United News of Bangladesh

A fourth-grade student was injured when a bomb-like object exploded in Choto Kalia area of Kalia upazila in Narail district on Thursday. The injured Md Alif Molla is currently undergoing treatment at Kalia Upazila Health Complex. Alif is the son of expatriate Racchu Molla of Joynagar village and a tenant of Kausar Molla in Choto Kalia. Alif’s mother, Sathi Begum, said an unidentified person had left a market bag in the garden of their neighbour Ranu Begum. Later, Ranu Begum moved the bag to another nearby garden. The improvised explosive device (IED) that went off was inside the bag. Read More:  Woman commits suicide in Narail “Ranu Begum’s son called my son to show him the bag around 11am. When Alif noticed a red bomb-like object inside, he tried to pick it up and pulled a thread attached to it. Suddenly, the object exploded with a loud sound,” she said. Kalia Upazila Health Complex RMO Dr Prathar declined to comment on the incident. Md Idris Ali, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kalia Police Station, said police rushed to the spot immediately after the explosion. “The bomb-like object exploded and caught fire. We have collected some parts of the exploded object for examination,” he said. He added that it was not possible to determine the nature of the device until forensic examination is completed.

Joint forces in a drive arrested four people along with arms and ammunition from Lohagora upazila in Narail district early Thursday. The arrestees were identified as Tofayel Mandal, 25, son of Kamruzzaman, Russel Biswas, 19, son of Tabibur Biswas, Ismail Hossain alias Pintu, 50, son of Nur Islam Gazi and Aminur Gazi, son of Tofazzal Gazi. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Lohagora police, along with army personnel, conducted a drive at Tofayel Mandal’s house in Digoholia in the dead of night and arrested him with one pistol and a magazine, said Abdur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Lohagora Police Station. Read more: Cold and fog bite into Narail’s honey season Later, the joint forces, along with Tofayel, conducted a raid at a fish enclosure and arrested three more people with 800 bullets and sharp weapons. The drive was conducted as part of regular operations ahead of the national election, the OC said.

A prolonged spell of severe cold and dense fog is wreaking havoc on honey farming in Narail, leaving local beekeepers struggling with mounting losses and uncertainty over this season’s production. As winter tightens its grip on the region, honey cultivators are increasingly anxious, hoping for clearer skies and warmer days to safeguard their livelihoods. The district has endured several days of biting cold, coupled with thick fog that has disrupted not only daily life but also agricultural activity. Honey production has been particularly hard hit, with bees reluctant to leave their hives to collect nectar from mustard fields.  During visits to mustard fields and beekeeping sites in Narail Sadar upazila, hundreds of bee boxes were observed near blooming mustard crops. Yet there was little to no movement around them—a worrying sign for farmers who rely on this peak season for their honey harvest. Read more: Naogaon farmers make a fortune on mustard and honey Beekeeper Md Shompi Sardar explained that daytime fog is preventing bees from leaving their boxes. “For good honey collection, fog at night and sunshine during the day are necessary. Now the fog lingers throughout the day, so the bees stay inside and cannot collect nectar,” he said. Md Inamul Haque added, “Due to the fog, very few bees come out of the boxes. As a result, they consume the honey already stored inside. This year, many bees are also dying due to excessive cold and fog.” Meanwhile, Md Shahidul Islam expressed fears that honey production could decline sharply if the weather fails to improve.  “If favourable weather returns in the coming days, the situation may improve. Otherwise, honey production will drop sharply this season,” he warned. Highlighting the wider impact of the adverse weather, Md Arifur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Narail, said that honey production has been disrupted by the unfavourable conditions. “Despite the challenges, we are hopeful that honey production may reach 10 metric tonnes or more this year,” he added, noting that the department continues to provide technical support to beekeepers to ensure the production of pure honey. Read more: Naogaon farmers make a fortune on mustard and honey With the region’s honey sector facing a delicate balance between weather and livelihood, farmers now await a change in the elements that could determine the season’s yield.

