United News of Bangladesh

The local administration has lifted restrictions on tourism in four upazilas of Bandarban district, signaling a cautious return to travel in the area. Deputy Commissioner Shah Mozahid Uddin announced the decision at a meeting on Wednesday, confirming that tourists can now visit Bandarban Sadar, Alikadam, Lama, and Naikhongchhari upazilas. The popular Nilgiri tourist spot is also included under the revised travel order. However, restrictions remain in place for Rowangchhari, Ruma, and Thanchi upazilas due to concerns about the presence of armed members of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a separatist group active in the area. Authorities have advised tourists to avoid these areas for safety reasons. Conflict in Myanmar: 5 govt primary schools declared shut in Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Mozahid further directed relevant authorities to ensure that tourists can travel without facing harassment. In a move to attract more visitors, the Hotel Motel and Transport Owners Association has announced special discounts for tourists. Travel bans in the neighboring districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati have also been lifted, opening up more areas for tourism across the region.    

The death toll from the filling station fire in Mymensing sadar rose to three with the death of another victim early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Tofazzel Hossain, 45, an employee of the filling station and son of Abdus Salam of Rahmatpur area. Shafiqul Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said four injured victims -Tofazzel, Quamrul Hasan, 35, a restaurant owner, his wife Shumi Akter, 30, Abdul Malek, 50---were taken to National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and then shifted to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Tofazzel breathed his last while undergoing treatment there, said the OC. Earlier on Monday, two people were killed and six others injured as a massive fire broke out at Azahar filling station at Rahmatpur Bypass Road in Mymensingh Sadar. The deceased were identified as Himel, 30, son of Jamal Uddin from Kichmot village within the Mymensingh city corporation and Abdul Kuddus, 85. A three member probe body was formed to look into the incident.  

The routes of the Sundarbans Express and Benapole Express trains will not be changed for now and those will run through Rajbari, Faridpur, and Bhanga stations to Dhaka. The decision was taken following demonstrations by local people under the banner of ‘People from all strata in Rajbari and Faridpur’ demanding cancellation of the government decision of route changing. Arbar Etu, coordinator of the protesting people, said after the train service started on this route under the previous government and it is profitable. The train seats are always full and there is no reason to change the route, she said. Considering the needs of people of people in Faridpur, Rajbari, Kushtia, and surrounding districts, they urge the government not to cancel the train services. Earlier on Saturday night, local people staged a demonstration by halting the movement of ‘Rajbari Express-105’ at Rajbari Rail Station protesting route changing decisions of the government. Later the following day they halted movement of ‘Madhumoti Express and Sundarban Express for the same demand. Faridpur Railway Assistant Station Master Sujat Ali Sardar, said "We have not received any official instructions about the change in the route for the Sundarbans and Benapole Express trains. We have not been informed of any decision, either written or verbal, from the Ministry of Railway." "But unofficially, we have been informed that until an alternative arrangement is made for this route, the Benapole and Sundarbans Express will continue to operate as per the previous schedule," he said. On November 1, 2023, the two trains-- Sundarbans Express and Benapole Express—started its operation on the Faridpur-Rajbari route, providing a convenient travel option for people from Faridpur and nearby districts to reach Dhaka in a short time.  

The tourism restriction in Sajek valley and Khagrachhari, imposed for over a month, has been lifted on Tuesday. Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md. Shahiduzzaman confirmed the matter. He said all tourist centres in the district are now accessible, with Sajek Valley reachable via the Khagrachhari district road. This reopening is expected to revitalise tourism in the area, benefiting businesses that rely heavily on visitors. Tourists discouraged from visiting Sajek Valley until further notice The restriction, initially enforced on September 25 due to violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati on September 19 and 20, was expanded to a complete tourism pause on October 8 across all three hill districts. This prolonged closure placed immense strain on the local economy, particularly for those in tourism. The Sajek Cottage Owners Association reported that their 120 resorts and cottages were mostly empty, with many employees forced to leave due to lack of work. Losses to the sector are estimated around Tk 15 crore. Ananta Bikash Tripura, general secretary of the Khagrachhari Residential Hotel Owners Association, welcomed the reopening. "Many people’s lives are tied to the tourism sector here. With the halt in tourist activity, many became unemployed. The reopening brings relief and hope for recovery.”

A 65-year-old man was killed and five others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over establishing supremacy at Chandpur village in Kalia upazila of Narail district on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Sultan Molla of the village. Quoting locals, Rashidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kalia Police Station, said Md Jamal, a member of Purulia Union Parishad and Shariful Molla, former UP member, had been at loggerheads over taking control of the area. As a sequel to the enmity, the supporters of both groups, equipped with sharp weapons attacked each other, leaving Sultan killed on the spot. Angered by the incident, the supporters of Shariful carried out attacks on the house of the supporters of Jamal group and looted cattle and gold ornaments. Police are trying to arrest the attackers involved in the killing, said OC. Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble.

As many as 34 people were killed and 76 injured in 36 road accidents in Sylhet Division in October, said a report of Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa), Sylhet. Among the deceased 13 people were killed in accidents, involving motorbikes, five were passengers of CNG-run auto-rickshaw or human hauler, seven pedestrians, it said. Zahirul Islam Mishu, convener of Nischa, said the report was published based on media reports and information collected by Nischa’s Sylhet branch organisations. According to the report, Sylhet district witnessed the highest number of road accidents, while Sunamganj district had the fewest. At least 14 people were killed and 19 others injured in 16 road accidents in Sylhet alone while Sunamganj witnessed three accidents, leaving three people killed and two others injured and four deaths with three injuries were reported in five Moulvibazar accidents whereas in Habiganj, 12 accidents led to 13 deaths and 43 injuries. Among the deceased 28 were men, five women and a child. In September, Sylhet division witnessed 24 road accidents with 20 fatalities and 24 injuries.

