United News of Bangladesh

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has thwarted yet another attempt allegedly by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to install barbed-wire fence along the Uchna border in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat district. Lieutenant Colonel Nahid Newaz, the Commander of Joypurhat-20 BGB battalion, said when BSF troops attempted to build a barbed wire fence on Tuesday morning, BGB members intervened, forcing them to abandon the fence construction and leave. “The situation there is now quiet and calm, and normal,” he said. Locals said BSF members from the Indian Chakgopal camp tried to construct a fence within 30 yards of the zero point, violating international law around 8am. At one point, BGB personnel from Hatkhola border post under Joypurhat-20 BGB intervened, forcing the BSF to retreat with their materials and stop the construction, the BGB commander said. A letter was sent to BSF for holding a company commander-level flag meeting between the two sides, said the BGB official. BSF obstructs reconstruction of mosque at Beanibazar border On January 7, the BSF unlawfully began constructing a barbed-wire fence along the zero line, prompting the BGB to intervene, heightening tensions along the border. Besides, tensions flared up along the Kaliganj border in Shibganj Upazila, Chapainawabganj, as Indian nationals allegedly hurled crude bombs at Bangladeshis in the presence of BSF January 18. Amid the escalating tensions, a flag meeting at the battalion commander-level between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF was held in the afternoon over the incident. BGB had lodged a protest with the BSF, and the matter had been reported to the higher authorities of the BGB.

A Jubo Dal activist died, and another has been injured after a truck hit the motorcycle they were riding in Rajshahi's Paba upazila. The incident occurred on Monday evening at Ramchandrapur Bazaar in the upazila. The deceased was Jubo Dal activist Shahjahan Ali, 45, of Haripara village in the district's Durgapur upazila, and the injured was Shafikul, 46. According to locals, the accident happened when a truck hit the motorcycle that Shafikul and Shahjahan were riding as they were returning home after attending a district Jubo Dal meeting in Tero Khadia, Rajshahi. The victims were later rescued and taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, but Shahjahan succumbed to his injuries around 10:30 pm while undergoing treatment. Mahbubur Rahman, president of the Durgapur Zhaluka Union Jubo Dal, said, “We had come to Rajshahi city to attend the district Jubo Dal meeting. On our way back, Shahjahan Ali was killed in a road accident.”

A 50-year-old woman has been killed during a robbery at her home in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali. The incident happened at the home of retired army personnel Abul Kalam Azad in Salimpur village of the Nilganj union of the upazila on Monday night, said Kalapara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jewel Islam. The deceased was identified as Shahnaz Parveen Lucky. 3 teenagers killed in Natore truck-motorbike collision According to police and locals, the victim was alone and asleep in her house at the time of the attack. Around 8 am on Tuesday, her brother-in-law, Shah Alam, discovered the back door open when he arrived at the house. Upon entering, he found that the victim's hands, feet, and mouth were tied up. Later, locals informed the police. The body will be sent for an autopsy. Investigations are ongoing, added the OC.

Three teenagers were killed in a collision between a truck and a motorbike at Sheikhchilan in Lalpur upazila of Natore on Tuesday. Lalpur police station Officer-in-Charge Md Nuruzzaman said the motorbike crashed into the truck after the biker lost control around 12:30 pm, leaving three dead on the spot. Jubo Dal leader killed in Khulna; 2 held The deceased were identified as Srabon and Swapno from Sheikhchilan village and Biplob from Sonaidanga village in Singra upazila. Family members said the teenagers had gone out for a ride on the motorbike while visiting their maternal uncle’s house, he said. 3 killed as bus hits motorbike in Chattogram

A local leader of Jubo Dal was killed by miscreants at Railway Station Road in Khulna city on Monday. The deceased was identified as Manik Hawladar, 35, vice-president of No 21 Ward unit Jubo Dal and son of Mansur Hawladar of the area. Witnesses said a group of miscreants including Sazzad, Mehedi and Lalu stabbed Manik indiscriminately around 11 am, leaving him critically injured, said additional deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police, Mohamamd Ahsan Habib. Later, he was taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where the doctors referred him to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Two killed as dump truck hits auto-rickshaw in Laxmipur Manik died on the way to Dhaka around 5:30 pm. Soon after the news spread, the supporters of Manik carried out vandalism and arson attacks in the area. On information, police brought the situation under control. Police arrested two people in this connection.

Forest officials in a drive seized 25 kgs of deer venison from Jongla area under Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans East Zone in Bagerhat district.Tipped off, a team of forest officials conducted a drive in the area on Sunday and challenged a boat at a canal, two kilometers away from the Sundarbans. 4 deer die while being shifted to Bogura from Dhaka ZooLater, they seized the venison, deer skin, deer head, trap and a boat, said Dipon Chandra Das, said assistant forest conservator of Chandpai Range.However, the forest officials could not arrest anyone as the poachers managed to flee the scene.The seized items were sent to the Khulna. Two men arrested for hunting deer in BagerhatOn January 15, the forest officials seized 30 kgs of venison, two heads, seven legs and a trap from the Sundarbans.  

