United News of Bangladesh

A fire broke out at a market in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat on Thursday afternoon, leaving at least five shops, a cooperative office and a dwelling house gutted, with losses estimated at around Tk 50 lakh. The incident occurred around 4:00pm at Sarkar Market in Burirdanga union. On information, two units of Mongla EPZ Fire Service rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after about an hour of efforts. The fire damaged several establishments, including a pharmacy, an electronics shop, grocery stores, a cooperative society office and a residential house. Affected traders said the fire had left them devastated, causing significant financial losses. Sarkar Market Committee General Secretary Supad Biswas said five to seven shops were completely gutted in the fire. There was a cooperative society in the market with around Tk 15–16 lakh in cash, and the shop where the money was kept was also burnt. In total, the losses may range between Tk 50 lakh and Tk 60 lakh, he said, adding that traders are now worried about how to recover from the damage. Mongla EPZ Fire Service Senior Station Officer Md Emran Hossain said the fire was brought under control after an hour-long effort by two firefighting units. He said five shops were completely destroyed in the blaze, adding that the fire was initially believed to have originated from an electrical short circuit.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam on Thursday claimed that no waterlogging occurred in Chattogram during the recent rainfall, dismissing media reports as “baseless, fabricated and imaginary.” Speaking in a statement under Rule 300 in Parliament, the state minister alleged that old images from 2024 had been circulated on social media to spread misinformation. "There was no waterlogging in Chattogram city. The reports claiming that the city was submerged are completely unfounded. Old photos were used to create confusion," he said. However, he acknowledged that temporary water congestion occurred at five locations, including Probortona intersection, following heavy rainfall on April 28. According to the minister, around 220 millimeters of rain fell in the city that day, leading to brief water congestion, not prolonged waterlogging. "The water was drained within three to four hours through coordinated efforts," he added. The issue drew attention in Parliament on Wednesday when ruling party MP Saeed Al Noman raised a supplementary question, prompting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to express regret to the residents of Chattogram and assure steps to address the problem. Shahe Alam said he visited different areas of the city on Wednesday under the Prime Minister's directive and inspected the situation alongside officials from Chattogram City Corporation, Chattogram Development Authority and the Water Development Board. He said residents appreciated the Prime Minister's gesture of expressing regret. "People have taken it very positively. They believe it reflects her large-heartedness," he noted. Highlighting ongoing drainage development, the minister said Chattogram has a total of 57 canals, of which 36 are being developed under a Tk 12,000 crore project implemented by the Bangladesh Army through the Chattogram Development Authority. "So far, work on 30 canals has been completed, while six are still under construction," he said, adding that temporary dams (barricades) built for the work contributed to water congestion during the sudden heavy rainfall. He said instructions have been given to remove or adjust barricades within the next five days to ensure smooth water flow in the canals. A coordinated committee led by the city mayor has also been formed to respond quickly to any such situation in the future, he added. "Unless there is an extreme weather event like heavy rainfall or storm surge, there is little likelihood of waterlogging in Chattogram city from the next rainy season," the minister said.

