United News of Bangladesh

A rare olive ridley sea turtle has been rescued from a canal stranded in a reserve forest area of Bhola's Manpura upazila. The turtle weighing about 40kg was recovered from Charpatalia, a reserved forest area under Pocha Kodalia Bit of South Sakuchia Union of the upazila. Abbas Ali, Manpura Pachha Koralia beat officer of the Forest Department, said while fishing in the Meghna River adjacent to Charpatalia, fishermen spotted the turtle and informed them. On information, a team of the Forest Department on patrol in Meghna rescued the turtle stuck in the reserved forest and took it to the beat office of the Koralia Forest Division. Later in the afternoon,  the turtle was freed in Meghna River adjacent to Dakhina Hawa beach area. In this regard, Rashedul Islam, the range Officer-in -Charge of Manpura Forest Department, said that two Olive Ridley sea turtles were rescued in Manpura in 18 days.

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia recovered six crude bombs from different places on the campus early Friday. A group of students found two crude bombs kept at Lalon Shah Hall's pocket gate and informed the university's proctorial body, said IU Proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad. On information, with the assistance of police and Ansar members, the bombs were recovered from the spot, he said. Later, four crude bombs, including one from adjacent to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall area, two from near the Business Administration Faculty and another one from Jatirpita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall area, were recovered. Miscreants might have placed the crude bombs to create fear among the students of the university, the proctor said. When asked about the matter, IU Vice Chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam said, “We have informed the police and they will look into the matter.” Kushtia Additional Superintendent of Police (admin and media) Polash Kanti Nath said they were looking into the matter. Action would be taken against those found involved in the incident, he added.

The residents of Kurigram are facing disruptions in their daily lives caused by the chilly northern winds and thick fog. The district has not seen the sun since last Tuesday, with fog persisting throughout the day and night, resembling rainfall. The minimum temperature in the district was recorded at 13.4 degrees Celsius at 9 am on Friday which is comparatively lower than the last two days. Also read: At 7.4 degrees, Tetulia records lowest temperature so far this winter The incidence of cold-related illnesses has risen in Kurigram, particularly affecting the elderly and children. Symptoms include cold, fever, cough, shortness of breath, pneumonia, diarrhea, and other related ailments. Nurses and doctors at the hospital are under increased pressure due to the surge in winter patients. The bed shortage has forced some individuals to receive treatment on the hospital floor. Also read: Sale of warm clothes on rise in Dhaka’s makeshift shops as winter arrives A total of 62 children are currently receiving treatment Kurigram General Hospital for cold-related diseases including seven new ones in the last 24 hours. On the other hand, a total of 59 patients are admitted in the diarrhoea department, including 31 new ones.

The University Grants Commission on Thursday formed a three-member probe committee to investigate allegations of irregularities, including in teacher recruitment, against Islamic University Vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam. A press release, signed by UGC Director Muhammad Jaminur Rahman, was issued in this regard on Thursday afternoon. Fog halts Daulatdia-Paturia ferry services UGC member Professor M Abu Taher has been appointed as the convener of the probe body, with additional director M Fazlur Rahman and deputy director Muhammad Yousuf Ali Khan serving as members. The committee is mandated to investigate various irregularities raised against Prof Salam and submit its report promptly. The committee is granted the authority to inspect relevant documents during the investigation. The committee was asked to submit its reports as early as possible. The body can inspect any kind of documents as part of its investigation, the release said. Simultaneously, another probe body led by UGC’s general services, estate, and engineering division director Jafor Ahmad Jahangir has been formed to investigate the irregularities involving the university's acting registrar, HM Ali Hasan. The controversy gained traction after 14 audio clips, allegedly containing conversations between the vice-chancellor and various individuals, went viral on social media between February 16 and June 13 last year. IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan filed a general diary with the Islamic University police station on February 17 after an audio clip involving the vice-chancellor and a jobseeker of IU's mass communication and journalism department surfaced online. Farmer dies being run over by train in Cox’s Bazar In one audio conversation leaked on March 8, the VC allegedly assured a person of securing his relative a favorable position in the university's economics department recruitment board. The Islamic University Teachers’ Association and Awami League-backed teachers’ alliance Shapla Forum submitted a written petition seeking an explanation from the vice-chancellor regarding the leaked audio conversations Prominent voices within the university community and progressive alliance teachers have called for a thorough investigation, emphasizing that a vice-chancellor should not disclose recruitment test information. UGC member Professor M Abu Taher said  they would go to the campus to investigate the incident soon. The ministry concerned would take action against the VC if any irregularities brought against him would be proved.

