United News of Bangladesh

The flood victims in Kurigram have been struggling being stranded in flood water and many of them are yet get the government relief. The flood situation in the district has worsened as water levels of 16 rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Teesta, and Dudhkumar, continue to rise, exacerbating the plight of thousands of residents. Flood victims said many families s are spending nights on boats and the relief given by the local administration is quiet inadequate. HSC exams in Sylhet to begin Tuesday amid ongoing floods Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saidul Arif reported alarming water levels in key points of the Brahmaputra River. At Chilmari point, the river is currently flowing 49 cm above the danger mark, while it reaches 71 cm at Hatia point and 34 cm at Nunkhawa point. Similarly, the Dharla River is surpassing danger levels by 8 cm at Bridge point, and the Dudhkumar river by 3 cm at Pateshwari point. The rising water levels of Brahmaputra, Dudhkumar, and Dharla rivers have submerged vast swathes of land, affecting 1,35,057 people in 55 unions in nine upazilas of Kurigram, the DC said. The affected upazilas are- Phulbari, Bharungamari, Nageshwari, Kurigram Sadar, Ulipur, Rajarhat, Chilmari, Roumari, Char Rajibpur. Local upazila representatives, however, estimate the actual number of stranded people to exceed 2 lakh, with 458 families lost their homes due to river banks erosions. In addition to displacing families, the floods have severely impacted education. According to district officials, 398 educational institutions are inundated and three were washed away. Besides, approximately 7,350 hectares of crop land have been inundated. Flood situation in Sirajganj remains unchanged; relief distribution starts The situation is dire for many families who are unable to cook due to the inundation, prompting them to seek refuge elsewhere. So far, 542 metric tons of rice, along with 23,790 packets of dry food, have been distributed among flood victims.  Additionally, 83 medical teams have been deployed in the flood-hit areas. Prolonged flooding in Sunamganj leaves over 5 lakh residents in desperate need of aid      

Residents of the coastal upazila of Koyra in Khulna complain they have long been suffering from various diseases due to salinity in the area amid lack of proper medical services. Women, children, and the elderly are the most affected, the UNB correspondent has found during a recent visit to some coastal villages. Waterborne infections like diarrhea have become common. Women, in particular, are increasingly suffering from serious conditions like cervical cancer as many avoid visiting health centres for lack of facilities. Many are succumbing to these diseases due to a lack of proper medical care. Pregnant women are especially at risk due to inadequate medical services. They often resort to village doctors, leading to increased complications. The cessation of cesarean operations at the hospital has further discouraged pregnant women from seeking hospital care. Consequently, many choose to deliver at home or in substandard clinics, resulting in severe complications, infections, and even death. According to sources from the Koyra Upazila Family Planning Office and Health Complex, out of 2,987 deliveries last year (2023), only 265 women were admitted to the health complex. In the current year, up to June, out of 1,084 deliveries, only 58 women were admitted. Flood Situation slightly improves in Sirajganj but suffering persists Additionally, 825 women last year and 384 this year have undergone cesarean operations at various institutions. Last year, 56 cesarean operations were performed at the health complex by the then Civil Surgeon Dr. Sujat Ahmed, who is currently under investigation for misuse of power and is on forced leave. Gynecologist Dr. Fatema Zohra, who commutes from Khulna to Koyra, has been irregular in her attendance, leading to multiple inquiries and suspension of her salary. She claims that the lack of a general anesthesia machine prevents her from performing operations safely. Dr. Rezaul Karim, the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, confirmed Dr. Zohra's irregular attendance and mentioned that multiple show-cause notices have been issued. Her salary was reinstated upon her promise of regular attendance, but irregularities persisted, leading to further complaints and suspension of her salary. The new Civil Surgeon of Khulna, Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, mentioned that complaints have been forwarded to the Directorate General's office for further action. The Director General of Health Services, Professor Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, assured that the matter would be looked into. WHO launches global online platform for medical device information On July 10, a three-member committee was formed to investigate the medical services in Koyra, with a report expected within seven days. Tariqul Islam, president of Koyra's Human Rights Bureau and a journalist, highlighted the plight of residents who must travel 120 kilometers to Khulna for minor ailments, a journey that is unaffordable for many. Rahima Begum from Maheshwaripur Union near the Sundarbans shared that her daughter-in-law had to give birth with the help of a village midwife due to the absence of doctors, resulting in ongoing health issues.

