United News of Bangladesh

At least six people were injured seriously in a head-on collision between two buses in Pirojpur municipality on Saturday. According to locals, the accident occurred around noon when a Dhaka-bound Palki Paribahan bus collided with a Molla Travels bus, returning from Charmonai’s Mahfil, in the Ranipur area. Following the collision, the Molla Travels bus lost control and slammed into a roadside tree, leaving the vehicle mangled. Officer-in-Charge of Pirojpur Sadar Police Station Mahmud Hasan said several passengers sustained injuries in the accident and they were immediately taken to the district hospital.

Three children died in Kushtia with symptoms of measles within 24 hours till Saturday morning. The deceased were identified as eight-month-old Ibrahim, son of Chanchal Hossain of Daulatpur upazila,  Afran, son of Al Amin from Bhadalia village and five-month-old Aiza, daughter of Momin of Kushtia district town. Among the deceased, Ibrahim, died around 10:30 pm on Friday at Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital, Aiza died around midnight at Kushtia Medical College Hospital and Afran died around 6 am on Friday at the same hospital with similar symptoms, said Dr Hossain Imam, resident medical officer (RMO) of Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital. Deputy Director of Kushtia Medical College Hospital Dr AHM Anwarul Islam said the number of patients with measles symptoms keeps rising across the district. Besides, dedicated measles corners have been set up in hospitals including Kushtia Medical College Hospital, he added. However, due to the increasing number of cases many children are being treated in general wards, leading to a shortage of beds. According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, more than 300 children have been admitted to different hospitals in the district with measles symptoms of which at least 75 have recovered. Civil Surgeon Sheikh Mohammad Kamal Hossain said a shortage of vaccines, lack of awareness and movement of people from other districts are contributing to the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, isolation corners have been opened in all hospitals in the district for infected children and vaccination drives will begin as soon as vaccines become available, he added. Authorities have urged parents to remain cautious and seek medical attention promptly if children show symptoms.

A woman died during a cesarean section at a private clinic in Birganj, Dinajpur, on Friday, triggering violent protests in which locals attacked the clinic, vandalized property, and blocked the road by setting tires on fire. The incident occurred at Birganj Clinic and Diagnostic Center around 4:00 pm when 25-year-old Sameja Khatun, wife of Abdur Razzak from Saranja village in Kahara Upazila, went into labor. She was undergoing a C-section to deliver a baby girl. According to her family, excessive bleeding occurred due to what they claim was a medical error during the operation. As her condition worsened, the clinic staff sent her to Zia Heart Foundation and Research Center in the district town. Despite medical efforts, Sameja Khatun could not be saved. Following the news of her death, locals gathered outside the clinic, protesting violently. They vandalized parts of the clinic and set fire to tires on the road, obstructing traffic until around 9:00 pm. The clinic staff, including doctor Bakul Hossain Malik Belal and other employees, reportedly fled the premises during the unrest. Birganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam confirmed the incident, stating that although Sameja Khatun was sent to the city in critical condition, she succumbed to her injuries. The OC added that the assistant land commissioner, Dipankar Barman, sealed the clinic following the incident. Legal action will be taken if the victim’s family files a formal complaint.

