United News of Bangladesh

Three people were killed as an unidentified vehicle crashed into a motorbike in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur early Saturday. The deceased were two brothers Sumon, 25, and Imon, 22, sons of Karim Mondol from Sadhki Mohammadpur in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia, and Ashik Molla, 22. The speeding vehicle hit the motorbike around 1.30am near the Madhabpur Bridge graveyard area on the Dhaka–Barishal Highway, leaving the two brothers dead on the spot, said police. Injured rider Ashik Molla was taken to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex in critical condition where he died while undergoing treatment. Helal Uddin, officer-in-charge of Bhanga Highway Police Station, said a team of police was sent to the scene immediately after receiving information. The bodies were handed over to the families on Sunday morning. Police are working to identify the vehicle and its driver, he said.

A freedom fighter and his wife were found dead with their throats slit at their home in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur early Sunday (December 07, 2025). The deceased were identified as freedom fighter Jogesh Chandra Roy, 75, a retired headteacher of a local government primary school, and his wife Surbonna Roy, 60, residents of Khiarpara village in Kursha union. Taraganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abu Saiyum Talukdar said the couple were killed around 1am at their house. Neighbours and police said the couple went to bed as usual on Saturday night (December 06, 2025). Read more: Suspect in Pallabi Jubo Dal leader murder dies after arrest On Sunday morning, neighbours called them repeatedly but received no response and then a neighbour named Dipak climbed a ladder over the main gate and entered the house. He found Surbonna’s body lying in the kitchen and Jogesh’s body  in the dining room, both with their throats slit. Locals said the couple used to live alone in the house and their two sons are serving in different units of Bangladesh Police. OC Abu Saiyum Talukdar said members of the crime scene unit are at the spot and detectives are also looking into the murder incident. Read more: 3-year-old girl found dead in Jhenaidah; police suspect murder Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Munabbir Hossain and senior district police officials have visited the crime scene.

A 22-year-old youth was stabbed to death near Ansar Camp in Bejpara of  Jashore town on Saturday midnight Tanvir, son of Mintu from Shankarpur Hazarigat, was found bleeding near the camp around 12:55 am. Locals rushed him to Jessore 250-Bed General Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Kotwali Model Police Inspector (Investigation) Kazi Babul Hossain said Tanvir was stabbed past midnight and a rickshaw driver took him to the hospital. Police said they recovered 61 Yaba pills from his pocket. Earlier on Saturday evening around, a joint team conducted an operation at Shankarpur Beler Maidan and detained two youths along with five bombs and a knife. Tanvir had escaped the scene during the drive and the detainees told police that the seized explosives belonged to him. Investigation into the murder is ongoing, said police.

Two women were killed and seven others injured when a cattle-laden truck hit an auto-rickshaw in the Chuniapara area of Dinajpur Sadar on Saturday evening. The deceased were identified as Khoteja Begum, 61, wife of Azizur Rahman of Nonam Memberpara, and Shefali Begum, 31, wife of Rafiqul Islam of the same village. Obaidul Islam, Senior Station Officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, said they rushed to the spot and found Khoteja dead on the spot. Eight injured people were sent to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. Sajjad Hossain, Sub-Inspector of Kotwali Police Station, confirmed that Shefali died later at the hospital. “Seven others are receiving treatment in the hospital. Three of them are in critical condition,” he added.  

Experts have urged an urgent revision of Bangladesh’s Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) to increase the share of renewable energy. They came up with the call during the inauguration of the 3rd Bangladesh Energy Conference 2025 on Saturday at the Bangladesh Military Museum in Dhaka Environment Adviser  Rizwana was present as the chief guest. Speaking at the event, Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that energy transition is a long-term process. .”We have initiated multiple policies and programs to expand renewable energy, and these efforts are ongoing. The priority should not just be setting targets but achieving them. In the past, ambitious targets were set, but renewable electricity generation remained minimal. Therefore, a realistic and implementable roadmap is crucial. We have also launched a program to install solar panels on the rooftops of all government buildings, which is progressing rapidly,” she said. The three-day conference brings together policymakers, experts, researchers, and civil society representatives to discuss Bangladesh’s current energy challenges, potential opportunities, and future energy transition pathways. Dr. Khandakar Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said, “Effective energy transition requires the integration of technical knowledge, sound policies, and skilled human resources. Reducing reliance on foreign consultants and building institutional capacity while ensuring domestic ownership of policy implementation is now an urgent priority.” Professor Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the Centre for Renewable Energy Services Limited, said , “The government spends $4 billion annually on electricity subsidies. Allocating even half of this to renewable energy could transform the sector. Current electricity policies are not renewable-friendly, slowing progress. These issues must be prioritized in the IEPMP and aligned with domestic expert recommendations for broader acceptance.” Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said energy sector malpractices including policy-level crimes, occurred under previous governments.

