United News of Bangladesh

The water level of the Jamuna River in Sirajganj continues to rise due to heavy rainfall and flash floods coming down from the hills. According to Nazmul Hossain, Sub-Divisional Engineer (Headquarter) of the local Water Development Board, the water level at Sirajganj and Kazipur points has increased by 30 centimetres over the past 24 hours, raising concerns of flooding among the riverside residents. He said the water level of the Jamuna has been rising for the third consecutive time in Sirajganj as heavy rains have continued intermittently for several weeks along with flash floods. As a result, low-lying areas of Kazipur, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Chauhali, and Sirajganj Sadar upazilas along the Jamuna riverbank have been inundated, submerging various crops including til (sesame) and kaun (millet). Water level of Jamuna rises again in Sirajganj, triggering flood concerns Some low-lying areas of Shahjadpur, Chauhali, and Kazipur have already been flooded. At the same time, riverbank erosion has been reported in several places across the five upazilas. The local Water Development Board is closely monitoring the erosion-affected areas and taking necessary measures, he added. Nazmul Hossain further said that the water level of the Jamuna may rise for a few more days, but there is no expectation of major flooding.

Three young men had been killed after a motorcycle was hit by a truck in the Bhadraghat Bazar area on the Sirajganj-Nalka regional highway in Kamarkhand upazila, police said on Thursday. The deadly clash occurred on Wednesday night. The deceased were identified as Mohammad Zahidul Islam, 21, son of Joynal Sheikh; Md Abdul Gaffar, 20, son of Abdul Hai – both from Sengati village in Raiganj upazila – and Shoeb Ali, 21, son of Abdul Wadud from Teghori village in Tarash upazila. Kamarkhand Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Abdul Latif said the three youths were heading towards Sirajganj town from the Nalka area on a motorcycle around 8pm when a truck loaded with poultry coming from the opposite direction hit them and fled the scene. Motorbike-truck collision leaves two youths dead in Pabna All three died on the spot, the OC said. He added that by the time police arrived, family members of the victims had already taken the bodies. “Efforts are underway to trace and seize the truck,” said the OC.

Police recovered the body of a 40-year-old man from the Hatikumrul Golchattor area in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Arafat Hossain, a hotel worker and resident of Faridpur district. Locals spotted the body behind the Highway Rest House of the Roads and Highways Department and alerted police, said Mokhlesur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Salanga Police Station. “Police recovered the body with severe injuries to the head and face, which appeared to have been crushed with bricks or stones,” the OC said, adding that it was sent to Shaheed M Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Two die from electrocution in Chandpur Police suspect Arafat was beaten to death by unidentified miscreants, though the motive remains unclear. “The exact cause of death will be confirmed after receiving the autopsy report,” the OC added. Arafat’s wife, Shapla Khatun, has filed a murder case with Salanga Police Station in connection with this, he said.

A schoolboy was beaten to death allegedly by a man and his son at Old Ferry Ghat Balu Point of Hossainpur in Sirajganj town on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Md Ashiq Hossain, 15, a 10th-grade student and son of Dulal Hossain of the Hossainpur. Sirajganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Humayun Kabir said Ashiq went to bathe at a water pump owned by Al-Amin around 4pm on Friday. Al-Amin and his son Rifat, 15, of Hossainpur Bou Bazar area, reportedly forbade him from doing so, triggering an altercation. At one point, Ashiq was struck in the neck with a bamboo stick that him dead on the spot. Couple drowns as boat sinks in Pabna Following the incident, Al Amin and his son fled the area. Upon receiving information, police recovered Ashiq’s body from the scene in the evening and sent it to Shaheed M Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. The body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem on Saturday morning. The process of filing a case over the incident is underway, the OC added.

A man was killed and nine others were injured in a clash between two groups of locals over collection of donations for an under-construction mosque in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj, said police on Sunday. The deceased was Azhar Ali, 46, son of Abdus Sattar of Chhoto Saguna village under the upazila. Police, however, detained three accused—Amir Hamza, Mosharraf Hossain, and Shahin Anowar Master in this connection. Locals said followers of Alauddin and Karimul groups locked into an argument over the matter on Friday afternoon. A clash broke out between the groups centring Friday’s matter before the Iftar on Saturday, leaving 10 people injured, they said. Brick kiln demolished, another fined in Sirajganj Considering condition, Azhar was rushed to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment early Sunday, said Belkuchi police station’s Officer-in-Charge Zakaria Hossain. The rest injured received treatment from several hospitals, he said. Additional police personnel were deployed in the area to ward off any unexpected incident further, he said, adding that a murder case was filed in this connection.

