United News of Bangladesh

A ten-year-old madrasah student was hacked to death allegedly by his roommate at Makhfunul Ulum Madrasah in Sonaimuri upazila of Noakhali district early Monday. The deceased was identified as Nazim Uddin, son of Obayed Ullah of Jahanabad village. Khorshid Alam, officer-in-charge of Sonaimuri Police Station, said Nazim had an altercation with his roommate Abu Sayed, 16, son of Rustam Ali of Mymensingh district over wearing a cap. Bangladeshi killed in shooting by Indian Khasias at Sylhet Border Sayed killed Nazim by slitting his throat with a sharp weapon while he was asleep around 2:30 am, he said. Other students of the madrashah and a teacher noticed the matter and informed police who arrested Sayed. During primary interrogation, Sayed confessed to his guilt,s aid police. The body was sent to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital.    

After a 22-day government-imposed fishing ban, hilsa (ilish) has made its return to markets in Khulna, though supplies remain limited and prices high. The ban, aimed at protecting mother hilsa and ensuring sustainable production, ended on October 25, after which fishermen resumed fishing and Khulna’s markets began receiving limited supplies, driving prices up. On Sunday, modest quantities of hilsa arrived at several wholesale markets across the city, including Rupsa, Moylapota, Nirala, New Market, Khalishpur Chitrali, Daulatpur, Fulbari Gate, Shiromoni and Fultala. Retailers reported that hilsa weighing around one kilogram was selling for Tk 3,000–3,200, while those weighing 700–900 grams were priced at Tk 1,800–2,000. Smaller hilsa, known as jakta, were selling for Tk 900–1,000 per kg. Hilsa fishing ban ends: Fishermen in Chandpur set to return to rivers Footfall remained low on the first day, largely due to high prices and limited availability. Retailers expect prices to stabilise once fishing activity increases and supply improves. “Fishermen only resumed fishing on October 25. Once more hilsa are caught and transported, prices are expected to come down,” said a retailer at Rupsa market. Sharing the hardship faced by fishermen during the ban, Hamidur Rahman, a local fisher, said the month-long halt had been very difficult, but they were now back at sea with hopes of a good catch. Md Jahangir Alam, Khulna divisional director of the Department of Fisheries, said the ban had been strictly enforced across all four districts of the division to protect mother hilsa during the main breeding season. Authorities remain optimistic that this year’s hilsa production will surpass that of last year, he added.  

A grandmother and her 14-day-old granddaughter were killed when a pickup truck hit them while they were on their way to a vaccination center in Dimla Upazila, Nilphamari. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday near Goyabari School and College in Goyabari Union. The victims, Surya Khatun (55) and her granddaughter Samia Akter, were struck by the vehicle. Samia died on the spot, while Surya Khatun was taken to Dimla Upazila Health Complex, where she was declared dead on-arrival by the attending doctor. The pickup driver fled the scene immediately. The vehicle has been seized and the bodies handed over to the family, said Dimla police officer-in-charge Fazle Elahi. The victims’ residence is near Shuti Bari Bazar in Goyabari Union. The father of the deceased newborn is Md. Babul Hossain. The tragic incident has caused deep sorrow in the local community.

Train movement on the Dhaka–Mymensingh route was disrupted for nearly half an hour on Saturday night after a coach of the Jamalpur Express got detached while running through Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh district. Sub-inspector Golam Kibria, in-charge of the Gafargaon Railway outpost, said the hook connecting the coaches broke around 10pm when the Dhaka-bound train from Jamalpur reached between Rouha and Kalibazar stations, separating coach ‘K’ from the rest of the train. Sylhet rail link cut off after train derailment The engine and the remaining coaches continued for about two kilometres before the driver noticed the problem, he said. Later, the train was pushed back to reconnect the detached coach, after which it resumed its journey to Dhaka, the official added.    

At least 20 people, including cleaning workers, were injured and three municipal vehicles were set on fire during clashes between traders and municipal staff during an eviction drive in the Notun Bazar area of Bhola town on Saturday afternoon. Among the injured, six were admitted to hospital for treatment, authorities said. According to eyewitnesses, around 4:45pm, municipal workers began removing illegal shops adjacent to the Muktijoddha Sangsad Bhaban in Notun Bazar Chattar and loading confiscated goods onto vehicles. Enraged traders attempted to stop the eviction, leading to a violent clash. Ansar VDP member and municipal worker Abul Kalam Azad alleged that at least 20 workers were injured after being attacked by the traders. He said the attackers later set fire to three municipal vehicles. Witnesses said the group prevented anyone from approaching the burning vehicles. Locals and firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after about half an hour, but by then the vehicles had been extensively damaged. Bhola Municipality Administrator Md. Mizanur Rahman said angry traders torched three cars during the eviction drive to clear illegal structures in the new market area. “Work is underway to assess the extent of the damage. A case will be filed against those responsible, and the eviction drive will continue,” he added. Deputy Commissioner Md. Azad Jahan visited the scene and assured that an investigation would be conducted. Additional police personnel have since been deployed in the area, and the situation is now under control. Abu Shahadat Md. Hasnain Parvez, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bhola Model Police Station, said police had not been informed in advance about the eviction drive. “Action will be taken after an investigation,” he said. Statements from the traders involved were not immediately available.

A Jubo Dal activist, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was shot dead by miscreants in broad daylight near his home in Raozan upazila of Chattogram on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Md Alamgir alias Alam, a follower of Golam Akbar Khondakar, member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council and a former ambassador. The incident occurred near Kaykobad Jame Mosque in Ward No. 9 of Raozan municipality. Monirul Islam Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Raozan Police Station, said Alomgir was shot dead by rival attackers. “A drive is underway to identify and arrest the assailants. We are still on the ground,” the OC added. Former President of Chattogram North District BNP Golam Akbar Khondakar strongly condemned the killing, saying that Alamgir had spent nearly 12 years in jail during the Awami League rule and was recently released. He demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the murder.

One person was killed and at least nine others were injured in a clash over a land dispute in Dhobaura upazila of Mymensingh district on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Yasin Miah, 25, son of Harun Miah of the area. He was also a cousin of July martyr Sohel Miah, whose family was reportedly attacked during the incident. The clash broke out in Chnatia village under Goatala union when Sohel Miah’s brother Rubel Miah and his family members went fishing on the disputed land in Chnatia Beel, police and local sources said. Members of the opposing group allegedly attacked them with sharp weapons, leaving at least ten people injured. Locals rescued the injured and took them to the Dhobaura Upazila Health Complex, where doctors referred them to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for better treatment. Yasin succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital, police said. Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Md Abdullah Al Mamun said the clash occurred over a long-standing land dispute. “The situation is now under control. Three people have been detained in connection with the incident, and legal action is underway,” he added.

Three people, including a woman footballer, were injured after some spectators entered the field and attacked during a friendly women’s football match in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah on Friday afternoon. The match was held at Mandartala playground, organized by Mandartala Jubo Sangha. Dhaka Women’s Football Team and Sirajganj Women’s Football Team took part in the game and renowned female footballers, Ishita and Sapna, were also playing in the match. According to locals, tension started among some spectators only 10 minutes after the match began. A group of excited viewers then rushed into the field and moved toward the players, leaving two spectators and one female player injured. The organisers stopped the match as chaos spread on the field. Woman killed ‘by husband’ in Jhenaidah Police from Maheshpur Police Station later reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Maheshpur Police Station, said, “The unexpected incident happened due to the presence of too many spectators around the field.”    

Saleha Begum, popularly known as “Saleha Pagli,” a beggar from Sirajganj, passed away on Friday night while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. Saleha Begum, wife of the late Abdus Salam from Masumpur colony in Sirajganj, had been staying in a local house due to illness. On October 9, locals recovered two bags of money from an abandoned government quarter, and on October 11, they found another bag at the same place. The total amount counted was around Tk 1,74,080. According to locals, Saleha Begum had begged for 40 years but never spent her earnings. She lived a very frugal life, saving every penny she could. During her illness, she was treated at a local hospital, then moved to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital and North Bengal Hospital. Alarming rise in HIV/AIDS cases in Sirajganj; 255 infected this year She was later admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, where she was diagnosed with liver cancer. She was buried at Kandapara Cemetery on Saturday morning after salat-al-janazah. Many locals reflected on her life, saying that in the end, everyone leaves this world empty-handed, just like Saleha Begum, who departed leaving three bags of money behind.  

Former president of Nabinagar upazila unit of Jubo Dal, Mofizur Rahman Mukul, was shot and injured by unidentified assailants in Brahmanbaria on Friday evening. The attack took place around 7pm in the Padmapara area of Nabinagar municipality. According to locals, Mukul was on his way home when a group of unidentified attackers opened fire on him, leaving him seriously injured. He was rescued by locals and first taken to Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex. Later, he was referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment. Police visited the scene after the incident. However, the motive and identities of the attackers remain unknown, said Nabinagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahinur Islam, adding that an investigation is underway. Local BNP and affiliated organizations have strongly condemned the attack and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.