United News of Bangladesh

Supporters of BNP and others on Wednesday morning (12th November 2025) blocked the busy Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for around one and a half hours in Tongi College Gate area demanding restoration of the Gazipur-6 parliamentary seat. Hundreds of vehicles remained stuck on both sides of the busy route, causing suffering of commuters, transport workers and others. BNP men and locals put the barricade around 9:30am, disrupting commuters and public transport. Witnesses said that hundreds of BNP men and others gathered on the highway early morning, carrying banners and placards, and chanted slogans demanding, ‘Gazipur-6 seat must be restored.’ The blockade started around 9:30am and continued till 11am. Rejecting the court order, local BNP leaders said the court’s decision to cancel this seat deprives the people of their voting rights. During the blockade, protesters burned tires on the highway, further intensifying the traffic jam on the route. Road blockades cause severe traffic congestion in Dhaka Meanwhile, supporters of Jamaat and locals formed a human chain in front of Asia Pump on the same demand at the same time. Their banners read, “Restore Gazipur-6 seat, ensure citizens’ fair service.” Speakers warned that abolishing the seat would hamper public services and development in the area and urged authorities to reconsider the decision. Additional forces were deployed in Tongi College Gate, Station Road, and surrounding areas to maintain law and order. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Wahiduzzaman of Tongi Purbo Police Station said that the protestors left the road following a discussion with the authorities concerned, allowing the traffic to run. Read more: Tarique Rahman likely to return home by end of November: Salahuddin

Life in Khagrachhari has begun returning to normal since Tuesday night after a four-day disruption, as a road blockade enforced by a group was suspended until October 5. Though long-distance transport services have not fully resumed, a few vehicles left the district on Wednesday morning. Passenger presence increased at bus counters while limited traffic was seen in the town and surrounding areas. Business establishments, including shops reopened after remaining shut for four days. The indefinite blockade was called by an organisation named ‘Jumma Chhatra-Janata’ in protest of the alleged rape of a schoolgirl. On Tuesday night, the group announced on its Facebook page that the blockade would be suspended out of respect for the Durga Puja and in light of assurances from the administration to meet their eight-point demand. Situation in Khagrachhari now normal: Home Adviser But, Section 144, imposed by the district administration, remains in effect. Despite the suspension, tension persists among locals as additional security measures continue in Khagrachhari and Guimara, with army patrols, BGB and police patrolling. A five-member panel was formed to investigate the recent incidents. Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Shaber said he could not confirm social media claims that medical tests found no evidence of rape, noting that the report would be submitted to court through police. During the blockade on September 27 and 28, at least three people were killed and many injured in clashes. Several shops, homes, and offices in Guimara, including Ramsu Bazar, were set on fire. Officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Abdul Baten Mridha said normalcy is gradually being restored, with vehicles running and no fresh incidents reported.

The indefinite road blockade enforced by Jumma students and local residents entered its fourth day on Tuesday, severely disrupting normal life in the hill district. Although the blockade has been relaxed on the Chattogram-Khagrachhari and Dhaka-Khagrachhari highways, long-distance bus services are yet to resume. Movement on internal roads also remains limited, with only a few auto-rickshaws and easy bikes seen operating. The announcement of the relaxation was made through a Facebook post by the Jumma students and residents on Monday morning. Meanwhile, Section 144 imposed by the local administration remains in effect in Sadar and Guimara upazilas. Khagrachhari BGB Sector Commander Colonel Md Abdul Moktakim on Monday urged all communities to maintain peace and harmony during this sensitive time. Army issues statement on communal violence in Khagrachhari He also assured that the BGB would continue to stand by the local population until the situation stabilises. To prevent further unrest, nine BGB platoons have been deployed, with two additional platoons kept on standby. Earlier on Sunday, three people were shot dead and several others injured in an armed attack by miscreants in Guimara upazila. The Jumma students, under the banner of Jumma Chatra-Janata (Jumma student-masses), called the blockade protesting the rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl on September 23. Since Sunday morning, the movement of all modes of transport has been suspended, leaving daily life in disarray. The demonstrators have also demanded the arrest of all perpetrators involved in rapes against women in the hills. Streets in Khagrachhari town and its outskirts remain deserted, with residents largely confined to their homes except for urgent needs. Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police forces continue to patrol different areas. The term Jumma refers collectively to the indigenous peoples of the three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Police on Monday disclosed the identities of those killed in Sunday’s attack. They were Akhrau Marma, 22, Teiching Marma, 20, Athuiprue Marma, 21, all residents of Guimara.

