United News of Bangladesh

A tree plantation programme has been inaugurated in Jashore as part of a nationwide initiative to plant 250 million saplings aimed at addressing environmental conservation and the adverse impacts of climate change. The programme was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who launched the national campaign by planting a garjan sapling at the protected forest area of Malumghat in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday afternoon. Plant one tree wherever possible, PM urges citizens As part of the initiative, the programme in Jashore was also inaugurated at the Nabokisholoy School premises in the district town on the same day under the joint arrangement of the district administration and the Social Forestry Division of Jashore. Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Director of Local Government and Jashore Municipality Administrator, attended the event as the chief guest and formally inaugurated the plantation drive. The event was presided over by Amita Mandal, Divisional Forest Officer of the Social Forestry Division, Jashore. At the same time, Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) launched the plantation programme in all eight upazilas of the district. At the end of the inauguration ceremony, the guests distributed fruit, timber and medicinal plant saplings among 30 students and highlighted the importance of tree plantation for environmental protection, urging everyone to plant more trees.

A Brazil football supporter was killed and a pedestrian injured in a motorcycle accident while travelling to join a World Cup celebration rally in Bhola's Borhanuddin upazila on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Md Ismail, son of Md Maksud of Chowkdhosh village in the upazila. The injured pedestrian, identified as Sabuj, was sent to Barishal for advanced treatment. 3 killed as bus hits auto-rickshaw in Bhola The accident occurred around 5:15 pm at Daulatkhan Road intersection in Borhanuddin, according to local sources. Locals said Brazil supporters had organised a festive procession in Borhanuddin town at 4 pm to celebrate the FIFA World Cup. Ismail was heading to join the rally from Chowkdhosh village in Kachia union on a motorcycle. When he reached the Daulatkhan Road area, he reportedly lost control of the speeding motorcycle, hitting pedestrian Sabuj before the vehicle plunged into a roadside ditch. Locals rescued the victims and took them to Borhanuddin Upazila Health Complex, where Medical Officer Dr Rafsana declared Ismail dead. Following the incident, organisers temporarily suspended the rally. Sub-Inspector Abu Jafar of Borhanuddin Police Station said police rushed to the hospital after receiving information about the accident. "We are looking into the matter and will take necessary legal action after investigation," he said, adding that the victim's body had been taken to his family home.

Police arrested two alleged female drug peddlers during separate drives in Jamalpur early Saturday and recovered 42kg of cannabis. The arrestees were identified as Khodeja Begum, 40, wife of Shah Ali of Kusumhati Krishnapur Uttarpara village in Sherpur Sadar upazila, and Mosammat Bulbuli, 58, wife of Abul of Munshi Nangla village in Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur district. According to police, acting on a tip-off, a team led by Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jamalpur Sadar Police Station Md Nazmus Sakib conducted a raid at a rented room belonging to Shamsul Huda Selim in the Mridhapara area of Jamalpur town and arrested Khodeja Begum. During the raid, police recovered 42kg of cannabis wrapped in blue polythene and stored in three travel bags. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is around Tk 840,000. Later, based on information provided by Khodeja, police arrested Bulbuli from the Dayamoyee Mor area of the town. Police said Khodeja confessed that she had kept the cannabis in her possession for sale. She also informed investigators that a case under the Narcotics Control Act is pending against her with Sherpur Sadar Police Station. OC Nazmus Sakib said a case has been filed with Jamalpur Sadar Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act in connection with the incident.

Police have arrested two men, including a local Jubo Dal leader, on charges of allegedly gang-raping a woman in the Sirab area of Jampur Union under Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj. The arrestees were identified as Shahidul Islam Shahid, 40, general secretary of Ward No. 2 Jubo Dal of Jampur Union, and Shahin Mia. They were arrested during a police drive on Friday night. According to the case statement, the victim had been living in a rented house in the Sirab area with her husband and children. Man arrested for attempted rape, child abduction bid in Bandarban The incident took place around 5:30pm on June 10 while she was working in her kitchen. Her husband was not home at the time. The accused reportedly gagged her, threatened her children, and forcibly took her to a room on the ground floor of a nearby four-storey building. The complaint alleges that the woman was tied up and raped inside the room. After the accused left the scene, she returned home. Later in the evening, she informed her husband about the incident after he returned home. Subsequently, the victim filed a written complaint with Sonargaon Police Station, prompting an investigation. Police later conducted a raid and arrested the two suspects. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sonargaon Police Station Golam Sarwar said police launched an operation immediately after receiving the complaint and detained the two accused. Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects, he said, adding that the matter is being investigated with due importance.

Doctors at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) suspended emergency medical services and staged a protest on Saturday after an on-duty physician was allegedly assaulted by relatives of a deceased patient. The incident also led to a standoff between doctors and the patient’s family members, who blocked the highway near the hospital demanding the release of the body. ICU shortage at Rangpur Medical College Hospital leaves patients at risk According to hospital sources, a patient admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) died after relatives allegedly failed to obtain an oxygen mask when it was needed. Following the death, the patient’s family members accused the hospital authorities of negligence and allegedly assaulted the physician on duty. As news of the assault spread, doctors gathered at the hospital, suspended emergency services and staged a demonstration near the morgue, where they also withheld the body. Meanwhile, the deceased patient’s relatives blocked the highway in front of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, demanding the release of the body. Vehicular movement on the road remained suspended for some time, causing traffic congestion in the area. The family members claimed that the patient died due to medical negligence and alleged that the body was being withheld to cover up the incident. They warned that they would continue the blockade unless the body was handed over immediately. Brig General Ashikur Rahman, director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, said discussions had been held to defuse the situation and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved quickly.

