United News of Bangladesh

A man was killed and three others were seriously injured in a clash between two groups over a dispute involving a watermelon field in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Ujjal Karmakar, 40, son of Ajit Karmakar of Kalaiya union. The injured—Mizan, Shamim and Firoz Gazi—were sent to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal. Police and locals said Firoz Gazi had cultivated watermelons on the disputed land. A man named Mizanur from Bara Dalima village under Nazirpur union had been claiming ownership of the same land. When Firoz began harvesting watermelons from the field Mizanur, along with 8 to 10 associates went to the spot and attacked him. Hearing his cries, relatives of Firoz rushed to the scene, triggering a clash between the two groups that left Uzzal and others injured. They were rescued and taken to the hospital around 8pm where doctors declared Ujjal dead. Officer-in-Charge of Bauphal Police Station Sirajul Islam said the body would be sent for autopsy and efforts are underway to arrest those involved in the incident.

A petrol pump manager was beaten and a journalist was assaulted while reporting on alleged fuel stockpiling as tensions escalated into violence over fuel shortages in Natore  on Tuesday night. A local youth allegedly attacked Sanu Saha, manager of Natore Petroleum Agency in Hafrasta area around 9am, after being denied petrol in a jerrycan, leaving him injured. Later the attacker fled the spot after being chased by locals. Officer-in-Charge of Natore Sadar Police Station Shafiqul Islam said legal action would be taken upon receiving a formal complaint. Meanwhile, bikers blocked Natore-Dhaka highway in Mokrampur area after a nearby filling station ran out of fuel, causing a long tailback on the busy road. Police from Jhalmalia Highway Police Station brought the situation under control, said its Officer-in-Charge Mahabur Rahman. In another incident the same night, local journalist Omar Faruk was assaulted by miscreants while attempting to take photographs of petrol being stored in drums illegally at a filling station in Lalpur area.

Authorities have seized 35,000 liters of furnace oil and 9,000 liters of diesel during a joint operation in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, officials said Tuesday. The operation was carried out by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the National Security Intelligence (NSI), and the district administration. The special operation was conducted from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm based on intelligence from NSI. During the raid, 35,000 liters of illegally stored furnace oil were recovered from an abandoned factory in Godnail area of Siddhirganj. Later, around 9,000 liters of diesel were seized from a tanker near Eidgah area. In initial questioning, the tanker operator claimed the diesel was being transported for Sylhet’s Akij Glass Industry, but he failed to present any legal documents. On the instruction of the executive magistrate, he was detained, and proceedings for fines and imprisonment are underway. The seized fuel has been directed to be stored at a nearby depot of Meghna Petroleum Limited. BGB said it remains vigilant to ensure the country’s fuel security and prevent illegal hoarding and smuggling, and similar operations will continue in the future.

A land dispute over a watermelon field in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali turned violent on Tuesday evening, leaving one person dead and three others seriously injured. The injured were sent to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for advanced treatment. The incident occurred in Charwadel area of Chandradweep Union. The deceased, Ujjal Karmakar, 40, son of Ajit Karmakar of Kalaiya Union, was killed during the clash. The injured are Mizan, Shamim, and Firoz Gazi. According to police and local sources, farmer Firoz Gazi had been cultivating watermelon on the disputed land. However, Mizanur of Borodhalima village in Nazirpur Union claimed ownership. When Firoz started harvesting in the afternoon, Mizanur and 8–10 associates attacked him. Relatives of Firoz rushed in, leading to a clash between the two sides. Bauphal police station OC Sirajul Islam said the body was recovered and sent for autopsy. He added that efforts are ongoing to arrest those involved in the incident.

A trader was fined for illegally hoarding and selling fuel at high prices in Kushtia sadar upazila on Tuesday. The mobile court, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nusrat Yasmin, conducted the raid around 8:00pm at ‘Ujjal Store’ in BIDC market. About 150–200 liters of diesel were seized from the shop. The trader, Ujjal Sheikh, allegedly hoarded petrol and diesel amid the ongoing fuel shortage and sold them at inflated prices. Local sources said he reportedly sold around 3,200 liters of petrol in the past 15 days, indicating illegal trade. Ujjal Sheikh was fined Tk 5,000 under the mobile court. Authorities said similar operations will continue to curb illegal fuel hoarding in the public interest.

Police recovered the hanging body of a housewife from her home in Bholaiyapara area of Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari district on Tuesday morning. The deceased, Taslima Akter, 30, was found around 9:30am and taken to the Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex, where doctors on duty declared her dead. According to family sources, Taslima had a domestic dispute with her husband prior to the incident. Her family alleged that her husband, Ibrahim Khalil, killed her and then hanged the body. However, police are treating the case as a suspected suicide. Manikchhari police station OC (Investigation) Md. Al Amin told UNB that signs of hanging were found around her neck. He added that the body has been sent for autopsy. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report. Legal proceedings are underway regarding this case, the OC said.

