United News of Bangladesh

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.

A teacher was arrested with Tk7 lakh on Monday while allegedly trying to bribe a senior education official to secure MPO enlistment for one teacher and three employees of a secondary school in Kurigram. The arrest took place in the afternoon at the office of the Deputy Director of Secondary and Higher Education in Kachari Bazar area of Rangpur city. The arrestee was identified as Maidul Islam Khan, son of Haji Abdur Sabur Khan of Kajikata Datbhanga area in Roumari upazila of Kurigram. Confirming the matter, Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station Shahajan Ali said the money was seized from Maidul at the spot. According to police and officials, Haji Abdur Sabur Khan founded Kajikata High School in Roumari upazila. Maidul allegedly went to the office of the Deputy Director of Secondary and Higher Education of the Rangpur region to offer bribe money to get MPO status for one teacher and three staff members of the institution. Jashore district primary education officer held by ACC with Tk 1.20 lakh bribe Deputy Director Mosammat Roksana Akter said Maidul had visited her earlier with the same proposal. On Monday, he again offered cash, claiming he had brought Tk7 lakh in total. She immediately informed the Anti-Corruption Commission and the police. Following her complaint, a team from the ACC and police reached the office and arrested Maidul with Tk7 lakh in cash. ACC Rangpur Deputy Director Md Shaon Mia said preliminary investigation at the spot confirmed the allegations. He added that legal proceedings were underway and a case would be filed with the Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party-affiliated Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal has expelled two of its leaders in Kushtia for failing to work with the party-backed candidate in the 13th parliamentary election. The decision was announced in a press release signed on Monday by Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee Assistant Office Secretary Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan. The expelled leaders are Md Zakaria Ansar Millon, convener of Kumarkhali Upazila Jubo Dal, and Md Hanif Kabiraj, a Jubo Dal activist under Ailchara Union in Kushtia Sadar Upazila. The expulsion order was issued following a decision taken by Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Monayem Munna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayan, according to the press release. It said Millon was expelled on clear charges of working against the BNP-nominated sheaf of paddy candidate in the 13th parliamentary election. Candidates concern over illegal arms in Kushtia: SP pledges strict action Md Hanif Kabiraj was expelled from all posts including his primary membership for violating the party's ideology and unity. The press release also noted that Hanif has been facing allegations of extortion and other criminal activities in the Khajanagar Kabur Hat area, one of the country’s second-largest rice trading hubs, since August 5. On Monday afternoon, angry local residents staged a road blockade in the area demanding his arrest and exemplary punishment. Vehicular movement on the road came to a halt during the protest. Later, members of the army arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.

Tension flared on Monday morning after six tampered ballot papers and two seals were recovered from a polling station in Pirganj Upazila of the Rangpur-6 constituency. The incident occurred at Hasarpara Government Primary School polling station in Madankhali Union. Locals said some students who arrived at the school in the morning found six sealed ballot papers inside a classroom. Two of the ballots were stamped for the paddy sheaf symbol, while four were for the referendum. When the matter was reported to the school headmaster, he seized the ballots and seals and informed the upazila administration. Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Poppy Khatun arrived at the scene shortly after, but a crowd of agitated locals had already gathered and began protesting. At one-point, angry crowd confined the UNO and vandalized her car amid allegations of vote rigging. Following this, additional police personnel arrived and restored order in the area. The Assistant Returning Officer assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the incident.

Power supply will be temporarily suspended in several key areas of Sylhet city on Tuesday due to transformer repair, renovation, and transmission line development work. A press release on Monday, signed by the Executive Engineer of Sales and Distribution Division-3 of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, Sylhet, said that electricity will be cut off in areas under the Lalabazar feeder, including Telibazar, Badikona, Bhalki, Bhorout, Lalabazar Nijgaon, Tengra, Betsandhi, Munshirgaon, Munshibazar, Farhadpur, Kararpar, Gangapar, Monokupa, Alamnagar, Chhomipur, and surrounding localities, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Mild earthquake jolts Sylhet; epicentre in Gowainghat upazila The release added that the power line will be considered operational during the shutdown, and if the work is completed earlier than scheduled, electricity supply will be restored immediately. Authorities apologised to customers in the affected areas for the temporary inconvenience and sought their cooperation.

A woman gave birth to a baby girl at a polling station in Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila while casting her vote in the 13th national election held on February 12. The mother, Ambia Khatun, wife of Sharif Ali of Bengnai village under the Sirajganj-3 (Raiganj-Tarash) constituency, went into labour pain suddenly during voting on election day, locals said. With immediate assistance from people present at the centre, she delivered a baby girl at the polling station. The family later decided to name the newborn Begum Khaleda Zia, after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Both the mother and the newborn are currently healthy, family members said. On Sunday evening, Deputy Commissioner Md Aminul Islam visited the village to see the mother and the baby. He greeted the family with flowers and handed over a birth certificate, cash assistance and essential items for the mother and child, along with a congratulatory letter. Raiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Khalek Patwary and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Masud Rana, among others, were present during the visit.

Police have recovered the hanging body of a Jagannath University student from Gandaria in the capital. The deceased was identified as Imran Nabil Paramanik, a student of the 2016–17 session (12th batch) of the Islamic Studies Department, said Inspector (Investigation) Nazmul Hasan of Gandaria Police Station on Monday. Imran Nabil’s family hails from Dhumaitari village under Sundarganj Police Station in Gaibandha district. He was the son of Shafiqul Islam Paramanik. He was residing at 29/C Rajni Chowdhury Road in the Gandaria area of Dhaka. Hanging body of JnU student recovered from mess in Old Dhaka Inspector Nazmul said the body was found hanging inside his residence on Rajni Chowdhury Road, next to Monija Rahman School in the Dhupkhola area of Gandaria. His body was later recovered and sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy. Legal proceedings are underway in connection with the case. The preliminary finding suggests the student may have committed suicide due to depression.

Five Bangladeshi nationals including four members of a family have been killed in a road crash in Saudi Arabia. The deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman, 42, his wife Meher Afroz Sumi, 30, their two-daughters—Mohna, 13 and Subah of Ramganj upazila and Hossain Mohammad Jilani alias Babo, 30 of Balakot area in the upazila. Another daughter of Mizanur identified as Faiza Akter, 11 in  undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, said their family. Eight shops gutted in fire in Laxmipur Firoz Uddin Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge of Ramganj Police Station, said the accident occurred around local time 3 am (Bangladesh time 11 pm) in Abha area of Saudi Arabia. Baharul Alam, elder brother of Mizanur, said Mizanur had long been involved in hotel business in Saudi Arabia. On February 3, Mizanur along with his wife and three daughters went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. They met the  tragic accident while returning home after performing Umrah.  

A 65-year-old woman suffered burn injuries in an acid attack by some miscreants in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore district early Sunday. The victim was identified as Halima Begum, mother of union parishad member Chameli Begum. Victim’s family said Nazul, a listed criminal of Nazirpur village, violated a child  and Chameli assisted in handing Nazrul over to police along with witnesses. After securing bail, Nazrul and his associates threatened to take revenge, the family alleged. Around 2:00am, Halima Begum stepped out of her house for a personal need when Nazrul and his accomplices, who were allegedly hiding near the fence, threw acid at her. Fire in Natore kills mother, daughter Hearing her screams, family members rushed to the spot, prompting the attackers to flee. Officer-in-Charge of Gurudaspur Police Station Shafiquzzaman Sarkar said police visited the scene on Monday morning after receiving information. Legal action will be taken once a formal complaint is filed by the victim or her family, he said.