United News of Bangladesh

Rashed Khan, Secretary General of Gono Odhikar  Parishad on Friday alleged that a conspiratorial group has begun plotting to create a situation in the country similar to 1/11 in order to disrupt the upcoming elections. He claimed that the group is scheming to reinstate Sheikh Hasina in power. “We make it clear that no one will be allowed to sabotage the elections scheduled for February,” he said. He added that no one will be given any opportunity, whether through lawsuits or other means, to postpone the elections. “The elections must take place in February. We trust that the government will ensure an environment conducive to free and fair elections,” he told reporters after a street meeting at Mandia Bazar in Harinakundu Upazila. Responding to remarks by Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor of the interim government, about whether the Jatiya Party would participate in the elections, Rashed Khan criticized the statement. “You are serving in the interim government but failing to uphold the aspirations of the July popular uprising. You are being lenient toward fascist allies and the Awami League. The public will not accept this stance, and we will not remain silent,” he said. Addressing the International Crimes Tribunal, he stated that while the tribunal has begun prosecuting Awami League members, the Jatiya Party and other 14 alliance parties should also face justice. “Those Awami League leaders who participated in the 2024 sham elections will have no place in the upcoming elections,” he added. On election alliances, Rashed Khan said Gono Odhikar  Parishad has already announced candidates for 200 seats and that he is campaigning in Jhenaidah-2. College teacher in Jhenaidah suspended over allegations of sexual harassment He noted that the party has coordinated movements with BNP since 2022 and is in discussions with them and other anti-fascist forces. “A final announcement on alliances will be made once the election schedule is declared,” he added. Earlier, the district branch of Gono Odhikar Parishad organized a street meeting at Mandia Bazar in Harinakundu Upazila, where Rashed Khan was the chief guest. District leaders including President Sakhawat Hossain, General Secretary Zahid Iqbal Rajon, Youth Rights Secretary Mission Ali, and Professional Rights President Raser Ahmed were also present.

Supporters of Mahiuddin Ahmed, member-secretary of the Munshiganj district BNP, blocked the Mukterpur Bridge for an hour and a half on Friday, demanding a change in the party’s nomination for the Munshiganj-3 (Sadar–Ghazaria) constituency. The BNP has nominated Kamruzzaman Ratan, the party’s central social welfare secretary, for the seat, sparking widespread protests among local party activists. From around 3:30pm, demonstrators set fire to tires and staged a sit-in on the bridge, chanting slogans against the nomination. Traffic on the Mukterpur Bridge came to a complete halt, forcing passengers to cross on foot. Long tailbacks formed on both sides, with ambulances facing severe difficulties. After blocking road links between Munshiganj, Dhaka, and Narayanganj for 90 minutes, the protesters withdrew around 5pm, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to reconsider the nomination. They warned of nonstop programmes on river and road routes if Mahiuddin Ahmed is not selected as the candidate. The tension grew a day earlier after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced Kamruzzaman Ratan’s nomination at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan. Soon after, protests erupted in Munshiganj city, where party activists burned effigies of Fakhrul and Ratan and held demonstrations. Friday’s blockade was a continuation of those protests. BNP leaders including Ataur Rahman Babul, Shahidul Islam Commissioner, Kazi Abu Sufian Biplob, VP Shahin Mia, Sayedur Rahman Fakir, Advocate Mahbubul Alam Swapon, former councillor Khorshed Alam Tapan and former Jubo Dal member-secretary Masud Rana joined the demonstration. Protesters claimed Ratan is not locally acceptable and urged the party high command to reconsider. Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, the BNP has so far announced candidates for 272 constituencies, including 36 seats revealed on Thursday.

A visually impaired young man was tied to a tree and tortured in Sylhet’s Companiganj upazila on Thursday after he was accused of theft. The victim was Jalal Mia, 27, son of late Ali Akbar from South Burdeo village of the upazilla. He is blind in one eye. After the incident, Jalal’s mother, Shiriya Begum, filed a case at Companiganj Police Station on Thursday evening, naming 12 people and accusing 50 to 60 others whose identities are unknown. Police arrested a man named Arfan Miah, 43, on Thursday night for his suspected involvement. According to the case statement and local sources, several people took Jalal from his home early Thursday, accusing him of theft. They first tied his hands behind his back and beat him on a boat by the riverbank in South Burdeo village. Later, they tied his hands to a tree in front of the house of a man named Yunus Ali and tortured him again. Shiriya Begum rescued her son and took him to the upazila health complex. A 58-second video shows Jalal hanging from a tree with his hands tied with rope. Several key areas in Sylhet to face power outage Saturday He tries to touch the ground with his feet while screaming. Several men holding sticks attempt to beat him, though a few bystanders try to stop them. Ratan Sheikh, Officer-in-Charge of Companiganj Police Station, said, “The main accused had been arrested in the case. He was sent to court on Friday.”    

