United News of Bangladesh

A businessman sustained severe burn injuries after two mobile phones reportedly exploded while being charged in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, early Sunday. The victim, identified as Mizanur Rahman, was rescued and admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. He is a resident of the Siddique Vendor area under Chhagalnaiya upazila in Feni district. He operates a stock-lot business at Sonia Market in Ashulia. The explosion occurred at around 12:30 am on Sunday in a rented room at Alim's house in the Rashid Market area of Ashulia. Locals said Mizanur had placed two mobile phones close together while charging when the explosion occurred. The blast left about 50 percent of his body burned, they said. Tarikul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ashulia Police Station, said he had heard about the incident, but no formal complaint had been lodged with the police.

A 14-year-old boy died after being struck by lightning in Bhaluka Municipality on Sunday afternoon. The victim, Faisal Ahmed, was the son of Nizam Uddin of Benipur village in Muktagachha Upazila. He lived with his family in a rented house in Ward No. 7 of Bhaluka Municipality. He was also involved in a small scrap metal business with his father. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Meghar Maidan area while he was returning home. Locals said Faisal was suddenly struck by lightning and became critically injured. He was rushed to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Rafiqul Islam, sub-inspector (SI) of Bhaluka Model Police Station, said they had heard about the death but had not yet received an official report at the police station

Four people were injured after a sand-laden truck fell into a canal when a Bailey bridge collapsed in Gopalganj. Eyewitnesses said the bridge suddenly gave way while the truck was crossing it, causing the vehicle to plunge into the canal. An easy bike and a bicycle also fell into the water, leaving four people, including the truck driver, his helper and the easy bike driver injured. The incident has caused severe disruption, as all vehicle movement on the main road connecting Gopalganj district town has been suspended. The injured received first aid. However, efforts to recover the truck from the canal had not begun at the time of reporting. Samar Bain, a resident of the Pachuria area, said that neither the construction company nor the Roads and Highways Department had placed warning signs or informed the public that the bridge was unsafe. He added that the overloaded truck attempted to cross despite warnings from local residents, leading to the collapse and causing hardship for the public. Another resident said, “We use this bridge every day to travel to the town for business. Its collapse will cause significant difficulties. We now have to travel an extra 1.5 kilometres to reach the town. I believe this happened because of negligence by the Roads and Highways Department.” A local student said, “I cross this bridge every day to attend school and private tuition classes. The collapse has created major difficulties, as I now have to take a much longer route.” Resident Rezaul Islam said, “The Roads and Highways Department removed one of the two Bailey bridges without providing an alternative route or transport arrangements. This increased pressure on the remaining bridge. If the authorities had carried out their responsibilities properly, this accident could have been avoided. The bridge had been a safety risk for a long time.” Jahangir Alam, Executive Engineer of the Gopalganj Roads and Highways Department, said the authorities were aware of the situation and had already started work. He said the collapsed Bailey bridge would be reinstalled at the same location and the work could be completed within two to three days. Responding to questions about why bridge construction began without an alternative diversion road, he explained that there was insufficient space at the site and therefore no diversion road was included in the project tender. He added that efforts were being made to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

An attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push 11 individuals into Bangladesh through the Darshana border in Chuadanga was foiled by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) early Sunday. According to locals, BSF personnel attempted to push 11 people – eight men and three women – into Bangladesh territory through the border near main pillars 76-77 of the Darshana-Gede border under Damurhuda upazila around 5:00am. However, BGB personnel stationed in the area swiftly intervened after noticing the movement and blocked the attempted push-in. Lt Col Nazmul Hasan, commanding officer of BGB-6 Battalion in Chuadanga, said routine patrols, intelligence surveillance, and operational activities are continuing to prevent any illegal cross-border activities, including push-in attempts. “BGB remains alert round the clock to prevent any such activities along the border,” he said.  

A planned work abstention by handling workers at Benapole land port demanding fair wages and improved working conditions was suspended on Sunday morning shortly before its enforcement. Workers of Handling Labour Unions 891 and 925, engaged in cargo loading and unloading activities, were supposed to go on the work stoppage in the morning to press for their demands that also include action against alleged irregularities by contractors. However, they announced the suspension of their programme around 9:00am in front of the main gate of the port after receiving assurances at a meeting with port authorities that their demands will be addressed within one month. Workers said the decision to suspend the agitation was also made considering the ongoing national budget period.  

