United News of Bangladesh

The High Court on Sunday granted the high-powered task force six more months to complete the investigation into the 2012 murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. The HC bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Saiful Karim passed the order, asking the task force to submit the probe report within the extended period. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir and Manzill Murshid argued for summoning the investigation officer when the court said the task force submitted a progress report in the case. Later, Attorney General Md Ruhul Kuddus Kazal sought six more months to file a complete report, which the court granted. The attorney general also described the failure to submit a charge sheet in the case even after 14 years of the killing as ‘very painful’. Earlier, on October 23, 2025, the High Court gave six additional months to the task force to submit its report. On September 30, 2024, the HC asked the government to form a high-powered task force to probe the murder case and submit a report within six months.= Following the court order, the immediate past interim government formed the task force on October 23, 2024, led by the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). Sagar, a news editor at private television channel Maasranga TV, and Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered in their rented apartment in Dhaka’s West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012. Their four-and-a-half-year-old son Mahir Sarowar Megh was present in the house at the time of the murder. Runi’s brother, Naosher Alam, filed a case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station following the murders. On April 1, 2026, a Dhaka court deferred for the 125th time the submission of the investigation report in the sensational murder case, fixing May 7 as the next date for the report submission.

A pregnant woman was allegedly beaten and physically tortured by an NGO's workers in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali after she failed to repay instalments of a small loan. The incident took place around 12 noon on Saturday at the woman’s house in Gandamari village under Dhankhali union of the upazila. The victim, Khairun Begum, wife of expatriate Nazir Molla, was reportedly grabbed by the hair, punched, and kicked in the lower abdomen, causing her to fall ill. She was later rescued and admitted to Kalapara Hospital and is now undergoing treatment in the maternity ward. Speaking from her hospital bed, Khairun Begum said her husband had taken a Tk 40,000 loan from the Community Development Center (CODEC), an NGO in December last year and left for Kuwait, leaving behind their three children and her, pregnant with their fourth child, in financial hardship. She said her husband has been unable to send money due to the ongoing war in the region, and so she has been struggling to support the family. She alleged that CODEC staff had been visiting their home weekly to collect instalments. Despite hardship, she managed to pay two instalments. On Saturday afternoon, Dhankhali branch manager Monir Hossain and three others allegedly visited her home again to collect dues. At that time, two female staff members pressured her to pay the outstanding instalments. Khairun Begum said she requested time, explaining that she would pay once money was sent from abroad. She further alleged that when she mentioned her illness, the NGO workers verbally abused her. At one stage, she claimed, the branch manager attempted to drag her out by grabbing her hair. When she held onto the door, she was kicked and fell to the ground. She also alleged that the female staff members slapped her repeatedly, after which she became unwell and started vomiting. The NGO workers then left the house. Local reserved seat UP member Mala Begum said she was attending a mediation meeting when she was informed about the incident. She said she immediately rescued the woman and took her to the hospital, adding that attacking a pregnant woman is unacceptable. Kalapara Hospital Resident Medical Officer Dr Bobby Malkar said the woman was hit in the abdomen and underwent an ultrasound. He confirmed that the four-month-old foetus is currently fine, but the patient has been kept under observation for 24 hours due to lower abdominal injury. However, CODEC Dhankhali branch manager Monir Hossain denied the allegations, saying, “We only asked her to come to the office. She was not beaten. She has been in arrears for many days.” Md Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalapara Police Station, said police had not been officially informed about the incident. “If this has happened, it is a sad incident. Legal action will be taken if a complaint is received,” he said.

A customs official, who went missing while returning to Dhaka after completing training in Chattogram, was found dead on a footpath in Cumilla on Saturday morning, around 12 hours after his disappearance. Victim Bullet Bairagi, 35, was an Assistant Revenue Officer of the Customs, Excise and VAT Department. He was undergoing the 44th Basic Training Course in Chattogram. According to family sources, Bairagi went to Chattogram on April 11 for official training. After completing the course, he left for Dhaka by bus from the Alankar intersection in Chattogram around 11:00pm on Friday. Gatekeeper held over fatal over Cumilla level crossing accident He remained in contact with his family during the journey. At around 2:25am, he last informed them that he had reached Tomchom Bridge intersection in Cumilla city. However, after he failed to return home, his family tried to contact him but found his mobile phone switched off. Unable to trace him despite searching in different areas, his father Sushil Bairagi filed a general diary (GD) with Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station on Saturday morning. Md Abdul Momin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Moynamati Highway Police Station, said police recovered the body of an unidentified man from a footpath beside the Irish Hotel and Restaurant on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway after receiving a call through the national emergency service 999. Later around 1:00pm, family members identified the body as that of Bullet Bairagi. The OC said no major injury marks were found on the body, although the face appeared slightly bloodstained. Touhidul Anwar, OC of Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station, said the matter is under investigation and the actual cause of death will be confirmed after legal procedures.

