United News of Bangladesh

Police recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj on Monday. The body was discovered hanging in a room at the house of Zainal Sheikh, located near Sidweshwari Bazar in Tongibari upazila. Md Mahidul Islam, the officer-in-charge of Tongibari Police Station, confirmed the matter. The deceased, identified as Siam, was the son of Shafiqul Islam from Hirakanda village in Kalmakanda upazila, Netrokona. 17-year-old body drowns in Cox’s Bazar beach Siam's mother, Sulada Begum, stated that he was mentally unstable. It is believed that Siam locked the room and hanged himself with a rope when no one was watching. He was rushed to the upazila health complex, where the on-duty doctor pronounced him dead. The body was recovered following reports from the scene. As the family raised no complaints, the body was handed over to them.

A four-member probe committee was formed to look into the fire on the oil tanker MV Sadia Enterprise in the Dakatia River of Chandpur on Sunday that left six crew members injured. Muhammad Lokman, in-charge of Padma Oil Company Depot, said that headed by the company’s DGM Asif Malek, the committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days. At least six crew members were injured when a massive fire broke out on the oil tanker MV Sadia Enterprise around 4:15 pm near Padma Oil Company's jetty in the Dakatia River, following an explosion of a generator in its engine room on Sunday afternoon. Six injured as oil-carrying vessel catches fire in Dakatia River Four units from the local Fire Service and Coast Guard members brought the fire under control around 5:30 pm. According to the company, some 7.5 lakh litres of petrol and diesel were available at the oil tanker.    

Chittagong Medical College authorities have taken action against 86 students for breaching discipline. Among them, 75 were leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League that has been banned. Allegations have been brought against them for occupying rooms illegally, breaching the rule, for being involved in criminal activities, and destroying the educational atmosphere of the medical college. Police arrests leader of banned BCL leader for attack on students during movement The 75 leaders and activists of BCL, including 14 interns, were expelled for different periods of time. Prof Jashim Uddin, Principal of the Chittagong Medical College, said the action was taken following the recommendation of the investigation committee.

Two policemen went missing as they jumped into the Padma River during an attack allegedly by some miscreants in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia district early Monday. The missing policemen are assistant sub-inspectors Sadrul Alam and Mukul Hossain. Two members of Koya union parishad—Sanwar Hossain and Anwar Hossain-- were also injured during the attack. Local people said the two members of No 5 and No 6 wards of the union parishad along with four policemen went to the Padma River on a boat where some fishermen were fishing around 4 am defying the government ban. Bodies of 2 missing children recovered from Mathabhanga River Sensing the presence of the police boat, a group of miscreants attacked them and beat them up mercilessly, leaving the two UP members injured. At one stage, the two policemen jumped into the river. Some fishermen alleged that the policemen went there to loot the fish caught by the fishermen illegally although they were not supposed to conduct any drive there. Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mahmudul Hasan said there was no information of drive against illegal netting in the Padma River. Palash Kanti Nath, additional superintendent of police, a team of police conducted a drive to rescue the missing policemen.

Trade between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port resumed on Monday morning after a two-day suspension. The trade remained suspended on Saturday and Sunday due to the inauguration of a new passenger terminal at India’s Petrapole land port by Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. Drug smugglers thrive at Benapole as scanners remain dysfunctional Shamsur Rahman, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, confirmed the reopening of trade activities saying that many trucks loaded with goods queued at Petrapole to enter Benapole after the two-day break. Officer-in-Charge Imtiaz Bhuiyan of Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police said although trade remained suspended passenger movement remained undisrupted .

At least six crew members were injured when a massive fire erupted on the oil tanker MV Sadia Enterprise in the Dakatia River, Chandpur, following an explosion in its engine room on Sunday afternoon. The injured are Rubel, 35, Golap, 50, Jilani, 30, Masud, 30, Giyas Uddin, 29 and Madhu Mia, 55. The fire broke out around 4:15pm near Padma Oil Company's jetty, said Syed Morshed Alam, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (North) Chandpur. On information, 4 units from the Fire Service and Coast Guard members brought the fire under control around 5:30 pm. Among the injured, Golap's condition was serious and he was sent to Dhaka for better treatment. However, the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unknown.

