United News of Bangladesh

The first divisional meeting for the eighth edition of the Joy Bangla Youth Award in Mymensingh brought together a remarkable assembly of young achievers from across the region, highlighting the growing appeal of this prestigious award for trailblazers. Hundreds of youth-led organizations attended the event, which attendees welcomed as an opportunity for open discussions with the organizers. Several attendees said the event allowed them to have frank discussions with the organizers. Aimed at reaching promising achievers from the grassroots, the meeting saw enthusiastic participation from former awardees, previous nominees, and first-time applicants. The gathering showcased incredible tales of courage and success from youth-led organizations across the region.

Kishoreganj’s district administration commemorated the victims of a militant attack in Sholakia on Sunday morning, while the district police organized a memorial ceremony. At the site of the militant attack near Sholakia Eidgah, Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Kishoreganj, Md Abul Kalam Azad, and Police Superintendent Mohammad Russell Sheikh paid respects by placing flowers in memory of victims Constable Jahirul and Constable Ansarul. Thousands offer Eid prayer amid tight security in Kishoreganj's Sholakia Later, they also paid tribute to the memory of the deceased Jharna Rani Bhowmik, a victim of the militant attack. The District Women's Council separately offered condolences and laid wreaths in their memory. The Police Superintendent said that the case related to the Sholakia militant attack has been submitted in court. Among the 101 witnesses in the case, 60 have already provided their testimonies. He expressed hope that the perpetrators would receive the maximum punishment based on the investigation report and the evidence provided by the witnesses. On Eid-ul-Fitr day on July 7, 2016, a militant attack occurred at a police checkpoint near Sholakia Eidgah adjacent to Ajim Uddin High School. The victims included Police Constables Jahirul, Ansarul, and housewife Jharna Rani Bhowmik. Militant Abir Rahman was also killed. Sholakia Eidgah sees record turnout of 6 lakh Muslims Another militant, identified as Shafiul Islam alias Don, was arrested by RAB in critical condition due to gunshot wounds from the incident site. Later, he was killed in a gunfight with RAB in the Dangri area of Nandail. In total, among the 24 accused in the case, 19 were killed in gunfights in various parts of the country. Excluding those deceased, the police submitted a chargesheet against five individuals in court on September 12, 2018.

The chairman of Panchgaon union parishad was shot dead allegedly by his friend over the school managing committee election results at Panchgaon in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj district on Sunday.The deceased was Sumon Haldar. Shoyeb Ali, officer-in-charge of Tongibari Police Station, said Nur Mohammad Bhola opened fire on his friend Sumon Haldar, a supporter of winning president candidate Moniruzzaman, at Panchgaon Wahed Ali Dewan High School veranda in the afternoon when the election result was announced, leaving him injured. 3 of a family killed in Munshiganj road crash Later, he was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead. Nur Mohammad Bhola’s cousin Milenur Rahman was defeated in the election and got only two votes. Police detained three people- Kawsar Haldar, Sheikh Noor, brother of Milenur, and Bhola’s brother Nur Hossain from the spot. Police are trying to arrest Nur Mohammad Bhola, said superintendent of Munshiganj police Aslam Khan. Two siblings drown in MunshiganjA tense situation has been prevailing in the area over the issue. Additional police have been deployed to avoid further trouble.

Students of Barishal University (BU) blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway adjacent to the main gate of the campus today, demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs. The blockade created a 5km long tailback on both sides of the highway. Hundreds of students initiated a procession on the campus before taking to the streets at noon. They called on their fellow students to join the anti-quota movement in front of the four dormitories. Govt closely monitoring pension, quota movements: Quader The general student body later blocked the highway, causing significant traffic disruption. They chanted slogans demanding the abolition of the quota system and threatened to continue their protest until their demands were met. In a related protest, students of BM College erected barricades near the central Bus Terminal in the afternoon. They displayed placards and national flags and organized a cricket match at the site. PM Hasina dismisses anti-quota protest as irrational, calls it sub-judice Abdur Rahman Mukul, officer-in-charge of Port Police Station, stated that police are working to bring the situation under control.  

