United News of Bangladesh

Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested an alleged drug trader along with 93.5 kg of cannabis during an anti-narcotics drive in Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district on Thursday night. The arrested man was identified as Nur Islam, 38, son of Moslem Uddin of Baraitari village under Naodanga union in the upazila. According to RAB-13 officials, an operational team of CPC-3 of RAB-13, Rangpur, conducted the raid at around 10:30pm based on secret information as part of its ongoing anti-drug campaign. 3 held with 16.5kg hemp at Jatrabari During the drive, RAB members searched Nur Islam’s bedroom and recovered 93kg and 500 grams of cannabis hidden under a bed using a special concealment method. Additional Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Media) of RAB-13 Biplob Kumar Goswami confirmed the matter. He said a case was filed against the accused under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018. The arrested man, along with the seized cannabis, was handed over to Fulbari Police Station, he added. Biplob said RAB-13 would continue its intelligence surveillance and anti-drug drives as part of its zero-tolerance policy against narcotics. He also said regular operations are being conducted in border areas to prevent drug smuggling and trafficking.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said a “frustrated” group is trying to create instability in society. “There is a frustrated group in the country. They remain disappointed all the time and at different times try to create instability in society,” he said while speaking at a discussion marking the 165th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at the Rabindra Kachari Bari in Patisar village under Atrai upazila of Naogaon. Fakhrul, also BNP Secretary General, however, did not name any specific group. Turning to politics, he lamented that the country’s politics has not reached the desired level. “People fought repeatedly for change and sacrificed their lives, but unfortunately, real change has not come,” he added. The minister emphasised that the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War must remain central to the national identity. “We are Bangladeshis, and that identity must come first. We did not gain independence easily. We fought for nine months to achieve freedom. Likewise, democracy was also restored through struggle,” he said. Referring to the July uprising, he said the country’s youth fought together for change. “Our children fought together in July. We call it the July uprising. Change has come, and a new election has been held. People now have hopes from the new government,” he said. Fakhrul alleged that “fascist forces” had pushed the country towards destruction by looting the economy, damaging the banking sector and weakening the administration. “We reached this stage through a struggle against those actions. But many are now trying to divert this change in another direction by creating unrest over small issues. None of us wants any further instability in the country,” he said. Speaking about Rabindranath Tagore, the minister said the poet had worked for the welfare of farmers during his visits to Patisar by establishing a bank and introducing modern farming methods. “Rabindranath’s contribution went beyond poetry, songs, prose and drama. Through Gitanjali, he moved the entire world. He was a poet of universal humanity,” he said. Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid chaired the programme. Among others, Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, former Ambassador M Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey and local lawmakers spoke at the event.

The 165th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore is being observed at Patisar village, where the poet once spent some of his most creative years, in Atrai upazila of Naogaon today. BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the programme at the Devendra Mancha of Rabindra Kachari Bari at the village in the morning. The district administration organised the day-long programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. After the inauguration, a discussion titled “Rabindranath and Bangladesh” was held at the Devendra Mancha. Prof Dr Md Harun -Or - Rashid of the Department of Islamic History and Culture at Rajshahi University was the discussant at the event with Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid in the chair. Deputy Commissioner of the district Muhammad Saiful Islam delivered the welcome speech. Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, Whip Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mohammad Shahjahan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Mohammad Md Harun Ar Rashid, Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarequl Islam, and District Council Administrator Abu Bakar Siddique Nannu were also present. Lawmakers from Naogaon, Natore, Rajshahi and Bogura, along with Rabindra researchers, poets and writers, attended the programme. Folk artistes and local cultural researchers from different parts of the district participated in the event. Located about 40 kilometres from Naogaon town, the quiet village of Patisar became closely associated with Tagore after he first visited the area in 1891 following his inheritance of the Kaligram estate. The poet continued visiting the Kachari Bari regularly until 1937 and composed numerous poems, stories and essays there. Although the official programme is being held for one day, the celebrations will continue locally for several days. The Patisar Kachari Bari turned into a gathering place for Tagore’s admirers, while a rural fair was also organised on the occasion, spreading a festive atmosphere across the area.

