United News of Bangladesh

Police recovered the body of a missing man from a pond in Natore’s Naldanga upazila on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Milon Prang, 45, a resident of Brahmapur Hajipara village in the upazila. According to police and locals, Milon went missing after leaving home on Wednesday afternoon. Family members searched different places but failed to trace him. On Thursday morning, relatives found his clothes and shoes beside a pond owned by a local resident named Kalam and brought those home. Around 8:30am on Friday, Milon’s wife Shabana Khatun spotted a floating body in the pond and raised alarm, drawing locals to the scene. Being informed, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Officer-in-Charge of Naldanga Police Station Nur-e-Alam said they were trying to determine the exact cause of death.

Two schoolchildren drowned in a pond in Baraigram upazila of Natore district on Tuesdau. The deceased were identified as Nur Mohammad, a class IV student and son of Raju Ahmed, and Arafat, a class III student and son of Pintu. Ahmed who works in Dhaka. Both were cousins and residents of Purnakals village under Gopalpur union. Locals said Nur and Raju went to a pond near their home for bathing at noon and went missing shortly afterwards. When repeated searches failed to locate them, villagers began a search in the pond. Later both were rescued and taken to a local clinic where doctors declared them dead.Baraigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdus Salam said a police team has been sent to the spot to investigate the incident.

The official mango harvesting season began in Natore on Friday in line with the schedule set by the district administration, with growers starting to collect early-season varieties from orchards across the district. The harvesting of Guti variety mangoes formally began in the morning, with leaseholders plucking naturally ripened Baishakhi mangoes from government orchards in the Bhaturia area of Sadar upazila. Harvesting and marketing activities were also underway in different mango-producing areas of the district. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) expects around 68,316 tonnes of mangoes worth nearly Tk 400 crore to be produced this season from 5,693 hectares of orchards across the district. Md Habibul Islam Khan, deputy director of the district DAE, said Natore has already secured its position as the fourth-largest mango-producing district in northern Bangladesh. He said the district’s renowned Tamaltala and Ahmadpur mango markets witness transactions worth crores of taka every day during the peak season, attracting traders from Dhaka and different parts of the country. Traders collect a wide range of sweet and popular mango varieties from these wholesale markets for distribution nationwide, he added. According to agriculture officials, mango harvesting, trading and marketing activities in Natore are expected to continue until October.

A seven-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a battery-run auto-rickshaw at Dighoir Cumillapara in Baraigram upazila of Natore district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahim, a nursery student of Jonail Pre-Cadet School and son of Shah Alam of the village. The accident occurred around 8 am when the battery-run auto-rickshaw ran over him while crossing road in front of the school, leaving him dead on the spot, said Abdus Salam, officer-in-charge of Baraigram Police Station. On information, police seized the auto-rickshaw but could not arrest its driver as he managed to flee the scene.

A young man was killed on Thursday when a pickup van struck his motorcycle in Mohanpur area of Natore town. The deceased has been identified as Abdullah, 27, also known as Abdul, a resident of Agpara village in Singra upazila. According to police and local sources, Abdullah was riding his motorcycle near the BTV sub-station in Mohanpur when a pickup van hit him from behind. He was thrown onto the road and died on the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to the Sadar Hospital morgue. Natore Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Shafikul Islam said legal action is being taken in connection with the incident.

A woman and her one and a half years old daughter were killed in a fire at Binnabari village in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore early Monday. Another woman sustained severe burns and was hospitalised. The deceased were Atia, 27, and her daughter Rawaza. The fire started at the house of Montaz Ali around 4 am and they died after being trapped in the fire, Gurudaspur police station Officer-in-Charge Shafiquzzaman said. Montaz’s 65-year-old wife Marzina Begum was rescued in critical condition and admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The fire completely destroyed the house and a nearby kitchen shed. Twelve goats also died in the blaze in the cowshed. Fire breaks out in women’s ward at Sylhet Osmani Hospital The fire service has yet to determine the exact cause of the fire incident. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, said the OC.

Finance Ministry Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed on Friday asked government officials to be patient regarding the new pay scale. He said the pay scale has been prepared after 10 years. “There are many calculations. A committee has been formed. They are working. After the committee submits its report, the scale will be implemented,” he said. He added that funding is the main issue and assured that there is no reason to be discouraged. Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed made the remarks while inspecting the Gurudaspur Upazila Mini Stadium in Natore. He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Finance Secretary Dr. Sheikh Khairuzzaman Majumdar, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiqui, and other senior officials. The finance adviser also said that everyone should vote in favor of referendum. He noted that there has never been a reform in Bangladesh for the people; changes have always been party-based. Pay Commission to reveal report date soon, work continues: Dr Salehuddin He further added, “Through referendum, the political government will gain strength in the future. That is why the government is speaking in favor of public voting.” Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed praised the mini stadium during his visit. Natore Deputy Commissioner Asma Shahin briefed him about the facilities.  

