United News of Bangladesh

Three presiding officers have been withdrawn in Faridpur and Jhenaidah districts over allegations of irregularities while a presiding officer was physically assaulted at a polling centre in Sylhet. In Faridpur, two presiding officers were withdrawn from separate constituencies over allegations of allowing unauthorised persons to enter polling centres. The withdrawn officials are Md Al Amin of Hitaishi High School centre in Faridpur-3 (Sadar) and Zahidul Islam of Ashapur Madrasha centre in Faridpur-1 (Alfadanga-Boalmari-Madhukhali). Faridpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Molla said new presiding officers have been appointed in their place. In Jhenaidah, Jesmin Ara, presiding officer of Salimunnessa Girls’ School centre under Jhenaidah-4 constituency, was removed after 23 pre-signed result sheets were recovered on Wednesday night. Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Abdullah Al Masud said such irresponsible conduct would not be tolerated in the interest of holding a free and fair election. A new presiding officer, Shamsuzzaman Khan, a senior lecturer at Kaliganj Shaheed Nur Ali College, has been appointed. Jesmin Ara later claimed she had signed the result sheets unintentionally and tore them up after realising her mistake. In Sylhet, a presiding officer of Sylhet-3 constituency was assaulted following a dispute over the entry of a candidate’s agent at Mahishashi polling centre in Balaganj upazila around 11:30pm on Wednesday. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Saiful Islam said three people attempted to enter Shahjalal Jamiya Islamia School and College polling centre in Sylhet city, posing as election observers. Local residents later detained them and handed them over to police. Law enforcers also recovered several bamboo sticks from Chowkidekhi petrol pump area in the city late at night. Sylhet Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam said no one is permitted to enter polling centres at night.

A mild tremor shook Sylhet and its adjacent areas on Tuesday. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the tremor was recorded at 5:32 pm with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake was Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet division, 214 km North-East from BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka, according to BMD. Another earthquake jolts Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqul Rahman will attend an election rally in Sylhet on Saturday. The rally, organized by Sylhet district Jamaat-e-Islami, will be held at the historic Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground at 3:00 pm, where Dr. Rahman will deliver his keynote speech. Leaders of the 11-party alliance will also address the gathering. Extensive arrangements have been made by Jamaat and the 11-party alliance to welcome the Ameer. Ahead of the event, senior officials of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) and Sylhet City Corporation inspected the venue to ensure security and traffic management. Jamaat leaders also conducted multiple inspections of the rally ground. On Friday, SMP Commissioner Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury led a team of senior police officials to review the site and briefed on security arrangements. Earlier in the day, city corporation and administration officials also visited the venue. Jamaat Ameer to address major rally in Sylhet on Saturday Among the Jamaat leaders present during the inspection were central working committee member and Sylhet metropolitan Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam, Sylhet-1 constituency candidate Maulana Habibur Rahman, district Naib Ameer Professor Abdul Hannan, election director Hafiz Abdul Hai Harun, assistant election director Dr. Nurul Islam Babul, and other senior party officials. Muhammad Fakhrul Islam said the rally, starting at 3:00 pm and concluding by 4:30 pm, will introduce Jamaat and 11-party candidates from six Sylhet constituencies and four constituencies from Sunamganj. Dr. Shafiqul Rahman will arrive at Sylhet district stadium by helicopter after attending rallies in Habiganj and Moulvibazar. Special arrangements have been made for women participants.  

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman will arrive in Sylhet by helicopter on Saturday to address a major election rally, with organisers expecting a gathering of more than one lakh people. The rally will be held at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground, organised by the district and city units of Jamaat-e-Islami. It will begin at 2:00 pm and continue until 4:30 pm. Dr Shafiqur Rahman will speak as the chief guest. Top leaders of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance are also scheduled to address the gathering. The information was shared at a press briefing on Thursday noon. The briefing took place at the main election office of Jamaat candidate for Sylhet-1 constituency, Maulana Habibur Rahman, at Dhopadighirpar in the city. Sylhet city Jamaat Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam delivered the main speech at the briefing. The event was conducted by city Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Nurul Islam Babul. Maulana Habibur Rahman also spoke and leaders of the Jamaat-led alliance from the district and city were present. Organisers said Dr Shafiqur Rahman will reach Habiganj by helicopter at 10:00 am on Saturday and address a rally there. He will then go to Kulaura in Moulvibazar at 11:30 am to join another rally. He is expected to arrive in Sylhet around 2:00 pm. Muhammad Fakhrul Islam said journalists’ cooperation is being sought to ensure the success of the Sylhet rally. He added that Jamaat leaders have met the district returning officer and the Sylhet Metropolitan Police commissioner to discuss security. Tarique urges women to respond to Jamaat Ameer’s derogatory remarks through ballot He further said that the administration has assured full cooperation and necessary security for the programme. During the rally, candidates of Jamaat-e-Islami and the 11-party alliance from Sylhet division are also expected to be introduced.

