United News of Bangladesh

Two toddlers drowned in a pond in Mathabhanga village of Godagari upazila in Rajshahi on Monday. The deceased were identified as Karima Khatun, 2, daughter of Ruhul Amin, and Md. Rafi, 2, son of Md. Rabbul—both residents of the same area. Locals said the children accidentally fell into a pond near their homes while playing. They were later found floating and rushed to the emergency department of Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Moazzem Hossain, inspector (Investigation) of Godagari Model Police Station, said the bodies have been sent to the RMC morgue. A case is currently under process, and the bodies will be handed over to the families upon completion of legal procedures, he added.

A local Jubo Dal leader was killed and at least 10 other people were injured in a clash on Monday over establishing dominance at Alokbali in sadar upazila of Narsingdi district. The deceased was Sadeq Hossain, 40, joint convener of Alokbali Union unit Jubo Dal and son of Rup Mia of Muradnagar village in Alokbari Union. Additional Police Superintendent of Narsingdi Kalim Ullah said tensions mounted in the char  area of Alokbali over establishing dominance by two groups. BNP factional clash: 2 killed in Narsingdi within 24 hours As a sequel to the enmity they attacked each other in the morning when Sadeq was shot dead and 10 others suffered wound, he said. Earlier Idon Mia was killed in a clash in the union over the same issue on September 18 and Ferdousi Begum on September 19. Additional police have been deployed to avert further trouble, said ASP Kalim Ullah.

The body of a 15-year-old schoolboy was recovered from the Kumar on Monday morning, 10 hours after he drowned in the river while taking a selfie. The deceased was Dipto, a class VIII student of Magura Model Government High School. He used to live with his mother in Metanipara in the town and his father is a Canada expatriate, said Ayub Ali, Officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station. Child drowns, another missing in Louhajang River in Tangail Witnesses said when Dipto was standing near the railing of the Water Development Board bridge on Dhaka Road to take a selfie he fell into the river and drowned. On information, a team of Magura Fire Service and Civil Defence started rescue operation but it was hampered to a sudden power cut, said a fire service official. He added that local youths later recovered Dipto’s body from the river early Monday morning.

Amid growing tensions following the recent rape of a schoolgirl in Khagrachari, Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma has called on both hill communities and Bengali residents to unite in addressing the evolving situation. He made the call during a special law and order meeting held at the Khagrachari District Administration’s conference room on Sunday morning. The meeting was convened to discuss possible measures to restore peace and order in the region. The adviser urged the administration to take strict action to maintain law and order in the hills and to prevent any further loss of life or property. He also called on all stakeholders to remain vigilant so that such incidents are not repeated in the future. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandaker. Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Khagrachari following the rape incident and an ongoing road blockade. Public anxiety is palpable, and a heavy presence of the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police has been deployed in an effort to maintain order and prevent further unrest. Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors unless there is an emergency. Section 144 is currently in effect across Khagrachari Municipality, Sadar Upazila, and Guimara Upazila, prohibiting public gatherings. The indefinite road blockade—now in its second day—has been enforced under the banner of Jumma students and local residents. Protesters are demanding the immediate arrest of all perpetrators involved in the rape, compensation for the victim’s family, and justice for those allegedly assaulted during related protests. As a result, all types of vehicular movement remain suspended in the district. Tensions escalated further in Guimara Upazila on Sunday evening after an armed attack by miscreants left three people dead and several others injured. On September 23, a schoolgirl was reportedly raped in the Singinala area of Khagrachhari Sadar. Her father filed a case at the Sadar Police Station against three unidentified individuals. The following morning, acting on a tip-off, police—with the assistance of the army—arrested a suspect, Shayan Shil.

A 5-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an elderly man in Chariya area of Sirajganj district on Wednesday afternoon. Later, on Thursday afternoon, the victim’s mother filed a case at Salanga Police Station against Habibur Rahman, 65, a resident of the area, in connection with the incident. Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Salanga Police Station, said that the child was playing in a local field when the accused lured her to a secluded spot and violated her. Man to die for killing father in Sirajganj Hearing the child’s screams, locals rescued her immediately. "Police have launched operations to arrest the accused," he added.  

