United News of Bangladesh

A teacher was arrested with Tk7 lakh on Monday while allegedly trying to bribe a senior education official to secure MPO enlistment for one teacher and three employees of a secondary school in Kurigram. The arrest took place in the afternoon at the office of the Deputy Director of Secondary and Higher Education in Kachari Bazar area of Rangpur city. The arrestee was identified as Maidul Islam Khan, son of Haji Abdur Sabur Khan of Kajikata Datbhanga area in Roumari upazila of Kurigram. Confirming the matter, Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station Shahajan Ali said the money was seized from Maidul at the spot. According to police and officials, Haji Abdur Sabur Khan founded Kajikata High School in Roumari upazila. Maidul allegedly went to the office of the Deputy Director of Secondary and Higher Education of the Rangpur region to offer bribe money to get MPO status for one teacher and three staff members of the institution. Jashore district primary education officer held by ACC with Tk 1.20 lakh bribe Deputy Director Mosammat Roksana Akter said Maidul had visited her earlier with the same proposal. On Monday, he again offered cash, claiming he had brought Tk7 lakh in total. She immediately informed the Anti-Corruption Commission and the police. Following her complaint, a team from the ACC and police reached the office and arrested Maidul with Tk7 lakh in cash. ACC Rangpur Deputy Director Md Shaon Mia said preliminary investigation at the spot confirmed the allegations. He added that legal proceedings were underway and a case would be filed with the Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party-affiliated Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal has expelled two of its leaders in Kushtia for failing to work with the party-backed candidate in the 13th parliamentary election. The decision was announced in a press release signed on Monday by Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee Assistant Office Secretary Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan. The expelled leaders are Md Zakaria Ansar Millon, convener of Kumarkhali Upazila Jubo Dal, and Md Hanif Kabiraj, a Jubo Dal activist under Ailchara Union in Kushtia Sadar Upazila. The expulsion order was issued following a decision taken by Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Monayem Munna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayan, according to the press release. It said Millon was expelled on clear charges of working against the BNP-nominated sheaf of paddy candidate in the 13th parliamentary election. Candidates concern over illegal arms in Kushtia: SP pledges strict action Md Hanif Kabiraj was expelled from all posts including his primary membership for violating the party's ideology and unity. The press release also noted that Hanif has been facing allegations of extortion and other criminal activities in the Khajanagar Kabur Hat area, one of the country’s second-largest rice trading hubs, since August 5. On Monday afternoon, angry local residents staged a road blockade in the area demanding his arrest and exemplary punishment. Vehicular movement on the road came to a halt during the protest. Later, members of the army arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.

Tension flared on Monday morning after six tampered ballot papers and two seals were recovered from a polling station in Pirganj Upazila of the Rangpur-6 constituency. The incident occurred at Hasarpara Government Primary School polling station in Madankhali Union. Locals said some students who arrived at the school in the morning found six sealed ballot papers inside a classroom. Two of the ballots were stamped for the paddy sheaf symbol, while four were for the referendum. When the matter was reported to the school headmaster, he seized the ballots and seals and informed the upazila administration. Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Poppy Khatun arrived at the scene shortly after, but a crowd of agitated locals had already gathered and began protesting. At one-point, angry crowd confined the UNO and vandalized her car amid allegations of vote rigging. Following this, additional police personnel arrived and restored order in the area. The Assistant Returning Officer assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the incident.

Power supply will be temporarily suspended in several key areas of Sylhet city on Tuesday due to transformer repair, renovation, and transmission line development work. A press release on Monday, signed by the Executive Engineer of Sales and Distribution Division-3 of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, Sylhet, said that electricity will be cut off in areas under the Lalabazar feeder, including Telibazar, Badikona, Bhalki, Bhorout, Lalabazar Nijgaon, Tengra, Betsandhi, Munshirgaon, Munshibazar, Farhadpur, Kararpar, Gangapar, Monokupa, Alamnagar, Chhomipur, and surrounding localities, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Mild earthquake jolts Sylhet; epicentre in Gowainghat upazila The release added that the power line will be considered operational during the shutdown, and if the work is completed earlier than scheduled, electricity supply will be restored immediately. Authorities apologised to customers in the affected areas for the temporary inconvenience and sought their cooperation.

A woman gave birth to a baby girl at a polling station in Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila while casting her vote in the 13th national election held on February 12. The mother, Ambia Khatun, wife of Sharif Ali of Bengnai village under the Sirajganj-3 (Raiganj-Tarash) constituency, went into labour pain suddenly during voting on election day, locals said. With immediate assistance from people present at the centre, she delivered a baby girl at the polling station. The family later decided to name the newborn Begum Khaleda Zia, after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Both the mother and the newborn are currently healthy, family members said. On Sunday evening, Deputy Commissioner Md Aminul Islam visited the village to see the mother and the baby. He greeted the family with flowers and handed over a birth certificate, cash assistance and essential items for the mother and child, along with a congratulatory letter. Raiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Khalek Patwary and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Masud Rana, among others, were present during the visit.

