United News of Bangladesh

Police in Naldanga, Natore, have arrested five people on Wednesday, including leaders of the Bangladesh Awami League and Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party. Those arrested include Ataur Rahman, joint secretary of Madhnagar Union Awami League; Ataur Rahman, a Sarbahara leader who surrendered to the then government in 2022; Sujan Arinda, general secretary of the Madhnagar Union Sramik League; Awami League activist Babul; and Jubo League activists Ruhul Alam and Sohag. Additional Police Superintendent Iftekhar Alam said that a raid was conducted on Tuesday from midnight to early morning across several areas in Madhnagar union, a stronghold of the Sarbahara Party, leading to the arrests of these individuals. No possibility of lifting ban on Awami League activities: Law Adviser The suspects were taken to the Detective Branch office for questioning on Wednesday morning. Later, they were sent to jail through the court. According to police, the group was involved in planning sabotage and other illegal activities.  

A returnee expat from Malaysia died in a motorcycle accident in Meherpur on Wednesday morning. The deceased was identified as Sujon Ali, 27, son of Imdadul Haque from Khormpur village in Gangni upazila The accident occurred around 8 am near the Arpara Union Health Complex. According to locals, Sujon was returning to his village from his in-laws’ home when he lost control of his motorcycle near the health complex, hitting a boundary wall and falling onto the road. He was rushed to Gangni Upazila Health Complex in critical condition, where Dr. Faruk Hossain of the Gangni Upazila Health Complex declared him dead Bani Israil, Officer-in-Charge of Gangni Police Station, said, “Police have been sent to the scene and legal action will follow.”  

Two men were killed after a bus hit their motorbike in City Haat area of Rajshahi city on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Azizur Rahman Khan, 40, of Fakirpara village and Saibur Rahman, 45, of Kichnidha village, both from Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila. Machuma Mustari, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shah Makhdum Police Station, said the accident occurred around 1pm when the motorbike was heading towards Chapainawabganj from Rajshahi. As they attempted a U-turn in the City Hat area, a Grameen Travels bus struck the motorcycle from behind, leaving one of the riders dead on the spot. Another rider was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) where doctors declared him dead. The families did not lodge any complaints and took the bodies without autopsies. However, police have registered a case of unnatural death (UD), said OC Machuma Mustari.  

Nine more people have been detected with anthrax in Pirgacha upazila of Rangpur district, escalating fear among locals and raising concerns within the health department. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Masud Rana came up with the information on Wednesday. Those who were detected with anthrax were identified as Ashura Begum 65, Robiul Islam 55, Shahin Mia, 23, Sharif Mia, 22, Khasa Mia, 52, Rowhabul Mia, 32 of Cheragpur and Shilpi, 28, Mamun, 16, and Khorshed Islam, 25 of Dwariapur village under Ramnathpur Union. However, authorities have already issued strict instructions against slaughtering cattle without proper veterinary checks. Local sources said that on October 4, Sadek Ali, son of Shamsher Ali from Cheragpur village, slaughtered a sick cow and distributed the meat among 18 families. Later, on October 11, another villager, Tutul Mia of Dwariapur, also slaughtered a sick cow and shared the meat with neighbours. Health officials believe the affected individuals may have contracted anthrax either by consuming the meat or coming into contact with it during cutting or handling. Three of the suspected patients—Shilpi, Mamun, and Khorshed—reported developing sores on their skin shortly after the slaughter. Instead of seeking treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, they consulted doctors at the local health complex and returned home. According to data from the Rangpur Civil Surgeon’s Office, until Monday, a total of 78 suspected anthrax patients had been identified in the district. Of them 38 were detected in Pirgachha upazila, 18 in Kaunia, 12 in Mithapukur, seven in Gangachara and one in Pirganj upazila. Samples have been collected from 24 individuals so far, though the nine newly suspected cases in Pirganj have not yet been included in this tally. Dr Shahin Sultana, Rangpur’s Civil Surgeon, said that so far, 11 confirmed anthrax cases have been recorded in the district. However, the number of suspected cases is significantly higher. “If there are no open sores on the body, it becomes difficult to collect samples and confirm the diagnosis,” she explained. Anthrax: BAU team recommends quarantine, safe carcass disposal Earlier, in July and September, two people with anthrax-like symptoms died in Pirgachha upazila. Several other patients were later identified in neighbouring Gaibandha district. On October 4, Rozina Begum, 45 of Sundarganj in Gaibandha died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital with anthrax symptoms. Local civil society representatives have urged health authorities to intensify monitoring and prevention measures to curb further spread of the disease.    