At least 10 people including police personnel were injured in a clash among residents of four villages in Sylhet city over a seating dispute at a street meeting early Thursday. Witnesses and police said the clash broke out at Temukhi Point where residents of Kumargaon, Sahebergaon, Nazirgaon, and Charugao got involved . The clash continued for nearly one and a half hours, spreading tension to nearby areas before army and police personnel arrived to bring the situation under control. According to police and local sources, the dispute initially started between two groups from Kumargaon and Sahebergaon over seating arrangements for teenagers at a street meeting. The matter was temporarily settled by bystanders but about an hour later both sides resumed arguments and raised voices. Read More: 20 injured in clashes between law enforcers and technical students in Sylhet Tensions escalated when residents of Nazirgaon sided with the Kumargaon group and several people from Charugao joined Sahebergaon residents, leading to a full-scale clash. During the confrontation, both sides chased each other and hurled bricksbats at one another. Jalalabad Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamsul Habib said the clash among residents of four villages was triggered over dominance late at night and police and army personnel later controlled the situation. The clash disrupted traffic on Sylhet–Sunamganj road. Army and police have been deployed in the area.

A chase and counter-chase took place between law enforcement agencies and protesting technical education students in Sylhet on Tuesday as demonstrations continued over quota reform demands. The students are demanding reforms to a proposed 33 percent quota and the cancellation of what they describe as a discriminatory inter-ministerial committee. The incident occurred around noon, according to witnesses. Protesters claimed that at least 20 people, including students and teachers, were injured during the clashes. Some of the injured received first aid at Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, while others were admitted to nearby hospitals, they said. Read More: Motorcycle rider killed in truck accident in Sylhet According to eyewitnesses, Diploma Engineering students began their protest by blocking roads in the Chowhatta area of Sylhet city around 12pm. After demonstrating for more than half an hour, most of the protesters moved to the nearby Shaheed Minar, though some remained on the road. Later, an army team arrived at the scene and asked the students to clear the road. Tensions rose as arguments broke out, after which police and army personnel jointly removed the protesters from the area. Several rounds of chase and counter-chase followed between police and demonstrators. Students alleged that several protesters were injured during the operation. However, police denied any injuries. Sylhet Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mainul Zakir said the situation is now calm. “We persuaded the students to disperse peacefully. No one was injured,” he said. Read More: Truck crushes motorcyclist in Sylhet’s Golapganj The protesters said they are opposing a proposed 33 percent quota for BCS engineers in posts of sub-assistant engineers and equivalent positions. They claimed the move is discriminatory against diploma engineers, who they say have long been deprived of fair job opportunities and promotions. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed quota and related decisions, warning that their movement would continue until their demands are met.

Power supply will be temporarily suspended in several important areas of Sylhet on Monday (Feb 2) due to transformer renovation and maintenance work as well as transmission line development activities. A press release on Sunday, signed by Abdur Razzak, Executive Engineer of the Sales and Distribution Division‑2 of the Sylhet Power Development Board, said electricity supply will remain off from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon in areas under the 11 kV feeders of the Power Development and Distribution Division‑2. Motorcycle rider killed in truck accident in Sylhet The affected areas are Anantapur, Badeali, Masukbazar, Tajpur Suklampur, Chhunpara, Medenimahal Basantergaon, Munsirgaon, Dighirpar, Paschim Darsha, Bashirpur Mirergaon and Sujatpur and surrounding localities. The release also said that the power line will be considered operational during the shutdown period and supply will be restored immediately if the work is completed before the scheduled time. Abdur Razzak apologised to customers for the temporary inconvenience and sought cooperation from all for the essential renovation and maintenance work.

A young motorcyclist was killed after being run over by a truck in Golapganj, Sylhet on Friday afternoon. The accident occurred around 3:30 pm in front of the Government MC Academy. The deceased was identified as Shanaj Ahmed, 25, son of Makhon Mia from Sripur Rampasha village in Bishwanath upazila. He worked as a vehicle driver for a poultry farm in Sylhet city. According to police and witnesses, Shanaj went to Fulbari Purbo Para in Golapganj to attend a event with colleagues. After the event, he rode another person’s motorcycle back towards Golapganj town. Reaching in front of the MC Academy, he lost control of the motorcycle, hit a road divider, and fell off. Dhaka’s rail links with Sylhet, Ctg suspended as train derails A truck coming from the opposite direction ran over him, killing him instantly. Golapganj Model Police and Fire Service personnel reached the site and after initial procedures, took the body to Golapganj Model Police Station. Anupam, sub-inspector of Golapganj Model Police Station, confirmed the incident, saying, “The body was brought to the police station.”

