United News of Bangladesh

A van driver was found dead with his throat slit in Digholia upazila of Khulna on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Samir Bhatra, 40. Police recovered his blood-stained body from the Molladanga area under Gazirhat Union at around 9:30 pm. Md Shah Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Digholia Police Station, confirmed the incident and said his van was also recovered a short distance from the spot. Police suspect the victim was killed by unidentified miscreants. The motive behind the killing could not be known immediately. An investigation is underway.

Police have launched a manhunt for a suspect after a woman sleeping on a footpath was allegedly raped in Cumilla's Sadar Dakshin upazila. The hunt follows the circulation of CCTV footage of the incident on social media. The alleged assault took place in the early hours of June 30 in front of a confectionery shop at Bijoypur Bazar along the Cumilla-Noakhali regional highway, police said. According to the CCTV footage, which has since gone viral, a man wearing a white shirt and lungi approached the middle-aged woman, who was sleeping on the footpath, at around 4:08 am and allegedly raped her before fleeing the scene. A market security guard was seen arriving at the location shortly afterward. Police identified the suspect as Khokon, 50, son of Dula Mia of Durgapur village adjacent to Bijoypur Bazar in Sadar Dakshin upazila. Locals alleged that Khokon is a known gambler and is involved in operating gambling activities in the area. Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station Rakibul Islam said police became aware of the incident after the CCTV footage circulated on social media. "After analysing the footage, we identified the suspect and launched a drive to arrest him," the OC said. Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sadar Dakshin Circle) Mostain Billah Ferdous said multiple police teams are conducting raids to apprehend the accused. He said the identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed. "Efforts are underway to identify the woman and take the necessary legal steps," the ASP added.

An old man was allegedly beaten to death in Rangpur's Pirgachha upazila following a dispute over his wife's alleged extramarital relationship, police said. The deceased was identified as Chan Mia, 42, a resident of Chhoto Digtari village under Kandi union in the upazila. Police arrested the prime accused, Mahfuz Ahmed Mithun, 35, and sent him to jail through a court on Saturday, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Shamim Mondal of Pirgachha Police Station. According to police and local sources, Chan Mia married Mukti Begum, also known as Mukta, around 20 years ago. The couple have a son and a daughter. Chan Mia had long been working at a garment factory in Dhaka. Locals alleged that during his absence, Mukti developed an extramarital relationship with their neighbour, Mahfuz Ahmed Mithun. After the relationship became known, Mukti and Mithun reportedly moved to a neighbouring upazila and began living there. The issue had led to tensions between the two sides for some time. According to the complaint, Chan Mia encountered Mithun at around 9 pm on Friday, triggering an argument. Mithun allegedly assaulted Chan Mia during the altercation. When locals rushed to the scene after hearing Chan Mia's cries for help, Mithun took shelter at a nearby house. He later returned and allegedly attacked Chan Mia again, beating him severely. Chan Mia died at the scene, according to the complaint. Alam Mia, the victim's nephew, filed a murder case with Pirgachha Police Station, accusing Mukti Begum, Mahfuz Ahmed Mithun and several unidentified individuals. SI Shamim Mondal said Mithun had been produced before a court and sent to jail, while efforts were underway to arrest the remaining accused. The body was sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, he added.

Police recovered the half-decomposed body of an auto-rickshaw driver from an abandoned pond in Narayanganj’s Bandar upazila on Saturday, six days after he went missing. The deceased was identified as Masum Rana, 35, son of Bacchu Mia of the Sonachara area in the upazila. Electrician electrocuted in Mohakhali slum Police said locals spotted the body floating in an abandoned pond near Dhakeshwari Road along the Madanganj–Madanpur highway on Saturday morning and informed them. Police later recovered the body. His wife, Suma Akter, said Masum had been missing since Monday after leaving home. A general diary (GD) was later filed with Bandar Police Station. She alleged that her husband was abducted due to previous enmity and hacked to death, and the body was dumped in the pond in an attempt to conceal the crime. Jamal Uddin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bandar Police Station, said injury marks were found on the victim’s neck, hands and legs, adding that police primarily suspect he was killed over old enmity. The body was sent to the morgue of Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital for an autopsy. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the killing, the OC added.

An electrician died after being electrocuted while carrying out electrical work at his rented home in Sattola Slum in Banani in the capital on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Md Iqbal Hossain, 35, son of the late Zakir Hossain. He hailed from the Maijdee area of Noakhali district. He had been living with his family in the slum. Woman found dead in Savar; police suspect murder after rape Iqbal’s brother-in-law, Jibon, said Iqbal was electrocuted and lost consciousness while doing electrical work in his room in the slum around 1:30 pm. “We first took him to a nearby hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead around 5 pm,” he said. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at DMCH, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, and the matter has been reported to the concerned police station.