Members of the Bangladesh Naval has detained 104 fishermen for illegally catching mother hilsa in the Bay of Bengal as a 22-day ban has been in place, with effect from October 4. Besides, six fishing trawlers were detained during the drive.  The detainees were brought to Mongla’s Digraj Naval Base on Tuesday night under naval custody, with police present at the site. Officer-in-charge (OC) Manik Chandra Gain of Mongla Police Station said the detainees ventured into the Bay of Bengal despite the 22-day ban. Delicious hilsa slips from table to luxury list Patrolling naval personnel conducted an operation and intercepted the six trawlers with 104 fishermen on board on Tuesday, he said. The detainees are from various areas, including Barguna, Patharghata, Patuakhali, Rangabali and Mahipur. The trawlers contained hilsa along with other marine fish species, the OC said. The officer also said the confiscated fish will be distributed among different orphanages instead of being sold at auction. Earlier, on October 18, the Navy had seized an Indian trawler named FB Shuvo Jatra with 14 Indian fishermen, who were sent to jail through a Bagerhat court later.    

A tea shop owner was killed after being hit by a speeding motorcycle in Hatikata, Chuadanga Sadar on Tuesday evening. The deceased was identified as Majid Ali, 60, son of the late Ishaq Ali of Masterpara village in Alokdia union. He was walking home after closing his tea stall in Alokdia Market around 7 pm when the motorcycle struck him. Witnesses said the motorbike hit him forcefully, causing even the rider to fall into a nearby ditch while Majid Ali sustained fatal injuries. The motorcyclist fled the scene immediately. Locals rescued Majid Ali and took him to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Death after drinking ‘toxic spirit’:  4 bodies exhumed in Chuadanga Dr. Afrina Islam of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital said, “Majid Ali was brought to the hospital already dead around 7:30 pm.” Khaledur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Chuadanga Sadar Police Station, confirmed the incident and said that the body was handed over to the family, as no complaint was filed.

A police constable was killed in a road accident involving a private car and a motorcycle near the Fenchuganj Bridge ferry terminal in Sylhet on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Alamgir Hossain, 27, son of Jahangir Alam from Nurpur village under Fenchuganj upazila. He was serving in the Bangladesh Police in Sunamganj and had returned home on leave. The accident occurred around 7:45 pm  when Alamgir’s motorcycle collided with a private car at the Fenchuganj Bridge ferry ghat point, leaving him critically injured. Motorcyclist killed in road accident on Tamabil-Sylhet highway He was rushed to Fenchuganj Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead upon arrival. Dr. Bidhan Sarkar of Fenchuganj Upazila Health Complex said, “Alamgir suffered a fatal head injury.”  

A woman was killed and three of her family members were injured when a truck hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Gangni upazila of Meherpur on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Sumi Khatun, 30, wife of Ariful Islam Gani from Badiyapara village in Gangni upazila. The accident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on the Meherpur–Kushtia regional highway near Shukurkandi area, when a speeding pickup truck collided with the CNG carrying Sumi and her family, said police and local sources. Sumi’s son Nirob Hossain, 10, relative Parvina Khatun, 27, and Parvina’s son Rony, 9, were among the injured. According to locals, the family was returning home to Gangni from Kushtia after receiving medical treatment. When their CNG reached Shukurkandi, it was hit head-on by a truck coming from the opposite direction, leaving all four occupants severely injured. Sumi’s right leg was severed in the impact. The injured were taken to Gangni Upazila Health Complex, where doctors referred Sumi to Kushtia Medical College Hospital due to her critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries around 6:30 p.m. while undergoing treatment there. Her body is currently kept at the hospital morgue. Two youths drown in Meherpur Gangni Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Bani Israil confirmed the incident, saying that preparations are underway to bring back the body. The other injured family members received primary treatment and have returned home.  

The body of an unidentified young man was recovered from the Shitalakshya River at the main ferry ghat in Narayanganj city on Tuesday morning. Locals spotted the body floating in the river around 10:30 am, and alerted the police. Sadar River Police recovered the body and sent it to the General (Victoria) Hospital morgue for postmortem. The body was found completely naked. Police constable arrested over rape of 12-year-old in Narayanganj AKM Aminul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar River Police, confirmed the incident and estimated the victim’s age to be around 19 years. “ No visible injuries were found on the body, though signs of drug abuse were observed. Authorities are trying to identify the deceased, and it will be determined after the autopsy whether the death was due to foul play or an accident,”  OC Aminul Haque added.    

A man was killed and three others were injured when a bus hit a stationary truck on Jhenaidah-Magura highway at Panchmile area of Sadar upazila of Jhenaidah district early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Alimul Islam, 26, an assistant of a truck driver of Narail district. JU female student killed in Meherpur road accident Quoting witnesses, Yeasir Arafat, sub-inspector of Arappur Highway Police Station, said the accident occurred in the area when a Jashore-bound ‘Mamun Paribahan’ bus from Brahmanbaria hit the stationery truck as its driver lost control over steering due to poor visibility caused by the dense fog, leaving one dead on the spot and three others injured. The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital.