United News of Bangladesh

A family in Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila was left devastated after losing a 74-year-old freedom fighter and his 20-year-old granddaughter within six hours on Saturday. The tragic incident took place at Purbapara village under Daulatpur Sadar Union, where the deaths of Fulbas Ali, a freedom fighter, and his granddaughter Munni Khatun left the local community in deep mourning. Family sources said Fulbas Ali died on Friday afternoon due to old-age complications. His body was buried with state honours at Manikdiar graveyard around 10am on Saturday in the presence of Daulatpur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Pradeep Kumar Das. While returning home after attending his father’s burial, Tujam Uddin, son of Fulbas Ali, received the devastating news that his daughter Munni had died while undergoing treatment. Munni had been deeply shocked by her grandfather’s death. Family members said she had been taking care of him before her marriage and became seriously ill while mourning his death on Friday night. She was taken to Kushtia General Hospital after losing consciousness but died on Saturday morning while preparations were being made to shift her to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Tujam Uddin said his daughter had married Mostaq of Thanapara village in Daulatpur about a year ago. She had been suffering from typhoid and her condition worsened after the shock of losing her grandfather. Later on Saturday afternoon, Munni was buried beside her grandfather’s grave at the same Manikdiar graveyard. Relative Saidul Islam said, “I received the news of Munni’s death after returning home from my uncle’s burial. No family should ever have to endure such a tragedy.” Local residents said they had never witnessed such a heartbreaking incident where a grandfather and granddaughter died on the same day and were buried side by side.

The expansion of a mosque in Jashore's Jhikargacha upazila has remained suspended for the past 20 days after a man claiming to be a BNP leader allegedly obstructed the construction work, triggering resentment among the mosque committee and local worshippers. The allegation has been brought against Ismail Hossain of Raghunathpur Dangi village under Nabharan Union. Ismail claims to be the No. 1 member of the convening committee of BNP's Navaran Union unit. However, Jashore district BNP General Secretary Delwar Hossain Khokon told reporters that the party currently has no committee in Navaran Union. "I do not know anyone named Ismail Hossain as a BNP leader,"  Khokon added. According to locals, the Jame Mosque in Raghunathpur Dangi has long been facing a shortage of space, forcing many devotees to offer Friday prayers outdoors under the scorching sun or in the rain. Following discussions before several Friday congregations, the mosque committee and locals unanimously decided to expand the mosque. The expansion project was to be financed through government assistance and donations from local worshippers. However, as construction started, Ismail allegedly intervened, insisting that no work could proceed without his permission. Witnesses alleged that during an altercation, he kicked and broke two cement pillars brought for the construction. Mosque committee President Ibrahim Khalil later informed local BNP leader and Jhikargacha upazila BNP member Nuruzzaman Konok about the incident. Many residents also criticised what they described as the use of political influence in matters concerning a religious institution, saying a mosque should never become a platform for political dominance.

A prisoner from Sirajganj District Jail died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka on Saturday morning. The deceased was identified as Kawsar Hossain, 22, son of Saidur Rahman from Jhurjhuri village in Tarash upazila. Sirajganj District Jail Superintendent Rafiqul Islam said Kawsar had been in jail since April 12, 2024, in connection with a murder case. He fell ill and was admitted to Sirajganj General Hospital on July 15. As his condition worsened, he was shifted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. Later, on July 18, he was transferred to the Prison Hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment, where he died on Saturday morning. Following an autopsy, his body was handed over to his family on Saturday afternoon, the jail superintendent added.

Tea garden workers in Sylhet blocked Sylhet-Tamabil highway and staged demonstrations on Saturday morning, demanding a daily minimum wage of Tk 500 on Saturday morning. The demonstration, organised by the Tea Workers Trade Union Centre, a large protest rally took place at the Khadim Tea Garden around 9:30 am. During the program, workers observed a two-hour work stoppage and staged a blockade on the Highway. They also demand for the cancellation of the controversial 5 percent pay-hike gazette, land ownership rights, and elections for the Tea Workers Union (CBA). Expressing deep resentment, speakers noted that the current wage structure is extremely inhumane given the surging prices of essential commodities. They described the annual wage increase of just Tk 8 as a "farce and mockery" against the tea workers. Speakers stated that it is impossible for a family to survive on the current daily wage of just Tk 187, making a dignified and fair wage a core demand for tea laborers across the country.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a range of smuggled goods worth nearly Tk 3.2 million during separate drives in Kurigram border areas over the past 24 hours, officials said on Saturday. The border force recovered Indian cosmetics, cumin, tree logs, illegal current nets and livestock, among other smuggled items, with a total estimated value of Tk 31,90,750. The seizures were made during separate anti-smuggling operations conducted in the battalion's area of responsibility along the border, According to a press release issued by Kurigram Battalion (22 BGB). BGB foils attempt to push 9 women into Bangladesh through Dinajpur border BGB said its members have been carrying out regular operations to prevent smuggling, curb illegal border crossings and safeguard the country's sovereignty. The force is maintaining maximum vigilance and professionalism to implement its declared 'zero tolerance' policy against smuggling in border areas. Lt Col Mohammad Mahbub-ul-Haq, Commanding Officer of  22 BGB, said the border force would continue its drives to prevent smuggling and other illegal activities along the frontier.

