United News of Bangladesh

The low-lying areas of nine unions of four upazilas in Faridpur have been inundated due to the swelling of the Padma River, causing woes to local people. The water level of the Padma River was flowing 7.97cm above its danger mark at Goalanda point in Rajbari district for the last couple of days due to the onrush of water from the upstream and overflowing of the  Jamuna river, inundating many fresh areas. Besides, the low-lying areas of Goalanda upazila in Rajbari district were also flooded. A vast tracts of vegetable land  including jute, peanut, sesame and paddy fields along the char areas and on the banks of the Padma River were submerged , causing huge losses to the farmers. However, the local administration asked the Upazila Nirbahi Officers to remain alert. Tuhin Mandal, chairman of Char Madhabdia union of Sadar upazila, said crops have been inundated while the jute farmers are harvesting jute in advance fearing damage. Partha Pratim Saha, executive engineer of Faridpur Water Development Board, said the low-lying areas have been submerged due to onrush of water from upstream and the swelling of the Jamuna river. Over 1 lakh people stranded in Sunamganj's third wave of floods However, there is a possibility of rise in water level of the Padma River in  the next few days that may inundate more areas. Relief for flood victims in Kurigram ‘scanty’; 2 lakh people still stranded

  The water level of the Jamuna River has started to rise again, in the wake of more water flowing down from upstream, and heavy rainfall from Thursday afternoon. The water level in the river has risen by 12cm in the last 24 hours, which means it is flowing 50cm above the danger level, according to Aktaruzzaman, the District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Sirajganj. Due to the rise in the water level of the river, many low-lying areas of Chauhali, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Kazipur and Sirajganj Sadar upazilas have been flooded again, he added. Erosion has taken a dire turn at various locations of these upazilas, causing immense suffering to the residents. Chauhali upazila is particularly hard-hit, with various crops in most of the lower areas already submerged. Sub-Divisional Engineer (Headquarter) of the local Water Development Board, Nazmul Hasan, also noted that the Jamuna is swelling up again. "Necessary measures have already been taken to prevent this erosion and senior officials are keeping a watchful eye over the issue," he added. Already this year, eight persons including four children have lost their lives in the district since the start of the monsoon flood season.  

A tourist went missing in the water while taking a bath in the haor in Mithamoin in Kishoreganj on Friday afternoon. The missing tourist, Abir Hossain (20), is son of Abdul Alim of Dhaka's Uttar Mugda. According to the Fire Service, Abir along with members of his family, went to Mithamoin haor area on Friday. Around 3pm, they went to take a bath in the haor at Mithamoin zero point area. Abir went missing while trying to help one of his companions who was swept away by the current. Sujan Ahmed Imran, an eyewitness, said he along with his friends were taking a bath, and Abir and his family members were next to them. Abir drowned while trying to help one of his companions. “We tried to rescue Abir but failed and informed the Fire Service,” Sujan Ahmed added. Md Saiful Islam, in-charge of Mithamoin Fire Service Station, said they have reached the scene. “Our diving team is coming from Kishoreganj. Once they arrive, the rescue operation will begin,” he added.

A BNP leader from Mirsharai upazila of Chattogram died in a road accident on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Friday morning. The deceased, Kamrul Alam (38), was the convener of the Maghadia union BNP unit, said Kumira Highway Police Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain. Four die in truck-autorickshaw collision in Bogura The accident occurred when a Chattogram-bound bus of Asia Paribahan hit a covered van in the East Pole Mogra area around 8:30 am. The vehicles involved in the crash overturned and fell on the roadside cropland. Kamrul died on the spot after the covered van hit him, added the inspector. Road crash leaves woman, granddaughter dead in Panchagarh Upon receiving information, police recovered the bus and covered van from the spot. The body was taken by family members. The drivers fled the scene after the incident. No passengers on the bus were injured, said the police official.

The third wave of floods this monsoon have left over one lakh people stranded in their homes in Sunamganj, officials and relief workers said on Friday. The north-eastern district of Bangladesh has been grappling with floodings due to continuous rainfall and the onrush of water from the upstream hills in India. Floods hit the district first on June 16. The second round of flooding began on July 1 and now the water levels in all the rivers of the district have risen abnormally, causing the third wave of flooding. The main river in Sunamganj, the Surma, has already crossed the danger level. As a result, more than 100,000 people in the district are now waterlogged. Due to the heavy downpour and the surge of water, the Surma River at the Solghar Point in the municipal town of Sunamganj rose 30 centimeters above the danger level at noon. The Water Development Board of Sunamganj reported that as of 6am on Friday, the Surma River at Solghar point was flowing 30 centimeters above the danger level. According to the water development board, the heavy rainfall in India's Cherrapunji has caused water to flow rapidly into Sunamganj through the border rivers of Dhopajan, Jadukata and Piyain, as well as through the Khasiamar, Chela, and Patlai rivers, resulting in the Surma River crossing the danger level. Moreover, the water level in the haors has risen, creating flood conditions in various parts of Sunamganj, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded. Mamun Haoladar, executive engineer of the Sunamganj Water Development Board, said that due to the continuous heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours and the incessant flow of water from the hills in India, the water level in the Surma River has risen above the danger level, causing floods in the low-lying areas of the district.

