United News of Bangladesh

A clash erupted Sunday between local Jamaat and BNP leaders and activists over a dispute regarding the management committee of a secondary school in Mirpur, Kushtia. At least 18 people from both sides were injured in the incident at Burapara village of Amala Union in Mirpur upazila. The injured are receiving treatment at Kushtia General Hospital and the Mirpur Upazila Health Complex. Around 3pm, local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists organized a protest meeting at the Burapara High School field. A clash broke out between them and  supporters of BNP leader Rashed Mahmud Nasir during the meeting. Students of Manikganj Women College demand justice for fellow Mominul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur Police Station, said, "There was a dispute between Mukul Ali, the Amir of Amla Union Jamaat, and BNP leader Rashed Mahmud Nasir over the ad hoc committee of the local Burapara Secondary School. This led to the clash between the two sides today." OC Mominul Islam also stated, "The situation is now under control. Additional police have been deployed at the scene. We will take action against the perpetrators based on an investigation if a written complaint is received." Sujauddin Joarddar, Kushtia District Jamaat Secretary, said, "The   union Jamaat Amir's  name was proposed for the position in the school's ad hoc committee. However, BNP leader Nasir had been threatening to remove him. In protest, Jamaat activists held a meeting, but BNP leaders and activists attacked them. Many of our people were injured in the attack." BNP factional clashes in Gopalganj leave 25 injured Rahmat Ali Rabban, member secretary of Mirpur upazila BNP convening committee , said, "Nasir was once a leader of the Chhatra Dal. Now he is a BNP activist. However, since this is a local dispute, I don’t want to comment on it." Dr. Hasan Imam, the Residential Medical Officer (RMO) at Kushtia General Hospital, said, "Among the patients being treated in the hospital, three are in critical condition. One of them, an elderly person, is severely injured. All of them have head injuries."

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered 2,50,000 pieces of Yaba pills during a drive at Teknaf Upazila in Cox’s Bazar. The illegal drug was being smuggled to Bangladesh from Myanmar through dubble Jora area under Domdomia BOP in Teknaf in the early hours of Sunday, BGB said in a media release. Tipped off, a patrol team of BGB-2 conducted a drive in the area around 5:30 am and challenged two people. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the suspected smugglers jumped into the Naf River leaving a raft and fled to Myanmar. Later, the patrol team recovered two bags filled with drugs from the raft abandoned by the smugglers. "Efforts are on to identify the smugglers," said the release.

Students of Manikganj Government Women's College held a human chain on Sunday demanding exemplary punishment of those responsible for the death of a female student. The victim Tanushree Roy was a first-year student in the Bengali department of the college. Her classmates, along with hundreds of students from other departments, gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office at noon demanding a proper investigation into Tanushree's death and justice for the victim. After the human chain, the students marched in protest and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police. Constable Sujan shown arrested in Chankharpul killing case Tanushree Roy, daughter of Dinabandhu Roy from Dakshin Chailla area in Manikganj Sadar upazila, married Atunu Biswas, son of Atal Biswas from Bongram area of Manikganj Municipality on October 3, 2024, said her father. .Since the marriage, Tanushree used to physically and mentally tortured by her in-laws, who also restricted her contact with her family and prevented her from using her mobile phone. S.M. Aman Ullah, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Manikganj Sadar Police Station, said that a case was filed at the police station based on the complaint from the deceased's father for inciting suicide. Following the case, Tanushree’s husband, Atunu Biswas, and his in-laws were arrested and sent to jail, he added. DMP files 1702 cases for traffic rules violation Earlier on Thursday night, police recovered the body of Tanushree Roy hanging from a fan with a scarf around her neck, at her husband's residence in Bongram area of Manikganj Municipality.

