United News of Bangladesh

Afghanistan’s ground forces attacked Pakistani military positions at 16 locations along the southwestern border early Tuesday and opened fire at several points in the northwest, The clashes killed 67 Afghan and one Pakistani soldier, entering their fifth day. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country “successfully repelled these multiple attacks” along the Afghan border. In a post on X, he said Afghan troops launched ground assaults in 16 locations across the southwestern districts of Qilla Saifullah, Nushki and Chaman in Balochistan province. In retaliatory action, Pakistani forces killed 27 Afghan security members, he added. Pakistan srikes Afghan targets, claims 300+ killed in border clashes Tarar also said Afghan forces attacked 25 locations in the border areas of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani troops killed 40 Afghan personnel. There was no immediate response from Kabul regarding the casualty figures released by Pakistan. Both sides have repeatedly claimed to have inflicted heavy losses since Thursday, when Afghanistan carried out attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has continued border operations. On Monday, Tarar said 435 Afghan security members had been killed and 31 positions captured in the fighting. In recent days, Kabul has also claimed that its forces inflicted significant damage on Pakistan’s military. Why are Afghanistan and Pakistan fighting? The latest escalation came a day after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari defended the strikes in Afghanistan, saying Islamabad had exhausted all diplomatic options before targeting militants operating from Afghan soil. He urged Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has described its campaign as an “open war” with Afghanistan, raising international concern. The border region remains a base for militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Islamabad has linked a recent surge in violence to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it says operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens to the TTP, an allegation Kabul denies. The renewed clashes have ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October. Talks held in Istanbul failed to reach a permanent agreement, and Pakistani authorities have said operations will continue until Kabul takes practical and verifiable steps to curb the TTP and other militant groups involved in violence in Pakistan.

A 14-year-old boy was killed and his father was injured when a truck knocked them down on Feni-Noakhali regional highway in Dagonbhuiya upazila of Feni district early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Nur Mohammad, son of Nur Alam of Lakshmipur district. The accident occurred around 5 am when a truck ran over them while they were going to a local mosque for offering fajr prayer, leaving Nur Mohammad dead on the spot and his father injured, said Asadul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mohipal Highway Police Station. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital. On information, police recovered the body and seized the truck.

Pakistan’s military, supported by artillery and air power, launched strikes deep inside Afghanistan overnight and into early Saturday, killing more than 300 Afghan forces in days of fierce border clashes, officials said. The fighting began Thursday night after Afghanistan struck Pakistani positions in retaliation for attacks Islamabad said hit seven training camps and hideouts of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate group allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said over 331 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 500 wounded. He added that Pakistan destroyed 102 Afghan posts, captured 22, and destroyed 163 tanks and armoured vehicles at 37 sites. State media reported that Pakistan Air Force targeted key military installations across eastern Afghanistan on Saturday. Authorities said hundreds of residents near the northwestern Torkham border have fled to safer areas, while dozens of Afghan refugees waiting at the border were transported to secure locations inside Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry confirmed its forces struck Pakistani military bases in Miranshah and Spin Wam overnight, destroying installations and causing heavy casualties in response to Pakistan’s airstrikes. The Afghan Department of Information and Culture accused Pakistan of hitting civilian areas, destroying homes, and killing at least 11 people. Mullah Taj Mohammad Naqshbandi, an Afghan border official said,  “brave forces of the Islamic Emirate destroyed the Pakistani military regime’s commissariat, military units, and three key security towers.” The Afghan government claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in its counterattacks, with Afghan losses far lower than Pakistan’s claims. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attacks were “a message that our hands can reach their throats” and criticised Pakistan for avoiding dialogue. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif declared on X that “our patience has run out” and warned of open war. Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Afghanistan had to “choose TTP or Pakistan.” Civilians are struggling amid the conflict, with Afghan refugees at Torkham unable to return home and locals near the border urging a ceasefire. Tensions, which escalated last October, had briefly eased under a Qatari-mediated truce, but peace talks in Turkey failed to produce a lasting deal. Regional powers including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and China are again seeking to mediate. Qatar’s state minister, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, spoke with the foreign ministers of both countries on Friday to try to reduce tensions.  

A BNP activist was beaten to death allegedly over enmity between two factions of the party  at Sipaipara in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi district on Friday. The deceased was identified as Ershad Ali, 65, a member of Yusufpur union unit BNP. Sirajul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Charghat Police Station, said an altercation ensured between the supporters of two BNP leaders—one led by Anwar Hossain Ujjal and another led by Abu Syed Chand MP over making local MP Abu Sayeed chief guest at a programme organised by the local unit BNP. However, the meeting ended without any settlement over the issue. Later, the supporters of Anwar Hossain including Saidur Rahman, Gazi, Sumon ali, Sabbir, Ashadul and others intercepted Ershad when he was returning home after Esha prayer and beat him up mercilessly with sticks, leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital morgue.

