United News of Bangladesh

Two people, including a woman and a teenage boy, were killed in separate road accidents in Sylhet. A 13-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a truck in Jalalpur Bazar under Moglabazar Police Station in South Surma upazila on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Tuhin Ahmed, a resident of Hasampur village in Jalalpur union and worked at a company named Swad, said the locals. According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred around 5:00pm on the northern side of a bridge in Jalalpur Bazar, where the truck ran over the boy, killing him on the spot. Following the incident, locals detained the truck driver and handed him over to police, who took him into custody. In another incident, an unidentified elderly woman died after being hit by a long-distance bus in Nazirbazar area of South Surma around 11:00pm on Friday. She was critically injured and taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday afternoon. Officer-in-Charge of South Surma Police Station Md Ashrafuzzaman confirmed the incidents.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has issued the highest alert along the 278-kilometre border in Kurigram amid fears of illegal infiltration and possible “push-ins” linked to the ongoing political situation in West Bengal. Border patrols, intelligence surveillance and other security measures have been intensified across the frontier areas, officials said on Saturday. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahbub-ul-Haq, commander of the Kurigram Battalion (22 BGB), said uninterrupted patrols are being carried out round the clock from all Border Outposts (BOPs) under the battalion. He said intelligence monitoring has also been strengthened to quickly detect and prevent any illegal activities along the border. According to BGB sources, awareness campaigns and information-gathering activities are also being conducted with the support of local residents, while the movement of suspicious individuals and vehicles is being closely monitored. “BGB is working under a zero-tolerance policy to prevent smuggling and illegal infiltration. We are always alert and prepared to ensure border security,” said Lt Col Mahbub-ul-Haq. Meanwhile, Lalmonirhat 15 BGB also issued a similar alert for the 36-kilometre border area in Phulbari upazila, which falls under its jurisdiction. The battalion said fears of illegal infiltration and push-ins through the border have increased due to the prevailing political situation in India. As part of precautionary measures, additional personnel have been deployed in sensitive and remote border areas. BGB members are also continuing drives against cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking, cattle smuggling and human trafficking, while intelligence activities have been reinforced alongside regular patrols. Commanding Officer of Lalmonirhat-15 BGB Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, PSC, said the force remains fully active in preventing crimes and maintaining border security under directives from the BGB headquarters. “There is no laxity in border security. Surveillance has been further strengthened based on local intelligence information,” he said. Local residents said BGB patrols and activities in the border areas have increased significantly in recent days, particularly at night, contributing to greater public vigilance.

Four people were killed and at least 20 others injured in a head-on collision between two buses on Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram district on Saturday morning. The deceased were identified as Muhammad Naim ,23, Naimur Islam Jihad ,24, Rehana Begum,25,and Monir Ahmed ,25. Among them, Jihad was a member of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Witnesses said two speeding buses lost control and collided in the area around 11:30 am. Fire service, highway police and locals later carried out rescue operations. At least 20 passengers were injured and admitted to different hospitals. Dr. Tashfik Ahmed, Junior Consultant of Orthopaedics Department at Lohagara Upazila Health Complex, said seven injured vicitms were brought to the trauma centre where one was declared dead on arrival. The rest were sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Salauddin Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge(OC) of Dohazari Highway Police Station, said the accident caused a long traffic jam on the highway, which was later brought under control. The accident has cast a shadow of grief over the area and locals demanded stricter measures to control reckless driving on highways.

Two Bangladeshi nationals were killed and at least 12 others injured in firing by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Pathariadwar border in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria late Friday night, officials said. The deceased were identified as Morsalin, 20, son of Hebzu Mia of Batenbari village and an HSC student at Gopinathpur Shah Alam Degree College, and Nabir Hossain, 55, son of Makram Ali of Madhupur village. According to family members, the bodies were taken to Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital in Agartala, India. Lt Col Shariful Islam, commanding officer of 60 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said around 15 suspected smugglers entered about 200 yards inside Indian territory through the Pathariadwar border for smuggling. When they were returning with goods, members of the BSF’s 49 Battalion intercepted them. At one stage, the BSF opened fire with pellet shots, leaving Morsalin and Nabir critically injured, he said. They were later taken to a hospital in India, where doctors declared them dead. At least 12 others were injured in the incident and were taken to hospitals in Cumilla, though their identities could not be confirmed immediately. Morsalin’s father Hebzu Mia alleged that two local men lured his son to the border with the promise of money. The BGB official said the bodies would be returned after autopsy through a flag meeting between the two border forces. Kasba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Shamiul Islam confirmed the deaths.

For potato farmers in Rangpur a bumper harvest has turned into a season of despair, as falling prices and lack of storage capacities compel many to throw away their produce. Farmers say it costs about Tk 18 to produce one kilogram of potato while they are being forced to sell at just Tk 5–6 per kg. With cold storages already full and no alternative preservation system, many have no option but to discard their harvest. Additional director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rangpur Sirajul Islam said, farmers Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha and nine upazilas in Lalmonirhat are struggling to store their produce, leaving them in a vulnerable situation. Low paddy prices leave Naogaon farmers reeling despite bumper yield

Police recovered the throat-slit bodies of five members of a family including a woman and her three children at Rahatkhana in Kapashia upazila of Gazipur district early Saturday. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. The deceased include Forkan’s wife, their three children and his brother-in-law. All of them hailed from Gopalganj and used to live at a rented house in the area. Father, son found dead in Gazipur Mohammad Shahinur Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Kapashia Police Station, said Forkan might have killed his wife, children and his brother-in-law sometime at night and fled the scene. Police recovered the bodies and sent those to a l hospital morgue for autopsy.

