United News of Bangladesh

A prolonged dry spell has created a severe water crisis in the haor areas of Sunamganj, leaving Boro farmers worried about their crops and livelihoods. With almost no rainfall in the region for nearly five months, croplands across several haors are facing an acute shortage of water, severely affecting Boro paddy cultivation this season. Farmers said the lack of irrigation water has already begun to damage many paddy fields. In some areas, plants are drying up due to drought while in others they are being attacked by insects and diseases. Funding delays stall haor embankments, putting Sunamganj’s Boro harvest at risk If the situation continues, farmers fear that overall production may drop significantly, they said. Most haor areas in the district depend heavily on natural water reservoirs and rainfall for irrigation. But this year’s prolonged dry weather has left many fields without sufficient water. Local farmers also alleged that some water bodies have been drained prematurely by unscrupulous people. They said the absence of effective government initiatives to address the water shortage has added to their anxiety, with many fearing financial losses if the drought continues. During a visit to Khushdar haor in Sunamganj Sadar upazila, UNB correspondent found large stretches of farmland suffering from severe water scarcity. In some upstream areas of the haor, the soil has cracked due to drought. With no alternative irrigation system in place, farmers are anxiously looking to the sky hoping for rain. Nazir Ali, a farmer from the Baraghat area, said he cultivated Boro rice on six khanis of land this season but the lack of water has put his crop at risk. “The soil has cracked and the rice plants are turning reddish and drying up,” said the 50-year-old farmer. “I thought it would rain, but there has been no rainfall for a long time. If rain does not come soon, we will face heavy losses. Many farmers like me in the haor areas are in the same situation.” Race Against Water: Delayed funds put Sunamganj’s Boro crop in danger

Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes resumed on Saturday after a two-and-a-half-hour disruption caused by dense fog Abdus Salam, Deputy General Manager of BIWTC Aricha Sector, said the ferry services remained suspended from 7:30 am due to poor visibility. Two ferries got stuck in the middle of the Padma River, causing immense suffering to the passengers. Several hundred vehicles including goods-laden trucks are waiting to cross the river.  Vegetable prices soar in Manikganj amid inclement weather  

A woman was shot on Friday evening in MacB azar area of Sreepur, Gazipur, after reportedly trying to stop public drug use. The victim was identified as Monowara Begum. According to local sources, Monowara Begum and her husband Zainal Hazari, both farmers from Haluaghat, Mymensingh, had been cultivating a rented, abandoned field in the area. The site had reportedly become a gathering place for drug users. Police said Monowara Begum intervened when drug users were consuming substances in the field, asking them to leave. Angered, the group allegedly opened fire, injuring her. She was immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment. Sreepur Police station Officer-in-Charge Nasir Ahmad confirmed the incident, saying officers visited the scene and are working to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Police in Sylhet have arrested three drug dealers and seized 10,200 yaba tablets during a raid at a local cafe in Zakiganj. The suspects were later sent to jail through court. According to police, acting on a tip-off, officers raided Relax Cafe in Kaliganj Bazar area on Thursday around 9:30 pm. During the operation, the three individuals were apprehended and the large cache of yaba tablets was recovered. The arrested are Shabir Ahmed (24), son of Haruch Mia, and Shakil Ahmed (20), both from Uttar Kul Dighali village, Barthakuri Union, and Rashedul Islam (30), son of Moin Uddin, from Niagul village, Koskonkupur Union. Zakiganj Police Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Abdur Razzak said the operation targeted a major drug consignment. A case under the Narcotics Control Act has been filed against the three suspects. He added that the arrested individuals were produced in court on Friday and sent to jail, and police will continue operations to curb drug trafficking in the area.

A sub-inspector (SI) of Naria Police Station in Shariatpur has been accused of demanding money to file a case, officials and the victim’s family said. The victim’s family held a press conference at Naria Press Club on Friday afternoon. Ali Mia Bepari, 72, a resident of Poragacha village under Moktararchar Union, alleged that on March 5, a dispute over land led his neighbors — Karim Bepari, Nantu Bepari, Nasir Madbar, Ruhul Bepari, Sifat Madbar and 20–25 others — to attack his house with homemade weapons. During the incident, two of his daughters and one grandson were beaten and injured, and several homemade explosive devices reportedly detonated. The injured were admitted to Naria Upazila Health Complex with the help of local residents. Ali Mia further claimed that when he went to Naria Police Station to file a case, SI Abul Hossain demanded Tk 50,000 to register it. He alleged that when the money was not paid, the SI threatened to implicate the victim’s side in the case instead. The victim’s family called for a proper investigation into the incident and urged that strict action be taken against the responsible officer.

