United News of Bangladesh

At least 20 people were injured in a violent clash between two rival groups at Ramkantpur village in Saltha upazila of Faridpur on Monday morning. At least 8–10 of the injured were admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Boalmari Hospital, while others received primary treatment. The dispute reportedly stemmed from an altercation over a carrom board game. According to locals, tensions had been building since a quarrel broke out a few days earlier between two youths—Rakib, a supporter of local influential figure Osman Talukder, and Layek, a supporter of his rival Quddus Talukder—during a carrom game at the village market. The tensions escalated again on Monday morning, when an altercation at a local tea shop turned into a full-blown clash. Supporters of both sides engaged in the fight using local weapons, including shields, spears (teta), iron rods (saraki), bamboo sticks, and brickbats.

The Noakhali Division Implementation Committee on Monday called for the creation of Noakhali Division comprising Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur and nearby districts. At a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, the committee urged Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to take necessary steps in this regard. Committee Convener AKM Mozammel Haque said in a written statement that setting up Noakhali Division would bring administrative services closer to people living far from the capital. He said the proposed division should include six districts — Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla and Brahmanbaria — as they share strong geographical, cultural and economic links. Criticising the proposal to form Cumilla Division, Haque said no public hearing was held in Noakhali, Feni or Lakshmipur and the people of these areas were not consulted. He argued that Cumilla is too close to Dhaka to justify a separate division and that setting up high-level offices near the Indian border would be strategically unwise. Haque said forming Noakhali Division would boost the coastal region’s economy by tapping into the potential of the blue economy, ports and special economic zones. Former MP and BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu said Noakhali’s long history, large population and economic importance make the demand logical. “If BNP comes to power, I will do my best to establish Noakhali Division,” he added. Leaders of Noakhali Samity, including its President MA Khan Belal and General Secretary Abdul Mabud, were also present.

A local Jamaat-e-Islami leader was killed on Sunday afternoon after a bus crashed into the auto-rickshaw he was travelling in on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, in Bhaluka upazila. The deceased Mofakhairul Alam, 45, was the president of the Meduari Union Ulama unit under Bhaluka upazila. According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred when Mofakhairul’s auto-rickshaw was attempting a U-turn and was struck by a speeding passenger bus. He sustained critical injuries in the collision. Locals rushed him to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, but as his condition worsened, he was being transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where he died en route. Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bhaluka Model Police Station, said police visited the scene following the incident. “Both the bus and the auto-rickshaw have been seized, and legal proceedings are underway,” he added.

Police have arrested a man from Char Jajuria village in Sirajganj’s Chauhali upazila for allegedly killing his wife and attempting to pass it off as a death caused by a stroke or heart attack. The arrestee was identified as Arab Ali, 36, son of Danez Ali of the same village. Confirming the matter, Chauhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Barik said Arab married Arzina, daughter of late Lal Mia from Chetuazani village in Nagarpur upazila of Tangail, around 13 years ago. Two years ago, Arab married another woman named Sopna from the same area, while still married to Arzina, which led to frequent disputes between them (Arab and Arzina). Later, after taking Tk 1 lakh from Arzina’s family, Arab divorced his second wife about three months ago. On Saturday night, following a heated argument, Arab allegedly strangled Arzina to death. Later that night, he informed family members that she had suffered a stroke. In front of them, he poured water over her head in a purported attempt to revive her and declared her dead. As family members prepared for burial following her janaza on Sunday afternoon, police, tipped off by a source, intervened at the graveyard, halted the burial, and detained Arab for questioning. During interrogation, Arab confessed to killing his wife, police said. The body was recovered and sent to Sirajganj General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Meanwhile, the victim’s uncle, Badsha Mia, filed a case with Chauhali Police Station against Arab and three unidentified persons.  

The Teesta River is currently flowing 27 centimeters above the danger level at Dalia point, sparking fears of fresh flooding in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, officials said on Sunday. The surge follows three days of continuous heavy rainfall and hill runoff from upstream regions. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that water levels may rise further overnight. Nurul Islam, in-charge of the Dalia Barrage Point under the Water Development Board, confirmed the alarming water level on Sunday evening and said a red alert has been issued. Sunil Kumar, executive engineer of the Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said, the Teesta is rising due to intense upstream rainfall and hill erosion.

A sudden tornado struck Garagram Union of Kishoreganj Upazila in Nilphamari on Sunday morning, injuring at least 30 people and damaging over 500 houses. Most injuries were caused by falling tree branches and collapsing homes. Among the injured, Taiful, 30, Tasin, 25, Royal, 30, Gulchan, 40, and Atiq, 22, from Disirmor Munshipara were admitted to Kishoreganj Upazila Health Complex. The tornado, which lasted just minutes, devastated several villages including Majhapara, Baniapara, Hajipara, Uttarpara, Poddarpara, Zikarul Memberer Para, Babupara, Chairmaner Para, Bairagipara, Munshipara, and Kalirthan. Thousands of trees were uprooted along the Kishoreganj road, bringing traffic to a standstill. Fire service personnel, along with locals, worked for nearly four hours to clear the roads and restore normal traffic flow.

