United News of Bangladesh

Three people were killed and 14 others injured when a night coach rammed into a stationary drum truck at Bairagiganj in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur early Wednesday. The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately. According to locals and police, the accident occurred when the coach of Khan Paribahan crashed onto the parked drum truck on Dhaka-Rangpur highway around 6:30am, leaving a man dead on the spot. Being informed, highway police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations, said  Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Pirganj Barodargah Highway Police Station. The injured were taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for treatment were two other victims died. The OC said the damaged coach and the truck have been removed from the highway and traffic movement is normal.

Rangpur has been waiting for a second industrial estate under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) for decades, with repeated proposals for new land failing to secure approval from the relevant ministry. The prolonged delay has left aspiring entrepreneurs struggling to find industrial plots, limiting the expansion of small and cottage industries, hampering job creation and pushing many educated and less-educated job seekers to migrate to Dhaka and other major cities in search of work. BSCIC began its operations in Rangpur in 1967, acquiring 20.68 acres of land in the city’s CO Bazar area and dividing it into 83 plots for industrial entrepreneurs. The existing estate now houses 25 industrial establishments, including Rangpur Foundry Limited (RFL), GFL, Khan Foundry Limited, Chowdhury Ice and Cold Storage Limited, Bismillah Metal Industries, Nine Jute Mills, Himadri Cold Storage, Rangpur Flour Mills, Northern Timber Industries, Phoenix Chemical and Plastic Industries, and Milk Vita. Of the 25 establishments, 22 are currently operational, according to Rangpur BSCIC sources. Around 75 percent of the plots are occupied by RFL, further limiting opportunities for new entrepreneurs. The estate has 13 plots in category A, 39 in category B, 16 in category C, 14 in category D and one special plot, classified according to their size. Industrial units operating in the estate benefit from facilities such as access to loans on relatively favourable terms, electricity and road connectivity. The estate has also created employment opportunities for local people. However, the number of available plots has failed to keep pace with rising entrepreneurial interest, particularly since Rangpur became a separate administrative division in 2010. An initiative to establish a second BSCIC industrial estate was taken in 2002. A 50-acre site at Damdama, beside the Rangpur-Dhaka highway, was selected, and an application was submitted to the Industries Ministry seeking permission to acquire the land. The proposal, however, did not progress. More recently, on April 30, 2024, the then deputy commissioner sent a report to the relevant ministry identifying 100 acres of potential land in Haridebpur and Ramanathpur mouzas under Rangpur Sadar upazila. The report included estimated land prices and sketch maps for establishing the proposed industrial estate. No decision has yet been communicated on the proposal, leaving the initiative stalled, local sources said.

A 55-year-old man was stabbed to death allegedly by his son over family feud at Masterpara in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur district on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Mahabur Hossain alias Mahubur, son of Foyez Uddin of the area. Selim Malik, Officer-in-Charge of Pirgachha Police Station, said Mahabur had an altercation with his son Hasanur Rahman, 22, over family feud at their house on Friday. At one stage, Hasanur hit his father Mahabur with knife around 10:30 pm, leaving him critically injured. Later, he was taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. However, police are trying to arrest Hasanur, said the OC.

A youth was detained after allegedly attempting to strangle a teenage girl while trying to steal from a house in the Purba Shalban area of Rangpur city early Tuesday. The detained youth was identified as Mohammad Ashiq, 22, a resident of Tantipara area who currently lives in Purba Shalban. Local residents caught him and handed him over to police. The incident occurred between 2:30am and 3am on Tuesday, police and eyewitnesses said. According to them, Ashiq allegedly entered the house through a ventilator and hid inside a large basket of clothes. He came out after the family members fell asleep. When the teenage girl woke up after sensing his presence, Ashiq allegedly wrapped her headscarf around her neck and pulled it tightly. The girl, however, survived the attack. Nazmul Quader, Officer-in-Charge (OC) OF Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station, said they initially learned that the girl was attacked when she noticed Ashiq inside the house during an alleged theft attempt. "A case has been filed and we are investigating whether anyone else was involved," he said. Ashiq is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital under police guard, the OC said. The incident has caused concern among local residents, who were already worried about security following the recent murder of retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty and his family members in Machuapara area of the city.

For years, a fragile wooden bridge served as a vital lifeline for people living in and around Pranath Char in Shahidbagh Union of Kaunia upazila of Rangpur. Now, with a section of the bridge collapsing into the river, thousands of residents from at least 10 villages have been left struggling to cross the waterway, with many forced to rely on small boats. The bridge, which was built to facilitate communication across the river, has long been in a dilapidated condition. Recently, part of it gave way and fell into the river, disrupting everyday movement and leaving local communities effectively cut off. Schoolchildren, pregnant women, elderly people and those who are sick are the worst sufferrers. Many students now have to cross the river by small boats or use the remaining portions of the damaged bridge, exposing themselves to serious risks. A visit to the area found residents waiting for boats to cross the river, while the broken bridge stood as a stark reminder of the deteriorating infrastructure on which the communities depend. The crisis is particularly serious for local farmers. Pranath Char and neighbouring areas are predominantly agriculture-based, and farmers depend on the bridge to transport paddy, vegetables and other produce to nearby markets.

