United News of Bangladesh

Four more witnesses testified on Sunday before a Magura court in the sensational rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asiya. With this, a total of 23 witnesses have so far testified in the case. Judge Md Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal recorded the testimonies. The witnesses are physicians Saharia Sultana and Jahura Khatun; and nurses Joly Parvin and Bornali Parvin. Earlier, on April 23, the same court framed charges against four accused in the case. Prime accused Hitu Sheikh has been charged with rape and murder. The court also fixed April 27 for recording witness testimonies. 4 accused indicted in Magura girl rape, murder case On April 13, sub-inspector Md Alauddin of Magura Sadar Police Station, the investigation officer in the case, submitted the charge-sheet to the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, naming four people as accused. Asiya died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on March 13, a week after she was raped, sparking widespread protests across the country. University students, including those from Dhaka University, took to the streets demanding capital punishment for the accused. Magura rape: Locals demand women madrasha at accused's home The prime accused in the case gave a confessional statement before the court. Police arrested victim’s brother-in-law Sajib Sheikh, 20, his brother Ratul Sheikh, 25, and her sister’s parents-in-law Hitu Sheikh, 50, and Jabeda Begum,  40, – in connection with the incident.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has ordered the Hajj agencies to submit visa applications for all remaining pilgrims by 12 pm on Monday. In a letter sent to all lead and coordinating Hajj agencies on Sunday, the ministry said more than 10,000 intending hajj pilgrims have yet to receive their visas, citing an urgent message from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which announced that the Nusuk Masar Platform, the portal for visa applications, will close permanently after the Monday deadline. “Visa applications not submitted through the platform by 12 noon on May 5 will not be accepted under any circumstances. Those missing the deadline will be unable to perform Hajj in 2025,” the ministry warned. Bangladeshi diaspora urged to obtain permits before performing Hajj: Religious Ministry   All the lead agencies concerned have been ordered to submit visa applications along with passport, biometric enrollment, house or hotel and flight information of the hajj pilgrims who have not yet submitted their visa applications to the Nusuk Masar platform by 12 tomorrow. The ministry also said that if any pilgrim misses the Hajj due to an agency's negligence, the responsible lead or coordinating agency will be held accountable under the Hajj and Umrah Management Act-2021 and Hajj and Umrah Rules-2022. This year’s Hajj is expected to be held on June 5, subject to the sighting of the moon. Hajj flights from Bangladesh began on April 29 and will continue until May 31. According to the ministry, 87,100 Bangladeshis are scheduled to perform Hajj this year, with 5,200 under government arrangements and 81,900 through private agencies. As of Sunday morning, a total of 22,203 pilgrims, including management staff, have reached Saudi Arabia, according to the daily bulletin published on the Hajj portal. Adviser urges pilgrims to uphold discipline, with Hajj flights set to commence Of these, 4,564 travelled under the government scheme and 17,639 under private arrangements in 54 Hajj flights operated so far. Meanwhile, two pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia, according to the bulletin.

An unidentified teenage boy died after falling from the roof of a moving train near railway tracks under Khilkhet flyover in the capital early Sunday. The incident occurred around 2:00pm on Saturday when the 15-year-old boy fell from the roof of a moving train near the Khilkhet rail-line, said police. Locals rescued the critically injured boy and took him to Kurmitola General Hospital. Later, he was shifted to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 4:30pm for better treatment. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at ward No 101 of the hospital around 1:30am on Sunday, said Md Faruk Mia, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost. The body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Several hundred of workers of a garment factory on Sunday staged demonstrations to press home their 5-point demand including an increase in wages in Karnaphuli upazila of Chattogram district. The workers of ‘Golden Son Ltd’ in Khwajnagar area of the upazila began the demonstrations chanting slogans and carrying banners and festoons around 11:30 am. Their other demands are full payment within the scheduled time, scrapping of the two-installment wage system, payment of salaries between the 1 to 10 of each month, and compensation equivalent to three months and 13 days’ salary in accordance with government rules if any worker is terminated. Officer-in-Charge of Karnaphuli police station Md Sharif said they along with army members were trying to bring the situation under control. Reform Talks: Prof Riaz urges political parties to unite with allies The factory’s Human Resources Officer Md Noman and other officials declined to comment. However, a company spokesperson on condition of anonymity said, "We are now in a meeting to address the matter and hope to resolve it soon." Chattogram Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Sulaiman said they spoke to workers while the factory management assured of paying dues. As of filing this report till 1:15pm, workers were staging demonstrations at the factory. According to Industrial Police, 50 factories in Chattogram have been shut over the past seven months since August 5 last year. Among them are 18 BGMEA-affiliated factories, two under BKMEA, one a BTMA member, nine in BEPZA, and 22  others. Two factories were shut permanently.  

