47,100. According to the authorities, 34,966 vehicles crossed the bridge on May 22, generating Tk 3.24 crore in tolls. On May 23, some 32,649 vehicles crossed the bridge, contributing Tk 2.96 crore in revenue. The number of vehicles increased to 39,919 on May 24, with toll earnings reaching Tk 3.25 crore. On May 25, a total of 53,246 vehicles crossed the bridge, generating Tk 3.77 crore. On May 26, toll revenue stood at Tk 3.75 crore from 56,239 vehicles, while 45,889 vehicles crossed the bridge on May 27, generating Tk 3.34 crore, said Executive Engineer of the Maintenance and Operations Division of the Jamuna Bridge, Syed Riaz Uddin. Traffic volume on the bridge increased three to four times compared to normal days as homebound holidaymakers travelled ahead of Eid, he said. To manage the additional pressure and ensure smooth toll collection, authorities set up four temporary toll booths in addition to the existing 14 booths at the toll plazas, he added. However, the toll collection after May 27 will be informed later, he said.

In an effort to transform Sylhet Osmani International Airport into a regional connectivity hub, direct flights between Sylhet and Guwahati in India will be launched soon said Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Sunday. The minister made the announcement while addressing a discussion organised by the Sylhet Metropolitan BNP at the Muslim Sahitya Sangsad in Sylhet city, marking the death anniversary of former president Ziaur Rahman. Muktadir said the government is working to strengthen the country's export sector through improved air cargo services. He also said efforts are underway to address challenges that emerged following a fire at an airport storage facility. Highlighting plans for the modernisation of Sylhet Osmani International Airport, the minister said initiatives have been taken to enhance the airport's capacity and develop it into a regional transport hub. “As part of this initiative, preparations are underway to introduce direct flights between Sylhet and Guwahati,” he said. Expressing concern over the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Sylhet city, the minister suggested that police could use drone cameras, if necessary, to help identify criminals more quickly. Leaders and activists of the Sylhet Metropolitan BNP attended the programme. Around 56.55 lakh sacrificial animal hides had been preserved across the country this year, exceeding government expectations, he said adding “The government is planning to establish modern slaughterhouses in divisional cities to support the development of the leather industry.” Besides, the government is considering incentive measures to help affected tannery owners and leather traders in the capital resume their businesses, he said.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday declared that Jungle Salimpur will no longer remain a safe haven for criminal and terrorist groups, saying those behind last week's attack on and demolition of newly established RAB and police camps there have already been identified. “Those who dared to challenge the authority of the state by destroying law enforcement camps have been identified. Jungle Salimpur can no longer remain a safe haven for isolated terrorist groups,” he told reporters after visiting the Alinagar area of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda upazila of the district in the morning. The visit came a week after armed criminals attacked and bulldozed newly built camps of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police. The minister said the government has already prepared a list of illegal occupiers in the area and assured long-time residents that they will not be evicted, urging them to inform law enforcement agencies if anyone attempts to spread panic regarding possible eviction. He said Jungle Salimpur will be freed from terrorism through planned and coordinated operations. “For the past 17 years, the Alinagar-Jungle Salimpur area has been known as a safe haven for criminals. We will eliminate terrorism from this area through joint operations,” he said. Besides, similar drives will be conducted in the Betua and Tea Garden areas to annihilate terrorist activities, Salahuddin added. Highlighting government's priorities, he said restoring law and order has been given top importance since the government took office in February. “The government has a comprehensive master plan for Jungle Salimpur. The long-pending issue of relocating the central jail will be resolved soon, and necessary steps will be taken promptly,” the minister said.  

A teenage boy was stabbed to death by miscreants at Masuakhali village in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Tajul Islam, 16, son of Faruk Hawladar of the village. Officer-in-Charge of Kalapara Police Station Nazrul Islam said Tajul was attending a marriage ceremony at the village on Saturday night. At one stage, some miscreants called him out of the ceremony around 11:00pm house to a beel (water body). When he went there, the miscreants stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him injured. locals rescued and took him to hospital where doctors declared him dead. On information, police rushed to the spot and detained three people for their suspected involvement in the killing, OC Nazrul Islam said, adding that they were trying to unearth the motive behind the killing.

With the seven-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday ending today, people have started returning to the capital ahead of the reopening of government and private offices from tomorrow. Many holidaymakers have already returned to the capital before the holiday officially ends to avoid the last-minute rush and hassle. Kamalapur Railway Station, different bus stations, including Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Mohakhali, Sayedabad and Jatrabari, and Sadarghat Launch Terminal saw a moderate rush of people heading towards Dhaka. Nazmul Hossain, a private-sector employee returned to Dhaka by bus from Chandpur with his family on Sunday morning. "I returned a little bit earlier to avoid peak rush. There was no traffic gridlock on the Dhaka-Chattogtram highway and the journey was comfortable," he said. Transport owners said long holiday is allowing people to travel with relatively less hassle while returning from villages. Transport operators and travellers said many people have taken additional leave and are still spending time in their hometowns. They will return to the capital gradually. As a result, buses arriving from different parts of the country are not facing significant pressure from passengers, they said.Government and private offices, banks, financial institutions and courts will reopen on Monday after a seven-day Eid holiday.

While many know Shahadat Hossain as a legal practitioner, residents of Digholia upazila know him for something else as well – a sprawling organic mango orchard that has flourished under his care for nearly four decades. Spread across 39 bighas of land in Debnagar mouza, the orchard, popularly known as “Mango Haven,” has become a local landmark and a testament to how passion for agriculture can transform inherited land into a thriving agribusiness. This year, all of the orchard’s nearly 1,200 mango trees have borne fruit, raising expectations of a bumper harvest. If weather conditions remain favourable and no natural calamities strike, Shahadat hopes to harvest around 1,000 maunds of mangoes and earn nearly Tk 20 lakh from sales. The orchard features a wide range of popular varieties, including Himsagar, Langra, Amrapali, Mallika, Bari-4, Banana Mango and Katimon. “I developed an interest in farming from my childhood,” Shahadat told UNB. “After my SSC examination, I began planting trees on our ancestral land. Following my intermediate studies, I became increasingly interested in mango cultivation and started collecting seeds from quality mangoes, producing saplings and grafting them before planting.” Over the past 40 years, he has planted more than 1,200 mango trees, all of which are now fruit-bearing. What began as a personal passion has gradually evolved into a full-fledged profession alongside his legal career. “Now, mango farming has become my primary occupation in many ways. Through this orchard, I try to inspire others to engage in agriculture and tree plantation,” Shahadat said. Award-Winning Agricultural Success Shahadat’s contribution to agriculture has earned national recognition. He received the President’s Award for Agriculture in 1989 and later the Prime Minister’s Award for Tree Plantation in 2011. His success is rooted in a commitment to organic farming practices. Unlike many commercial growers, Shahadat avoids harvesting mangoes prematurely. Instead, he follows a natural indicator to determine ripeness. “When birds and other animals begin eating around 10 percent of the fruits, I know the mangoes have reached maturity. Only then do we start harvesting and marketing them,” he explained. Four Decades of Growing Excellence The 39-bigha project includes residential buildings, ponds, bamboo groves and fruit gardens. Among its most prized assets are two veteran trees – a Himsagar and a Langra variety – each around 60 years old. “Every year, each of these trees produces nearly 20 maunds of mangoes,” Shahadat said. According to him, the current season is shaping up to be the most productive in the orchard’s history. “This is the peak year for mango production. In the last 40 years, I have never witnessed such a high yield,” he said. The gradual aging of the trees has contributed to increasing productivity, making the orchard one of the most productive private mango farms in the region. Khulna Mangoes Winning Recognition Although districts in northern Bangladesh traditionally dominate mango production, Shahadat believes mangoes grown in the Khulna region possess distinct advantages. “The sweetness level of mangoes produced in the Khulna region is exceptionally high. Himsagar mangoes from this area are particularly delicious and aromatic,” he said. The orchard’s diverse varieties help extend the harvesting season and attract buyers from different parts of the country. Family Support Behind the Journey Shahadat credits much of his success to the encouragement he received from his late wife, a former principal of Khulna Government Women’s College. “She inspired me greatly throughout this journey,” he recalled. Today, as the mango season reaches its peak, buyers, traders and visitors continue to flock to Mango Haven, where trees stand as living proof that dedication, patience and a love for nature can yield both economic success and national recognition. With a harvest target of 1,000 maunds and expected sales of Tk 20 lakh, Shahadat is optimistic that this season will become another milestone in his remarkable four-decade journey from lawyer to one of Khulna’s most successful organic mango growers.