A human chain, rally and protest procession were held in Rajshahi on Friday protesting the alleged attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran and the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The programmes were organised after Friday prayers at the city’s Zero Point by Imamia Jankalyan Foundation. Speakers at the rally said the attack on Iran and the killing of its Supreme Leader constituted a clear violation of international law. They alleged that the strike by the United States and Israel undermined Iran’s sovereignty and posed a serious threat to global peace and stability. They also said the escalation of conflict across the Middle East could have severe consequences for the region and beyond. The speakers further claimed that the attack during the holy month of Ramadan exposed what they described as the “aggressive nature” of Israel and the United States. They termed the attack a direct violation of international law, the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of sovereign statehood, urging the international community, including the United Nations, to play an active role in protecting Iran’s sovereignty and stopping the war immediately. Among those who addressed the rally were Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Maulana Nadim Reza, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Maulana Majidul Islam, Syeda Rebecca Ali Abedin, Syeda Rubina Yasmin and Sheikh Ali Akbar, director of Muhammad Amin Farsi Education Centre in Rajshahi. A protest procession was brought out after the rally and paraded through different roads of the city.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested a youth for allegedly killing a madrasa student and burning the body in Gazipur. The arrested suspect was identified as Sabbir Ahmed, 19, a resident of Dewanganj Bazar area under Iswarganj upazila in Mymensingh. He had been living as a tenant in Bhabanipur area of Gazipur. According to PBI, the victim Mahabub Islam Rony, 13, was a student of the Nazera section at Khurshidia Markazul Ulum Qaumi Madrasa and Orphanage in Bhabanipur in Joydebpur. Rony went missing on the night of Feb 27 after offering Tarawih prayers at Darus Salam Jame Mosque in Bhabanipur East Para and leaving for home. When he did not return, his family searched in different places but could not find him. The next day, locals informed police after finding a body in a nearby forest in Bhabanipur East Para. The body was burned up to the head. Police recovered the body and sent it to a hospital morgue for autopsy. Later, the victim’s grandfather filed a case with Joydebpur Police Station. After the case was filed, PBI Gazipur district launched an investigation alongside local police. Using information technology and local sources, PBI arrested Sabbir from the Bhabanipur area on March 5. During interrogation, the accused admitted his involvement in the murder and later gave a voluntary statement before a court, said PBI officials. Gazipur PBI Superintendent of Police Abul Kalam Azad said the brutal killing was investigated with high importance. He said investigators used technology, local information and detailed analysis to solve the case quickly. During questioning, the accused told investigators that on the night of the incident he went to the forest to smoke cannabis, as he had done several times before. SHUJAN leader found dead in Gazipur At that time, Rony saw him smoking cannabis and threatened to inform others. The accused requested him not to tell anyone, but the boy again said he would inform people. Enraged, Sabbir pushed the boy to the ground and strangled him from behind. After confirming his death, he set the body on fire and fled the scene.

A man allegedly stabbed his wife and young daughter to death before taking his own life in Atrai upazila of Naogaon early Friday, police said. The incident occurred around 12:30 am at their house in Balramchak Chowdhurypara village, said Abdul Karim, officer-in-charge (OC) of Atrai Police Station. The deceased were identified as Raj Sarker Joy, 27; his wife Brishti Sarker, 22; and their 27-month-old daughter Jini Sarker. Locals claimed that drug-addicted Joy allegedly stabbed his wife and daughter after dinner, leaving his wife dead on the spot. Family members and locals later found Joy and the child critically injured and took them to Atrai Upazila Health Complex. As their condition deteriorated, they were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where both died while undergoing treatment on Friday morning. Police recovered Brishti’s body from the house at night, the OC said. He added that preliminary findings suggest that the incident may have been triggered by family disputes and Joy’s drug addiction. Police are investigating the matter and preparing to file a case.

Ten members of a family including a pregnant woman sustained burn injuries after an explosion apparently from gas leak at a house in Uttara’s Kamarpara area early Friday. The injured were identified as Md Rubel, 30; his pregnant wife Sonia Akter, 25; their daughter Roza, 3; Sonia’s elder sister Ria, 27; Rubel’s cousin Enayet Ali, 32; Enayet’s wife Delera Khatun, 28; their son Junayed, 10; Enayet’s younger brother Habib, 30; his niece Ayesha Khatun, 19; and Abu Kalam Rubel, 35. All the injured were admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, with several reported to be in critical condition. Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon of the institute, said Sonia suffered 100 percent burns, while Enayet sustained 45 percent burns. Rubel and Ria suffered 32 percent burns, Roza 18 percent, Delera 14 percent, Junayed 24 percent, Habib 19 percent, Ayesha 12 percent and Abu Kalam Rubel 7 percent burns. Those with severe burns have been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit while the others have been kept under observation, he added. Rubel, a motorcycle ride-sharing driver, lives with his family on the second floor of the building. Enayet, who works in Dubai and recently returned to Bangladesh, had come to visit Rubel with his family from their village. Sajed Matabbur, a relative of the victims, said residents of the building heard a loud explosion early Friday. “After hearing the blast, we rushed out and saw that parts of the ground floor and first-floor walls had collapsed. All 10 people inside the flat suffered burn injuries,” he saiid. The explosion was suspected to have been caused by accumulated gas, he added.

Two people were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus on the Dhaka–Barishal highway in the Kasba area of Gournadi upazila in Barishal on Friday morning. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately. Shamim Sheikh, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gournadi Highway Police Station, said a bus of Tekerhat Paribahan was heading towards Dhaka from Barishal when it collided head-on with a microbus coming from the opposite direction in the Kasba area. Two people, including the driver of the microbus, died in the accident while three others were injured. Police rescued the injured and sent them to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for treatment, he said. The vehicles involved in the accident have been seized, while the bus driver managed to flee the scene. Legal action will be taken in this regard, the OC added. Traffic on the Dhaka–Barishal highway remained disrupted for some time after the accident but returned to normal later.