Police recovered the hanging body of a Chittagong University (CU) student from a house in the city’s Khulshi area on Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Omar Faruk Sumon, a student of the Arabic department (2021–22 session). Police said Sumon’s body was found hanging from a ceiling-fan hook at his uncle’s house around 8:30pm. College teacher in Jhenaidah suspended over allegations of sexual harassment According to family members, Sumon had been living at his uncle’s house at House 17, Lane 5 in Khulshi, along with his elder brother. Two days earlier, Sumon’s uncle and his family had left for Turkey, leaving the two brothers at home. On Thursday morning, around 8am, Sumon’s elder brother left for work, leaving him alone in the house. Around 4pm, Sumon phoned his brother and asked, “Where are you? How long will it take to get home?” His brother told him he would be late. A short while later, calls from the elder brother went unanswered. Their mother also called Sumon from home and informed the elder brother when she could not reach him. Farmer killed, 2 others injured in Kushtia shooting Being worried, the elder brother asked the building’s caretaker to check the flat. The caretaker rang the doorbell but received no response. The elder brother then rushed home, opened the door with his key, and found Sumon hanging. On information, police recovered the body around 9pm, said Khulshi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahinur Zaman. A note was found at the scene that read: “I am Sumon, Omar Faruk Sumon. I have no hopes or aspirations. And I have no complaints against anyone. May everyone be well.” “Although the initial investigation suggests suicide, we are looking into all possible angles,” the OC added. The body was sent to Chittagong Medical College (CMC) Hospital for autopsy.

A college teacher in Jhenaidah on Wednesday has been temporarily suspended following allegations of sexual harassment and abuse brought by multiple female students. The accused, Nazrul Islam, 49, is a lecturer in the Bangla department of MA Khalek Degree College in Sadar upazila. The college authorities suspended him after receiving written complaints from at least 16 students, confirmed College Principal Md Oliar Rahman. According to the complaints, Nazrul Islam had been harassing several female students for a long time by sending inappropriate messages to their mobile phones and making offensive remarks during in-person encounters. As his behaviour became widely known among students, multiple victims came forward, sparking widespread anger on campus. One of the victims, requesting anonymity, told UNB, “I respected Nazrul Sir as a teacher, but he repeatedly sent adult messages on my phone. If I didn’t reply, he would make inappropriate remarks in person. He has done worse to several students. We want justice.” Principal Oliar Rahman said the college took the matter seriously. “We have suspended him temporarily. As the allegations are grave, we have informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), who has assured us of appropriate action,” he said. Nazrul Islam, however, denied the allegations, claiming his mobile phone was “hacked,” which allegedly caused the messages to be sent. When asked how a phone could remain hacked for four to five months, he abruptly ended the call. Sadar UNO Hosne Ara said the college authorities had verbally informed her. “The allegations are serious. We have asked the college to submit the written complaints to the UNO office. Once received, we will take necessary legal steps. The district Secondary and Higher Education Office will also be notified.”

A farmer was shot dead and two others injured in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia on Thursday evening. The victim, Rofiqul Islam Rofi, 40, son of Mot Ali Molla, was killed around 6:30 pm in Pochavita village, Pirpur Union. Quoting locals, police said that after finishing his work, Rofiqul was having tea near a tea stall by the house of local member Soket. Suddenly, three attackers riding an Apache RTR motorcycle arrived and shot Rofiqul, killing him on the spot. When locals tried to chase the attackers, they fired a few rounds and then fled, injuring Rabzel and Yusuf. Both injured were sent to Kushtia General Hospital. Body of unidentified man with burnt face recovered in Kushtia Rofiqul was also a local BNP activist, but he reportedly had no personal disputes. Solaiman Sheikh, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station, said police arrived after receiving information. “We could not identify the attackers immediately. The investigation is ongoing. The culprits will be brought to justice soon,” he added.  