The flood situation in Sunamganj remains unchanged, with residents battling floodwaters for three consecutive weeks. The Sadar, Bishwambharpur, Shantiganj, Jagannathpur, Dowarabazar, Chhatak, and Tahirpur upazilas, particularly the low-lying haor and riverbank areas, are severely affected. At least five lakh people are suffering due to the prolonged flooding. Stagnant floodwaters have led to severe waterlogging, forcing many to live in subhuman conditions. Women, children, and the elderly are particularly hard hit, with homes and roads submerged. Livestock and poultry have also been affected, causing further distress among the flood victims. After five weeks of grappling with floods, Sylhet residents' suffering becoming unbearable  Health concerns are escalating as waterborne and skin diseases spread in the flood-affected areas due to stagnant, contaminated water. Low-income individuals are unable to work, leaving families struggling to survive with little to no income. Those who have taken refuge in shelters are also suffering from food and clean water shortages. Despite promises of aid from the local administration, many flood victims claim they have not received any assistance. Affected families are urging the government to assess the damages and provide rehabilitation support. The Water Development Board has indicated that continued rainfall upstream will keep the flood situation in Sunamganj’s riverbank and haor areas unchanged for some time. If the rainfall ceases, water levels will gradually recede, normalizing the situation. Severe flood strands nearly 2 lakh people in Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rashed Iqbal Chowdhury assured that relief efforts are ongoing. “There is no shortage of relief supplies. We are distributing aid as needed. Once the water recedes, we will compile a list of damages,” he said.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has returned the body of Raju Mia, a 28-year-old Bangladeshi man, who was fatally shot along the Nagarbhita border under Baliadangi upazila of Thakurgaon. Raju, son of Habibur Ali from Gariali village, was killed when the BSF opened fire near the 376/5 pillar of the Nagarbhita border. According to sources, Raju had crossed into Indian territory to smuggle cattle when he was shot by a BSF patrol team at Tingaon. Bangladeshi youth shot dead by BSF along Thakurgaon border: Police The BSF handed over Raju's body to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police at the Jagdal BOP border outpost around 11 pm on Saturday. Baliadangi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Firoz Kabir confirmed the incident, saying that the body was subsequently handed over to the family of the deceased. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, a flag meeting between the BGB and BSF was convened to address the killing. During the meeting, the BGB strongly protested the fatal shooting.

A 25-year-old youth's wrist was severed by rivals in a revenge attack at Khagdi area of Madaripur Sadar Upazila on Saturday. The victim is Biplab Mridha alias Billu, a resident of Charmugaria area of the upazila. Family members said Akash Khan, 23,  son of local Khabir Khan, called Billu out of his home to the college ground around 11am on Saturday. Later, Akash along with his men slit his wrists, they claimed. Two dead in separate road accidents in Bagerhat Billu was admitted to Madaripur Sadar Hospital first and then sent to Dhaka for better treatment.  A few days ago,  Billu and Akash locked into a clash over establishing supremacy. At that time, Akash was seriously injured. Md Salauddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Madaripur Sadar Model Police Station, said that the wrists of a young man named Billu were cut off by the rivals. Fugitive couple arrested in Chattogram "Legal action will be taken in this regard," he added.

Despite flood waters starting to recede slowly again, the suffering of the people of Sylhet has reached extreme levels, especially in parts where the flooding has been constant since late May, coming in successive spells that allowed for no recovery from the previous one. The fresh spell of flooding, that was the third in the space of five weeks with no respite in between, has inundated several hundred villages in the district causing immense suffering to its residents. According to the Sylhet Water Development Board, the waters of Surma and Kushiara rivers were still flowing above the red mark at 4 points on Saturday afternoon. Gaibandha flood: At least 67,000 families marooned but waters start receding Around 6 lakh people were stranded, houses were destroyed, livestock died, fish in ponds and farms were washed away, and crops and goods were damaged due to the devastating flood. In addition, water-borne diseases are spreading among people. In many places, people are struggling to manage freshwater, baby food and fodder. The district administration sources said on Saturday afternoon that around 5,88,287 people of 1,139 villages are stranded in water in Sylhet. As many as 9, 831 have taken shelter in the shelter centres. Relief materials are being distributed among the flood-hit people. Rising water levels in Teesta poses flooding in Lalmonirhat Besides, the flood situation is being monitored from the control room set up in the district administration and each upazila administration office. The medical team formed in each union is providing healthcare to the flood-affected people, it added.

