United News of Bangladesh

A 55-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a moving motorcycle in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur on Sunday evening. The deceased, Khaleda Akhter, was the wife of Joynal Abdin of Sandhyakura area in the upazila. The accident occurred in Sandhyakura when the motorcyclist, Shahjamal, 25, son of Shafiq Mia of Haldigram area, lost control after Khaleda Akhter’s saree got entangled in his motorcycle. Shahjamal was seriously injured in the accident. Asst presiding officer among 2 killed in Sherpur road crash Eyewitnesses said Shahjamal was heading towards the upazila headquarters when he hit Khaleda Akhter while she was crossing the road. Locals rescued both and took them to Jhenaigati Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared Khaleda Akhter dead on arrival. Shahjamal was later referred to Sherpur District Sadar Hospital due to the critical condition of his injuries. Md Amirul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jhenaigati Police Station, said police visited the scene immediately after the accident and legal action is under process. Case filed against BNP candidate among hundreds over killing of Jamaat leader in Sherpur

Police have filed a case against over 500 people following a violent clash between two groups of people in Sirajganj municipality area. SI Alamin of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station lodged the case at the police station on Sunday morning. Officer in Charge (Investigation) of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station, Ahsanuzzaman, said the dispute had been brewing for a long time between residents of Mahmudpur and Raipur areas over dominance and theft incidents. BNP-Jamaat clash in Sirajganj leaves 9 injured The situation escalated into a major clash on Saturday night when they attacked each other with homemade weapons. They vandalised property and looed valuables, prompting law enforcement to intervene, said the OC. According to police, following the violence authorities conducted drives and arrested three youths.  Additional forces have been deployed and patrolling intensified to prevent further clashes. Land dispute clash in Sirajganj leaves 9 injured

A firefighter was killed after a bus ploughed through a fire station while he was on duty in Sherpur upazila of Bogura district early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Md Ahsan Habib, a firefighter posted at Sherpur Fire Station. Witnesses said after receiving a report of a road accident he rang the fire alarm and opened the main gate to allow a fire service unit to respond. 2 killed in Bogra road crash while going to attend funeral As he was stopping a truck on the road to ensure the safe exit of the fire service vehicle a bus from behind hit the truck that ploughed into the fire station, leaving Habib injured. He was rescued and rushed to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital by a fire service ambulance, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead at around 2:30am, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of the media cell at the Fire Service and Civil Defence on Sunday afternoon. Both the bus and the truck were seized following the incident. Ahsan Habib had been serving at Sherpur Fire Station since May 11, 2023. He joined government service in 2005. 2 killed in accident on Dhaka–Mawa Expressway He is survived by his wife, one son and one daughter. Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal expressed deep shock at the death and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family. Following his instructions, Rajshahi Division Deputy Director Md Manzil Haque visited the spot.

A case has been filed against 20 people in connection with the death of two people in a crude bomb blast in Sadar upazila of Chapainawabganj district. Additional Superintendent of Chapainawabganj Police NM Wasim Firoz said sub-inspector of Sadar Police Station filed the case against 10 identified and 10 unnamed people on Saturday night. The injured victims in the explosion were shown arrested in the case. 2 killed while ‘making bombs’ in Chapainawabganj With these, five people were arrested. They were—Bazlur Rahman, 20, Minhaz, 22, Yusuf, 45, Shakil, 37 and Subho, 20 of Sadar upazila. Police are investigating the incident, said ASP Wasim Firoz. Two people were killed and three others injured in an explosion while they were allegedly making bombs at Fatapara in Sadar upazila of Chapainawabganj district early Saturday. Gun powder, bomb-making materials seized in Chapainawabganj

