United News of Bangladesh

At least 15 people, including a woman, were injured in a clash between supporters of BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district on Thursday night. The incident occurred around 9pm at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection in Charshiba village under Charkazal union allegedly over an argument about who would get the party nomination—BNP leader Hasan Mamun or Gona Odhikar President Nurul Haque Nur, popularly known as VP Nur. The injured BNP men were identified as Charshiba ward Jubo Dal organizing secretary Ilias Rarhi, members Sabuj Rarhi, Nur Nabi Rarhi, Hasan Rarhi, Kuddus Bepari, Yakub Rarhi, Omar Rarhi, Rahan Rarhi and Soleman Rarhi. The injured Gona Odhikar men are Ward  Jubo Odhikar general secretary Md Sohel Khalifa, activists Azmir Khalifa, Shahabul Khalifa, Amena Begum, Naeem Khalifa and Nabin Khalifa. The injured from both sides were admitted to the upazila health complex. Locals said the Gono Odhikar organised a meeting in Kupalbera Bazar on Thursday evening to form a ward committee, with activists joining from different areas on motorcycles. Meanwhile, BNP activists under Charkazal union unit brought out a procession to greet BNP central executive committee member Hasan on the eve of the party’s ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ on November 7. After both events concluded, the two groups encountered each other at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection where an argument broke out over who would get the nomination in the area. The altercation soon turned into a clash, leaving at least 15 people injured. Injured Jubo Dal leader Ilias claimed that they were returning home after a welcome procession for Hasan when Gono Odhikar activists suddenly attacked them.  

Two people, including an autorickshaw driver, were killed in a road accident in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria District early Friday morning. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately. The accident occurred around 6:15 am in front of Baddapara Alia Madrasa on the Sarail–Nasirnagar regional road. Md. Morshedul Alam Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sarail Police Station, said a Sylhet-bound truck carrying fish collided with the autorickshaw coming from the opposite direction. The autorickshaw driver and a passenger died on the spot. The accident might have been caused by the early morning fog, the OC added. The truck and its driver have been taken into custody, and legal action will be taken.

A youth was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rahimnagar village under Naihati Union of Rupsa Upazila in Khulna on Thursday night, police said. The deceased was identified as Sohel Hawlader, son of Rustum Hawlader of the village. He had been living abroad for a long time and returned to the country a few days ago. The incident occurred around 9 pm on Thursday in the sand field of Manik Sardar in the village. A. Sabur Khan, OC (Investigation) of Rupsa Police Station, said that Sohel had left his house to buy bread and curd when he was attacked.  He was hit by eight bullets fired by the assailants in different parts of his body. Police said an operation is underway to determine the motive behind the murder and to apprehend those involved.

An amputee auto-rickshaw driver sustained serious injuries after being caught in a gunfight between two gangs in the Chalitatli area under Bayazid upazila of Chattogram on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after a BNP candidate Ershad Ullah was shot and a top criminal, Sarowar Babla, was killed in the same area. The injured driver, identified as Md Idris, was admitted to the emergency department of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with bullet wounds to his legs. Doctors said that although Idris has not yet regained consciousness, he is currently out of danger. One killed, BNP candidate Ershad Ullah injured in Ctg gun attack Family members said Idris, who lost his left leg earlier, runs his family by driving an auto-rickshaw. He was reportedly caught in the crossfire while carrying passengers through the area. Jasim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Bayazid Police Station, said no report of gunfire had been officially received on Thursday. However, additional police have been deployed in the area following Wednesday’s deadly incident. “We are looking into the matter,” the OC added.    

Advocate Saifur Rahman, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) of Bangladesh and Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate for the parliamentary election from Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), has called upon students to play a proactive role in shaping the nation’s future. He made the remarks while attending a meet-and-greet session and quiz competition at the historic Aburhat High School in Ward 1 of Ichakhali Union, Mirsarai Upazila on Thursday. Saifur Rahman said, “If students do not take an active role in building the country, the nation will never move forward on the path of progress.” The event featured quiz competitions for students across all grades to enhance their academic and general knowledge. Winners were then awarded prizes. School Principal Nasima Akhtar and Assistant Headmaster Harunur Rashid attended the event, along with local Jamaat leader Abdul Gafur and other dignitaries.