A drug addict son allegedly beat his elderly mother to death after being refused to pay money for drugs in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi district on Saturday night, police said. The victim was identified as Shamsunnahar, 70, wife of late primary school teacher Nurul Haque of Bailab village under Chakrada union. Quoting locals, police said accused Jaber Hossain, 28, who was detained following the murder, used to get locked into arguments with his mother over paying money for drugs. On Saturday night, he also sought money from his mother who refused to provide, leading to the killing by beating after tying her with a door handle, according to the police. After killing, Jaber stayed with the body inside his room overnight. Madrasah student killed in Sherpur road accident Being informed on Sunday morning, police recovered the body from the room and sent it to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, said Afzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shibpur police station.  

Police detained five supporters of the Jubo League and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for allegedly setting fire to the house of artist Manabendra Ghosh in Manikganj, raising the total number of arrestees in the case to 13. They were detained on Saturday night from the Gulshan residence of former Health Minister Zahid Maleque in Dhaka, Manikganj police said. The detainees are Md Uzzal Hossain, 35, former joint convener of Jubo League and ex-vice president of Sadar upazila unit of banned Chhara League; Masud Rana, 35, former religious affairs secretary of the district BCL; Mir Saifullah Shafi, 38, Jubo League activist; banned Chhatra League activists Abid Hasan, 24, and Md Hridoy Hossain, 24, all hailing from Garpara union under Sadar upazila. 6 AL, BCL leaders detained over arson attack on Manabendra’s home Officer-in-charge of Sadar police station SM Amanullah said they held the accused in connection with the arson attack on artist Manabendra’s residence in Chandar village of Garpara on the night of April 15. He said the suspects would be produced before court on Sunday seeking a seven-day remand for them.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate alleged irregularities and procedural flaws in the leasing out process of the Gabtoli cattle market. The move follows multiple media reports highlighting corruption and procedural lapses in the lease and tender cancellation process. Transport for London to provide technical assistance to DNCC According to a DNCC press release issued on Sunday morning, the administrator directed that a probe committee be formed to conduct a thorough investigation. On April 30, a team from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), led by Assistant Director Rubel Hasan, conducted a drive in connection with the case. During the operation, the DNCC administrator instructed city corporation officials to extend full cooperation to the ACC team.  

Detectives detained Md Nurul Haque, general secretary of Dohar upazila unit of Awami League, from Segunbagicha area of Dhaka early Sunday. Md Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media and public relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said a Detective Branch team held him from a house in Segunbagicha area after being tipped off about his presence. Detainee Nurul has been accused in several cases filed with police stations in Dhaka, he added.

National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz on Sunday urged political parties to encourage their like-minded allies to work towards a consensus over reforms by bridging differences at least on fundamental issues. “As political forces, we have the hope, belief and trust in you that you will talk to others, inspire your friendly political forces to narrow down the differences, and come to a common ground through which we can reach an agreement,” he said. Prof Riaz made the remarks in his introductory speech at the dialogue between the 12-party alliance and the National Consensus Commission. Political parties to compromise for state reforms, hopes Ali Riaz The talks, chaired by Prof Riaz, began at 10:05am at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. An 11-member delegation from the alliance took part in the dialogue, led by Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) Chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider and Bangladesh LDP leader Shahadat Hossain Salim. “We don’t believe that sitting at this table alone will lead us to the final destination of national consensus. Our role is that of a catalyst, and we are making that effort,” said Prof Riaz. He said each political party has placed its opinion over reform proposals but all must compromise to some extent to reach consensus. “We all have to come together. We may not agree on everything, but we must reach common ground on fundamental state-building issues to move Bangladesh forward,” he added. Citing that building national consensus is not solely the commission’s responsibility, Prof Riaz said, “You who are engaged in the struggle and are in dialogues with us today should talk to your allies and other political forces to explore how we can come together.” Reform Process: Prof Yunus gives directives towards next steps  Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Mohammad Ayub Miah were present at the discussion, moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 23 political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP).

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes in all divisions, including Dhaka of the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Sunday. “Rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions,” said a met office update. Rains, thunder showers with lightning forecast in three divisions in next 24hr: BMD Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, according to the BMD.   The country’s highest temperature 36.6 degree Celsius was recorded in Baghabari of Rajshahi over the past 24 hours till 6pm on Saturday while the lowest temperature 21.5 degree Celsius was recorded in Dimla of Nilphamari till 6am on Sunday. A trough of low lies over West Bengal to North Bay across Southwestern part of Bangladesh.