The Oil and Gas major Chevron sponsored a 10-day medical mission, providing free reconstructive surgeries to 54 patients, which concluded with a formal closing ceremony in Sylhet. The initiative, marking the 9th Rotaplast mission to the region, focused on correcting cleft lips, palates, facial deformities, and burn scars for children living in the greater Sylhet Division, which closed recently. The mission was a collaborative effort between Rotaplast International, Chevron Bangladesh, the Rotary Club of Jalalabad, and Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital. Read More: Chevron CSR program restores mobility for 60 disabled persons in Sylhet A multidisciplinary team of over 24 international volunteers participated in the mission. The group included specialized plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, speech pathologists, and nurses who worked together to provide comprehensive care. Professor Md. Ismail Patwary, Vice-Chancellor of Sylhet Medical University, attended as the chief guest. He praised the partnership, stating: "I convey my deep appreciation to Rotaplast, Chevron, and the Rotary Club for their collaborative support of this noble mission," he said. Chevron Bangladesh, the country’s largest producer of natural gas, has been a key partner of Rotaplast since 2013. This year’s sponsorship is part of the company's broader social investment strategy, which has seen over $15 million invested in health, education, and economic development in Bangladesh. Read More: Chevron reaffirms continued partnership with Bangladesh "These reconstructive surgeries truly change lives for the better, providing patients with an opportunity to lead normal lives and reach their full potential," said Muhammad Imrul Kabir, Director of Corporate Affairs for Chevron Bangladesh. Rotaplast International, a project of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, focuses on both surgical intervention and the training of local professionals. The partnership in Sylhet has been a recurring success, with previous missions held in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2024, and 2025.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman urged voters to back the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ in the February-12 election to ensure much-sought  good governance and warned them against vote robbery as he hit the campaign trail in Sylhet city on Thursday. “Seeking votes for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ on the 12th February, I want to say one thing, if, Inshallah, a BNP government is formed in the coming days, we will run the country on the basis of justice, following the example of the Holy Prophet (pbuh),” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while addressing the first election rally at Alia Madrasa field in Sylhet city where thousands of party supporters gathered ahead of the 13th national election. Tarique alleged that attempts are underway to manipulate votes from abroad through the misuse of postal ballots. “You have seen in newspapers and on social media how postal ballots sent to various countries, including the Middle East, have been taken away.” He said the Awami League fled the country on 5 August 2024 after indulging in vote robbery, and that the same plots have now begun again. Stating that people have already seen signs of a conspiracy to steal votes, the BNP Chairman said, “We must remain alert against such plots. They are conspiring from abroad.” The BNP chairman also referred to the sacrifices made during the anti-government movement and the student-led July mass uprising, for restoring democracy and voting rights. He also recalled party leaders and activists who were killed or subjected to enforced disappearance during the long struggle against the Sheikh Hasina regime. Tarique named missing Sylhet BNP leader M Ilias Ali and said 13 people were killed in Sylhet during the 2024 mass uprising. “Through the sacrifices of these lives, as we set out on the path to reclaim our rights, conspirators have already begun plotting.” Sylhet sets the stage as Tarique ready to launch BNP’s election campaign On 5 August 2024, he said the people of Bangladesh proved that a united nation can defeat any conspiracy. “Will you resist again if needed?” he asked the crowd, which responded with chants. Tarique said that elected on 12 January, a BNP-led government will run the country on the basis of justice and fairness. He also outlined several proposed programmes, including family cards for women, farmer cards, health support schemes, employment initiatives for youth, dredging canals and reforms in education and healthcare. “We have freed the country from autocracy and started the journey to restore democracy. That journey will begin in full once you elect the sheaf of paddy on 12 January,” Tarique said. Tarique said his party wants to stand by farmers across Bangladesh and would restart canal excavation programmes to improve irrigation and water management if BNP wins the election. He said the canal excavation drive during Ziaur Rahman’s tenure helped address irrigation needs for farmers and eased water shortages and pledged to revive the programme to bring water back to canals, wetlands and rivers. Tarique also accused the previous government of looting public money in the name of development over the past 15–16 years. “You surely remember how a few years ago water was released from over there and the entire Sylhet city went under floodwater. And how, over the last 15 to 16 years, this country was mortgaged to another country. That is why I said “Not Delhi, not Pindi, not any other country—Bangladesh comes first.” He said the ‘Take Back Bangladesh’ campaign is not only about protecting democracy but also about wider commitments, including canal dredging, standing by farmers, empowering women and creating jobs. Tarique Rahman promises family cards for four crore households The rally began shortly before midday. Tarique took to the stage at 12:28pm and spoke for about 23 minutes. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with leaders from Sylhet and Sunamganj, also addressed the gathering.