A project envisioned as a vital connectivity link for Narail has instead come to epitomise years of delay, mounting costs and unmet promises. Construction of the Barui Para Bridge over the Nabaganga River in Kalia upazila has dragged on for nearly eight years, far exceeding its original one-and-a-half-year deadline. With only partial progress achieved, local residents and commuters continue to endure daily hardship, growing increasingly frustrated as deadline after deadline slips by. The prolonged delay has also come at a heavy financial cost. Originally approved at Tk 65 crore, the project’s budget has ballooned to around Tk 136 crore—almost two and a half times higher—largely due to design complications and repeated extensions. Crippling bridge forces 30,000 Lalmonirhat residents to risk their lives daily Once completed, the bridge is expected to significantly improve road connectivity between Narail Sadar and Kalia upazila, while also easing communication with at least three neighbouring districts. Until then, the unfinished structure stands as a reminder of stalled promises. Supervised by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), construction of the bridge began in 2018. Despite the passage of time, the project remains incomplete. The latest extension has set June next year as the new deadline. So far, work on 11 piers, 11 spans and the approach roads on both sides of the river have been completed. However, the most critical section—the central portion of the bridge—remains unfinished. This includes three piers and three steel spans that are yet to be installed, locals said. According to RHD sources, the PC girder bridge measures 651.83 metres in length and 10.25 metres in width. While the original contract value stood at Tk 65 crore, repeated design modifications and time overruns have pushed the total project cost to Tk 135.92 crore. Read more: Bridge of hopes over Narendrapur-Kachrar canal still waiting The initial contractor, M/s Jamil Iqbal and Moinuddin Bashi Construction Company, was awarded the project in 2018. The construction process, however, faced major setbacks after the No-9 pier was washed away twice following collisions with bulkheads. Unable to complete four piers and three spans of the main structure, the contractor spent Tk 61 crore before the Roads and Highways Department ultimately terminated the first-phase contract after multiple deadline extensions. Subsequently, the RHD awarded the remaining work under a second-phase contract to Concrete and Steel Technologist Ltd. The firm has reported that installation work has already begun on three imported steel spans, including a large 86.73-metre steel arch span sourced from abroad. Abdul Wadud Khan Liton, a responsible official of the contracting firm, acknowledged the delays, attributing them to the complexities involved in importing specialised steel spans. Read more: Irregularities deepen doubts over Khulna’s mega embankment project “We expect to complete installation of two spans within this month. We are hopeful that the central arch span will be installed and handed over to the authorities before the deadline,” he said. Narail Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Md Nazrul Islam said construction work has resumed in full swing after correcting earlier design flaws. He expressed optimism that the long-awaited project would finally be completed by mid-June next year, paving the way for the bridge to be opened to traffic. For now, however, residents of Narail continue to wait—watching an unfinished bridge stretch across the river, emblematic of both promise and prolonged delay. Read more: A decade on, Uttara lake development still stuck in limbo

As winter settles over Narail, open fields in Shalua of Maijpara Union and Sholpur of Singasholpur Union transform into makeshift drying yards where the district’s famed dry fish season begins in earnest. For the communities here, the annual cycle is more than a tradition — it is a vital source of income that supports hundreds of families. Dry fish has long been considered a staple across the region, but in Narail it is an economic backbone. Fishermen, labourers, small traders, and transporters all rely on the trade, which has earned the district recognition as a notable hub for producing chemical-free dry fish. On raised bamboo macha, fish sourced daily from canals, beels, and rivers are cleaned, salted and arranged under the open sky to dry. The process is entirely natural, a fact that locals say has boosted demand in recent years. Read more: Fish export to India halted thru Akhaura land port Since this dry fish is prepared without any chemicals and in a safe environment, demand is increasing day by day, villagers said. Among those who travel to Narail for seasonal work are Md Kabir Sheikh and Kamrul Sheikh from Muksudpur in Gopalganj. They spend the winter months drying varieties such as climbing perch (koi) and glassy perchlet (chanda), along with the widely popular chapa shutki. No chemicals are used — only salt, they said, as rows of fish dried slowly under the sun. While the work continues smoothly, selling remains a challenge. Fisherman Md Mosa Mia said lower water levels during winter make it easier to catch different local species, allowing producers to buy raw fish at relatively low prices. The difficulty lies in accessing the market. “We buy the fish and make dry fish. But without a broker, it has become difficult to sell,” he said, adding, “If we could sell directly to buyers, we would earn better profits.” Another fisherman, Alok Biswas, described the realities of production: two to three maunds of raw fish reduce to one maund after drying. Read more: PKSF holds policy dialogue on fisheries market “Depending on the type, one maund of dry fish is sold for Tk 7,000 to Tk 8,000,” he said. Official target and growing reputation Narail District Fisheries Officer Mahbubur Rahman said a target of 80 metric tonnes of dry fish production has been set for the district this year. “Since the dry fish here is chemical-free, it is in demand not only within the district but across the country,” he said. The Fisheries Office has been providing training and technical support to help producers maintain quality and strengthen their position in the market. For now, as winter sunlight glints across the bamboo platforms, families continue the work that has sustained them for generations. The methods remain simple, the challenges persistent, but for Narail, dry fish remains a lifeline — one that keeps the district’s economy moving long after the drying season ends. Read more: Hilsa prices soar further putting this beloved fish beyond reach

