United News of Bangladesh

A female police officer committed suicide at the women’s barracks of the Police Lines in Narail on Thursday night. Noor-e Jannatul Sonia, daughter of Md. Dulal Mia of Talutnagar village under Daulatpur Police Station, had reportedly been mentally depressed for a few days. Superintendent of Police Md. Al Mamun Sikder said she was found hanging in her room and was taken to Narail District Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her autopsy was conducted on Friday, and her Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the Police Lines before her body was taken to her family home in Manikganj.  

A local BNP leader and a farmer were killed in separate lightning strikes while working in fields in Madhukhali on Friday. The deceased were identified as Md. Lutfar Rahman, 47, former general secretary of Ward No. 2 BNP of Arpara union, and Azahar Sheikh, 40. The first incident occurred around 1:30 pm in Madhya Arpara village of Arpara union. Locals said Lutfar Rahman was struck by lightning near his home while working in a field. He sustained severe burns on his head and other parts of his body and died en route to the Upazila Health Complex, later confirmed at Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Arpara Union Parishad Chairman Md. Badruzzaman Babu confirmed the incident. Fakir Md. Taizur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Madhukhali Police Station, said they had received verbal reports of the death. The second fatality occurred around noon in the Dangi area of Aizuddin Matubbar under Kotwali Police Station. Azahar Sheikh was struck by lightning while fetching a cow in an open field near his home. He died on the spot, according to local sources and police.  

Two people, including a woman, were killed and at least 15 others injured when a passenger bus hit two auto-rickshaws in Bhaluka on Friday afternoon. The accident occurred in front of Tafrid Cotton Mill in the Club Bazar area on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. According to police and local sources, a bus coming from Dhaka lost control in the area and rammed into a battery-run auto-rickshaw and a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw. A woman died on the spot as the CNG auto-rickshaw was mangled in the crash. At least 15 passengers of the bus and the auto-rickshaws were injured. Another person succumbed to injuries on the way to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex. The injured were taken to the same health complex for treatment. Senior Station Officer of Bhaluka Fire Service, Atiqur Rahman, said the deceased included a man and a woman, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.

A group of local miscreants attacked Haridevpur ferry ghat in Galachipa Upazila on Tuesday night, vandalising property, assaulting staff, and looting cash over extortion demands. The ghat’s leaseholder, Shibu Das, has reportedly gone into hiding following threats. Witnesses said the attackers targeted ticket counters, forcibly opened cash boxes, and fled with money and goods. Many locals left the area due to fear of further violence. The incident, captured on CCTV, has gone viral on social media. District Council Administrator Snehangshu Sarkar Kutti said authorities have been informed and steps are being taken to restore the leaseholder’s control. Additional SP (Crime) Sajjadul Islam Sojal said police are ready to act if complaint is lodged. Shibu Lal Das alleged that the ghat was seized under the leadership of Taleb Akon and expressed hope that the ghat would be freed once the perpetrators are arrested.

Eid-ul-Fitr is bringing observed in Patnitala upazila of Naogaon and in some parts of Chapainawabganj on Friday in line with Saudi Arabia. In Naogaon, the Eid congregation was held at around 8:00am in Kolonipara area of Ward No. 3 under Nazipur municipality where Maulana Md Kamaruzzaman led the prayers. Around 100 worshippers, including men and women from nearby areas, took part in the congregation. After offering prayers, they exchanged Eid greetings and embraced one another. Special prayers were offered seeking peace, prosperity and well-being for the country, the nation and the Muslim Ummah. Local sources said like previous years, a section of residents in the area observed Eid in line with Saudi Arabia. However, most parts of the district are preparing to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, depending on the sighting of the moon. Mehedi Hasan, a local resident, said Eid congregation has been formally held at the venue since 2005. Each year, worshippers from Mahadebpur, Dhamoirhat and Porsha upazilas, as well as neighbouring districts like Joypurhat and Bogura, join the prayers. Imam Kamaruzzaman said according to their understanding, Friday marked the first day of Shawwal, and therefore Eid was observed. In Chapainawabganj, Muslims in several villages of observed Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday in line with Saudi Arabia, offering prayers a day ahead of the rest of the country. Worshippers joined congregations in the morning and offered the two-rakat Eid prayers to celebrate the festival. In Shibganj upazila, residents of Radhanagar and 76 Bigha areas under Binodpur union, along with people from nearby villages, observed Eid early, reports UNB correspondent from the spot. The main congregation was held at a mango orchard in the 76 Bigha area, where Maulana Yusuf Ali led the prayers. Eid congregations were also held in several other villages under Binodpur union. Besides, in Sadar upazila, Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were offered in Momin Tola and Baganpara areas under Debinagar union, following the same practice.

