United News of Bangladesh

A 12-km long tailback has been created on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway stretching from Tongi to Chandana Chowrasta in Gazipur district on Thursday. Vehicles were seen moving slowly from Tongi to Chandana Chourasta in the morning due to heavy pressure of vehicles on the highway as homebound people are heading to their villages to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones. Dhaka sees heavier morning traffic as offices open today A light traffic congestion has been reported since morning in several areas including Board Bazar, Bhogra Bypass, Chandna Chourasta, Tongi Station Road and Gazipura areas of the district. Besides, vehicles are moving at a sluggish pace for several kilometres around the Chandra Trimor area in Kaliakoir upazila on Dhaka-Tangail highway. Additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed at key points along the highway to ensure smoother traffic flow.  

Three passengers, including a transgender, were killed after a truck struck their easy bike in the Mobarakpur Mahishaband area of Sreebardi-Longaorpara road in Sherpur on Wednesday. The accident occurred around 7:30 pm on Wednesday, said Zubaidul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) OF Sherpur Sadar Police Station.  The deceased were identified as Golam Hossain Imran, 22, son of former UP member Ilias Hossain from Yoginimura Namapara in Sherpur Sadar, Al-Amin, 17, son of Billal Hossain; and transgender Bikash Dey, 40, son of Dhiren Dey from Singpara in the town. All three were riding the easy bike, heading towards Sherpur town from Sreebardi. Golam Hossain Imran and Al-Amin died on the spot, while Bikash Dey was taken to Sherpur District Sadar Hospital, where he was declared dead by the doctors. "Legal proceedings are currently underway in this regard," added the OC.  

Two children drowned in a pond near their house at Atalia village in Kalia upazila of  Narail on Wednesday The deceased were Rahad Sheikh, 2, son of Shimul Sheikh from Atlia village and his cousin Rihan Sheikh, 2, son of Riaz Sheikh of the same village. 13-year-old tourist drowns in Sylhet’s Jaflong on eid day According to police and locals, Rahad and Rihan were playing at the courtyard of the house in the morning. After some time, they were found missing and their family members started searching them. Later they were found drowning in a pond near the house. They were taken to Narail Sadar Hospital where a doctor declared them dead. Kalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Abdullah Al Mamun said the death of two children from the same family is a tragic incident. After the initial investigation and legal procedure, the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families.

Preparations have been completed at the historic Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj where the largest Eid congregation is set to take place as usual during this Eid-ul-Azha. The 198th Eid-ul-Azha congregation at Sholakia Eid Maidan will be led by Mufti Abul Khayer Mohammad Saifullah. A four-tier security system has been put in place involving the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the army. Special trains from Bhairab and Mymensingh have also been arranged for the convenience of people. Already the authorities concerned have marked prayer rows, cleared weeds and filled small holes with soil to ensure a smooth surface for the congregation. Deputy Commissioner and President of the Sholakia Eidgah Management Committee Fauzia Khan said two special trains named Sholakia Express will operate between Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj on Eid day to facilitate travel. Arrangements have also been made by the district administration for food and accommodation for people coming from distant areas. Security personnel from the army, BGB, police, RAB and intelligence agencies will be deployed in plain clothes to ensure foolproof security. Executive magistrates will be on duty to manage any untoward situation. Smart Hajj: How Saudi Arabia Is innovating crowd management for pilgrims Police said that extensive measures are in place to ensure a secure and smooth Eid congregation. The entire ground and its surroundings will be under a security blanket. Besides, CCTV cameras, watchtowers, archways and metal detectors will be placed at entry points while drones will also be deployed for aerial surveillance. Several watchtowers have been erected to maintain surveillance with snipers and other personnel positioned accordingly. As in previous years, drones and binocular surveillance systems will also be used. The Sholakia Eidgah was established in 1828 by Dewan Haybat Khan Bahadur, the sixth descendant of the legendary Isha Khan and founder of the Kishoreganj zamindari, on nearly seven acres of land on the banks of the Narsunda River. The first Eid congregation at the site drew around 1,25,000 Muslims which gave rise to the name "Soa Lakhi Maath". Over time, the name evolved into the present-day “Sholakia.” More than 2,00,000 devotees offer prayers together at this site. The Eidgah has 265 rows and spans nearly seven acres, making it one of the most prominent religious venues in the region. Due to the field's reputation and legacy, thousands of devotees from distant districts and even foreign countries participate in Eid congregation  here. The number of attendees has been steadily increasing each year.

The government has finalised the nomination of three individuals and three institutions for the National Environment Award 2024 in recognition of their significant contributions to environment conservation, pollution control, education, awareness, research and innovation. The nominations were approved at a recent meeting of the National Committee formed for awarding the National Environment Award 2024, held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Environment Ministry trashes reports of attack on adviser’s motorcade in Sherpur Md. Mahmudul Islam, a resident of Aziznagar village in Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh district and  Snowtex Outerwear Ltd., located in Dhamrai, Dhaka, have been nominated under Environmental Conservation and Pollution Control category. In Environmental Education and Awareness category, Mohammad Munir Chowdhury of CDA Residential Area in Chattogram and environmental organization Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust have been nominated. In Environmental Research and Innovation in Technology, Professor Dr. M. Firoz Ahmed and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) have been nominated for the award. Environment Advisor calls on students to place nature at the centre of vision for new Bangladesh All awardees will be formally honoured at the National Environment Day event. Each winner will receive a crest, certificate, a cheque for Tk 50,000, and the market value of a two-tola 22-carat gold medal.  

