United News of Bangladesh

The Brahmaputra River has devoured the homesteads of at least 30 families in Goalpuri Char under Jatrapur union of Sadar upazila in Kurigram over one week, with over 100 other families remaining under threat of erosion. The char, located near the Assam border in India, was once home to around 400 families. However, years of relentless erosion have already forced nearly 150 families to relocate elsewhere. Anwar Hossain, a member of Jatrapur Union Parishad, said 30 families have become homeless over the last seven days till Thursday as the river continued to swallow homesteads. “If the current pace of erosion continues, nearly 100 more families in Goalpuri may lose their homes at any time,” he warned. Anwar added that a mosque has already been dismantled and relocated to a safer area due to the advancing erosion, while the village graveyard has been washed away by the river. The erosion has left a devasting impact on the lives of victims. Jasim Uddin, who recently lost his home, said he had spent his life's savings building the house. “Within a few days, everything was swallowed by the river. Now, I am worried about where I will take my family,” he said. Another resident, Nur Hossain, said the affected families are also facing food shortages. “Along with losing our homes, we are struggling to manage food for our families. We are living in extremely difficult conditions,” he said. Several other residents, including Pashan Mia, Mortuza Ali, Kalu Mia, Khalek Molla, Bashik Mia, Rashid Mia and Lalchan Mia, echoed similar concerns about their uncertain future. The ongoing erosion has created deep anxiety among residents of Goalpuri Char, many of whom are now dismantling their homes in advance and preparing to move to safer locations in a desperate attempt to save whatever remains of their belongings. Prof Shafiqul Islam Bebu, president of the Kurigram Char Development and Implementation Council, warned that Goalpuri Char could disappear entirely if the erosion continues unchecked. “In many countries, families affected by river erosion receive immediate compensation. In Bangladesh, however, victims often do not receive adequate support,” he said. Shafiqul Islam urged the government to provide emergency compensation and rehabilitation assistance for the affected families. Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Kurigram Rakibul Hasan said erosion has been reported at 36 locations across the district. “Work to check erosion is currently underway at 20 points. The remaining vulnerable areas are under observation, and necessary measures will be taken based on the situation,” he said.

Two people were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in the Muljan area of Manikganj on Thursday evening. The deceased were identified as pickup driver Rasel Mia, son of Md Alam of Brahmanbaria village in Savar, and his helper Arafat, son of Md Kawsar of the same village. Md Selim Matbar, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Golra Highway Police Station, said the accident occurred around 7pm when an empty pickup carrying chicken cages was heading towards Aricha. The vehicle collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leaving the pickup driver and his helper dead on the spot. Two other workers travelling in the pickup were injured and admitted to Manikganj District Sadar Hospital. Their identities could not be known immediately. The OC said the truck and the pickup have been seized, while the truck driver and his helper managed to flee the scene. A case has been filed with Sadar Police Station in connection with the incident, he added.  

Two young men were killed and another was seriously injured after a train hit their motorcycle at an unguarded level crossing in the Dudhpatila area of Damurhuda upazila in Chuadanga on Thursday evening. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately, said Damurhuda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sheikh Mesbah Uddin. The injured was identified as Abdul Kader, 25, son of Rahidul Islam of Dugdugi village in the upazila. According to police and local sources, three people were riding a motorcycle and attempting to cross the rail track through the unmanned level crossing when a speeding train struck the vehicle. The train dragged the motorcycle for a considerable distance, killing two riders on the spot. Locals rescued Abdul Kader and first took him to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was later referred to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), commonly known as Pangu Hospital, in Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Rail communication between Kurigram and the rest of the country resumed on Thursday evening after remaining suspended for around 12 hours when a sand-laden truck overturned on a railway track in Rajarhat upazila. Train services returned to normal around 6:30pm after the truck was removed from the tracks, said Konika Akther, Officer-in-Charge of Kurigram Railway Station. At 6:30 am, the truck overturned on the railway line, blocking train movement and causing significant inconvenience to passengers. Hundreds of passengers were stranded during the suspension, with many forced to use alternative transport to reach Teesta Railway Station and continue their journeys. Following the incident, railway authorities, local administration officials and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and launched operations to clear the track and restore train services.

Dhaka-19 lawmaker Dewan Mohammod Salahuddin on Thursday alleged that drug trafficking has become deeply entrenched across Savar, with entire families, including women, actively involved in the illicit trade. He alleged that between 200,000 and 300,000 people in the area are directly or indirectly linked to drug abuse and trafficking. “I have found through investigation that in many places entire families are involved in drug trading – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, even sons-in-law,” Dewan Salahuddin said, adding that it will not be an exaggeration to say that drug trading is taking place in almost every household in Savar. Dewan Salahuddin, also BNP’s family welfare affairs assistant secretary, made the remarks while addressing a programme, marking the assumption of office by the newly elected committee of the Savar Deed Writers Welfare Association in front of the Savar Sub-Registrar Office. Referring to recent anti-drug operations, he said drug trader Shamim Reza had already been arrested and his house demolished. The MP also noted that the limited number of police personnel stationed at Savar and Ashulia police stations is insufficient to effectively manage law and order across such a large area and population. Describing the Bede Palli area under Savar municipality as a major drug trafficking hub, he alleged that a significant portion of its residents are involved in the trade. “We are trying to establish a police camp there soon,” Dewan Salahuddin said, warning that drug traffickers will not be allowed to live in Savar under any circumstances. The event was presided over by Akhtar Hossain Bepari, president of the newly elected committee of the Deed Writers Welfare Association.