Four shops were gutted by a fire at Lahuria Bazar in Lohagara upazila of Narail early Friday. The fire broke out at Bakul Sheikh's Satata Furniture and Hardware, believed to be from an electrical short circuit, around 3:00am, said the local Fire Service and Civil Defence office. The flames spread to three nearby furniture shops. On information, firefighters rushed in and brought the fire under control after efforts of one hour. Shop owners estimated the extent of loss caused by the fire at around Tk 13 lakh.

The body of a Bangladeshi woman who was killed in an airstrike in Lebanon’s Beirut has finally reached her home in Faridpur, a month after her death, plunging the area into grief. Dipali Begum, a resident of remote Shalepur village surrounded by the Padma River in Charbhadrasan upazila of Faridpur, was brought to her village home around 7:30am on Friday. Later, she was buried following a namaz-e-janaza at 10:00am. As Dipali’s body arrived, the air filled with cries of mourning from family members and relatives. Earlier, the flight carrying her body landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:20pm on Thursday. Dipali’s father Sheikh Mofazzel, elder brother Sheikh Obaidullah and younger sister Laiju Akhter received the body on behalf of the family. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam handed over the body to the family. According to the family, Dipali was critically injured in an Israeli airstrike on a building in Beirut on April 8. She later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital there. Charbhadrasan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shuraiya Mamtaz said after completing airport formalities, the family left for their village by an ambulance under government arrangements and they reached home on Friday morning. As the body reached the village, relatives and locals gathered in large numbers. Family members became emotional after receiving the body of their loved one following a month-long wait. Speaking to journalists at the airport, Shama Obaed expressed condolences and said the government would continue providing necessary support for the bereaved family. Dipali’s younger sister Laiju Akhter said, “After such a long wait, being able to see my sister one last time is our only comfort now.” Assistant Director of the Faridpur Expatriates’ Welfare Centre Md Ashik Siddique said the family had already been provided with Tk 35,000 at the airport for burial expenses, while an additional Tk 300,000 in financial assistance will be provided later under government regulations.  

An internet lineman died after being electrocuted at Kurarghat of Kamrangirchar in the capital on Thursday night. Victim Md Sumon, 18, was taken in an unconscious state to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 9:00pm, where the doctor on duty declared him dead. Sumon, son of Md Shahbuddin, hailed from Madhya Swarnabadh village in Bhola Sadar upazila. He used to live with his family in the Gonkatuli area of Hazaribagh. His colleague Al Amin said Sumon was working on an internet line beside the Kurarghat electricity office in Kamrangirchar around 8:00pm when he accidentally came in contact with a live electric wire and lost consciousness. “We rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital but the doctor declared him dead,” Al Amin said. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue and the matter has been reported to the police station concerned.

Three more children have died while undergoing treatment with measles-like symptoms in Sylhet, further heightening concerns over the growing outbreak in the division. According to the Sylhet divisional office of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the deaths were recorded in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Friday. Of the deceased, two died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and one at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital between 6:00pm and 11:00pm on Thursday, health officials said. The deceased were identified as Mahadi Hasan, 5 months, son of Abdul Mumin of Surma Residential Area in Akhalia of Sylhet city; Mustakin, 6 months, son of Sunnah Mia of South Sunamganj; and Zara, 7 months, daughter of Zakaria from Sureshnagar area under Bishwambharpur in Sunamganj. With the latest fatalities, the number of children who have died from measles and measles-like symptoms in Sylhet division has risen to 23. According to the DGHS, one new measles case was confirmed through laboratory testing during the same period, raising the total number of confirmed infections in the division to 142. In the 24-hour period, 53 more children with measles-like symptoms were admitted to different hospitals across the division in the last 24 hours. As of Friday morning, a total of 241 children were undergoing treatment at hospitals and health complexes across the division, with the highest number. Health officials said laboratory testing facilities remain limited in Sylhet, and patients showing measles symptoms are being treated initially based on clinical signs. Samples from critically ill patients are being sent to Dhaka for confirmation. The health officials a vaccination campaign targeting around 13.5 lakh children is underway. So far, more than 12.5 lakh children have been vaccinated, covering over 96 percent of the target. The campaign will continue until May 20.

