United News of Bangladesh

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained two individuals and recovered firearms and ammunition during a special operation in Naikhongchari upazila of Bandarban on Saturday. According to BGB sources, acting on intelligence provided by DGFI, a patrol team from Naikhongchari Battalion (11 BGB) conducted the operation in the Baganghona area of Sadar Union in the evening. During the drive, law enforcers detained Md Faruk, 21, a Rohingya youth from Camp-13, and seized one 9mm TT pistol (made in Yugoslavia), another pistol of unidentified type, and 42 rounds of live ammunition, BGB said in a media statement. Over 10.59 lakh Yaba seized in Cox’s Bazar, largest single-day haul in BGB history Based on information obtained from Faruk, another suspect, Md Nurul Alam, 30, was later detained from the Chakdala Bazar area of the upazila. During initial interrogation, the detainees reportedly confessed that they were planning to hand over the arms to another party at a local hotel named Cafe-13 for Tk 20,000, following instructions from an individual named as Ayatullah. They are currently in BGB custody, and legal proceedings are underway. Naikhongchari Battalion Commander Lt Col Md Faizul Kabir said BGB has intensified patrols and intelligence activities to maintain law and order and prevent illegal arms smuggling in border areas, adding that such operations will continue.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered a total of 10,59,400 Yaba pills in separate operations along border in  Cox’s Bazar border, marking the largest seizure of Yaba in a single day in the history of BGB. The Ukhia Battalion (64 BGB) and Ramu Battalion (30 BGB), under the Ramu Sector, conducted drives in different areas of Cox’s Bazar district, BGB said in a statement on Saturday. Early Saturday, the Ukhia Battalion carried out a special operation in Hnila area of Teknaf upazila. Tipped-off, BGB intensified surveillance and patrols in the area for the past two weeks. 2 held with 1.71 lakh Yaba pills in Cox’s Bazar At around 3am, suspicious movement was detected near the Naf River through radar monitoring. Sensing BGB presence, the smugglers abandoned the consignment and fled to Myanmar by crossing the river. Later, BGB recovered 8,59,400 Yaba pills from 13 bags. In a separate operation in the afternoon, the Ramu Battalion recovered another 200,000 Yaba pills from the Tulabagan area of Khuniapalong Union in Ramu upazila. BGB said legal procedures are underway in connection with the seizures. Ukhia Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Zahirul Islam said border operations have been strengthened as part of government directives to curb smuggling of drugs, fuel, edible oil and fertiliser. He added that the battalion has also recently seized around 3,400 kg of fertiliser and significant quantities of fuel and edible oil over the past two months.

Police have arrested a UK expatriate in a case filed under the Pornography Control Act in Sylhet city. The accused, Shakir Ahmed (36), was detained on Friday afternoon from his residence in the Sobhanighat area of the city. He was later taken before a court on Saturday, police said. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Md Manjurul Alam confirmed the arrest. According to police, Shakir Ahmed, son of Hafiz Manjurul Islam of Sobhanighat area, was arrested during a raid at his residence (Moubon-67/1). A mobile phone used by him was also seized during the operation. Police said the accused, an expatriate living in the United Kingdom, was acquainted with the victim’s family as a friend of her elder brother. While staying abroad, he allegedly developed a relationship with the victim by luring her with promises of marriage. The complaint states that during video calls, he allegedly captured and stored the victim’s private photos and videos. He later used those materials to blackmail her via WhatsApp and delayed marriage proposals with various excuses. Police further said that on April 3 at around 5:30pm, when the victim again raised the issue of marriage, the accused allegedly threatened her, warning that he would leak the private images and videos on social media if she disclosed the matter. Based on the written complaint of the victim, a case was filed with Kotwali Model Police Station. Police later conducted the operation and arrested Shakir Ahmed. He has been sent to court, SMP ADC Md Manjurul Alam added.

Industry and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Saturday urged university students to develop themselves as entrepreneurs and make effective use of bank financing and alternative funding sources to foster creative business ideas and startups. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Youth Entrepreneurship & Startups for Students (YESS Program) at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet. The minister said building a knowledge-based economy is essential for ensuring sustainable national development. He encouraged students to embrace innovation and technology-driven initiatives, saying that “knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial mindset are essential to compete in today’s world.” He also noted that advanced countries’ progress is driven by knowledge-based societies and skilled human resources. In this context, he stressed turning Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Agricultural University into regional “knowledge hubs” for development. Praising student innovation, he said SUST students have already undertaken creative projects such as building mini submarines and remote-controlled cars, which reflect the country’s growing technological potential. The minister also mentioned development plans for universities, including new departments, improved transport facilities and expanded residential accommodation. He said if such projects are submitted in an integrated proposal, the government would support their implementation. Highlighting industrial development, he stressed the application of research-based knowledge in sectors such as fertiliser and sugar industries to improve productivity and reduce losses. He also assured students of internship opportunities in various industries. The event was presided over by Industry Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman. Special guests included Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, SUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury, Pro-VC Prof Dr Md Sajedul Karim, SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Sylhet Office Executive Director Khaled Ahmed, and Ruwipa project ICT Division Project Director Murtuza Zulkar Nain Noman.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Saturday said Sylhet city will witness visible changes within the next two to three years through planned development initiatives. “The government is implementing projects in a coordinated manner to transform Sylhet into a modern and attractive tourist city,” he said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting with officials of Sylhet City Corporation at its conference room. Expressing his vision to build Sylhet into a vibrant city, the minister said efforts are underway to ensure a dynamic environment, cultural diversity and strong economic activities. He mentioned that active participation of nearly one million residents could help transform Sylhet into an aesthetic, livable and sustainable city, stressing the need to prioritise sustainability in all development projects. Highlighting the issue of waterlogging, he warned that without timely and effective measures, low-lying areas of the city could become uninhabitable in the future. Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, who presided over the meeting, said there is a special vision for Sylhet’s development and that coordinated initiatives are being taken to build a green and clean city. The meeting was also attended by senior officials, including representatives from relevant ministries, engineers and architects, who presented ongoing and proposed development projects.

