United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized a huge quantity of Indian contraband items in an operation at the Kushtia border. The estimated value of the seized drugs and goods is over Tk 2 lakh. Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal Rony, commander of Kushtia 47 Battalion, confirmed the matter through a press release on Saturday (April 11) afternoon. The notification said that based on intelligence reports, a member of the BGB conducted a raid in Jamalpur Jaypur Math Para area under Kushtia Battalion on Friday night. During this, 50 bottles of Indian triprolidine hydrochloride and codeine phosphate syrup were recovered. On the same day, a raid was conducted in Tentulbari Khasmahal area in the morning, during which 5kg of Indian marijuana was recovered. In addition, 100 bottles of Indian Fairdeal syrup were recovered abandoned during a raid in  the Shewratola Kazipur Uttarpara field area late at night. Additionally, 2,400 packets of tobacco leaves were recovered during this raid in East Bilgathua field area on Saturday morning. The BGB said, “operations will continue to prevent all types of smuggling and illegal activities, including drugs and explosives, to ensure security at the border”.

The re-excavation of a seven-kilometre canal from Kalitala Bridge to Hapania Bazar in Barshail union of Sadar upazila was inaugurated on Saturday at a cost of Tk 98.74 lakh (9.874 million). Member of Parliament for Naogaon Sadar constituency Zahidul Islam Dholu formally opened the work by unveiling a plaque and digging soil with a spade at the site. Later, he addressed a views-exchange meeting held at Tentulia College ground as the chief guest. List of canal encroachers being prepared: State Minister In his speech, the lawmaker said former President Ziaur Rahman had famously initiated canal excavation programmes across the country through voluntary efforts to boost agricultural production. After a long time, President Zia's worthy successor Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has again taken up such initiatives nationwide, he said. He added that the canal in Naogaon is being re-excavated after nearly 20 years, which will benefit thousands of farmers in Barshail, Hapania and Chakgouri unions by enabling easier and low-cost irrigation for crop production, including vegetables and paddy. Barshail Union BNP President Sanowar Hossain Pintu presided over the programme. Among others, BNP leaders including Khairur Alam Golden, Bayezid Hossain Palash, Aminul Haque Belal, Dewan Mostaq Ahmed Raza, Al Kafi Tuhin, Didarul Haque Ratan, Masud Haidar Tipu and Ruhul Amin Mukta were present. The project is being implemented by the National Development Programme (NDP) with support from Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Abul Khair, 42, was killed in an accident recently while working at a brick kiln in Sokuluk, Kyrgyzstan. His body arrived at the home of his father Abdul Jabbar in the village of Mogra in Akhaura of Brahmanbaria on Saturday morning. At that time, the tears of relatives created a different atmosphere. The neighbours' eyes were filled with tears. Many of them enquired about Abul Khair's only child, Arham, aged just 15 months. Abul Khair migrated to Kyrgyzstan before little Arham was born. So father and son could never meet in person. But their bond had been growing through video calling. Arham has been calling out 'Baba, Baba' in a low voice, perhaps in anticipation of the next video call. But now he has lost the banyan tree named Baba. With a dream to lift his family out of poverty, Abul Khair had migrated to Kyrgyzstan in June 2024, just 5 months after his marriage. Yet in a demonstration of the fragility of man's best made plans, this dream was wiped out in an instant. On the afternoon of March 20, while working at a brick kiln, a pile of earth suddenly collapsed on Khair. He fell to his death before his colleagues could rescue him. Khair's elder brother Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan said, "Khair has no means of support. He sold the land in his house as his last means to go abroad. Later, I let his wife and child live in my place. Now we are worried about how his wife will cope with Arham. We demand that the local MP take action in this regard."