Tension remains high in Khagrachhari district following Sunday’s violence and protests over the alleged rape of a schoolgirl, which left three people dead and several others injured in Guimara upazila. Meanwhile, the indefinite road blockade organised under the banner of Jumma students and local residents entered its third day on Monday, bringing normal life to a near standstill. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Khagrachhari District Hospital late on Sunday evening, but their identities have yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile the blockade on roads connecting Dhaka and Chhatogram has been relaxed temporarily to facilitate services from 12pm on Monday. Army issues statement on communal violence in Khagrachhari Jumma students and local residents announced the relaxation via a Facebook post on Monday morning. According to the post, the roads will be open from 12pm until further notice to allow critically injured Jumma protesters, who were hurt in clashes with law enforcers in Guimara upazila, to receive treatment and to facilitate the proper burial of deceased Jumma victims. The post also reads that a medical team from Dhaka is scheduled to arrive and authorities at all levels were urged to ensure unobstructed access. Unrest erupted in the hill district after the reported rape of a schoolgirl on the night of September 23. Businesses belonging to both hill and Bengali communities have been attacked and vandalised in various parts of Khagrachhari over the past few days. At least three people were killed and several others injured in an armed attack by miscreants in Guimara upazila on Sunday. In an official statement issued on Sunday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs expressed deep sorrow over the killings and extended sympathy to those injured, including an army major, 13 army personnel, the officer-in-charge of Guimara Police Station, three other policemen and several others. Section 144 has been imposed in Khagrachhari town, Sadar upazila and Guimara upazila. The movement of all modes of transport has been suspended since Sunday morning, disrupting daily life. Protesters are reportedly setting up hidden barricades at various points, although they have not appeared openly. Streets in the town and its outskirts remain deserted, with residents largely confined to their homes except for urgent needs. Trucks and pickups carrying raw materials to markets in Longdu, Bagaichhari and other areas remained stranded, causing widespread disruption to trade and everyday activities. Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police forces remain deployed across different areas. Although one suspect has been arrested in connection with the rape of the schoolgirl, two others are still at large.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday warned that the government will enforce the law to clear roads and railways in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district if the ongoing blockade is not resolved shortly. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the law and order committee at the Secretariat, the adviser said the protesters should present their demands through proper channels instead of holding millions of people hostage. “This cannot be tolerated. If they do not resolve the issue by this afternoon, we will apply the law to at least clear the roads,” he said. The protesters continued the blockade programme for the fifth day on Sunday, demanding reinstatement of the Faridpur-4 parliamentary constituency boundary. The demonstrators blocked seven points on two highways and three points on rail tracks, causing severe disruption to transport and immense suffering for people across 21 districts in the country’s southwest region. Faridpur protesters block highways, railways for 5th day over constituency demarcation At around 9am, protesters stopped the Nakshikatha train at Hamirdi railway crossing on the Rajbari–Faridpur–Dhaka line, forcing passengers to disembark. Expressing frustration over the disruption, passenger Bachchu Matubber from Rasulpur village in Saltha upazila of Faridpur said he was forced to get off while travelling to Dhaka with a sack of onions for his daughter. The demonstrations follow the Election Commission’s recent gazette, which redrew boundaries for 46 parliamentary constituencies ahead of the upcoming national election. According to the gazette, Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga upazila, previously under Faridpur-4, have been attached to Nagar Kanda upazila under Faridpur-2.

Battery-run auto-rickshaw drivers on Tuesday blocked the busy Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur for three hours protesting the killing of one of their fellows allegedly by bus workers on Monday. The protest continued till 11am starting 8 am on the highway in Gargaria Master Bari area under Sreepur upazila of Gazipur, witnesses said. The commuters were the worst suffers due to the blockade as vehicular movement came to a halt on both sides of the highway. Sources said a looking glass of a Taqwa Paribahan bus broke when it hit an auto-rickshaw from behind in the Gargaria Master Bari area on Monday afternoon, leading to an argument between the bus helpers and the auto-rickshaw driver. ‘Worker’s death’ sparks protest in Gazipur; vehicles torched At one stage, the bus helpers took away the driver in their bus and left his body in Natun Bazar area allegedly after killing him. Officer-in-Charge of Sreepur police station Joynal Abedin Mandol said the auto-rickshaw driver died after he was thrown off from the moving bus. A murder case was filed with the police station in this regard, he said, adding that drives were underway to arrest those involved in the killing.