A quiet agricultural revolution is taking place in Narail, where farmers are turning to year-round polyshade tomato cultivation for higher yields and better profits. Things look to be very encouraging.  With support from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project, farmers in Tularampur of Sadar upazila have planted the summer variety Bari-8 with remarkable success. Thanks to modern techniques and proper care, the yields have been impressive and profits are encouraging. Kamalpur farmer Kamrul Islam shared his story proudly.  “I cultivated tomatoes on 20 decimals of land after receiving training from the agriculture office. I spent about Tk 60,000, and I expect to make a profit of Tk 100,000 to Tk 150,000," he said.  Another farmer, Baharul Molya, said, “I usually grow other crops, but when tomato prices went up, I decided to try summer tomatoes this year. I got good yields and expect solid profits after expenses.” Tomato farmers in Chandpur struggle as prices plummet Farmer Rana Molya credited training from the agriculture office for helping him control diseases and boost production.  “There’s high demand in the local market. I sold tomatoes at Tk 80–90 per kilogram wholesale. With expenses around Tk 60,000, I expect to earn Tk 100,000 to Tk 160,000 in profit," he said.  Encouraged by these results, many other farmers are preparing to switch to tomato farming.  According to Rajib Biswas, a sub-assistant agriculture officer at Tularampur Union, summer tomatoes were grown on about 1.5 acres of land this year. “As market prices stay high, farmers’ interest in tomato farming is growing. We provide them with training, technical advice, and necessary inputs. Cultivating tomatoes on one acre costs roughly Tk 300,000, but farmers can earn Tk 250,000 to Tk 300,000 in net profit," Rajib said.  With growing demand and impressive returns, more farmers are expected to take up tomato cultivation in Narail next year.  The success of this venture is not only boosting incomes but also reshaping the rural economy—offering new hope and opportunity in the heart of Bangladesh’s farmland. Bumper tomato yields bring no joy to Sunamganj farmers

Two siblings drowned in a pond in Kalia upazila of Narail district on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Taslima Khatun, 15, a 10th-grade student at Bardiya Girls’ Secondary School, and her brother Kawsar Sheikh, 8, a 2nd-grade student at Shibanandapur Government Primary School. According to local sources and family members, the siblings were last seen in the afternoon heading toward the pond area with their neighbour Nahar Begum. 3-year-old boy drowns while fishing with father in Lalmonirhat As evening approached and they did not return home, the family began searching for them and recovered the bodies from the pond, said Officer-in-Charge of Naragato thana Ashiqur Rahman. The children’s mother, Baby Begum, alleged that her children were murdered. “My daughter knew how to swim. They couldn’t have drowned,” she said. The bodies were sent to Narail Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. An unnatural death case has been filed.

Two children drowned in a pond near their house at Atalia village in Kalia upazila of  Narail on Wednesday The deceased were Rahad Sheikh, 2, son of Shimul Sheikh from Atlia village and his cousin Rihan Sheikh, 2, son of Riaz Sheikh of the same village. 13-year-old tourist drowns in Sylhet’s Jaflong on eid day According to police and locals, Rahad and Rihan were playing at the courtyard of the house in the morning. After some time, they were found missing and their family members started searching them. Later they were found drowning in a pond near the house. They were taken to Narail Sadar Hospital where a doctor declared them dead. Kalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Abdullah Al Mamun said the death of two children from the same family is a tragic incident. After the initial investigation and legal procedure, the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families.

A person was killed and five others were injured when a CNG-run auto-rickshaw collided head-on with a covered van in Lohagara upazila of Narail on Sunday afternoon. The accident occurred around 4:30pm at the Basupati Stand area on the Kalna-Jashore highway, said police. The deceased was identified as Nasir, 48, son of Md Dabir Uddin from Itna village under Lohagara upazila. He was the driver of the CNG auto-rickshaw. According to Lohagara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Ashiqur Rahman, quoting locals, a passenger-laden CNG was heading towards Lohagara from the Narail municipal office area. Upon reaching the Basupati area, it collided head-on with a covered van coming from the opposite direction. SSC examinee dies after being hit by truck at Uttara CNG driver Nasir was critically injured and died on the spot. Locals rescued the injured passengers and rushed them to Lohagara Upazila Health Complex and Narail Sadar Hospital for treatment. OC Ashiqur Rahman added that necessary legal steps are being taken regarding the incident.

A 36-year-old man hacked to death allegedly by his rivals over establishing supremacy in Kalia upazila of Narail on Wednesday night, said police.  The deceased, Akram Sheikh, was son of Md. Hekmat Sheikh from Char Shuktail village of the upazila.  Police and locals said there had long been a conflict between two groups led by Ansar Jamaddar and Hekmat Sheikh over establishing dominance in Char-Jaynagar village under Naragati police station. The police station falls under Kalia upazila.  On Wednesday evening, Hekmat’s fellow Akram went to a tea stall when some 15-20 people of the opponent group carried out an attack on him with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured.   Two killed in separate BNP factional clashes in Rajshahi He was rushed him to nearby Gopalganj 250-bed General Hospital, where physicians declared him dead upon arrival.  Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naragati police station Md. Shariful Islam said the factional clash led to the killing and efforts were underway to identify those involved in the murder.