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered 1,400 rounds of ammunition during a special operation in the remote Bouddhomoni Para Khataltali area of Panchhari upazila in Khagrachari on Friday. Acting on intelligence, a patrol team from Panchhari Battalion (3 BGB), led by Naib Subedar Md Shah Alam of Bouddhomoni Para BOP, took position at Khataltali passenger shed area around 4:00pm, officials said. Shortly afterwards, the BGB team noticed four individuals travelling on two motorcycles along the border road. When challenged, the suspects abandoned their motorcycles and fled into the nearby hilly terrain. A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of 1,400 rounds of ammunition left behind, according to BGB sources. While transporting the seized items back to the BOP, the patrol team was at one point surrounded by around 100–110 unidentified individuals. Suspecting a potential ambush, additional BGB personnel led by Acting Commander Major SM Imrul Kayes were deployed from battalion headquarters. Following the arrival of reinforcements, the group dispersed from the area. BGB officials said the situation was brought under control through prompt action and tactical response by the patrol team. Lieutenant Colonel Md Rabiul Islam, commanding officer of Panchhari Battalion (3 BGB), said border forces remain alert to prevent illegal arms trafficking and other cross-border crimes. He added that intelligence operations and patrol activities have been intensified to curb such incidents and will continue in the future.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Saturday said all canals in Dhaka will be recovered and a list of encroachers is being prepared to take legal action against them. “Encroached canals will be recovered according to CS records and maps. We are preparing a list of illegal occupiers and strict action will be taken against them in accordance with the law,” he said. The state minister made the remarks while visiting Zia Sarani Canal and Kutubkhali Canal under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) area. DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam was present during the inspection. Mir Shahe Alam said Tk 300 crore has been allocated to excavate the Zia Sarani Canal and reconnect it with the Buriganga River through a planned channel. “The project will begin in July this year with funding from the city corporation,” he added. The minister alleged that no development project was undertaken for the Zia Sarani Canal over the past 19 years partly because it was named after former president Ziaur Rahman. He said excavation of the canals will begin after the upcoming monsoon while cleaning activities have already started. Highlighting public responsibility, the minister said residents living near the canals have also contributed to the current condition by dumping waste into the waterways. “The rubbish did not arrive on its own. Please dispose of waste in the city corporation bins. Repeated cleaning by the government results in a waste of public funds,” he said. He also urged local leaders to form citizen committees to help monitor the canals and prevent further encroachment and pollution. During the inspection, Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan, Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin, along with senior officials and local party leaders, were also present.

A 50-year-old man was killed in a clash between two groups of villagers over the naming of a mosque at Galongshah in Sylhet city on Friday. The deceased was identified as Delwar Hossain Dilbar, son of Makhon Mia of Moghalgaon union under Jalalabad police station. Shamsul Habib, Officer-in-Charge of Jalalabad police station, said there had been enmity between people of Galongshah and Khaser Gaon villages over naming a newly-built jam-e-mosque at Galongshah village. As a sequel to the enmity, the local people organised arbitration over the issue after Juma prayers on Friday. During the arbitration, both groups locked into heated arguments, triggering a clash that left  Delwar  injured. Later, he was taken to Ragib-Rabeya Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Two schoolboys were physically assaulted allegedly by a local leader of Gono Odhikar Parishad over collecting mangoes at Kaunia village in Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali district on Friday. The victims were Ashique Molla, 10, a class V student of Dashmina Pilot School and Zubayer Molla, 8, class II student of Dashmina Public School. Of the injured, one is  undergoing treatment at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal. Witnesses said Imam Molla, 55, president of the ward unit Gono Odhikar Parishad, caught Ashique and Zubayer while they were collecting fallen mangoes under the tree in the evening. Later, he beat them up mercilessly, leaving them injured. Later, Imam kept them confined to a shop. After being informed from local people, the family members of the two children rushed in and took them to Dashmia Upazila Health Complex. Monir Hossain, father of Ashique said, “I cannot believe that a 55-year-old man can beat children so brutally over something as small as a mango. I demand justice.” Zubayer’s father, Julhas Molla, also expressed anger, saying, “If justice is not ensured for the abuse of my children, then we are not safe.” Officer-in-Charge of Dashmina Police Station (Investigation) Imam Mehdi said no written complaint had yet been received. “If a complaint is lodged legal action will be taken after investigation,” he added.

