United News of Bangladesh

In Naogaon municipality, the relentless rise of dengue cases is exposing a deeper public health crisis, as residents confront swarms of mosquitoes amid longstanding urban sanitation failures. For weeks, communities across the town have battled insects invading homes, schools, businesses and offices—pestering residents even in daylight hours. Coils, sprays and smoke have become everyday essentials, yet the relentless buzzing and painful bites continue. Locals said what was once a seasonal nuisance has transformed into a source of fear, frustration and growing anger at local authorities. Read more: Young adults hit hard as Bangladesh logs 593 dengue cases, 3 deaths A Town on Edge Naogaon Municipality, home to over 268,000 people across nine wards, is facing what locals describe as a preventable mosquito explosion. Open heaps of uncollected garbage, uncovered and clogged drains, and stagnant water turning neighbourhoods into breeding grounds have compounded the crisis. “We close our doors and windows before evening, but it’s useless. Mosquitoes fly over burning coils. Their bites cause swelling and a burning sensation. I spend at least Tk 10 a day on coils, but if this continues, dengue is unavoidable,” said Shamim Ahmed, a resident of Masterpara. Students are among the hardest hit. “Studying has become nearly impossible. I have to sit inside a mosquito net with a coil burning. This is no way to study,” said Arif Hossain from the Degree Mor area. Tax Increasing, Services Declining Residents complain that despite yearly hikes in municipal taxes, improvements in mosquito-control efforts are barely visible. Many allege that fogging and spraying target administrative or high-profile areas, leaving densely populated neighbourhoods neglected. “There’s a municipal waste dump near my house. Mosquito-control activities here are rare. We pay higher taxes every year, but receive no proper services,” said Asfaq Uddin of Komaigari. Read more: Best Foods to Increase Platelets in Dengue Fever Health Risks Growing According to the Naogaon Civil Surgeon’s Office, 56 new dengue cases were reported as of November 23. October saw 120 cases and September 116, bringing the district’s total infections this year to 321. At Naogaon 250-bed General Hospital, 120 dengue patients were treated over the last three months. “No deaths have occurred so far, and we are providing adequate treatment,” said hospital statistician Dilruba Sultana. Nationwide, the situation remains concerning. The DGHS reported two more dengue deaths on Monday, pushing the national toll to 366. With 705 new cases on the same day, the total infections reached 90,969 this year. Local Authorities Admit Limitations Naogaon Municipality Engineer Sajjad Hossain acknowledged the challenges, noting that the municipality has only three fogging machines and three hand-spray units. “For the past two years, we haven’t received dedicated funds for mosquito control. We are running operations using municipal revenue and prioritising hand spraying, as it destroys larvae more effectively,” he said. Read more: 8 more dead, 778 hospitalised as Bangladesh fails to curb dengue

Farmers in the northern district of Naogaon are struggling with fresh uncertainty as unseasonal rain, triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, has damaged prepared seedbeds for early winter vegetables and partially ripe Aman paddy. Potato fields, in particular, have been affected, causing concern among growers hoping to recover losses from last year. Agriculture officials said stagnant water in the fields has raised fears of widespread damage to newly planted potato seeds, transplanted Aman paddy and early winter vegetables, including cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, chili, eggplant and radish. Many plants, they said, are lying flattened in waterlogged fields across several upazilas. Read more: Polyshade tomato farming reviving Narail’s rural economy According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Aman has been cultivated on 193,000 hectares this year, while early winter vegetables cover 1,845 hectares. Potato cultivation is targeted on 21,000 hectares. A field visit revealed that farmlands prepared for potato cultivation or recently sown are submerged, forcing farmers to focus on draining the water to save their crops. Farmers also fear delays in planting on fallow lands that remain waterlogged and excess moisture has already caused root rot in some vegetables. Zainal, a farmer from Kalikapur Dangapara in Atrai upazila, expressed his worries, saying, “Last year I suffered a big loss from potato farming; hence I planted early this year in hopes of a better price. But now rainwater has submerged the field and I fear the seeds may not sprout properly. I don’t know what to do.” Sharing a similar experience, Ashraf Hossain from Varsho village in Manda upazila said, “Early potato farming is always risky, but I wanted to try since others were doing it. I planted on one bigha of land, but the sudden rain has filled the field with water.” Read more: Hidden hands in the fields: Dealers blamed for artificial fertiliser shortage in north Ratan Mollah of Barshail in Sadar upazila said, “I just finished planting potato seeds when the rain began. It’s still drizzling, and the soil remains soaked. Potato seeds rot easily if they stay wet. I’m worried most of my field will be damaged.” Meanwhile, Susheel Mistri of Hapania reported that his Aman paddy, which was ripening, had been flattened by rain and gusty winds. Vegetable grower Indri Mia from Kirtipur said, “The rain over the past few days has caused rot at the base of my cauliflower and other vegetable plants.” Downplaying the extent of the damage, DAE Deputy Director Homayra Mondal said, “Although it rained, it wasn’t a heavy downpour. Potato planting has just started and the newly planted seeds may face minor setbacks, but fields planted eight to ten days ago will likely remain safe. The rainfall is even beneficial for Aman. If the water drains quickly, there won’t be any major problem.” Read more: Rain pushes green chilli price to Tk 300 per kg, almost all vegetable prices upward As farmers race against time to salvage their crops, the unseasonal rainfall has once again highlighted the vulnerability of early winter cultivation to unpredictable weather.

