United News of Bangladesh

Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway has been suspended since Saturday morning as workers of a factory blocked the highway demanding payment of their dues in Gazipur district.The workers of TNZ Apparels Ltd took to the street around 9 am at Bason point, halting vehicular movement.Rahedul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bason Police Station, said the workers of different garment factories including TNZ Apparels Ltd staged demonstrations in the last several days for the payment of their wages for three months. RMG workers’ protests disrupt traffic in Dhaka’s MirpurAs their salaries remained unpaid, workers of TNZ Apparels again blocked the highway in the morning, causing immense suffering to the commuters.However, police are trying to disperse them from the highway.

Police have arrested 19 ‘Awami League-backed’ union parishad members raiding a hotel during a ‘clandestine meeting’ in Cox’s Bazar district town. Being tipped off that 19 UP members would gather at Uni Resort in Kalatoli area of the district town, a team of police arrested them around 11 pm, said officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Foyzul Azim Noman. Zahir Ahmed, a member of Teknaf Sadar Union Parishad, alleged 70 UP members of an association ‘Members Association’ gathered in the resort to discuss the country’s current situation. RAB arrests ‘Boma Arman’ from Mohammadpur Geneva Camp Suddenly, police along with over 50 student coordinators of the district entered the hotel and started to harass them and picked up 19, he said. During the drive, tourists were seen leaving the resort fearing police harassment. Maheshkhali UP member Salim condemned the arrest. Some coordinators allegedly obstructed journalists when they were recoding video of the police drive.  

Two people including a motorcyclist were killed as a motorbike crashed into a lamp post on the Chattogram Elevated Expressway in EPZ area of Chattogram on Friday midnight. The deceased were identified as Md Moktar, 28 and Md Rubel, 36, residents of Sadarghat area. The accident occurred around 12 am when the motorcycle hit the lamp post as the motorcyclist lost his control while heading towards Lalkhan Bazar from Patenga area, leaving them dead on the spot, said officer-in-charge of EPZ Police Station Mohammad Akhteruzzaman. Two killed in road accident in Manikganj On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to local hospital morgue. Police are investigating the accident.  

Kaliganj Police Station in Lalmonirhat has been functioning without an Officer-in-Charge (OC) for over two weeks, resulting in disruptions to law enforcement activities and a rise in criminal activity, including drug peddling and robberies. On October 23, the previous OC, Imtiaz Kabir, was transferred, and although an Investigation Officer briefly took charge, he too was transferred after just 12 days. Since then, no new OC has been appointed, leaving the police station without leadership. As a result, operations have been severely hindered, and the situation remains uncertain as to when a permanent OC will be posted. Kaliganj, located in Rangpur Division, is a key police station given its strategic position along the Indian border, making it a major route for drug trafficking and smuggling. The absence of an OC has created a leadership vacuum, which is affecting the station’s ability to effectively maintain law and order in the region. The lack of police leadership has had a direct impact on the local security situation. The area has seen an uptick in thefts, robberies, and the unchecked flow of drugs and contraband, including cattle smuggling from India. Local residents have raised concerns about the growing lawlessness in the region, with many pointing out that drug dealers and smugglers have become reckless in the absence of a strong police presence. The Superintendent of Police has been forced to step in repeatedly to manage daily operations, but the situation remains unstable. Local residents are calling for an honest and dedicated officer to be appointed as the new OC, hoping that strong leadership can help restore order and curb the growing drug menace in the area.

Two youths were killed and another critically injured in a collision of a pickup van and a motorcycle in Singair upazila of Manikganj on Friday. The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Badhan, 18, son of Nur Hossain from Itora village in Singair, and Ratul Hossain, 25, son of the late Panku Miah from Garpara Union in the district’s sadar upazila. Jahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Singair Police Station, confirmed the news and said that the motorcycle, which was traveling at high speed, was carrying three people. A pickup van, also speeding in the opposite direction, collided head-on with the motorcycle. Badhan, the motorcycle rider, died on the spot. The other two riders, including Ratul, were critically injured and taken to Singair Health Complex, where Ratul was declared dead by duty doctors. Laden Hossain, from Itora village, was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. The bodies of the two deceased have been sent to the Manikganj District Hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC confirmed.