With summer in full bloom, Natore finds itself basking in the golden glow of a mango season that is as bountiful as it is beautiful.  From the quiet village orchards to the bustling market squares, the district is humming with the sweet scent of ripened fruit, a heady reminder of nature’s generosity and the region’s mango-growing prowess. Often mentioned in the same breath as the famed mango belts of Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Naogaon, Natore stands tall with its vibrant offering of both beloved classics and an ever-expanding gallery of exotic cultivars. The markets are alive with colour and conversation.  Glimmering heaps of mangoes — from blushing pinks to sun-drenched yellows — are drawing in buyers from near and far.  Prices, mercifully, remain a pleasant surprise. “This is one of the best years in terms of both variety and value,” beams Liton, a cheerful trader busy weighing baskets of Gopalbhog.  Mangoes here range from Tk 15 to Tk 60 per kilogram, making the king of fruits a daily indulgence rather than a rare treat. Natore's rawhide traders distressed by 10-day entry ban into Dhaka A Market Awash with Mangoes In the heart of the mango trade, Ahmadpur in Baraigram upazila and Tamaltala in Bagatipara are seeing a frenzy of activity.  These two wholesale hubs have transformed into vibrant epicentres, where voices rise above the rustle of mango-laden sacks and the clang of truck gates slamming shut. No fewer than ten truckloads of mangoes leave Tamaltala for Dhaka every day, say traders Uzzal Hossain, Lalon Ali and Mosharraf Hossain, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of brisk business.  Even more make their journey from Ahmadpur, destined for cities across the nation.  At these wholesale centres, a maund of mangoes fetches anything from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, depending on the variety and freshness. Tradition Meets Tempting Newcomers Selim Reza, a proud recipient of the National Agriculture Award and a lifelong mango cultivator, stands among his trees with a knowing smile.  “Gopalbhog, Langra, Mohanbhog, Lakshmanbhog, Khirsapat, Rani Pochondo and Mallika are ruling the markets right now. But the season has more to offer. Soon, late bloomers like Amrapali, Nag Fazli, Surma Fazli and Maharaj Fazli will arrive,” he shares. There is a quiet revolution taking place in the orchards of Natore. Once known only for traditional favourites, the district is now making waves with mangoes few Bangladeshis have tasted — names like Katimon, Bandikuri, Kyuzai, Totapuri, and the intriguingly named Banana Mango. These rare varieties, grown with care and curiosity, are adding new flavours to the local mango narrative. And there’s more. The NAS hybrids — NAS-1 through NAS-5 — have captured imaginations and markets alike. These large-fruited, high-yielding varieties bring not just impressive sizes but also thrilling textures and flavours. NAS-4 glows round and vibrant, while NAS-5 is loved for bearing fruit twice in a season, a gift few growers can resist. Flavours from Afar, Rooted in Natore Natore’s orchards now tell an international tale. Indian-origin gems like Arunika, Arunima, Hamilton, Arkanilachal, and Ambika are flourishing beside American showstoppers such as Kent, Keitt, and Austin. Thailand’s blushing Red Palmer joins the chorus, creating a truly global mango medley. Local innovations sing their own sweet notes — Gauomoti and BARI-4, proudly developed by Bangladeshi researchers, are flourishing in select gardens and fetching handsome prices on Dhaka’s high-end supermarket shelves and online stores. Even the elusive Ashwini mango, grown only in a few blessed pockets of the district, finds its place in this celebration of variety. Natore’s bio fish feed offers cheaper, safer future for aquaculture A Golden Harvest After Grey Skies Nature had its moments of mischief earlier in the season, with nor’westers and hailstorms threatening the harvest. But the trees stood strong, and the yield tells a story of triumph. Habibur Rahman Khan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Natore, estimates this year’s mango production at around 73,000 metric tonnes.  “Although the season began with some setbacks, the overall yield has been promising. This abundance is ensuring consumers get mangoes at reasonable prices," he says. And so, under the sun-dappled shade of mango groves, Natore’s orchards whisper a sweet secret: that in this land of fragrance and fruit, every bite is a celebration — of tradition, innovation, and the sheer joy of summer.  

In a deeply distressing incident, the bodies of a husband and wife were found hanging in their home in Kachua village under Lalpur upazila of Natore on Monday morning, casting a pall of grief and shock over the rural community. The deceased were identified as Royzul Islam, 43, a local farmer, and his 28-year-old wife, Fatema Begum. According to police, neighbours got worried when the couple failed to respond throughout the morning. Child dies as wall collapses amid Nor’wester in Natore After repeated attempts to contact them went unanswered, some villagers peered through a window and were horrified to discover Fatema’s body hanging inside the house. Upon entering, they found Royzul in the adjacent room, also hanging. The villagers immediately alerted the police, who arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. Law enforcement officials recovered both bodies and brought them to Lalpur Police Station for further examination. While the exact cause of the tragedy remains unknown, locals suspect a family dispute may have led to the incident. 7-year old murdered after ‘rape’ in Natore Talking to UNB, Lalpur Police Station officer-in-charge Mominuzzaman said, “We have recovered the bodies and are currently investigating the matter. Further action will be taken based on our findings.”  

A 12-year old child died after a wall collapsed during  Nor’wester in Baraigram upazila of Natore on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Bithi Khatun, a student of AgranGanajagaran non-formal Primary School. Family sourced said when she was washing her hands at the tap inside her home around 8 pm on Wednesday a guava tree and adjacent wall collapsed on her amid storm.  Inspector closed in Natore over July uprising shooting The family members quickly rescued her and took her to a local private hospital where the doctor declared her dead. Baraigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Sarwar Hossain  said police visited the spot upon receiving the news and took legal steps accordingly.  Two locomotives derail in Natore’s Lalpur within span of 7 hrs