United News of Bangladesh

An Ansar member was killed by gunfire from a colleague at a garment factory in Bhaluka, Mymensingh on Monday evening. Police have arrested the accused Ansar member in connection with the incident. The incident occurred around 7:00 pm at Sultana Sweaters Limited, a Labib Group factory in Mehrabari area of Bhaluka upazila. The deceased, Bajendra Biswas, 40, was the son of Probita Biswas from Kadirpur village, Sadar, Sylhet. The accused, Noman Mia, hails from Baluturi Bazar area under Taherpur police station in Sunamganj district. Both were working at the factory. According to police and local sources, 20 Ansar members were on duty at the factory at the time. Bajendra and Noman were seated together when a shot was accidentally fired from a shotgun in Noman’s hand, hitting Bajendra in his left arm. He was critically injured and rushed to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex by colleagues, where the duty doctor declared him dead. Bhaluka Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam said the accused Noman Mia was arrested immediately after the incident. The deceased’s body has been sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Legal proceedings are ongoing, and a detailed investigation into the incident is underway.

A fire broke out at a six-storey building in Ichapura Bazar, Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, on Tuesday afternoon, but prompt action by the fire service prevented major damage. The blaze started around 4:30 pm on the ground floor mobile shop ‘Payel Telecom’ at Khaja Tower, a six-storey commercial building, according to local sources. Muhammad Shafikul Islam, Deputy Director of Munshiganj Fire Service, said two units from Sirajdikhan Fire Station rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control within about half an hour. He added that mobile phones and various servicing equipment inside the shop were damaged in the fire, but no casualties were reported. Initial investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. The fire was confined to the shop where it started and did not spread to surrounding stores, averting a potentially larger disaster, the fire service said. A technical investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Feni is in deep mourning following the death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. She passed away at 6:00 am Tuesday at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka after battling illness for 37 days. Residents of Feni, particularly in her ancestral village of Majumdar Bari in South Sripur, Fulgazi, were seen weeping as news of her death spread. Locals described the former Prime Minister as a leader who cared deeply for her people, often visiting her village and personally inquiring about their welfare despite tight security during her tenure. Tavith Awal, president of the Bangladesh Football Federation and a native of Daganbhuiyan, called her death “one of the saddest days in Bangladesh’s history,” praising her sacrifices for democracy and her unwavering leadership. BNP leaders and local residents recalled Khaleda Zia’s compassion, her respect for elders, and affection for the young. Many expressed personal grief, saying her guidance and mentorship had left a lasting impact on their lives. Khaleda Zia was born Khaleda Khanam Putul on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur. She studied at Mission School and Dinajpur Government Girls’ High School before marrying Ziaur Rahman in 1960. She was elected to parliament five times from Feni-1 and served as Prime Minister three times. Her passing leaves a void in both her party and the nation. Tributes and prayers for her soul and her family continue to pour in from across Feni and beyond.

Three-time Prime Minister and five-time MP Khaleda Zia, daughter of Feni, was known for personally interacting with villagers at her ancestral home in South Sripur, Fulgazi, despite tight security during her tenure. Locals recalled that she would remove security barriers to speak directly with people about local issues and development projects. Mohammad Jamal Uddin Khondakar, former imam of the local mosque and founder of Iskandaria Madrasa, said, “She would call villagers closer, speak to each person individually, and inquire about their well-being and local affairs.” Neighbor Monara Akter added, “We could only peek from a distance, but she would have security step aside to talk with us face-to-face.” Ismail Bhuiya Tipu, joint convener of Fulgazi Upazila Jubo Dal, recalled being called forward by her during a visit and talking for 40 minutes, a memory he described as priceless. Local and family sources said Khaleda Zia had also visited her father’s grave in 2008 before starting election campaigning from Fulgazi. Her ancestral residence houses a mosque, madrasa, school, and college for public use. Her cousin Shamim Hossain Majumdar said, “She respected elders and cared deeply for children. Her death is an irreparable loss for the nation.” Khaleda Zia, born Khaleda Khanum Putul on Aug 15, 1945, in Dinajpur, served as Prime Minister after being elected five times as MP from Feni-1 constituency.