Farmers in northern Bangladesh are struggling to collect triple super phosphate (TSP) fertiliser during the peak Aman rice season, with many saying they cannot obtain the fertiliser even by paying above the government-fixed price. Although urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) are generally available according to demand, TSP supplies remain inadequate in several areas, leaving farmers worried about timely application and crop yields. The situation is particularly difficult for farmers living in chars and riverbank areas where the absence of fertiliser dealers forces them to travel long distances to buy the necessary inputs. In some of these areas, farmers also alleged that urea and DAP are being sold at prices higher than the government-fixed rates. The shortage is being reported across the five districts of the Rangpur region—Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Nilphamari—at a time when farmers are busy transplanting Aman seedlings in their fields. Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila farmer Nazrul Islam has cultivated transplanted Aman on eight bighas of land and needs around 100 kg of TSP fertiliser. But after visiting six fertiliser shops, he managed to collect only 45 kg. Of that amount, he bought 15 kg at the government-fixed price of Tk 27 per kg. For the remaining 30 kg, he had to pay Tk 3-4 more per kg. Nazrul said TSP is important for strengthening the roots of rice plants and helping them grow quickly. “I am extremely worried because I have not been able to collect the amount of TSP I need. Even after offering a higher price, I could not get enough,” he said. He said urea and DAP were available according to demand, but the shortage of TSP was causing serious concern. “If we cannot apply the required amount of TSP to the fields at the right time, we may not get the expected Aman yield,” he said. Bablu Mia, a farmer from Char Shailmari in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat, said farmers are receiving less than 20 percent of the TSP they needed. He has cultivated Aman on 12 bighas and needs around 170 kg of TSP, but has managed to collect only 50 kg. “Dealers tell us that there is no TSP available. Even if we are willing to pay more, we cannot get it,” Bablu said. He said farmers sre able to obtain urea and DAP, but have to pay Tk 2-3 more per kg than the government-fixed prices in some cases. In Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila, farmer Monnaf Mia of Mahipur Teesta Char has also been struggling to collect TSP. He spent three days visiting fertiliser shops in search of the fertiliser. Monnaf has cultivated Aman on 10 bighas and needs around 150 kg of TSP. So far, he has managed to collect only 50 kg, paying more than the official price. Julhas Hossain, a fertiliser dealer in Bajra area of Ulipur upazila in Kurigram, said demand for TSP has increased sharply among farmers. “My shop receives demand for at least 10,000 kg of TSP every week, but I have been allocated only 500 kg by the government,” he said. “If the government does not increase the allocation, how can we meet farmers’ demand?” he asked. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the target for Aman cultivation in the five districts of the Rangpur division has been set at 621,550 hectares this year, with a production target of 2,001,391 tonnes of rice. Last year, Aman was cultivated on 621,398 hectares in the region. The cultivation target has therefore increased by 152 hectares this year, although officials expect the actual acreage could exceed the target. According to Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) fertiliser sources, the government has fixed the retail price of urea at Tk 27 per kg, TSP at Tk 27 and DAP at Tk 21. However, agricultural officials say the current demand for TSP is partly driven by excessive use by farmers. Dr Sirajul Islam, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in the Rangpur region, said TSP is not required in large quantities at the stage when Aman seedlings are being transplanted. “Farmers do not want to understand this. They are becoming increasingly dependent on TSP,” he said, adding that necessary nutrients are also available through urea and DAP. He said farmers are using five to six times more TSP than recommended, creating the impression that government allocations were insufficient compared with demand. “Demand for TSP is assessed according to recommended agricultural practices, and the government allocates fertiliser accordingly. Farmers are using excessive amounts based on their own expectations, which may actually harm the soil rather than benefit it,” Dr Sirajul said. He said the agricultural department is conducting awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to use fertiliser according to recommendations. Meanwhile, Shahidul Islam, joint director of the Rangpur regional BADC (Fertiliser), said there was no overall shortage of fertiliser in the region. “There is sufficient stock of fertiliser until October,” he said. He said fertiliser is allocated based on demand submitted by the agricultural department and supplied to farmers through registered dealers every month at government-fixed retail prices. “If there is a shortage somewhere or fertiliser is being sold at a higher price, dealers may be creating an artificial shortage to make additional profits,” Shahidul said. He added that the agricultural department and local administration are monitoring the situation in the field.