A tenth-grade schoolgirl in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah has been brutally raped, and the attackers recorded the crime on video, causing widespread anger in the area. The victim’s family has expressed growing frustration as the suspects remain at large four days after the incident. The attack occurred on March 26 in Samanta Bagdirait village. The victim initially kept the incident secret, but it came to light on Tuesday after the video spread on social media. Police later visited the scene and confirmed the assault. Following the revelation, the victim’s family filed a formal complaint at Maheshpur Police Station on Tuesday afternoon, naming four accused. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspects. According to the complaint, the victim was returning home from a neighboring house on the evening of March 26, Bangladesh’s Independence Day, when two men, Shaon and Hazrat Ali, dragged her into a nearby grassy field. Later, two others, Noyon and Farid, joined them. The four men allegedly took turns assaulting the girl while Amin, Farid’s son, held her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Shaon and Amin reportedly recorded the attack on mobile phones. The perpetrators then threatened the victim with death and warned that the video would be circulated if the matter became public. The victim told UNB, They ruined me together and threatened to kill my family. I was afraid to tell anyone, but they are showing the video to others for fun. I want justice. The victim’s aunt and complainant, Fatema Khatun, demanded exemplary punishment for the attackers, stating the matter became public only after the perpetrators began showing the video to people. Maheshpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan confirmed the assault, saying the family initially kept it secret. He added that police are treating the case with utmost seriousness and are actively pursuing the suspects.

A Rangpur court on Tuesday handed 14-year rigorous imprisonment to two men for possessing counterfeit banderoles, along with a fine of Tk 10,000 each and an additional two months’ imprisonment in default of payment. The verdict was delivered by Judge Md. Moshiur Rahman Khan of Rangpur Special Tribunal-1, Metropolitan Court, in the afternoon. The convicts are Rezaul Karim (40), son of the late Tamiz Uddin of Haragach area, and Meherul Islam Saddam (31), son of Mokdum Ali. Case records show that authorities recovered 4,000 sheets of fake banderoles from two cartons in their possession, with a total market value of Tk 4,80,000. Public Prosecutor Md. Abdul Hadi Belal said the allegations were proven beyond doubt in court, and the judge found the accused guilty, sentencing them to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposing fines. Court Inspector Shahinur Alam of Rangpur Metropolitan Police confirmed the verdict and said it would serve as a deterrent against revenue theft through counterfeit banderoles. He added that the ruling is expected to discourage the illegal production and use of fake banderoles.

A mobile court fined four filling stations in Jhenaidah for various irregularities, including halting fuel sales despite having stock. The drive was jointly conducted on Tuesday evening by the district administration and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) Kushtia regional office in different parts of the district. The drive was led by Executive Magistrates Habibur Rahman and Al-Amin, along with BSTI Inspector Mamunur Rahman. During the operation, Yafad Filling Station was fined Tk 10,000, Yusuf-2 Filling Station Tk 5,000, and Jhenaidah Filling Station Tk 2,000 for suspending fuel sales despite having stock. Tamim Filling Station was also fined Tk 10,000 for various irregularities. In addition, five individuals were fined a total of Tk 200 for creating disorder while trying to purchase fuel. Two motorcyclists were also fined Tk 500 for lacking proper documents. BSTI Inspector Mamunur Rahman said the filling stations had significant fuel reserves despite remaining closed, with some storing around 2,000 to 2,300 litres of oil. They were later instructed to resume sales immediately. He added that such drives will continue to prevent illegal stockpiling and artificial fuel shortages in the market.

A pregnant woman gave birth to a baby girl at Chandpur launch terminal while being transported from a remote char area of Matlab North upazila to hospital on Tuesday. The incident occurred around noon aboard MV Hashempur launch as the woman was on her way to Chandpur Government General Hospital after experiencing labour pain. According to river police at Chandpur launch terminal, they rushed to assist after receiving information about the delivery on the launch. With the help of volunteers, the mother and newborn were quickly taken to the hospital. The woman’s husband, Al Amin Pradhaniya, said his wife developed severe labour pain while traveling from her father’s home in Jahirabad Char Umed area of Matlab. With no other option, several female passengers helped deliver the baby on board before the launch reached Chandpur. Hospital Superintendent Dr Mahbubur Rahman told UNB that both the mother and the newborn are under close observation. The baby is doing well, but the mother experienced heavy bleeding, he said. Meanwhile, the launch authorities provided immediate assistance to the mother, including Tk 5,000 in cash, new clothes for the newborn, and free lifetime travel for the child on the launch.