An activist of Jubo Dal, BNP’s youth wing,  was shot dead and two others suffered bullet injuries in Kafrul area of the capital on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Yusuf Ali, 45, an activist of Kafrul thana unit Jubo Dal. Witnesses said, when local Jubo Dal leader Hafizur Rahman along with 7-8 others were chatting in front of a garment factory around 11:30 pm in Mirpur-13 area 3-4 armed miscreants opened fire on them, leaving Yusuf and two others injured. The injured including Nalam Sardar, 45 and Monir Hossain, 32 were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital around 12:30 am, where the doctors declared Yusuf dead, said Inspector Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp. Local people managed to detain a suspect and handed him over to police.

A 48-year-old lawyer was stabbed to death by miscreants at Harikhali Tetultala in Bagerhat district town early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Nizam Uddin Shanto, assistant public prosecutor of Bagerhat court and resident of Sadar upazila. Md Shamsul Arefin, Officer-in-Charge of Bagerhat Sadar Model Police Station, said a group of miscreants waylaid Shanto at Tetultala while he was returning home on a motorbike around 1 am and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to Bagerhat 250-bed District Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Advocate Wahiduzzaman Dipu, former President of Bagerhat District Lawyers Associaiton and member of BNP central unit, said Shanto had an enmity with some people over the ownership of a shrimp enclosure. He also demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.

Two women were killed and another person was injured after a truck rammed into a motorbike in Purba Khaleya Rathari area of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district on Friday night. The deceased were identified as Radha Rani Sarkar, 40, wife of Dulal Sarkar, and Anjana Rani Sarkar, 50, wife of Dijendra Nath Sarkar, of Sadar upazila in Nilphamari district. Abdus Sabur, Officer-in-Charge of Gangachara Model Police Station, said the accident occurred around 10:30 pm when a sand-laden truck from Nilphamari hit the motorbike carrying three people, leaving the two women dead on the spot and another person injured. The injured, Ajit Chandra Sarkar, was taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Police could not arrest anyone as the truck driver and his helper managed to flee the scene. The bodies were handed over to the victims' family members after completion of the legal formalities, said OC.

An under-trial prisoner facing seven cases, including murder, illegal arms possession and assault, died while undergoing treatment at Rajbari Sadar Hospital on Friday. The deceased was identified as Tushar Biswas, 42, son of Shashadhar Biswas of Bongram Notunpara village in Pangsa upazila. According to jail authorities, Tushar had seven cases pending against him-six filed with Pangsha Model Police Station and one with Goalanda Ghat Police Station. He had secured bail in three of the cases. Md Mamunur Rashid, Rajbari Jail Superintendent, said Tushar complained of chest pain shortly after having breakfast on Friday morning. He was first given primary treatment at the jail hospital and later rushed to Rajbari Sadar Hospital as his condition deteriorated. He died while undergoing treatment at the hospital around 11:30 am, the jail superintendent said. Following the completion of legal formalities and a post-mortem examination, Tushar's body was handed over to his family at around 4:45 pm.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-6 arrested two criminals and recovered a foreign-made pistol, ammunition and a magazine during a raid in Khulna's Labanchara area on Friday. The arrests were made around 11:50 am from Islampara under Labanchara Police Station, according to a RAB press release. The arrestees were identified as Nazim alias Nadim, 30, son of Shahjahan of Amtala area under Labanchara Police Station, and his associate Md Masud Rana, 37, son of  Abdur Rahman Miaji of Islampara. RAB said Nadim was arrested first. Based on his information, a search was conducted at his residence, where the elite force recovered a foreign-made pistol, four rounds of live ammunition, one spent bullet casing and a magazine from a location he identified. According to the press release, Nadim is a listed criminal in the area and has multiple cases filed against him at the local police station. RAB said he had been under surveillance for a long time before the operation. Legal action against the two is underway at the concerned police station.