A college student died and another fell seriously sick after reportedly drinking toxic liquor in Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila on Friday night. The victim, Hakim Ahmed, 21, was a student of Khalishakundi Degree College and the son of Hasibul Islam of Chokghoga Purbopara in Aria union. The critically ill youth, Hazrat Uddin, 20, is the son of Bichar Uddin from the same village. Family members said Hakim fell sick after drinking alcohol with his friend in a litchi orchard on Friday evening, and both became ill shortly afterward. 2 pistols, 1 shotgun recovered from mason’s house in Kushtia They were first taken to Daulatpur Hospital, but doctors referred them to Kushtia General Hospital as their condition worsened. Hakim died there while undergoing treatment at night, while Hazrat Uddin remains in critical condition at the hospital. Solaiman Sheikh, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station, said an unnatural death case will be filed in connection with the incident.  

The air ambulance arranged by the Emir of Qatar will fly to Dhaka as soon as Khaleda Zia’s medical board approves her travel abroad, BNP Chairperson’s adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury said on Saturday. “The air ambulance will come to Bangladesh once Madam’s medical board makes a decision. They are prepared accordingly,” he said. Chowdhury said he has been in constant touch with Qatari authorities on behalf of the party. “When the medical board decides she is fit to fly, the air ambulance will come to Dhaka right away. They are fully prepared,” he added. Once the board gives the go-ahead signal, Chowdhury said, Khaleda will be taken to London for advanced treatment. “All arrangements have already been made by the Qatar authorities.” Asked about Germany’s involvement in arranging the aircraft, he clarified, “Yes, the air ambulance has been managed from Germany. We are not arranging anything ourselves. The Qatar authorities have organised a modern air ambulance from Germany. Everything is being done under the royal authority of Bangladesh’s former prime minister.” Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s condition remains unchanged, according to her doctors. Members of the medical board are keeping her under close observation at the Critical Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital. Air ambulance for Khaleda to arrive from Germany: Embassy A member of the medical board, wishing not to be named, told UNB that Khaleda has not yet gained the medical stability needed for long-distance air travel. “For this reason, her journey to London has been delayed. Our board has done several tests over the last two days, and the results are now being reviewed. The board is meeting every day to check her condition and treatment progress,” he said. The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit on November 27 with multiple health complications. Khaleda's treatment is being supervised by a medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, with both local and foreign specialists. Earlier this year, on January 8, Khaleda was flown to London in a Qatari air ambulance for advanced treatment and received care at The London Clinic. She returned to Bangladesh four months later, on May 6, in the same air ambulance. Khaleda’s daughter-in-law, Dr Zubaida Rahman — also a member of the medical board — arrived in Dhaka from London on Friday to accompany her mother-in-law abroad once she is cleared to fly.