The government has appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) for three districts, including Chattogram, ahead of the national election slated for February next. A notification, signed by deputy secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Aminul Islam, was issued on Sunday morning. Mohammad Abdul Awal, Mohammad Anwar Hossain and Monira Hoque have been made DC for Chattogram, Narsingdi and Naogaon districts respectively. 6 districts get new DCs Of them, Abdul Awal was posted as DC in Naogaon, Anwar was assigned as deputy secretary at the Division of Health Education and Family Welfare under the Ministry of Health and Monira performed as deputy secretary at the Division of Secondary and Higher Secondary under the Ministry of Education.   The order will come into effect soon, the notification says.

Raninagar upazila administration has seized 29.31 tonnes of rice meant for government’s Food-Friendly Programmes and other social safety schemes from two warehouses of a rice trader during an anti-hoarding drive. Tippe-off that a group of unscrupulous traders had stockpiled government rice, the drive led by Raninagar Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Sheikh Nowshad Hasan was conducted in Kutkutitala area of Abadpukur Bazar on Friday. Expatriate killed by lightning strike in Sylhet The rice was recovered from two godowns belonging to Jahangir Alam Babu in the area. Technical food inspector Md Anisur Rahman of the Raninagar Upazila Food Controller's Office, police from the Ekdala outpost, and several government-registered OMS and Food Friendly Programme dealers were also present during the drive. Magistrate Sheikh Nowshad Hasan told UNB on Saturday morning that a mobile court raided the two warehouses and found 453 sacks of 50-kg rice and 222 sacks of 30-kg rice. Several empty government rice sacks were also found at the scene, he said. However, the main accused, Jahangir Alam Babu, and others fled the scene before the raid. The seized rice worth Tk 12 lakh was to the Raninagar government food warehouse for safekeeping. Magistrate Hasan said a case under the Special Powers Act will be filed on Saturday by the Upazila Food Department with Raninagar police against Jahangir and others involved in the illegal hoarding. Police are working to arrest the accused.  

A couple died as a speeding truck rammed into their motorbike on Naogaon-Santahar road in Naogaon on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Afaz Uddin, 55, and his wife Bilkis Banu, 50, of Kola Palsa village under Chhatin union in Bogura’s Adamdighi upazila. Witnesses and police said the couple was going to their village home in Bogura from Naogaon district headquarters riding on a motorbike. The accident occurred in Khalishakuri area around 2pm when the truck crashed into the bike, leaving the duo dead on the spot, they said. Officer-in-Charge of Naogaon Sadar police station Nure Alam Siddique said police and fire service personnel recovered the bodies and took them to the police station.

A BNP leader from Porsha upazila in Naogaon has been stabbed to death over a land dispute. The victim, Maidur Rahman, 40, was the general secretary of Nitpur Union BNP and an elected member of Ward No. 6 of Nitpur Union Parishad. According to sources from Porsha Police Station, Maidur had been involved in an ongoing dispute over land with Abdur Rahim, 57, of Gopinatpur village, along with Rahim’s son Ismail Hossain, 30, and another individual named Barkulla, 25. Read: Man stabbed dead in Dhaka's Lalbagh The altercation took place in the Ranshada area south of Balashhid Mouza in Nitpur Union, Porsha upazila, on Tuesday afternoon. During a land measurement, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation, during which Maidur was stabbed. Other individuals present at the scene rushed Maidur to Porsha Upazila Health Complex, where he was declared dead by the on-duty doctor. Maidur’s brother, Hamidul, 35, was also injured during the incident. Read more: Youth stabbed dead on college campus in Bogura Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Porsha Police Station Shahin Reza said that Maidur's body has been sent to Naogaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy. He added that efforts to arrest the accused are underway and police have initiated the process of filing a case.

Police arrested seven members of a suspected inter-district robber gang with sharp weapons in connection with the robbery and rape of a housewife in Mohadevpur upazila of Naogaon. Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Safiful Sarowar revealed this at a press conference at the latter’s office on Tuesday. The arrestees were Shariful Islam Pacha, 29, Tarek Hossain, 26, Solaiman Ali, 38, Sagar Hossain, 19, Rubel Sardar, 28, Ripon Ali, 30, Sagar Hossain, 19 (2). All hail from several upazilas of the district. The police super said a gang of robbers stormed into a house in Khajur village of the upazila at night on December 29 last. July uprising: 8 lawyers sent to jail in Khulna While committing the robbery, the accused abducted the housewife and raped her in turns after taking her away to an open field, the police super said. Being informed, police rescued the victim from the spot while a case was filed against some unidentified people in this connection later, he informed. With the help of technology, the police arrested the seven from several areas of the district on Monday night, the SP said. Three out of the arrestees confessed to the robbery and the rape while the rest would be interrogated in remand, he added.

