United News of Bangladesh

 A lighter vessel named MV Gayehera-4 carrying 1,422 tonnes of fly-ash capsized in the Shibsa River in Khulna on Friday. However, no casualties were reported in the incident. The Nallian Naval Police Station rescued 12 sailors alive from the ship. Tarak Chandra Nath, inspector of Nallian Naval Police Station, said the lighter vessel, MV Gayehera-4, got stuck at Nallian area of the Shibsa River. On information, a team of river police went there and rescued the sailors. Movement of ships on Shibsa River is normal. The lighter vessel was carrying 1,422 metric tons of fly-ash (cement raw material) from India to a cement factory located in Ghorashal area of Bangladesh.

At least 10 activists of independent candidate of Noakhali-3 constituency Minhaz Ahmed Javed and two journalists were injured in an alleged attack by supporters of Awami League candidate of the same constituency Mamunur Rashid Kiron. The incident took place at Gabua Bazar on Maijdi-Chowmuhani regional highway in Ekalashpur union of Begumganj uapzila on Friday evening. Locals said that after campaigning, independent candidate Minhaz Ahmed Javed was coming back to Chowmuhani. But when he reached Gabua Bazar, some supporters of boat candidate Mamunur Rashid Kiron attacked him with sticks and local weapons. At that time, two cars including an ATN Bangla car were vandalized. ATN Bangla reporter Md Nazibur Rahman, cameraman HM Ehsan Sajan, independent candidates’ activists Humayun Kabir, Md Rashed, Raihan, Tofazzal Hossain, Farrukh Ahmed, Ifaz, Ripon, Ismail, Pranto, Rubel and Apon were injured in the attack.  They were admitted to Begumganj Upazila Health Complex immediately. Independent candidate Minhaz Ahmed Jabed said, "When we reached Gabua Bazar on our way back to Chaumuhani after meeting voters in Tulabari area of Ekalashpur, a group of armed terrorists attacked our motorcade suddenly. Ten of my activists and two journalists were seriously injured.” Begumganj Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Nazmul Hasan Rajib, Begumganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mohinul Hasan, Begumganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Anwarul Islam and senior officials visited the spot. Begumganj Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Md Nazmul Hasan Rajib said, "We will identify the attackers after watching video footage and take immediate action and exemplary punishment."  

Sugarcane crushing for 2023-24 fiscal year began at Joypurhat Sugar Mills began on Friday with a target of producing 2,170 tonnes of sugar by crushing 35,100 tonnes of sugarcane. Sheikh Shoebul Alam, Chairman (Grade-1) of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industry Corporation (BSFIC) inaugurated the sugarcane threshing around 4:30pm at the sugar mill premises. The crushing target was fixed at 35,100 metric tonnes of sugarcane in 28 days with the recovery rate of sugar at 6.20 percent. Last season, Joypurhat Sugar Mills incurred a loss of Tk 69 crore. Md Akhlasur Rahman, managing director of the sugar mill, presided over the programme while Secretary of BSFIC Chowdhury Ruhul Amin Kawsar, Sugar Mill Workers Union President Ali Akhtar and its General Secretary Ahsan Habib Rumel, spoke on the occasion.    

A policeman was killed in a road accident in Banani area of Shajahanpur upazila in Bogura district on Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Abdul Latif, 48, a constable of Bogura district police. He was from Chariya Shikar area of Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district. Read: Road accidents leave four people dead in 3 districts Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahjahanpur police station, said Abdul Latif was going to the oil pump in Banani riding his son's motorcycle. On the way, his son lost control of his bike and crashed into a roadside tree. Latif fell on the road and suffered serious injury. Fortunately, the victim's son escaped the injury.  Read: Road accident leaves two dead in Barishal Later, he was rescued and taken to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival, added the OC.

Muhibur Rahman Muhib, an independent candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency, finally got an electoral symbol ‘Truck’ to contest the 12th parliamentary election. Muhib, who is also Biswanath municipality mayor, staged a sit-in programme at the district returning officer's office demanding allocation of symbol on Thursday. His supporters accompanied him during the protest. Despite HC order Sylhet-2 independent candidate yet to get symbol At this moment, staff of the returning officer’s office and the demonstrating people got locked into an altercation there. Later, they left the office upon intervention of the police. Hours after the sit-in programme, the Election Commission allocated the symbol, said additional deputy commissioner Imrul Hasan. Earlier, the independent candidate alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has been doing this to keep him away from the election to facilitate the Awami League-nominated candidate Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury. He said they would continue the legal battle until he gets back the symbol as he is yet to conduct a campaign without it. EU polls mission holds meeting with FM Momen, BNP leaders in Sylhet However, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and also Returning Officer Sheikh Russell expressed reluctance to make any comment on this issue. Without stepping down from the mayoral post, the candidate submitted his nomination paper to the returning officer. But, his nomination was declared invalid by the returning officer during a scrutiny. The EC also cancelled it during an appeal hearing later. Finally, the candidate moved to the HC while the court ordered the authorities concerned to allow him to join the election race with a symbol.  

