United News of Bangladesh

Thirteen more buffaloes have died allegedly after drinking water of a canal polluted by toxic waste from state-owned Chattogram Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) factory in the city's Anwara upazila. Touhidul Islam, panel chairman of Barshat Union Parishad, said the CUFL dumped their toxic waste into the Gobadia canal and the buffaloes died after drinking the water of the canal while grazing in the area on Sunday morning. "We have taken position in front of the factory gate with the dead buffaloes for compensation," he said. Read: Truck helper killed in Magura road crash, 2 injured The owners of the buffaloes said that the market value of the buffaloes is around Tk 18 lakh. Locals alleged the company dumps the waste directly into the canal without treatment even though CUFL has an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Meanwhile, CUFL General Manager Moinul Haque said their team has visited the spot. Animal owners have been asked to apply for compensation, he said. Read: Heat wave: Temperature hits maximum 41°C in Chuadanga Besides, it is needed to check whether there is any leakage in the ETP, he added. Earlier, on April 14, four cows died allegedly after drinking water from the while 12 buffaloes died in the same way last year.

A truck helper was killed and two others were injured as their truck crashed into a tree in Shalikha upazila of Magura. The deceased was identified as Mehedi Hasan, 24, of Khulna district. Also read: Two killed in Sylhet road crash The accident occurred when the Jashore-bound oil-laden truck coming from Dhaka hit a roadside tree after its drier lost control over the steering at Hajambari of the upazila Sunday afternoon, leaving Mehedi dead on spot. Driver Zahidul Islam and another helper Emon were injured. Also read: Cop killed in Khulna road crash Police admitted the injured to Magura Sadar Hospital, said Tarak Nath Biswas, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shalikha police station. A case was filed in this regard, he added.

Western district Chuadanga is facing the worst of the severe heat wave sweeping over parts of the country as the maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded there at 41°C (Celsius). According to the Met Office, the severe heat wave is sweeping over the regions of Rajshahi, Pabna, Jeshore and Chuadanga. A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka and parts of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the regions of Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Patuakhali and it may continue, said the bulletin released by Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Also read:Mild heat wave sweeping over parts of country However, rain or thundershowers with intense lightning flashes accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Sylhet division, said BMD. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, it said. Also read: Mild to moderate heat wave likely to spread across the country

Holidaymakers are likely to face trouble during Eid journey on Dhaka-Chattogram highway due to the ongoing construction works, movement of unregistered three wheelers and setting up of bazars beside the highway. Drivers of different vehicles and passengers said bazars at six points beside the highway and the plying of three wheelers on the highway cause traffic gridlock and intensify the risk of accidents on the highway.  Daily passengers on the highway said they experience severe traffic congestion everyday due to the unplanned installation of local markets on six points of the highway and ongoing construction work by different government agencies.  Also read:Eid holidaymakers likely to face tough journey on Dhaka-Paturia highway During a reality check on the highway, the UNB correspondent found people have to remain stuck in traffic jam for four to six hours while crossing Chandina point to Daudkandi point in Cumilla  which usually needs only one hour. Traffic congestion is common in Tollplaza area of Daudkandi, Gouripur, Eliotganj, Madhaiya in Chandina, ChandinaBus Stand and Nimsar in Chandina upazila.  Besides, tailbacks are seen in Mainamati Cantonment area in Adarsha Sadar Upazila,Paduar Bazar Biswa Road in Cumilla Sadar Dakkhin upazila, Miabazar and ChouddagramBazar of Chouddagram upazila. 

Water started overflowing Chhayar Haor in Shalla upazila of Sunamganj district as an embankment collapsed early Sunday, making it more difficult for farmers in Haor areas to harvest paddy. Local people blamed negligence on the part of the authorities concerned of local Water Development Board for the collapse of the levee. According to the local office of Department of Agriculture Extension, this year, 4,637 hectares of land in Chhayar Haor was brought under boro cultivation and already 95% paddy of the haor area have been harvested. Also read: Sunamganj farmers fear crops loss as floodwater enters haors But the local farmers claimed that they failed to harvest 15% crops of the haor. Takbir Hossain, a farmer of Sultanpur village in the upazila, said that he failed to harvest 30% crops of his land due to lack of paddy workers. Shalla Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Abu Taleb, said a portion of Chhayar Haor dam collapsed early hours of Sunday during nor’wester, flooding many areas. However, the main closure of the embankment remained unhurt. Also read: 41% paddy harvested in haor region until April 20: Ministry Sunamganj haor region was hit by the first phase of flash floods due to onrush of hill water and upstream water running down hills following torrential rain in Meghalaya and Cherrapunji of India recently. A vast tract of boro cropland was inundated, forcing farmers to harvest their crops early to minimise losses.

