United News of Bangladesh

A young jute trader was shot by assailants in Ashulia of Savar on Monday afternoon. The injured, identified as Azad Hossain, 32, sustained a bullet wound to his leg, currently undergoing treatment at Enam Medical College Hospital. According to locals, the attack occurred around 4:30pm in the Eastern Housing area of Jamgora, Ashulia, when a group of 20 to 25 youths reportedly attacked Azad. Savar ‘serial killer’ confesses to six murders: Police Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rubel Howlader said police are investigating the incident and efforts are underway to arrest those involved.

A 20-year-old youth who was shot during a clash with members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet has died. Md Atiq Ahmed succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital around 5:30pm on Monday, said Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Mollah, officer-in-charge of Jaintapur Model Police Station. The deceased Atiq was the son of late Noor Nabi of Gaurishankar village in Jaintapur upazila. According to police, on January 22 between 8:30pm and 10:00pm, BGB members on patrol in the Gaurishankar Tiprakhola area under Jaintapur Police Station clashed with a group of local smugglers. At one stage, the smugglers allegedly hurled bricks and stones at the BGB members, leaving one BGB personnel seriously injured in the head. 8 Sylhet Medical University officials jailed in ACC case Following the incident, BGB members opened fire, during which Atiq Ahmed was shot and injured. He was later taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Police said further legal action would be taken in connection with the incident.

Jashore  Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ashek Hasan on Monday said the referendum is a state responsibility and cannot be conducted in a transparent and credible manner without active public participation. Speaking at a district-level imams’ conference organised by the Islamic Foundation Jashore to promote awareness and voter motivation for the upcoming referendum, he said imams are among the most influential and trusted figures in society and can play a vital role in creating public awareness through pre-Khutba messages during Friday prayers. The programme was held at the Ad-Din Sakina Medical College auditorium. Couple stabbed by son in Jashore Jashore Superintendent of Police Syed Rafikul Islam, speaking as a special guest, stressed the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment centring the referendum and said law enforcement agencies would remain vigilant, but public cooperation is essential for a smooth process. The event was chaired by Mohammad Mohiuddin Majumder, Director of the Islamic Foundation Khulna Divisional Office, and was attended by senior government officials, religious leaders, and journalists from different upazilas of the district.

At least 10 journalists were injured in an attack in front of the Dream Holiday Park in Narsingdi on Monday evening, police said. Among the injured were journalists Shahed, Mohsin, Sakhawat Kausar and CRAB staff member Lal. Two people were detained in connection with the incident. Former CRAB vice-president Jahangir Alam said the attack occurred when a group of local miscreants demanded money after parking their bus on the roadside in front of the Dream Holiday Park following the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) Family Day. When the journalists protested, a scuffle broke out and the attackers hit them with sticks, he said. Sleeping youth burnt to death in Narsingdi Six of the injured were taken to Dhaka after receiving primary treatment at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. Md. Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Madhabdi Police Station, said police rushed to the spot upon receiving information and detained two suspects. Preparations are underway to file a case in connection with the incident.

A woman and ‘her’ two young children were killed on Monday after being hit by a passenger train in Gazipur district. The accident occurred around 10:30 am at Pubail Bazar-level crossing in Pubail area when an Akhaura-bound Titas commuter train hit the woman and the children, killing them on the spot, witnesses and railway officials said. The woman was identified as Hafeza Khatun Mala, daughter of Mozammel Haque of Kaliganj upazila in Gazipur district. The identities of the two minors, believed to be her children and aged about five to six, could not be immediately confirmed. Md Musa, stationmaster at Pubail Railway Station, said initial indications suggested the woman jumped in front of the train along with her children. Authorities, however, said the circumstances surrounding the deaths were still under investigation. Muggers loot Tk 24 lakh firing shots, exploding crude bombs in Gazipur Local residents later recovered a voter identification card from a bag believed to belong to the woman, police said. No further details were immediately available, and officials said the motive behind the incident remained unclear.

A couple was stabbed allegedly by their son after they refused to give him money for drugs Satmail Haibatpur village in the town early Monday. The victims were identified as Ashir Uddin, 70, and his wife Rokeya, 60. Victims said their younger son Saddam demanded money for drugs around 3 am and when they refused, he first beat his father with a stick and then attacked both of them with a machete, leaving them injured. Hearing screams, neighbours rescued the injured couple and admitted them to Jashore General Hospital. Bichitra Mallik, in-charge of the hospital’s emergency department, said both victims sustained multiple injuries on the head and other parts of the body in addition to cuts on their hands from sharp weapons. Breaking new ground: Jashore prisoners to cast votes via postal ballots Locals have demanded immediate arrest and strict punishment of Saddam. Moniruzzaman, SI of Jashore Kotwali Police Station, said legal action will be taken if a complaint is filed and efforts are underway to arrest the fugitive son.

