United News of Bangladesh

Nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 2017 has affected everyone on Earth and is linked to at least four million premature deaths from cancer and other diseases, according to a new report by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA). The report said more than 2,400 nuclear devices were detonated in tests worldwide over the period, and the health and environmental impacts are still being felt in many communities today. Of the nine nuclear-armed states, only North Korea has conducted nuclear tests since the 1990s, the report noted. The 304-page report said a long-running culture of secrecy, limited international engagement and lack of data have left many affected people seeking answers and support. NPA chief Raymond Johansen said past nuclear testing “continues to kill today” and urged stronger resolve to prevent future testing or use of nuclear weapons. The issue has drawn renewed attention after US President Donald Trump suggested last November that Washington could resume nuclear testing, while accusing Russia and China of already doing so, a claim they rejected, according to the report. The report said people living near test sites have faced higher illness rates, congenital anomalies and long-term trauma. It also said radioactive fallout from atmospheric testing spread widely, leaving radioactive isotopes in people’s bodies across generations. It alleged that some governments continue to withhold key information, including studies and locations of radioactive waste, and said compensation schemes have often fallen short of victims’ needs.   With inputs from NDTV

Two men were killed in a head-on collision between motorcycle and truck in Rajshahi. The accident occurred around 3:30 pm on Saturday on the Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj road in the Muraripur area under Damkura Police Station. Construction worker dies after falling from building in Dhaka’s Airport area The deceased were identified as Shamim Osman (28), son of Manik Ali, and Saddam Ali (30), son of Sentu Ali—both from Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj. According to police and eyewitnesses, the motorcycle collided with a Rajshahi-bound truck coming from the opposite direction, killing both riders on the spot. Upon receiving the news, police arrived at the scene, recovered the bodies, and seized the truck, which was carrying stones. Construction worker dies after falling from Kamalapur metro rail station Robiul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Damkura Police Station, said, “The bodies have been recovered. The truck driver fled the scene, but the truck has been seized. Legal proceedings are underway.

Two people, including a woman, died and two others injured after a stone-laden dump truck collided with a CNG-run autorickshaw in Kushtia’s Mirpur upazila. The accident happened at a place called Ranakharia Ghoramara on the Kushtia-Ishurdi highway around 8:30 am on Friday, said Kushtia Chowrhash Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Syed Al Mamun. 5 die as truck hits auto-rickshaw in Jamalpur One of the deceased were identified as Tania Akhter (30), a passenger in the autorickshaw. The identity of the autorickshaw driver is still unknown. The injured passengers, who were also travelling in the autorickshaw, were rushed to the Kushtia General Hospital for treatment. According to police and eyewitnesses, the autorickshaw was heading from Kushtia towards Bheramara upazila when the collision occurred. The dump truck, coming from the opposite direction, lost control after its tire burst, crashing into the autorickshaw. The impact caused the vehicle to crumple, resulting in the immediate deaths of the driver and one passenger. Two other passengers were critically injured and taken to the hospital by locals who witnessed the accident. 140 people die in fire incidents in 2024: FSCD The bodies have been recovered and sent to the hospital morgue. The driver and helper of the truck fled, leaving the truck behind. The dump truck is in police custody, the OC added.

Two motorcyclists have died after their bike collided with a train in Gazipur. The incident accident happened around 9:45 pm on Thursday at the railway crossing near the Ambagh Khulapara area of Gazipur city, on the Dhaka-Rajshahi rail line, said Sub-inspector Nadir Uzuzzaman of Joydebpur Railway Junction Police Outpost. 2 die in separate Natore road accidents The deceased, identified as Hafizur Rahman Ripon (45) and Mahmudul Hasan Chanchal (38), were from the Harinachala Housing area of Konabari Police Station. Hafizur was a jute trader, while Mahmudul worked at a hospital. According to locals, the two were riding from Konabari to Sakashwar in the Kaliakair upazila when their motorcycle was struck by a train travelling towards Dhaka at the crossing. Both men died at the scene. Lineman dies falling from ladder in Shahbagh A police team recovered the bodies. Following the family's request, the bodies were handed over to the relatives without undergoing an autopsy, said the SI.