Shafiqul Islam, one of the July warriors who was shot during the July Uprising, has died after battling complications for nearly one and a half years. Shafiqul, a resident of Haluaghat upazila in Mymensingh, breathed his last at around 7am on Monday while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur. Physicians of the hospital said he died after suffering from pneumonia. Shafiqul was the son of Abdus Samad of Dorshapara village under Haluaghat upazila. He had been living with his family in the Tongi East area of Gazipur City Corporation. According to family members and local sources, Shafiqul Islam was officially recognised as a July fighter and enlisted in the government gazette, bearing gazette number 722. He sustained a bullet injury on his right thigh on August 5 last year while taking part in the uprising in the Azampur area of Uttara. Following the incident, he was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later referred to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). Since then, he had been receiving treatment at different hospitals for a prolonged period. Although necessary documents were prepared to send him abroad for advanced medical treatment at government initiative, Shafiqul allegedly declined to go overseas for treatment. Ridwan Siddiqui, a representative of the Haluaghat July martyrs and injured cell, said Shafiqul’s janaza will be held on Wednesday at 10am at the Mama Pagla Mazar Mosque premises in Dorshapara. He will be buried at his family graveyard after the funeral prayers. Meanwhile, Al Noor Mohammad Ayas, coordinator of the Shaheed and Injured Cell of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement central committee, said Shafiqul’s death is a reminder that many injured July fighters are still deprived of proper medical care, while families of martyrs continue to be denied justice.

A seven-year-old child was allegedly raped after her hands, legs and mouth were tied in Chandina upazila of Cumilla. The injured child is currently receiving treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Police arrested an 18-year-old youth, Tushar Ahmed, in connection with the incident. He was detained on Tuesday afternoon from Barkait village under Chandina upazila. Tushar is the son of expatriate Faridul Islam Shahid of Daburibari area in the same village. According to police and family members, the incident occurred on Friday (December 26) afternoon. The victim’s grandmother said Tushar’s grandmother called the child from her home to pick bael fruit from a tree. After picking the fruit, the accused allegedly took the child into a room, tied her hands, legs and mouth, and raped her before fleeing after opening the door. The child was taken to Chandina Upazila Health Complex in a bleeding condition and was later admitted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, she added. Following the incident, some local influential individuals allegedly sided with the accused and attempted to resolve the matter locally. They reportedly tried to suppress the incident by offering money to the child’s poor father, a rickshaw puller. As a result, the incident did not become widely known in the area for three days. The matter came to light on Tuesday after it spread by word of mouth. Later in the afternoon, journalists visited the spot and informed the police, prompting immediate action. Police subsequently arrested the accused, Tushar, without delay. Chandina Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Atikur Rahman said that police detained the accused as soon as they learned of the incident. He added that legal proceedings in this regard are currently underway.

Two young children were rescued late at night after being found abandoned by the roadside in Anwara upazila of Chattogram. The children were spotted along the PAB road in the Sholokata area of Baroakhan union. Locals saw them sitting in the cold, with the elder sister holding her younger brother tightly. Witnesses said the incident took place on Sunday night during severe cold weather. The elder child, Ayesha, aged four, told locals that their home is in the Maulvir Dokan area of Satkania upazila. The children are now staying at the house of local CNG driver Mohim Uddin in the Hajigaon Jhiori Gucchagram. On Monday afternoon, Ayesha said her younger brother’s name is Morshed. Their father is Khorshed Alam and mother is Jhinuk. She claimed that their aunt brought them from their parents and left them beside the road. Mohim Uddin said people gathered after seeing the children shivering in the cold after Sunday evening. He later took them to his home and informed local representatives. Mohim’s wife, Sharmin Akter, said, “Both children are ill and the younger one is ‘disabled’. After giving them a warm bath with hot water and food at night, they were able to speak somewhat normally.” CU student found hanging in Chattogram She presumed the relatives committed such an inhumane act because of the children’s illness. Anwara Police Station Sub-Inspector Momen said that police rushed to the spot after receiving information and shared the children’s photos and details with other police stations. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tahmina Akter said, “Steps are being taken to send the children to a Safe Home through the social services office. Police and social welfare officials have been given necessary instructions.”

