United News of Bangladesh

Two people including an army personnel were killed and 15 others injured in a collision between a bus and a truck on Sherpur-Mymensingh highway in Phulpur upazila of Mymensingh district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Rezaul Karim, 35, a truck driver of Bangladesh Army and Abdul Baset, 50, a bus driver. Rashedul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Phulpur Police Station, said the accident occurred at Balia intersection when a Sherpur-bound bus collided head-on with a truck of Bangladesh Army, leaving 17 people injured. Among the injured the driver of both the vehicles died on the way to a local hospital. Youth shot in Khulna gun attack

A youth was shot and wounded in an attack by some miscreants near Mowla Bari Khalpar area in Khulna city late Tuesday night. The injured youth was identified as Sohel alias Chega Sohel, 28, son of Shahadat of the same locality. Locals said Sohel has several cases filed against him and is allegedly involved in drug trading. Officer-in-Charge Md Kabir Hossain of Khulna Sadar Police Station said criminals opened indiscriminate fire targeting Sohel and one bullet hit the left side of his waist. Previous enmity might be the reason behind the attack, he added. He was first taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital. As his condition deteriorated at night he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A seven-year-old child was killed after being run over by a truck in the Jaflong area of Gowainghat Upazila on Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Nayan Mia, son of Khairul Islam of Kashipara area in Osmaninagar Upazila. He had been living with his family in a rented house in Mohammadpur area of Jaflong. According to local residents and police, the accident occurred around 11:30 am on the Mamaar Dokan–Mohammadpur road when Nayan was crossing the road. A speeding truck hit him, leaving him critically injured. Locals rescued the child and took him to Jaintiapur Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Officer-in-Charge of Gowainghat Police Station, Md Moniruzzaman, confirmed the incident.

Immigration police arrested two brothers, both accused in a murder case in Sunamganj, while they were attempting to flee to India through Benapole on Tuesday afternoon. The arrestees were identified as Sadiqur Rahman Shamim, 36, and Sajidur Rahman, 32, sons of Jalal Uddin of Halurgan area in Sunamganj. According to immigration police, the two brothers submitted their passports at the Benapole immigration desk, where verification revealed that they were accused in a murder case and also listed in a blacklist. Shamim claimed that they were involved in politics with the Bangladesh Awami League and that a case had been filed against them over a family dispute. Officer-in-Charge of Benapole Immigration Police Sakhawat Hossain said the two were detained after their names surfaced during passport checks. After completing immigration formalities, they were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station. Sub-Inspector Khayrul Islam of Benapole Port Police Station said the brothers were accused in a murder case filed in Sunamganj. “We are contacting Sunamganj police and will hand them over accordingly,” he added.

Two men were electrocuted while attempting to rescue a farmer who came into contact with a live electric line in Nakla upazila of Sherpur district on Tuesday evening. The deceased were identified as Mintu Mia, 45, son of Umed Ali, and Angur Mia, 50, son of Kubed Ali, both residents of Poladeshi village under Baneshwardi union of Nakla. Witnesses said farmer Samidul Islam was repairing an electric line of his irrigation pump when he was electrocuted and fell from a ladder. Hearing his screams, neighbours Mintu and Angur rushed to help but were also electrocuted. Locals rescued the three and took them to Nakla Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared Mintu and Angur dead. Samidul was referred in critical condition to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Emergency physician Dr Maliha Nujhat confirmed that the two victims were brought dead around 5:30pm, while the injured farmer was shifted for advanced treatment. Officer-in-Charge of Nakla Police Station Ripon Chandra Gop said an inquest report has been prepared and a case of unnatural death is being processed.

A total of 28 Bangladeshi children and teenagers trafficked to India were repatriated through the Benapole International Checkpost on Tuesday evening on special travel permits issued by the Indian authorities. Among the returnees, 17 were children and 11 were teenagers. They were handed over by Indian immigration police to their Bangladeshi counterparts at the checkpost. Officer-in-Charge of Benapole Immigration Police Sakhawat Hossain said the victims had entered India through different border routes, some with their parents and others through traffickers. They were later detained by Indian police on charges of illegal entry and jailed following court orders. Security tightened along Benapole border after BNP leader’s killing After completing their jail terms, they were kept at shelter homes run by an Indian NGO before being sent back to Bangladesh under special travel permits provided by the Indian government, he added. Following completion of immigration formalities, the children and teenagers were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station. Three NGOs—Rights, Justice and Care, Women Lawyers’ Association and another partner organisation—received them and will facilitate their reunification with families, the official said.