Two people died, at least 10 others injured in separate road accidents in Natore’s Gurudaspur upazila on Friday. The first accident occurred at around 6:30 am on the Bonpara-Hatikumrul toll road in the Noyabazar area when two trucks collided head-on, resulting in the death of Shahin Alam (27), a fruit trader from Ullapara, Sirajganj, who was in one of the trucks. Three other individuals were injured in the crash, said Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bonpara Highway Police Station. Lineman dies falling from ladder in Shahbagh While emergency teams were responding, a passenger bus arriving at the accident site lost control and overturned. At least seven passengers were injured in the incident. Fire service personnel rescued the victims, transporting them to the local government hospital and clinic for treatment, he said. In another accident, a person died in the nearby Kachikata area after being hit by an unidentified vehicle. The identity of the deceased is yet to be known, the OC said. Two college students die in Sylhet road accident

Three people were killed when a bus rammed into a motorbike in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram district on Friday, police said. The deceased were identified as Rubel Barua, 40, a local activist of BNP and son of Shyabhoranjan Barua, Nippu Barua, 43, son of Meghal Barua and Sani Barua, 37, son of Suresh Barua of Mayani Barua Para in Mirsarai upazila. 3 motorbike riders killed in Gopalganj road crash Quoting local people, Atik Majum, officer-in-charge of Mirsarai Police Station, said the accident occurred at around 4 am on Sufia road when the speeding bus hit the motorbike carrying three people. The victims were returning home after having breakfast at a hotel. The three died on the spot. Child killed, 100 houses gutted in a Rohingya camp fire Police later recovered the bodies.

Eight more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 223 this year. During the period, 1, 108 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of them, 164 dengue patients were admitted in hospital under Dhaka North City Corporation while 174 were hospitalized in Dhaka South City Corporation.  Read: Dengue: One more death reported in 24hrs Some 3,680 patients are receiving treatment in different hospitals across the country. A total of 44, 764 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year.

Three more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 196 this year. During the period, 1,033 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Dengue: Sharp spike in September sees this year's deaths double in a month Of them, 263 dengue patients were admitted in hospital under Dhaka North City Corporation while 164 were hospitalized in Dhaka South City Corporation. Some 3,475 patients are receiving treatment in different hospitals across the country. Sharp rise in dengue cases puts strains on country’s fragile healthcare system A total of 39,822 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record, with 321,179 cases recorded.  

Around 1,484 people were killed and 2,485 others injured in 1,302 road crashes across Bangladesh in last three till March 31 in 2023. It means, 16 (16.48) people died on average per day during the period. During the period the number of accidents involving motorcycles was the highest. Some 579 people died in 527 motorcycle accidents which are  40.47 and 39.01 percent of total fatalities and accidents respectively, according to a report of Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF) released on Sunday (April 09, 2023). Read: 2 teens on motorcycle killed in Cumilla road accident According to the organization, the report has been prepared based on the information published in 12 Bengali national dailies, five English national dailies, nine online news portals and news agencies and six regional dailies. In the report, the SCRF has recommended maintaining the ban on motorcycle movement on the Padma Bridge and banning his vehicle on all highways during Eid travel to avoid accidents. The report said that maximum 479 accidents occurred in March where 584 people lost lives and 1,102 injured. Lowest 392 accidents resulted in 411 fatalities and 1,102 injuries respectively in February. Besides, 489 people died in 431 road accidents in January. Read: Student killed in bike accident in Dhaka In these three months, maximum 421 accidents occurred on highways which is 32.33 percent of total accidents. Besides, 327 accident occurred on regional roads which is 25.11 percent. SCRF identified 16 causes of road crashes in the report. Unfit vehicles, unskilled and physically unfit drivers, reckless driving, overtaking,  drivers and helpers’ mental exhaustion, non-fixed weekly holiday and working hours. dilapidated roads at different places significant number of risky turning points on national highways and inter-district roads, movement of slow speed three wheelers on highways, lack of capacity of BRTA and the irregularities and corruption of officials and employees concerned and poor traffic management are among those reasons. Read more: Two ninth-graders killed on Sylhet-Tamabil highway as motorcycles collide

Three people were dead and six were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a pickup van at Aziznagar in Cox's Bazar's Chakaria this morning. The incident happened around 8:30 am at the Aziznagar-12 bridge area on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway, said Khokon Rudra, sub-inspector of Chiringa Highway Police Outpost. Two people were dead on the spot. The condition of the rest of the passengers is critical. The injured have been sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The bus and the pickup van are in police custody. The deceased were identified as Md Hamid, 32; Jahangir Alam; and Naju Miah, 28, of Karmuhuri Para of the same union. The death toll is likely to rise. The deceased were passengers of the pickup van. Witness Mohammad Osman Gani said the accident happened when the pickup van was trying to overtake a motorcycle.