United News of Bangladesh

A man was tied to an electric pole and beaten up by miscreants in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi in front of the Birdaldah Mazar on Saturday morning. The injured has been identified as Aliuzzaman Muntu alias Muntu Master, the President of Baneshwar Union Awami League and is also the headmaster of Birdaldah Girls’ High School, residents of Birdaldah village. He is also known as an uncle of former state minister and district Awami League general secretary Abdul Wadud Dara. Locals alleged that activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were involved in the attack. Puthia upazila BNP convener Abu Bakar Siddique said, “I have not heard about the incident yet. I will look into it to find out who was involved.” Muntu sustained severe injuries to his arms and legs after being beaten with iron rods. Locals rescued him and took him to Puthia Health Complex, from where he was later referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Muntu had reportedly gone into hiding following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. He returned home last Thursday. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Puthia Police Station, Kabir Hossain, said that no cases were filed against Muntu at the station.

The number of road accident casualties in Sylhet division rose in December compared to November, 2024, according to a report of Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa), Sylhet. As many as 38 people were killed and 77 injured in 31 road crashes in Sylhet Division in December, it said. Missing rickshaw puller’s body found buried in friend’s house in Faridpur Among the deceased 12 people were killed in accidents involving motorbikes, five were passengers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws and nine pedestrians, it said. Zahirul Islam Mishu, convener of Nischa, said the report was published based on media reports and information collected by Nischa’s Sylhet branch. According to the report, Habiganj district witnessed the highest number of road accidents, while Sunamganj district had the fewest. Throat-slit body of Jubo Dal leader found in Meherpur At least 13 people were killed and 52 others injured in 9 road accidents in Habiganj alone while Sunamganj witnessed six accidents, leaving five people killed and five others injured. In addition, eight deaths with six injuries were reported in seven Moulvibazar accidents whereas in Sylhet, nine accidents led to 12 deaths and 14 injuries. Among the deceased 31 were men, four women and three children. In November, Sylhet division saw 34 road accidents with 32 fatalities and 34 injuries.

Police recovered the body of a 25-year-old rickshaw puller on Saturday afternoon, four days after he had gone missing from Chunaghata Model Town area in Faridpur town. The deceased was identified as  Halim Sheikh. Faridpur Superintendent of Police Abdul Jalil said on December 31, after listening Waz together, Halim went out with his friend Rony and since then he remained missing. Elderly woman burned by fire she lit to keep warm His family members filed a general diary with the Kotwali Police Station on Friday. According to locals, on Friday, Halim’s family found Rony’s rickshaw near his residence and informed police. Then police recovered Halim's body wrapped in a plastic bag after digging the earth in the house.  “Based on the suspicions of Halim's relatives, a drive was conducted and Halim's body was recovered and his rickshaw was found,”he said. Throat-slit body of Jubo Dal leader found in Meherpur Halim, son of the late Abdur Rob Sheikh of Alipur Gorasthan, was the eldest of three siblings. The main suspect, Roni Molla, a tenant in the area, managed to flee. Roni's wife was detained for questioning.  Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Asaduzzaman saidthe body was sent to the morgue for autopsy.

Law enforcement officers seized a firearm, ammunition and an explosive device during a raid on a residence in Kushtia's Mirpur Upazila late Saturday night. According to a media statement issued by the Kushtia Army Camp, the operation was carried out following a tip-off at the home of Nur A Bulbul, the general secretary of the BNP’s Malihad Union unit. During the raid, officers recovered a shooter gun, two rounds of ammunition, and a bomb from the rooftop of the property, the media release added. Jubo Dal activist hacked to death in Barguna But the BNP leader was not present there at the time of the search. The seized items were handed over to Mirpur Police Station, and a case was filed  in this regard. Further investigations are underway to determine the origin of the weapons and any potential connections to criminal activities.

