United News of Bangladesh

The All-Party Unity Council in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Tuesday postponed the ongoing movement until Saturday demanding re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies, threatening tougher programmes from Sunday if their demands are not met. Md Palash Mia, a resident of Algir Union and representative of the council formed, announced it in the afternoon. “We have decided to postpone the programme after consulting everyone. We will wait until Sunday. If the issue is not addressed by then we will resume tougher programmes. We will not return home until our demand is fulfilled,” he said. Calling the recent violence a ‘conspiracy,’ Faridpur BNP President Advocate Syed Modarres Ali Isha alleged that Awami League-backed ‘terrorists’ carried out destructive attacks instigated by Nixon Chowdhury and Kazi Zafar Ullah, urging the administration to take legal action against the attackers. Tuesday was the last day of the declared three-day programme. In the morning, the protesters blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway for nearly two hours by placing electric poles and tree logs. Traffic resumed around 9:30 am after the blockades were removed. A large number of law enforcers, including army, BGB, RAB and police, were deployed across the area for patrols. Expressing concern over the ongoing movement, local Ibrahim Khan demanded the unconditional release of Algir Union Parishad Chairman MM Siddiq Mia, withdrawal of ‘false cases,’ an end to night-time harassment by law enforcers, no filing of new cases, and reinstatement of Algir and Hamirdi unions under Faridpur-4. The trouble began on September 4 when the Election Commission issued a gazette notification reassigning Algir and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2 constituency. The following day, locals launched highway blockades and they again blocked highways and the Dhaka-Khulna railway line on September 9 and 10. Constituency demarcation: Protesters vandalise police station, govt offices in Faridpur

The hanging body of a youth was recovered from a flat in Mohammadbagh area under Kadamtali police station in the capital early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Faisal, 28, an employee at a sports goods shop at Gulistan and son of Md Iqbal Hossain of Panchlaish area in Chattogram . He used to live at his uncle’s residence at Kadamtali. Roni Chowdhury, sub-inspector of the police station, said Faisal was found hanging with a scarf in the bathroom on the ninth-floor of a high-rise. Former banker’s body recovered in Banani The body was later sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for autopsy. Quoting family members, police said Faisal worked at his uncle’s shop and had been under stress for some time due to unpaid debts. The exact cause of death will be known after the autopsy, said the SI. Legal action in this regard was underway, he added.

Train communication on  Rangpur-Lalmonirhat-Bogura route remained suspended since Tuesday afternoon following the derailment of six bogies of a train near Pirgachha Railway outer signal in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur district. Jenarul Islam, station master of Pirgachha Railway Station, said six bogies of the Padmarag train from Santahar upazila veered off the tracks around 12:40 pm , halting train movement. Kurigram-Chilmari railway in limbo: 29-km journey still takes 2.5 hours However, no casualty was reported. A number of trains were stranded at different rail stations following the derailment, he said.  

Protesters on Tuesday laid siege to the election office in Bagerhat district town demanding the reinstatement of the four parliamentary seats. Demonstrators under the banner of ‘All-party United Committee’ brought out a procession around 9:30 am and besieged the election office. They barred the officials of the election office from entering the office. Besides, two writ petitions were filed with the High Court seeking reinstatement of four constituencies. Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain on behalf of Bagerhat Press Club and the District Bar Association filed one writ petition while Advocate Mohammad Akhtar Rasul filed another on behalf of former Chitalmari Upazila Chairman Mujibur Rahman Shamim. Those involved in Faridpur violence to be brought to book: DIG Rezaul They also threatened to continue their movement until their demand is met. MA Salam, former president of Bagerhat BNP and co-convener of the committee, said, “Considering the interest of the Hindu community during Durga Puja and the interests of the business community we have withdrawn the strike programme.” He also said that they will besiege the election office again from 9 am to 1 pm on Wednesday. Sheikh Mohammad Yunus, Secretary of district unit Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Member Secretary of the coordination committee, said they hope the court will ensure justice. The Election Commission on September 4 announced to reduce Bagerhat’s four seats to three despite locals’ protests. The final gazette placed Bagerhat-1 (Bagerhat Sadar-Chitalmari-Mollahat), Bagerhat-2 (Fakirhat-Rampal-Mongla), and Bagerhat-3 (Kachua-Morrelganj-Sarankhola). Previously, Bagerhat-1 included Chitalmari-Mollahat-Fakirhat, Bagerhat-2 Bagerhat Sadar-Kachua, Bagerhat-3 Rampal-Mongla, and Bagerhat-4 Morrelganj-Sarankhola.