Workers blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway in Konabari area of Gazipur city on Monday, demanding the reopening of two closed factories. Workers of MM Knitwear Limited and Mamun Knitwear Limited staged demonstrations on the highway around 9:25 am, said Superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police-2, Md. Mizanur Rahman. Industrial police have been deployed at the spot, he said. Dismissed employees of S Alam-owned banks stage road blockade in Ctg Police and protesting workers said  the authorities declared the indefinite closure of MM Knitwear and Mamun Knitwear Limited on December 18. On Sunday, workers gathered at the factory gates to demand their reopening and they temporarily ended the protests after the factory authorities agreed to discuss the matter later in the afternoon. During the meeting, the authorities proposed reopening the factories under certain conditions but the workers rejected the offer. On Monday morning, workers resumed their protests in front of the factories and later blocked the highway, leading to severe traffic congestion. The protesting workers demanded unconditional reopening of the factories and withdrawal of cases filed against them. Battery rickshaw blockade suspended until Saturday Earlier, on December 17, workers stopped work demanding the withdrawal of a case filed against them. Later the authorities declared the indefinite closure of the factories on December 18. The case was filed on November 3  when some workers allegedly assaulted a member of the Industrial Police. The Industrial Police later filed the case against five named people and 50-60 unidentified workers.

The drivers of battery-powered rickshaws suspended their blockade for two days till Saturday to realise their demands. Giving a two-day ultimatum, they threatened that they would go for tougher movement if their demands are not met within the timeframe. Md Russell, officer-in-charge of Banani police station, said that the auto-rickshaw drivers left the city streets in Mohakhali area around 4pm allowing traffic to run several hours after clutches. Jynul Abedin, officer-in-charge of Kamala Railway Police Station, said the train movement resumed with Dhaka and parts of the country around 4:10pm after the protesters removed the trail tracks in the Mohakhali area. Earlier, on Thursday morning, the auto-rickshaw drivers blocked roads in different parts of the capital protesting a ban on their movement on city streets. The roads include Mohakhali, Basila Dhaka Uddyan, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-12, Kazipara, Shewrapara and Mirpur Golchattar and Agargaon areas of the capital. Commuters experienced gridlock in different parts of the capital following the blockade programme. Besides, the train communication between Dhaka and other parts of the country got snapped as the protesting drivers blocked the rail tracks in Mohakhali area at the same time, causing immense sufferings to travellers. Read: DNCC drive in Mirpur removes battery-powered rickshaws from main roads Meanwhile, a huge crowd was seen on the metro rail as people gathered in metro rail stations to reach their respective destinations due to the sudden chaos on the streets of the capital. On Tuesday, the High Court ordered halting plying of battery-run rickshaws in Dhaka city within three days. Protesting the HC order, they staged demonstrations in Mohakhali, Mirpur, Shewrapara and Kazipara areas, halting vehicular movement. Nearly, 10 lakh rickshaws are moving in Dhaka city and a large portion of which is battery-powered. Many old pedal-driven rickshaws are being fitted with batteries to make them mechanical.

Workers in Gazipur staged demonstrations on Thursday, blocking the busy Chandra-Nabinagar Highway to press home demands that include compensation for injured colleagues, improved safety measures, and unpaid wages. The blockade caused severe traffic disruptions, leaving commuters stranded and forcing vehicles to take alternative routes. The protest was triggered by an accident on Wednesday near the That’s It knitwear factory of the Hamim Group in Zirani. Three factory workers were injured when a bus ran them over. In response, workers took to the streets early Thursday morning, demanding compensation for the injured, construction of a flyover in the area to prevent future accidents, and resolution of ongoing mismanagement issues in the factory. These demands are part of a broader 11-point charter presented by the workers. Meanwhile, workers from Beximco Industrial Park staged a separate demonstration on the same highway, demanding payment of one month's overdue wages. This marks the sixth consecutive day of protests by these employees. Traffic chaos in Dhaka as battery-run rickshaw drivers block streets The highway blockade caused significant hardship for commuters and local residents. Many vehicles were forced to take the Dhaka-Tangail Highway and the Dhamrai-Kaliakair regional road as alternatives. Despite these routes being available, the disruption created congestion across the area. Industrial police and army personnel arrived at the scenes to mediate and persuade workers to vacate the highways. Efforts to restore normal traffic flow were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.

The latest 24-hour road-rail-waterway blockade, called by BNP, is underway across Bangladesh with reports of arson attacks. Dhaka is witnessing usual traffic this morning despite the blockade. Commuters were seen going to their respective destinations in a rush while activities at government and private offices were going on as usual. 24-hour blockade: 428 RAB patrol teams deployed Many students with guardians are going to their respective schools for their final exams. A bus of Turag Paribahan was set on fire by miscreants at Dholaipar in Shyampur area of Dhaka at 5:30 am. A total of 428 patrol teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order during the ongoing 24-hour rail, road and waterways blockade called by BNP. BNP to enforce blockade Wednesday, hartal Thursday BNP called for a daylong blockade today and a daylong hartal on Thursday to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC). Party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing on Monday. Rizvi said the programmes are also meant to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government, and release BNP leaders and activists, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. 230 BGB platoons deployed on day 2 of blockade