United News of Bangladesh

About 20,000 residents of Sonagazi upazila of Feni and Companiganj upazila of Noakhali district are in distress as no concrete bridge has been constructed over the Chhoto Feni River at Kazirhat since it collapsed 22 years back. The bridge, collapsed in 2002 due to high tide, was the only mean of crossing it for the people of two upazilas of Feni and Noakhali districts. Despite promises from public representatives and political leaders, the bridge has not been built even after 22 years. Sources said a Regulator-cum-bridge with 20 gates was built over the Chhoto Feni River in 1961-62 at Kazirhat in Sonagazi upazila during Pakistan era to protect the coastal areas of the district from tidal surge. Read more: Focus on rural dev along with infrastructure: PM Hasina tells ECNEC The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) got the task of management and repair work of the regulator. WAPDA conducted maintenance work till 1970 and later it was renamed as Water Development Board.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has won the Noakhali-5 constituency in the 12th parliamentary election held on Sunday. He received 171,577 votes with his party’s ‘boat’ symbol, while his nearest rival, Barrister Khaja Tanveer Ahmed of the Jatiya Party, bagged 9,703 votes. Dipu Moni secures Chandpur-3 seat The polling that began at 8:00 am concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies. The counting of votes started immediately after the end of voting. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College in the capital this morning. Brahmanbaria-4: Anisul Huq secures 3rd consecutive victory Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam on Sunday said 27.15 % votes were cast till 3 pm on Sunday. Calling the January-7 election a victory of democracy and people of the country, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Sunday evening that voters had boycotted the BNP for rejecting the election. Nat'l Election: Hasan Mahmud wins for 4th time He made the claim while talking to reporters at the office of Dhaka district unit of Awami League in Dhaka’s Tejgaon.

Alauddin, an automechanic from Chowmuhani town under Begumganj upazila of Noakhali district, has received Tk1 lakh worth cash voucher after he had purchased a Marcel brand refirgerator. He was awarded the cash voucher as per the customer benefits declared in the ongoing nationwide Marcel Digitial Campaign Season-19, according to a press release. Prior to him, Rafikul Islam from Trishal of Mymensingh also got Tk1 lakh worth cash voucher under the campaign’s season-19. CEMS-Global USA’s series of exhibitions kicks off Thursday Marcel’s Brand Ambassador Popular Film Actor Amin Khan on Wednesday officially handed over Tk1 cash vourcher to Alauddin at a function held at the Marcel distributor showroom ‘Borna Electronics’ in the town. Among others, by Marcel Distributor Network (South) In-charge Nurul Islam Rubel and Borna Electronics’ Proprietor Millat Hossain, were also attended the programme. In the Season-19, customers are offered free cash voucher up to Tk1 lash or sure cashback on the purchase of any model of Marcel fridge from any showroom across the country. Customers will get the benefit until December 31 this year. Strengthened Bangladesh-US collaboration holds promising trade opportunities: BGMEA President The cash voucher awardee ‘Alauddin’ bought a Marcel brand refrigerator worth of Tk48,490 at installment with the downpayment of Tk12,000 on November 21. Then his name, mobile number and the model number of his purchased refrigeraor were registaerd digitally. After completing the digital registration, he received an SMS from Marcel with the notification that he was awarded Tk1 lakh worth cash voucher. With that cash voucher, he purchased various marcel products, including fridge, LED TV, gas stove, fry pen, blender and some other essential electronics items. Expressing gratitude to the authorities of Marcel, he said, this is the first time he got some benefits from a company. Zaved Akhtar new president of FICCI Urging to buy domestic products, film actor Amin Khan said, customers who love Bangladesh buy homemade products and contibute to strenthening nation economy. Marcel provides different benefits to customers throughout the year. This program is a proof that Marcel fulfills its promises given to customers.

A mother and her daughter were killed in a head-on collision between a CNG autorickshaw and a truck in Noakhali's Subarnachar upazila on Friday noon. Two people including the CNG driver sustained injuries in the accident. Save the Children extends operation area to Noakhali’s Subarnachar, Begumganj The accident occurred at Daroga intersection adjacent to Atkapalia Bazar of Char Jubilee Union on Sonapur-Chairman Road. The deceased were identified as Shilpi Akhter, 30, and her 2-year-old daughter Sharmin, wife and daughter respectively of Shukkur of Purba Charjabbar village in Charwapada union of the upazila. Greater Noakhali people stage demo in city protesting Annie’s arrest Injured Md Faruk, 30, son of late Ayub Ali of Charjabbar village in the upazila and Md Abdullah, 30, son of Md Mostafa of the same village, are now receiving treatment at Subarnachar Upazila Health Complex. The accident occurred when a Sonpur-bound CNG-run auto rickshaw collided head-on with a truck coming from opposite direction in the area around 11:45am this morning , leaving Sharmin dead on the spot and three passengers of the CNG injured, said Aminul Islam, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Char Jabbar Police Station. PM mourns death of Noakhali AL leader Mahmudur Rahman The injured were taken to Subarnachar Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared the mother dead. Police seized the truck and CNG from the spot, he added. Legal action will be taken upon receiving a written complaint, SI  Aminul said.

