United News of Bangladesh

A local BNP leader lodged in Chattogram Central Jail custody was found dead in his cell on Tuesday morning, officials said. The deceased was identified as Fakir Ahmed, son of Gani Ahmed, a resident of Mirsarai Municipality. He was the convener of Mirsarai Municipality BNP. Read:Kushtia BNP leader dies in prison Prison officials said that Fakir suffered a stroke and breathed his last around 8am. Jailer of Chattogram Central Jail, Dewan Mohammad Tariqul Islam said that though Fakir died of a stroke, "the details will be known after an autopsy". Police arrested Fakir recently and a court remanded him in judicial custody in a case of alleged temple vandalism and violence in the district on October 16.

A 24-year-old youth died by allegedly jumping off the 20th floor of a five-star hotel in theport city of Chattogram on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Arif Kabir, son of Enamul Kabir, a resident of Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area. Read: Kushtia BNP leader dies in prison Police said that Arif went to the restaurant of Radisson Blu Chattogram on Monday evening and ordered some food. "The restaurant staff told us that after having the food, Arif started behaving in a strange way and pretended to fall asleep instead of paying the bill," Shimul Chandra Das, a sub-inspector at the Kotwali police station, said. "When the restaurant manager insisted that he settled the bill, Arif allegedly jumped out of a window on the 20th floor and landed on the terrace of the hotel's spa on the sixth floor," the officer said. Read: 22-yr-old electrocuted to death in Chandpur Arif was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Officer-in-charge of the Kotwali police station (investigation) Chowdhury Rezaul Karim said that they were probing the case.

Five crew members went missing after a coal-laden bulkhead ship capsized in the Poshur river near Mongla Port following a collision with a merchant vessel on Monday night. The accident occurred around 9.30pm near the port's Harbaria-9 point as Dhaka-bound MV Fardin-1 was departing after loading coal from MV Alina-B. The collision with MV Handipark left at least seven crew members missing, officials said. Read:Explosion at Bashundhara LPG factory in Mongla; 6 suffer burns Though two of the crew members managed to swim to safety, others went missing. The Bangladesh Coast Guard said that search operation continued till 12pm on Tuesday. According to the harbour department of Mongla Port, the bulkhead partially sank. Md Lokman Hossain, supervisor of Messrs T Hawk that owned the bulkhead, said they had apprised the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Navy, as well as the port authorities of the accident last night only. "The sunken bulkhead was carrying 350 metric tonnes of coal at the time of the accident," he added. Read: Another lighter vessel sinks near Mongla port Meanwhile, Md Fakar Uddin, Harbour Master of the Mongla Port Authority, said bulkhead vessels with one hedge are prohibited from transporting coal.  "They can carry only sand. The Directorate General of Shipping has been asked to take strict action against the bulkhead owners," he added.

A 22-year-old youth was electrocuted to death in Islampur village of Chandpur on Monday. The deceased was identified as Tanvir Farazi, son of Shahjahan Farazi. He was a senior student of Islampur Shah Yasin Senior Madrasa. Read: Youth dies from electrocution in Kushtia Family sources said that Farazi went to a neighbour's house along with his uncle for some electrical work. Unfortunately, he came in contact with a live wire while trying to unplug an electric line. Farazi was rushed to Chadpur Government General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. "Legal process is underway for handing over the body to his family," said a sub-inspector of Chandpur Model Thana. Read: Elephant carcass found along Sherpur border

One more victim, who suffered burns in a gas line blast in Fatullah area of Narayanganj district on Friday died at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on Monday morning. The deceased was identified as Jhuma Rani, 19, resident of Fatullah of Narayanganj. SM Ayub Hossain, Resident Surgeon of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Jhuma’s mother Tulsi Rani and six more members of her family are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Read:2 killed, 15 hurt as gas leak triggers blast in Narayanganj building The death toll from the gas line blast now stands at three. Earlier on Friday, two women were killed and more than 15 others injured after a five-storey building in Narayanganj’s Fatullah area partially collapsed following an explosion in the gas line. Narayanganj Fire Service assistant deputy director Abdullah Al Arefin said a gas leak led to the explosion at the building owned by Moktar Mia in Lalkhan Mor around 6am. The explosion triggered the collapse of the walls of some flats in the building, which in turn, created a ripple effect and led to the wall collapse in three adjoining houses, leaving Maya Rani dead on the spot and eight injured in the immediate neighboring building. The injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in a critical condition. Also injured were Mangali Rani who was taking a stroll with her daughter Purnima. Both were taken to Victoria Hospital in the city, where the mother succumbed to her injuries, the fire officer said. Read:5 injured in Sonargaon factory gas leak fire Another tenant of another house next to the ill-fated one, Binoy, his wife Nipa and their two children were sleeping when the wall fell on them, leaving them seriously injured. Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Mostain Billah said a probe committee was formed to investigate the case.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Monday rescued 43 animals of 16 species and also seized several animal hides from Chandramohol Ecopark at Ranajitpur of Bagerhat Sadar. Besides, a mobile court fined the Ecopark manager Md Ali Chakladar Tk 50,000 for illegally keeping wildlife. Read: Woman hacked to death by husband in Bagerhat Rab Khulna-6 Sadar Company Commander Al Asad Mahfuzul Islam said, tipped off, Rab members along with Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division rescued the animals conducting a drive in the Ecopark. During the drive, two deer, a crocodile, a langur, five monkeys, a peacock, two ostriches, five Australian pigeons, two tortoises, seven herons and two Machhmutal birds were rescued. Read: 'Festival of poaching' endangers bird life in Bagerhat beel Besides, Rab seized six deer hides and six horns, a bear hide, a kangaroo hide and a whale skeleton. All these animals and hides were being maintained illegally. And the Ecopark authority could not show any valid documents in this regard, the official said.