A woman and her teenage daughter were hacked to death, and five-year-old son was injured in an attack by unidentified assailants inside their house in Anwara upazila of Chattogram on Saturday night. The deceased were identified as Eni Barua, 40, wife of Sujan Barua, and their daughter Priyonti Barua, 16, of Chenamati Barua Para. The couple’s injured child Piyas Barua was admitted to Anwara Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Anwara Police Station Md Junayet Chowdhury said they recovered the bodies and sent those to hospital morgue for autopsy. Neighbour Suravi Barua said locals rushed to the house around 10:30pm after hearing screams. They found Eni Barua and her son Piyas lying injured near the entrance of the house, while Priyonti was found lying inside a room. The victims were taken to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared Eni and Priyonti dead. Sujan Barua, who works as a security guard at a residential building in the Khatunganj area of Chattogram city, alleged that he had financial dealings with a neighbour, Limon Barua Tejpriya, and suspected the attack could be linked to documents related to those transactions. He claimed that before her death, his wife identified Limon Barua as one of the attackers. The OC said an investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the killings and identify those responsible.

A 65-year-old man who had been missing since June 8 has been found dead in a residential hotel in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur district. The deceased was identified as Md Ilias Kazi, son of late Adam Ali Kazi of Kazi Bari in Faridganj upazila. Police recovered the body from a room at Matrimaya Residential Hotel after breaking open the door on Saturday afternoon. According to family members, Ilias Kazi had been missing since June 8. The family filed a general diary at Faridganj Police Station on June 12 in this regard. Vitim’s son Mahdi Hasan Kazi said they learned through social media on Saturday that an unidentified body was recovered in Hajiganj. The family later went to the police station and identified the deceased as Ilias Kazi. Faruk Hossain Liton, owner of Matrimaya Residential Hotel, said Ilias checked in at the hotel on the evening of June 12. When repeated knocks on the door his room went unanswered until around 2:30pm the following day, hotel authorities informed the police. Police and Fire Service personnel arrived at the scene and broke open the door only to find him dead. Officer-in-Charge of Hajiganj Police Station Mohammad Abdul Mannan said police initially suspect that Ilias Kazi may have died after consuming pesticide, though the exact cause of death will be determined following an autopsy.

India's Border Security Force (BSF) detained a Bangladeshi youth from the Darshana border area in Chuadanga on Saturday evening, officials said. The detainee was identified as Zulfiqar Ali, 22, son of Kalu Maulvi of Joynagar village in Darshana. He works at a biscuit factory in Ramnagar under Darshana municipality. The incident took place near Border Pillar No. 76 adjacent to the Darshana-Gede international check post. Locals said Zulfiqar had gone to the border area with a group of friends when BSF personnel from the Gede camp chased them and detained him. The others managed to flee the scene. Locals alleged that the BSF beat Zulfiqar and took him into Indian territory. However, Commander of the 6 BGB Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Nazmul Hasan said preliminary information indicated that a group of youths from Joynagar village had attempted to open parts of the security fencing along the Darshana-Gede railway line in the Zero Point area. “At that time, BSF members conducted a drive and detained Zulfiqar Ali, while the others managed to escape,” he said. The BGB official said they learned the detainee might be handed over to the Indian police. “Communication is being maintained with the BSF regarding the matter,” he added.

Three members of the same family drowned while bathing in the DND Lake in Siddhirganj of Narayanganj on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred in the South Kadamtali Kashempara area near Burma Stand. The deceased were identified as Md Rasheduzzaman, 22, his brother-in-law Md Galib, 18, and his sister-in-law Mosammat Suraiya, 12. Rasheduzzaman hailed from Monag village under Kashiani upazila in Gopalganj district and was the son of Delwar. Galib and Suraiya were from Raghunathpur village under Kalia upazila and were children of Akram. According to police and locals, Rasheduzzaman, Galib and Suraiya entered the DND Lake for a bath between 3:30pm and 4:00pm. At one point, they went underwater and failed to resurface. When they could not be found, locals informed the Fire Service and police. On information, divers from Narayanganj River Fire Station rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. After several hours of search, they recovered the bodies. Mizanur Rahman, Inspector (Investigation) of Siddhirganj Police Station, said family members stated that all three victims knew how to swim. Police are investigating how the accident occurred despite their swimming ability. Police said the bodies would be handed over to the families after completion of legal formalities.  

Two workers died from electrocution and four others were injured while installing a deep tube well in Aulia Pur village of Dashmina upazila in Patuakhali on Saturday evening. The deceased were identified as Bellal, 40, son of Roshon Ali Pader of Khalishakhali village under Alipur union in Dashmina upazila, and Yusuf, 30, son of Md Bellal Hossain of Mujahidnagar area under Kadamtoli Police Station in Dhaka. Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred while workers were installing iron poles for a deep tube well at the house of former union parishad member Md Rafiq Hawlader. During the installation, one of the iron poles tilted and came into contact with a live power line, causing electrocution. Bellal and Yusuf died on the spot. Four other workers were injured while trying to save them. Locals rescued the injured and admitted them to Dashmina Upazila Health Complex. Atikul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dashmina Police Station, said an unnatural death case has been filed in connection with the incident. The bodies were sent to Patuakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy