United News of Bangladesh

A college student named Noor Kayem (17) has gone missing after going for a swim at Cox's Bazar beach. The incident occurred on Friday around 8:30 AM at Kolatoli Beach, Shafiul Karim, lifeguard at the Cox’s Beach confirmed the matter. Athar is from Ukhiya’s Balukhali area. He is an HSC candidate of this year's batch from Cox's Bazar DC College. "As Friday is a weekly holiday, Athar came with his friends to play football. After playing football, he went for a swim with his friends and was swept away by the current. When we were informed, we immediately started the rescue operation. The rescue operation is still ongoing, but he hasn't been found yet." "We were all asleep. Without my knowledge, my son woke up and went to the beach,” said Athar’s Father Bashir Ahmed.

Shahabuddin Majumder Telu, a valiant freedom fighter who played an active role in Bangladesh's Liberation War, passed away early Wednesday. He was 70. Majumder breathed his last at Chattogram Maa o Shishu Hospital while undergoing treatment after suffering a severe stroke. Majumder left his wife, three daughters, grandchildren, and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death. On Thursday, following the Zuhr prayer, his namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer) was held at the Jamadar Jame Mosque in Chattogram Naya-Bazar. Later, he was laid to rest with state honors in the family graveyard, surrounded by loved ones and members of the community. Born in the village of Khilpara in Haziganj upazila, Shahabuddin Majumder was actively involved in the nation's struggle for independence in 1971. His bravery and commitment to the cause of freedom left an indelible mark on those who knew him. After the war, Majumder continued to contribute to society through various social and cultural activities. Despite his residence in Chattogram due to his professional commitments, he remained closely connected to his native village, frequently participating in family and community events. In his later years, Shahabuddin Majumder dedicated himself to researching and documenting the history of currencies in Bangladesh, particularly those used during and after the Liberation War. His work was published in books and prospectuses, serving as valuable resources for historians and enthusiasts alike.

A mother and her two sons have been brutally stabbed to death in Panchagarh, police said. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in the Daluya Dighi area of Kurulia village, Balarampur Union, Atwari Upazila of Panchagarh district. The victims have been identified as Taslima Akhter (35), wife of Selim Sheikh, and her two sons, Soikat (13) and Sayham (9). All three were attacked with sharp weapons all over their bodies. Police suspect that the motive behind the murders could be a business dispute or personal enmity. Upon receiving the news, officials from the Army, Police, and CID (Criminal Investigation Department) arrived at the scene and were collecting evidence. Hundreds of locals gathered at the house that night to witness the gruesome crime scene. No clues regarding the identity of the killers have been found yet, but police are actively conducting operations to arrest the potential culprits. According to police and local sources, Selim Sheikh, who runs a cloth business at Boda market, returned home between 11:00 PM and 11:15 PM after closing his shop. Upon arrival, he found the main gate of his house open and the front door ajar. As he entered, he discovered the blood-soaked bodies of his wife and two sons lying on the floor. His cries for help alerted neighbours, who rushed to the scene and also witnessed the horrifying sight of the three bodies. The Army, Police, and CID Crime Scene Unit cordoned off the house and gathered evidence. Locals reported that Selim Sheikh had previously supported Awami League politics but was not actively involved in politics at the time of the incident. Family members and locals have demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for the murders. Balarampur Union Parishad Chairman Alhaj Delwar Hossain stated that he rushed to Selim Sheikh's house upon hearing the news. He described the scene as heart-wrenching and expressed hope that the authorities would arrest the perpetrators and ensure they face severe punishment. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Atwari Police Station Musa Mia confirmed the matter. The bodies would be sent for post-mortem after the collection of evidence, he added.   No clues have yet been found, but the police and CID are investigating the incident from various angles, said the OC.

A Rohingya man was shot to death by armed criminals in a refugee camp of Ukhiya upazila in Cox's Bazar in the small hours on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Feroz Khan, 28, son of Mahmud Sharif. Shamim Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ukhiya Police Station, said the incident took place at B-50 block of Balukhali camp-8 around 3am. BSF returns body of Bangladeshi man killed at Chapainawabganj border The OC said a group of gunmen shot Feroz on the road in front of the house of Abu Bakar in the camp, leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Two dead after falling into ditch in Dinajpur Later, the body was sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Though the reason behind the murder could not be ascertained, establishing supremacy among groups might have led to the killing, the police officer said.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) today returned the body of Abdullah (35), who was shot and killed at the Chapainawabganj border. Abdullah was from Dakshin Paka Nishipara village in Paka Union, Shibganj upazila. Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) received the body during a flag meeting held at the 23/7 S boundary pillar area of the Johorpur Tek border around 6:00 pm on Wednesday. Lt Col Monir Uz Zaman, commander of the 53 BGB Battalion, BGB officials, Shibganj Police Station officers, and senior officials from BSF and Indian police were present at the flag meeting. Later, Abdullah's body was handed over to his family, said Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sajjad Hossain. Abdullah and several others illegally entered India late Sunday night, when BSF forces opened fire. Abdullah was shot and killed, but the rest escaped to Bangladesh unharmed.

A Chattogram court has fixed August 18 for the bail hearing of former superintendent of police Babul Akter , one of the main accused in the sensational Mahamuda Khanam Mitu murder case in Chattogram. Chattogram Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court-3, passed the order after a hearing from both sides on Wednesday, confirmed Babul’s lawyer Adv Kafil Uddin. "We applied for bail on behalf of SP Babul Akhter. The court has heard both sides' statements. We presented our arguments. After a lengthy hearing, the court has set the for the bail order,” said the lawyer. Earlier, on Thursday (August 8), a special bail application was submitted to  the Chattogram 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, and Judge Md Jasim Uddin asked to apply on the scheduled date. Mitu, wife of then Chattogram Police Superintendent Babul Akhter, was shot and hacked to death at the GEC intersection in Chattogram while she was taking her son to the school bus. In the case filed by Mitu's father regarding this incident, Babul Akhter was made the main accused.

