United News of Bangladesh

A 27-year-old man was killed after being hit by a bus on the Feni-Sonagazi Road in Gobindapur area of Sadar upazila on Sunday afternoon, while on his way to attend the namaz-e-janaza of his friend’s grandfather. The deceased was identified as Ishtiaq Ahmed Shanto, son of Kabir Ahmed, a primary school teacher in the Gobindapur area. Shanto had recently completed his master’s degree in English from Feni Government College in the 2021–22 academic session. Locals said Shanto was crossing the Feni-Sonagazi Road in the Battala area when a bus struck him. He was seriously injured and rushed to Feni General Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead. Shanto’s friend, Aminul Islam Firoz, expressed deep shock at the loss, saying Shanto was scheduled to meet him in Feni town later that evening before heading abroad for higher studies. "He was a good friend and a devoted son," Firoz added. Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Feni Model Police Station, said the body has been sent to the Feni General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Efforts are underway to identify and detain the bus driver, and necessary legal action will be taken based on a formal complaint, said the OC.  

At least 30 people, including police personnel and residents, were injured on Sunday during clashes that broke out amid an eviction drive in the Bastuhara Colony area of Khulna city's Mujgunni. According to locals, the drive, launched in the morning to hand over plots to landowners, was met with resistance from residents, who blocked roads with tree trunks and burning tires. Clashes erupted around 10am when police charged batons, prompting locals to hurl brickbats. Police later responded with tear gas shells. During the chaos, a bulldozer used for the eviction was vandalised. Residents said they would not allow eviction without rehabilitation. Police, however, said the operation was carried out under magistrate orders but has since been halted. Around 200 families have been living on the two-acre land of Mujgunni Bastuhara Colony. The National Housing Authority had allocated the land through lottery to 42 plot owners back in 1987, but they never received possession. Khalishpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mir Atahar Ali said, “We went to assist the eviction under the leadership of a magistrate from the National Housing Authority. Residents attacked police with brickbats. They were well prepared. Fourteen policemen, including myself, were injured.”

A senior journalist was allegedly assaulted in Rangpur on Sunday after publishing an investigative report exposing alleged irregularities in the issuing of auto-rickshaw licences by the Rangpur City Corporation (RCC). The incident has sparked widespread outrage among journalist organisations and civil society, with growing demands for the immediate removal of the City Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Umme Fatima. Around 12pm, Liaqat Ali Badal — a senior reporter for a private television channel and a daily newspaper — was allegedly picked up by a group of men led by Rocky from Kachari Bazar in the city. He was then physically assaulted. Satkhira residents stage citizens’ demo in capital demanding fair development rights Badal claimed the attack was in retaliation for his reporting on corruption in the auto-rickshaw licensing process under RCC. “On the orders of the chief executive officer and divisional commissioner, ‘Terrorist Rocky’ and his men picked me  from Kachari Bazar and beat me up", he alleged. "They took me to the City Corporation and tried to force me into the CEO’s chamber to apologise. But I did nothing wrong, so I refused. I want justice,” he said. Later, when journalists gathered in front of the Rangpur City Corporation to protest the attack, it was alleged that RCC employees attacked the demonstrators and forcefully removed them from the premises. Two journalists were reportedly injured during the incident. Sarkar Mazharul Mannan, general secretary of Rangpur Journalists Union (RPUJ), said Badal is a senior journalist and a member secretary of the Rangpur Division Journalist Society. He was publicly picked up and beaten — it’s a disgrace. “If the attackers are not arrested and the CEO is not removed within 24 hours, we will launch a strong movement,” he warned. BGB seizes smuggled Indian goods from SA Paribahan in Sylhet Rezaul Karim Manik, joint general secretary of the union, said, “If journalists are beaten for reporting irregularities, what has changed in the country? If action is not taken quickly to stop this kind of torture, we will start a countrywide movement.” RPUJ President Salekuzzaman Salek said that the mastermind behind the attack is the CEO of the City Corporation. “She must be withdrawn within 24 hours. Otherwise, we’ll start a larger protest nationwide,” he added. Shah Bayezid Ahmed, president of Reporters Club Rangpur, said journalists must be able to work independently — that’s the foundation of democracy. He added that picking up a journalist and beating him over a report is unprecedented and alarming. “We demand the arrest of the attackers and the immediate removal of CEO Umme Fatima.” Journalist leaders also announced that a fresh protest programme, including a human chain, will be held on Monday at 11am. Constituency demarcation: Protesters besiege election office for 3rd straight day in Bagerhat Ataur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station, said, “We have heard about the incident. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and the culprits will be brought to justice. We’ve already identified one suspect.” When asked, RCC CEO Umme Fatima denied the allegations. “The claims made against me are baseless. No one can prove these. If even a single claim is proven, action will be taken as per the law — and I will accept it,” she said.