Highway police have seized four buses and a motorbike for lacking valid documents and filed cases against 50 vehicles during an overnight drive on the Mawa Expressway. The drive, conducted from midnight Friday to 4 am Saturday, was led by Additional Deputy Inspector General of Highway Police, AKM Akteruzzaman Basunia, and included eight patrol teams of Highway Police, three from Munshiganj Police, and one from Rab-10. The vehicles were seized at Dhaleshwari Toll Plaza, with passengers of the buses being provided alternative transport to Dhaka, according to DIG Basunia. Four killed, scores injured on Dhaka-Mawa Expressway accidents The operation was prompted by a series of fatal accidents on the expressway in recent days, including one on December 27, which claimed six lives and left four others injured at Dhaleshwari Toll Plaza. Authorities say the crackdown aims to ensure safety and prevent further tragedies on the busy expressway.

In the scenic fields of Sharsha upazila, the once-abundant date palm trees are becoming a rarity. The sight of sap collectors carrying earthen jars filled with fresh date palm juice is fading into memory. Winter, a season synonymous with traditional delicacies made with date palm juice, now lacks the festive charm it once had. The gradual disappearance of date palm trees has left a void in rural traditions, where colorful spreads of pitha (rice cakes) once adorned every household. In the past, date palms were a common sight in the fields, yards, and along the roadsides across Sharsha. Today, even the few remaining trees are often neglected, signaling an alarming loss of heritage. Mozammel Haque, a 75-year-old resident of Raghunathpur village, recalls the golden days when a jar of fresh date palm juice cost only one taka. "We used to prepare molasses and host grand celebrations with steaming pitha. Now, such stories feel like myths," he lamented. Today, the price of a jar of date juice has skyrocketed to 300-350 taka, making it a luxury for many. Ali Hossain, a sap collector from Swarupda village, shared his efforts to preserve the tradition. "We have about 16 date palm trees, from which we collect 6-7 jars of sap daily during the winter season. Each jar is sold for 200-250 taka," he said. Despite his dedication, the scale of production is insufficient to meet the rising demand. Meanwhile, Abdul Salam, a 65-year-old resident of Rajapur village, expressed regret over changing habits. "We’ve become lazy. Instead of harvesting sap, we buy colorful cold drinks from shops. The few trees left are neglected, so how can we expect to get sweet sap?" he remarked. Dipak Kumar Saha, the Agricultural Officer of Sharsha opazila, emphasized the cultural significance of date palm juice and molasses. "Date palm sap and molasses are integral parts of our culture. Pairing molasses with puffed rice is unmatched. Many date palms still exist in our surroundings, but they need care and attention. Reviving our rural festivals requires us to prioritize these trees alongside others," he said.

A 70-year-old woman tragically lost her life after sustaining severe burns while attempting to stay warm by lighting a fire in her kitchen in Panchagarh. Shahida Begum, the widow of the late Pabar Uddin of Araji Chandanbari Notunhat village in Jhalaishalsiri union, died on Friday at Boda Upazila Health Complex. According to her family, the incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when Shahida was trying to keep warm by igniting a fire. Unfortunately, she accidentally caught fire, suffering severe burns to her chest and hands. Her family immediately rushed her to the local health complex for medical attention. Dr. Zahid Hasan, the Resident Medical Officer at the Boda Upazila Health Complex, said that Shahida had sustained burns on 40% of her body, primarily on her chest and hands. The medical team initially recommended transferring her to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for specialized care. However, her family chose to continue her treatment at the upazila health facility. Despite efforts to save her, Shahida passed away the following day. Her body was later handed over to her family, Dr. Hasan confirmed.