Over 50,000 people in 10 villages of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur have been enduring years of hardship after floodwaters washed away the approach roads to a bridge, forcing them to cross a fragile bamboo footbridge every day. Besides, the concrete bridge at Gopidanga Moulvibazar in Balapara union has remained largely unusable for vehicles after the Teesta River eroded its approach roads. The bridge has also developed a noticeable tilt, prompting fears of a major accident. Locals said the concrete bridge was built in 2014 by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) at a cost of Tk 37.24 lakh. However, a few years later, floodwaters from the Teesta River washed away the approach roads on both sides. With no repairs undertaken by the authorities, local residents constructed a temporary bamboo-and-wood platform to maintain communication. Since then, thousands of commuters, including school and college students, as well as battery-run auto-rickshaws, vans and horse carts, have been using the risky crossing daily. Residents alleged that frequent minor accidents occur on the bridge, while travelling at night has become even more dangerous. They said repeated appeals to local authorities and elected representatives for reconstruction of the bridge and its approach roads have yielded only assurances. Balapara Union Parishad Member Hafizar Rahman said at least 50,000 people from 10 villages depend on the crossing. UP Chairman Ansar Ali said several proposals had been submitted to the LGED seeking construction of a new bridge. Kaunia Upazila LGED Engineer Md Manirul Islam said a proposal for a new bridge has already been approved and the feasibility study completed. "The project is now at the design stage. We hope the tender will be approved soon, after which construction work will begin," he said.

Around 10,000 people have been stranded after breaches in two embankments along the Teesta River flooded several villages in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur. The breaches developed at the volunteer-built embankments in Ward No. 8 of Nohali Union following a sudden rise in the Teesta's water level, allowing floodwater to enter nearby villages. A visit to the area found that nearly 150 metres of the embankments have already been washed away by the river. Vast tract of cropland have gone underwater, while floodwater has inundated villages, disrupting normal life. The erosion has also put more than 100 homesteads, educational institutions, mosques, a temple, roads and other infrastructures at risk. Residents of Char Baghdhogra, Char Kachari, Chilakhal, Binbinia and Mukutpara said families, particularly children, elderly people and livestock, are facing severe hardship, with many taking shelter at relatives' houses. Monayem Hossain, a local resident said hundreds of people lose their homes to river erosion every year but no permanent solution has been implemented. "The embankment has already lost about 150 metres to the river. If the main embankment is breached, thousands of people will lose their homes. A few thousand geo bags will not be enough. A permanent embankment project is urgently needed," he said. Abdul Karim, another resident, said several houses have already disappeared into the river before their eyes. "My house could be the next. If I lose my homestead, I will have nowhere to go. If no one gives me a place to relocate, I will have to move to Dhaka with my family and earn a living by pulling a rickshaw," he said. Mominul Islam, another affected resident, said repeated erosion has already washed away homes, farmland, a mosque, a madrasa and schools. "We do not want relief. We want a permanent embankment to protect us," he said. Executive Engineer of the Rangpur Water Development Board (WDB) Robiul Islam said 4,500 geo bags have already been allocated to protect the embankment, and dumping work is  underway. "More geo bags will be supplied if necessary. We are treating the matter with utmost importance," he said. Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mosammat Jesmin Akter said the affected area has been inspected and the Water Development Board has been requested to take immediate measures to prevent further erosion.

A 24-year-old worker of a hotel died as the hotel owner’s son allegedly hit him with a hammer at Khamar Intersection in Rangpur city on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Shaon, resident of Nurer Chak of Aditmari upazila of the district. Sanatan Chakraborty, deputy commissioner of Rangpur DB police, said police arrested Mizanur Rahman Monu, son of hotel owner Amir Hossain, in this connection. During interrogation Mizanur admitted that he had an argument with Shaon over spitting betel leaf residue near a utensil storage area and  following the dispute he hit Shaon with a hammer at night, said police. Meanwhile, family members of Misanur claimed that he has been suffering from mental health problems for a long time. Legal steps will be taken after getting complaint from the family members of the deceased, said police.

The death toll from drinking ‘toxic liquor’ in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur rose to four with the death of another man. The deceased was identified as Ershad Mia, 40, son of Sultan Ali of Buzruk Jhalai Pakarmatha area. Earlier, three people died after taking toxic liquor on Monday. Locals said a number of people consumed toxic liquor at Balarhat Bazar on Sunday night and they fell sick after returning home. Two of them died early Monday while another died on Monday morning at Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Later, Ershad died on Monday night at the same hospital, said Ershad Ahmed, Officer-in-charge of Mithapukur Police Station. On information, Mithapukur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Parvez visited the area. An investigation is underway and legal action will be taken against those responsible in the incident, said the OC.