 Two people went missing after a boat capsized in the Meghna estuary near Chandpur on Tuesday evening. The incident happened as a group of six was travelling by boat from Puran Bazar to the Molhead Station area. The boat capsized, and while four individuals were rescued, two are still missing. The missing persons have been identified as Umme Hania Fahima (21), wife of Naeem Khan, and her relative, Setu (30). The rescued individuals include Naeem Khan (35), a Korean expatriate, his friend Md. Mazharul (33), his relative Munia (26), and the boatman. All are receiving treatment at Chandpur General Hospital, where doctors have confirmed that they are out of danger. Md. Moniruzzaman Monir, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station, said efforts by the Chandpur Coast Guard to locate the remaining two are ongoing. M Shafiqul Islam, a petty officer at the Chandpur Coast Guard Station, said that their diving team conducted search operations in the Meghna River estuary from 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm on the night of the accident. Naeem's father, Jahangir Alam Khan, expressed his deep grief, lamenting that his son had returned from abroad only two months ago and had recently married. What was meant to be a joyful time has turned into a tragedy, he said.

Two people died as they fell into a water-filled ditch apparently after drinking liquor at a wedding programme in Dinajpur's Nawabganj upazila. Police recovered the bodies on Tuesday from the ditch which was located near the wedding venue. The deceased were identified as Sirajul Islam Boltu, 56, son of the late Peshkar Ali from Malbhabanipur village, and Sarathi Pahan, 60, an indigenous woman from Chak Gopalpur Sarkarpara in Mithapukur, Rangpur. Sarathi was the wife of the late Shuku Pahan. According to the locals, the incident occurred on Monday night during a wedding celebration in the indigenous community at Malbhabanipur village in Kushdaha Union. The two victims reportedly consumed locally brewed liquor fell into the water-filled ditch. Local people noticed the bodies in the ditch on Tuesday morning and informed police. Anwar Hossain, Chairman of Kushdaha Union Parishad, said the ditch had been dug for the construction of a new toilet near the house and was temporarily covered with banana leaves. Abdus Sattar, Sub-Inspector of Aftabganj Police Outpost, said they will investigate the deaths.

The historic Mujibnagar Complex, a symbol of Bangladesh's fight for independence, now stands in eerie silence after a devastating attack following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government.Once a bustling site filled with tourists, the Mujibnagar Amrakanan has become desolate. On the afternoon of August 5 - the day of student-led mass upsurge that forced Prime Minister Hasina to resign and flee the country- several thousand people, armed with sticks, launched an attack on the complex, destroying over 600 sculptures, including a mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.The attack left the site in ruins, with the sculptures commemorating the Liberation War shattered and desecrated. Ansar members, responsible for the security of the site, reportedly fled in fear, taking shelter in their barracks as the attack unfolded. The attack was fueled by the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. As tensions escalated, the mob targeted the complex, breaking sculptures that depicted key moments of Bangladesh's struggle for independence. The attack began with the smashing of Bangabandhu's iconic speech sculpture, delivered on March 7, 1971, at the Racecourse Maidan, with the attackers damaging the head and hand of the statue. The sculpture of the brutal massacre of unarmed Bengalis by Pakistani forces in 1971 was also vandalised. The violence did not end there. Later that night, the attackers returned to inflict further damage, targeting smaller sculptures that represented the battles of the 11 sectors of the Liberation War. These sculptures were designed in the shape of Bangladesh's map, a poignant representation of the nation's fight for freedom. The attackers also dismantled the main gate of the Shaheed Memorial and slightly damaged the "Guard of Honor" sculpture and the sculpture depicting Pakistan's surrender on December 16, 1971. Lance Corporal Azim Uddin and Ansar member Solaiman, who were on duty at the time, confirmed that 600 sculptures, the main tourist attraction, were destroyed. Subedar Rabiul Islam, Battalion Ansar Commander stationed at the Mujibnagar Memorial Complex, recounted how the attackers first vandalised the Bangabandhu sculptures and later returned for a second wave of destruction that lasted until midnight. Following the vandalism, the attackers raided the Ansar camp, breaking into the office and taking away the CCTV camera’s hard disk from the control room. During the attack, attempts to seek guidance from the Upazila Executive Officer were futile, leading the Ansar members to retreat to ensure their safety and protect their weapons. Since the incident, the Mujibnagar Memorial Complex has seen no visitors, and the Ansar members remain fearful, with only three members now deployed instead of four.

A flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India was held on Monday. The flag meeting was held at Sonahat border of Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram this afternoon, according to a press release of BGB Kurigram Battalion (22 BGB) Commander Lt. Col. Muhammad Masudur Rahman led the Bangladesh delegation while BSF was led by 19 BSF Battalion Commandant Shri Sunil Saibam, 31 BSF Battalion Commandant Shri Ajay Kumar Singh and 49 BSF Battalion Commandant Shri Ajit Kumar. The BSF commanders urged the BGB to maintain vigilance along the border to prevent any potential infiltration of individuals from the Hindu community into India, considering the current political situation in Bangladesh. Captain Md. Masudur Rahman assured that the BGB continues its round-the-clock surveillance at the border, added the release. In addition, the border forces of the two neighbouring countries discussed the issues of border shootings and killings and reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the existing friendly relations between the two countries.