Thousands of hectares of Boro paddy have gone under water in the haor areas of Sunamganj following sudden flooding triggered by breached embankments and upstream rainfall, causing losses estimated at around Tk 200 crore, officials said. In Dekhar haor’s Guwachura area on Wednesday, labourers were seen harvesting paddy in waist-deep cold water, their bodies wrapped in polythene to shield against the harsh conditions. Nearby, farmer Rois Mia struggled to tie bundles of harvested paddy, his eyes welling up as he described the scale of devastation. “Everything is under water – three to four feet above the crops. I do not know how we will harvest or dry the paddy,” he said, adding that he had cultivated 19 bighas of land on a sharecropping basis after taking loans of around Tk 150,000. The farmer said he harvested paddy on six bighas of land but were unable to dry paddy. “There are still another six bighas under a sharecropping agreement left to harvest. I do not know if I will be able try those at all.” Citing the agreement with the land owner, he said, “The agreement is four maunds per bigha, and I must give the landlord the full share of paddy. The landowner will not accept less. If I fail, I will not get land next year.” The farmer now faces uncertainty over repaying debts, giving the landlord’s share, and feeding his family. Similar distress was visible across the area. Elderly farmers Jamila Khatun and Asma Begum were trying to dry partially soaked paddy on makeshift mats, while Komor Ali, 70, said about 75 percent of his 20 bighas of land had been submerged. “If I fail to give the landlord his share, I may not get land next year,” he said, adding he had spent Tk 70,000 on cultivation. Local farmers said sharecroppers, who make up nearly 70 percent of cultivators in the haor areas, are particularly vulnerable as they must pay fixed shares regardless of losses. According to Mohammad Umar Faruk, Deputy Director of district Department of Agricultural Extension, embankments at Eron Beel and Jinaria in Madhyanagar upazila collapsed, allowing water to enter at least three smaller haors. As a result, around 9,049 hectares of paddy fields have been inundated, damaging an estimated 50,000 tonnes of paddy worth Tk 200 crore as of Wednesday afternoon, he said. Officials said it may take at least a week for the water to recede, as continued rainfall in Sunamganj and upstream areas, including India’s Meghalaya region, is keeping river levels high. The Surma River was flowing just below the danger level on Wednesday afternoon. Efforts by farmers in Shalla upazila to cut embankments and drain water through the Dhanu River into the Meghna have yielded little result due to high downstream water levels. Water Development Board Executive Engineer Mamun Hawlader said there is currently no effective way to drain the water quickly. “With rising river levels due to upstream rainfall, it may take about a week for water to start receding,” he said. Former meteorologist Syed Ahmed Chowdhury warned of further heavy rainfall until Sunday, which could worsen the situation. Despite claims that 603 kilometres of embankments were constructed this year at a cost of Tk 148 crore, local farmers and environmentalists allege poor planning and lack of river dredging have exacerbated waterlogging in the haor areas.  

A Rohingya woman and her daughter were killed in an attack by a herd of wild elephant  in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Thursday. The deceased were identified as Asma Bibi, 27, wife of Md Ekram Mia and their 3-year-old daughter Chemon Ara Begum , residents of Syed Colony in West Khuniapalong under Khuniapalong union. Locals said the elephants entered the locality around 6am, triggering panic among residents. Madrasa teacher Jubairul Islam said hearing noise, Ekram fled with their six-year-old son Rehan Uddin but Asma Bibi and her younger daughter failed to escape and died on the spot. Khuniapalong Union Parishad member Zainal Abedin said the herd consisting of three elephants was highly aggressive, leaving the victims no chance to escape. The elephants later moved toward nearby hills after damaging houses and feeding on fruits. Md Tosaddek Hossain, range officer of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division (Dhoapalong Range), said forest officials drove the elephants back into deep forest and are taking steps to control their movement. Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam Bhuiyan said police visited the scene, completed inquest procedures and handed over the bodies to the family. A case of unnatural death will be filed in this connection, he said .

An elderly woman was hacked to death allegedly by her grandson for refusal to transfer land to him in Phulpur upazila of Mymensingh on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Ayesha Khatun, 70, of Jatia village under Bhaitkandi union of the upazila. Police arrested the accused – Jasim Uddin, son of late Mohidul Islam – over the incident. According to police and locals, Ayesha had been living alone after being separated from her husband many years ago. Her only son died shortly after Jasim’s birth, and Jasim’s mother married another person. However, she also passed away. Ayesha raised Jasim from childhood. Growing as an adult, Jasim got married and built a house a short distance away, where he lived with his wife and two children. However, following a recent family dispute, his wife left him, forcing him to live alone. Locals said Ayesha owned a piece of land, part of which Jasim used for cultivation. Suspecting that Ayesha’s nephews might claim a share of the property, Jasim had been pressuring his grandmother to transfer the land to him, leading to a conflict between them. Around 9:00pm on Wednesday, an argument broke out between them when Jasim again demanded that Ayesha sign over the land deed. At one point, he allegedly hacked her with a sharp weapon, killing her on the spot. Locals caught Jasim and informed the police. Law enforcers later rushed in and arrested him, said Sub-Inspector Azizul Haque of Phulpur Police Station. He said they also recovered the body and sent it Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy . 

Trade between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole land port resumed on Thursday morning after a three-day suspension linked to the West Bengal assembly elections. Trade activities at the country’s largest land port remained halted since Sunday evening as election-related security measures were enforced in the Indian state. During the halt, commercial movement stopped, although limited movement of passengers holding passports was allowed for urgent medical needs along with restricted transport of perishable goods, said Aminul Haque, Vice-president of the Benapole Port Importers and Exporters Association. Benapole Port Director Shamim Hossain said both import and export operations returned to full swing in the morning. Goods-laden trucks from India are entering the port and export shipments are also moving at a normal pace. He added that port and customs authorities coordinated preparations in advance to prevent congestion during the halt.

