United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard of Bangladesh, backed by villagers, foiled an Indian BSF’s attempt to push in 57 people into Bangladesh early Wednesday through six different border points in Lalmonirhat district. Lt Col Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of Lalmonirhat BGB Battalion, said, “The BSF has failed in their push-in attempt. These people are currently in the zero line of the border on the Indian side. They are Indian citizens from Assam and they wish to return to their country.”  BGB, locals foil BSF bid to push 750 people into Bangladesh along B'baria According to BGB sources, the incident took place early in the morning. Thirteen individuals were brought to the Choratari border of Durgapur in Aditmari upazila, 24 people through three border points of Hatibandha upazila, and another 20 through two border points in Patgram upazila. In response to the incident, a company-level flag meeting between BGB and BSF was held at around 12:30 pm at the Choratari border of Durgapur BOP in Aditmari upazila. No agreement was reached during the meeting, and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel returned to Indian territory after promising further discussions, said BGB. India's push-ins are "well-planned and despicable": BGB DG Later, at around 2pm, another flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF officials. “Talks are on-going with the Indian BSF, and multiple rounds of flag meetings have been held,” Lt Col Mehedi added.  

A herd of wild elephants went on a rampage in the early hours of Tuesday, damaging the Forest Department's beat office and seven houses in Burunga, a village in the union of Poragaon in Nalitabari, Sherpur. Sumon Sarker, an official of the Sherpur Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division, said that a herd of wild elephants entered human settlements in search of food. Around 4am, a group of elephants stormed into the Forest Department's Batkuchi beat office, breaking doors and windows, and destroying stored food items including rice, lentils, and cooked meals, he added. The beat office is located very close to the proposed Daodhara Tourism Centre, initiated by the upazila administration. Over 100 cattle swept away by tidal surge in Munshiganj; 36 carcasses recovered Later in the morning, another attack was reported in Burunga’s six to seven houses, where elephants consumed various food items and banana trees planted along the edge of a local fish enclosure. A herd of 41 elephants raided seven houses, according to locals. Meanwhile, residents of Hariyakona and Jhulgaw villages in Sreebardi upazila said a herd of 40–50 elephants has been wreaking havoc in the area for the last two days. Villagers are staying up at night to guard their homes, using flaming torches, sticks, flashlights, searchlights, and generator-powered lights to drive the elephants away. Earlier on May 20, two farmers were killed in a wild elephant attack in the Gajni area of Jhenaigati upazila.

Thirty-one more people including women and children were pushed into Bangladesh by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) through Kurigram and Chapainawabganj borders early Tuesday. In Kurigram, tension erupted along the Rowmari border in Kurigram’s Baraibari area early Tuesday following a push-in attempt of 14 people by India's Border Security Force (BSF). The incident occurred around 4:00 am near border pillar 1067 in the no-man’s-land area. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel from the Baraibari camp took a firm position to prevent the attempted push-in, they said. Though BGB called for a flag meeting to settle the situation, BSF did not respond, the sources added. Shamsul Haque, Assistant Director and acting Adjutant of 35-BGB Battalion, Jamalpur, said, “When the BSF attempted to push-in some people, our BGB members intervened. The people are currently staying in the no-man’s land. Senior officials have reached the spot.” BSF pushes 153 people into Bangladesh through Sylhet border In Chapainawabganj, seventeen more people were pushed into Bangladesh by BSF through Bibhishon border in Gomastapur upazila of the district early Tuesday. Commanding officer of BGB-16, Lieutenant Colonel Ariful Islam, said the BSF members pushed them around 6:30 am though the border and they were detained by the BGB members. Among the detainees, four were men, four female and nine children. They were handed over to Gomastapur Police Station on Tuesday afternoon, said officer-in-charge of Gomostapur Police Station, Rais Uddin.