A 65-year-old rickshaw van puller died at a hospital in Barishal on Monday three days after he suffered injuries during clashes between rival groups after UP polls at Agoiljhara upazila. The deceased Mokles Mia was injured in the violence on Saturday, local police said quoting his family. Read:UP polls violence: Injured Madaripur man dies in Dhaka The post-polls clashes occurred between the supporters of Shamim Mia alias Likchan, who was elected as a member, and and Yunus Mia who lost the contest at Baghda Union Parishad, according to Officer-in-Charge of Agoiljhara Police Station Golam Sarwar. The newly-elected member went to visit the Khajuria area by a van after the election on November 13. At one stage about 30 stick-wielding supporters of defeated candidate Yunus swooped on their rivals, leaving seven people including the van puller. Read: UP poll violence: 8 looted EVMs looted in Patuakhali recovered The injured were taken to upazila health complex where Mokles died around 5:20 am on Monday. A case was filed against 10/15 unidentified people in this connection.

A Khulna court on Monday sentenced a woman to death for killing her step daughter in 2020. The condemned convict is Tithi Akter Mukta, wife of Khaza Sheikh, an ansar member of Arkandi village in Terokhada upazila. The court also fined the convict Tk 10,000. According to the prosecution, Khaza Sheikh married Mukta after divorcing is first wife on January 29, 2020. READ: One to die for killing sister in Narail Khaza’s daughter Tanisha, 10, used to live at her father’s house after the divorce of her parents. On April 2, 2020, Khaza had an altercation with Mukta over maintaining an illicit relationship with one Farabi Prasenjit over mobile phone. During the altercation, Khaza threatened to divorce her. To take revenge on Khaza, Mukta locked Tanisha in her room and hit the girl with a sharp weapon, leaving her injured on April 5, 2020. READ: Man to die for killing wife in Khulna Later, she was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared her dead. After examining the records and witnesses, Khulna District and Sessions Judge Court Mashiur Rahman handed down the verdict.

A court here on Monday sentenced a man to death for killing his sister in 2019. The condemned convict is Ripon Molla, 42, son of Moksed Molla of Kalinagar village in Naragati upazila of the district. The court also fined him Tk 20,000. According to the prosecution, Ripon killed his sister Fatema, 20, by drowning in a pond on November 25, 2019 over previous enmity. READ: Narail school teacher and 5th-grader son contract Covid-19 He also hit Fatema with a stick for ensuing her death. Later, he concealed the body the mud of the pond. Ripon’s son Rashed Molla disclosed the matter when all were searching Fatema. Later, they recovered the body and informed police. READ: Night curfew imposed in three Narail municipalities Police arrested Ripon and a case was filed in this connection on that day. After hearing records and witnesses, Narail District and Sessions Judge Munshi Mohammad Mashier Rahman handed down the verdict.

After a long closure, tourist ship service on the Teknaf-Saint Martin's island route will resume on November 16 on trial basis, said officials on Sunday. Additional district magistrate Md Abu Sufiyan said after safe return of the trial run on Tuesday, a decision will be made on continuing the service on this route. AKM Anwar Hossain, officer of Cox’s Bazar Keari Tours and Travels, said they have already received the release paper from the district commissioner, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Department of Shipping. “If everything works out fine, ship service will operate again for tourists travelling to Saint Martin. Already a huge number of tourists have started pre-booking the tickets," he said. Read: Tourist ship operations suspended on Teknaf-Saint Martin's Island route “Due to ship service remaining suspended our business has gone down. We’ve already decorated the hotels to start welcoming tourists again after getting the good news of ship service getting back to normal,” said Abdul Malek, owner of Sea Probal Hotel at Saint Martin’s Island. Saint Martin’s UP member Habibur Rahman said the environment became lively at the news of trial ship service but the broken jetty has not been mended yet properly. “The concern of risk remains if more than one ship anchors at the jetty at once as it is not fully prepared,” he said. Due to unfavorable weather and inoperable jetty, ship services to Saint Martin’s Island have remained suspended for a long time. The decision to start the service on a trial basis came following the visit of a district administrative team a few days ago.