A violent clash erupted among residents of four villages in Bhanga upazila on Friday evening over a football game announcement, lasting around two and a half hours and leaving at least 30 people injured. The injured have been receiving treatment at Bhanga Upazila Health Complex and locally. The incident occurred from evening until around 7:30 pm at Munsurabad Bus Stand along the Faridpur-Bhanga-Khulna highway. Among the injured, Jinnat Mia, president of Munsurabad Market Merchants Association, sustained serious injuries. Police from Bhanga Thana arrived at the scene to try to control the situation, but the clash continued for over two hours. Later, with help from local leaders and police, villagers returned to their homes, though tension still remains across the area. According to local sources and police, the clash originated two days ago when Rahat, a teenager from Munsurabad village, faced assault and humiliation from residents of neighboring Khapura, Singardak, and Majhikanda villages while promoting a football match through loudspeakers. On Friday evening, in retaliation, opponents attacked Jinnat Mia, leaving him injured. Following the attack, Munsurabad villagers confronted residents from the three neighboring villages at Munsurabad Bus Stand armed with local weapons, shields, and sticks, while their opponents positioned themselves near Hamirdi Union Parishad. A prolonged exchange of brick-throwing, chasing, and counter-chasing ensued. Several shops were looted and vandalized during the violence. As night fell, torches were used during the confrontation. Bhanga Police Station SI Mamun said, We arrived at the scene promptly to control the situation. With the help of local leaders, we managed to pull both sides back and deployed police along the highway to prevent any further incidents.

Residents of seven villages from Chandina and Debidwar upazilas formed a human chain on Friday, demanding construction of a foot overbridge at the Kathterpul area on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. The programme was held around 3pm at Kathterpul point in Chandina, a busy stretch frequently used by pedestrians from both upazilas. Locals said the highway divides Debidwar and Chandina, with people from villages like Barkamta, Premu, Brahmankhara, Chhotona and Bagmara crossing the road daily to access Chandina Bazar, schools and colleges. Meanwhile, residents of Rarirchar and Gobindapur villages in Chandina also cross the highway regularly for educational purposes. They alleged that frequent road accidents occur in the area due to the absence of a safe crossing system, often claiming lives of students and people from different walks of life. The demand for a foot overbridge intensified after the tragic death of a schoolboy, Ibne Taim, who was crushed by a lorry while crossing the highway on April 1 on his way to school. Among those who took part in the human chain were Barkamta Village Development Committee President Mobarak Hossain, Cumilla North district Matsyajibi Dal member secretary Fazlul Sattar, local businessman Golzar Hossain, Abdul Wadud, Abdul Aziz, Chandina municipal Chhatra Dal joint convener Asaduzzaman Russel, Al-Insaf Foundation president Anisur Rahman Mehdi, and student representatives Tanvir, Masud, Sohel Rana, Nazmul and Zahid, among others.

Nearly 500 workers from two tea gardens in Sylhet received free blood group testing on Friday, organized by Ethnic Community Development (EKoDo) in collaboration with the Sylhet Red Crescent and the tea workers’ organization Cha Shromik Nari Mancha. The free blood grouping camps were held at Daladli and Kewachra tea gardens from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Both men, women, and children of various ages participated in the initiative. Speaking at the Kewachra camp, 45-year-old worker Sucharita Das said, As tea workers, we focus on plucking leaves and household chores. Despite being married with children, I never knew my blood group. Today, I learned I am B positive. Now, if I ever need a blood transfusion, it can be arranged quickly. Anita Das, 30, from Daladli tea garden said, "We never had the opportunity to know our blood groups before. Today, I finally learned that mine is O positive. It feels really good to know this after so many years." Kewachra worker Swapna Das added, Sometimes women need blood during childbirth, but we don’t know our blood group. It causes delays and difficulties in emergencies. Today, thanks to EKoDo, I learned for the first time that I am B positive. We are grateful for this valuable initiative. EKoDo’s Executive Director Lakkhmi Kantha Singh said, We regularly work to improve the lives of tea workers and raise awareness about their rights. The idea for the free blood grouping camp came after learning that a female worker faced delays during childbirth because her blood group was unknown. He further said, Nearly 7,000 female tea workers in Sylhet’s gardens do not know their blood groups, leaving them vulnerable in emergencies. This initiative ensures they can access the necessary blood without delay. The campaign was successfully conducted under EKoDo’s supervision, organized by Cha Shromik Nari Mancha with Red Crescent support.

