United News of Bangladesh

  A Swechasebak Dal leader was killed in a clash between two BNP factions in Cumilla's Nangalkot upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Md. Selim Bhuiyan, president of the Heshakhal Union unit of Swechasebak Dal. The fatal clash occurred at Bangadda Bazar in the upazila around 3 pm. According to locals, there was a long-standing rivalry between two BNP factions, one led by former MP Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan and the other by BNP upazila president Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan. A rally organised by Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan was scheduled to take place in the Bangadda area on Saturday. During this time, supporters of former MP Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan, who were passing through the area in a convoy, clashed with the other group, resulting in Selim Bhuiyan's death. AK Fazlul Haque, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Nangalkot Police Station, confirmed that one person was killed in the fight. "His body is at the hospital now," he added. Meanwhile, former MP Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan claimed that the deceased, Selim Bhuiyan, was one of his followers.

Police have recovered the throat-slit body of a van driver from Natore's Lalpur upazila. The deceased was identified as Sukumar, 30, son of the late Jugol from Bahadipur village in the upazila, said Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nuruzzaman. Locals spotted his body beside the road on Saturday afternoon in Chamtia village and informed the police. Upon receiving the information, police recovered the body around 4 pm, the OC said. The body was later taken to the police station, he added.

Twenty candidates have been detained while attempting to sit the Feni Rural Electrification recruitment exam as proxies for others. They were detained from four exam centres in Feni city during the written test for the position of Meter Reader-cum-Messenger at the Feni Rural Electrification Association on Saturday, preparations are underway to file a regular case against them, said Feni Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Marmo Singh Tripura. Feni villagers endure ordeal as collapsed bridge remains unrepaired According to sources from the Rural Electrification Association, the recruitment exam was organised at four centres in Feni, with 5,255 candidates participating in the written test. Later, as the photos on the admit cards did not match the candidates, seven were detained from Feni Government College and Government Pilot High School centres, seven from Government Zia Women’s College centre, and six from Shaheen Academy School and College centre. Feni Rural Electrification Association’s General Manager, Haoladar Md. Fazlur Rahman, said that 5,255 candidates took part in the exam at four centres in the city. At least 20 injured in BNP factional clash in Feni Among them, 20 fake candidates attempting to sit the exam as proxies were detained and handed over to the police by the executive magistrate.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained three Bangladeshis including a child and a broker for attempting to infiltrate into India along  Muhurijot border in Panchagarh district.  They were detained late Friday, Nilphamari 56 BGB said in a press release.  The detainees were Nitai Chandra Roy, 35, of Alampur village in Thakurgaon Sadar, his seven-year-old daughter Bhumi Rani Shreya and Saddam Hossain, 30, of Shibchandi area in Tetulia upazila. Saddam Hossain attempted to facilitate their illegal entry into India, the BGB said.  Tipped off, members of Magurmari BOP under the 56th BGB Battalion, conducted a drive and detained them. The BGB members  also seized a barbed wire cutter, two mobile phone sets, a pair of silver rings, and Tk 20,160 in cash from their possession. BSF erects electric pillars along Bangladesh's Patgram border: BGB Saddam Hossain had reportedly taken Tk 30,000 to arrange their illegal entry into India, the statement reads.  Lt Col Sheikh Mohammad Badruddoja, commander of the 56th BGB Battalion, said legal action will be  taken against the detainees and they will be handed over to the police. He reaffirmed that the BGB remains vigilant to prevent illegal infiltration, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes.

Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes in Manikganj resumed on Saturday after several hours of suspension due to dense fog.Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Aricha regional office, Nasir Chowdhury, said the ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were suspended due to thick fog around 12 am early Saturday, forcing the authorities to halt movements of 12 ferries on both sides of the river. Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat & Paturia-Daulatdia routes resume after disruptionBesides, the ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route remained suspended from 1:30 am due to poor visibility caused by the dense fog.Several ferries got stuck in the middle of the river due to the suspension of the ferry movement.Over 500 vehicles, including 400 goods-laden trucks, remained stranded on both sides of the two ferry routes, causing immense sufferings to passengers.As the fog disappeared, the ferry services on the two routes were restored around 9 am respectively.Fog-hit ferry services resume on Aricha-Kazirhat, Paturia-Daulatpur routes after 9hrs