A physician of Dhaka Medical College Hospital(DMCH) who was kidnapped from Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district has been released reportedly after paying ransom. The victim was identified as Aminur Rahman,40, a physician of neurosurgery department of DMCH and son of Ismail Hossain of Tangail’s Kalihati upazila. He is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. The kidnappers took away some cash, credit card, two smartphones and one laptop from his possession. Quoting Syed Moazzem Hossain Milton, cousin of Aminur, police said Aminur went to a clinic at Mawna intersection in Sreepur upazila for providing medical treatment around 2 pm on Saturday. Around 6 pm on Saturday, Aminur was allowed to make a phone call to his wife informing her that he was abducted. The kidnappers demanded Tk 2 lakh for his release over the phone, said Aminur. The kidnappers also beat him up while he was on the phone with his wife. Later, the family members of the doctor informed the matter to police and lodged a complaint in this regard. 7 kidnapped from autorickshaws in Teknaf The kidnappers also made multiple phone calls to the family demanding money and they released him on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway around 4 am in Rajendrapur area after his family provided the kidnappers Tk 1.30 lakh. Joynal Abedin Mandal, officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station, said after getting a complaint police conducted a drive through tracking the mobile number of the victim but the victim returned home in the meantime. However, it is not known whether any money was paid as ransom, said the OC.  

A local leader of BNP was killed and three others were injured in a clash between two factions of the party  at Banail Bazar in Tarail upazila of Kishoreganj district on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Abul Hasan Ratan, president of Rauti union unit BNP. 58 Rohingyas detained while attempting to enter Bangladesh Sohel Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Tarail Police Station, said BNP formed a new committee through the party’s council on Saturday where Ratan was elected president of the Rauti union unit BNP. A heated argument ensued between the supporters of the former president and the followers of Ratan over the issue on that day. As a sequel, the supporters of both groups engaged in a clash around 11 am at Banail Bazar, leaving three people injured including Ratan. Jubo Dal leader snatched from police station in Munshiganj The injured were taken to Tarail Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared Ratan dead. A tense situation has been prevailing in the area following the death of the BNP leader, forcing the local administration to deploy additional law enforcers in the area to avert further trouble.

For four years, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has blocked Bangladesh's reconstruction of a 200-year-old mosque along the Gajukata border in Beanibazar, Sylhet. As a result, the work that began with laying the foundation and installing pillars has stood still for four years. Higher authorities of the government, including the headquarters of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have been briefed on the matter.   Despite several meetings between the BGB and BSF, the Indian authorities have not agreed to resumption of the reconstruction work. BNP factional clashes in Gopalganj leave 25 injured International laws do not allow for unilaterally installing any infrastructure within 150 yards of the border's zero-line, the so-called "no man's land". Since the site of the mosque falls within this area, Indian consent would be needed to reconstruct it. However, BSF has been opposing the project for the last four years, after initially agreeing. It is a mirror image of the situation along the border in Chapainawabganj, where BGB has been objecting to the Indians engaging in construction of their much-vaunted border fence within the same 150-yard mark on the Indian side. Although BGB officials previously issued strong protests against the obstruction, communication on the issue has dwindled over the last two years. BGB-52 Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan, PPM, said that the current tensions between the two governments in  Delhi and Dhaka have to be resolved above his paygrade, and diplomatic efforts are underway to that end. Local residents explained that the mosque’s structure had deteriorated, with exposed iron rods and a collapsing roof, making it hazardous for prayer. Consequently, the villagers decided to construct a new mosque nearby. Union Parishad member Zainul Islam mentioned that authorities at higher levels were informed, but no action has been taken. He emphasized that the issue requires a state-level decision. BGB intervenes in BSF's attempt to build fence at Lalmonirhat border Former Union Parishad member Aftab Uddin recounted the events leading up to the dispute. Villagers had decided to rebuild the mosque and sought BGB’s support four years ago. Following discussions with BSF, villagers were verbally assured there would be no objection. They collected funds and completed the foundation and pillars. However, when work on the roof began, BSF intervened and halted the project. BGB sources confirmed that BSF initially agreed not to oppose the mosque’s reconstruction during a flag meeting but later reversed their stance. Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan said that BSF's objection was not to the reconstruction, but rather against any expansion of the mosque. He added that establishing new structures in such areas requires state-level decisions, which complicates the matter further.