Residents of Satkhira district staged a citizens’ demonstration in front of the National Parliament on Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Sunday morning, protesting what they called long-standing 'development disparities' and demanding fair rights. The citizens’ demonstration, organized by the Satkhira Development Coordination Forum, began at 10:30am and was moderated by the forum’s president, Iqbal Masud. Speakers included Engineer Abul Kashem, President of Zila Samity in Dhaka; Advocate Dr M A Jalil of Satkhira Zila Samity; Mostafa Bokuluzzaman Member Secretary and Afsar Ali Advisor of Satkhira Development Coordination Forum; Ahsan Habib Imroj, VP of Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall along with representatives from different upazila associations, student leaders, and journalists. More than 400 citizens of Satkhira also joined the demonstration. Speakers said that despite being one of the most promising and economically important districts, Satkhira has been excluded from notable development projects for the past 17 years. They highlighted poor transport infrastructure, lack of safe drinking water, inadequate health and education services, and absence of sports, railway, and food processing facilities as major problems facing the district. They urged the government to adopt and implement rural infrastructure projects for Satkhira, stressing the district’s contribution to national revenue and its significance as home to the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the slogan “No more discrimination, we the people of the district demand our equitable rights,” the rally placed a set of demands. These include railway connectivity, eco-tourism development around the Sundarbans, sustainable embankments, establishment of a University of Science and Technology, a Surveyors’ Institute, a full-fledged international land port, modern irrigation and agricultural storage facilities, a Nursing Institute, a cancer diagnosis and treatment center, and declaring Satkhira a Grade-1 district. Other demands include upgrading Patkelghata to upazila status, constructing a modern bus terminal, long-term projects against river erosion and waterlogging, filling vacancies in the health sector, investment in the pottery industry, modern storage and processing plants for mango, shrimp, and fisheries, technology-based surveillance to combat border smuggling, and building an international-standard stadium in Satkhira.  

Two people, who suffered burn injuries in a gas cylinder explosion in Charpara area in the middle of Satkania and Chandanaish upazilas on September 17, died at National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka early Sunday. The deceased were Md Yusuf, 30 of Cox’s Bazar district and Md Idris, 26, son of Nasir Uddin of Chandanaish upazila. They breathed their last while undergoing treatment at the hospital, said Dr Mohammad Khaled of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Ten people suffered burn injuries when a gas cylinder exploded on September 17. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital from where four of them were sent to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for better treatment. Six of the injured are undergoing treatment at CMCH with 40-70 percent burn injuries.