A hospital employee was killed after being run over by a bus in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur on Sunday morning. The deceased was identified as Billal Hossain, 48, a security guard at Doctors City Scan Hospital in Hajiganj and son of late Saheb Ali Bhuiyan of Muragaon village in Shahrasti upazila of the district. The accident occurred around 8:00am in front of Monir Filling Station at Toragarh on the Chandpur-Cumilla regional highway. According to police and witnesses, a “Boogdad Paribahan” ran over Billal on the wrong side while trying to overtake another bus, leaving him dead on the spot. Following the incident, the drivers and supervisors of the two buses reportedly fled the scene, leaving the vehicles behind. Officer-in-Charge of Hajiganj Police Station Abdul Mannan said they seized both the buses involved in the incident.

A motorcycle that had fulfilled a young man's long-cherished dream turned into a symbol of tragedy after a fatal road accident claimed the lives of two friends in Dinajpur. The deceased were identified as Jabir Khaled, 18, the only son of eye surgeon Dr Ashraf Khaled Sagar of BNSB Eye Hospital in Chirirbandar, and Riyad Hossain, son of Dulal Hossain of Baikunthapur Shahapara under Tetulia union in the same upazila. Both victims were Class-XI students at Amena Baki Model Residential School and College in Chirirbandar.

Police have recovered the bodies of three members of a family from a rented house in the Sonadanga area of Khulna city. The deceased were identified as Baby Begum, 55, and her grandsons Mustakim, 4, and Shamim, 13. Officer-in-Charge of Sonadanga Model Police Station Md Rafiqul Islam said they recovered the bodies from the house in the Darus Aman neighborhood on Tamizuddin Road on Saturday evening. According to Fatema Begum Mary, 35, the mother of the two children, her second husband Rafiqul Islam did not treat her children from her previous marriage well. She stated that Rafiqul came to the house on Friday night and stayed there. The following morning, he allegedly locked the house from the outside and left. When Fatema could not find her mother and two children, she searched for them in various places. Later in the afternoon, she noticed a foul odour coming from a nearby room and alerted locals. On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Teams from the Detective Branch (DB) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) also visited the scene and collected evidence. Sources said Fatema divorced her first husband Masum Bepari four years ago. Since then, their two children – Shamim and Mustakim – had been living with their mother. Fatema later married truck driver Rafiqul although she frequently stayed at her mother Baby Begum’s residence. Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner Md Zahidul Islam said three bodies were recovered from the rented house in the Darul Aman area under Sonadanga Police Station. He further stated that the children's mother Fatema was taken into police custody for questioning. Based on information she provided, police suspect that her second husband Rafiqul might have been involved in the incident. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are conducting operations to arrest Rafiqul, son of Alamgir Hossain of the Maheshwarpasha area of the city. Meanwhile, a case was filed over the incident early Sunday. Fatema’s first husband Masum Bepari filed the case against her second husband Rafiqul Islam.

The headmaster of a government primary school was killed in a road accident in Shibganj upazila of Bogura district on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as M Ashraful Islam Pramanik, 58, head teacher of Chakhabiber Para Govt Primary School under Rajapur union of Sadar upazila, and son of Azizar Rahman of Dakkhinpara village in Shibganj upazila of the district. Officer-in-charge of Shibganj Police Station Shahinuzzaman said a truck crashed into the motorcycle of Ashraful at Laldah of Shibganj around 9:00pm, leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy, he said.