Two auto-rickshaw passengers were killed and its driver was injured when a dump truck rammed the auto-rickshaw in BU Chowdhury Fisheries area of Majuchowdhuryrhat road in Sadar upazila on Monday. The deceased were identified as Murad, son of Mansur Ahmed from Char Ali Hasan village in Charramoni Mohan Union, and Anwar, son of Abdur Razzak from the Jagatber area of Tumchar Union. UP member beaten to death in Gaibandha Witnesses said that the accident occurred around 11:30 am when the sand-laden dump truck crashed into the auto-rickshaw, leaving one dead on the spot and two others injured. The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital where another passenger was declared dead. Clash between two BNP groups in Magura over dominance; 30 injured Abdul Monnaf, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station, said police recovered the bodies and kept those in the hospital morgue. Efforts are on to arrest the truck driver, he added.

A suspected thief was killed in a lynch mob-attack in Mominpur area of Naldanga upazila early Monday, police said. The victim was identified as Abdul Mannan, 34. Locals said that around 2:30am, when they suspected the presence of thieves in the Mominpur area of Naldanga Upazila, they alerted others by announcing through the mosque's loudspeaker, resulting the gang to flee. UP member beaten to death in Gaibandha Later, the thieves threw a net into a pond leased by Hasan Ali and Afzal Hossain, both from the same village, and stole fish. The villagers then chased after them. Although the others managed to flee, local residents were able to catch Abdul Mannan and gave him a good thrashing, leaving him injured. Natore  BCL leader held in Pabna Upon hearing the news, the pond owners rescued Abdul Mannan and rushed him to the Sadar hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Naldanga Police Station, said that they are investigating the incident.

The interim government is prioritising the prosecution of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates for their alleged involvement in murders and enforced disappearances, said CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday. Speaking at the opening of a training programme for agricultural journalists at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in the capital, Alam said some 3,500 people went missing and around 2,000 youths were murdered under Hasina’s administration. “The process to ensure justice is already underway,” he added. Election Timeframe Await Consensus Pointing at the media, Alam revealed that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has set two potential timelines for the national elections. But, he said, finalising the election date will depend on consultations with political parties. Dismissing rumours of plans to ban the Awami League, he said, “The interim government has no intention to dissolve the party. Political parties themselves must address such matters. However, the Awami League continues to spread false information instead of expressing regret to the nation.” Macroeconomic Stability During the session, the press secretary highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy by tackling inflation and ensuring steady commodity prices. He attributed the success to increased supply and measures to counteract market syndicates. Alam also criticised Hasina’s regime for creating food insecurity through falsified production data. “Official reports indicated a surplus in food production, but actual figures on the ground did not match. These falsified records inflated food prices, as traders were aware of the real production levels.” Read: Hasina to be brought back, put on trial: Press Secretary Alam pointed out that despite claims of surplus rice production last year, Bangladesh imported 12.5 million tonnes of rice. Drawing historical parallels, he remarked, “In 1974, the nation suffered a severe famine due to the false production claims made during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s leadership.” Data Integrity Alam said the interim government has initiated reforms to ensure the accuracy of economic data. “In the past, inflation and GDP figures were manipulated, creating an imbalance in the economy despite over six per cent growth,” he said. Alam assured that the publication of accurate data would enable citizens to reap the benefits of a sustainable economy and agriculture. Responding to questions on public sector pay, Alam noted that salaries for government employees in Bangladesh remain the lowest in South Asia. “A dearness allowance is a logical step to address this issue.”  He said that macroeconomic stability is crucial to reducing income disparity, even amid growing purchasing power. Read more: No info on whether Hasina granted Indian citizenship: MoFA The government, he said, remains focused on creating a resilient economy and sustainable agricultural practices to support the nation’s long-term needs.

Tensions flared up along the Kaliganj border in Shibganj Upazila, Chapainawabganj, as Indian nationals allegedly hurled crude bombs at Bangladeshis in the presence of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday. Amid the escalating tensions, a flag meeting at the battalion commander level between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF was held in the afternoon regarding the incident. After the meeting, 59 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Golam Kibria said tensions had arisen between the people on both sides of the border over the cutting of mango trees of Bangladeshis within Bangladesh. “The situation is currently under control. “ The BGB official urged Bangladeshi citizens to stay away from the border's zero line, highlighting that BSF personnel violated international law by deploying sound grenades to manage the situation. BSF detains Bangladeshi man along Thakurgaon border In this regard, he mentioned that the BGB had lodged a protest with the BSF, and the matter had been reported to the higher authorities of the BGB. The BSF expressed regret over the cutting of mango trees by Indian citizens and assured that they would take appropriate action to address the issue, the BGB official added. Teargas shells were also reportedly thrown from the other side as BGB worked to control the situation, which had been escalating since Saturday noon. Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of Indian nationals encroaching into Bangladeshi land behind BSF soldiers. Locals reported that BSF members suddenly brought over 500 Indian nationals to the barbed wire fence, who then crossed into Bangladesh, hurling crude bombs as BSF launched teargas shells, with sporadic border tension persisting as of 5:30 pm. On January 7, at the Chouka border, the BSF unlawfully began constructing a barbed wire fence along the zero line, prompting the BGB to intervene and heighten tensions.