On the second day of the first phase of the 58th Biswa Ijtema the devotees on Saturday listened to scholars' recitation and explanation of verses from the Quran.  Three devotees have died since the opening of the religious event on Friday. Several lakhs of devotees including over 2500 foreign pilgrims from several countries have gathered on the Ijtema ground and continued spiritual activities, including the recitation of Allah’s divine names and sermons.  4 dead, 40 injured in clashes at Ijtema venue The first phase of Bishwa Ijtema began on Friday with Aam bayaan (general sermons) after Fajr prayers by Maulana Ziaul Haque.   MaulanaKhurshed of Pakistan delivered sermons after Fajr prayer on Saturday and Maulana Obaidur Rahman translated it into Bangla.  Besides, Maulana Ibrahim Deula and Maulana Akbar Sharif will deliver sermons the whole day respectively.  Devotees from different parts of the country are still coming to the Ijtema venue on the banks of Turag River by buses, trucks, boats and on foot.  Case filed over Biswa Ijtema killings; one arrested The first phase of Ijtema will end Sunday with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).  A mass wedding ceremony will be held today at the ground after Asr prayers.  Besides,a devotee, identified as Yeakub Ali from Habiganj district died at Ijtema venue. With this, three devotees died in the two days.  To ensure security of the devotees, thousands of law enforcers have been deployed in and around the Ijtema ground, along with in plainclothes.  Necessary arrangements, including sufficient water supply and healthcare, have been ensured.  Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the venue since 1967. In 2011, it divided Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of attendees.       

A 45-year-old man was killed when a sand-laden pickup van hit his motorcycle at the Ichuli intersection in Baghadi Union of Chandpur Sadar Upazila on Friday. The deceased was identified as Nurul Islam Nuru Bhuiyan, son of Abul Bashar Bhuiyan of Azim Bhuiyan’s house in Sholadana village, Paschim Gupti Union, Faridganj Upazila. Bridge collapse in Barguna causes severe commute disruption for 10 Villages The accident occurred around 11:30 am near the Ichuli intersection bridge on the Chandpur-Faridganj road. Bahar Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station, said the pickup van, carrying sand, collided with the motorcycle, leaving Nurul Islam dead on the spot. 2 friends die as motorcycle overturns in M’singh On information, police rushed to the scene and recovered the body. Police also seized the pickup and detained the accused driver, said Mintu Dutta, OC (Investigation) of Sadar Model Police Station. “Legal action is being taken in this incident,” he added.  

The bridge connecting Borga Bogi union to Nishanbaria union over the canal near the fish market in Taltali upazila town of Barguna has collapsed, causing severe hardship for the people of at least 10 villages in the area. The bridge was a vital connection for those traveling to and from the upazila town. It collapsed suddenly on Friday morning. Due to the lack of alternative roads, locals are now crossing the canal using small boats to reach the town. Locals said that the bridge was built by the LGED about 25 years ago. It was damaged during Cyclone Sidr. After that, it remained in a dilapidated state for 17 years, yet there was no effort from the LGED or local representatives to repair it. People from large areas, including Bar Agunjapara and Khottarchor, relied on the bridge for transportation, even at great personal risk. The collapse of the bridge has caused the greatest inconvenience for students, farmers, fishermen, and patients. Mahbubul Alam Mamun, Senior Joint Convener of the upazila unit of BNP, said that the bridge was constructed during the BNP's tenure. It was damaged during Cyclone Sidr, and despite repeated demands from the local residents to repair or rebuild the bridge, neither the previous Awami government nor local representatives took any action. People from 10 villages were forced to use the bridge despite the risks. He also said that the relevant authorities should quickly create an alternative route for the villagers and take steps to rebuild the bridge. Engineer Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Local Government Engineering Department of Taltali upazila said that the bridge had already been very risky before it collapsed on Friday morning, and the higher authorities have been informed. Umme Salma, Taltali Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said that upon hearing of the collapse, the Nishanbaria and Borga Bogi union chairmen were sent to the site. Temporary arrangements will be made for the people of the 10 villages to ensure alternative communication, and later, efforts will be made to construct a permanent bridge in place of the collapsed one.

A lighter vessel carrying 1,175 tonnes of cement clinkers capsized in the Rupsha River in Khulna on Thursday night. The vessel, 'MV Seven Circle-23,' sank after colliding with the pillar of the Rupsha River rail bridge, Lieutenant Commander Md Siam-ul-Haq, media officer of the Coast Guard Headquarters, said on Friday. 15 fishermen kidnapped in Sundarbans: 3 robbers held He said that the ship was damaged about 2 feet below the water level, causing water to begin entering the vessel. On information, the Coast Guard promptly dispatched a rescue team from BCG Station Rupsha with a diving boat to aid in the operation.

Two friends died after their motorcycle lost control and overturned in Mymensingh on Friday. The accident happened on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, near Digar Kanda area in the morning, said Kotwali Model Police Station Inspector (Operations) Noor Mohammad. The victims were identified as Yasin Abir (19) and Mehedi Hasan (20). Abir hailed from the Maskanda area of the city, while Mehedi resided in the Purahit Para locality. The motorcycle was traveling at high speed when it veered off course and crashed. Both men sustained critical injuries in the accident, the police official said. The injured were taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors later pronounced them dead, he said.