Thirteen arson attacks have been reported across Bangladesh from 6 am on Wednesday (November 08, 2023) till 9 am today (November 09, 2023) during the ongoing 48-hour blockade. Read: 21 arson incidents reported in 38 hrs till Monday evening: Fire Service Of these, five arson attacks were reported in Dhaka City Corporation areas, three in Gazipur, one in Khagrachhari, one in Bogura, two in Barishal and Barguna, and one in Noakhali, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense's media cell. A total of seven buses, four covered vans, and two trucks were burned during this period. Read: 7 incidents of arson occur Tuesday: Fire Service

Serajul Alam Khan, one of the main organisers of the Liberation War, was buried at his family graveyard after a second namaz-e-janaza in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali on Saturday (June 10, 2023). The freedom fighter and politician was laid to rest next to his mother’s grave in Alipur village under the upazila in the afternoon after a janaza at Begumganj Government Pilot School field. Earlier, he was given a guard of honour by a team of Begumganj police. His body was wrapped in his mother’s saree as per his wishes. His first namaz-e-janaza was held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Also read: Serajul Alam Khan dies: Enigmatic personality, influential politician Local lawmaker Mamunur Rashid Kiron; BNP leaders Md Shahjahan, Shimu Biswas, Abdus Salam; JSD President ASM Abdur Rob; political, social and cultural organizations expressed deep sorrow and shock at the demise of Serajul Alam. On Friday afternoon, Serajul Alam, widely known as “Dada bhai” breathed his last at the age of 82 while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Serajul was put on life support in the ICU of DMCH on Thursday after his health condition deteriorated. Also read: Serajul Alam Khan, key Liberation War organiser, no more On Friday afternoon, Serajul Alam, better known as ‘Dada bhai’ breathed his last at the age of 82 while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Serajul was put on life support in the ICU of DMCH on Thursday (June 8, 2023) after his health condition deteriorated. The freedom fighter was born at his ancestral village in Noakhali on January 6, 1941. Also read: Foreign Minister condoles Serajul Alam Khan's death

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday visited the Gandhi Ashram in Noakhali and paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th death anniversary. The Ashram commemorates Bapu’s “Peace Mission” to Noakhali in 1946 and his message of non-violence and communal harmony. The High Commissioner also participated in a discussion titled “The Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World” organized by the Gandhi Ashram Trust. Members of the trust, local political leaders, representatives of local administration as well as civil society and academia joined the interaction. High Commissioner Verma underlined the guiding light of Gandhiji’s philosophy of truth, humanism and non-violence in showing them the path to deal with today’s global menace of extremism and terrorism. He also emphasised Gandhi’s belief in harmony with nature, his determination for the empowerment of the poorest and his message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” that inspires the motto of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” adopted by India for its G20 Presidency.  

A United Arab Emirates returnee was detained with two kilograms (KG) of gold at Hazrat Shah Amanat International Airport in the port city of Chattogram on Tuesday. Expatriate Md Ziaul Hoque is from Companyganj upazila in Noakhali. Bashir Ahmed, director general at Chattogram Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, confirmed the gold recovery  and detention saying that a flight of Dubai Airlines FZ-563 landed at the airport in the morning.   Noticing suspicious movement of the expatriate, members of customs intelligence challenged him and searched his bags, he said. Read more: Man held with 2kg gold from Ctg airport The gold weighing around 2kg was recovered from his bag,  the customs officer said, adding that legal actions were taken against him in this connection.

A Noakhali court on Tuesday sentenced seven people, including the son of the victim, to death for killing a woman in 2020. The condemned convicts are—Abdul Barek, Humayun Kabir, 32, son of Nurjahan Begum, Niron, 26, son of Milon Majhi, Nur Islam, 32, son of Nur Alam, Kalam alias Mamun, 28, son of Dulal Majhi, Ismail, 35, son of Mominullah, Sumon, 28, son of Milad Hossain and Hamid, 35, son of Marfat Ullah of Jahajmara village in Subarnachar upazila. Noakhali District and Sessions Judge Nilufar Sultana handed down the verdict. According to the prosecution, Nurjahan Begum,58 , went missing from his home at Jahajmara village in Subarnachar upazila on October 6, 2020. Later, police recovered her body, cut into five pieces, from a water body. Humayun Kabir, son of Nurjahan, lodged a complaint with Char Jabbar Police Station on that day. Later, police arrested Humayun and after interrogation, police came to know that Humayun along with his six associates killed Nurjahan over land dispute. Also read: 5 get death sentence for raping teenage girl in Khulna The convicts including Humayun strangled Nurjahan to death by a pillow when she was asleep and severed the body into five pieces. Later, they dumped the body into a water body. Police also seized a sharp weapons, pillow and clothes used in the murder.  

A Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader was killed after a speeding covered van crashed into his motorbike in Noakhali's Chatkhil upazila Wednesday, police said. "The deceased Shihab Uddin Soron, 26, was from Ramnarayan union. He was a second-year student at Noakhali Government College and the assistant school affairs secretary of the district JCD," Asgar Uddin Dukhu, president of the district JCD unit, said. "The accident occurred in the afternoon as the JCD leader was going to Sahapur from Sompara. At this time, the covered van of Incepta Pharmaceuticals hit his bike in the Bangla Bazar area on Kochua-Bottali road," Md Harunur Rashid Bahar, chairman of Ramnarayan union parishad, said. Shihab died from the impact of the crash, he added. Although locals could seize the covered van, its driver managed to flee the scene, Md Abu Jafar, inspector of Chatkhil police station, said. Read more: Injured AL leader dies in Sylhet