Traffic movement has remained suspended for the past nine months after a 45-year-old bridge collapsed in Kumrabaria and Maharajpur areas under Sadar upazila of Jhenaidah, causing severe public suffering. Although the bridge collapsed around nine months ago reconstruction work has yet to begin, said locals. Local people have have built a temporary bamboo footbridge at their own initiative which has now become risky for use. Local Union Parishad Chairman Khurshid Alami Mia said the road connecting Kumrabaria and Maharajpur unions locally known as Bishoykhali GC–Nagarbathaan GC via Defolbari road was constructed about 45 years ago. The bridge over a canal under the Ganges-Kobadak (GK) irrigation project was built by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in the Bhabanipur-Defolbari area.Kumrabaria Union Parishad Chairman Sirajul Islam said the bridge collapsed in 2025 due to heavy rainfall and strong water currents. “Despite repeated appeals by local representatives to the authorities concerned, no reconstruction work has been undertaken so far, increasing the sufferings of commuters, transport operators and goods carriers.”A recent visit to the area found that the bridge deck has collapsed and now lies in the middle of the canal. A makeshift bamboo footbridge has been installed in its place by local residents but it has already become shaky and unsafe, halting movement of auto-rickshaws, vans and motorcycles. Local resident Rahat Hossain said, “The bridge collapsed nine months ago. We informed various authorities multiple times but no solution has been provided. No one can say when the bridge will be rebuilt. All types of vehicles have stopped using this road.” School student Sumaiya Khatun said they used to cross the bridge daily to attend school. “After it collapsed last year a bamboo bridge was built. Now it is also on the verge of collapse. It feels very risky to cross it, especially with a bicycle. If it breaks down, going to school will become even more difficult,” she added. Truck driver Alfaz Ali said they used the bridge to transport goods between markets in Kumrabaria and Maharajpur unions. “Since the bridge collapsed, movement on this road has stopped, causing immense suffering to transport workers,” he said. Sadar Upazila Executive Engineer Md Abul Kalam Azad said the road is an important link between the two unions and previously had two bridges both of which were very old. “One of the bridges has already been reconstructed. For the collapsed one, we have sent two separate project proposals to the authorities concerned. We hope the project will be approved soon after which construction work will begin,” he added.

Police and Fire Service divers have recovered the body of a seven-year-old boy who went missing while fishing with his father in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur. The deceased was identified as Alif Hasan, the only son of Mozahidul Islam from Khoshalpur village under Kafrikhal Union in the upazila. According to locals, Alif went to catch fish in a pond of a farm owned by a farmer named Asad near his house with his father on Friday afternoon. At one stage, his father returned home but Alif did not. When he could not be found for a long time, family members started searching for him. Initially, locals searched nearby ponds but failed to trace him and later informed the fire service.

A mobile court has fined a filling station in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni for suspending fuel supply, causing public inconvenience. The fine was imposed on Sotota Filling Station during a mobile court drive conducted on April 9, 2026. According to officials, the filling station authorities decided to halt fuel supply from 7:00pm throughout the night, creating a chaotic situation among the general public. Later around 9:00pm, a joint operation led by the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Daganbhuiyan upazila, with support from the Bangladesh Army, was conducted, and fuel supply at the station was restored. Initially, the owner of the filling station claimed that the dispensing machine was out of order. However, upon on-site inspection, the machine was found to be functional. Considering the misleading and dishonest conduct, the mobile court filed a case and fined the owner Tk 10,000 under the Petroleum Act, 2016, which was realised on the spot. In total, one case was filed and one person was penalised during the drive. Feni Deputy Commissioner confirmed the matter.