At least seven workers and a contractor suffered burn injuries when a hydraulic gas cylinder exploded at a second-hand iron pipe shop in Chattogram’s Sagarika area under Pahartali Police Station on Saturday night. The injured were identified as Md Abdul Kader, 60, Md Abul Kashem, 60, Md Karim, 29, (contractor), Abdul Jalil, 55, Abul Bashar Khan, 60, Jamal Hossain, 38, Md Russel, 28, and Md Bahar Uddin, 45. All of them were admitted to the burn unit at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital. Md Jasim Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Pahartali Police Station, said the incident occurred around 7:45 pm when workers attempted to break a hydraulic gas cylinder inside the shop, causing it to explode. Fortunately, no fire spread to nearby establishments. Police and Fire Service teams quickly responded to the scene, rescued the injured, and transported them to the hospital for medical care.

A rare scene was witnessed in Sylhet city on Saturday morning as Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Sarwar Alam, the top executive in the district office, ersonally joined a street cleaning drive. At around 7am, the DC took a broom in hand and started cleaning the streets himself instead of just giving instructions. He told everyone, “This city belongs to all of us. Let cleanliness begin with ourselves.” Alongside the DC, other district administration officials and members of the social organization Clean BD participated. The cleaning drive, organized with the support of the Sylhet City Corporation’s Waste Management Department, covered the area from Circuit House to Jalalabad Park and Queen Bridge. DC Md. Sarwar Alam said, “It is everyone’s responsibility to build a clean and beautiful Sylhet. Streets and bridges free from hawkers and garbage will be the pride of our city. If people change small habits and keep their own places clean, the city will naturally remain clean.” He added, “On Environment Day, we not only clean streets but also our minds. Protecting nature, keeping the city clean and performing our civic duties together will make Sylhet cleaner and more beautiful.” The initiative received positive responses from city residents, and many joined the DC in cleaning the streets.

Four people were killed and three others injured in a road accident involving a battery-powered easy bike and a passenger bus in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj. The accident occurred around 12 noon on Saturday at the Majhigati bus stand area on the Dhaka-Khulna highway. Among the deceased, one is identified as Obaidul Sheikh, 48, a fish trader from Helencha village in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur district. The identities of the other three victims are yet to be confirmed. Md. Russell Mia, sergeant of Bhanga Highway Police, said the easy bike—carrying passengers from Madaripur to Alfadanga in Faridpur to attend a wedding—was attempting to cross the highway when it was struck by a Dhaka-bound Emad Paribahan bus coming from Khulna. One person died on the spot, while six others sustained injuries. All of the injured were taken to the Kashiani Upazila Health Complex, where three more passengers died during treatment. Three others with critical injuries were later transferred to the 250-bed General Hospital in Gopalganj for advanced treatment.  

A father and his son died after being burned in a fire caused by an oil line leakage from Petro Bangla in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar. The son, Redwan, 24, died early Friday morning around 4:15 am, while the father, Bashir Mia, 55, passed away around 9 am at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute while receiving treatment. Bashir Mia’s home is in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar. Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, confirmed the deaths. He said that on September 24, three members of the same family were admitted to the hospital with severe burns. “Redwan had burns over 56 percent of his body, while Bashir Mia’s burns covered 85 percent. Currently, Parvin, another family member, is receiving treatment for burns over 50 percent of her body,” he added.

Four people were killed and three others injured when a bus crashed into a battery-run easy bike at Majhigati bus stand area on Dhaka-Khulna highway in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj district on Saturday. One of the deceased was identified as Obaidul Sheikh, 48, son of Abdur Razzak Sheikh of Helencha village in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur. He was a fish trader. The identities of the other victims could not be confirmed yet. Bhanga Highway Police Sergeant Md Rasel Mia said the Dhaka-bound bus of Imad Paribahan from Khulna hit the easy bike when it was carrying passengers from Madaripur to Alfadanga in Faridpur to attend a wedding around 12 pm, elaving a passenger dead on the spot. The injured five injured people were taken to Kashiani Upazila Health Complex where another victim succumbed to injuries. Three critically injured ones were shifted to Gopalganj 250-bed General Hospital where two more victims died.