A total of 39 candidates submitted nomination papers for three parliamentary seats in Gopalganj till Monday, the final day for filing nominations for the 13th national election. Despite a cold wave, the offices of the district commissioner and returning officer, as well as the election office, saw a crowd of candidates and party activists. According to sources at the office of the district returning officer and the deputy commissioner, 13 candidates filed nominations in Gopalganj-1, 14 in Gopalganj-2 and 12 in Gopalganj-3. In Gopalganj-1, covering Muksudpur and part of Kashiani, nominations were filed by Mizanur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Md Zakir Hossain of Jantar Dal, Md Selimuzzaman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Ashraful Alam Shimul as an independent candidate, MA Qaiyum Khan as an independent candidate, M Anisul Islam as an independent candidate, Sultan Zaman Khan as an independent candidate, Nazmul Alam as an independent candidate, Maulana Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md Kabir Mia of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), Nirod Baran Majumder of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Imran Hossain Afsari of Khelafat Majlis and Al Amin of AB Party. In Gopalganj-2, covering Gopalganj Sadar and part of Kashiani, nomination papers were submitted by Mahamud Hasan of Zaker Party, Azmal Hossain of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Shoaib Ibrahim of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Dr KM Babar of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), MH Khan Manju as an independent candidate, Sirajul Islam as an independent candidate, Mashiur Rahman as an independent candidate, Utpal Biswas as an independent candidate, Kamruzzaman Bhuiyan as an independent candidate, Shipon Bhuiyan as an independent candidate, Roni Mollah as an independent candidate, Shah Mofiz of Gano Forum, Taslim Hossain Sikder of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Din Mohammad of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP). Two senior BNP leaders, MH Khan Manju and Sirajul Islam, also filed as independent candidates outside the party nomination in Gopalganj-2. Deadline extended again for commission  investigating attack on NCP rally in Gopalganj In Gopalganj-3, covering Tungipara and Kotalipara, candidates included Abul Bashar Daria of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), Maruf Sheikh of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, SM Zilani of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), MM Rezaul Karim of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md Ariful Daria of National Citizen Party (NCP), Sheikh Salauddin of National People’s Party (NPP), A Aziz of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Habibur Rahman as an independent candidate, Gobinda Chandra Pramanik as an independent candidate, Rowshan Ara as an independent candidate, Dulal Chandra Biswas of Gano Forum and Ali Ahmed of Khelafat Majlis. According to the district election office, no obstacles, disorder or untoward incidents were reported during the submission of nomination papers in Gopalganj, and the entire process was completed peacefully.

A man allegedly surrendered before police after killing his father over a family feud at Maheshpur village in Sadar upazila of Rangpur district on Monday. The deceased was identified as Nurul Mia, 50 of the village. Abdul Gafur, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said Masud had an altercation with his father Nurul Mia over a family feud in the afternoon. At one stage, Masud stabbed his father with a sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured. Nurul died on the way to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Later, Masud surrendered to the Kotwali Police Station. Police took his into custody. The body was taken to the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy.  

Due to dense fog, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has cancelled the voyages of five luxury launches from Barishal to Dhaka, disembarking passengers as a precaution. On Sunday night at 8pm, BIWTA instructed the authorities to halt the journeys of four direct launches and one via-route launch from Barisal port. The cancelled launches are: Parabat-11, Parabat-12, M Khan-7, Suravi-7, and Via Sundarban-12, confirmed Zulfiqar Ali, BIWTA Traffic Inspector in Barisal. According to the Barisal Meteorological Office, thick fog persisted throughout the day, blocking sunlight. The minimum temperature in Barisal was recorded at 13°C on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, the minimum temperatures were 12.40°C at 9 a.m. Previously, Thursday saw 12.50°C and Wednesday 13.4°C. The continuous cold and fog have disrupted daily life in the region. Rahima Begum, a passenger who had boarded a launch for Dhaka, said, “After sitting on the launch for two hours in freezing weather, we were informed that the journey was canceled. Now I have to return home with my two bags, enduring the hardship.” Zulfiqar Ali added that the launches on the Barisal-Dhaka route will remain suspended until weather conditions improve.