A mobile court in Feni has fined five brickfields a total of Tk 58 lakh and evicted two others for operating without the necessary environmental clearances. The drive was conducted on Thursday by Abdullah Al Mamun, Executive Magistrate of the Department of Environment, who led a day-long operation targeting brickfields in Feni Sadar and Daganbhuiyan upazilas. During the drive, two brickfields—RLB-1 and RLB-2, located in the Tulatli area of Daganbhuiyan upazila—were evicted due to the lack of clearance from the Department of Environment. In addition, Siraj Brickfield was fined Tk 20 lakh, and Daganbhuiyan Brickfield was fined Tk 10 lakh for lacking environmental clearance and for illegally collecting soil from cropland by cutting topsoil. Meanwhile, Shukkur Brickfield in the Balua Chaumuhani area of Dhalia union was fined Tk 10 lakh for similar violations, while Sonagazi Brickfield in Gobindapur area of Kalidaha union was also fined Tk 10 lakh. Additionally, a Tk 8 lakh fine was imposed on five brickfields in Gobindapur area, with Tushar Brickfield receiving the largest fine of Tk 5.8 lakh for operating without clearance and illegally collecting soil. Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun said that there are 103 brick kilns across Feni district, of which only 25 hold the required environmental clearance certificates. Following the instructions of the Forest and Environment Adviser, the authorities have been taking legal action against illegal brick kilns across the country, and all unlicensed brickfields in Feni will be demolished in phases, he added.

Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, Brigadier General (retd) M. Sakhawat Hossain, has said that nearly 2,000 young people sacrificed their lives during the July Uprising. “We all recognise their sacrifice. The sacrifices made by our youth must not be in vain. Let us unite and move the country forward together,” he said. Adviser Sakhawat addressed the 56th anniversary and reunion celebration of Khulna Government Sundarban Adarsha College on Friday morning, where he praised the college for its significant contributions to the region. He acknowledged that while the college has groomed many distinguished individuals and played a crucial role in the development of Khulna, its infrastructure has not seen the level of improvement it deserves. “As an old institution, the college needs expansion,” the adviser said, assuring all that he would raise the demands for its development with the education adviser. The adviser also highlighted the importance of Mongla Port, which was once served by an office in Khulna city. He called for the reinstatement of this office to better serve the needs of importers and shipping agents. "Mongla Port is the port of Khulna, and it is our collective responsibility to sustain and enhance its effectiveness," he said. He said that the full development of Mongla Port hinges on the construction of a container terminal. He said that efforts are underway in this regard and urged that steps be taken to reduce tariffs to encourage importers to use the port more frequently.  

Migratory birds, a hallmark of winter in the Padma Char region of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia, are facing a growing threat as unscrupulous hunters target them for sale in local markets, sparking concerns among environmentalists. Local activists and residents have reported that a variety of guest birds, including wild ducks, small and large cranes, sandpipers, green herons, ramghugus, nocturnal birds and kingfishers, have been arriving at the riverine char areas of Marichi, Philipnagar, Ramakrishnapur and Chilmari unions. However, hunters equipped with nets and indigenous tools are capturing these birds, often at night and selling them in local markets the following morning. When visiting the area, it was observed that hunters, often concealed in water, use large nets spread across the charlands to trap the birds. A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared that some hunters also consume the birds themselves. Dhaka enveloped in dense fog as winter deepens across Bangladesh Environmentalists have expressed alarm over the unchecked hunting. General Secretary SI Sohel of the Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Foundation and president of the Kushtia Bird Club condemned the practice as a serious threat to biodiversity. “Bird hunting is a punishable offense under the law. These migratory birds are a vital part of our ecosystem and must be protected. The Forest Department and local administration need to act decisively to stop this,” Sohel said. He also noted that with water levels in the Padma River receding, smaller fish and insects, such as puti and darkina, have become abundant, drawing birds to the area in search of food. In this issue, Daulatpur Upazila Forest Officer Abubakar Siddiq said, “We are aware of the situation and legal action will be taken against those responsible,” he assured. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Hai Siddiqui said that campaigns against illegal hunting are ongoing. However, he admitted that no specific awareness programs have yet been initiated to educate the local population about the importance of protecting these birds.