Nineteen fishermen from Koralia village in Dakshin Dighaldi union of Bhola Sadar upazila have been missing for the past nine days after venturing into the Bay of Bengal for fishing. They are Md. Safizal Bepari, Md. Shahe Alam, Chidu Munshi, Rajib Chandra Das, Md. Akhter Hossain, Md. Mintu Howlader, Md. Farid, Md. Alamgir, Md. Yunus, Md. Babul Sardar, Md. Nirab Hossain, Md. Ismail, Md. Shahe Alam Howlader, Gautam Chandra Das, Md. Zakir, Md. Chhagir Sikder, Md. Tutul, and Md. Shahidul Islam — all residents of Koralia village. Families, however, are suspecting that they may have been detained in India. According to relatives, the fishermen set out on the afternoon of September 5 following reports of a large hilsa catch in the sea. The last contact with their families was on September 12. Since then, they have not returned, and all communication has ceased. Family members claim the fishermen may have unknowingly crossed into Indian waters near the Sundarbans' protected area, where they were allegedly detained by Indian authorities along with their boat, nets, and catch.

A massive fire on Saturday morning destroyed eight shops at the Road Market in Thakurgaon municipality, causing an estimated loss of Tk 65–70 lakh taka. According to preliminary reports from the Fire Service, the blaze likely started due to an electrical short circuit. Affected shops include grocery stores, tailors, electronics and shoe shops, as well as a warehouse. Many merchants had stocked extra goods in preparation for the upcoming Durga Puja festival, all of which were destroyed. Two Fire Service units rushed to the scene, later joined by a third unit. Due to insufficient water supply inside the market, water had to be fetched from a river one and a half kilometers away. The fire was brought under control after about one and a half hours. Thakurgaon Fire Service and Civil Defence Inspector Mozammel Haque said the fire is believed to have originated from an electrical short circuit, and losses are estimated between 65 and 70 lakh taka. Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Israt Farzana visited the site and said a list of the affected shops is being prepared. She added that the government would provide necessary assistance to the victims.  

The body of a college student, who went missing two days ago, was found floating in a pond on Saturday morning in Laur village of Laur Fatehpur Union in Nabinagar upazila, Brahmanbaria district. The deceased was identified as Farzana Akter Jui, 18, daughter of Abul Hasnat of the village. Farzana had recently passed her HSC examination. She went missing after waking up for Tahajjud prayers two days ago. A local resident discovered the floating body while collecting water hyacinth from the pond. Police later recovered the body and confirmed it was Farzana Akter Jui. UNO walks out amid rice distribution chaos in Brahmanbaria; Hasina’s name on sacks sparks controversy Shahinoor Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Nabinagar Police Station, said, “We have recovered the body. The family has no major complaint, but we are investigating the matter carefully. The autopsy will confirm the cause of death.” The incident shocked the community, with locals speculating whether it was a murder or suicide despite the family having no major complaints.

A Saudi expatriate was killed in a motorbike accident in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district early Saturday morning. The incident happened around 2 am at Kandi village in Sonyasir Char union, when the motorbike hit an under-construction bridge. The deceased was identified as Mezbah Morol, 30, son of Ayub Ali Morol of Bakhor Kandi village in Shibchar. Mezbah had returned home from Saudi Arabia on Friday night. While going to his in-laws’ house on his motorbike, he collided with the bridge which caused serious serious injury and left him dead. Voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates discussed in Kuala Lumpur, NID cards distributed Md. Rokibul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Shibchar Police Station, confirmed the recovery of the body from the scene. “As the family did not file any case or complaint, the body was handed over to them”, he added.

Two people, including a schoolboy, were killed in separate lightning strikes in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia on Saturday afternoon. The victims were identified as Saif Hossain Toha, 10, a class four student from Shitlai Para in Rifayetpur Union, and Jamat Ali, 25, from Bilgathua village in Pragpur Union. Solaiman Sheikh, officer-in-charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station, said Toha was fishing near his home when he was struck by lightning. He was rushed to Daulatpur Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Lightning strike kills father, son in Mymensingh At the same time, Jamat Ali was sitting on a bamboo platform in Bilgathua when he too was fatally struck by lightning. Dr. Tuhin, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, confirmed that both victims had already died when brought to the Daulatpur Health Complex. Police have handed over Toha’s body to his family.