United News of Bangladesh

Police in a drive arrested the prime accused in connection with the death of a seven-year-old girl, who was rescued with her throat slit from a remote hilly area of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco Park, from Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district on Tuesday. The arrestee was identified as Babu Sheikh of Kumira area in Sitakunda upazila. Shakila Zahan, additional superintendent of Chattogram police (Sitakunda circle), said after citing the CCTV footage of the area, police identified Babu Sheikh and arrested him. 2 construction workers die after falling from Chattogram building The girl, identified as Jannatul Ira, breathed her last early Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Victim’s mother filed a case over abduction and attempted murder on Sunday night and it will now be converted into a murder case, said ASP Shakila Zahan. Police said the girl was found with her throat slit in a deep hilly area of the eco park on Monday morning. Workers engaged in renovation work on the Chandranath Temple road first spotted her lying in a bloodied condition. She was rescued with the help of locals and taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex before being shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated. Hospital Director Brig Gen Taslim Uddin said the girl underwent throat surgery on Monday night. As her condition worsened, she was moved to the ICU, where she died early Tuesday. He said it would be confirmed after medical tests whether the child had been sexually assaulted. Mohammad Sujan, uncle of the victim, said Jannatul was shifted to a ward after surgery but developed breathing complications on Monday night. Doctors later found that a device placed in her throat had become blocked. Due to delays in arranging necessary equipment, she was taken to the ICU, where doctors declared her dead in the early hours. The body was sent to the hospital morgue around 11am for autopsy, he added.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed on Monday said they are in touch with the family members of the two Bangladesh citizens who lost their lives. Steps are being taken to make sure that their bodies are brought back home smoothly once the situation is normalized, she told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She said steps are also being taken so that Bangladeshis who got stranded here can reach their destination countries without any hassle after the normalisation of the situation. Time to view Bangladesh differently: Shama Obaed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Hoque, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, representatives from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other departments were present at the meeting. Humaiun Kobir on Monday said they will do everything for the Bangladeshis to ensure their welfare, safety and security of its citizens amid current situation in the Middle East. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said they have discussed all the issues in the inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry. BNP lifts suspension on Shama, Babul's posts "They are our top most priority," said the Adviser, adding that the government is fully supportive of their welfare and protection. Kobir said they want deescalation of the situation and urged all to choose the path of diplomacy. Two Bangladeshi nationals have lost their lives and seven others have sustained injuries due to missile and drone attacks in different parts of the Middle East. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the updates on Monday, noting that the government of Bangladesh is "deeply saddened". In the United Arab Emirates, Saleh Ahmed, a Bangladeshi national from Baralekha, Sylhet, tragically lost his life in Ajman after being struck by debris resulting from an aerial attack on a civilian installation. The Embassy of Bangladesh in the United Arab Emirates is in close contact with the local authorities regarding the matter and is extending necessary assistance to repatriate the mortal remains once commercial flights resume, said the Ministry. It has been reported that one Bangladeshi national has been killed and three more have been injured in Bahrain. Bangladesh Mission in Manama is in touch with the local authorities regarding the incident. In the State of Kuwait, four Bangladeshi nationals, Aminul Islam from Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria; Rabiul Islam from Sathia, Pabna; Masudur Rahman from Begumganj, Noakhali; and Dulal Miah from Chandina, Cumilla, sustained injuries following a drone attack in the vicinity of the civilian airport. They have received necessary medical treatment and are currently reported to be in stable condition. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kuwait remains in regular contact with them and the Ambassador personally visited them at the hospital, said the Ministry. Separately, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation vessel Banglar Joyjatra is currently stranded at Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates. The Embassy is maintaining close communication with the vessel's captain. All crew members are reported to be safe. The government of Bangladesh reiterated its deep concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East and continues to monitor developments closely.

The number of fatalities from a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on a girls’ primary school in Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province has risen to 148, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday. The assault also injured 95 people, local prosecutor Ebrahim Taheri said. According to Taheri, most of those killed in the attack were students, while teachers, school employees and parents were also among the victims. On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes on Tehran and several other cities, including Tabriz, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Karaj. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. The strikes on Tehran reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Secretary of the country’s Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, and Mohammad Pakpour, chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A college student allegedly commited suicide  after her mother's scolding for poor nursing admission test in Kathia Daspara area of Satkhira town in the Kathia Daspara area of Satkhira town on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Amena Khatun, 20. Family sources said Amena Khatun appeared in the government nursing admission test for the 2025–26 academic year on February 27. She reportedly became distressed after returning home as the exam did not meet her expectations, and her mother scolded her that night over the matter. Man kills brother over fishing dispute in Satkhira It is suspected that she committed suicide by hanging herself with a rope around her neck out of anger. Locals, however, claimed that there was some family dispute. Masudur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Satkhira Sadar Police Station, said the body was recovered and sent to the morgue for autopsy. OC added that further details would be known after investigation.

Police recovered the burnt body of a young man in Brindabon area of Sreepur upazila in Gazipur on Saturday. Locals spotted the body along the Bormi-MC Bazar road in the morning. The identity of the deceased has not yet been confirmed. Witnesses said the victim’s body was burned and had a rope tied around the neck. ASI Ruhul Kaiyum of Sreepur Police Station said on information police recovered the burnt body. After collecting evidences, the body was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said.