The death toll from the Munshiganj speedboat accident has reached four. Six others were rescued following the collision between the speedboat and a trawler in the Meghna River in Gajaria upazila of Munshiganj on Friday night, said Anwar Alam, officer-in-charge of Gajaria Police Station on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as Wadud Bepari, 36, son of Mohammad Ali Bepari from Jamalpur village in Gajaria upazila; Babul Sarkar, 48, son of Bachchu Sarkar from Ramzanbeg village in Munshiganj upazila; and two men, Sakib, 26, and Nayeem, 24, both from Matlab Uttar upazila in Chandpur. Nayeem, the operator of the speedboat, was among the deceased. 2 killed as speedboat collides with bulkhead in Munshiganj According to police and locals, the accident occurred when a trawler, en route to Guagachia in Gajaria upazila from an event in Matlab Uttar, collided with the oncoming speedboat. Both vessels were carrying a total of 10 to 11 people. Dense fog at the time caused the speedboat to lose its bearings, leading to the crash. The impact caused the trawler to sink, while the speedboat was damaged. Following the collision, Nayeem's body went missing. Search efforts were immediately launched by the Fire Service, Coast Guard, and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). Nayeem's body was eventually recovered around 2 pm on Saturday. Jubo Dal leader snatched from police station in Munshiganj Commander Obaidul Karim Khan, deputy director of BIWTA and head of the Narayanganj rescue unit, said, "We have confirmed that the speedboat collided with an engine-driven trawler. We believe that all the deceased were passengers of the trawler." Further investigations are ongoing, the OC also stated.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have detained 58 Rohingyas, including women, children, and elderly individuals, during an illegal entry attempt through the Buchitong border in Alikadam Upazila’s Nayapara Union, Bandarban. The operation was conducted by the Alikadam Battalion in the early hours of Saturday. According to police and local sources, the detentions were made following a tip-off about Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar with assistance from several Bangladeshi nationals. Acting on the information, BGB personnel launched a raid in the border area and held the group at around 4am. They were intercepted while being transported on a truck, a private car, and several motorcycles. Besides, five people accused of facilitating the illegal crossing were also detained during the operation. Saving lives must be first priority, says UNHCR as more Rohingya flee by sea Legal proceedings against them are underway, and cases are being prepared at Alikadam Police Station. The Rohingyas, meanwhile, are expected to be pushed back to Myanmar as part of the authorities' ongoing efforts to prevent illegal crossings. Alikadam Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Mirza Zahid Uddin, confirmed receiving information about the detainees but said that no case had yet been filed. “Appropriate measures will be taken once the case is lodged,” he added. The attempted crossings come amidst a protracted conflict in Myanmar, where disputes between the government and rebel groups have intensified, forcing many Rohingyas to flee the region in search of safety. Bangladeshi authorities have been vigilant in monitoring the border and check the influx of refugees and maintain security.

Two female workers of a garment factory died and three others injured after a truck collided with a battery-run autorickshaw in Habiganj on Saturday. The accident happened around 8:00 am at the Dargah Gate area of the highway, said Mahmudul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shaistaganj Highway Police. 2 college students die in Meherpur road accident The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed, he said. One female worker died on the spot. After the injured were rescued and taken to the hospital, another worker died. Motorcyclist killed in road accident in Sirajganj The deceased worked at the Pioneer Denim Factory of Badsha Group. Meanwhile, following the accident, the agitated factory workers blocked the road. Later, police went to the scene and calmed the situation.

A 25-year-old Bangladeshi man was injured in firing by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Azmatpur border in the Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj early Saturday. The injured is Shahidul Islam, the son of Anarul Islam of Bagichapara of the upazila, said Lt Col Golam Kibria, commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 59th Battalion. BGB intervenes in BSF's attempt to build fence at Lalmonirhat border The incident happened around 2 am when a group of six smugglers, including Shahidul, was returning to Bangladesh from India with a consignment of Phensedyl. The group was approximately 130 yards inside Indian Territory, near the Azmatpur border, said the BGB official. The BSF personnel stationed at a nearby camp opened fire on the group, resulting in Shahidul being shot. His companions managed to rescue him and flee back to Bangladesh, added Lt Col Kibria. Tension over building fence at C’nawabganj border: BGB, BSF hold flag meeting Later, he (Shahidul) was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital by his relatives.