Sylhet, May 8 (UNB) -  Around Tk 50 lakh belonging to Sylhet Metropolitan BNP President Nasim Hossain was reportedly snatched from the Parairchok area under Moglabazar Police Station in Dakshin Surma upazila of Sylhet on Friday morning. The incident took place around 10:30 am. A complaint has been filed with Moglabazar Police Station in connection with the incident.   Confirming the matter on Friday night, BNP leader Nasim Hossain said he is responsible for the divisional distributorship of a leading mobile financial service provider, bKash. As banks were closed on Friday, officials of the organisation were carrying Tk 50 lakh 50 thousand in a private car to distribute among businessmen in Fenchuganj and nearby areas. “When the vehicle reached Parairchok, a group of snatchers on motorcycles blocked the car, attacked it and vandalised it. They looted the money at gunpoint,” he said, adding that a complaint was lodged with Moglabazar Police Station on Friday afternoon. Confirming the incident, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Mohammad Manjurul Alam said a complaint has been received regarding the snatching. “The complaint is being verified. The matter is being treated with importance,” he added.

Allegations have surfaced against leaders and activists of Begum Rokeya University unit Chatra Dal Dal for attacking and obstructing a press conference organised  to demand the resignation of the university’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Shawkat Ali over alleged irregularities and corruption. The incident took place on Friday around 3:00 pm of the main gate area of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR). According to witnesses and organisers, a group of students led by Physics Department student Hafizur Rahman Siam gathered at the pre-announced venue to hold a press conference highlighting various allegations against the VC and demanding his resignation. At that time, leaders and activists of the university unit Chatradal  Dal allegedly obstructed the  programme. At one stage, they reportedly removed the table arranged for the press conference and harassed the organisers by grabbing collars. Victim and complainant Hafizur Rahman Siam said the press conference had been called based on “specific allegations” against the Vice-Chancellor and not on any fabricated claims. “Later, the Registrar came and said that he would listen to the allegations. During the discussion, members of Chatradal Dal tagged me,” he alleged. Siam further claimed that Chatradal Dal Joint General Secretary Rifat Rafi, assault him after branding him a Chhatra League activist. Rejecting the allegation, Rifat Rafi said Hafizur Rahman Siam had been a Chhatra League activist and was now trying to destabilise the university by implementing the agenda of the banned organisation. University Proctor Ferdous Rahman, said he had gone to the spot and was speaking with the student who had called the press conference. “At one stage, a former student of the university arrived there, which created the chaos,” he added.

Three people were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a motorcycle in Saturia upazila of Manikganj on Friday. Saturia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Mosharraf Hossain confirmed the incident around 6:00pm. The accident occurred around 10:30am  near the eastern side of North Partilli Billpara Bridge in the upazila. Motorcycle passenger Alam died on the spot, while two others — motorcyclist Sona Mia (22) and passenger Kalu Mia (16) — were seriously injured. They were later taken to Manikganj Medical College Hospital for treatment. Kalu Mia died around 2:00pm while undergoing treatment, and Sona Mia died around 5:30pm, officials said. The OC said the bodies would be sent to the morgue of Manikganj Medical College Hospital for autopsy, adding that legal procedures are underway in connection with the incident.

A woman gave birth to seven babies after 10 years of marriage in Narail Sadar upazila, but none of the newborns survived due to premature birth, leaving the family and locals devastated. The tragic incident took place in Kalukhali village under Maijpara union of Narail Sadar upazila. Salma Begum, wife of easy-bike driver Mohsin Mollah, gave birth to the babies at a hospital in Jashore. Although ultrasonography reports had indicated six babies, she eventually delivered seven newborns - four boys and three girls. Measles: Death toll rises to 336 as 12 more children die in 24 hours According to family sources, Salma experienced labour pain on Monday night and was rushed to a hospital in Jashore. She first gave birth to two babies on Tuesday night and later delivered five more on Wednesday night. Doctors said all the babies were born prematurely at around five and a half months of pregnancy and could not be saved. The seven newborns were buried at the family graveyard on Thursday around 11:00 am. Abdul Latif Mollah, grandfather of the babies, said the family had long waited to see the faces of grandchildren after 10 years of marriage. “My son used to work in Saudi Arabia and returned home three years ago. He later started driving an easy-bike. We had been waiting for grandchildren for a decade. Seven came at once, yet none survived. The pain is unbearable,” he said. Associate Professor Dr Ila Mondal of the Gynaecology Department at Jashore Medical College Hospital said Salma Begum had been under her treatment. “The babies were born in an extremely premature condition. The mother’s amniotic fluid had broken before delivery. Each newborn weighed only around 200 grams. Although all had heartbeats at birth, they could not survive due to underdeveloped lungs and extremely low weight,” she said. Local school teacher Abu Selim said the news of the birth of seven babies had created huge excitement in the area, with people flocking from distant places to see the newborns. “Now the entire village is mourning after hearing about their deaths,” he added. Salma Begum is currently undergoing treatment at the Jashore hospital, while relatives and locals are praying for her speedy recovery.