United News of Bangladesh

Police on Wednesday have seized Indian smuggled goods worth Tk 81.29 lacs n from beneath stones loaded on a truck in South Surma of Sylhet and arrested one person in connection with the incident. The arrest was made during a drive around 1:00 pm on the Dhaka–Sylhet highway in the Mominkhola Mushargaon area, according to Sylhet Metropolitan Police media cell. The arrestee was identified as Md Zakaria Islam (38), son of Md Khaza Mia and Nurunnahar Begum of Kharita area under Gobindaganj Police Station in Gaibandha district. Police said Zakaria was transporting around 100 cubic feet of stones in a Tata truck from the Sylhet–Dhaka highway. During a search, law enforcers recovered Indian smuggled goods hidden beneath the stones. The seized items included 1,026 pieces of Nivea body lotion, 554,400 pieces of diclofenac tablets, 20,304 pieces of cream and other cosmetic products, with a total estimated market value of Tk 81,29,640. A case has been filed against Zakaria under the Special Powers Act, and he has been produced before a court, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Mohammad Saiful Islam.

At least nine people, including a woman, were injured in a clash over a land dispute in Durgapur village, Shyamnai, Raiganj Upazila of Sirajganj. Two of the injured have been admitted to the hospital, confirmed OC of Salanga Police Station, Imam Jafar. The conflict revolves around a 30-decimal plot in Shyamnai Mauza, long contested between Ainul Master and Abdur Razzak Sheikh. On Wednesday afternoon, supporters of Abdur Razzak attempted to seize the disputed land by cutting its boundary. When Ainul Master’s group resisted, a scuffle broke out. Both sides clashed using traditional weapons, leaving nine people injured. Among the hospitalized are Ainul Master (61) and Harun Rashid (55). The OC said a formal complaint has been filed, and legal action will follow after investigation. Police have already inspected the scene.

A young woman died after falling from a train while trying to board it with the help of her husband at Rajshahi Railway Station on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Rupa Khatun, 23, wife of Md Anik and a resident of Tittorkuri village in Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi. Roni Saha, Sub-Inspector of Rajshahi Railway Police, informed that Anik works at a furniture company in Dhaka. On Thursday afternoon, the couple was boarding the Dhaka-bound Padma Express to travel to the capital. As the train started moving, Anik got on first and tried to pull his wife up by holding her hand. At one point, Rupa slipped from his grip and fell under the train. Anik also jumped off the moving train immediately. After the train left, Rupa was rescued in a critical condition and rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. 5 killed as sand-laden truck overturns in Rajshahi One of her legs was almost severed, and she also suffered serious injuries to her other leg and head. Faisal Bin Ahsan, Officer-in-Charge of Rajshahi Railway Police, said, “The body will be handed over to the family after completing legal formalities.”

A child was killed and at least 15 passengers were injured when a passenger bus lost control and overturned into a roadside ditch in Dinajpur on Thursday evening. The accident occurred in the Bhushirbandar area as an MK Paribahan bus was heading to Rangpur from Dinajpur with passengers on board. Highway Police in-charge Mahbub Kabir said the driver lost control of the bus while trying to avoid a collision with a motorcycle. The bus then veered off the road and overturned into a ditch. Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel rushed to the spot and rescued the injured. 2 women killed as bus hits auto-rickshaw in Dinajpur Four people, including a child, were taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital in critical condition. The child died on the way to the hospital, police confirmed. Other injured passengers received primary treatment at nearby facilities.

Five people were killed and another one was injured as a truck ploughed through a roadside banana market and overturned on Rajshahi-Natore highway at Jhalmalia in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi district on Thursday morning. The deceased were identified as Siam, 15, son of Shaheen Ali of Kafuria village, Munkar Pramanik, 35, son of Akkel Pramanik of Paikpara village in Sadar upazila, Sentu, 40, son of Saiam Uddin of Bagatipara upazila, Islam Uddin, 60, son of Mahtab Ali and Raihan Ali, 45, son of Abdul Jalil Uddin of Charghat upazila. The accident occurred around 7:15 am when the Natore-bound sand-laden truck ploughed through the banana market and turned turtle amid dense fog, leaving four people dead on the spot and two others injured, said Sarwar Hossain, an official of Puthia Fire Service and Civil Defense. Bangladesh sees rise in road accidents, deaths in November: RSF The injured were taken to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital where Raihan succumbed to his injuries. Mozammel Haque Kazi, Officer-in-Charge of Highway Police Station, said the bodies were taken to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital morgue.

Police in Sylhet’s Gowainghat upazila arrested a woman with 300 yaba tablets on Monday night. The woman, identified as 30-year-old Sapna Begum, was arrested around 10:45 pm in Mohammodpur Kalinagar area of Purba Jaflong union during a special anti-drug operation. During a search, police recovered 300 yaba tablets and 19,500 taka in cash, believed to be from drug sales. Youth arrested in Sylhet with large quantity of Indian goods Md. Moniruzzaman, Officer-in-Charge of Gowainghat Police Station, confirmed the arrest and said, “A case has been filed against Sapna Begum under the Narcotics Control Act.” He added that the police follow a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and similar raids will continue regularly to make Gowainghat drug-free.  

Thousands of leaders, activists and local residents on Wednesday joined absentee funeral prayers for former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Chandpur. The prayers were held after Zuhr at the Asan Ali Government High School ground in Chandpur town, where a large crowd gathered to pay tribute to the veteran political leader. Leaders and supporters of various political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, attended the prayers. Many participants were seen overcome with emotion, with several breaking down in tears during the service. Khaleda Zia’s janaza held with tears of lakhs of mourners Prior to the prayers, senior BNP leader Salimullah Selim, Safiuddin Ahmed, Hamid Master, Chandpur Press Club President Sohel Rushdi, district BNP leader Munir Chowdhury, district Ganoforum President Advocate Selim Akbar, as well as leaders of the Ganadhikar Parishad and NCP, addressed the gathering. They recalled Khaleda Zia’s political life and leadership, and prayed for the salvation of her soul.    

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.