United News of Bangladesh

At least 30 people were injured as two groups of villagers clashed over a football match in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria on Friday. Several houses were also vandalised during the violence. The incident took place in Durgapur Bazar area of Durgapur union around Friday morning. According to police and local sources, the clash began with an argument between residents of Boro Bari and Munshi Bari areas during a football game on Thursday afternoon. The dispute later turned into a scuffle and escalated into a full-blown clash that night. On Friday morning, both groups again attacked each other with local weapons, injuring at least 30 people. Police initially tried to bring the situation under control, but later an army team led by the Ashuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) intervened and restored order. Brahmanbaria youth dies following alleged mob beating, police torture UNO Rafe Mohammad Chora said, “Police and army personnel brought the situation under control. Additional law enforcers have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence.” The injured are receiving treatment at local clinics and hospitals.  

Police recovered the hanging body of a cattle trader with his hands and feet tied in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Mostafizar Rahman, 30, son of Islam Uddin of Uttar Barovita Madhyapara village in Barovita union. Locals found the body hanging from a tree in a bamboo grove around and informed the police. Later, police recovered the body around 2pm. His brother Mainul said, “Mostafizar had returned home around 1am after attending a local arbitration meeting over a land dispute on Thursday night. The next morning, villagers spotted his body hanging from the tree and alerted the family.” Tornado destroys over 500 houses in Nilphamari, injures 30 Abdul Kuddus, Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Kishoreganj Police Station, said that the body was sent to the district hospital morgue for autopsy. “The cause of death will be confirmed after receiving the post-mortem report,” the officer added.  

Five people were seriously injured in a gas cylinder explosion in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi on Friday. The incident occurred around 11:30 am in front of Safina Park in the Digram area. The injured were identified as Rakibul Islam, 65, and Jalsori, 35, from Dewanpara village, Godagari; Hamim Ali, 17, from Chakpara village, Shibganj, Chapainawabganj; