United News of Bangladesh

At least three people, including two women, were killed and 10 others injured when a speeding bus lost control and ploughed into a roadside shop in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district on Thursday. Two of the deceased were identified as Shamim Ara Begum, 50, wife of Shahidullah from Khushipur area, Md Shraban, 20, son of Abdul Matin from Dakshin Jaylaskar village of the upazila. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Mohipal Highway Police Station Harunur Rashid said the accident occurred around 10:15am when the Noakhali-bound bus of ‘Sugandha Paribahan’ from Feni Sadar skidded and hit an electric pole before crashing into the shop on Feni-Noakhali regional road near the entrance of Lucky Road adjacent to Silonia Bazar. The accident left at least 13 people injured, he said. Businessman killed in Meherpur road crash Locals rescued the injured and sent them to Feni General Hospital where physicians declared three of them dead on arrival, the OC said. Of the injured, seven are receiving treatment at the hospital, one was shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital and two others were released after giving first aid, he said, adding that the bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue. Blaming the reckless driving during rains, highway police officials said the bus was seized and legal action will be taken.

The body of a grocer who had been missing for three days was recovered from a paddy field in Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Noman Uddin (50), son of the late Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Purbo Manikpur village under Manikpur Union. Locals spotted the body in a field behind Shayla City Hospital, near Kaliganj Bazar, around 4 pm and immediately informed police. Law enforcement later recovered the body from the scene. According to family members, Noman had left home on September 29 to open his shop in Kaliganj Bazar and later visited Shayla Memorial Hospital. He went missing afterward. A general diary was filed with Zakiganj Police Station, and during this time, an unidentified caller demanded Tk 2 lakh in ransom. Noman’s family alleged that he had a dispute with his cousins over ancestral property and termed the killing a planned murder. 'Mentally unstable' husband hacks wife to death in Sylhet Zahirul Islam Munna, Officer-in-Charge of Zakiganj Police Station, said an investigation is underway to identify those involved. “No arrests have been made yet, and no written complaint has been lodged so far,” he added.

A businessman was killed in a road accident on the Meherpur-Kushtia regional highway in the Purapara area on Wednesday night, police said. The deceased was identified as Mahajan Ali, son of Tuku Ali from Dighirpara village in Meherpur Sadar upazila. He was involved in supplying paper and other goods to traders in Gangni upazila. Missing schoolboy's body retrieved from Meherpur’s Bhairab River According to eyewitnesses, Mahajan was returning to Meherpur after completing business at the Gangni market. While he had stopped by the roadside during rain to cover his goods with plastic, a large vehicle ran over him, leaving him dead on the spot. Gangni police later recovered the body and took it to Gangni Upazila Health Complex for legal procedures.

At least 200 birds of various species were killed in a fire that broke out at Kapasia Bazar in Gazipur district on Wednesday. Mahfuz Islam, in-charge of Kapasia Fire Service, said the fire started around 10:15 am in one shop and quickly spread to four neighbouring shops. “Two firefighting units rushed to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control within half an hour,” he added. 4 sued over death of 4 in Gazipur chemical warehouse fire Shop owners estimated the total loss from the fire at around Tk 40 lakh. Barendra Mandal, a bird trader affected by the incident, said the fire claimed 200 birds, including cockatiels, parrots, pigeons, doves and other species. Besides, bird feed worth approximately Tk 2 lakh was destroyed in the blaze, he said.

At least three dwelling houses were gutted in a fire in Fenchuganj upazila of Sylhet district early Wednesday. Sayed Hasan Shuvo, station officer at Fenchuganj Fire Service said the fire erupted from one of the houses and engulfed two others fast in Konar Bari area around 1am. Though locals initially tried to bring the flame under control, they failed and informed the Fire Service, he said. Tongi Fire: Shop employee succumbs to burn injuries Later, two firefighting units from the station rushed to the spot and managed to put out the fire after an hour of efforts, Shuvo said, suspecting that the fire originated from an electrical short circuit. He, however, claimed that no one was injured in the incident. The extent of damage caused by the fire will be known upon investigation, the fire service official added.

A 29-year-old youth was shot dead early Wednesday while asleep in his Maheshwar Pasha residence under Daulatpur Police Station of Khulna city, said police. The deceased was identified as Tanvir Hasan Shuvo, general manager of an international marketing company. Shuvo was preparing to go abroad. Quoting family members, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said Tanvir fell asleep while playing games on his phone with headphones on. RMG worker stabbed dead in Dhaka Around 4:30am, family members rushed to his room after hearing the sound of a gunshot and found three bullet shells in the room, he said. He was first rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) around 5am where physicians suggested he be taken to Dhaka, the OC said. But he died at the hospital around 7:30am while preparations were underway to shift him.

Life in Khagrachhari has begun returning to normal since Tuesday night after a four-day disruption, as a road blockade enforced by a group was suspended until October 5. Though long-distance transport services have not fully resumed, a few vehicles left the district on Wednesday morning. Passenger presence increased at bus counters while limited traffic was seen in the town and surrounding areas. Business establishments, including shops reopened after remaining shut for four days. The indefinite blockade was called by an organisation named ‘Jumma Chhatra-Janata’ in protest of the alleged rape of a schoolgirl. On Tuesday night, the group announced on its Facebook page that the blockade would be suspended out of respect for the Durga Puja and in light of assurances from the administration to meet their eight-point demand. Situation in Khagrachhari now normal: Home Adviser But, Section 144, imposed by the district administration, remains in effect. Despite the suspension, tension persists among locals as additional security measures continue in Khagrachhari and Guimara, with army patrols, BGB and police patrolling. A five-member panel was formed to investigate the recent incidents. Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Shaber said he could not confirm social media claims that medical tests found no evidence of rape, noting that the report would be submitted to court through police. During the blockade on September 27 and 28, at least three people were killed and many injured in clashes. Several shops, homes, and offices in Guimara, including Ramsu Bazar, were set on fire. Officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Abdul Baten Mridha said normalcy is gradually being restored, with vehicles running and no fresh incidents reported.

A ward level leader of Jubo Dal, youth wing of the BNP, was hacked to death in Kahaloo upazila of Bogura district on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2pm at UttarPara of Magura village under Malancha union of the upazila. The deceased was identified as Rahul Sarker, 35, organizing secretary of ward No-13 of Bogura city Jubo Dal and son of the late Abdus Sobahan Sarker of Kaigari area in Shajahanpur upazila, said Wasim Reza, publicity secretary of Bogura city Jubo Dal. Inspector (investigation) of Kahaloo Police Station Mahbubur Rahman said Rahul went to UttarPara village to fish in a leased pond. While fishing with a rod, a group of assailants armed with sharp weapons attacked him, leaving him dead on the spot. DB arrests 7 members of 'honey trap' gang in Bogura Police recovered the body and sent it to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College morgue for autopsy, he said, suspecting that a past personal dispute led to the killing. Wasim Reza demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and exemplary punishment.  

Police recovered the decomposed body of a 45-year-old woman and her daughter from their house at Madarganj in Sadar upazila of Thakurgaon district on Monday night. The deceased were identified as Samila Rani, wife of Jagadish Chandra Roy and her daughter Shapla Rani, 18 of the village. Quoting local people, Deen Mohammad, sub-inspector of Bhulli Police Station, said Shamila along with her physically challenged daughter Shapla used to live at the house as her husband lives with his second wife in a separate house. Nani Chandra, a neighbour of Samila, said the mother and daughter had not been seen outside their home for several days. Missing child’s body recovered in  Joypurhat On Monday, a field worker from a local NGO visited the house and called out to Samila but received no response. When locals peeped through the window after a long wait they found the bodies of the mother and daughter lying on the floor. Police were informed and recovered the decomposed bodies by breaking open the door at night. Police said the woman and her daughter might have died from electrocution. The exact cause of death will be confirmed once autopsy report is available, police said.

The indefinite road blockade enforced by Jumma students and local residents entered its fourth day on Tuesday, severely disrupting normal life in the hill district. Although the blockade has been relaxed on the Chattogram-Khagrachhari and Dhaka-Khagrachhari highways, long-distance bus services are yet to resume. Movement on internal roads also remains limited, with only a few auto-rickshaws and easy bikes seen operating. The announcement of the relaxation was made through a Facebook post by the Jumma students and residents on Monday morning. Meanwhile, Section 144 imposed by the local administration remains in effect in Sadar and Guimara upazilas. Khagrachhari BGB Sector Commander Colonel Md Abdul Moktakim on Monday urged all communities to maintain peace and harmony during this sensitive time. Army issues statement on communal violence in Khagrachhari He also assured that the BGB would continue to stand by the local population until the situation stabilises. To prevent further unrest, nine BGB platoons have been deployed, with two additional platoons kept on standby. Earlier on Sunday, three people were shot dead and several others injured in an armed attack by miscreants in Guimara upazila. The Jumma students, under the banner of Jumma Chatra-Janata (Jumma student-masses), called the blockade protesting the rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl on September 23. Since Sunday morning, the movement of all modes of transport has been suspended, leaving daily life in disarray. The demonstrators have also demanded the arrest of all perpetrators involved in rapes against women in the hills. Streets in Khagrachhari town and its outskirts remain deserted, with residents largely confined to their homes except for urgent needs. Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police forces continue to patrol different areas. The term Jumma refers collectively to the indigenous peoples of the three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Police on Monday disclosed the identities of those killed in Sunday’s attack. They were Akhrau Marma, 22, Teiching Marma, 20, Athuiprue Marma, 21, all residents of Guimara.