A fire broke out at a slum in Chattogram’s Muradpur area on Thursday. The fire broke out at the slum around 7:10 pm behind Chattogram Education Board and spread soon, said Kapil Uddin, senior official of Agrabad Fire Service. Chattogram seaport handles 3.1 mln TEUs in 2023 On information, four firefighting units rushed to the spot and put the blaze under control. Chattogram-4: ‘Health official’ running as independent candidate breaching electoral code of conduct However, the origin of the fire and the extent of damages are yet to be ascertained, said the fire official. FAO distributes agricultural inputs in Chattogram division

A three-member probe committee has been formed over the death of Golam Rabbani, an accused in a theft case, who died at Baniachong Police Station in Habiganj on Tuesday. Habiganj Additional Superintendent of Police (admin and finance) Hasibul Islam will lead the probe committee. The other two members of the committee are Additional Superintendent of Police (Baniachong circle) Palash Ranjan Dey and Court Police Inspector, Md Kamrul Islam. Theft case accused found dead in Habiganj police custody Superintendent of Police, Md Akhter Hossain on Thursday, ordered the committee to submit the investigation report by December 29. Rabbani, 26, was a resident of the Nandipara area of Baniachong Sadar upazila. Baniachong Police Station Officer-in-Charge Delwar Hossain said he was arrested on charges of stealing an autorickshaw on Tuesday afternoon. Habiganj DC transferred to Agriculture Ministry He was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside a room around 7:30 pm, said the OC. Later, he was taken to the Baniachong Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor declared him dead after an examination. OC Delwar Hossain said, an unnatural death case has been filed in the incident. There are seven to eight theft cases against Rabbani. National polls: EC orders withdrawal of Habiganj DC, 3 police officials Meanwhile, Rabbani’s body was handed over to his family after an autopsy at Habiganj morgue on Wednesday afternoon. Later, he was buried at the family graveyard after Namaz-e-Janaza at Bibir Mokam Jame Mosque in Nandipara area of Baniachong Sadar after Magrib prayers.

Four people were dead and at least eight were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a laguna on the Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram highway in Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar this morning. The accident took place at Kalabagan area of Harbang union under Chakaria around 8:45 am, said Chiringa Highway Police Station In-charge, Sub-inspector Khokon Kanti Rodra. Read: Man, daughter electrocuted in Mymensingh  The deceased were identified as Riduan, Abu Bakar, Joynal Abedin and Mohiuddin. The deceased are all from different areas under Harbang union. The identities of the injured could not be known immediately. SI Khokon Rodra said that a bus of Zakir Travel, which came to Cox's Bazar with picnic-goers, collided head-on with a Chattogram-bound laguna on the Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram highway. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies. Read: 3 from a family injured in pressure cooker blast in Magura  The highway police seized the vehicles involved in the collision.  The bodies were handed over to the families, and the vehicles were taken into the custody of the highway police station, said SI Khokon.

A man and his daughter died from electrocution while irrigating the area beside their house in Dharakandi village of Maoha union in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh on Wednesday evening. The deceased were identified as Shafiqul Islam, 40, and his daughter Hridimoni, 7, a class three student at Dharakandi Government Primary School. Sumon Chandra Roy, officer-in-charge of Gouripur Police Station, confirmed the matter. Police and witnesses said that while Shafiqul was irrigating the land with an electric irrigation machine from a pond near his house, his infant daughter was electrocuted after touching the motor. When Shafiqul tried to rescue her, he was also electrocuted. Later, locals rescued them and took them to Gouripur Upazila Health Complex, where Farzana Binte Majid, a duty doctor at the emergency department, declared them brought dead. Legal action is being taken in this regard, said the OC.

An accused of a theft case  was found hanging from a  ceiling fan at Baniachong Police Station on Tuesday. The deceased, Golam Rabbani, 26, was a resident of Nandipara area of Baniachong Sadar upazila. Read: Fog disrupts Daulatdia- Paturia ferry services for 4hrs  Baniachong Police Station’s officer- in -charge Delwar Hossain said he was arrested on charges of stealing an auto-rickshaw on Tuesday afternoon. He was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside a room beside the custody around 7:30 pm, said the OC. Later he was taken to the Baniachong Upazila Health Complex where the duty doctor declared him dead after examination. Read: Two die as sand-laden truck crushes autorickshaw in Tangail  Police said his body has been sent to the Habiganj Sadar Hospital for autopsy.