Two fishermen were killed and another went missing after lightning struck their boat while they were fishing in a haor in Fenchuganj upazila of Sylhet on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Sabir Ali, 40, and Hamid Mia, 45, both residents of Kamalpur village in Kalarbazar area of Rajnagar upazila in Moulvibazar district. Locals said three fishermen went fishing by a boat in a haor in the Baghmara East Katutila area of the Fenchuganj. A sudden thunderstorm hit the boat around 12:00pm, leaving Sabir and Hamid dead on the spot. The third fisherman, who was travelling with them, fell into water and has since remained missing. Officer-in-Charge of Fenchuganj Police Station Abu Zafar Mahfuzul Karim said police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene after being informed of the incident. A search operation was underway in the haor to locate the missing fisherman, he said.

At least 25 people have been bitten by a stray dog in Muksudpur municipality of Gopalganj over the past three days, health officials said. The incidents occurred from June 15 to 17 in different areas, including Komlapur, Chandibardi and Tengrakhola. The victims received treatment and anti-rabies vaccines at the Muksudpur Upazila Health Complex. Locals said a “rabid” dog has been roaming several areas of the municipality, attacking pedestrians indiscriminately. Residents said the dog has been biting school students and passers-by, causing deep injuries and creating panic among locals. “There is a rabid dog roaming around the municipality’s key areas. It is attacking anyone it encounters,” said Mir Habibullah, a resident of the Chandibardi area. He added that fear has gripped the entire municipality due to repeated attacks. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Raihan Islam Shovon said they have treated 25 people injured in dog bites over the last three days and provided anti-rabies vaccines. He also urged residents to remain cautious and avoid contact with stray dogs.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has brought back four members of a family from a group of nine people stranded at the no-man’s land along the Roumari border in Kurigram following a push-in attempt by India's Border Security Force (BSF). However, five others have remained stranded at the border. Following a flag meeting between BGB and BSF around 11:30pm on Wednesday, Belal Hossain, his wife Sumi Akter and their two children were brought back from the zero line on humanitarian ground, said Lt Col Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of the 35 BGB Battalion in Jamalpur. They were later handed over to Roumari Police Station. Police finally handed them over to their relatives after completing formalities. Local sources said the family had been staying at the zero line for the past five days. The remaining five people were still living under the open sky in difficult conditions, exposed to sun and rain. However, no final decision has yet been made regarding the return of the other five people still stranded at the border. The incident began on Sunday morning when an alleged attempt was made to push nine Bengali-speaking people into Bangladesh through the border. They became stranded at the zero line after BGB prevented their entry. Hasanur Rahman said high-level discussions between the two sides are continuing to resolve the matter peacefully.  

Rail communication between Kurigram and the rest of the country remained suspended since Thursday morning after a sand-laden truck overturned on a railway track in Rajarhat upazila, causing immense suffering to passengers. A sand-laden truck overturned on the railway tracks around 6:30 am, blocking the line, said Konika Akther, Officer-in-Charge of Kurigram Railway Station. “Work is underway to remove the truck. However, it is not possible at this moment to say exactly when the train services will resume,” she said. Dhaka-bound Kurigram Express could not reach Kurigram Railway Station on schedule, while the operation of the Ramna Commuter train was also disrupted. Hundreds of passengers were left stranded, with many forced to seek alternative transportation to Teesta Railway Station to continue their journeys. Railway officials said the Kurigram Express was scheduled to depart for Dhaka from Kurigram Station at 7:10 am, but the train could not reach the station because the track remained blocked. After being informed, railway authorities, local administration officials and rescue teams rushed to the scene and began efforts to remove the truck and restore train operations.

Police recovered the body of the five-year-old boy, who was kidnapped on Tuesday, at South Gobindarkhil village in Patiya municipality area of Chattogram district on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Zaihan, son of Md Shahjahan of the village. Police also arrested five people- Md Saiful, Shahanur, Niha, Nihan and Wasifa- for suspected involvement in the killing. Ariful Islam Siddique, Additional Superintendent of (Satkania Circle) police, said Zaihan went missing while playing on road near his house on Tuesday noon. Police said the child's mother found a letter threatening to kill the child if Tk 3 lakh in ransom is not paid. A written complaint was lodged with the local police station. During investigation, police, DB police and local people spotted the body of Zaihan, kept in a sack, from a water body in Purba Para, behind the house of the arrestees, in the morning. The body was sent to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. Later, local people staged demonstration in front of Patiya Police Station protesting the murder.