United News of Bangladesh

Export-import activities between Bangladesh and India thriught Benapole and Sonamasjid land ports on Saturday morning after Durga Puja and weekly holidays. The trade at Benapole land port resumed on Saturday after a seven-day suspension due to Durga Puja holidays. Around 3,000 workers joined their work from the morning to handle cargo loading and unloading, while traders, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents, and port and customs officials resumed their operations. Mohsin Milon, president of the Benapole Port Importers and Exporters Association, said the prolonged closure caused traffic congestion and a backlog of goods on both sides of the border, with thousands of loaded trucks waiting to enter the port. The port handles around 500 trucks of imported and exported goods daily, generating nearly Tk 20 crore in government revenue, according to the association. The eight-day suspension resulted in an estimated revenue loss of around Tk 160 crore, it added. Meanwhile, import-export operations also resumed at Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj after remaining suspended from October 17 to 23. Ruhul Amin, member-secretary of the Sonamasjid Land Port C&F Agents Association, said the trade remained suspended due to government holidays for Durga Puja, weekly holidays and a holiday declared by India's Mahadipur Land Port Exporters Association. He said loading and unloading of imported goods already inside the port continued during the holiday period. However, cross-border movement of Bangladeshi and Indian passport holders through the immigration checkpoint remained normal.

Three people were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between two motorcycles on the Jashore-Benapole Highway at Natunhat Bazar in Sadar upazila of Jashore district on Friday night. The deceased were identified as Siam Hossain, 18, son of Shamim Hossain, Shahidul Islam Joy, 18, and Omar Ali, 17, son of Abdul Kader of Sadar upazila. The accident occurred around 12:30am when the two motorcycles collided, leaving three people dead and two others injured, said Kabir Hossain, in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station. The injured were taken to Jashore General Hospital. Police and local Fire Service personnel recovered the bodies and sent them to the hospital morgue.    

Gas supply will remain suspended for four hours in several areas of the capital on Saturday due to emergency repairs to a pipeline leak, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd has said. The suspension will remain in effect from 2:00pm to 6:00pm on Saturday, affecting all categories of consumers in Nadda, Kalachandpur, Bashundhara, Joar Sahara, Bhatara and Baridhara J Block, as well as adjoining areas along both sides of the road from Notun Bazar to Kuril Bishwa Road. In a notice, Titas Gas authorities apologised to consumers for the temporary inconvenience caused by the repair work.

A sub-inspector was killed when a private car crashed into a road divider on the Dhaka-Bogura Highway in Sherpur upazila of Bogura district on Friday. The deceased was identified as Md Golam Rabbani, 50. Ekramul Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Sherpur Police Station, said the accident occurred around 7pm in the Chhonka area when the car crashed into a road divider as its driver lost control, leaving Rabbani dead on the spot. Rabbani was travelling from Dhaka to Thakurgaon for work and met with the fatal accident while returning to Dhaka after completing his work. The police identity card of the deceased was recovered from the accident scene, the OC said. However, the deceased's workplace could not be known immediately.

A devastating fire gutted at least 33 houses in a fishing village (Jele Para) in Kutubdia upazila of Cox's Bazar early Friday. The fire broke out around 2:00am early Friday at Jele Para in Ali Akbar Deil union and spread rapidly through the densely populated row of houses. Two fire units responded to the scene at 2:32am and brought the blaze under control around 5:00am with the assistance of local residents, said Kutubdia Fire Service Station Officer Sohel Ahmed. Preliminary investigations indicate the fire originated from a kitchen stove at the residence of Dedar  Joldas. The fire destroyed 33 tin-shed and thatched houses belonging to local fishermen and their families. Akhtar Kamal Sikder, Ali Akbar Deil Union Parishad Acting Chairman, said local authorities inspected the spot and notified the upazila administration to provide emergency relief and assistance to the affected families.

A fire broke out in the parking area of The Sea Princess Hotel at Sugandha Beach Point in Cox's Bazar on Friday afternoon, causing panic among around 300 guests. The fire originated around 5:00pm on the ground floor parking lot, said Senior Station Officer Dolon Acharya of Cox's Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defense. Although a fire unit rushed to the scene upon receiving the news, hotel staff had already brought the blaze under control using adequate on-site firefighting equipment.

Tourism traders, transport workers, and local residents held a demonstration and protest rally in Khagrachhari on Friday demanding the immediate lifting of travel restrictions on Sajek Valley, ensuring tourist security, and reopening all tourist spots. The protest meeting took place at Shapla Chattar in Khagrachhari municipality following a rally that marched through major town roads. Presided over by Hill Transport Association President Aiyush Chakma, the rally was addressed by transport leaders Jashim Uddin, Ujjal, Mohammad Asad Masum, and Omar Faruk Kusum. Speakers highlighted the severe financial distress facing tourism businessmen and transport workers due to the travel ban. They urged authorities to ensure safety and normalize vehicle movement promptly. Demanding effective steps to end extortion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, speakers issued a 48-hour ultimatum for lifting the blockade, warning of tougher agitation if their demands remain unmet.

An eight-year-old boy went missing after being swept away by strong currents while taking a bath in the Padma River with friends near the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari on Friday. The missing child was identified as Nur Amin, 8, son of Rezaul Fakir of Shahadat Member Para in Daulatdia. Nur Amin and three friends went to the riverbank around 12:30pm, A deep trench had formed in the area due to BIWTA dredging over the past week, family members said. When Nur Amin, along with two friends, entered the water around 12:45pm, strong currents pulled him under. His friends attempted to rescue him by pulling his hair, but the current washed him away. Upon being informed, Aricha Land-cum-River Fire Station divers launched a search operation around 2:00pm, joined by Daulatdia Naval Police and local residents. The search operation was suspended in the evening and will resume on Saturday morning, Fire Station Leader Md. Jahidul Islam said.

Two children from the same household drowned in a pond in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola on Friday morning. The deceased were Tanha, 10, daughter of Abdul Gani, and Maha, 9, daughter of Md Shahin. The incident occurred around 10am at Danu Haji Bari in Ward No. 3 of Baramanika Union.. According to locals, police and family members, the two children went to bathe in a pond near their house in the morning and drowned. Locals rescued both children and took them to Borhanuddin Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctors declared them dead. Officer-in-Charge of Borhanuddin Police Station, said police visited the spot and legal procedures were underway.

A bus helper was killed and at least 15 people were injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Baraigram upazila of Natore on Friday afternoon. Officer-in-Charge of Baraigram Police Station Shafiqul Islam said the accident occurred around 5pm in the Thana Mor area on the Bonpara-Hatikumrul highway when a Dhaka-bound Desh Travels bus from Rajshahi collided head-on with an oncoming Tabassum Paribahan bus. The helper of the Tabassum Paribahan bus died on the spot, the OC said. The injured were rescued and taken to the upazila health complex for treatment.