More than 50,000 fishermen in Chandpur are set to return to the Padma River and Meghna River as a two-month government-imposed fishing ban aimed at protecting jatka ends tonight. The restriction, enforced throughout March and April, covered a 70-kilometre sanctuary in the Padma-Meghna river system and prohibited all types of fishing, including hilsa, under the government’s conservation programme. With the ban lifting at midnight, fishermen will resume operations from early Friday. Fishing villages along the Meghna riverbank are now abuzz with activity, as nets are repaired, boats refurbished, and final preparations completed. Visits to several villages showed a busy atmosphere as fishermen repaired nets, fixed boats, and prepared to set sail. District Fisheries Survey Officer Farhana Akter Ruma said the successful implementation of the jatka conservation programme this year is expected to significantly increase hilsa production. Fishermen from different areas, including Harisova of Puran Bazar, West Sriramdi, Ranagoyal, Dokanghar, Hanarchar, Baharia, Ibrahimpur, Harina Ghat, Ananda Bazar and Bishnupur in Chandpur Sadar upazila, were seen making final preparations on Wednesday afternoon. Fishermen, including Md Ismail Khan and Mohammad Hosen from Ananda Bazar, said they struggled to support their families during the ban period, but complied with it in the greater interest. “Now we have repaired our nets and boats and are ready to return to the river,” one of them said. From Baharia and Lakshmipur areas, fishermen Khorshed Alam and Anwar Hossain Gazi said they had to take loans of around Tk 30,000 to repair boats and nets. “If we can catch hilsa now, we will be able to repay the loan instalments and manage our families,” Khorshed said. Hilsa researcher Dr Anisur Rahman told UNB that today’s jatka will become tomorrow’s large hilsa. He said if 70-80 percent of jatka can be protected, hilsa production could increase by around 600,000 metric tonnes in the future. Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruq said authorities conducted round-the-clock drives in the 70-kilometre sanctuary area of the Padma-Meghna rivers during the two-month ban. Around 200 fishermen were jailed or fined for violating the restrictions. He added that the enforcement helped protect jatka, which is expected to boost national hilsa production in the coming years.

An alleged drug dealer has been arrested along with narcotic syrups and foreign liquor at Jagirpara village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila. The arrestee was identified as Md Jewel Babu, 25, son of late Abu Tahanur of the village. A team of Dinajpur CPC-1 camp of Rapid Action Battalion-13 conducted a drive at the village on Wednesday afternoon based on a tip-off. During the raid, a total of 581 bottles of narcotic syrups of two brands were recovered from a house owned by Raihan Kabir alias Babu, a fugitive accused in another case. Besides, the elite force recovered 25 bottles of foreign liquor and arrested Jewel at that time.

A 32-year-old man has died after being struck by lightning while fishing in the Kirtinasha River in Naria upazila of Shariatpur. The deceased was identified as Rajib Sheikh, son of Harun Sheikh from the Maijpara area under Japsa union. The incident occurred around Wednesday noon in the same area, when sudden bad weather brought rain and lightning. Rajib was fishing in the river at that time. According to family members, Rajib was a farmer by profession and also supplemented his income by fishing. Local sources said the weather deteriorated quickly at noon, followed by heavy rain and lightning. Rajib was struck by lightning while in the river and died on the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abdul Kaiyum Khan said the administration provided Tk 25,000 as immediate financial assistance to the victim’s family and assured continued support.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have recovered a pistol and 10 bullets in an abandoned bag in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. The recovery was made near a graveyard in the Babupur Miratuli area under Noyalavanga union, according to a press release issued by RAB-5 Chapainawabganj camp on Thursday morning. The elite force said it received a tip-off on Wednesday evening that a suspicious bag had been lying beside the boundary wall of the family graveyard in the area. Later, a patrol team from the Chapainawabganj camp conducted a drive there. During the operation, the team recovered one locally made pistol and 10 bullets as well as two cartridges from a shopping an abandoned bag. The recovered items were handed over to Shibganj Police Station for legal action, the press release added.