United News of Bangladesh

A 45-year-old man was electrocuted to death in Kurigram's Ulipur upazila on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Bablu Miah, a resident of Ramdas Dhaniram Baldipara village of the upazila. Locals said Bablu climbed to a tree to cut the branches around 10 am on Friday. While cutting the branches, a branch accidentally fell on the electric wire and he got electrocuted. Hearing the scream, local people came and found Bablu Mia hanging from the tree and informed the fire service. On information, firemen rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Chirendranath Roy, AGM of Ulipur rural electricity office, said if Bablu Miah informed us before cutting the branches of the tree, we could have stopped the transmission line for a while. An unnatural death (UD) was filed in this regard, said Golam Mortuja, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ulipur Police Station "We gave permission to bury the body as there was no complaint from the relatives," added the OC.

At least eight people were injured when a pick-up van of Border Guard Bangladesh collided with a bus in Gaibandha's Palashbari on Friday. The injured, including five BGB members, were admitted to Palashbari Upazila Health Complex primarily. Quoting locals, police said a Gaibandha-bound bus of JR Paribahan collided head-on with the pickup van at the Rice Mill area around 11 am. Md Arzu Sajjad, officer-in-charge of Palashbari Police Station, said, the damaged bus and pickup have been removed from the road. The identity of the injured could not be known immediately, he said.  

Miscreants set fire to an election camp of the Awami League-nominated candidate in the Chapainawabganj-1 constituency. The incident took place at Shikarpur area of Mobarakpur union of Shibganj upazila on Thursday night. A part of the camp's fence was burnt. Also read: Natore-4: Independent candidate’s election camp set on fire Sajjad Hossain, the officer-in-charge of Shibganj Police Station, mentioned that a part of the election camp was burnt in the fire. Upon receiving the information, the police visited the site and collected evidence. He further added that legal action is underway regarding this incident. Also read: 12th parliamentary election: Polling centre set on fire in Feni

An election camp of Asif Abdullah Shovon, an independent candidate from Natore-4 constituency, was set on fire in Natore’s Baraigram upazila. Miscreants set fire to the camp in Haroa area of Banpara municipality of the upazila. The camp’s furniture were damaged in the fire. Also read: 12th parliamentary election: Polling centre set on fire in Feni Confirming the incident, Inspector Sirajul Islam, in-charge of Banpara Police Investigation Centre, said police visited the spot and collected evidence. Over the past few weeks, Natore has witnessed a surge in violence between candidates nominated by the Awami League and independent candidates, revolving around campaigns for the 12th parliamentary elections. Supporters from both sides have levied accusations against each other, citing targeted attacks aimed at disrupting the election campaigns.

A woman went missing and a man was injured, after a passenger launch collided with and a cargo ship in the Meghna River in Chandpur, due to reduced visibility caused by dense fog on Thursday night. The collision left the Barisal-bound MV Sundarbans-16 launch stranded in the middle of the river. Shitalakkhya launch capsize: BIWTA files 2 cases accusing eight The incident happened at Amirabad area of Matlab Uttar upazila of Chandpur around 11:30 pm on Thursday. Chandpur BIWTA Deputy Director Shahadat Hossain confirmed the matteer to UNB. Shitalakkhya launch capsize: Death toll rises to 8 Mohanpur River Police in-charge Mohammad Moniruzzaman said the cargo ship fled the scene after the incident. He said Chandpur Sadar and Mohanpur River Police are actively working on-site to rescue and safeguard the passengers affected by the incident. He also mentioned that their efforts have been hindered by the dense fog. Sitalakkhya launch capsize: Cargo vessel seized Chandpur River Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Kamruzzaman said from the spot on Friday morning said a female passenger went missing in the accident, without providing any details regarding her identity. The injured person was taken to Chandpur Government General Hospital, he said. Bashir Ali Khan, deputy director of Chandpur River Security and Traffic Management Department, informed UNB that they are monitoring the passengers' safe arrival at their destinations following the incident. Sirajul Islam, supervisor of the MV Sundarbans-16 launch, said they have safely anchored the launch in the Amirabad area of the Meghna River. At around 4 am, MV Sundarbans-15 transported 250  passengers from the affected launch to Barishal. Dulal, the launch supervisor, reported their arrival at Barishal Launch Ghat around 8 am.

