United News of Bangladesh

The Rangamati district administration has decided to reopen Sajek Valley, one of Bangladesh's most popular tourist destinations, from Thursday after keeping it closed for eight days due to adverse weather conditions. The announcement was made through a notice issued by Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi on Wednesday afternoon. 461 stranded tourists evacuated from Sajek Valley According to the notice, the scenic tourist destination in Baghaichhari upazila will reopen from Thursday as the overall situation has improved.

Unidentified criminals opened fire at a group of journalists in Khulna city early Wednesday though no casualties were reported. The incident occurred around 12:30am in front of a tea stall on the western side of the United Nations Shishu Park in the city. According to witnesses, several journalists had gathered at the tea stall after work, as they regularly do, when two young men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at them. The bullet missed its intended target and struck the leg of a chair. Fragments from the bullet reportedly grazed the chest of journalist Awal, causing a minor injury. He is now out of danger, fellow journalists said. SA TV correspondent Mati said six journalists were chatting at the spot when the attackers suddenly fired at them before fleeing the scene. Senior Staff Reporter of the Daily Khulanchal, Syed Rana Kabir, said the bullet lodged in a chair after missing the journalists, while a fragment lightly injured Awal. On receiving information, police rushed to the scene and recovered part of a bullet. Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Police Station Md Shafiqul Islam said no casualties were reported. “We recovered part of the bullet from the scene and are investigating the motive behind the shooting,” he said, adding that police are trying to identify those involved.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit on Wednesday said the government is making its highest effort to ease the suffering of people affected by heavy rainfall and flash floods in Bandarban. Speaking to reporters after distributing relief among flood victims at Amtali Para in Bandarban municipality, the state minister said the government would stand by all affected people. “No one affected by the disaster will be abandoned. Whether they are indigenous people, Bengalis or members of any other community, everyone has suffered equally. There will be no discrimination, and the government is working with utmost sincerity to reduce their hardship,” he said. Amit said he visited Bandarban on the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to assess the situation and oversee relief efforts. He said local lawmaker Saching Pru Jerry, the district administration, police and other government agencies have been carrying out rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities since the first day of the flooding. Cooked meals are being provided to people staying at flood shelters, while dry food is being distributed to those outside the shelters and medical teams are also providing healthcare services to affected residents, he said . He said the government would launch food assistance and food-friendly programmes within the next few days to enable flood victims to purchase essential commodities at subsidised prices, easing their financial burden. Amit also said the government would gradually repair or rebuild houses damaged or destroyed by the floods so that affected families could return home and resume normal life as quickly as possible. Referring to the post-flood situation, he said receding water has left many areas covered with mud and waste, creating unhealthy conditions. He said coordinated clean-up operations involving the local administration, municipality, elected representatives and political activists would be launched to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and restore affected areas to a habitable condition.

At least 10 people suffered burn injuries after an air conditioner exploded at a salon in Alu Bazar area of Bangshal in the capital early Wednesday. The injured were taken to the Emergency Department of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 1:30 am. The injured were salon employees Shamsed, 30, Raju, 34, Pappu, 26, Arman, 37, and Shakib, 17, and customers Faruk, 35, Rinku, 30, Rony, 36, Jasim, 40, and Rafik, 25. Burn Institute's resident physician Dr Shawon Bin Rahman said all 10 victims were brought to the hospital with burn injuries. Faruk sustained 50 percent burns, Rinku 21 percent, Raju 18 percent, Pappu 18 percent, Shamsed 15 percent, Arman 15 percent, Rafik 12 percent, Rony 10 percent, Jasim 8 percent and Shakib 1 percent, he said. Of the injured, nine were admitted to the institute while Shakib was kept under observation in the emergency department as his injuries were minor, Dr Shawon said.

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Cumilla on Tuesday shifted an HSC examination centre following widespread criticism after severe waterlogging forced examinees to wade through waist-deep water to sit Monday's examination. At an emergency press conference held at the board office, Chairman Prof Md Ahsan Parvez said the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination scheduled for Wednesday will no longer be held at Cumilla Government Women's College. Instead, the centre has been shifted to Bhasha Soinik Ajit Guha College to ease the suffering of examinees, he said. Ahsan Parvez said the education board made every effort to conduct Monday's examination smoothly and sudden heavy rainfall in the early hours left no opportunity to suspend the examination immediately. "Our priority was to ensure that students could complete their examinations and return home safely," he said. The chairman said the Cumilla City Corporation, district administration, the education board and other stakeholders worked in coordination to facilitate the examination despite the adverse conditions. Responding to a question, he said no other examination centre under the board experienced a similar situation apart from Cumilla Government Women's College. Ahsan Parvez said the board will remain more vigilant in future and take all necessary measures to protect the interests of students should such unforeseen situations arise again. On Monday, continuous heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging in different parts of Cumilla city. At the Cumilla Government Women's College examination centre, many HSC candidates had to wade through waist-deep water to reach the venue. The incident triggered widespread criticism from students and guardians, who blamed the authorities for poor planning and demanded the postponement of subsequent examinations. Board Secretary Prof Jahangir Alam, Controller of Examinations Prof Dr Md Shafiqul Islam, College Inspector Prof Md Shipon Mia and other senior officials were present at the press conference.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has relieved Sujauddin Joardar of his duties as secretary of its Kushtia district unit because he is employed at a women's educational institution, in line with a decision of the party's central leadership. Enamul Haque, Ameer of Kushtia city Jamaat, has been appointed as the new district secretary. Kushtia district Jamaat Ameer Principal Khandaker AKM Ali Mohsin confirmed the development to reporters on Monday night. According to a party statement issued on Monday, the central leadership has decided that any male member (Rukon) employed at a women's educational institution cannot hold organisational responsibilities within Jamaat-e-Islami. Following the directive, Enamul Haque was assigned the post of district secretary. The statement said the decision was unanimously approved at a meeting of the district executive council held on July 13. Speaking to reporters, Sujauddin Joardar said the party's constitution bars members employed at women's educational institutions from serving as Rukon or holding responsible organisational posts. He said the policy applies nationwide following the central committee's decision, adding that he accepted the decision without any resentment. Sujauddin noted that he had joined Bagowan Dr Fazlul Haque Girls' College as a teacher before becoming district secretary. At that time, he said, the relevant provision of the party constitution had been relaxed, allowing him to serve in the post. He added that if he resigns from his teaching position, he could be reinstated to his previous organisational role. Newly appointed district secretary Enamul Haque said he was entrusted with the responsibility through a unanimous decision of the district leadership. District Ameer Khandaker AKM Ali Mohsin said the central committee's directive has led to the removal of seven party members nationwide holding similar positions while employed at women's educational institutions. He said Enamul Haque was immediately appointed as the new district secretary by unanimous decision.