After being battered by heavy rainfall and the onrush of water from upstream for the past few days, water levels of the Brahmaputra and Ghagat rivers in Gaibandha have started to recede from Saturday. According to the Gaibandha Water Development Board, the water level of Brahmaputra river at Teestamukh point of Phulchhari upazila decreased by 4cm in the last 24 hours and was now flowing 84cm over  the danger mark.  Besides, the water of Ghaghat river is flowing 34cm above the danger level  even after decreasing by 4cm at the new bridge point of the district town. Rising water levels in Teesta poses flooding in Lalmonirhat Despite slight improvements, at least 67,729 families of 29 unions of Phulchari, Saghata, Sundarganj and Gaibandha Sadar upazilas were left marooned in the district, according to official figures. However, locals claimed that the actual number of water-logged families will be more. The people of these water-logged areas are struggling with children, elderly people and livestock. Shortage of drinking water and sanitation systems along with cow fodder has taken a dire shape. As many as 70 schools in four upazilas of Gaibandha have been closed due to floods. 20 lakh people in 15 districts affected by flood: State Minister A total of 181 permanent and temporary shelters have been set up to accommodate the flood-hit people. Among them, there are 36 shelters in Saghata Upazila, 48 in Sundarganj, 23 in Phulchari, 24 in Sadar, 33 in Sadulapur, 6 in Palashbari and 11 in Gobindganj Upazila. Khorshed Alam, deputy director of Gaibandha Agricultural Extension Department, said that 2,545 hectares of paddy, jute, corn, seedbeds and vegetables in 4 upazilas have been submerged in water due to ongoing floods. The sooner the water recedes, the less damage will occur. Otherwise, the crops will rot, he added. Md Hafizul Haque, an executive engineer of Gaibandha Water Development Board, said that the overall flood situation in the district has remained unchanged due to incessant rain and the onrush of water from upstream. Kazi Nahid Rasul, deputy commissioner of Gaibandha, said that so far, 3050 packets of dry food, 165 tons of GR rice, ), and Tk 10 lakh cash have been allotted to the flood-affected people of  4 upazilas. In addition, 265 tonnes of rice have been kept in stock. Engine-run boats and speed boats are ready for relief distribution and rescue operations,  added the Deputy Commissioner. Flood crisis deepens in Kurigram: 1.5 lakh stranded as rivers swell  

The authorities concerned have opened 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage fearing floods as the river is flowing very close to the danger mark in the northern district of Lalmonirhat. As of Saturday afternoon, the water level was still 10 centimeters below the danger level. Sources at the Water Development Board in the district said the water flow has been increasing since Friday and the water flow at the Dalia point was recorded 37 centimeters below the danger level on Friday evening. 20 lakh people in 15 districts affected by flood: State Minister However, within a span of 15 hours on Saturday, it was flowing just 12 centimeters below the danger level. As of 3pm on Saturday, the water flow at the Dalia point was recorded at 52.05 centimeters, almost at the danger level of 52.15 centimeters. The rising water levels have started to inundate homes in the low-lying and char areas of five upazilas in the district. Residents of low-lying and char areas along the Teesta River, including Gaddimari, Doani, and Saniyajan in Hatibandha upazila, Dhubni, Sindurna, Char Sindurna, Patikapara, and Dauabari in Singamari union, Votmari, Shailmari, Nohali, and Char Bairati in Kaliganj upazila, Mahishkhocha and Gobardhan in Aditmari upazila, and Khuniagachh, Kalmati, Rajpur, and Gokunda in the Sadar upazila, are in a state of panic. Flood crisis deepens in Kurigram: 1.5 lakh stranded as rivers swell Asaf Ud Doula, executive engineer of the Dalia division of the Water Development Board, said the water level in the river has started to rise due to upstream flow. It was decided to open the 44 gates of the Barrage to manage the water pressure. Continuous rainfall has increased water levels in the river. If this continues, there is a risk of flooding. Nure Alam Siddiqui, Aditmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer saidfamilies living in low-lying areas of Mahishkhocha have been struck by water due to the rising water levels in the river. A list is being prepared through the chairman and relief assistance will be delivered to them, he said. Over 60, 000 people marooned as floods in Kurigram deteriorate