Rashed Khan, Secretary General of Gono Odhikar  Parishad on Friday alleged that a conspiratorial group has begun plotting to create a situation in the country similar to 1/11 in order to disrupt the upcoming elections. He claimed that the group is scheming to reinstate Sheikh Hasina in power. “We make it clear that no one will be allowed to sabotage the elections scheduled for February,” he said. He added that no one will be given any opportunity, whether through lawsuits or other means, to postpone the elections. “The elections must take place in February. We trust that the government will ensure an environment conducive to free and fair elections,” he told reporters after a street meeting at Mandia Bazar in Harinakundu Upazila. Responding to remarks by Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor of the interim government, about whether the Jatiya Party would participate in the elections, Rashed Khan criticized the statement. “You are serving in the interim government but failing to uphold the aspirations of the July popular uprising. You are being lenient toward fascist allies and the Awami League. The public will not accept this stance, and we will not remain silent,” he said. Addressing the International Crimes Tribunal, he stated that while the tribunal has begun prosecuting Awami League members, the Jatiya Party and other 14 alliance parties should also face justice. “Those Awami League leaders who participated in the 2024 sham elections will have no place in the upcoming elections,” he added. On election alliances, Rashed Khan said Gono Odhikar  Parishad has already announced candidates for 200 seats and that he is campaigning in Jhenaidah-2. College teacher in Jhenaidah suspended over allegations of sexual harassment He noted that the party has coordinated movements with BNP since 2022 and is in discussions with them and other anti-fascist forces. “A final announcement on alliances will be made once the election schedule is declared,” he added. Earlier, the district branch of Gono Odhikar Parishad organized a street meeting at Mandia Bazar in Harinakundu Upazila, where Rashed Khan was the chief guest. District leaders including President Sakhawat Hossain, General Secretary Zahid Iqbal Rajon, Youth Rights Secretary Mission Ali, and Professional Rights President Raser Ahmed were also present.

Supporters of Mahiuddin Ahmed, member-secretary of the Munshiganj district BNP, blocked the Mukterpur Bridge for an hour and a half on Friday, demanding a change in the party’s nomination for the Munshiganj-3 (Sadar–Ghazaria) constituency. The BNP has nominated Kamruzzaman Ratan, the party’s central social welfare secretary, for the seat, sparking widespread protests among local party activists. From around 3:30pm, demonstrators set fire to tires and staged a sit-in on the bridge, chanting slogans against the nomination. Traffic on the Mukterpur Bridge came to a complete halt, forcing passengers to cross on foot. Long tailbacks formed on both sides, with ambulances facing severe difficulties. After blocking road links between Munshiganj, Dhaka, and Narayanganj for 90 minutes, the protesters withdrew around 5pm, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to reconsider the nomination. They warned of nonstop programmes on river and road routes if Mahiuddin Ahmed is not selected as the candidate. The tension grew a day earlier after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced Kamruzzaman Ratan’s nomination at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan. Soon after, protests erupted in Munshiganj city, where party activists burned effigies of Fakhrul and Ratan and held demonstrations. Friday’s blockade was a continuation of those protests. BNP leaders including Ataur Rahman Babul, Shahidul Islam Commissioner, Kazi Abu Sufian Biplob, VP Shahin Mia, Sayedur Rahman Fakir, Advocate Mahbubul Alam Swapon, former councillor Khorshed Alam Tapan and former Jubo Dal member-secretary Masud Rana joined the demonstration. Protesters claimed Ratan is not locally acceptable and urged the party high command to reconsider. Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, the BNP has so far announced candidates for 272 constituencies, including 36 seats revealed on Thursday.

A visually impaired young man was tied to a tree and tortured in Sylhet’s Companiganj upazila on Thursday after he was accused of theft. The victim was Jalal Mia, 27, son of late Ali Akbar from South Burdeo village of the upazilla. He is blind in one eye. After the incident, Jalal’s mother, Shiriya Begum, filed a case at Companiganj Police Station on Thursday evening, naming 12 people and accusing 50 to 60 others whose identities are unknown. Police arrested a man named Arfan Miah, 43, on Thursday night for his suspected involvement. According to the case statement and local sources, several people took Jalal from his home early Thursday, accusing him of theft. They first tied his hands behind his back and beat him on a boat by the riverbank in South Burdeo village. Later, they tied his hands to a tree in front of the house of a man named Yunus Ali and tortured him again. Shiriya Begum rescued her son and took him to the upazila health complex. A 58-second video shows Jalal hanging from a tree with his hands tied with rope. Several key areas in Sylhet to face power outage Saturday He tries to touch the ground with his feet while screaming. Several men holding sticks attempt to beat him, though a few bystanders try to stop them. Ratan Sheikh, Officer-in-Charge of Companiganj Police Station, said, “The main accused had been arrested in the case. He was sent to court on Friday.”