A local leader of Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal, the ruling BNP's youth front, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Chattogram’s Raozan upazila on Saturday. The victim was identified as Maksudul Haque Chowdhury Masud, 45, a senior joint convener of Rangunia Upazila Jubo Dal. 2 killed in road accident in Chattagram According to police and local residents, Masud came under attack at Pahartali Chowmuhani in Raozan around 1:30 pm. The attackers allegedly opened fire on him, leaving him dead on the spot. Locals suspect the killing may have been linked to a long-standing dispute over the sand trade. They also said Masud had been discussed as a potential chairman candidate in the upcoming local government elections. Officer-in-Charge of Raozan Police Station Saiful Islam said police rushed to the scene after receiving information and recovered the body. “Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the killing,” he added. Meanwhile, protesting the murder, Jubo Dal activists blocked the Kaptai road in the Ishakhali area by burning tyres. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Friday night thwarted an attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push in 15 people into Bangladesh through the Gomostapur border in Chapainawabganj district. The incident took place around 12:40am in the area under Gomostapur Border Outpost (BOP) of Naogaon-16 BGB Battalion near border pillar 220/MP. The group included two men, eight women and five children. Lt Col Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commanding officer of Naogaon-16 BGB Battalion, said personnel of India’s BSF 88 Battalion from the Kotalpur camp attempted to push the 15 individuals into Bangladesh using a boat. However, BGB’s immediate and firm response foiled the attempt. He said the individuals were found staying along the zero line on the Indian side of the border at the time. Later, BSF personnel sent the 15 people back into Indian territory through the Bhabanipur area near border pillar 220/MP around 2:40am. The border situation is being closely monitored and surveillance and patrol activities in the area remain ongoing, said the BGB official .

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the re-excavation of historic Patali Canal in Pmkhali Union of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila, a canal closely associated with the memory of former President Ziaur Rahman. Soon after arriving in Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, the Prime Minister went to Pmkhali and formally launched the re-excavation programme at around 10:50am. Forty-eight years ago, in November 1979, then President Ziaur Rahman personally inaugurated the excavation of the canal by cutting earth with a spade. During the visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a reminder of that historic initiative. Despite heavy rain, Tarique Rahman proceeded to the site and formally inaugurated the re-excavation work by cutting earth with a spade. He also planted an almond sapling on the canal bank. Home Minister and Cox’s Bazar-1 lawmaker Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Choudhury Anee, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for  LGRD Mir Sahe Alam, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Md Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, Cox’s Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman Kajal, Chattogram-10 MP Sayeed Al Noman and Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan were among others present. Thousands of people from Patali village and surrounding areas gathered along the canal bank from the morning braving heavy rain to witness the programme and greet the Prime Minister. Patali Canal is regarded as a landmark irrigation project launched during Ziaur Rahman’s rule. According to local officials, the initiative drew international attention at the time. Former World Bank President Robert McNamara, Nepal’s King Birendra, Bhutan’s King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike visited Bangladesh to observe the country's rural development and agricultural initiatives. Officials said irrigation from the canal helped bring nearly 12,000 hectares of previously uncultivated land under farming, contributing to a significant boost in agricultural production and the local economy. However, after remaining operational for several years, the canal gradually became clogged with silt due to inadequate maintenance, while parts of it were encroached upon, disrupting irrigation facilities for local farmers. The eight-kilometre canal is expected to benefit around 40,000 people once re-excavation is completed, according to local engineers of the Water Resources Ministry. Local farmer Khorshed Alam said he was delighted to see Tarique Rahman inaugurate the restoration of a canal originally excavated by his father. “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman excavated this canal, and today his son has come to restore it. We are happy to see Tarique Rahman in person,” he said. “The canal has become filled up over the years. Once it is re-excavated, we farmers will benefit greatly and will no longer have to worry about irrigation water for our crops,” Alam added. Earlier, the Prime Minister and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman arrived in Cox’s Bazar around 9:50am by air. After inaugurating the re-excavation work, Tarique Rahman went onto a temporary stage beside the canal and waved to the crowd, exchanging greetings with local residents.

A case has been filed over an attack and vandalism at a Bangladesh Coast Guard station in the Harbaria area of Jaimonirghol in Mongla upazila of the Sundarbans, and police have arrested six people, including three women. The case was lodged with Mongla Police Station by the Coast Guard late Thursday night. It names 44 individuals and includes around 250–300 unidentified people as accused. Atikur Rahman, Mongla Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), said police conducted drives in different areas and arrested six people by Friday morning in connection with the case. Among the arrested are three women named in the FIR, while the other three male suspects were detained on suspicion, he said. The arrested six were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Bagerhat on Friday and were sent to jail after the court order. Police said operations are ongoing in different areas to arrest the remaining accused, and security has been strengthened around the Coast Guard station. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon when unidentified miscreants allegedly attacked and vandalised the Coast Guard station at Harbaria in Jaimonirghol, injuring three Coast Guard personnel. The Coast Guard claimed that the attack was carried out by vested interests and criminal groups to force their withdrawal from the area and disrupt their operations. According to the force, the attackers also attempted to hamper ongoing operations against forest bandits and other illegal activities in the Sundarbans.

Police have arrested three accused in the murder case of Polytechnic Institute student Al Muhtasim Saif while local residents staged a road blockade on Friday demanding the arrest of the main suspects. The arrested accused are Shanto Hasan, 19, son of Abu Bakkar Siddique; Md Swadhin, 19, son of Lebu Mia; and Sajib Barman, 18, son of Gouro Barman, all residents of Digharpar area in Sherpur municipality. Woman killed by falling tree as tornado wreaks havoc in Sherpur Police arrested them in separate drives across different parts of the town on Friday. They were later produced before a court and sent to jail. However, police have yet to arrest the main accused, identified as Naim Mia, Pappu, Swapan and Arman.