Four people, including three of a family, died and two others were injured in a head-on collision between a rice-laden truck and a CNG-run autorickshaw on the Dhaka-Bogura Highway in Sherpu upazilar of Bogura, around 8 pm on Thursday. Abul Hashem, in charge of the Sherpur Highway Police Outpost, confirmed the matter. The deceased were identified as Ariful Islam (32), son of Badiuzzaman of Basail village in Sirajganj, his wife Mousumi Akter (25), their son Saymun Hossain (4), and the autorickshaw driver Md. Nasim (30), son of Parbat Sheikh of Salon village in Tarash upazila, also in Sirajganj. The injured are Golam Hossain (50), son of Afsar Ali of Chonka village in Sherpur upazila, and Kawsar Ali (23) of Raiganj upazila. They have been admitted to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. The bodies of the deceased are kept at the Upazila Health Complex and the Highway Police Outpost, said the police official.

Several students and one female police personnel were injured after incidents of scuffles and baton charges between quota reform protesters and police occurred in Chattogram city on Thursday. Earlier, police surrounded students in the city's Tiger Pass area for about half an hour. Despite police obstruction, the students proceeded to the Sholashahar area. Anti-quota protesters announce nationwide rallies on Friday As of 7:45 pm, protesters with candles have taken position at the city’s Gate 2 roundabout, vowing to stay all night until their demands are met. This has halted traffic on a major city road, causing difficulties for residents. During the scuffles, female police personnel and several students were injured. Their identities are not yet known. Earlier, around 4:45 pm, students began moving towards Lalkhan Bazar, ignoring police obstruction and chanting slogans at the police. Police officers were seen running after them. HC releases operative part of verdict: Govt can change quota ratio, it says Due to unfavourable weather, protesters gathered at Batali Station around 4 pm instead of blocking roads as initially planned. They then moved to block Tiger Pass Road. At around 4:20 pm, police surrounded them from both front and back. Despite being surrounded until 4:40 pm, a scuffle broke out, and the students managed to proceed towards WASA via Lalkhan Bazar, defying the police. Md Faisal Mahmud Joy, a third-year student at Chittagong University, stated, “Our movement has no connection with the 2018 movement. We will not leave the streets until our demands are met.” Police-quota protestors’ clash in Cumilla leave 30 injured The 2018 movement demanded reforms in jobs for grades 9 to 13, while the current protesters demand reforms in all grades, he added.

A woman and her granddaughter died after a microbus hit an easy bike in Atwari upazila of Panchagarh on Thursday, police said. The deceased were identified as Most. Begum, 48, wife of late Dulal Uddin of Baradap Goaldighi Konpara area of Radhanagar union of the upazila and her 3-year-old granddaughter Ayesha. Two students drown in Sherpur floodwaters Atwari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Musa Miah confirmed the matter. Abu Jahed, chairman of Radhanagar Union Parishad, said the accident occurred while the Thakurgaon-bound microbus hit them when they were getting off the easy bike in the Goaldighi area of the union.  Later, with the help of locals, they were rescued and taken to the Atwari Upazila Health Complex. 3 killed in Mymensingh road crash “As their condition deteriorated, they were shifted to Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital for better treatment. They died on the way to the hospital, added the chairman. Meanwhile, the driver of the microbus fled the scene after the incident.

Two students drowned in floodwaters in the Bainpara area of Sherpur on Thursday afternoon. Abdullah Al Mahmud Bhuiyan, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Sherpur Sadar, confirmed the matter. The deceased were identified as Sujon, son of Amjad Ali, and Shovon, son of Mohiuddin. Both were students of Class 8 of Kamararchar High School. Fire service members recovered the bodies of the deceased..

Two workers were killed when a chunk of mud collapsed on them while excavating a pond with dredger at Bishutara village in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Delwar, 25, son of Abdur Razzak and Mansur Ali, 27, son of Asad Ali of Mymensingh district. Emranul Islam, officer-in-charge of local Fire Service, said three workers were involved in excavating a pond with a dredger on Wednesday night. At one stage, a chunk of mud from the dredger collapsed on them around 11:30 pm. Sri Lanka closes schools as floods and mudslides leave 10 dead and 6 others missing A worker managed to come out from the heap of mud but two others died. Later, divers from local fire service recovered the bodies of the two workers and sent those to the sadar hospital morgue. A mudslide in Colombia has killed at least 34 people and injured dozens of others