Police recovered the hanging body of a woman who representated as a female vice chairman candidate in the upazila parishad election from a rented apartment in Shahrasti municipality of Chandpur on Monday morning. The deceased was identified as Nazmun Nahar Swapna, 37, a resident of Banglaish village under Lalchandpur Union in Comilla's Monohargonj upazila. Missing auto-rickshaw driver found dead in N’ganj According to a local resident Mainul Islam Kajal, she had contested the last upazila parishad election with the 'Kolosh' (Pitcher) symbol. Her elder brother, Motaleb Hossain, said family disputes were the main reason behind the incident. He said Swapna had been married three times. Mainul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC), of Shahrashti Model Police Station said police recovered the body from a fifth-floor flat in the New Life Hospital building in the Doabhanga area after receiving information.  Mehedi Hasan, a member of the building owner's family, said the flat had been rented by an expatriate man named Russell Chowdhury Raju, introduced as Swapna's third husband. Shamshed Hossain (SI), recovered the body, prepared an inquest report and sent it to the 250-bed Chandpur General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. OC Mainul Islam said police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of death.

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinees in Cumilla travelled by boat or waded through waterlogged roads to reach their examination centres on Monday as heavy rainfall inundated roads across the city. With roads submerged, transport services were disrupted across parts of the city, making it difficult for students to arrive on time. At the Cumilla Government Women’s College examination centre, boats were arranged inside the centre premises to help students enter safely. Around 9:30am, several examinees were seen using boats to reach the centre. Prof Ahsan Parvez, chairman of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Cumilla, said the authorities were considering the difficulties faced by students with sympathy. “Centre authorities are looking at the matter sympathetically,” he said. An examinee at the Women’s College centre, Taslima Akter, said examinations should have been postponed across all education boards considering the severe weather situation. “Students had to reach examination centres, getting drenched in rain. Many candidates arrived wearing wet clothes. Some were also seen falling on submerged roads,” she said. Guardians of the examinees also expressed frustration over holding examinations during the rainy season. Principal of Cumilla Victoria Government College Prof Abul Basher Bhuiya said 2,100 examinees from eight colleges were sitting for examinations at his college centre. “Although there is water on the field, no water entered the examination rooms. The board has instructed us to provide additional time to students who arrived late due to the situation,” he said. Ahsan Parvez said waterlogging occurred on roads and in front of examination centres in six districts under the board due to heavy rainfall, but no water entered any examination rooms. He said centre authorities had been instructed to consider the delayed arrival of students sympathetically and expressed hope that no examinee will face difficulties in sitting for the examinations. Cumilla City Corporation Administrator Md Yousuf Mollah said he visited the Government Women’s College centre before the examination began and supervised arrangements to ensure students could enter safely. Meanwhile, Cumilla city experienced severe waterlogging after 107 millimetres of rainfall in just three hours on Monday. Major roads, narrow lanes and residential areas went under water, with some areas submerged up to knee and waist levels. Many residents suffered as rainwater entered their homes, causing widespread inconvenience. Taking advantage of the situation, drivers of rickshaws and battery-powered auto-rickshaws reportedly increased fares, forcing commuters to pay extra. The Cumilla Meteorological Office said the district recorded 138.2 millimetres of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Of this, 107 millimetres were recorded between early Monday morning and 9:00am.

A local leader of Jubo Dal was stabbed to death allegedly by his rivals over previous enmity in Bagharpara upazila of Jashore district on Monday. The deceased was identified as Rubel Hossain, 36, joint general secretary of No 2 Bandabhila Union unit Jubo Dal and son of Muntaz Ali of Telidhannyupara village in the upazila. Shah Jalal Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Bagharpara Police Station, said Rubel had an enmity with Rabbi, 26, son of Abdur Rab over previous enmity. As a sequel to the enmity, Rabbi hit Rubel with sharp weapon while he was standing near Khajura Filling Staiton around 11:45 pm, leaving him injured. Later, Rubel was taken to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Police are working to investigate the motive behind the killing, said OC.

A man died after being electrocuted while checking an electricity meter submerged in rainwater in the Shonir Akhra area under Kadamtali Police Station in the capital. The deceased was identified as Md Rezaul Karim, 62, a resident of the area. He lived there with his family. Md Baki, a relative who brought him to the hospital, said Rezaul went outside around 10:30pm to check water that had accumulated beneath his house. “At that time, he was standing in rainwater and checking whether the electricity meter had been submerged. Suddenly, he suffered an electric shock and fell unconscious,” Baki said. He added that family members rushed Rezaul to DMCH where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Md Faruk, inspector-in-charge of the DMCH Hospital Police Camp, confirmed the death, quoting the attending physician. He said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue and the incident has been reported to the concerned police station.