Three people, including a 40-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter, were dead and two people were injured when a boiler exploded at a rice mill in Daspara of Thakurgaon's Sadar upazila earlier today. The deceased were identified as Dipti Rani, wife of Sagar Roy, her daughter Puja, and Palak, 12, son of Umakanta, of the area. ABM Firoz Wahid, officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Police Station, said the incident occurred at 9:15 am when the boiler of the rice mill, owned by one Saidur Rahman, exploded. Furnace explosion at Chinese-owned nickel plant in Indonesia kills 13 A fire also broke out at the rice mill following the explosion. A firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze immediately. The injured were taken to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital. 4 of a family suffer burn injuries in Munshiganj explosion

Ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia route, which were suspended as dense fog blanketed the river route, resumed thus morning after 12 hours. Ferry movement on the route resumed at 9:15 am as the fog slowly started to clear, said Mahiuddin Russel, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha point. Russel, said ferry services were suspended due to poor visibility at 9:30 pm on Wednesday night. Chandpur-Shariatpur ferry services resume after 6 hours Over 3000 vehicles were stuck on both sides of the river. Three ferries—Shah Paran, Banalata and Keramat Ali—were anchored in the middle of the river due to the suspension of services, causing sufferings to passengers amid cold. As the ferry services resumed, vehicles carrying passengers were allowed to cross the river first. Fog halts Daulatdia-Paturia ferry services

A supporter of the Awami League candidate was shot to death and another was injured in an attack allegedly by the supporters of ‘scissors’ symbol at Munshikandi village in Sadar upazila of Munshiganj district early Thursday. The deceased was identified as Dalim Sarkar, 35, a supporter of AL-backed candidate Mrinal Kanti Das of the Munshiganj-3 constituency. Eye-witnesses Sohel Mia said a group of supporters of independent candidate Md Foysal Biplab, led by Shipon Patwari, brother of Mollakandi union chairman Ripon Patwari, stormed into the election camp of ‘boat’ candidate around 12:30 am and opened fire, leaving Dalim injured. Two Bangladeshis shot dead by BSF over ‘entering’ Indian territory through Chuadanga border At one stage, the attackers also beat up Sohel, another supporter, when he was trying to save Dalim. Later, Dalim was taken to the local hospital where the doctors declared him dead. A tense situation has been prevailing in the area following the attack. Mohammad Aslam Khan, superintendent of Munshiganj police, said police are trying to arrest the attackers. Additional police have been deployed in the area. 4 UPDF activists shot dead in Khagrachari, 2 remain missing

Two candidates of the Jatiya Party have withdrawn from the electoral race in two constituencies of Chuadanga citing ‘indecision of the top leaders’ over the election. Advocate Sohrab Hossain, the contender for Chuadanga-1, and Advocate Robiul Islam, the candidate for Chuadanga-2, officially announced their withdrawal during a press conference held at the District Bar Association office on Wednesday. Read: Chandpur-Shariatpur ferry services resume after 6 hours  Even though, just two days earlier, they verbally informed journalists about stepping back from the elections, the formal announcement came later. Blaming the party's indecision, the candidates revealed that the party's Chairman GM Quader and General Secretary Mujibul Haque Chunnu have been frequently changing their stance regarding the election. They expressed frustration over the lack of support and communication from the party leadership. They emphasised that despite facing difficulties, the candidates were consistently contributing to the party without receiving adequate assistance in return. Read: Train narrowly escapes accident in Netrakona  Expressing his discontent, Advocate Sohrab Hossain said, "This election is different. No one is talking without money. Crores of taka are being spent on boat and independent candidates. I have spent as much as I could. Now, I can't do it anymore. That's why I have withdrawn."

A Jubo Dal leader who reportedly fell sick in Bagerhat district jail died on Tuesday night at a hospital in the district. Deceased Kamal Hossain Mizan, 43, was a member of Khulna metropolitan unit Jubo Dal and son of Mokhles Hossain of Bagerhat’s Morrelganj upazila, said M A Salam, former president of Bagerhat district BNP. Read: Chandpur-Shariatpur ferry services resume after 6 hours Kamal was arrested on November 11, last year, in a sabotage case, according to jail sources. Shankar Kumar Majumder, superintendent of Bagerhat district jail, said Kamal fell sick at the jail around 10:30am on Tuesday. Following primary treatment at the jail, he was rushed to Bagerhat District Hospital where he died around 11:15 pm. Read: Feni-1 constituency: Alauddin Nasim assures voters of more development, better future  The body was handed over to his family after an autopsy on Wednesday, said the jail official.