United News of Bangladesh

The former in-charge of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park has been booked in connection with the deaths of 11 zebras in January this year. An FIR was filed against Tobibur Rahman under the Animal Welfare Act at the Sreepur police station in Gazipur on a complaint from his successor Rafiqul Islam. In his complaint, Rafiqul claimed that his predecessor failed to promptly inform his seniors about the deaths of the zebras at the park between January 2 and 29. Also read: Criminal cases to be lodged in deaths of Safari Park zebras Tobibur also didn't file a complaint following the deaths of the animals at the local police station and his decision to cut open the stomachs of three dead zebras was not acceptable, according to Rafiqul. Also read: Gazipur safari park animal deaths: One more official shunted out This has caused harm to national wealth and cruelty to the animals for which the FIR was filed under the Animal Welfare Act by the police against the accused, said Rafiqul. Earlier, three officials -- the project director, the veterinary officer, and in-charge of the park -- were removed from their posts to ensure an impartial investigation into the deaths of the animals. So far this year, 11 zebras, one lioness and a tiger have died at the park.

A female college student in Sreepur upazila in Gazipur was stabbed on Thursday allegedly by a youth for turning down his marriage proposal. The injured girl, a resident of Barmi union was admitted to the upazila health complex in a critical condition, said her family. Also read: RU student stabbed, students stage demo demanding arrest of attackers The accused is Mamun Mia,22, son of Asgar ali of Maijpara village in Barmi union. Girl’s cousin brother said, two years ago Mamun’s family sent a marriage proposal to her family but they refused. Since, Mamun tried to cause harm to the girl several times. On Thursday, Mamun allegedly attacked the girl with a knife finding her alone on way back home. Locals took her to hospital, said the victim’s family. Also read: Youth stabbed dead over trifling matter in Kurigram Mahfuz Imtiaz Bhiyan, Inspector (investigation) of Sreepur police station said,” I was informed of the incident but we can take legal actions after a complaint is filed.”

Nurses of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal have gone on strike since Thursday morning in protest against an alleged attack on one of their colleagues by few cops. The nurses began their protest outside the hospital director's office around 9am, and have vowed to continue with their strike "till the perpetrators of the attack are brought to justice", Mostafizur Rahman, president of SBMCH Nurses’ Association, told UNB. Read:Faction of petrol pump owners threatens strike from Feb 17 On Wednesday night, a nurse of the hospital was allegedly beaten up by few policemen after an argument broke out between some nursing staff and inspector Salahuddin over a small issue. The officer sustained injuries after being hit by an ambulance. Meanwhile, SBMCH director Dr HM Saiful Islam said, “We are trying to find out the motive behind the attack and will take action accordingly." Lokman Hossain, inspector (investigation) at Kotwali Model Police Station, said efforts were being made to resolve the issue.

Three young men returning home from a local village fair were killed when their speeding bike crashed into an electric pole in Bagerhat district late on Wednesday night. The deceased were identified as Bayezid Hossain, 22, son of Jahangir Hossain, Zakaria, 20, son of Kuddus of Mongla municipality area, and Sakib, 20, son of Asad of Morelganj upazila of the district. Read:2 killed in separate city road accidents The accident occurred around 11.45pm when the bike they were riding went out of control and rammed the pole at high speed on Moukhali Bridge in Mongla upazila of the district, said Bikash Chandra, officer-in-charge of Mongla Police Station. The crash left the three seriously injured, he said, adding that they died on their way to Mongla upazila health complex.

A couple sustained burn injuries in a fire that broke out at their house in the Patenga Steel Mill Bazar area of the port city on Wednesday. The injured have been identified as Akter Hossain, 26, and his wife Salma Akter, 20. Senior Station Officer of Agrabad Fire Service and Civil Defense, Enamul Haque, said that leakage of gas from a domestic cylinder triggered the blaze at Mannan Bhaban in Makbul Housing Society at 8 pm. On information, few fire tenders were immediately sent to the spot and the couple was rushed to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital. Also read: Dakkhin Khan slum fire under control "Salma's condition is critical as she has received 80% burns," said hospital sources.  

An army patrol team on Wednesday held a UPDF member  from Giriful area of Khagrachari’s Panchhari road. The arrestee was identified as Swapan Chakma, 40, chief collector of the original UPDF under Prasit Khisa. A foreign firearm, three rounds of ammunition, a magazine, and some drugs were recovered, said army sources. Read: Army drive at UPDF den: Barracks, training centre destroyed in Khagrachhari Swapan admitted during interrogation to being associated with the UPDF since 2016. Khagrachhari Sadar Police SI Abu Hanif and SI Md Saleh Uddin said that Swapan was  the chief collector of UPDF. He was held in a joint operation by army and police. A case in this regard was being prepared, SI Abu Hanif said.

Two children drowned in a pond at Kamar Para in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Meem Akter, 2, daughter of Nazrul and and her cousin Jannatul Nisa, 3, daughter of Faruk. Read:Two children drown in Faridpur pond Local people said Meem and Nisa were playing near a pond adjacent to their house and slipped into the pond. The mother of one of the children found them floating and took them to a local hospital where doctors declared both dead, said Dr Nabil Chowdhury of Fatikchhari Upazila Health Complex.

Police have initiated a probe after the bodies of a 22-year-old woman and a one-year-old girl were found floating in a village pond in Munshiganj on Tuesday. The identities of the deceased have not yet been established. Local people spotted the bodies wrapped in a quilt in the pond near the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in Brahman Paiksha village of Srinagar upazila on Tuesday afternoon and alerted the cops, said Abdul Momen, superintendent of Munshiganj Police. Read: Habiganj: Drug peddler escapes from custody, 3 cops suspended On information, a police team rushed to the spot, fished out the bodies and sent them to the local hospital morgue for an autopsy. Cops suspect the two were killed and then dumped in the pond. “Efforts are on to identify the killers,” said SP Momen.

One person was killed and another injured as a gas cylinder exploded in Chunkutia area of Dhaka’s South Keraniganj on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Tanjila, 40, wife of Md Ayub Ali who was also injured in the explosion. READ: N'ganj gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 3 The explosion occurred at 6.30am at Bazlu Mia's house, where Tanjila and Ayub Ali rented their home.   Injured Ayub Ali's nephew Dalim said that the cylinder exploded when his aunt Tanjila was about to ignite the stove. Both of them were seriously injured and taken to Sheikh Hasina Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where Tanjila died at around 2 pm, he said. Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of South Keraniganj Police said that a general daily has been filed in this regard.

A fire broke out at two Rohingya camps in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday. The fire broke out at No 5 camp at Kutupalong  around  3:40 pm and soon engulfed the adjoining No 6 camp, said Additional Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission Samsuddoza Nayan. Read: Garment factory fire in city’s Shyamoli doused On information, four fire tenders rushed to the spot and are trying to bring the blaze under control, he said. However, the origin of the fire could not be known immediately.