A mentally unstable woman strangled her two children to death in the Balur Math area of Madaripur city on Wednesday afternoon. AHM Salauddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Madaripur Sadar Model Police Station, confirmed the matter. The deceased were Jannat (3) and Meheraj (1). The mother, Tahmina Akhter, has been taken into police custody, and the bodies of the two children were sent to the Sadar Hospital for autopsy, the OC said. According to locals, after a dispute with her husband, Abdul Halim, Tahmina moved back to her father's house with the children and had been undergoing treatment for mental instability. In the afternoon, when Tahmina's mother went to the roof of the house to dry clothes, she locked the door of her room and strangled the two children. Family members tried to open the door but failed, prompting them to call the police. Later, a police team went to the house, broke down the door, and found Tahmina sitting with the bodies of two children.

A Chattogram court  on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against Chandanaish Upazila Chairman Jasim Uddin and his wife Tanzina Sultana for pay order fraud and failing to repay a loan of Tk 115 crore. Chattogram’s  Artha Rin Adalat Judge Mujahidur Rahman issued the arrest warrant, court’s Bench Assistant Rezaul Karim confirmed the matter. The court also instructed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chittagong Range, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chittagong District, and the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandnaish Police Station to implement the order. On April 30, an arrest warrant was issued against Jasim Uddin and his wife after they received a five-month detention in a case concerning Tk 89 crore loan default with Padma Bank. Case records reveal that Jasim Uddin, head of Jessica Trade International, took a Tk 60 crore loan from Padma Bank’s Khatunganj branch in 2016, with an agreement to repay within a year, which he failed to do. The loan was rescheduled in 2022 with full interest waiver benefits. Despite this, the loan, including interest, grew to approximately Tk 89 crore. As collateral, Jasim pledged a seven-storey market located on 16.59 decimals of land in the Laldighi area of Chattogram city. On July 18, 2020, Padma Bank filed the case against Jasim in the court due to non-repayment. On January 29, the court ordered Jasim to repay the loan with interest. When he failed to comply, a travel ban was imposed on him.

Police have recovered the body of a one-day-old newborn wrapped in white cloth from the Karatoya River in the Bhatkandi Uttarpara area of Bogura town.  The body was recovered around 3:00 pm on Wednesday. Naruli Police Outpost Sub-Inspector (SI) Atiqul Islam of Bogura Sadar Police Station confirmed the matter. Youth's body recovered in Dinajpur's Ghoraghat “The body was handed over to the locals for burial. The estimated age of the newborn is one day,” said the SI. Boat capsizes in Teesta: Minor girl’s body recovered Efforts are underway to find out who abandoned the newborn, he added. Businessman's body recovered from godown

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a man along with 18 gold bars worth over Tk two crore from Baropota Bazar along Putkhali bordering area of Benapole early Wednesday. The arrestee was identified as Limon Hossain, 30, son of Shah Alam of Putkhalki village. Tipped off, a team of BGB-21 intercepted a man with a motorbike at Tin Raster More near Baropota Bazar early in this morning and seized the gold bars after searching his body, said commanding officer of BGB-21 Lieutenant Colonel Khurshid Anwar. Gold worth Tk 4.5 crore seized at Dhaka Airport The market value of the seized gold bars is Tk 2.15 crore. Later, they arrested Limon and handed him over to Benapole Port Police Station.  

Due to reduced water flow in the Jamuna River, the flood situation in parts of Sirajganj has shown some improvement. However, the residents in flood-hit areas continued to suffer and instances of inundation are still prevalent in many places. Currently, the water level of the Jamuna River is flowing 32 centimeters below the danger mark. According to sources, last week's heavy rains and upstream swelling have unnaturally increased the water level of the Jamuna River. As a result, 37 unions including the riverside areas of Chauhali, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Kazipur and Sirajganj Sadar upazilas have been affected by floods. Flood situation in Kurigram district may deteriorate slightly: FFWC Thousands of people in flood-hit areas are still stranded, causing damage to crops such as sesame, jute, and rice. Particularly, many families in affected areas of Sirajganj have sought refuge in local embankments and educational institutions, where schooling remains suspended. The floodwaters have also created a crisis of drinking water and sanitation in affected areas, forcing the local Public Health Engineering Department to supply drinking water through automated machines in various locations of Kazipur upazila. Moreover, due to the receding water levels of the Jamuna River, instances of erosion have begun in many places of the five affected upazilas. Akhtaruzzaman, relief and rehabilitation officer in the district, said that nearly one lakh people have been affected by flooding in 34 unions of the five upazilas along the banks of the Jamuna River. Flood situation worsens in Kurigram; 50,000 people stranded Already, 100 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 500,000 have been allocated for the flood-affected people, he said. Mukhlesur Rahman, Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development in Bogura region, visited the flood-prone areas and embankments of Kazipur in Sirajganj. During this time, he assured that continuous monitoring is being maintained in various places including the Meghai spur embankment, Hatpachil, and Chauhali's flood-prone areas, and officials and employees are vigilant day and night in flood-prone areas. If any problem is noticed, GeoBags or GeoTubes will be deployed to prevent erosion. Local Water Development Board officials have been instructed to remain vigilant, he said. Flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona may deteriorate: FFWC