A manager of a sand quarry in Teota, Shibalaya upazila, was shot and hacked to death by unidentified assailants on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 5:30 pm at Alokdia Char in the upazila. The deceased Miraj Hossain was a resident of Dapunia village in Pabna Sadar upazila. Kawsar Alam, owner of the leased sand quarry under the company Messrs Iftiyar Enterprise, said Miraj was sitting on the dredger calculating accounts when several unidentified attackers arrived by speedboat and fired multiple rounds. One bullet hit Miraj, and the assailants then hacked him before fleeing the scene. He was later taken to the district hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Kawsar Alam added that he had been managing the sand quarry under a government lease. On March 1, he received a death threat from an unknown mobile number and subsequently filed a general diary (GD) with Shibalaya police. Shibalaya police Officer-in-Charge Monir Hossain said the killing appears to be related to the sand business, and authorities are working to identify and apprehend the culprits.

A leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) was shot and hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna late Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Imran Hossain Sohag, 26, son of Enamul Haque of Baghoil Monnobipara village under Pakshi union. He was the convener of the proposed upazila JCD committee and member secretary of the upazila unit of Zia Cyber Force. According to police and local sources, Sohag was sitting with friends at a tea stall beside the railway line in front of Sarra Gopalpur High School around 10:30pm when a group of assailants, with their faces covered in black cloth, attacked him. The attackers allegedly hacked him indiscriminately and opened fire before fleeing the scene, leaving him dead on the spot. Additional Superintendent of Police (Ishwardi Circle) Pranab Kumar said police rushed to the scene after receiving information and found severe injuries on the victim, including a badly damaged head. Initially, it appears he was hacked to death. We have also recovered bullet shells from the scene, he said. The body has been sent to Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy, and efforts are underway to uncover the motive behind the killing.

At least four people were injured in a stabbing incident in Talukanupur village of Gobindaganj upazila on Friday afternoon, with locals catching the attacker and handing him over to police. The suspect, identified as Rony, is the son of Khoybor Mondol from Bilkhara union of Panchbibi upazila in Joypurhat district. According to villagers, the attack took place shortly after Juma prayers when a youth suddenly entered the house of Abul Hossain and began repeatedly stabbing his son, Bablu Mia. Hearing his cries, Bablu’s sister Helena Begum rushed to rescue him, but the attacker allegedly tried to kill her by slashing her throat with a sharp knife. Bablu’s daughters, Shefali Akter and Papri Khatun, were also attacked when they came forward. As family members raised the alarm, nearby residents rushed to the scene and managed to overpower the attacker. Enraged locals beat him before handing him over to police. Police from Gobindaganj Police Station reached the spot and rescued the injured suspect, later admitting him to the upazila health complex. The reason behind the sudden and brutal attack could not be immediately known. Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mozammel Haque said a suspect named Rony has been detained and further investigation is underway.

Chuadanga recorded the country’s highest temperature for the third consecutive day on Friday, with the mercury soaring to 39.7 degrees Celsius, causing extreme discomfort and disrupting daily life. According to the district Met office, the temperature reached 39.7 degrees Celsius at 3:00pm with 31% humidity, while it was 37 degrees Celsius at noon. Previously, temperatures were recorded at 36.3 degrees Celsius on April 1 and 38.5 degrees Celsius on April 2, marking a steady rise at the start of the season. A mild to moderate heat wave is currently sweeping through the district, with streets largely empty as residents avoided going outdoors unless necessary. People venturing outside were seen using umbrellas, hats, or cloth to shield themselves from the intense sun. Outdoor workers and day labourers are particularly struggling with the heat. Rickshaw and van drivers reported fewer passengers, while field workers continue to work under the scorching sun, taking occasional breaks in the shade. The demand for cold drinks and sugarcane juice has also surged across the town. Local watermelon vendor Abdul Alim said the heat has made roadside business extremely difficult, while motorcyclist Rakib described the conditions as exhausting, especially during power outages. Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of the Chuadanga First Class Weather Observatory, said the mild to moderate heat wave may continue for several days, with no immediate sign of rainfall.