The government has formed a working group to free Dhaka’s canals from encroachment and pollution as a comprehensive plan is underway to reclaim the water bodies. Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan came up with this disclosure while addressing a seminar titled "Environment, Climate, and Politics in a New Bangladesh" at Panibhaban in Dhaka on Thursday. She mentioned that a comprehensive plan is underway to free Dhaka’s canals from encroachment and pollution. For this purpose, a working group has been formed in collaboration with the Local Government, Water Resources, Land, and Housing and Public Works Ministries, with the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Dhaka District serving as the convener of the group. The working group includes representatives from various agencies such as the Water Development Board, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, Department of Environment, River Protection Commission, City Corporations, and others. The group will draft an action plan to be submitted to the Ministry by November 30. She said the government is giving utmost priority to environmental protection in building a new Bangladesh. “We aim to initiate and leave behind significant efforts for forest conservation and pollution control,” she added. Rizwana highlighted the crucial role of young people in protecting the environment and urged youths to engage in combating climate change. Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) President Prof Adil Muhammad Khan and River and Delta Research Centre Chairman Mohammad Azaz, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Myanmar’s Arakan Army has returned 20 Bangladeshi fishermen who were taken captive from the Shah Porir Dwip in the Naf River on Tuesday. The fishermen were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at Teknaf’s Shah Porir Dwip jetty on Thursday afternoon. Lt Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of Teknaf-2 BGB, confirmed the matter. The process of returning the fishermen to their families has been completed, said the BGB official. Armed members of the separatist rebel group Arakan Army held the fishermen at gunpoint and seized 15 dinghy boats, taking them away into Myanmar territory. The capture created an atmosphere of fear and concern among local fishing communities and the families of those taken. Efforts to secure their release began immediately, with the BGB engaging in discussions with the Arakan Army to ensure the safe return of the fishermen.

Joint forces in a drive arrested a local leader of BNP along with arms and ammunition from his residence at North Subidkhali in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali district early Thursday. The arrestee is Jahangir Farazi, general secretary of Mirzaganj upazila unit BNP and son of Motaleb Farazi. Tipped off, a team of joint forces conducted a drive at the house of Farazi and arrested him along with a pistol, one magazine and two rounds of bullets, said Captain Riman Rafin Nishat, commander of Mirzaganj Upazila Army camp.

BRAC has formally launched ‘Otithi’, a community-based tourism initiative designed to promote sustainable travel by showcasing the people, history, culture, natural beauty, and archaeological treasures of various regions in Bangladesh to both local and international tourists. According to a media statement, Otithi aims to transform the tourism landscape in Bangladesh by ensuring that travel directly benefits local communities, fostering economic growth, and preserving cultural heritage. The initiative was officially launched in Rajshahi, the land of Barind, on Sunday (November 3). 'Otithi' community-based tourism initiative will engage local communities in the tourism industry, ensuring that economic benefits flow back to them -- especially in rural and underserved regions. Beyond economic empowerment, ‘Otithi’ seeks to reconnect urban youths with their roots, introduce them to hidden cultural gems, and celebrate Bangladesh's diverse heritage.

Two college students died and three others, including a child, were injured when an autorickshaw overturned after losing control in the Bottola area of Kamolganj upazila of Moulvibazar on Wednesday morning. Syed Ifthekhar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kamalganj Police Station, confirmed the matter. The deceased were identified as Abdullah Al Sayem (17) of Maizdihi in the Kalapur union of Srimangal upazila and Amit Sutradhor (18) of Bhagalpur of the upazila. Both were class 12 students at Kamalganj Government College. According to locals, the students were travelling by autorickshaw from Sreemangal to Kamalganj College to take an exam. Upon reaching the Bottola area on the Kamalganj-Sreemangal road, the driver suddenly turned to avoid hitting a child, causing the autorickshaw to lose control and overturn, killing Sayem, who died on the spot. The injured were initially taken to Kamalganj Upazila Health Complex and were later referred to Moulvibazar Hospital. However, on the way to Moulvibazar, Amit succumbed to his injuries.