A proposed hotel project in Kuakata, Patuakhali, has stirred up controversy on social media amidst allegations against Syed Abed Ali - a driver for the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and accused in connection with leaking questions from 30 recruitment exams, including the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. The hotel named ‘Hotel Sun Marina’, owned by Mohammad Mosarraf Hossen, has become the center of attention in the area even before construction commences. Syed Abed posted statuses about the hotel project. On May 18th, Abed Ali wrote on his Facebook page: "Today we laid the foundation stone of our new hotel." Abed Ali hails from Dasar upazila in Madaripur. He has already put up posters in the area for the post of chairman in the Dasar Upazila Parishad elections. The proposed site for the hotel in Kuakata currently lies vacant, with plans for 7-8 rooms made from tin sheds visible in the area. A signboard showcasing the hotel's design stands at the designated location. In response to the allegations and public scrutiny, Mohammad Mosarraf Hossen, the primary investor behind the project, said that the hotel is still in its initial stages of planning. “Two-three months ago, Syed Abed visited another hotel near mine. The next morning, he came to my hotel's site and expressed interest in purchasing shares. That's all I know. I do not know him personally." He added, "Abed seems like a tout to me. I will lodge a General Diary (GD) at Gulshan Police Station in Dhaka for this reason." Hossen is the management director of Liberty Group and is involved in regular work with entities like Power Development Board (PDB), Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), Rural Electrification Board (REB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO).  

Three people were killed and another injured when a truck rammed into a battery-run human hauler on Mymensingh-Kishoreganj road at Harua Bus Stand in Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Taslim Mia, 28, the human hauler driver and son of Abdul Kuddus Talukdar of Charsihari village and Arifuzzaman Rakib, 20, son of Aminul Haque and Jahanara Begum, 35, wife of Abdul Khalek of Nashti village in the upazila. The accident occurred around 2pm when the Mymensingh-bound truck hit the battery-run human hauler from Laxmiganj bazar, leaving two killed on the spot and two others injured, said Majedur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ishwarganj Police Station. Two dead in separate road accidents in Bagerhat The injured were taken to Ishwarganj Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared one of them dead. Local people managed to catch the truck driver and his helper and handed them over to police. Road accidents leave 10 dead, dozens injured in 3 dists

Former Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali and his son Sohanur Rahman Siam, along with 15 others, were arrested last night for their alleged involvement in a major exam question leak syndicate. This syndicate is believed to have been responsible for leaking question papers for over 30 recruitment exams, including BCS exams. The scandal has unveiled a syndicate involving six officials and employees of the Public Service Commission (PSC). Among the accused is Syed Abed Ali, a former driver for the PSC chairman, whose roots trace back to Botla village in the Dasar upazila of Madaripur district. Although known locally as a real estate businessman, Abed Ali’s alleged criminal activities have shocked his community. Residents of Botla village revealed that Abed Ali, the second of four children in a poor family, began working as a porter in Dhaka’s Sadarghat at the age of eight. He later learned to drive and secured a job at the PSC, which marked the beginning of his ascent to wealth. Ex-driver of PSC chairman among 17 arrested over question paper leak: CID The scandal has sparked outrage in Madaripur and beyond. Abdul Haque, a 45-year-old local resident, said, “Syed Abed Ali was known for his charitable donations. Last Eid, his son Siam distributed beef to households in the area, arriving in a luxury car. We had no idea about their involvement in such criminal activities. Justice must be served after a thorough investigation.” Siam apparently used to introduce himself as “son of a business magnate.” Abed Ali built a lavish house in his village, spending crores of taka. He has also allegedly occupied land to establish a cattle farm and market. Masud Parvez, president of the Madaripur Unnayan Sangram Parishad, commented, “The public should question those who amass wealth in suspicious ways.” Recruitment exam will be void if question leak allegations are true: PSC Chairman