A mobile court on Saturday fined six business establishments in Bogura for allegedly selling soybean oil at higher prices amid an artificial shortage in the local market. In the morning, soybean oil was reportedly unavailable in several shops across the city. However, customers who agreed to pay higher prices were able to purchase the product, with dishonest traders allegedly charging an extra Tk 5–10 per litre. Acting on complaints of irregularities in the sale of loose and bottled soybean oil at Rajabazar, the mobile court conducted an operation and imposed fines on six establishments. DB arrests 7 members of 'honey trap' gang in Bogura The drive was led by Assistant Director of the District Office of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, Md. Mehedi Hasan. He said four businesses were fined Tk 10,000 in total for not updating price lists. Additionally, Messrs AK Traders was fined Tk 5,000 for failing to maintain purchase and sales vouchers, while Messrs Mondol Traders was fined Tk 20,000 for selling bottled soybean oil above the government-fixed price. The total amount of fines stood at Tk 35,000, he added. Officials also urged traders to avoid hoarding and ensure market stability.

A microbus driver was killed and 10 passengers injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a microbus in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur on Saturday morning. The deceased was identified as Nasim ,35, son of Sahab Uddin of Chakai village in Birganj upazila of the district. Sahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC)of Ghoraghat Police Station, said the accident occurred in the Damodarpur Sonamukhi Bazar area when a microbus carrying passengers from Mymensingh was heading towards Birganj and collided head-on with a vegetable-laden truck coming from the opposite direction on the Dhaka-bound road. Schoolboy killed in Dinajpur road crash The collision left the truck overturned by the roadside and the microbus badly damaged, he added. He said the microbus driver died on the spot, while 10 passengers, including five in critical condition, were rescued and taken to the upazila health complex. They were later referred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital after receiving primary treatment. Police said all the injured passengers are members of the same family.

A man was beaten to death by an angry mob in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia on Saturday following allegations of making objectionable remarks about the Holy Quran. The deceased was identified as Shamim Reza, 52, also known as Jahangir, a resident of Philipnagar area. Locals claimed Shamim, who ran a Darbar Sharif in the area, had recently made derogatory comments about the Quran to his followers. A video of his statement that went viral on social media triggered outrage among local residents. Schoolgirl found unconscious in classroom in Kushtia; sexual assault suspected Around 1pm, hundreds of people surrounded his Darbar in Philipnagar and launched an attack. They vandalised the premises and set fire to several rooms. Shamim and at least two of his followers were critically injured in the attack. Police and fire service personnel rescued them around 3pm and took them to Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex, where Shamim died around 3:20pm while undergoing treatment. The injured are currently receiving treatment.

The Tangail District Journalists Forum in Dhaka has formed a new 19-member executive committee for the 2026–2028 term, aiming to further strengthen unity, professionalism, and organizational activities among journalists from Tangail. Sakhawat Hossain Badsha has been elected President, while Anisur Rahman Khan will serve as General Secretary of the newly formed committee. The leadership was selected by a jury board from the forum’s Advisory Council during its Biennial General Meeting for the 2024–2026 term, held at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The proposed committee was later approved unanimously by members through a voice vote. The committee includes Sheikh Enamul Haque as Senior Vice-President and Ferdous Salam as Vice-President. Tofiq Apu and Shahnaz Parveen Alice have been appointed as Joint General Secretaries, while Nurul Huda will serve as Treasurer. Other key positions include Hafizur Rahman as Organizing Secretary, Tabibur Rahman Talukder as Publicity Secretary, Walid Khan as Office Secretary, and Salauddin Badal as Cultural Secretary. The executive members are Dr. Harunur Ur Rashid, Abu Mohammad Masani, Khorshed Alam Akash, Subir Kumar Nath, Rabiul Islam, Mahashrupa Tubun, and Khandaker Asab Mahmud. Formed with consensus from all members, the new committee blends experienced professionals with young journalists. Leaders expressed optimism that the committee will play an effective role in making the organization more dynamic while promoting unity and professional development among Tangail-based journalists working in Dhaka.

A man injured in an attack allegedly by his cousins over a land dispute in Lalmonirhat later died, police said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Suman, 35, son of Abdus Sattar of the Telipara area in the district town. He died on Saturday morning while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital. According to police and local sources, Suman was injured on Friday night during a clash between two groups of cousins over a long-standing land dispute in the Telipara area. During the altercation, he was critically wounded after being struck with a spade. Locals rescued him and took him first to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital before shifting him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his condition worsened. Police detained Abdus Sobhan and his daughter Rozina Begum from the same area following a complaint filed by the victim’s family. Investigation Officer of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station Sajib said the two accused named in the case have been detained in connection with the killing.