A man was killed allegedly by his ‘mentally challenged’ son with a crowbar at Bahechar Paschimpara village in Raipura upazila in Narsingdi in the early hours on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Kabir Mia, 50, son of Fazlu Mia of the same village. Police detained his son, Monir Hossain, 28, after the suspected murder. Quoting locals, police said Kabir used to live in a tin-roofed house with his mentally retarded son. Around 2:30am, Monir suddenly attacked his father with a crowbar. Kabir tried to escape and he ran into a nearby field, but Monir chased him and struck him repeatedly until he collapsed and died on the spot. Neighbours said they were too frightened to intervene during the attack. Later, locals managed to detain Monir, tied him up, and informed police. Zainal Mia, a neighbour, Monir was the eldest of Kabir’s two sons and one daughter. A year ago, Monir went to Saudi Arabia but returned home soon after without securing job. Since then, his mental health deteriorated, and he began behaving erratically in the village. Six months ago, Monir allegedly attacked his grandmother, aunt, and cousin with a sharp weapon, injuring them severely. He was jailed for three months in connection with that incident but was later released on bail by his father. "Since then, Kabir built a separate small hut and lived there with his son, personally taking care of him," said Zainal. Raipura Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Adil Mahmud said, “A man named Kabir Hossain was killed by his Saudi -returnee son. The son has been detained. Preparations are underway to file a case. Whether the accused is mentally unstable will be confirmed after a medical test.”  

A Manikganj court on Tuesday rejected the bail petitions of former Awami League MP and renowned singer Momtaz Begum in two cases.Manikganj Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sadbir Yeasir Ahsan Chowdhury passed the order when she was produced before the court with bail prayers. Momtaz produced before Manikganj court, police seek fresh remand Earlier around 8:30 am, Momtaz was brought at the Manikganj Judicial Magistrate Court from the Kashimpur Central Jail amid tight security.Security was beefed up in and around the court premises to avert any untoward incident. Court inspector Abul Khayer, said two cases were filed against Momtaz with Singair and Harirampur Police Stations.Meanwhile, leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies gathered on the court premises and staged demonstrations demanding punishment of Momtaz for making derogatory remarks against former President Ziaur Rahman.Eggs were hurled targeting Momtaz again while she was being taken to the prison van from the court premises.Earlier, on May 22, Momtaz was produced before Manikganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Abdun Nur in a murder case filed with Singair Police Station.The court put her on a four-day remand for her interrogation.Later, in connection with another case filed with Harirampur Police Station, Judge Ivy Akter of the Manikganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Court placed her on a two-day remand.According to court police sources, the murder case relates to a procession in support of a hartal in Gobindal, Singair upazila, back in 2013.Four people were killed in the incident. Md Majnu Molla, a resident of Gobindal village, filed the case against her on October 25, 2024.Besides, Delwar Hossain, Organising Secretary of the BNP’s Harirampur upazila unit, filed another case accusing Momtaz of involvement in attack and vandalism at Harirampur Police Station on October 30 last year.Momtaz faces public outrage at Manikganj court as eggs hurled at her

Financial and administrative activities at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) have come to a standstill as the university remains without a vice-chancellor (VC) for over a week. More than 1,100 teachers, staff and employees have not received their salaries, wages or Eid-ul-Azha bonuses. Frustration is growing across the university, according to insiders. They said the university accounts section said no financial activity is possible without the VC’s signature. Monthly payments to around 350 teachers, 200 officials and 500 employees remain pending.  Kuet teachers demand resignation of interim VC Thirty outsourced guards have not been paid for April. Over 500 minimum-wage workers are struggling without income. Md Sumon Sardar, supervisor of the guards, said they are working with bare minimum salary, borrowing money, facing pressure from shopkeepers, unable to care for their children and worried about Eid. Dr Zulfiqer Hossain, Kuet’s structure and academic expansion coordinator, said a Tk 600 crore project remains unpaid, contractors hinted they will stop work if not paid before Eid and the fiscal year ends on June 30. He said no project bills have been signed since VC Masud left. Work on all projects may stop if a new VC is not appointed soon. Chief Engineer ABM Mamunur Rashid said contractors are not being paid on time, their work pace has slowed and ongoing projects may shut down midway. He said salaries, wages and bonuses for all Kuet personnel have stopped and called the recruitment of a new VC a crying need. The Kuet community has urged immediate appointment of an active and capable VC. They fear further delay will deepen the crisis. On May 19, interim VC Dr Md Hazrat Ali informed he was travelling to Dhaka for official work. He resigned on 22 May. Earlier on April 25, the Ministry of Education removed VC Prof Dr Muhammad Masud and Pro-VC Dr Shariful Alam.  Kuet VC Prof Hazrat Ali resigns The move followed heavy pressure from the student movement.