Electricity supply will remain suspended in several parts of Sylhet city on Saturday due to urgent repair, maintenance and trimming work of tree branches. Engineer Mohammad Arafat of Sales and Distribution Division–1 and Engineer Abdur Razzak of Division–2 came up with the notice on Thursday. According to the authorities, power will remain off from 8am to 5pm in areas under the 11 kV feeders of the 33/11 kV Amberkhana Substation. The affected areas include- Electric Supply Road, Amberkhana Point, Ria Hussain Lane, Mojumdari, Syed Mogni, Lechubagan, Pir Mohalla (East–West), Housing Estate, Jalalabad R/A, Dargah Gate, Chandan Tula, Ghurni R/A, Dargah Mohalla, Gour Govinda Tila, Chowhatta, Zindabazar, Bandar Bazar, Puran Lane, Lalbazar, Jallarpar, Stadium Market, Miah Fazilchist, PTI, Subidbazar, Bonkolapara, Kolabakhani, Chashnipir Mazar Road, Goyal Para, Shahi Eidgah, Hazaribagh, TB Gate, Uncha Sarak, Kaher Mia Lane, Maktab Lane, Kazitula, Mirboxtula, Tatipara and adjoining areas. Power will also be suspended from 7am to 5pm in areas under the Baluchar, Senpara and Shibganj feeders. Teen hacked to death in Sylhet’s Kanaighat The areas include- Shantibagh, Sonar Bangla, Natun Bazar, Al-Islah, Arambag, Baluchor Chararpar, Focus area, Jonaki, Agricultural University area, Alurtol, Senpara, Shibgonj, Bhatt Atikur, Sadipur, Tilagor, Gopaltila, MC College area, Sabujbag, Burhanbag, Hatimbag, Lamapara, Rajpara and surrounding localities. Engineers said electricity will be restored immediately if the work is completed earlier than scheduled.    

Chuadanga experienced a noticeable drop in temperature on Thursday, disrupting daily life and causing hardship for low-income workers. The district recorded the day’s lowest temperature at 12.2 degrees Celsius at 6am and again at 9am, with humidity at 89 percent, said Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of Chuadanga meteorological observatory. He said Wednesday’s temperature was 13.7 degrees Celsius and the temperature may fall further in the coming days. Dense fog covered the district early in the morning, though the sun appeared later. The sunshine brought little relief from the cold, forcing rickshaw pullers, day labourers and other low-income groups to work in harsh conditions. “My hands and feet go numb in the cold. Fewer passengers mean my earnings have dropped,” said rickshaw puller Liakat Ali. A day labourer said they do not have enough warm clothes and even sunlight cannot ease the chill.

Two women were killed on Wednesday night when a bus hit an auto-rickshaw on the Dinajpur–Rangpur highway in the Tribondhon area of Jonpur. The deceased were identified as Morsheda, 35, wife of Jahangir Alam of Isam village in Nilphamari’s Sharifpur, and Aduri, 18, daughter of Subhash Chandra Roy of Dighon Dangi in the same district. Omar Faruk, officer-in-charge of the Highway Police Station, said the accident occurred around 8pm near the Trillion Gold Company when a bus coming from the opposite direction crashed into the auto-rickshaw, leaving both women dead on the spot. He said the bus has been seized, but the number of injured could not yet be confirmed.

A court in Pabna has sent a woman to jail on charges of killing eight puppies in Ishwardi upazila. The accused, Nishi Rahman, is the wife of an official at the Small Farmers Development Foundation (SFDF) in the area. She was produced before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-1 on Wednesday around 4:30 pm. After the hearing, Magistrate Torikul Islam ordered her to be sent to jail. Nishi Rahman was arrested by police on Tuesday night from her residence in Ishwardi municipality. The case was filed the same night by Ishwardi Upazila Livestock Officer Aklima Khatun under Section 7 of the Animal Welfare Act, 2019. Ishwardi Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar, said initial investigation revealed that Nishi, annoyed by a dog’s barking, had stuffed the eight puppies into a sack and left them near a pond. However, she did not know who threw them into the water. The investigation is ongoing. Housewife arrested for drowning eight puppies in Pabna pond The mother dog, named Tom, had been living at the Upazila Executive Officer’s residence. She gave birth to eight puppies a week ago. On Monday morning, the dog was seen crying and running around, searching for her puppies. Later, Upazila Parishad employees discovered that Nishi had tied the live puppies in sacks and thrown them into the pond on Sunday night. The bodies of the puppies were recovered the next morning. Following the incident, Hasanur Rahman Nayon, an official of the Small Farmers Foundation, received a written order to leave the government quarters on Monday, December 1. They vacated the house on Tuesday afternoon.