A woman was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband  at Brajbala Murutia village in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj on Wednesday night.  The victim was identified as Ruma Khatun, 23, daughter of Motahar Pramanik of Sontala village in Ullapara upazila.  Shahjadpur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Aslam Ali said her husband  Ashraful Islam Sohag was arrested from a neighbouring house on Thursday.  Youth stabbed dead in Khulna Police said Ashraful stabbed Ruma in her stomach and chest at one stage of altercation, leaving her dead on the spot. Ashraful went into hiding after the murder.  Upon receiving information, police recovered Ruma’s body on Thursday morning and sent it to Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.  A murder case was filed in this connection, the OC added.

Former Awami League MP  from Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur) constituency Chayan Islam has been arrested from a residence of his relative in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur, said police on Monday morning. Chayan’s wife and an associate were also detained from the house and taken to the police station.  Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreepur police station Joynal Abedin Mondol said being tipped-off they came to know that the former MP was hiding in the house in Tepir Bagan village. Graft case: Ex-AL MP gets 4 years jail in Jashore Police arrested him from the house with the help of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and BNP activists around 12:30am on Sunday, he said.   The former lawmaker had been hiding in the house for around the past two months, the OC said, adding that they took his wife and an associate under their custody.

Two houses belonging to the late MP and Awami League leader Hasibur Rahman Swapan from Sirajganj-6 (Shahzadpur) constituency were vandalised and set on fire in the Sayedabad area of Sirajganj, according to the police. On Thursday night, a group of angry protesters took part in a procession and later stormed the houses, setting them on fire. The incident was broadcast live on Facebook, with protesters chanting slogans such as "Awami Leaguer astana Sayedabade hobena" (No Awami League in Sayedabad). Afterward, the group left the scene with a procession. When contacted, a relative of the late MP Hasibur Rahman Swapan, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Swapan owned three houses in the area across three plots. Two of these houses, a single-storey and a double-storey, were attacked. Former MP’s house, AL office vandalised and set on fire in Narail Swapan, who passed away from COVID-19 on September 21, 2021, had given these properties into the names of his daughters, and they are currently being rented out. Humayon Kabir, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station, said that he had heard about the incident from locals. However, no formal complaint has been filed yet.

A 54-year-old farmer was beaten to death, reportedly after attempting to stop a group of youths from consuming marijuana in Puthia village of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj on Tuesday night. The victim, identified as Azim Uddin Sarkar, was returning home when he encountered a group of youths smoking marijuana in front of his house. According to Shahjadpur Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Aslam Ali, when he tried to intervene and stop them, the youths became enraged and attacked him. They beat him severely before fleeing the scene. Locals rushed to his aid and the farmer was quickly taken to a nearby hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries on the way. An angry crowd, which had gathered at the scene, recovered a motorcycle left behind by the attackers and informed the police. Upon receiving the report, officers from Shahjadpur Police Station arrived, recovered the body and seized the motorcycle. Student arrested in Feni over killing domestic help The body was later sent to Sirajganj Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. A case has been filed and authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, the OC added.

Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a member of the BNP's Standing Committee and former Minister of State, urged party activists to avoid displaying arrogance. “Engage with the people and treat everyone well,” Tuku said, during a meeting with local BNP leaders and activists in Koyelgati village, Sirajganj Sadar Upazila, on Saturday. He emphasized, “Even after 16 years in power, Sheikh Hasina had to flee without having the lunch that was prepared for her. This demonstrates that arrogance leads to downfall.” BNP calls for unity against revival of Awami fascism Tuku also stated, “Tarique Rahman will return to the country at any time. On that day, millions will gather in Dhaka; no one will remain at home.” He called for the good members of the Awami League to be given a chance to participate in politics, asserting, “Those involved in oppression, torture, looting, corruption, irregularities, abduction, and murder will not be allowed to engage in politics. Their trial will take place on the soil of Bengal.” Among others, Sirajganj district BNP Vice President Najmul Hasan Talukder Rana, Joint Secretary Nur Kayem Sobuj, City BNP President Munshi Jahid Alam, Convener of the Swechhasebak Dal Abdullah Al Kayes, President of the Chhatra Dal Mirza Abdul Jabbar Babu, Secretary Muraduzzaman Murad, Union BNP General Secretary Nure Alam Munshi, and Vice President Anisur Rahman, were also present. Following the discussion, Tuku visited Shiyalkol Abdullah Al Mahmud Memorial High School and College, where he took part in a tree-planting initiative.