Around 100 illegal establishments have been evicted from Joydebpur Railway Junction area in Gazipur on Thursday. A mobile court conducted the  drive in the area in the afternoon and evicted around 100 illegal establishments. A number of shops including fruit, tea shops and dwelling houses were evicted during the drive. Gazipur Metropolitan Police, Railway Police and City Corporation members were present during the drive.    

Three shops were gutted in a fire which broke out at Gobra Bazar in Sadar upazila of Narail district early Thursday. Masud Rana, Station Master of Narail Fire Service, said the fire broke out at a shop around 5 am and spread soon. On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze after an hour. 6 jhut warehouses gutted in Gazipur fire Saiful Islam, owner of one of the affected shops, sustained injuries while trying to douse the flames. He was taken to Narail Sadar Hospital. The affected shop owners claimed that valuables worth around Tk 5 lakh were damaged in the fire. Initially, it is suspected that the fire might have originated from an electrical short circuit.  

Tensions flared at the Lalmonirhat-Patgram border as the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) fired three rounds of sound grenades early Wednesday morning, triggering panic among locals. The incident occurred near the Serampur Union in Patgram Upazila, in proximity to the Bangladesh-India border at Sub Pillar 3, Main Pillar No. 854. According to local sources and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the BSF fired the grenades around 5:20 am, suspecting smuggling activity. However, no casualties were reported. In response, the BGB quickly mobilized from nearby camps, and a flag meeting was held to address the situation. The BGB lodged a formal protest, calling the grenade attack an unnecessary attempt to intimidate civilians. They urged the BSF to enhance communication and coordination to prevent such incidents in the future. Smugglers flee as BGB swoops in, huge drugs haul seized in Lalmonirhat Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 61 BGB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Sheikh Mohammad Musahid Masum said, "I have heard the incident. A flag meeting has already been held at the BOP commander level. We have protested." The BSF, in turn, said that the grenades were used in pursuit of a group of cattle smugglers crossing into India, but assured that they would avoid similar actions going forward. The BGB said that the situation in the area is now calm and under control.    

Activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) allegedly attacked the Nokla Upazila Agriculture Office in Sherpur on Wednesday afternoon, vandalizing furniture and physically assaulting the upazila agriculture officer. The attack took place around 3pm, reportedly after the names of certain individuals were not included in the list of beneficiaries under a government agricultural incentive programme. According to local sources, the attack was led by Rahat Hasan Kaiyum, member secretary of Nokla Upazila JCD and a resident of Dhukuria village, along with several others including student leader Fazlul Haque. They allegedly vandalized office furniture and assaulted Agriculture Officer Mehedi Morsalin during the incident. Deputy Director of Sherpur’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain confirmed the occurrence. BNP candidate Ershad Ullah, another injured in Ctg gun attack Additionally, he said that the upazila administration, including Nokla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Jahangir Alam, are taking legal action. Abul Kashem, Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Nokla Police, said, “Preparations are underway to file a case over the attack and vandalism.”  

Three BNP activists were killed in a road accident in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat on Tuesday evening. According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place in the Belai Bridge area on the Khulna-Mongla highway when a passenger bus hit their motorcycle, followed by a truck running over it; leaving all three dead on the spot. The deceased were identified as Jamir Master Ijaradar, 60, son of Abbas Ali Ijaradar; Mizan Sheikh, 55, son of Saha Sheikh; and Haripad Halder, 54, son of Monindrir Halder — all residents of Kalekhar Ber village in Rampal upazila. According to local sources, the three were returning home on a motorcycle after attending a BNP meeting at Bhaga Balur Math in the afternoon. Martyr Mugdha's brother steps into politics with BNP Md Zafar Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Katakhali Highway Police Station, said that the police recovered the bodies from the scene, but the vehicles involved fled immediately after the incident. “Efforts are underway to identify and seize the vehicles and detain the drivers responsible,” the OC added.