Police said on Tuesday they are imvestigating the explosions of two crude bombs at Gobarchapa Hat in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district. No one was hurt from the blasts that occurred in front of the main gate of Primary Government School around 8:30 pm, creating panic among people. Witnesses said they heard the sounds of explosion at night when a microbus was seen crossing the area. They also suspected that miscreants might have hurled the bombs from the microbus. Shahjahan Ali, officer-in-charge of Badalgachhi Police Station, said police rushed to the spot and recovered six unexploded bombs from the spot.

A college student from Beanibazar upazila in Sylhet has been missing for more than ten days, leaving his family worried. The student, Arafat Ahmed Sohan, aged 22, recently completed his HSC exams at Bairagibazar Ideal College. He is the son of Shahin Ahmed from Lalubari in Paton village, under Mollapur union. Reports indicate that Sohan disappeared on the afternoon of October 24 from the Paton area. His family filed a General Diary (GD) at Beanibazar Police Station the following day, October 25. Despite over a week, there has been no trace of him, heightening the family’s distress. Adding to the sorrow, Sohan’s father, Shahin Ahmed, passed away on September 27. With Sohan going missing just a month after his father’s death has only intensified the family’s grief. Sohan’s elder brother, Saleh Ahmed, has appealed for any information on his whereabouts. Anyone who may have relevant information is urged to contact the family or the nearest police station.

Several hundred tea workers from the National Tea Company (NTC) have entered their 15th consecutive day of strike, demanding the payment of seven weeks’ unpaid wages and 13 months’ overdue Provident Fund (PF) contributions. Several hundred workers from the Lakkatura, Kewachra, and Daldali tea estates formed a human chain outside the Lakkatura tea plantation in Sylhet on Monday afternoon. "We have been protesting for 15 days, but the owner has not provided any clear answers regarding our arrears," a representative of the workers stated. Commuters suffer as bus strike continues on Chapai-Rajshahi route "Garden owners claim they cannot pay wages due to various reasons, including a lack of funds in the bank, yet garden managers and others are receiving their payments without issue. Furthermore, our Provident Fund contributions have not been submitted to the proper authorities," they claimed. The ongoing strike has forced the closure of 12 NTC-owned factories, disrupting production and damaging tea leaves, which may hinder efforts to meet tea production targets. Efforts to reach National Tea Company General Manager Emdadul Haque for comment were unsuccessful, as he declined to speak on the matter. Tea workers under NTCL begin wildcat strike demanding arrears in Sylhet Among the 168 tea gardens in Bangladesh, 136 are located in the Sylhet division. Tea production in the country began in 1854 at the Malnichara tea plantation in Sylhet, where hundreds of thousands of workers remain dependent on this vital industry.

An additional 8 million cubic feet of gas has been connected to the transmission line (national grid) from well number 7 of Haripur in Jaintapur Upazila, Sylhet.A test gas connection was provided from Sylhet well-7 to the national transmission line at 3:15 pm on Monday.Managing Director of Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, Md. Mizanur Rahman, informed that Sylhet Gas Fields Limited has already been supplying 130 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid. This amount has now increased further.He stated that this well was drilled in 1986. Oil was discovered at a depth of 2,000 meters from 1987, and oil production continued until 1994. Later, a workover in 2004 revealed gas at a depth of 1,900 meters. This well was shut down in June 2024. In July this year, another workover found a gas reserve of 90 to 95 billion cubic feet at a depth of 1,200 meters. This gas can be extracted for the next 15 to 20 years.The MD of Sylhet Gas Field Limited further said that Sylhet well number 7 is the 15th gas field of Petrobangla. Gas worth Tk 50 crore and condensate worth Tk 4 lakh will be extracted daily from the well.On October 22, during the renovation of an old oil well (Sylhet well number 7) in Haripur, Jaintapur Upazila, two new gas layers were discovered. After two rounds of testing, the Sylhet Gas Field Limited authorities confirmed the presence of gas at a depth of 1,200 meters. Officials said that exploration has been ongoing in the old gas well since July. On October 14, gas was detected at a depth of 2,010 meters, amounting to 7 million cubic feet.Then, on October 22, another 8.5 million cubic feet of gas was discovered at a depth of 1,200 meters in the same well. As part of the test, gas was extracted for one week. Later, the well was prepared for supplying gas to the national grid. From here, 8.5 million cubic feet of gas can be supplied daily.According to information provided by officials of Sylhet Gas Field Limited, oil production began in 1986 from well number 7 in Haripur, Jaintapur. This time, gas has been found in two layers of the old well. So far, 130 million cubic feet of gas has been supplied to the national grid from Sylhet, which is now increasing further.Notably, BAPEX, the domestic oil and gas production company, has already drilled and extracted gas from 14 wells in Sylhet. Of these, two wells are in the Haripur gas field in Jaintapur, three in Kailashtila of Golapganj, seven in Rashidpur, and two in Beanibazar, where gas extraction continues.