An easy bike, some installments, and severe poverty, this was the life of Zarina and Al Amin. Their life ended with a tragic love and sadness. Al Amin (25) and his wife Zarina Begum (20), residents of Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria committed suicide by taking 'Kerry tablets' together on Sunday night.  Around 10pm, the family members found them and rushed them to the 250-bed General Hospital of Brahmanbaria, where Zarina died in the emergency department. Later Al Amin also passed away around 1am. Zarina's brother Anwar Hossain told reporters poverty was a constant in his sister's family. Al Amin actually sold the easy bike which he had bought in instalments a few days ago. Poverty had fed the marital strife they started facing. And thus out of this sadness, anger and frustration they decided to take this drastic step together, is how Zarina's brother interprets it. They have a son and a daughter in their family.  Suspected robber shot dead in Barguna Ashuganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Billal Hossain said, the suicide occurred due to poverty and mental distress. Police have been sent to the hospital. Their bodies have been kept in the hospital morgue. The deaths cast a shroud of grief over the area and the family.

Any obstruction from the Secretariat to the ongoing reform efforts will be strongly resisted with support from people, said Hasnat Abdullah, the chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party's (NCP) southern region, on Monday.  Elections before reforms may not meet people's expectations: Jamaat Ameer Hasnat came up with the warning while talking to reporters at ‘Biplob Udyan’ in Soloshahar area of the port city, on the second day of his organisational tour of Chattogram (north) districts. Public interest in the newly formed political party is growing in various parts of the country, said the NCP leader, adding, “People are seeing hopes among the youth. Citizens are now openly discussing their problems and seeking solutions.” Since August 5, a faction at the Secretariat has been conspiring against the current government, he alleged. “While I’m speaking here, a conspiracy is underway in Dhaka. The NBR has now become a breeding ground for corruption. Whenever we - regardless of political differences - unite with the intention of helping this government succeed, whenever we move forward with discussions on justice, reform and an electoral roadmap, we see conspiracies and anti-state plots rear their heads,” he said. Hasnat said “Do not create chaos at the Secretariat. Do not assume that you are indispensable. Hasina once thought she was irreplaceable — but the people have found an alternative. Those in the Secretariat who continue to obstruct the government will also be substituted. If you think Hasina’s reign will return, you are gravely mistaken.” Senior joint member secretary of the NCP Dr Tasnim Zara along with other district-level leaders was present at the event.  BNP delegation joins a meeting with Dr Yunus amid political tension Meanwhile, Hasnat Abdullah held roadside rallies in nine upazilas of Chattogram (south) on Sunday.

A suspected robber was shot and killed in a lynch mob attack at Hogolpati in Bamna upazila of Barguna district early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain Ripon, son of Moti Sardar of Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur district. Quoting witnesses, Md Selim, sub-inspector of Bamna Police Station, said Sumon Jamaddar, a night guard, reportedly saw Anwar while he was preparing to commit robbery at Hogalpati area on the dead night. Later, the night guard informed local people. Sensing danger, Anwar opened fire on local people, forcing the night guard to fire back, leaving him injured. At one stage, they beat Anwar mercilessly, leaving him injured. He was taken to Bamna Upazila Health Complex where he succumbed to his injuries around 12 pm on Sunday. Police also recovered three shells of bullets, one pipe gun and one knife from the spot. Anwar was wanted in 11 cases.    

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed 153 people into Bangladesh through the borders of Sylhet, Beanibazar and Moulvibazar, according to officials from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).They were pushed into Bangladesh from Saturday night until 8:00 am on Sunday, said Lieutenant colonel Mehedi Hasan, commanding officer of BGB-52.BGB members detained all of them after they crossed into Bangladeshi territory.According to BGB sources, of the total number, 79 people were pushed in through Shahbazpur border in Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar district, 42 through Pallathal border, and 32 through Noyagram border in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet.“We increased surveillance along the border from 2:30 am on Saturday. We observed groups of people being pushed in from the Indian side through dense forests and wetland paths. We took immediate action and took all of them into custody.” New wave of  border tensions: ‘Push-ins’ continue despite  Bangladesh’s protestsLater, they were handed over to the respective police stations in the presence of local administration officials.Md Ashrafuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Beanibazar Police Station said BGB handed over 32 people, including women and children, after they were detained upon entering through the Noyagram border.“We are still in the process of verifying their identities,” he added.Earlier, on May 24, the BSF pushed 21 people, including women and children, through the Lobhachhara border in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet.On May 14, sixteen more people were pushed in via the Atgram border in the same upazila.