Seventeen of the 25 candidates who contested the national election from parliamentary constituencies in Kushtia have got their election deposits forfeited, according to official figures. Under rules set by the Election Commission, a candidate loses their deposit if they fail to secure at least one-eighth — or 12.5% — of the total votes cast in their constituency. A total of 25 candidates, including one independent and nominees from 14 political parties, took part in the election across Kushtia’s four seats. The only female contender stood under the banner of the Bangladesh Republican Party. The results highlight the strong showing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the district, with the party winning three of the four constituencies. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured the remaining seat. Kushtia-1 In Kushtia-1, where 282,543 votes were cast, BNP candidate Reza Ahmed defeated Jamaat’s Belal Uddin. Candidates who failed to reach the required threshold included JSD’s Md. Gias Uddin (star symbol), who received 203 votes; Bangladesh Islami Front’s Md. Badiruzzaman (candle symbol) with 241 votes; Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Aminul Islam (fan symbol) with 4,063 votes; independent candidate Md. Nuruzzaman Hablu Molla (cycle symbol) with 17,864 votes; Ganoadhikar Parishad’s Md. Shahabul Islam (truck symbol) with 613 votes; and JP’s Md. Shahriar Jamil (plough symbol) with 1,094 votes. Kushtia-2 A total of 348,911 votes were cast in Kushtia-2. Jamaat candidate Md. Abdul Gafur defeated BNP’s Ragib Rauf Chowdhury. Three candidates forfeited their deposits: Bangladesh Communist Party’s Nur Uddin Ahmed (spade symbol), who secured 80 votes; Islami Front Bangladesh’s Md. Babul Akter (chair symbol) with 1,123 votes; and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Ali (fan symbol) with 3,887 votes. Kushtia-3 In Kushtia-3, Mufti Amir Hamza won the seat, defeating BNP’s Engineer Md. Zakir Hossain Sarker. Of the 321,323 votes cast, four candidates failed to retain their deposits. They were BASAD’s Mir Nazmul Islam (moy symbol) with 442 votes; Bangladesh Republican Party’s Rumpa Khatun (elephant symbol) with 475 votes; Ganoadhikar Parishad’s Md. Shariful Islam (truck symbol) with 299 votes; and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Abdullah Akand (fan symbol) with 5,153 votes. Kushtia-4 In Kushtia-4, where 308,260 votes were cast, Jamaat’s Md. Afzal Hossain defeated BNP’s Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi. Among those forfeiting deposits were Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Anwar Khan (fan symbol) with 1,373 votes; Bangladesh Minority Jatiya Party’s Tarun Kumar Ghosh (rocket symbol) with 671 votes; Ganoforum’s Md. Abdul Hakim Miah (rising sun symbol) with 255 votes; and Bangladesh Labour Party’s Md. Shahidul Islam (pomegranate symbol) with 308 votes.

Thirteen out of 20 candidates who contested the national election from three parliamentary constituencies in Manikganj have lost their deposits after failing to secure the minimum required votes. Under Election Commission rules, candidates must obtain at least 12.5% of the total valid votes in their respective constituencies to retain their deposits. An analysis of the final results shows that a majority of contestants in the district did not meet that threshold. Across Manikganj-1, Manikganj-2 and Manikganj-3, candidates from smaller political parties and several independents were among those who forfeited their deposits, while nominees of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured decisive victories in all three seats, election officials said. Manikganj-1 In Manikganj-1 (Ghior–Daulatpur–Shibalaya), four of the seven candidates lost their deposits, according to the officials. BNP candidate SA Jinnah Kabir won the seat with 137,773 votes. Independent candidate Mohammad Tojammel Haque Toja came second with 77,818 votes, followed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abu Bakar Siddique, who received 71,310 votes. The candidates who failed to reach the required vote share were from Gono Odhikar Parishad, Jontar Dal, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, and an independent contender. Manikganj-2 In Manikganj-2 (Singair–Harirampur and part of Sadar), two of the four candidates forfeited their deposits. BNP’s Moinul Islam Khan won with 175,776 votes, well ahead of his nearest rival Mohammad Salah Uddin of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, who secured 81,531 votes. Candidates from the Jatiya Party and Islami Andolon Bangladesh did not obtain sufficient votes to retain their deposits. Manikganj-3 In Manikganj-3 (Sadar–Saturia), seven of the nine candidates lost their deposits. BNP candidate Afroza Khanam Rita was elected with 167,345 votes. Her closest competitor, Muhammad Saidunur of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, received 68,282 votes. Among those forfeiting deposits were candidates from Jatiya Party, Jatiya Party (JP), Bangladesh Jasad, Islami Andolon Bangladesh and several independents. Clear Margins The results underline the dominance of BNP candidates in the district, who won all three seats by substantial margins, the election officials said. In each constituency, most rival candidates failed to cross the 12.5% threshold required to retain their deposits, reflecting a wide gap between the leading contenders and the rest of the field.

A man was shot dead by miscreants while on his way to offer prayers at a mosque in Rajshahi metropolis on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Md Mustafa, 50, son of Taimur Uddin of the Danshmari area under Motihar Police Station in the city. The incident occurred around 8pm on a road adjacent to the wall of Hojapur cemetery. Officer-in-Charge of Motihar Police Station Abul Kalam Azad, quoting locals, said Mustafa was heading to the mosque to offer prayers when miscreants opened fire on him. He was shot in the right leg and fell unconscious on the spot. Locals rescued and rushed him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where the doctor on duty declared him dead on arrival. Dr Shankar Kumar Biswas, in-charge of the Emergency Department at the hospital, said Mustafa was brought in dead. He had sustained a bullet injury to his right leg and died due to excessive bleeding. The OC said the motive behind the attack is yet to be known and the assailants remain unidentified. An investigation is underway and legal action will be taken, he added.

Supporters of BNP candidates staged protests and road blockades in Pirgachha and Launia upazilas of Rangpur district on Saturday, demanding a recount of votes in Rangpur-4 and Rangpur-6 constituencies over allegations result manipulation. From the morning, a shutdown was observed in Haragachh area under Rahngpur-4 with traders and locals joining the protest, claiming that vote rigging deprived BNP candidate Emdadul Haque Bhorsa of victory. Demonstrators blocked Haragachh–Rangpur road, burning tyres and halting vehicular movement from Friday afternoon until around midnight at Haqbazar in Kaunia upazila. JP candidate alleges harassment by NCP in Rangpur BNP leaders and activists gathered there and warned of tougher programmes if votes are not recounted. In Pirgachha upazila town, BNP supporters also brought out processions and held rallies urging the Election Commission and the district returning officer to quickly recount the votes. BNP candidate Bhorsa alleged that about 8,500 votes were rejected under suspicious circumstances and claimed that supporters of rival candidate Akhtar Hossain created mobs between 3pm and 5pm on polling day with alleged administrative backing to change the results. He issued an ultimatum for a recount, warning of stricter agitation otherwise. Rangpur poised for tight electoral battle as AL reserve votes look decisive Rejecting the allegations, winning candidate Akhtar Hossain of NCP claimed BNP activists attacked NCP supporters, vandalised houses, looted property and damaged motorcycles. BNP denied the accusations. According to unofficial results, Akhtar Hossain won Rangpur-4 with 149,966 votes while Bhorsa secured 140,564 votes. In Rangpur-6 (Pirgachha), Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Maulana Nurul Amin won with 120,128 votes, while Saiful Islam got 117,703 votes.

Faridpur, Feb 14 (UNB) – Twenty people were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over establishing supremacy at Mayendia Bazar in Faridpur district on Saturday. Mahmudul Hasan, assistant superintendent of (Saltha-Nagarkanda) circle, said Mannan Matubbar, chairman of Poromeshwari union in Boalmari upazila and Tulu Mia-Zihad Mia of Saltha upazila had been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy in the area. As a sequel to the enmity, an altercation ensued between the supporters of both groups at Mayendia Bazar in the middle of Saltha and Boalmari upazilas around 10 am. Bus-truck collision leaves 2 dead in Faridpur At one stage, both groups equipped with lethal weapons attacked each other, leaving 20 people injured. A number of houses were vandalised and set on fire during the clash. On information, police and army personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Police also arrested some people along with locally made weapons, said police. ​​​​​​​Two brothers among 3 killed as train hits pickup in Faridpur

A nine-year-old boy was beaten to death over allegations of stealing betel nuts in Haluaghat in Mymensingh on Friday afternoon. The victim, Imon Mia, was the son of Dulal Mia of Bausha village in Swadeshi Union. According to police and local sources, Imon had allegedly stolen betel nuts from his neighbor Atahar Ali’s tree about a month ago. After keeping silent for nearly a month, Atahar Ali on Friday called Imon to his house, locked the door, and beat him severely. Imon’s family rescued him and took him to Haluaghat Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Police recovered the body and are preparing for post-mortem examination. Four election officials withdrawn in Mymensingh, Naogaon over irregularities Md Ferdous Alam, officer-in-charge of Haluaghat Police Station, said preliminary investigation shows the killing was linked to the betel nut theft. “The matter is being investigated seriously,” he added.