Eight people were killed and two others injured by lightning strikes in Cumilla, Bogura, Kurigram and Jhenaidah districts on Sunday. Among the deceased, three died in Cumilla, two in Jhenaidah, another two in Kurigram and one in Bogura district. In Cumilla, three people including a student of Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) were killed in a single lightning strike in Bhabanipur Kheyaghat of Homan upazila on Sunday afternoon. The deceased were identified as BAU student Rashedul Islam, 23, son of Rahinur Islam, and two sisters Mamtaz Begum, 37, and Zakia Sultana, 23, both daughters of Matiur Rahman. They were all residents of Nala Dakkhin village in the upazila. A thunderbolt struck the deceased and two others when they were waiting to cross a canal in Bhabanipur Kheya ghat area in the afternoon, leaving the sisters dead on the spot, said officer-in-charge of Homna Police Station Rafiqul Islam. The injured Rashedul, Samad Mia and Babul Mia—were taken to Homna Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared Rashedul dead. In Jhenaidah, two farmers were killed by lightning strikes in Sadar and Shailkupa upazilas on Sunday. In Sadar upazila, Shimul Biswas, 30, a farmer of Armukhi village and son of Shamser Biswas, was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while working at his field around 11am. Besides, Harmat Sheikh, 55, a farmer of Shekhar village in Shailkupa upazila, was killed when a thunderbolt struck him at his field in the morning. Additional superintendent of Jhenaidah Police Imran Zakaria confirmed two people died by lightning strikes in Sadar and Shailkupa upazilas amid inclement weather. In Kurigram, two people including a Madrasa student were killed by lightning in Nageshwari upazila. Babul Mia, a Madrasha student and son of Nur Hossain of Kalikapur village, was killed when the thunderbolt struck him while he was returning home in the upazila. In another incident, Sahibor, son of Abul Kashem of Char Luchni village under Bamondanga union, was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while he was collecting grass around 10am, said Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Nageshwari Police Station. In Bogura, a 45-year-old housewife was killed by lightning at Madhyamacheo village in Gabtoli upazila of the district. The deceased was identified as Shefali Begum, wife of Delwar Pramanik. Shefali died on the spot after being hit by the lightning strike while cutting grass amid rain, said Serajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gabtoli Police Station.

Detectives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested eight leaders and activists of Awami League from different areas in the capital on Sunday. The arrestees were Enamul Kabir Emon, 51, member of Central committee of AL, Emdadul Haque, office secretary of Dhaka South Metropolitan unit AL, Mosharraf Hossain, 38, vice-president of Banani thana Tanti League, Kazi Miraz Hossain Moni, 30, joint general secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South unit BCL, Belal Ahmed Nahian alias Biplab, 32, Shahanur Alam Sabu, 53, president of Jourpurhat Amdai union unit Awami League, Nure Alam Liton, 37, organising secretary of Motijheel Thana Jubo League and Aminul Haque Murad, 45, vice-president of Chawkbazar unit AL. Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, said detectives conducted a drive in 24 hours till Sunday morning and arrested them. Tipped off, a team of DB police conducted a drive in Dhanmondi area around 1:05 am and arrested Enamul. Others were arrested from Bhashantek, Moghbazar, Wari, Jatrabari, Tejgaon and Gulshan areas of the capital.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the National Consensus Commission, which is expected to submit its final report soon. Prof Yunus, who also serves as the chief of the Commission, thanked all its members for their dedication and directed them to update him on the final stages of the Commission’s work as soon as possible. Vice-Chairman of the Commission Prof Ali Riaz said the National Consensus Commission will present its final report to the interim government soon. These issues were discussed during a meeting of the National Consensus Commission, chaired by Prof Yunus, at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday morning. Consensus Commission reviews final phase preparations for July Charter During the hour-long meeting, the Commission members reviewed the positions of various political parties on the contents of the July Charter, its proposed implementation methods and the Commission’s stance on related issues. Prof Ali Riaz said the Commission has received extensive cooperation from all political parties and unprecedented support from the media. Members of the Consensus Commission and advisers to the interim government were also present at the meeting.

Advocate Bhaskar Bagchi, president of the Natore District Hindu Mohajot, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Saturday night. Around 8:45 pm, his son, Tirtho Bagchi, found him unconscious at their home in the Lalbazar area and took him to Natore Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Dr. Ismail Hossain of the hospital’s emergency department confirmed the death after examination, saying there were marks on his neck. Hearing the news, police and local Hindu community leaders rushed to the hospital. Additional Superintendent of Police Ifthekhar Alam said, “It initially appears to be a case of suicide, but the exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem report.” Bhaskar Bagchi was a lawyer by profession, practicing tax law.