A degree examinee allegedly committed suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills, in the face of family pressure over marriage in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon district. The deceased was identified as Lipi, 24, daughter of Chandra Mohan Roy of Danajpur village under Gumanupara area of Senhga Union in the upazila. She was a third-year degree student of Pirganj Government College. She died on Friday (April 24) afternoon while undergoing treatment at Pirganj Upazila Health Complex. Mother and child run over by train in Narail According to Pirganj Hospital Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Waris Yajdani, the victim was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state at around 2am on Thursday night (Friday morning). He said the family informed doctors that she had consumed sleeping pills. She was later given treatment including gastric lavage, but died on Friday afternoon. Family members said she returned home after sitting for her degree examination on Thursday. Later, her father informed her that a marriage proposal was coming to see her. However, when she opposed getting married, she came under heavy pressure from her family. Later she consumed an excessive amount of sleeping pills out of frustration. Senhga Union Parishad Chairman Saidur Rahman confirmed the incident, saying that the preliminary assumption is that she took the step due to mental distress caused by family pressure. Immediately after death, family members took the body away , Police said.

NARAIL, Apr 25 (UNB) - A woman and her  child  were killed after being run over by a train in Barashula Chitra Bridge area of Narail town on Saturday, leaving the locality in deep shock. The accident occurred around 12:45 pm when a Benapole-bound train from Dhaka ran over them on the Chitra Bridge railway line. The identities of the deceased could not be immediately confirmed, police said. Locals said the unidentified woman had repeatedly asked residents about the arrival time of trains before going onto the Chitra Bridge rail line. Later, she and her child were hit by the train, resulting in their deaths on the spot. Ajoy Kumar Kundu, Narail Sadar Police Station (Investigation) Officer-in-Charge (OC), said efforts are underway to identify the deceased woman and her child.

A man was killed and at least five others were injured in a clash over paddy harvesting in Terokhada upazila of Khulna on Saturday morning. The incident took place around 7:00am in front of the house of one Amzad Hossain in Madhupur village, police said. The deceased was identified as Nur Alam, who succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital around noon. Among the injured, four were identified as Musa (30), Sohel Rana (50), Mofiz Munshi (30), and Dhola Fakir (30). The injured are currently receiving treatment at the same hospital. Youth blindfolded, shot in abdomen in Khulna Officer-in-Charge of Terokhada Police Station Shahidul Islam said the clash erupted between two groups led by local individuals Shahidul and Saiful Morol over cutting paddy from a disputed land. Five people sustained serious injuries during the clash and were later rushed to hospital, where Nur Alam died.

Faridpur, known as Bangladesh’ jute capital,is facing a looming setback in jute production as farmers struggle with an acute shortage of diesel during the crucial sowing season. The shortfall in fuel coupled with irregular electricity supply, has disrupted irrigation activities across the district, raising fears that jute output may be affected this season. However, agricultural officials remain cautiously optimistic, saying a couple of spells of heavy rainfall could ease the crisis. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur, the target for jute cultivation in the current Rabi season has been set at 87,000 hectares. Farmers typically begin sowing jute seeds immediately after harvesting onions, relying heavily on irrigation to prepare the fields. So far, around 60 percent of the targeted land has already been brought under cultivation. The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict has impacted global oil markets, leading to a fuel shortage in the country that is now affecting agricultural operations at the local level. With diesel supplies falling short and power outages persisting, many growers are worried about meeting irrigation needs on time. Local farmers from Saltha and Nagarkanda upazilas said timely irrigation is critical for jute cultivation. “The soil needs to retain some moisture during sowing so that the seeds can germinate properly. Without adequate water, germination is poor,” one farmer explained. Jute growers in Boalmari including Paritosh Kittunia, Moniruzzaman and Mizanur Rahman, echoed similar concerns. Frequent load-shedding, lack of fuel, falling groundwater levels, and fertiliser shortages — everything together has made farming extremely difficult,they said. Sahida Begum, a model farmer in the district, said prolonged diesel crisis could reduce not only jute production but also output of other crops. Shahduzzaman, deputy director of the DAE in Faridpur, said the department has introduced fuel cards to ensure diesel supply reaches genuine farmers. “We hope this will provide some relief. Moreover, a couple of heavy rainfall during the season could significantly reduce the current pressure,” he added. Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamal Hasan Molla said the administration has designated specific filling stations to facilitate easier access to diesel for farmers and intensified monitoring of fuel distribution across the district. “We are prioritising jute farmers during this critical period to ensure irrigation activities continue uninterrupted,” he said. Farmers said any prolonged disruption could severely affect crop production, leading to financial losses for growers and broader economic repercussions for the country.