A young man was beaten to death in Keraniganj on Tuesday after allegedly arguing with a local Swechchasebak League leader. The victim Russel, 35, was reportedly taken away by a group of followers of the thana unit Swechchasebak League organizational secretary Abtab Uddin Rabbi. They took Russel to Rabbi's office. Russel begged for his life, but his pleas were ignored, said his family. Fog halts Daulatdia-Paturia ferry services Russel’s family members found him and rushed him to Mitford Hospital, where he died on Wednesday. South Keraniganj Police Station OC Mahbubul Alam Sumon said a murder case has been filed against Rabbi and 25 others. Rabbi is still at large, but police are trying to arrest him, he said. Russel’s father, Tofazzal Hawaldar, filed the case and alleged that Rabbi and eight of his friends were involved in the murder. He claimed that police included 25 people as suspects to “weaken the case”. Temperature may rise after two days: Met Office Tofazzal said he would not get justice if the case is investigated by South Keraniganj Police Station. He demanded that the case be investigated by the PBI or CID under the Speedy Trial Act. Russel’s body was sent to the Mitford Hospital morgue for an autopsy on Thursday. He was from Mehendiganj district in Barisal.

The ferry services on Daulatdia-Paturia route resumed today after seven hours of disruption caused by dense fog. Abdus Salam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha point, said the ferry service was suspended at 3 am owing to poor visibility. Read: Fog halts Daulatdia-Paturia ferry services Four ferries — Hamidur Rahman, Banalata, Bir Shreshtha Jahangir and Hasna Hena — remained stranded in the middle of the Padma River while ten ferries were anchored at the ferry ghats . Over 350 vehicles including goods-carrying ones were stranded at the ghats following the suspension of ferry services. Read: Temperature may rise after two days: Met Office  Later, the ferry services on the route resumed at 9 am when fog started to dissipate.

Cold weather conditions are likely to prevail across the country due to fog, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said today. Lowest temperature in the country today was recorded at 10.3°C, at Nikli in Kishoreganj, according to the Met Office. Temperature may rise after two days on Saturday, said Afroza Sultana, assistant meteorologist of BMD. Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon in places, the Met Office said. In Dhaka, the temperature was recorded at 14.2°C today. Dense fog coupled with cold disrupts daily life in Kurigram

A husband and wife couple, who were heading towards Naogaon to visit a relative, died when a human hauler hit them on Ishwardi-Lalpur road in Lalpur upazila of Natore this morning. The deceased were identified as Chandu Molla, 62, and his wife Arobi Begum, 42, both residents of the area. The accident occurred in the morning when a human hauler hit the couple, who were standing by the road, as the driver lost control over the wheel. The husband and wife died on the spot, said Alimul Al Razi, officer-in-charge of Banpara highway Police. Train narrowly escapes accident in Netrakona Police recovered the bodies and sent them to the local hospital. The couple reached the area in the morning by a train to visit a relative’s house in Naogaon. They met the tragedy while waiting near the road for a vehicle to reach their destination. Meanwhile, ten people were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck at Godhara in Lalpur upazila.Road accidents leave four people dead in 3 districts

Ferry services on Daulatdia-Paturia route, on the Padma River, remained suspended for six hours today due to poor visibility caused by dense fog. Abdus Salam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha point, said the ferry service was suspended at 3 am owing to poor visibility. Chandpur-Shariatpur ferry services resume after 6 hours Four ferries — Hamidur Rahman, Banalata, Bir Shreshtha Jahangir and Hasna Hena — remained stranded in the middle of the Padma River while ten ferries were anchored at the ferry ghats . Over 350 vehicles including goods-carrying vehicles were stranded at the ghats following the suspension of ferry services. Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services resume after 12 hours

Police recovered the body of a security guard in Sirajganj’s Shahjadpur upazila, five days after he went missing. The body, which was buried under AK Textile Mill, was recovered on Wednesday afternoon, according to Shahjadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khairul Basahar. The deceased was identified as Ferdous Ali, 18, from Moshipur village in the same upazila. OC Khairul said Ferdous went to work on Friday and has been missing since then. Later, his family members filed a general diary (GD) at the police station. After receiving the complaint, the police initiated a search for him using information technology. During the search, the police looked into Ferdous's workplace, where they ultimately discovered the body buried underground on Wednesday afternoon. The police suspect that an organised gang of thieves entered the factory to commit theft. When the security guard, Ferdous, attempted to stop them, they suffocated and killed him, subsequently burying his body to conceal the murder.  OC Khairul Bashar said efforts are on to apprehend the perpetrators. A murder case has been filed at Shahjadpur police station.