Thakurgaon, Feb 22 (UNB) — Two people, including a woman, were killed in separate road accidents in Thakurgaon, police said on Sunday. In the first incident, a wheat-laden truck (Dhaka Metro-T 20-6550) heading towards Thakurgaon hit a pedestrian in Singiya village under Jagannathpur union in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila on Sunday morning. The victim, Rahima, 65, wife of Md Ruhul Amin of the same village, fell under the rear wheels of the truck and died on the spot, police said, quoting locals. Attack on Bauls near Thakurgaon court leaves 3 injured On information, police recovered the body. The truck, however, fled the scene after the accident. In a separate incident on Saturday afternoon, Monoranjan Barman of Matigara Sonahar village under Auliapur union in Sadar upazila was seriously injured when a motorcycle collided with his bicycle in the Piala Bazar area. He was taken to Thakurgaon 250-bed General Hospital, where he died at around 2am on Sunday. His body has been kept at the hospital morgue. Thakurgaon man commits suicide during video call with expatriate wife Mohammad Monir Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station said legal action is under way in connection with the two accidents.

A madrasha student was stabbed to death by some unidentified people in the capital’s Jatrabari area on Sunday night. The deceased was Mahim Mia, 15, a resident of Kajla area in Jatrabari and son of Din Islam from Kishoreganj Sadar. He studied in the hifz section of a local madrasha, according to his family. His brother-in-law Md Rafi said several youths stabbed Mahim indiscriminately at Kajla school lane area around 10 pm. Sixth grader found dead in Jatrabari Family members rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 11:30 pm. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp of DMCH, said the body has been kept in the hospital morgue for postmortem and Jatrabari police have been informed of the incident.

A nine-year-old boy was beaten to death over allegations of stealing betel nuts in Haluaghat in Mymensingh on Friday afternoon. The victim, Imon Mia, was the son of Dulal Mia of Bausha village in Swadeshi Union. According to police and local sources, Imon had allegedly stolen betel nuts from his neighbor Atahar Ali’s tree about a month ago. After keeping silent for nearly a month, Atahar Ali on Friday called Imon to his house, locked the door, and beat him severely. Imon’s family rescued him and took him to Haluaghat Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Police recovered the body and are preparing for post-mortem examination. Four election officials withdrawn in Mymensingh, Naogaon over irregularities Md Ferdous Alam, officer-in-charge of Haluaghat Police Station, said preliminary investigation shows the killing was linked to the betel nut theft. “The matter is being investigated seriously,” he added.

A man was hacked to death by miscreants in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur late last night. The victim was identified as Helal Uddin, 55, from Kotbazar village of Chandpur Union. The incident took place in the Kotbazar area of Chandpur. Additional Superintendent of Kapasia Circle police Md. Asaduzzaman confirmed this incident. Police and local sources said Helal was returning home on his motorcycle from a market when miscreants, who were lying in wait in a nearby litchi orchard, blocked his way, and attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. Read More: 3 sentenced to death in Feni schoolboy killing case He was rushed to Dhaka for treatment but died on the way. Police, after visiting the spot, said the killing might have occurred due to a previous enmity. A blood-stained shovel was recovered from the scene as evidence. Police also said the body was recovered and sent to the morgue of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

A leader of Swechchhasebak Dal has been killed in a clash allegedly between two BNP faction at Trishkania in Kanchan municipality area in Rupganj upazila. The deceased was identified as Azhar Uddin, 48,  senior vice-president of the Swechchhasebak Dal’s Ward No. 9 unit. Three others— Sabuj, Ripon and Emrat — were injured in the clash and are receiving treatment at a local hospital. Local sources said an internal discussion meeting of BNP and its associate bodies was held at the Ward No. 9 office on Friday evening. During the meeting, an argument broke out between Ward Swechchhasebak Dal president Sabuj and Jubo Dal activist Rajib Hossain over the placement of names in a programme list. Read More:  Worker killed in furnace explosion at steel factory in Narayanganj At one stage, Rajib and his associates allegedly attacked Sabuj and Azhar with punches. Azhar fell to the ground after being critically injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition where doctors declared him dead. Rupganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shabzel Hossain said Azhar was killed during a scuffle stemming from a dispute over name placement in a party programme. The body has been sent to the morgue, he said.

A woman and ‘her’ two young children were killed on Monday after being hit by a passenger train in Gazipur district. The accident occurred around 10:30 am at Pubail Bazar-level crossing in Pubail area when an Akhaura-bound Titas commuter train hit the woman and the children, killing them on the spot, witnesses and railway officials said. The woman was identified as Hafeza Khatun Mala, daughter of Mozammel Haque of Kaliganj upazila in Gazipur district. The identities of the two minors, believed to be her children and aged about five to six, could not be immediately confirmed. Md Musa, stationmaster at Pubail Railway Station, said initial indications suggested the woman jumped in front of the train along with her children. Authorities, however, said the circumstances surrounding the deaths were still under investigation. Muggers loot Tk 24 lakh firing shots, exploding crude bombs in Gazipur Local residents later recovered a voter identification card from a bag believed to belong to the woman, police said. No further details were immediately available, and officials said the motive behind the incident remained unclear.