Two women, including a five-month pregnant housewife, died in separate electrocution incidents in Hajiganj and Matlab South upazilas of Chandpur on Friday. The deceased were  Sumaiya Akter (22), wife of auto-rickshaw driver Sharif Hossain Munshi, who died after being electrocuted at Kuruli Munshi Bari in Barakul West Union around noon, and schoolgirl Istrat Jahan Ima,15, resident of  Naogaon village under Upadhi North Union in Matlab South upazila.  Locals said Sumaiya was charging her husband’s battery-run auto-rickshaw when she suddenly came into contact with live electricity and was critically injured. She fell to the ground after receiving the shock. Hearing her screams, family members rushed her to Hajiganj Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctors declared her dead. Hajiganj Police Station Sub-Inspector Abu Sayeem said the body was taken into police custody. The deceased’s husband Sharif Hossain said his wife was five months pregnant. Md Abdul Jabbar, Officer-in-Charge(OC) of Hajiganj Police Station, said the body was handed over without post-mortem following a written request as there was no complaint from the family. On the other hand,  Naogaon School headteacher Shibir Ahmed said Ima was a class VII student and a meritorious pupil. Her mother Ruma Akter works abroad, while her father works in Chattogram. She used to live at her maternal grandfather’s house for studies. Police and family sources said that at noon, on the request of her grandfather Tajul Islam, Ima climbed onto the roof using a ladder to clean accumulated leaves. At that time, she came into contact with a live electric wire passing over the roof, which had earlier become electrified due to a damaged wire. Unaware of the danger, she fell to the ground after a severe electric shock and sustained critical injuries. She was rushed to Matlab Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctor Arif Hossain declared her dead. Hafizur Rahman Manik, Matlab South Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), said an unnatural death case has been filed and the body was sent to Chandpur Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

A child and an elderly man were killed in two separate road accidents in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha on Friday. The deceased were identified as Biraj Mia (65) of Maleka Bad village under Katabari union, and Akash Mia (4), son of expatriate Mintu Mia. Locals said Biraj Mia was going to a mosque for prayers on Friday when he was crossing the Gobindaganj–Dinajpur road in Katabari area. At that time, a speeding truck ran him over, killing him on the spot. In another incident at No. 2 Katabari on the Gobindaganj–Dinajpur regional highway during Friday Jumma prayer time, four-year-old Akash Mia was crossing the road in front of his house when an unidentified truck hit him and fled the scene. He also died on the spot. Mozzafar Hossain, Gobindaganj Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge(OC), confirmed the accidents and said legal procedures are underway.

Power generation at the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant resumed on Friday night after remaining shut for two days due to a mechanical fault. With the restart, around 55 to 65 megawatts of electricity is being added to the national grid, officials said. Chief Engineer Abu Bakkar Siddique said the problem was detected during coal dusting before feeding fuel into the furnace, when stones mixed with coal caused a mechanical fault in the system. The plant’s only operational Unit-1 had been shut down at 10:02pm on Wednesday for repairs. Following maintenance, the unit resumed power generation at 8:07pm on Friday. Meanwhile, work is underway to bring the 275MW Unit-3 into operation in the first half of May, he added. The 125MW Unit-2, which has remained out of service for nearly five years, will also be restarted after undergoing a major overhaul, the official said.