Agitated workers of Barapukuria Coal Mine in Dinajpur demonstrated on Sunday and gave an ultimatum of 72 hours to fulfill their demand of payment of eight months' arrears and rejoining work to the authority. The workers gathered for a meeting at the mine’s entrance after a demonstration in the area and handed a memorandum of the demands to the representative of the mine authority around noon. Also read: 175 officials including MD of Barapukuria Coal Mine contract Covid; coal extraction suspended If the demands are not met by 12pm on April 27, workers will take position in front of the mine’s entrance along with family and celebrate a joyless Eid-ul-Fitr there, said Robiul Islam, President of Barapukuria Coal Mine Miners' and Workers' Union. “Some 700 workers are struggling as eight months wages are due. Moreover, after sending them home due to Covid-19 two years have passed and the situation has become normal but they are not being allowed to join work yet,” said Abu Sufian, General Secretary of Barapukuria Coal Mine Miners' and Workers' Union. Also read: Roof collapse at Barapukuria coal mine kills 2 On January 30, this year, coal extraction was suspended temporarily at Barapukuria Coal Mine after around 125 Bangladeshi officials and 50 Chinese officials, including the managing director tested positive for COVID-19.

At least 20 people were injured as in a clash between police and garment workers when the latter blocked Nabinagar-Chandra highway at Palashbari in Ashulia on Sunday demanding Eid bonus and additional leave. A group of workers of Skyline Group took to the street in front of their factory and staged demonstrations, halting vehicular movement on Nabinagar-Chandra highway around 12pm. Also read: RMG workers block Dhaka-N’ganj road demanding payment of dues On information, industrial police and Ashulia police went to the spot and asked the workers to go back to their workplace, triggering a chase and counter-chase between police and workers. Police fired rubber bullets, lobbed tear gas to disperse them, leaving 20 people injured, alleged the workers. During the clashes, the agitated workers vandalised at least 10 vehicles moving on the highway and of the factory. Traffic on the highway returned to normal after an hour when the workers left the highway. Meanwhile, the factory has declared a general holiday for today. The injured workers were rescued and given first aid. SM Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ashulia police station, said action will be taken in this regard after investigation. Also read: RMG workers go on rampage in Gazipur; Bus torched Additional police force have been deployed in front of the factory to fend off further trouble, he added. On the other hand, the workers have abstained from work  in a ready-made garment factory in Khejurbagan area of Ashulia to press home their various demands.

A 58-year-old prisoner of Rangamati jail has died while undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). The deceased was identified as Kaisang Marma, 56, a resident of Raikhali area in Rangamati. In-charge of CMCH and inspector of Panchlaish police station Sadiqur Rahman said Kaisang Marma was accused in a drug case. Also read: CMCH student Akib’s skullbone replaced successfully He fell sick in Rangamati jail on April 19 and was taken to the One Stop Emergency Care of CMCH. He died around 1 am on Sunday while undergoing treatment at the hospital. The body has been sent to the hospital morgue, he said.

Two people were killed in a road crash in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet district on Saturday. The deceased were identified as hawkers Sohel Mia, 15, of Gowainghat upazila and Ruhel Mia, 15, Baniachang upazila in Habiganj. Also read: 2 killed in Dhaka road crashes Witnesses said when Sohel and Ruhel were going  to Jaflong in a human hauler with scrap utensils a Sylhet-bound dumping truck collided with the human hauler around 2 pm,  leaving them dead on the spot. Jaintapur Model Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Dastagir Ahmed said the bodies of the deceased were recovered and sent to the morgue of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The driver and his helper managed to escape with the truck, he said.

A 65-year-old man has been killed over land dispute at Shiyali village in Rupsha upazila of Khulna district. The deceased is Chittaranjan Bala,  a resident of Shiyali village in Ghatbhog union of the upazila. Witnesses said Samir Bala, cousin of the deceased, locked into an altercation with Chittaranjan Bala over their land boundary. READ: Man killed over land dispute in Ctg At one point, Samir hit Chittaranjan with a stick when he fell unconscious. He was rushed to Rupsha Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rupsha Police Station Mosharraf Hossain said Chittaranjan Bala was killed over previous enmity over a land.