Five people were killed and several others injured in separate  road accidents in Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla district on Saturday. Two brick kiln workers were killed as a bus hit a tractor on Dhaka-Kachua road near Shayestanagar, said Kaushik Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Eliotganj Highway Police..The deceased were identified as Borhan, son of Gias Uddin of Lakshmipur village, and Mohammad Ali, son of Syed Ali of Jamalpur Sadar upazila. Narsingdi clash leaves 2 UP members killed    In another accident, a Dhaka-bound Anirban Paribahan bus collided with a CNG-run auto-rickshaw near Daulatpur bus stand on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in the same upazila, leaving Dolly Akter, a passenger, dead on the spot. Man found dead in Shahbagh area Other injured passengers and drivers were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where two more victims- Jiana Akter and Jahanara Begum- succumbed to their injuries. All the victims of this accident were residents of the nearby Basra village, said Sub-Inspector Md. Helal of Gauripur police investigation center. Police seized the bus involved in the accident, he said.

Police have arrested former railway minister and former Cumilla-11 constituency’s member of parliament Mujibul Haque’s nephew in a case over killing  eight bus passengers in a petrol bomb attack. Chauddagram Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Mohammad Abdullah said the ex-minister’s nephew Tofail Hossain, 50, son of late Ambar Ali of Busyara village, is a member of the executive committee of Chauddagram Thana Awami League. He was arrested from his house in Basuara village of Sreepur Union of the upazila on Wednesday and was sent to Cumilla court on Thursday morning. After the fall of Awami League government in a mass uprising on August 5, bus owner Abul Khair filed the case in the court of Cumilla Senior Judicial Magistrate Judge Abu Bakar Siddique on September 11. The others accused in the case are former railway minister Mujibul Haque, former mayor of Chauddagram Mizanur Rahman, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, former director general of RAB Benazir Ahmed, former superintendent of police of Cumilla Tutul Chakraborty, the then officer-in-charge (OC) of Chauddagram Police Station Uttam Kumar Chakraborty. Earlier in 2015, eight passengers were killed in a petrol bomb attack on a passenger bus in Chauddagram during the hartal-blockade called by the 20-party alliance led by BNP.   Chauddagram Police Station’s then Sub-Inspector (SI) Nuruzzaman Howladar filed a case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Md Taher and 64 others.

Flood situation in Cumilla district deteriorated further with the flooding of fresh areas in the past 24 hours till Saturday, leaving seven lakh people stranded. The water level of Gumti River is flowing 80 cm above its danger mark during this period. The volunteers are seen struggling to distribute relief materials in the flood-hit areas due to lack of boats as roads were submerged. 1235 mobile towers out of order in 10 flood-hit districts: BTRC According to the local administration, a total of 726 shelter centres were opened in the district and some 50,000 people took shelter in those centres. A total of 340 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 15 lakh cash have been allocated for the flood-affected people in the district while a total of 225 medical teams were kept ready to provide medical treatments. Severe flooding devastates Fatikchhari

Grief has engulfed the Sylhet house Abu Saleh Md Yusuf Jhony who was gunned down in New York’s Buffalo city on April 27. Another Bangladeshi named Babul Uddin, hailed from Cumilla, was also shot dead by gunmen at the same time. Yusuf's family was shattered upon receiving the death news. Yusuf, son of Nurul Haque, a former member of Tinchati village under Kanaighat Jhingabari Union, moved to the US 10 months back with his wife and two daughters for permanent residency. He used to work for a painting company there and his family members have been living in Majortila area of Sylhet city. Read more: Tipu-Prity murder: AL leader Ashraf, 32 others indicted His parents got fainted several times after hearing the news of the tragic death of Yusuf, the eldest among three brothers and one sister. According to Bangladeshi expatriates living in Buffalo city of New York, Yusuf and Babul Uddin were working as painters in a house in 100 blocks on Jenner Street in Buffalo. At that time, some miscreants demanded extortion from Babul Uddin. Being rejected, when the terrorists attempt to attack Babul, Yusuf came forward to save him. At that time, the gunmen shot and killed the duo. Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. De George said they responded to a report of shots fired in the 100 Block on Jenner Street, according to reports of local media. The expatriates said that they will take various protest programmes demanding justice for the killing of two Bangladeshis. Read more: Momen slams Bangladeshi expat's killing in US, denounces hate crime

