United News of Bangladesh

Fifty-six elected members from nine Union Parishads (UPs) in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila have formally joined the BNP, leaving the Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party (JaPa). The formal induction and discussion programme was held at the Puratan Lalmonirhat Zilla Parishad building around 9pm on Saturday. Earlier, on October 20, the UP members had jointly announced their resignations at a meeting held in the Mahendranagar UP hall. District BNP president and central organising secretary, as well as former state minister, Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, attended the event as the chief guest. Some political parties’ actions may endanger people’s rights, warns Tarique Welcoming the new members, Dulu said, “Your decision is not merely a change of political party, but marks a new horizon in the struggle for democratic freedom. As representatives closest to grassroots people, you now carry the message of change.” He said people across the country want their voting rights and democratic liberties restored and that BNP remains the ‘sole torchbearer’ of that aspiration. Several of the newly joined UP members shared their personal experiences and criticised what they described as the AL’s ‘misrule’ over the past 17 years. During the ceremony, each member received a BNP membership card and an umbrella bearing the party symbol.  

A policeman in Cumilla died on Saturday after suddenly falling ill while on duty. The deceased was identified as Md Ashraf, son of the late Kamrul Islam from Imrail village in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria. Ashraf was posted at the Debpur Police Outpost under Burichang Police Station, said Shahidul Islam, inspector of the outpost. According to police, Ashraf had been on night duty and began feeling unwell in the morning. He was rushed to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex, but his condition deteriorated on the way, and doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Woman hacked by ‘stepson’ in Cumilla dies Mohammad Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Burichang Police Station, said Ashraf’s family has been informed of his death. “His body will be taken to Cumilla Police Lines, where colleagues and officials will pay their respects before it is handed over to his family,” the OC added.  

At least eight people were injured in a clash between football teams from Jashore and Bagerhat during the quarterfinal match of the National Championship Football Tournament in Barishal on Saturday. Among the injured, five are students of Barishal University. The match began at 2:40 pm at the Barishal District Stadium. Tensions escalated in the second half following verbal exchanges between players, which soon spread to the spectators. According to witnesses, Bagerhat players and fans allegedly provoked Jashore supporters, leading to a physical altercation. Several Barishal University students, who were supporting the Jashore team, were injured in the ensuing scuffle. Following the incident, Barishal University students gathered in front of the stadium in protest. 4 sentenced to death for 2016 rape in Barishal About an hour later, as the Bagerhat team attempted to leave the stadium, some agitated students reportedly attacked them, leaving three more people injured. At the time of filing this report, the Bagerhat team was still inside the stadium, while Barishal University students continued their demonstration outside.    

An expatriate female tourist went missing on Saturday after a tourist boat capsized while returning from a trip to the Sundarbans. The missing woman has been identified as Riyana Azad, 28, wife of Touhidul Islam, from Bakerganj Upazila in Barishal district. Surjit Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Sundarbans East Division’s Dhankhari Station, said a group of 13 tourists had stayed overnight on Friday at the Mangrove Valley resort in Dhankhari and set out for Mongla on Saturday in a boat. Around noon, the boat carrying 13 tourists, including women and children, sank in strong currents at the estuary of the Pashur River in the Dhankhari canal of the Sundarbans. Twelve of the passengers managed to swim ashore with local help; however, Riyana was swept away, he added. A search operation was launched by the Forest Department, Coast Guard, and River Police, but as of 6 p.m. on Saturday, the missing woman had not yet been found, OC Surjit said. Riyana's father Abul Kalam Azad told reporters that the boat carrying 13 people capsized due to strong waves. He said Riyana was a pilot who later moved to the United States and currently resides in Dhaka’s Uttara area.

The government is going to build a cable-stayed bridge, first of its kind in the country, the visually stunning Matlab-Gazaria Bridge, connecting Matlab Uttar in Chandpur with Gazaria in Munshiganj across the Meghna-Dhonagoda River. Officials involved with the project say the bridge will stand as a remarkable symbol of modern engineering, ensuring both environmental sustainability and navigational safety. The Bridge Division under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Bridges has given top priority to the bridge’s design, environmental considerations, and preservation of river navigability, according to a team of experts visiting the site. On Thursday afternoon, Bridge Division Secretary and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Mohammad Abdur Rouf visited the project site to inspect the progress of land acquisition and road connection works. He said that land acquisition and detailed design work are nearing completion. “The government has placed this project among its key priorities,” Rouf told UNB, expressing optimism that construction could begin in the first half of next year. Once completed, the bridge will not only improve regional connectivity but also facilitate the construction of a four-lane road atop the Meghna-Dhonagoda embankment under the irrigation project, he said. This road will serve as a faster and shorter alternative route from Chandpur to Feni and Chattogram, effectively acting as a bypass for the N-1 National Highway, the secretary said. Rouf added that funding for the project under South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) has made significant progress, with the preliminary agreement framework finalized. He noted that tenders will be invited and construction will start as soon as the funds are released, calling for the cooperation of all related departments and stakeholders. Joint Secretary of the Bridges Division Md Bhikaroddoula Chowdhury told UNB that the 1.85-kilometer-long bridge will be entirely eco-friendly. To preserve river flow, a 25-meter vertical clearance will be maintained, allowing smooth passage of vessels during tides. The bridge will feature a six-lane connecting road, including a four-lane main carriageway and two service lanes. Woman becomes fourth to die of snakebite in just 9 months in Chandpur Besides, around 2.5 kilometers of river training work will be carried out to maintain navigability, prevent erosion, and ensure the bridge’s longevity. Chowdhury also mentioned that the existing Meghna-Dhonagoda embankment will be widened and upgraded into a durable roadway. The inspection visit was attended by senior officials of the Bridge Division, Project Director Md Abul Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmuda Kulsum Moni, Assistant Commissioner (Land), and officials from the Roads and Highways Department.    