An elderly woman was killed after being struck by a train while crossing a railway track in the Ruhia area of Thakurgaon district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Hobijan Begum,70, wife of the late Siraj Uddin of Ghanibishtapur village under Ruhia Police Station. The accident occurred at around 1:45 pm when Hobijan was crossing the railway line and was hit by the Dhaka-bound Panchagarh Express, which had departed from Panchagarh, police said. The impact threw her beneath the train, severing her right leg. Officer-in-Charge of Ruhia Police Station Md Badiuzzaman said she was rescued and taken to the 250-bed Thakurgaon General Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared her dead.

Five women were injured after a group of people allegedly attacked, vandalised and attempted to occupy the family home of former Savar unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Mahabub Hossain Sami, a day after his arrest, according to his family on Friday. On Saturday, Shirin Akter filed a written complaint with Savar Model Police Station, accusing several people, including Sathi Akter, Sohrab, Nilufa Yasmin, James Gomes alias Gupta Kajol, Shakib, Rakib and Monir, along with a number of unidentified individuals. According to the complaint, the accused entered the house over a land dispute and carried out vandalism, looting and an attempt to occupy the property. The complaint also alleged that the attackers assaulted women in the house. Five women, including Rumi Akter and Minara Begum, were injured in the incident and admitted to Savar Upazila Health Complex. The family alleged that the attack was led by Sathi Akter, wife of alleged drug trader Shamim Reza, who is also the complainant in the case under which Mahabub Hossain Sami was arrested. They claimed the attack was planned and carried out following his arrest. Investigation Officer of Savar Model Police Station Nur Mohammad said police have received the written complaint and visited the scene. "Legal action will be taken after an investigation," he said.

The government aims to set in motion a "revolution" in the country's health sector within this year, reaffirming its commitment to improving healthcare services, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said on Saturday. He also stressed the need for integrity in public service, saying every official must work honestly and that corruption and bribery would not be tolerated. The minister made the remarks while addressing the 31st annual general meeting of the Narsingdi Diabetic Association at the Shishu Academy Auditoruim on Saturday afternoon. Sakhawat said a 50-bed dialysis centre would be established at every medical college hospital across the country. He also said more doctors and healthcare workers would be recruited by strengthening community clinics at the union level, while family planning centres would be upgraded. "We are undertaking new programmes in every sector to improve people's lives and ensure Bangladesh stands tall on the world stage," he said, adding that the current budget is "a budget of ideals" and that every initiative would be implemented free from corruption. The minister also announced that Narsingdi Medical College will begin academic activities this year with an initial intake of 50 students. Until permanent facilities are built, the students will attend classes at the Narsingdi Nursing Institute, while the institute's classes will be shifted to the new building of the 250-bed district hospital. He said the government is currently identifying a suitable site for the medical college's permanent campus, after which construction of the new academic building will begin. Sakhawat further said one of the 18 state-of-the-art hospitals to be built across Bangladesh with Chinese assistance will be established in Narsingdi, preferably in or around the district town. Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner and President of the Narsingdi Diabetic Association Israt Jahan Keya presided over the programme, which was inaugurated by Narsingdi Sadar MP Khairul Kabir Khokon. Among others, MPs Manjur Elahi (Narsingdi-3, Shibpur) and Ashraf Uddin Bakul (Narsingdi-5, Raipura), Zilla Parishad Chairman Tofazzal Hossain, and other local dignitaries attended the event.

A fisherman went missing after falling from a fishing trawler into the Baleshwar River near Zianagar Bridge in Pirojpur on Saturday morning. The missing fisherman was identified as Mahalum Bepari, 60, son of Burjuk Ali Bepari of Purba Chandipur village in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district. According to locals, when a fishing trawler was preparing to leave from beneath the third pillar of the Zianagar Bridge for the Bay to catch fish around 10 am Mahalum slipped and fall into the river. Local residents and the Fire Service began rescue operation. Acting station officer of Zianagar Fire Service Nuruzzaman said the rescue operation is ongoing. A diving team from Barishal is on its way to the spot. Once they arrive, a more extensive search operation will be carried out, he said.

Flood fears are mounting in the northern border district of Kurigram as the water levels of major rivers continue to rise following days of heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff. The waters of the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers are flowing close to the danger level and severe riverbank erosion has been reported at 33 points in eight upazilas, according to the district administration. To protect the erosion-hit and highly vulnerable areas from being washed away, authorities have estimated that 393,500 geo bags are urgently required. According to the Kurigram district administration and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the rise in river waters and hill runoff has already partially inundated 24 unions in five upazilas, affecting 5,492 families. Over the past three months, riverbank erosion has rendered 149 families homeless while 204 hectares of cropland have gone under water. The worst erosion is currently being witnessed at 33 locations in Kurigram Sadar, Rajarhat, Ulipur, Phulbari, Nageshwari, Bhurungamari, Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas. Among the most vulnerable areas are Sukherbati village under Char Shaulmari Union in Roumari upazila and Kodalkati Union in Rajibpur upazila, officials said. Local residents said powerful river currents are devouring cropland and homesteads before their eyes.