United News of Bangladesh

The Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries jointly seized six illegal artisanal trawling boats in Charfassion upazila of Bhola district, officials said on Tuesday. Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, media officer of the Coast Guard, said the raid, based on a tip-off, was conducted from 5:00pm on Monday until 1:00am on Tuesday. The operation took place in Shukkhali Canal of Charfassion, coordinated by the Coast Guard outpost at Charmanika and the Department of Fisheries, he added. More than 200 sued over clash during Bhola eviction drive Following the seizure, fishing equipment was removed from the boats in the presence of fisheries officials. The confiscated vessels were later handed over to Dularhat Police Station for further legal action, Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said.    

A union level leader of Swechchasebak Dal, the voluntary wing of BNP, has been killed in an attack allegedly by his rivals over a kabadi game in Kalia upazila of Narail district. The deceased was identified as Masud Sheikh, 46, member secretary of Babra-Hachla Union unit of the party and son of late Sabur Sheikh from Shuktigram area. Officer-in-charge Abdullah Al Mamun of Kalia Police Station said a clash broke out between two groups during a kabadi match at Shuktogram village on Monday night. Masud allegedly led one of the groups. However the matter was resolved at the playground. Swechchasebak Dal leader came under attack allegedly by his rivals on way to home from the playground after the match, leaving him severely injured, he said. He was first taken to Kalia Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital, the OC said, adding that Masud succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment around 9:30am on Tuesday. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to avoid unexpected incident as a tense situation has prevailed.

Khatib of T&T Bazar Jame Mosque in Tongi Muhammad Mohebullah Miyaji was not abducted, said Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Mohammad Taherul Haq Chauhan. He this at a press briefing at the GMP headquarters on Tuesday over the alleged abduction and rescue of the khatib. The briefing revealed that the Tongi East Police Station recorded a case after a complaint was filed alleging that 60-year-old khatib Mohebullah Miyaji was abducted on the morning of Oct 22 while going for his morning walk. The complaint claimed that an ambulance blocked his way near Shilmun Exos Link CNG Filling and Conversion Center and 4–5 unidentified people forced him into the vehicle, blindfolded him, and tortured him physically while moving him. College girl feigns abduction to get IPhone from family He was rescued by Panchagarh Sadar police after a local person called the emergency number ‘999’. Taherul Haq said that after investigating CCTV footage along the route from his home to various locations, no evidence of the alleged ambulance or abductors was found during the three-hour window mentioned in the complaint. Footage from Dhaka bus counters, Bogura hotels, bus drivers’ testimonies, and movements in Panchagarh were examined. The Additional Commissioner of GMP said the khatib left the bus station in Panchagarh late at night and walked alone. Suffering from prostate problems, he urinated by the roadside and removed his clothes partially due to discomfort and fatigue. He slept on the street with a small golden padlock chain tied to his foot. He later woke up at Panchagarh Sadar Hospital, said the GMP official. The police added that his statements are being cross-checked and it is not yet clear whether anyone else was involved or if there was any instigation behind his actions. Further investigation will clarify the matter and legal action will be taken accordingly.  

In a move to ensure port safety and environmental protection, a total of 19 containers of Dangerous Goods (DG) that had been lying unattended for years at Chittagong Port were safely destroyed over the weekend under strict supervision and environmental compliance. The destruction process, conducted on 25 and 26 October, was overseen by an inter-agency committee headed by Mohammad Nurullah Nuri, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General), Chattogram Division. Representatives from the Department of Environment, Department of Explosives, DGFI, NSI, Chittagong Port Authority, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, and Chattogram Customs House were present during the operation. According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the demolition work began at 9 am on Saturday and continued uninterrupted until 9:30 pm on Sunday. First US wheat shipment arrives at Ctg port Personnel from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, Ansar, and the local police station ensured safety and provided necessary support throughout the operation. The containers destroyed included 16 of Uncoated Calcium Carbonate, one of Orange Emulsion, one of Sweet Whey Powder, and one of Skimmed Milk Powder. These consignments had long been left in a dilapidated state at the port, posing potential safety and environmental hazards. Officials said the operation was carried out in an environmentally compliant manner to eliminate any risk of chemical contamination or fire incidents. Last year, in October 2024, the Chattogram Customs House and Chittagong Port Authority jointly removed and destroyed four containers of highly flammable hazardous cargo that had been stored at the port premises for nearly 14 years. In a related development, the NBR has issued a special directive to auction off long-pending containers in a bid to reduce congestion at Chittagong Port. Around 6,069 containers, equivalent to nearly 10,000 TEUs, have already been inventoried for disposal through auction. A significant number of these containers have already been sold, and the remaining auction process is ongoing. The NBR expressed optimism that the Chattogram Customs House will continue its efforts with speed and efficiency to reduce the container backlog and enhance port operations. The board also reiterated that, in the interest of public and port safety, the destruction of hazardous and dangerous goods containers left unattended at the port will continue on a priority basis with the active cooperation of all relevant agencies.          

Three madrasa girls have remained missing for one and a half months in Thakurgaon, leaving their families in deep distress. The missing girls are Jui, 15, daughter of Shahjalal from Muraripur village in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur; Jannatul Ferdous Tamanna, 16, daughter of Jahangir Alam of Ganakpoyen village in the same upazila and Ayesha Siddika, 14, daughter of Rabiul of Gobindnagar area of Thakurgaon Sadar. They were students of Hazrat Ayesha Siddika (RA) Girls’ Madrasha at Salander Madrasa Para area in Sadar upazila. Despite frantic searches, printing posters with their photos, and visiting different offices, relatives said the disappearance mystery is only deepening with time. Relatives urged to visit morgue, emergency unit of DMCH for missing persons Police and family members said the girls left their madrasha dormitory on September 8 night and checked into a residential hotel in the town. They left the hotel before dawn and have not been seen since. A general diary (GD) was filed at Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station on September 9. Madrasha authorities said the three girls were last seen inside the madrasha around midnight on September 8. Around 5 am, when a staff member went to call them, their beds were found empty. A mosquito net was tied to the railing of the first floor corridor, prompting speculation that they had escaped using it. Keraniganj autorickshaw driver found dead a day after going missing Police said CCTV footage collected from different spots in the town showed that the three rode a rickshaw to Thakurgaon bus stand around 1 am, later headed to Thakurgaon railway station and then checked into a residential hotel as there was no train at the time. They stayed there until 4 am and with the help of the hotel manager, they later returned to the railway station and eventually took an autorickshaw towards Pirganj. Asaduzzaman Imon, manager of the hotel, said the girls came around 2 am and asked for a place to stay for a few hours. “They said they would leave before dawn. Later, I helped them carry their bags to a vehicle,” he said.  “We are going door-to-door, seeking help from police and administration, but nothing is being solved,” a family member said expressing disappointment that there had been no progress even after 48 days. Kaliakoir boat capsize: One of two missing children found dead Akhlima Begum, mother of missing Tamanna, blamed the madrasha authorities for the lack of security. “There are no guards. The corridor has no grills. Anyone can enter or leave easily,” she said. Laboni, sister of missing Ayesha, said,“My sister told us she was being tortured and begged us to bring her home. Now we have lost her. I am certain the torture forced them to flee,” she claimed. Acknowledging security gaps, madrasha principal Hamida Begum said, “We did not anticipate such an incident. We were working to improve security.” She denied allegations of torture. “The accusations against me are baseless. We are also trying to find them,” she added. Thakurgaon Superintendent of Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam said the case is being treated with utmost importance. “Multiple agencies are working. There is no negligence from the police,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Israt Farzana said senior officials were alerted immediately after the girls went missing. “We are doing everything we can. We hope they will return to their families soon,” she added.

An activist of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) was killed and 18 others were injured in a reported clash between two groups of JCD and Jubo Dal activists over tearing a party banner at Bakolia in Chattogram port city early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Md Sazzad, son of Md Alam of Muradnagar upazila in Cumilla district and a resident of Takterpool area of Chattogram city. He was an active activist of  Bakolia unit JCD. Nurul Alam Ashique, in-charge of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital police camp, said there was previous enmity between the supporters of Emdadul Haque Badsha, a supporter of City Mayor Dr Shahadat and Humayun Rashid, a Jubo Dal leader and  a supporter of BNP leader Barrister Mir Helal. 2 JCD leaders stabbed dead in Chattogram The clash ensued around 1 am when the supporters of Badsha scratched the banner of Humayun hanging on Excess Road in Bakolia area. An exchange of gunfire between the two rival group left one dead on the spot and 18 others injured. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.    