A three-year-old girl was killed in a road accident in Sherpur on Friday noon. The accident took place around 1:30 pm near the Khoyarpur–Jailkhana Mor road in the BSCIC area of the town. The deceased kid was identified as Ayra Moni, daughter of Engineer Likhon Mia who is the convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) of Sherpur District, According to police and local sources, she went near the roadside while her mother, Moni Mala, was disposing of trash near their home. Suddenly, she was caught between a coming CNG auto-rickshaw and a microbus and was seriously injured. Both vehicles fled the scene, making it difficult to identify them. Jubo Dal activist dies during anniversary rally in Sherpur Local people rescued the child and rushed to Sherpur District Hospital. Due to her critical condition, she was referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, but she died on the way. Zubaidul Alam, officer-in-charge of Sherpur Sadar Police Station, confirmed the incident.    

At least 15 people, including a woman, were injured in a clash between supporters of BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district on Thursday night. The incident occurred around 9pm at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection in Charshiba village under Charkazal union allegedly over an argument about who would get the party nomination—BNP leader Hasan Mamun or Gona Odhikar President Nurul Haque Nur, popularly known as VP Nur. The injured BNP men were identified as Charshiba ward Jubo Dal organizing secretary Ilias Rarhi, members Sabuj Rarhi, Nur Nabi Rarhi, Hasan Rarhi, Kuddus Bepari, Yakub Rarhi, Omar Rarhi, Rahan Rarhi and Soleman Rarhi. The injured Gona Odhikar men are Ward  Jubo Odhikar general secretary Md Sohel Khalifa, activists Azmir Khalifa, Shahabul Khalifa, Amena Begum, Naeem Khalifa and Nabin Khalifa. The injured from both sides were admitted to the upazila health complex. Locals said the Gono Odhikar organised a meeting in Kupalbera Bazar on Thursday evening to form a ward committee, with activists joining from different areas on motorcycles. Meanwhile, BNP activists under Charkazal union unit brought out a procession to greet BNP central executive committee member Hasan on the eve of the party’s ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ on November 7. After both events concluded, the two groups encountered each other at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection where an argument broke out over who would get the nomination in the area. The altercation soon turned into a clash, leaving at least 15 people injured. Injured Jubo Dal leader Ilias claimed that they were returning home after a welcome procession for Hasan when Gono Odhikar activists suddenly attacked them.  

Two people, including an autorickshaw driver, were killed in a road accident in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria District early Friday morning. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately. The accident occurred around 6:15 am in front of Baddapara Alia Madrasa on the Sarail–Nasirnagar regional road. Md. Morshedul Alam Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sarail Police Station, said a Sylhet-bound truck carrying fish collided with the autorickshaw coming from the opposite direction. The autorickshaw driver and a passenger died on the spot. The accident might have been caused by the early morning fog, the OC added. The truck and its driver have been taken into custody, and legal action will be taken.

A youth was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rahimnagar village under Naihati Union of Rupsa Upazila in Khulna on Thursday night, police said. The deceased was identified as Sohel Hawlader, son of Rustum Hawlader of the village. He had been living abroad for a long time and returned to the country a few days ago. The incident occurred around 9 pm on Thursday in the sand field of Manik Sardar in the village. A. Sabur Khan, OC (Investigation) of Rupsa Police Station, said that Sohel had left his house to buy bread and curd when he was attacked.  He was hit by eight bullets fired by the assailants in different parts of his body. Police said an operation is underway to determine the motive behind the murder and to apprehend those involved.

An amputee auto-rickshaw driver sustained serious injuries after being caught in a gunfight between two gangs in the Chalitatli area under Bayazid upazila of Chattogram on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after a BNP candidate Ershad Ullah was shot and a top criminal, Sarowar Babla, was killed in the same area. The injured driver, identified as Md Idris, was admitted to the emergency department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with bullet wounds to his legs. Doctors said that although Idris has not yet regained consciousness, he is currently out of danger. One killed, BNP candidate Ershad Ullah injured in Ctg gun attack Family members said Idris, who lost his left leg earlier, runs his family by driving an auto-rickshaw. He was reportedly caught in the crossfire while carrying passengers through the area. Jasim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Bayazid Police Station, said no report of gunfire had been officially received on Thursday. However, additional police have been deployed in the area following Wednesday’s deadly incident. “We are looking into the matter,” the OC added.