A young man was hacked to death in broad daylight by miscreants in Rajbari Sadar upazila on Tuesday, police and family members said. The incident took place around 1:00pm on a paved road in Char Narayanpur area under Mizanpur union. The victim was identified as Zahid Hasan Fakir, 27, son of Mahtab Fakir of Binodpur area in Ward No. 9 of Rajbari municipality. Man killed by mob over extortion in Rajbari, firearms recovered from associate Family members claimed Zahid was killed after he demanded repayment of Tk 2,500 he had lent, while police said the murder was likely linked to prior enmity. According to locals, Zahid received a phone call around noon and left home, saying he was going to collect the money. Shortly afterwards, miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons about 200 yards from his house, leaving him critically injured before fleeing the scene in an autorickshaw. Locals rescued him and rushed him to Rajbari Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His mother Momena Begum broke down in tears, saying her son had left home after receiving the call and promised to return soon after collecting the money. Soon after, we heard that he was being hacked, she said. 20-year-old youth arrested for killing bKash agent in Rajbari Family members and neighbours said Zahid, the youngest among five siblings, had returned from Malaysia about a year ago and was running a business locally. He had reportedly been in dispute with two youths from the Mechoghata area for some time. Emergency department physician Dr Nurul Azam said the victim had six to seven deep wounds inflicted by sharp weapons and died due to excessive bleeding. Officer-in-Charge of Rajbari Sadar Police Station, Khondkar Ziaur Rahman, said the body was sent to the morgue for autopsy and police have launched a drive to arrest those involved.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) on Tuesday announced a revised metro rail schedule for Ramadan, aligning train services with the government’s adjusted office hours, and said no iftar items other than a small bottle of water will be allowed inside trains and stations. In a notification issued in the afternoon, DMTCL said the special timetable will be effective from the first day of Ramadan until the day before Eid-ul-Fitr on weekly working days. However, the schedule on Fridays, Saturdays and other government holidays will remain unchanged. Under the revised schedule, the first train from Uttara North to Motijheel will depart at 6:30am and the last train at 9:30pm. From Motijheel to Uttara North, the first train will leave at 7:15am while the last train will depart at 10:10pm. Special metro rail services to carry Khaleda’s janaza attendees DMTCL said that during Ramadan, each passenger will be allowed to carry only a 250ml bottle of water for iftar within metro trains and station premises, and passengers must ensure that water does not spill. Used water bottles must be disposed of in designated dustbins at stations. No other food items may be consumed on platforms, concourses or inside metro trains under any circumstances, the company added. Earlier, on February 8, the Ministry of Public Administration fixed new office hours for Ramadan. According to a government notification, all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions will operate from 9:00am to 3:30pm during the holy month, considering sehri and iftar timings. The revised metro rail schedule has been set in line with the adjusted office hours, DMTCL said.  

Police recovered the bodies of a woman and two children with their throats slit at Uttar Manipur village in Homna upazila of Cumilla early Monday. The deceased were identified as Sukhi Akter, wife of Saudi Arabia expatriate Zahirul Islam, their four-year-old son Hossain and six-year-old Zobaid, son of expatriate Sattar, Sukhi Akter’s brother-in-law. Inspector (Investigation) Dinesh Dasgupta of Homna Police Station said they recovered the three bodies from the scene. Locals said unidentified assailants entered the house and killed them with sharp weapons some time at night. Family members found the blood-stained bodies in the morning and informed police. Police sent the bodies to Cumilla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Road crash leaves two dead in Cumilla Police said various evidence have been collected from the scene and investigations are underway to determine the motive behind the killings. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area.

Police have arrested a husband and wife in Narayanganj’s Fatullah for allegedly printing and selling fake “family cards” by misusing references to BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman’s election manifesto. The arrests were made on Monday night along with a large number of illegally printed cards, said officials. The arrestees were identified as Russel Jilani and his wife Hasina. The matter was confirmed by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Fayez Uddin. The fraud came to light earlier in the morning when victims staged a protest in the Narsingpur area of Kashipur Union in Fatullah. According to the victims, a day after the February 12 national election, Russel and his wife started selling fake “family cards” in several areas of Fatullah, posing as BNP activists and using the name “Jisan Traders.” Ahead of Ramadan, they allegedly sold at least 300 cards at Tk50 each, promising monthly essentials at a subsidised price. Most buyers were poor, low-educated women. When promised goods were not delivered on Monday morning and phone calls went unanswered, the victims realised they had been cheated and later surrounded Jilani’s house in protest. A victim, Julekha Begum, said they were told the cards were officially issued. Two Jubo Dal leaders expelled in Kushtia Fatullah Thana BNP President Shahidul Islam Titu said the accused were not linked to the party and termed the incident an act of fraud, calling for legal action. UNO SM Fayez Uddin said he initially warned the accused and instructed them to submit the cards to the police. Later on Monday night, he confirmed that Russel and his wife had been detained by the Fatullah Model Police Station with a large number of fake cards. Police said legal action was being taken against the accused.