The workers of 18 tea gardens under National Tea Company Ltd (NTCL) in Sylhet have threatened to go on strike from Wednesday if their due wages are not cleared by Tuesday. The workers of NTCL including Lakkatura Tea Garden put up a barricade on Osmani Airport Road in Ambarkhana area of the city on Sunday morning demanding payment of their dues, disrupting vehicular movement for two hours. Later, they withdrew their blockade programme and threatened to go on strike from Wednesday if their demand is not met by Tuesday. However, they also said their work abstention programme will continue as before. Workers said they have not received wages for the past six weeks, suspending production at the 18 tea gardens under NTCL. Workers had been surviving on rations for the past two months without being paid their wages. However, even the rations have not been provided for the past week, forcing them into extreme hardship. NTCL General Manager Emdadul Haque explained that the company’s managing board had been non-operational due to the recent student protests, which caused their bank to withhold loans. As a result, the company has been unable to pay the workers. He further stated that a new managing board has since been formed and expressed hope that the wages would be disbursed within the next week. So far, around 1.20 lakh kgs of tea leaves have been collected from 12 tea gardens, with an average daily production of 18,000 to 20,000 kgs of tea leaves. However, the strike has led to significant financial losses for the company. The workers of Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj expressed solidarity with the movement.

After extensive renovation, the century-old Kalurghat Bridge over the Karnaphuli River was reopened to traffic on Sunday. The bridge officially opened around 10am without any toll charges initially; however, authorities announced that tolls would be implemented in the future for crossing the bridge. A high barrier was erected at the entrance to restrict the passage of heavy vehicles exceeding eight feet in height. With the bridge now operational, commuters can travel to their destinations more easily. Additionally, a walkway has been added for pedestrians. Constructed in 1930 to facilitate troop movement during World War I, the 700-meter Kalurghat Bridge was built by Brunick & Company Bridge Builders in Howrah, featuring a span of 239 meters. A deck was added to accommodate vehicle traffic, and in 1958, it was opened for all types of vehicles. In response to public suffering, the bridge underwent decking and resurfacing to enhance its capacity as a road bridge alongside its original railway function. Lighter vessel rams Kalurghat Bridge: 3 crews arrested Bangladesh Railway declared the bridge unsafe in 2001, and it remained in use through patchwork repairs, posing significant risks as thousands of people continued to use it. Residents of the Boalkhali and Patiya upazilas have long demanded a new bridge over the river, prompting feasibility studies by various firms from Australia, Taiwan, and Bangladesh. Due to the deteriorating condition of the Kalurghat Bridge, thousands of commuters have faced difficulties for over two decades. In response to persistent local demands, the previous government proposed the establishment of a rail network connecting China, Myanmar, and India, along with plans to demolish the old Kalurghat railway bridge and construct a new railway and road bridge over the Karnaphuli River. This project is part of the government's larger initiative for the Dohazari-Ghumdhum railway line. Sources indicate that on September 21, 2017, the Bangladesh Railway's east zone authorities submitted a development project proposal (DPP) for the Kalurghat railway and road bridge to the Rail Bhaban office in Dhaka. After several revisions, the proposal was presented to the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission for approval on March 27. Construction on the bridge began in 2020, with a total estimated cost of Tk 1,164.98 crore, funded largely by Tk 1,146 crore from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea, with the remainder covered by the government. The project was scheduled for completion by March of this year; however, delays arose due to political instability, complications with fund disbursement, and weather-related obstacles. Consequently, while train services resumed on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route on November 12, 2023, vehicular movement remained suspended until today. On the afternoon of September 20, Railway Secretary Abdul Baki inspected the progress of the Kalurghat railway bridge renovation, stating that normal traffic would resume as soon as the renovations were completed.    

Unidentified miscreants beat and stabbed to death a Jubo League (JL) man in the city on Saturday night. The victim was identified as Mim, 25, son of Abdul Momen of Ramchandrapur area in the city. He was a close aide and relative of local Jubo League leader Rubel who allegedly opened fire on the protesters on August 5. Sources said miscreants left the injured in front of the emergency department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital around 9:30pm. Factional clash in Tabligh Jamaat leaves 40 injured in Natore The hospital’s trolley men took him to the emergency unit and then shifted to Ward no-2, they said. Mim succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment around 10:30pm, they added. Tajmul Islam, officer-in-charge of Boalia police station, said they preliminary came to know that the victim was involved with JL politics but it is not clear who murdered him. The OC said police launched an investigation into the murder.

Sharmeen S. Murshid, Adviser on Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs, described violence against women as a social disease. She said during a stakeholder consultation meeting on updating the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, held in Sylhet on Saturday. She also said that violence against women is on the rise in Bangladesh like all over the world. At that time, the adviser emphasized that both the abuser and the bystander who tolerates such behavior are failing to uphold their humanity. Murshid pointed out the challenges in rescuing women and children who are victims of abuse and reintegrating them into society in a healthy manner, noting that many cases of violence go unrecognized. Peaceful coexistence crucial for national stability and development: Religious Affairs Adviser She called for solutions that go beyond traditional approaches and for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders. Additionally, she instructed the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to be notified within 24 hours of any incidents of domestic violence, underscoring the ministry’s role in facilitating the rehabilitation of victims to help them regain normalcy in their lives.