Humayun Sarker, a van driver from Debidwar upazila of Cumilla, has become a millionaire after purchasing a Walton refrigerator under the “Nonstop millionaire” offer, announced by the company as part of its ongoing nationwide ‘Digital Campaign Season-20.’ Earlier, a total of 31 customers became millionaires through the campaign, according to a media release. With the slogan “Best product, best offer”, the country’s electronics giant Walton has launched the campaign’s season-20 with the offer of “Nonstop Millionaire”. In season-20, customers are offered “nonstop millionaire” on the purchase of Walton fridge, television, air conditioner, washing machine or fan from any Walton Plaza, distributor outlet or online sales platform ‘E-plaza’ across the country. In addition, crores worth of cashback are also available. On Saturday, popular film actor Amin Khan handed over a cheque of Tk10 lakh to Humayun Sarker at a program held in front of the Chowdhury Electronics, one of the distributors’ showrooms of Walton, at the New Market area in Cumilla city. HC stays Dr Yunus’s jail term until disposal of appeal in labour law violation case The function was also attended, among others, by Municipal Mayor Saiful Islam Shamim, local politician Mamunur Rashid Mamun, Upazila Awami League President Abul Kashem, Walton’s Executive Director Monirul Haque Mona, Divisional Sales Manager Sohel Rana, Regional Sales Manager Rakibul Hasan, Chowdhury Electronics' Proprietor Saiful Islam Chowdhury. Hailing from Gunaighor village of the upazila, Humayun Sarker bought a fridge worth Tk 45,200 from Chowdhury Electronics on March 9, 2024. His name, mobile number and the model number of the purchased fridge are digitally registered. Later, he received a message from Walton on his mobile with the notification that he was awarded Tk 10 lakh. Thanking Walton authorities, Humayun Sarker said: “I never imagined that I would get Tk 10 lakh just for buying a fridge. This has changed my life. Walton proves that it keeps the promises given to customers.” Calling upon all to purchase and use local products, film actor Amin Khan said, “We should buy local products to strengthen the country’s economy and create employment.” Following the upcoming Eid festivals, Walton has targeted to meet about 80 percent of the total demands of refrigerators in the local market. To achieve the target, Walton released more than 300 models and designs of refrigerators, freezers and beverage coolers in the market. The price of these refrigerators is set between Tk 14,990 taka and Tk 2 lakh. PM calls upon UNDP to raise more funds for Rohingya Using AIOT based smart technology, intelligent inverter, Nano health care and anti-fungal door gasket technology in Walton refrigerators, along with easy installment facility for maximum 36 months, 12-year warranty on compressor with 1-year replacement facility, 5-year free after-sales service, and swift after-sales service from the nationwide ISO certified service centers are resulted in turning into the most loved brand in the local refrigerator market.

Awami League candidate and minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Tajul Islam has won the Cumilla-9 (Laksham-Monohorganj) constituency in the 12th parliamentary election held on Sunday. Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque wins in Tangail-1  He received 2,33,946 votes with his party’s ‘boat’ symbol, while his nearest rival, Md Abu Bakar Siddique of the Islamic Front Bangladesh, bagged 8,260 votes. Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin elected MP for the fourth consecutive time 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. Trinamool BNP's Taimur loses security deposit

A supporter of Awami League-candidate for Cumilla-4 Razee Mohammad Fakhrul was found dead near a polling centre at Kasharikhola in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla district on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Noab Ali, 60, son of Abdi Mia of Kasharikhola village. Read: Election 2024: Crude bomb blast at Jashore polling centre injures 1 Jewel Rana, son of Noab Ali, said Noab was talking to his uncle Selim after casting his vote at Kasharikhola Government Primary School polling stations in the morning. At one stage, a supporter of independent candidate Abul Kalam Azad appeared there and an altercation ensued between them over the polls. Later, the supporter of the independent candidate rolled a scarf around Noab’s neck and pushed him to the ground around 10 am , leaving him injured. Read: Election 2024: AL candidate supporter stabbed dead in Munshiganj He was taken to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. Nayan Mia, officer-in-charge of Debidwar Police Station, said there were no injury marks on the body of Noab and it is not confirmed where he it is election-related killing.

The election inquiry committee has issued a show cause notice to Awami League candidate of Cumilla-3 constituency, Yussuf Abdullah Harun, for breaching the electoral code of conduct. The chairman of the committee and Cumilla Joint District and Sessions Judge Kaniz Tania Rupa issued the show cause notice on Saturday. Read: Faridpur-4: Zafarullah seeks cancellation of Nixon’s candidacy for giving money to voters The notice said, Yousuf Abdullah Harun gave a donation of Tk10 lakh for the development of the Eidgah and graveyard in a meeting held at Rahimpur Eidgah ground in Muradnagar Upazila on December 29. Besides, he sought to be re-elected by announcing a donation of Tk25 lakh step by step which is a clear violation of the rules of electoral law. Read: Two separate cases filed over attack, vandalism in Sirajganj-5 constituency The committee asked him or his representative to appear in person and submit a written response on January 2.

The export and import activities through Bibir Bazar land port of Cumilla will remain suspended for six days for Durga puja and Laxmi puja, the biggest religious festivals of the Hindus. Jamal Ahmed, the president of Bibirbazar Land Port Import-Exporters Association of Cumilla and the C&F Agents Association, said the import and export activities through Cumilla Bibir Bazar port will be suspended for 6 days based on the decision of the traders of the two countries to share the joy of puja. Durga Puja set to begin Friday In view of this, import and export will be suspended on October 21-24 on the occasion of Durga puja and October 27 and 28 on the occasion of Laxmi puja. However, imports and exports will continue on October 25-26, he added. No specific security threat during Durga puja: DMP chief However, during this period, the passenger crossings through immigration in both countries will proceed as usual. Import and export activities will resume from Sunday morning on October 29, he added. It is to be noted that more than 50 products including stones, plastic items and cement are exported to the Indian state of Tripura through this land port. Durga puja: 2175 puja mandaps to be set up in Chattogram

A Cumilla court on Monday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing a man in 2015. The condemned convict is identified as Azad Mia, 35, son of Bahadur Mia of Homna upazila. AL infighting leaves 1 dead , 10 injured in Cumilla Judge of the Cumilla Additional District and Session Judge Court-3,  Rozina Khan handed down the punishment. The court also acquitted two others—Salauddin, 28 and Nasir Uddin, 22---two siblings of the convict, as allegations brought against them could not be proved. Three crushed under bus wheels in Cumilla According to the prosecution, the convict beat Joj Mia up mercilessly, while he was sitting at the bus stand, over previous enmity on May 22, 2015. At one stage, he stabbed Joj Mia with a sharp weapon, leaving him dead. 16 Chhatra League men suspended for grieving Sayeedi's death on Facebook in Cumilla Anwar Ali, brother of Joj Mia, filed a case against three people with Homna Police Station. Police submitted chargesheet against them.