Police recovered the throat-slit body of a woman from her home in Faridgonj upazila of Chandpur on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Nurjahan Begum, 50, wife of Kuwait expatriate Abul Kalam. She was a mother of four children. The incident occurred around noon at Bhaterhrod village under Rupsha North Union of Faridgonj upazila. 3 of a family suffer burn injuries in blast from ‘gas leak’ in Chandpur Family members found Nurjahan's throat-slit body inside the toilet of her house. She was taken to the Faridgonj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead. Her college-going daughter Nur Sultana Tanha said she had gone to college in the morning as usual. When she returned home at noon, she found the main door locked. After getting no response, she went to a relative’s house nearby. Later, she came back and saw the door open. She then found her mother inside the toilet with her throat cut. Mother, son die from electrocution in Chandpur Local Union Parishad member Khorshed Alam said Nurjahan had taken loans from several NGOs and owed a large amount of money. He said NGO workers often visited her house demanding repayment and some had come in the morning as well, though he could not name any organisation. Police Inspector Md Emdadul Haque of Faridgonj Police Station said police recovered the body from the health complex at around 3 pm. He said there were deep cut marks on the victim’s throat. “Legal action is underway. No case has been filed and no arrests have been made yet,” he added.

A young man was hacked to death in broad daylight by miscreants in Rajbari Sadar upazila on Tuesday, police and family members said. The incident took place around 1:00pm on a paved road in Char Narayanpur area under Mizanpur union. The victim was identified as Zahid Hasan Fakir, 27, son of Mahtab Fakir of Binodpur area in Ward No. 9 of Rajbari municipality. Man killed by mob over extortion in Rajbari, firearms recovered from associate Family members claimed Zahid was killed after he demanded repayment of Tk 2,500 he had lent, while police said the murder was likely linked to prior enmity. According to locals, Zahid received a phone call around noon and left home, saying he was going to collect the money. Shortly afterwards, miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons about 200 yards from his house, leaving him critically injured before fleeing the scene in an autorickshaw. Locals rescued him and rushed him to Rajbari Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His mother Momena Begum broke down in tears, saying her son had left home after receiving the call and promised to return soon after collecting the money. Soon after, we heard that he was being hacked, she said. 20-year-old youth arrested for killing bKash agent in Rajbari Family members and neighbours said Zahid, the youngest among five siblings, had returned from Malaysia about a year ago and was running a business locally. He had reportedly been in dispute with two youths from the Mechoghata area for some time. Emergency department physician Dr Nurul Azam said the victim had six to seven deep wounds inflicted by sharp weapons and died due to excessive bleeding. Officer-in-Charge of Rajbari Sadar Police Station, Khondkar Ziaur Rahman, said the body was sent to the morgue for autopsy and police have launched a drive to arrest those involved.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday convicted a woman and sentenced her to death in a case filed in connection with the Dhanmondi double murder in 2019. Judge of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan and Session Judge Court-7, Tauhida Akter handed down the punishment. The convict is Surovi Akter, domestic help of deceased Afroza Begum. The court also fined her Tk 50,000, in default to suffer five-months more in rigorous imprisonment. Youth’s body recovered from Dhanmondi Lake The court also acquitted Bachhu Mia, a worker of the house, as allegations brought against him could not be proved. According to the prosecution, police recovered the bodies of Afroza Begum, 65 and her housemaid Diti, 18 from a house at Lobelia House in Dhanmondi area of the capital on November 1, 2019. A case was filed with Dhanmondi Police Station on November 3, 2019. Police submitted chargesheet against Surovi and Bachhu Mia on February 1, 2022.

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Robert Duvall, best known for his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at the age of 95. Duvall died peacefully at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement issued by his public relations agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana. She described him as not only an award-winning actor and filmmaker but also her entire world, praising his deep commitment to his craft and his love for storytelling, food and lively conversation. Tributes quickly poured in from across the film industry. Fellow Godfather star Al Pacino said it was an honour to work with Duvall, calling him a natural actor whose talent and understanding of the art would never be forgotten. Over a career spanning more than six decades, Duvall became renowned for portraying strong, often hard-edged characters. He played mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and a commanding US army officer in Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. His brief but memorable performance in Apocalypse Now, including the iconic napalm line, became one of cinema’s most quoted moments. Coppola described Duvall’s death as a major loss, saying he was an essential part of American Zoetrope from its earliest days. Duvall later revealed that he deliberately toned down his Apocalypse Now character to make it more believable. Duvall received seven Oscar nominations during his career and won best actor in 1983 for his role as a troubled country singer in Tender Mercies. His wide-ranging filmography also included Network, The Great Santini, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Judge. He often said his favourite role was Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the television miniseries Lonesome Dove. He made his screen debut in To Kill a Mockingbird, delivering a powerful, wordless performance as Boo Radley that earned lasting acclaim. Actor Alec Baldwin later said the role was emotionally devastating despite the absence of dialogue. Beyond acting, Duvall also wrote and directed films, including The Apostle, in which he played a conflicted evangelical preacher. Colleagues and co-stars remembered him not only for his immense talent but also for his warmth, humour and love of simple pleasures. In a closing message, his wife thanked fans for their support over the years and asked for privacy as the family remembers and celebrates a life that left a lasting mark on cinema.   With inputs from BBC

Police have recovered the hanging body of a Jagannath University student from Gandaria in the capital. The deceased was identified as Imran Nabil Paramanik, a student of the 2016–17 session (12th batch) of the Islamic Studies Department, said Inspector (Investigation) Nazmul Hasan of Gandaria Police Station on Monday. Imran Nabil’s family hails from Dhumaitari village under Sundarganj Police Station in Gaibandha district. He was the son of Shafiqul Islam Paramanik. He was residing at 29/C Rajni Chowdhury Road in the Gandaria area of Dhaka. Hanging body of JnU student recovered from mess in Old Dhaka Inspector Nazmul said the body was found hanging inside his residence on Rajni Chowdhury Road, next to Monija Rahman School in the Dhupkhola area of Gandaria. His body was later recovered and sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy. Legal proceedings are underway in connection with the case. The preliminary finding suggests the student may have committed suicide due to depression.