In an unusual development, Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were held with only seven worshippers in a village of Hajiganj upazila in Chandpur, two days ahead of the official celebration in Bangladesh, drawing widespread attention and curiosity in the area. Even more unusual was the fact that it was also a day ahead of Saudi Arabia, usually the lodestar for the residents of Hajiganj and a neighbouring upazila. For decades, around 40 villages in Chandpur have been observing Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha in line with Saudi Arabia. However, this year saw a deviation from that tradition. The small congregation took place at around 10am on Thursday in Ward No. 7 of Borokul West Union, where Eid prayers were offered following an announcement of “Eid Mubarak” over a loudspeaker. The prayers were led by Maulana Abu Bakar Siddiq. Participants in the congregation were followers of the late pir of Sadra Darbar Sharif, Maulana Ishaq (RA), with only seven worshippers attending the eid jamaat (congregation). According to sources, the decision to celebrate Eid even a day ahead of the Middle East was based on reports of moon sightings in different parts of the world, including Afghanistan and West African countries such as Mali and Niger. The group believes that Eid should be observed wherever the moon is sighted globally. Although Saudi Arabia is set to celebrate Eid on Friday, Afghanistan and some other countries observed it on Thursday.  Aligning with those countries, a section of followers in Chandpur marked Eid early for the first time. Speaking to UNB, Maulana Abu Bakar Siddiq said moon sightings had been reported in countries including Niger and Mali. “Islam is a global religion and the moon is one. So Eid should also be observed on the same day,” he said, explaining the reasoning behind their decision. Another follower of the Darbar, Yahya Chowdhury, said there was some confusion among them. “Those who offered prayers accepted the moon sighting reports. But after verification, we found that moon sighting in Afghanistan at that time was unlikely, so we did not accept it,” he said. He added that they would celebrate Eid on Friday in line with Saudi Arabia, along with hundreds of thousands of followers across the other 39 villages. Locals said the practice of observing Eid based on global moon sighting dates back to 1928 in the area, initiated by followers of the late pir Maulana Ishaq of Sadra Darbar Sharif. Since then, his followers have been consistently observing Ramadan and both Eids in line with Saudi Arabia for the past 98 years. Over time, the practice spread to nearly 40 villages in Chandpur and other parts of the country. Followers of the pir had started fasting from February 18 this year, in line with Saudi Arabia.  

Two lanes of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway at Rampur in Feni will remain closed for four days after Eid-ul-Fitr to facilitate repair work on a flood-damaged bridge. According to the Roads and Highways (RHD) Department, the Chattogram-bound lane will remain completely closed from March 22 to 25, while traffic will operate on a single lane from March 26 to 30. The decision was made at a coordination meeting involving the district administration, police, highway police, transport sector representatives and RHD officials, considering the relatively lower traffic pressure during the post-Eid period. A public notice issued by the Executive Engineer’s office in Feni advised commuters to use alternative routes during the repair work. The suggested diversions include temporary one-way movement between the U-turn near the RAB camp and the next U-turn at Rampur Bridge, as well as routes via Fatehpur Starline Pump to Salauddin intersection, Truck Road, Zero Point to Lalpol connection road, BSCIC intersection (Gas Company) to Dewanganj intersection, and other internal roads. However, locals expressed concern that most of these alternative routes pass through the town and are not suitable for heavy vehicles, which could increase traffic congestion. Zafar Uddin, general secretary of the Feni district unit of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said the highway is a key route used by a large number of people before and after Eid. “Passengers may face some inconvenience, but the damaged section requires permanent repair. We hope the work will be completed within the stipulated time,” he said. Suniti Chakma, executive engineer of the RHD Feni office, said the bridge was damaged during the 2024 floods and has been in use with temporary repairs since then. “The post-Eid period has relatively lower traffic pressure, making it suitable for permanent repairs,” she said, adding that traffic disruption is expected to be manageable despite temporary pressure.  

A CNG-run autorickshaw driver was killed and five passengers were injured in a head-on collision with a pickup truck in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola on Thursday afternoon. The accident occurred on the Bhola–Char Fashion road, north of Kunjerhat Bazar. The deceased was identified as Md Salauddin, 45. According to police and witnesses, the CNG was heading towards Char Fashion from Bhola carrying passengers ahead of Eid when it collided head-on with an egg-laden pickup coming from the opposite direction near Kunjerhat. Six people, including the driver, were seriously injured in the crash. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Bhola Sadar Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared Salauddin dead. Md Moniruzzaman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Borhanuddin Police Station, said the injured are receiving at the hospital.  

Two people were killed and another injured when a brick-laden tractor lost control and hit a tree at Khanpukur in Raninagar upazila of Naogaon district on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Rabbi, 25, driver of the tractor and son of Muslim and Himel, 25, helper of the tractor and son of Sardar Ali. The accident occurred around 2 pm when the tractor lost its control and rammed into a roadside tree while heading towards Abadpukur, leaving three injured, said Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Raninagar Police Station. The injured were taken to Naogaon 250-bed hospital where the doctors declared two of them dead

A two-and-a-half-year-old girl was killed in a family quarrel between her mother and aunt in Daulatpur, Kushtia on Wednesday. The victim was identified as Nuzaifa Akhter, daughter of Abdur Rahman of Dakshin Darer Para village. The accused Kalpana Akhter has been detained, police said. Arifur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station, said Kalpana allegedly strangled the child and then tried to make it appear as a suicide by hanging her body from a tree. The incident occurred around 4 pm in Dakshin Darer Para village. During interrogation, Kalpana reportedly admitted to a long-standing dispute with the child’s mother, Priya Khatun. Out of anger, she took Nuzaifa to a nearby mahogany garden, strangled her with her own veil, and hung the body from a tree before fleeing. Villagers discovered the child and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Locals questioned Kalpana and her husband, and she confessed to the crime, leading to her detention. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Touhidul Hasan Tuhin said the child had died before being brought to the hospital. The OC said the child's body has been sent for an autopsy. The accused has been kept in police custody, and further legal proceedings are underway.