Three people, including a student, died and two others were injured after being electrocuted while working in a maize field in Panchagarh Sadar upazila on Wednesday morning. The deceased were identified as Rabbani, 35, Md Shahin, 38, and Jamidul Islam, a student who passed the HSC examination this year. All were residents of Banghari Para village in Dakkamara union of the upazila. Local Union Parishad Chairman Saiful Islam Dulal said villagers spotted a torn rural electrification wire lying in the maize field in the morning. On information, the Rural Electrification Association (REA) disconnected the supply line, he said. But, the line was reconnected shortly afterward, resulting in the student’s death on the spot and injuries to four others. Two die from electrocution in Chandpur Two of the injured were declared dead upon arrival at Panchagarh Sadar Hospital, said Dr Abul Kashem, the hospital's resident medical officer. “One of the injured was shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital after receiving first aid, while another is undergoing treatment here,” he added. Md Mazharul Alam, Deputy General Manager of the district REA, claimed there was no fault in their line, stating, “It was a NESCO line.” Despite repeated attempts, NESCO’s Executive Engineer Satyajit Deb Sharma could not be reached over the phone.

Two siblings were killed allegedly by their paternal uncle over a land dispute at Dakkhin Kathalkandi village in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Masuma Begum, 25 and Sharmin Akter, 28—two daughters of Abu Mia of the village. Quoting witnesses, Abu Zafor Mahfuzul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Kamalganj Police Station, said, Mashuk Ali, 52, son of Auyb Ali had an enmity with his elder brother Abu Mia over the ownership of a piece of land. As a sequel to the enmity, Mashuk along with Rahena Begum swooped on the house of his brother around 5pm and stabbed Masuma and Sharmin and their mother Hazara Begum with sharp weapons, leaving Masuma, Sharmin dead and injured Hazera. 3 killed in Sirajganj motorcycle-poultry truck clash Later, Hazera was taken to a local hospital from where she was shifted to Sadar Hospital. Police are trying to arrest the attackers, said OC.

Three members of a family were killed and three others injured in a road accident on Dhaka-Tangail highway in Basail upazila of Tangail on Monday night. The deceased were identified as Amzad Mandal, 65, his sons Ratul Mandal, 26, and Atul Mandal, 13, of Kamarchar area of Sherpur district. Injured Amzad’s wife and two others have been undergoing treatment at Tangail Sadar Hospital.  Female passengers ‘harassed’, valuables looted on moving bus in Tangail Officer-in-Charge of Gorai Highway police station Mohammad Jamal Uddin said a north Bengal-bound microbus carrying the victims lost control and crashed into a parked truck from behind around 9pm, leaving the trio dead on the spot. The injured were rushed to the Sadar Hospital and the bodies were handed over to the relatives of the victims.

On the muddy banks of the mighty Meghna River, the dream of a modern river port in Chandpur remains elusive, bogged down by delays, dwindling manpower, and fading hope. Nearly a year after construction began on the Chandpur Modern River Port, progress remains painfully slow. A recent visit to the site revealed a sleepy scene -- six or seven workers, a few scattered tools and a major infrastructure project that appears frozen in time. Launch operations suspended in Chandpur for inclement weather “It won’t be done this year, maybe not even by 2028,” remarked one local. This sentiment is echoed by many others who have observed the project’s construction -- or rather, its stagnation -- over the past several months. The Tk 100-crore project, financed by the World Bank and overseen by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), was initially scheduled for completion by August this year, according to the then BIWTA chairman, who spoke to journalists in May last year. But, only 15 per cent of the work has been completed so far, according to BIWTA sources. BIWTA’s current Chandpur Deputy Director, Md Bashir Ahmed, remains hopeful. “We’re trying our best. The deadline has been extended to December. After the original contractor, Toma Construction, fled to Canada during last year’s political transition,” he said. The need for a modern terminal in Chandpur is not new. For over a decade, more than 10,000 people, including women, children and the elderly, have used this launch ghat daily to travel to and from Dhaka, Narayanganj, and nearby districts such as Faridganj, Haimchar, Hajiganj and Raipur, the BIWTA sources said. On festival days, this number increases significantly, with as many as 35 launches operating daily. Yet the existing facilities remain grossly inadequate. There are no waiting areas, no drinking water, no toilets and no designated feeding corners for children. Passengers also suffer additional discomfort -- such as a gangway that lacks a canopy, leaving travellers soaked in the rain. Besides, the chaos of makeshift shops congesting the surrounding roads adds to the misery, although recent efforts have cleared some of them. Even the construction site itself raises concerns. Built on a vulnerable stretch of riverbank, the terminal stands precariously close to the Meghna, a river known for its powerful currents and unpredictable erosion. Locals expressed their worry that the unfinished structure might one day be swallowed by the river before it even becomes operational. Depression-induced rains disrupt life in Chandpur Despite the slow progress, many residents continue to hope that this long-awaited port will eventually offer safe, comfortable, and dignified travel for the people of Chandpur. “We’ve engaged a subcontractor and asked him to speed up the work,” Bashir added.  

The body of a police member was recovered two days after he went missing in the Meghna River of Noakhali district as a trawler carrying 39 people capsized in the river on Saturday.   The deceased Md Saiful Islam, 28, was a resident of Charshahi village under Chandraganj police station in Lakshmipur and posted at Hatiya police station of Noakhali. Locals said they spotted the body floating along the riverbank in Darbesh Bazar area of the Island and informed police. Officer-in-Charge of Hatiya police station AKM Azmal Huda said the body was washed ashore by the tide. So far, 35 people have been rescued while the death toll stands at three, he said, adding that a Rohingya child named Tamim is still missing. On Saturday, the trawler carrying 39 people, including police, Ansar members, Rohingya patients, and NGO workers, left Bhasan Char for Ali Bazar Ghat in Hiron union. About 7–8 km into the journey, the trawler sank near Dubarchar due to inclement weather.