United News of Bangladesh

Police have solved the case surrounding the death of a young man whose body was found floating in the Kanchan River in Gozaria, Munshiganj, last month. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and the victim’s stolen auto-rickshaw has also been recovered. At a Saturday press briefing at the Munshiganj Superintendent of Police’s office, SP Md. Menhazul Alam said that on December 6, 2025, around 2:30 pm, a young man’s body was spotted floating in the Kanchan River in Baushia Union under Gozaria Police Station. Police retrieved the body, which was later identified by the victim’s elder brother Jahangir Alam as Md. Shahjalal, 27. Shahjalal worked as an auto-rickshaw driver. According to the family, the unidentified suspects tied up Shahjalal’s hands and feet, brutally killed him, stole his auto-rickshaw, and dumped his body in the river. Following the incident, Jahangir Alam filed a murder case with Gozaria Police. A police investigation team led by SI (N) Rubel Sikder carried out operations using intelligence and technology. On January 9, around 6:30pm, the team arrested the victim’s friend Ibrahim alias Sagar, 28, from Panchgachhia area under Motlob Uttar Police Station in Chandpur. Later that night, around 9:30pm, another suspect, Fahim, 24, was arrested from Bhoberchar Bus Stand area under Gozaria Police Station based on information provided by Ibrahim. During interrogation, Fahim admitted that he had received the stolen auto-rickshaw from Ibrahim and let his father Khorshed use it. Following Fahim’s information, police recovered the auto-rickshaw from his home in Dauderkhara area under Comilla Kotwali Police Station. Police said legal action against the arrested suspects is underway and the investigation into the case is continuing.

In the 2026 Pirojpur Press Club elections, A. S. M. Rezaul Islam Shamim of Daily Amar Desh has been elected president, and S. M. Tanvir Ahmed of Daily Bangladesh Pratidin and Jamuna TV has been elected general secretary. The elections were held on Saturday morning following the annual general meeting of the press club. With no other contenders for any positions, all candidates were elected unopposed. The election was conducted under the supervision of Md. Iqbal Karim, the election commissioner appointed by the district commissioner and deputy director of the District Social Services Office. Other executive committee members elected unopposed include: Vice Presidents: Khelafat Hosen Khasru (Daily Pirojpurer Kotha) and Sheikh Md. Rashid Al Munan (NTV) Joint General Secretary: Ziaul Haq (Somoy TV) Treasurer: Kumar Shuvo Roy (Banglavision) Office & Property Secretary: Md. Tamim Sardar (Independent TV & Daily Ajker Patrika) Literary & Cultural Secretary: Kabir Hossain (Dipto TV) Sports Secretary: Rezwan Islam Sazn (Weekly Baleshwar) IT & Publications Secretary: Sheikh Abu Md. Zubayer Jony (Weekly Pirojpur Bani) Executive members: Mahamud Hossain (UNB), M A Rabbani Firoz (Daily Khobor), Arif Mostafa (Daily Bonik Barta & Bangla Tribune), Fasiul Islam Bacchu (Samakal & Channel i), Zahirul Haq Titu (Daily Jai Jai Din & New Nation), Khalid Abu (Amader Somoy), Mahamudur Rahman Masud (Daily Manab Zamin), Wahi Hasan Babu (Inqilab), and K M Habibur Rahman (Daily Star & DBC TV). Founded in 1967, Pirojpur Press Club has maintained its legacy as one of the district’s prominent social organizations.  

Prices of winter vegetables are still relatively high despite adequate supply at kitchen markets in Lalmonirhat, adding to the woes of people with fixed income already overburdened with soaring prices of daily essentials. During the peak winter season, kitchen markets in  five upazilas of the district including—Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat Sadar—are brimming with winter vegetables. Cauliflower, cabbage, beans, carrots, radish, tomatoes, spinach and other winter produce are available in abundance, yet their prices remain sharp. Prices of winter vegetables drop in Khulna, essentials continue to rise During a recent visit to the market on Saturday (Jan 10) this UNB Correspondent found that potatoes are being sold at Tk 30–40 per kg, eggplant at Tk 50–60 per kg, tomatoes at Tk 70 per kg, carrots at Tk 40 per kg, beans at Tk 60 per kg, pumpkin at Tk 50 per piece, raw bananas at Tk 30 per dozen, ladies finger beans at Tk 60 per kg, pointed gourd Tk 60 per kg, bottle gourd Tk 40–60 per piece depending on size, cauliflower at Tk 40 per piece, cabbage at Tk 50 per piece, papaya at Tk 30 per kg, radish Tk 40 per kg, sponge gourd at Tk 50 per piece, bitter gourd at Tk 50 per kg, red spinach at Tk 20 per bunch and mustard leaves at Tk 20 per bunch. Customers are negotiating prices with vendors, often moving from one stall to another in search of better deals. Consumers said the high prices of vegetables throughout the year put pressure on household budgets and while winter usually brings some relief, the relief is minimal this year. Salma Begum, a housewife from Shialkhowa, said that earlier they used to buy a few vegetables for 200–300 taka. Now, with the same amount of money, one can't even fill a bag with vegetables and even the variety in the family's meals is decreasing. Another buyer, Samad Mia, an office employee at an organisation, said that because vegetable prices are high, they no longer have the opportunity to eat vegetables regularly. Winter was supposed to be truly comfortable for middle-class people like us, but now it is not. Saiful Islam, a vegetable seller, said, “Production usually rises in winter, but this year cold weather has affected supply, keeping prices relatively high.” Mohammad Helal Mia, a seller from Namuri market, added, farmers should have brought more vegetables to the market, but the sudden cold has disrupted supply. Another seller said that although higher prices increase profit per unit, fewer buyers mean overall sales remain unsatisfactory. “If the price is lower, people buy more. This way, our products don't remain unsold either,” he said. Early variety winter vegetables raise hope among Jessore farmers According to the stakeholders, if weather conditions are not favorable, vegetable prices may remain high throughout the winter season.

A mild cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country and it may continue in some places, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Saturday. According to the regular Met office bulletin, “A mild cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia and it may continue at places.” Moderate to thick fog may occur over the riverbasins of the country and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere over the country during mid-night to morning. Chuadanga and Panchagarh’s Tetulia recorded the country’s lowest temperature at 8.3 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning, BMD said. Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Gopalganj records season’s lowest temperature at 7.5°C as cold wave grips Bangladesh Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.  

A disabled woman died while undergoing treatment for burn injuries, officials said on Friday. The deceased was identified as Hazera Begum, 36, wife of Abdur Rahim from Vishugari Union in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha. She was born with speech and intellectual disabilities. Hazera was admitted to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital on January 4 with burns covering nearly 45 percent of her body. According to her family, she was warming herself near a fire under a large tree in the courtyard on January 4, when her clothes caught fire, causing severe burns to her waist and chest. She passed away Friday morning after five days of treatment. 103 people die of cold-related illnesses in Rangpur in 3 days Dr. Kaniz Fatema, Assistant Director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, confirmed her death and said 14 other burn patients are currently receiving treatment. “Burn cases usually rise two to three times during winter due to open fires.” she added. Additionally, she urged people to take precautions when using fire to keep warm, wear warm clothing, and raise family awareness to prevent such accidents.  

Police recovered the body of an unidentified elderly woman near the road adjacent to Shahjalal (R) shrine and graveyard in Sylhet on Friday morning. The deceased, estimated to be around 68 years old, was found by Sylhet Kotwali police. The Shahjalal (R) shrine police recovered the body, prepared a preliminary report, and sent it to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Five held with illegal arms in Sylhet raid Shahjalal (R) shrine police in-charge Abdul Aziz confirmed the incident, adding that the woman appeared to be a homeless resident of the shrine area. Police are investigating to determine her identity and the exact cause of death.

Members of the joint forces detained five people and recovered a large cache of illegal arms, bullets and crime tools during a raid in Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet early Friday. The operation was carried out at dawn on the basis of secret intelligence. Two army patrol teams led by Lieutenant Md Tanzil from the Osmaninagar Army Camp and a police patrol team led by Osmaninagar Police Station Sub-Inspector Omar Faruk took part in the drive. During the raid at the house of Md Afiqur Rahman in Sikandarpur village under Umorpur union, the main suspect was not found. However, the joint forces recovered two single-barrel guns, 10 rounds of bullets and several tools used in criminal activities from the house. Five suspected associates were arrested from the spot. The arrestees are Gias Uddin, son of late Yusuf Ullah of Chilaura village in Jagannathpur upazila; Md Habu Mia, son of late Geda Mia of Rifatpur village in Nabiganj upazila; Md Mojibur Rahman, son of late Abdul Gafur of Sikandarpur village in Osmaninagar; Sayed Ahmed, son of Zainal Abedin of the same village; and Naimur Rahman, son of Md Faruk Ahmed of Bharera village under Tajpur union. Woman arrested with 300 yaba tablets in Sylhet The joint forces also recovered two walkie-talkie sets, one binocular, one power bank, one analog multimeter, one headlamp, one electric shock torch, one action camera, 12 Android mobile phones, three memory cards and one iron cutter. The detained men and the recovered weapons and equipment were later handed over to Osmaninagar Police Station for legal action. Murshedul Alam Bhuiyan, Officer-in-Charge of Osmaninagar Police Station, confirmed the matter and said necessary steps are being taken.

One person was killed and at least 25 others were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Hiraj Mia, 55. The incident took place around 10am at Faridpur village under Bulla union. According to police and local sources, supporters of Bulla Union Parishad members Alal Mia and Mokhles Mia have been locked in a long-running dispute over land and water bodies. There were clashes and casualties between the two sides in the past. On Friday morning, both groups attacked each other with local weapons. Hiraj Mia was seriously injured during the clash. He was taken to Habiganj 250-bed district hospital where doctors declared him dead. At least 20 injured people from both sides were admitted to the same hospital for treatment. Over 50 hurt in clash between two groups in Habiganj village Zahidul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Lakhai Police Station, said police rushed to the spot soon after the incident and brought the situation under control. Extra police have been deployed in the area to restore law and order. “The body of Hiraj Mia has been kept at the Habiganj morgue. It will be handed over to the family after an autopsy,” he added.

Four people, including a child, were burnt to death after a bus caught fire following a three-vehicle collision in Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla on Friday afternoon. The accident involved a bus, an autorickshaw and a motorcycle on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Baniapara area. Iqbal Bahar Mojumder, officer-in-charge of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, said police recovered four bodies from the scene. The identities of the victims could not be confirmed immediately. On receiving information, fire service personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. The OC said a collision between the motorcycle and the bus may have ignited fuel leaking from the motorcycle’s tank, causing the bus to catch fire.

The month-long Chattogram Flower Festival–2026 kicked off on Friday at DC Park in Sitakunda upazila, transforming the area into a vibrant floral kingdom. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md Ehsanul Haque inaugurated the festival, marking the fourth edition of the event organised by the Sitakunda district administration. The 194-acre DC Park at Salimpur Sagarpar in Faujdarhat, Sitakunda, is now blanketed in a spectacular display of flowers. As in previous years, the country’s largest flower festival is being held here, attracting visitors with dazzling seasonal blooms, landscaped gardens and colourful arrangements that celebrate nature’s beauty and local horticulture. The festival showcases more than 140 species of local and foreign flowers. This year, several new attractions have been added to DC Park, including a zip line, climbing tree, heart-shaped tree installations, a large flower tree, umbrella tree and flower tea stalls. In addition to admiring the floral displays, visitors can enjoy daily cultural programmes held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Chattogram Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah said the festival will also feature a month-long rural fair, book festival, kite festival, pitha festival, laser light show, VR games, movie screenings, violin performances, puppet dances and a multicultural festival. He added that a special stall will be set up to promote awareness about the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum 2026. The flower festival will continue until February 8.