A 37-year-old woman and her minor daughter were killed and another injured when a truck hit an auto-rickshaw at Dargahat Bazar in Kahalu upazila of Bogura district on Monday night. The deceased were identified as Ainun Nahar Asha, wife of Ratan of Adamdighi upazila and her six-year-old daughter Arat. Cop, two others killed in Jashore road crash Quoting witnesses, Nitai Chandra Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Kahalu Police Station, said the accident occurred around 8:30 pm when the truck crashed into the auto-rickshaw, leaving one killed on the spot and two others injured. The injured were taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared Arat dead.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Dhaka Range Rezaul Karim Mallick has said that those responsible for the violence in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district will be brought to book. “We will undoubtedly bring the fascists to justice. I have instructed the authorities concerned to arrest those involved in the violence. The real perpetrators behind the attack will be identified and brought under legal action,” he told a press briefing at Bhanga Police Station Complex around midnight. Steps are being taken to ensure public safety and law and order, he added. “We have spoken with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Faridpur regarding Monday’s incident, the law and order situation and public safety. We have also talked with the people who were on duty during the violence,” the DIG said. Mallick also mentioned that four to five police personnel were injured during the incident. Constituency demarcation: Protesters vandalise police station, govt offices in Faridpur “Legal action will be taken against those involved in Monday’s attack. We are doing everything necessary to maintain public security,” he added. Referring to the damages caused by the attack, the DIG said the district police have been tasked with assessing the losses at Bhanga Police Station, while the Deputy Commissioner has been assigned to evaluate the damages at the Upazila Parishad. Meanwhile, Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan Molla said, “We have talked with the Election Commission, expressing the public's emotions and sentiments through a report. The commission will review it.” He also mentioned that a writ petition has been filed with the High Court over the alleged redrawing of two union boundaries, with the hearing expected on September 21. The DC urged Bhanga residents to remain calm and step back from protest programmes. “We understand people's emotions. We are working on these concerns. I again urge the residents of Bhanga to wait patiently for the legal process to unfold and refrain from any further protest programmes. You have a good reputation—please ensure no harm comes to the public,” he said. Regarding the extent of the damage, the DC said a full on-site assessment would be conducted and detailed information shared later. Earlier, on Monday, protesters went on a rampage in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district opposing the demarcation of the Faridpur-4 constituency by the Election Commission. They vandalised Bhanga Police Station, the Upazila Parishad building, a highway police outpost and the Bhanga municipality building, and set the local Election Commission office and several vehicles on fire.  

A murder accused died in RAB-9 custody in Sylhet on Sunday morning, a day after his arrest. The dead man was identified as Tanvir Chowdhury, 26, from Sardaganj in Gazipur. He was the main accused in the killing of his wife in Naogaon on September 11, when he allegedly stabbed her to death in broad daylight. According to the source of RAB, Tanvir was arrested on Saturday evening in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet during a joint drive by RAB-9 and RAB-5 and brought to the RAB-9 headquarters in Sylhet around 9pm that night. RAB-9 Captain and Wing Commander Tajminur Rahman said, “Tanvir was kept in a cell and given food on Sunday morning. Around 8:30am, he tied a blanket with the ventilator grill and hanged himself. The whole incident was recorded on CCTV”. He also added that Tanvir was supposed to be handed over to police within 24 hours, but he committed suicide before that. His sister later filed an unnatural death case at Golapganj Police Station. Police confirmed that the body was sent for autopsy at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. After the postmortem, the body was handed over to the family on Monday. Ex-BNP leader held in Sylhet stone looting case Moniruzzaman Molla , Officer-in-Charge of Golapganj Model Police Station said, “So far, it appears to be suicide. We will submit a full report after getting the autopsy result.” The RAB commander also informed that an internal inquiry was underway and steps are being taken so that no accused is kept in RAB custody for too long in the future.

A couple and their four-year-old son were found dead at a house in Baburail Boubazar area of Sadar upazila of Narayanganj district on Monday. The deceased were identified as Habibullah Shilpu, 35, his wife Mohini Akter Meem, 24 and their son Afran. Quoting local people, additional superintendent of Narayanganj Police, Tarek Al Mehedi, said Shiplu used to live at the house, located in the 3rd floor of a building. Getting no response since Monday morning, the relatives of the family went to their house and found the door locked from inside. On information, police rushed to the spot and entered the house, breaking open the door in the evening. Later, police found Shiplu hanging from the ceiling of their house while the bodies of Meem and Afran were in another room with their faces covered by pillows. Initially, police suspected that Shiplu strangulated his wife and son and then hanged himself. BUP student drowns in Narayanganj Shiplu was a manager of a Samity named ‘Ramjan Samity’, which was closed during the Covid-19 period as the owner of the Samity Ramjan had, went into hiding taking away the money of the organisation. The customers of the Samity used to put pressure on Shiplu for getting their money back and Shiplu got frustrated over the issue.      

Two people were killed when a train hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Manianda level crossing in Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Monday. The deceased were identified as Sadek Mia, 38, driver of the auto-rickshaw of Kasba upazila and its passenger Popy Akter, 19, wife of Yeajul Islam. Model Mosque in Brahmanbaria promotes inclusivity, communal harmony: Adviser Khalid The accident occurred at the level crossing when the Chattogram-bound ‘Bojoy Express’ train from Dhaka hit the auto-rickshaw while passing the level crossing, leaving two killed on the spot, said a staff of Akhaura Railway Station. On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to a local hospital morgue for autopsy.

Gas supply to the national grid resumed on Monday morning from Well No. 3 of the Rashidpur gas field in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj, following renovation work. Surman Bikash Das, deputy general manager of Rashidpur Gas Field, said around 8 million cubic feet of gas will be supplied daily from the well. Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) began the renovation of the decades-old well on July 12, completing the work at a cost of approximately Tk 73 crore. Titas cuts off 2,370 illegal gas connections in 3 cities Following this, a new gas layer was discovered on September 5. Officials estimate the newly accessed layer could yield about 25.55 billion cubic feet of gas over the next 10 years. Condensate will also be extracted as a by-product. Currently, an average of 62 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied daily to the national grid from 7 of the 11 wells in the Rashidpur gas field.