Police recovered the body of a Bangladeshi man from the “no man’s land” area along the Fulgazi border in Feni on Thursday noon. The deceased was identified as Biswajit Sarkar, 61, son of late Gopal Sarkar of Rupsa village under Faridganj upazila in Chandpur district. According to police and eyewitnesses, local residents spotted the body lying in a border-side field at Kamalla village under Munshirhat union on Thursday morning and informed police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Police and BGB members later reached the spot, prepared an inquest report and took the body to Fulgazi Police Station. Locals said the body was found west of the house of former UP member Janu Member and south of Miachan Huzur’s poultry farm in Kamalla village. Police said no major injury marks were found on the body. The body has been kept at the morgue of Feni Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Quoting family members, police said Biswajit had long been working at a brick kiln in India. He reportedly fell ill there and later entered Bangladesh illegally by crossing the barbed-wire fence along the border. Additional Superintendent of Police in Feni Nishat Tabassum said the spot where the body was found is around 150 yards from the Indian border. She said no visible injury marks were initially found on the body, though scratch marks similar to those caused while crossing barbed-wire fencing were noticed. The matter has been informed to the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), she added. Asked about the incident, Lieutenant Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz, commander of BGB-10 Cumilla Battalion responsible for the border area, said an investigation is underway after recovery of the body.

A village imam in Feni’s Parshuram upazila has been cleared of rape allegations after DNA testing confirmed that the biological father of a child was not him, but the complainant’s elder brother. The case led to his arrest, more than a month in jail, and serious social and financial hardship. The accused, Muzaffar Ahmed, 25, was an imam and maktab teacher at a local mosque in Uttar Teteshwar village under Boxmahmud Union. Madrasha teacher placed on 3-day remand over rape of 11-year old girl in Netrokona He was arrested on November 24, 2024, after a case was filed at Parshuram Model Police Station by the mother of a 14-year-old girl, alleging rape. Muzaffar consistently denied the allegations, claiming innocence. Despite his denial, police took him into custody and he spent one month and two days in jail. He also lost his job as an imam during this period and faced severe social stigma. On November 26, 2024, he attempted to file a counter-complaint at a court in Feni, alleging that he had been falsely implicated. However, he was later handed over to police from the court premises. The case took a turning point after forensic examinations. On December 22, 2024, samples were sent to the CID forensic laboratory in Dhaka for DNA testing. The initial report, received on January 21, 2025, found no semen in the preserved vaginal swab, making it impossible to match DNA with the accused at that stage. As investigations continued, police questioned the victim in detail, during which she reportedly confessed that her elder brother, Morshed, 22, had raped her, and that the imam had been falsely implicated to protect him. Following the confession, police arrested Morshed on May 19, 2025. He later gave a confessional statement in court under Section 164, admitting to the offence. A further DNA test conducted on August 4, 2025, confirmed that Morshed was the biological father of the child born to the victim. The forensic report showed a 99.99 percent DNA match. The report also confirmed that Muzaffar Ahmed was not involved in the incident. Following the findings, police submitted a charge sheet against Morshed under the Prevention of Oppression of Women and Children Act, 2000, while Muzaffar was cleared of all allegations. Md. Ashraful Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Parshuram Model Police Station, said the investigation was carried out thoroughly and the DNA evidence confirmed the truth. After his release, Muzaffar Ahmed said he suffered severe financial loss, mental distress, and social humiliation due to the case. He said he had to sell land to cover legal expenses and lost his livelihood. He has demanded compensation, saying false accusations destroyed his reputation and future. Local religious leaders have also called for support for the wrongly accused imam and stronger safeguards to prevent similar miscarriages of justice in the future.

River ports in some regions have been asked to hoist cautionary signal 1 as a temporary west or northwesterly gusty or squally wind is likely to occur in many parts of the country, according to the special bulletin Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary west or northwesterly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 kph is likely to occur over the regions of Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noahkali, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet wherein river ports shall hoist cautionary signal no 1,”  it said. The warning for Inland River ports to remain valid till 1 am on May 8, according to a bulletin.