Police have recovered the hanging body of a Jagannath University student from Gandaria in the capital. The deceased was identified as Imran Nabil Paramanik, a student of the 2016–17 session (12th batch) of the Islamic Studies Department, said Inspector (Investigation) Nazmul Hasan of Gandaria Police Station on Monday. Imran Nabil’s family hails from Dhumaitari village under Sundarganj Police Station in Gaibandha district. He was the son of Shafiqul Islam Paramanik. He was residing at 29/C Rajni Chowdhury Road in the Gandaria area of Dhaka. Hanging body of JnU student recovered from mess in Old Dhaka Inspector Nazmul said the body was found hanging inside his residence on Rajni Chowdhury Road, next to Monija Rahman School in the Dhupkhola area of Gandaria. His body was later recovered and sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy. Legal proceedings are underway in connection with the case. The preliminary finding suggests the student may have committed suicide due to depression.

Five Bangladeshi nationals including four members of a family have been killed in a road crash in Saudi Arabia. The deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman, 42, his wife Meher Afroz Sumi, 30, their two-daughters—Mohna, 13 and Subah of Ramganj upazila and Hossain Mohammad Jilani alias Babo, 30 of Balakot area in the upazila. Another daughter of Mizanur identified as Faiza Akter, 11 in  undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, said their family. Eight shops gutted in fire in Laxmipur Firoz Uddin Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge of Ramganj Police Station, said the accident occurred around local time 3 am (Bangladesh time 11 pm) in Abha area of Saudi Arabia. Baharul Alam, elder brother of Mizanur, said Mizanur had long been involved in hotel business in Saudi Arabia. On February 3, Mizanur along with his wife and three daughters went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. They met the  tragic accident while returning home after performing Umrah.  

A 65-year-old woman suffered burn injuries in an acid attack by some miscreants in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore district early Sunday. The victim was identified as Halima Begum, mother of union parishad member Chameli Begum. Victim’s family said Nazul, a listed criminal of Nazirpur village, violated a child  and Chameli assisted in handing Nazrul over to police along with witnesses. After securing bail, Nazrul and his associates threatened to take revenge, the family alleged. Around 2:00am, Halima Begum stepped out of her house for a personal need when Nazrul and his accomplices, who were allegedly hiding near the fence, threw acid at her. Fire in Natore kills mother, daughter Hearing her screams, family members rushed to the spot, prompting the attackers to flee. Officer-in-Charge of Gurudaspur Police Station Shafiquzzaman Sarkar said police visited the scene on Monday morning after receiving information. Legal action will be taken once a formal complaint is filed by the victim or her family, he said.

A 55-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a moving motorcycle in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur on Sunday evening. The deceased, Khaleda Akhter, was the wife of Joynal Abdin of Sandhyakura area in the upazila. The accident occurred in Sandhyakura when the motorcyclist, Shahjamal, 25, son of Shafiq Mia of Haldigram area, lost control after Khaleda Akhter’s saree got entangled in his motorcycle. Shahjamal was seriously injured in the accident. Asst presiding officer among 2 killed in Sherpur road crash Eyewitnesses said Shahjamal was heading towards the upazila headquarters when he hit Khaleda Akhter while she was crossing the road. Locals rescued both and took them to Jhenaigati Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared Khaleda Akhter dead on arrival. Shahjamal was later referred to Sherpur District Sadar Hospital due to the critical condition of his injuries. Md Amirul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jhenaigati Police Station, said police visited the scene immediately after the accident and legal action is under process. Case filed against BNP candidate among hundreds over killing of Jamaat leader in Sherpur

Police have filed a case against over 500 people following a violent clash between two groups of people in Sirajganj municipality area. SI Alamin of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station lodged the case at the police station on Sunday morning. Officer in Charge (Investigation) of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station, Ahsanuzzaman, said the dispute had been brewing for a long time between residents of Mahmudpur and Raipur areas over dominance and theft incidents. BNP-Jamaat clash in Sirajganj leaves 9 injured The situation escalated into a major clash on Saturday night when they attacked each other with homemade weapons. They vandalised property and looed valuables, prompting law enforcement to intervene, said the OC. According to police, following the violence authorities conducted drives and arrested three youths.  Additional forces have been deployed and patrolling intensified to prevent further clashes. Land dispute clash in Sirajganj leaves 9 injured