A man in Thakurgaon committed suicide on Monday while on a video call with his wife, who lives in Italy. The deceased was identified as Shamim Akhtar, 41, son of Pojir Uddin. He was known in the area as a theatre worker for his acting with a local drama group. The incident took place in Kashidanga village under Borobari Union of Baliadangi upazila. According to Shamim’s brother Japan, his sister-in-law called him from Italy and told him that Shamim was trying to hang himself inside the room. By the time he rushed home from the market, Shamim had died. The windows and doors of the house were locked from inside. Later, they broke down the door and found him hanging from the ceiling. According to relatives, Shamim and his wife Mukta Akhtar tried to go to Italy two months ago by spending Tk 30 lakh. But only his wife could go due to visa complications, and Shamim had to stay back. He was trying to solve the visa problem so he could join her. They also said that Mukta could not start working in Italy yet. Shamim had to send about Tk 70,000 every month to support her living there and this financial pressure left him very stressed. Mother, daughter found dead in Thakurgaon Ashraful Islam, a member of Baliadangi Tiger Natyagoshti, said that Shamim was a conscious person and inspired others with his acting. “We never thought he would take such a step. We are deeply shocked by his death,” he added. Dibakar Adhikari, investigation officer of Baliadangi Police Station, said, “Police visited the spot and prepared a primary report. Further comments can be made after investigation.”  

A man was killed and five others were injured in a reported gunfight between two groups of people over the ownership of a land along the Padma River bank at Habir char in Lalpur upazila of Natore district on Monday. The deceased was identified as Aman, a resident of Char Chanpur in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district. Quoting local people, Suprabhat Mandal, officer-in-charge of Bagha Police Station, said Kakon Bahini and Robi-Mamtaz group had been at loggerheads over the ownership of a land at Habir Char and Chandpur along the Padma River of the bordering areas of Lalpur and Bagha upazilas. As a sequel to the enmity the supporters of both groups, equipped with firearms, attacked each other, triggering a clash that left six people injured with bullets. 13.5 tons of bullet shells found in Natore warehouse Among the injured, four were taken to Bagha Upazila Health Complex where Aman succumbed to his injuries. Three others were shifted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital. Besides, two more injured victims were taken to Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex in Kushtia district.    

A court in Sirajganj on Monday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife in Kazipur upazila in 2022. The convict Nazmul Hossain, son of Nazrul Islam of Aknadighi village, was also fined Tk 1 lakh, with an additional three months in prison if the fine is not paid, said Masudur Rahman, public prosecutor of the court. Three other accused in the case were acquitted. Judge Begum Salma Khatun of the Women and Child Repression Prevention Court-2 delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon. Sirajganj beggar 'Saleha Pagli' dies leaving behind 3 sacks of money According to the prosecution, Nazmul Hossain married Meem Khatun, who lived next door, on 13 November 2021. After the marriage, he allegedly pressured her for Tk 1 lakh as dowry. On 6 April 2022, Meem was reportedly beaten to death. Mim's father, Rusel Mia, filed a case against nine people at the local police station. Following the investigation, police submitted a chargesheet against four individuals to the court.    

Four people were killed and four others injured when a covered van hit a battery–run rickshaw on Jamalpur-Tangail highway in Sadar upazila of Jamalpur district on Monday. Three of the deceased were identified as Rashed, 32, Chan Mia, 62, Arifa Akter Puli, 25 while the identity of another could not be known yet. The accident occurred at Adarsha Bottala in front of Jamalpur Economic Zone around 12:45 pm when the covered van rammed the battery-run rickshaw, leaving one dead on the spot and four others injured, said Nazmus Sakib, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station. Road crash leaves woman dead in Dhaka The injured were taken to Jamalpur General Hospital where the doctors declared three others dead. Among the injured, two were sent to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital. Police could not arrest the covered van driver as he managed to flee.