Three people including a university student  have been killed when a bus ran hit a battery-run auto-rickshaw  in Pollapukur area on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in Putia upazila of Rajshahi. The deceased were Shanto Islam, a third-year student of EEE Department at Barendra University in Rajshahi and son of Abul Hossain of Baripara in Putia upazila. Identities of two other deceased—a man and a woman, both around 40 years old—could not be known. Six injured victims were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment. Paba highway police Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque Kazi said the auto-rickshaw was heading towards Putia when it was crushed by a bus coming from the opposite direction around 5 pm on Sunday, Shanto died at the spot while a man and two others died on the way to the hospital. Following the accident, students and locals blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, demanding action against the driver which led to severe traffic jams. 2 ‘criminals’ held with arms in Rajshahi Protesters accused the bus driver of being released and detained the OC and SI of Belpukur Police Station, forcing the SI to stand holding his ears. They remained confined for about three and a half hours until the army intervened around 9:30 pm to secure their release. Traffic later returned to normal.

At least 20 people were injured as supporters of a BNP candidate and an independent candidate clashed in Mymensingh-11 (Bhaluka) constituency, with several party offices vandalised and set on fire. The clashes erupted in phases from Sunday evening and continued till around 8 pm, as the administration struggled to bring the situation under control. Tensions erupted after independent candidate Mohammad Morshed Alam went on a campaign in the Bhatjor area, leading to clashes with supporters of the BNP’s paddy sheaf candidate. The violence escalated with attacks on the BNP upazila office near the Bhaluka bus stand, leaving at least 20 BNP activists injured and several motorcycles damaged. Later, offices of Chhatra Dal, the independent candidate and Jubo Dal were vandalised and set on fire, while tyres were burned on roads, intensifying unrest. BNP-Jamaat clash in Hatibandha: 25 injured, motorcycles vandalised Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene and brought the fires under control. Officer-in-Charge of Bhaluka Police Station Mohammad Zahidul Islam said police were working to control the situation and additional law enforcement personnel had been deployed in the area. As of the last reports, members of the army were also trying to restore order.

At least 25 people were injured and several motorcycles vandalised in a clash between BNP and Jamaat activists in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat-1 constituency on Sunday, officials and locals said. The clash took place in the Kasaitari area of Tongbhanga union in the afternoon during campaigning for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Police and locals said female activists of Jamaat candidate Anwarul Islam Raju were campaigning for the scale symbol in the area when they visited the house of a BNP worker, Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan, and were reportedly stopped. A dispute ensued, which escalated into a clash. Both sides allegedly attacked each other with bricks and sticks, leaving at least 25 people injured and vandalising four to five motorcycles. Quilt makers race against time as bone-chilling cold grips Lalmonirhat Hatibandha Police Station, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel rushed to control the situation. Returning Officer Deputy Commissioner HM Rakib Haider and Lalmonirhat Superintendent of Police Asaduzzaman also visited the site after receiving news of the incident and assured legal action. Jamaat candidate Anwarul Islam Raju alleged that his female workers were campaigning peacefully when BNP supporters locked them in houses and beat them. “When our leaders and activists went to rescue the trapped workers, they were also beaten,” he added. He mentioned that ten of his workers were injured, and several motorcycles vandalised. “We will take legal action,” he said. BNP candidate Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan denied the allegations, saying 15 of his workers were injured and claiming that Jamaat activists initiated the attack. “The opponent is trying to spoil the election atmosphere,” he alleged. Despite ample supply, winter vegetables costly in Lalmonirhat Hatibandha Police Station OC Shahin Mohammad Aman Ullah said the clash was due to a campaign-related dispute and the situation was now under control. “So far, no written complaint has been filed by either side,” he said. Lalmonirhat Police Superintendent Asaduzzaman said several people from both sides were injured in the brickbat attacks and legal action is being taken.

At least 14 people were injured in a clash between supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in Chuadanga’s Alamdanga upazila on Sunday afternoon. The incident took place in Jugirhuda village under Khadimpur Union. BNP leaders alleged that the clash erupted after Jamaat women activists sought bKash numbers instead of asking for votes during door-to-door campaigning, triggering protests from locals and BNP supporters. Chuadanga-1 constituency BNP candidate and district BNP General Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif told reporters that Jamaat-e-Islami carried out a planned attack, leaving nine BNP activists, including women workers, seriously injured. He condemned the incident and demanded action against those responsible from the returning officer and law enforcement agencies. Students of Narail school protest, boycott classes over alleged molestation of SSC examinee On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami said five of its activists were injured in the clash and admitted to Alamdanga Upazila Hardi Health Complex for treatment. Jamaat’s nominated candidate for Chuadanga-1, Advocate Masud Parvez Rasel, said their activists were campaigning when BNP supporters attacked them and vandalised two motorcycles. A local witness, Kafil Uddin, claimed that several Jamaat women activists visited the house of a villager named Zainal to seek votes. He alleged they asked for the family’s bKash number and promised money in exchange for votes.   Alamdanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Bani Israel said police were sent to the spot immediately after the incident and that further details would be shared later.