The harsh chill and freezing winds have once again brought life to a standstill in Naogaon, disrupting daily activities and leaving vulnerable groups struggling to cope. Day laborers, rickshaw pullers, and low-income workers are among the hardest hit by the frigid weather conditions. As of Thursday morning, the minimum temperature in Naogaon was recorded at 10.3°C, with 100% humidity, according to Naogaon’s Badalgachhi Weather Observatory. The cold has intensified over the past two days, creating a freezing environment despite occasional sunshine. Moderate cold wave with fog likely across the country: BMD Residents report that the cold has grown more severe since the last two days. While morning fog has lessened, the icy winds have amplified the cold’s impact. For many, the chill is particularly harsh from evening until mid-morning. Roads have seen fewer workers compared to usual, as many are unable to brave the worsening conditions. Liton Hossain, a rickshaw puller from Barunkandi in Naogaon Sadar Upazila, shared his struggles: "The cold has become unbearable over the past two days. The winds are so harsh it’s difficult to even drive the rickshaw, and passengers are few and far between." Air pollution: Dhaka 6th worst city in the world today Mizanur Rahman, an official at the Badalgachhi Weather Observatory, confirmed the drop in temperature: "This morning at 9 am, the district recorded a minimum temperature of 10.3°C, compared to 11.8°C yesterday. The chilling winds are making the cold feel much harsher." The sudden increase in cold intensity has forced many to limit outdoor activities, highlighting the need for support for those who depend on daily labor to survive.

A Public Prosecutor (PP) in Naogaon has been accused of contempt of court and threatening judges over the delivery of judgments. On December 2, Senior Judicial Magistrate Judge Rabilul Islam of Naogaon’s Magistrate Court sent a letter to the Supreme Court’s Register, accusing the PP of threatening to besiege the court if judicial services were not properly delivered. 17 out of 69 jails in Bangladesh highly vulnerable: IG Prisons Court officials said the accused, advocate Abu Jayid Md Rafiqul Alam, a former joint convenor of the Naogaon district unit of the BNP, allegedly made the threats during a protest rally. The letter says that the PP warned the judges they would face consequences if they continued their work for what he termed "the fallen Awami League and their collaborators." Seven judges have signed the letter, calling for action to be taken against the accused. Former ministers Amu, Qamrul produced before ICT In another development, on December 1, a joint statement was issued by Bangladesh Judicial Service Council President Aminul Islam and General Secretary Muhammad Mazharul Islam, demanding the immediate removal of the accused within 10 days. The controversy began during a rally held on November 27 by the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum on the Naogaon court premises, protesting the murder of Chattogram lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. During this event, the PP made controversial remarks. According to the letter, he told the judges, "You have done many justices against judicial killings" and proceeded to criticize the judiciary, accusing judges of being politically biased. Alam also claimed that many judges in Naogaon were relatives of Awami League MPs and ministers. Economic opportunities for women through south-south cooperation He allegedly warned, “There are some judges in Naogaon who are nephews and nieces of Awami League MPs and ministers,” and threatened the judiciary with further actions if they favoured the ruling party in their judgments. In response to the complaints, Alam defended his remarks, saying that he had spoken as a political figure, not a lawyer. "If the Supreme Court register summons me, I will put forward my statement there," he said.

Police recovered two bodies, one of a young man and another of an elderly man, from separate locations in Naogaon on Thursday. The discoveries were made near the Atrai River bank in Manda upazila and in the Shahpukur area of the Naogaon-Rajshahi highway around 12:30 pm. The deceased have been identified as Shafiqul Islam Babu (32), son of Abul Kalam Azad of Arpara village in Gopalganj’s Sadar upazila, and Ratan Chandra Modak (63), a resident of Kaligram in Manda upazila. Police confirmed Shafiqul’s identity through a mobile phone found on him, while Ratan had been reported missing for over two weeks. Shafiqul's mother, Shefali Begum, expressed her shock upon learning of her son's death. "My son works at a garment factory in Gabtoli, Dhaka. He told us on Monday that he was going to his father-in-law's house in Pabna. His phone had been switched off for two days, and today we were informed by Manda Police Station about his body being found," she said. Similarly, the family of Ratan Chandra Modak had been searching for him for 15 days. His grandson, Badhan Kumar Modak, said, "We filed a general diary with Manda Police Station after failing to locate my grandfather despite searching everywhere." Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mansur Rahman of Manda Police Station said that the bodies have been sent to the morgue at Naogaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy.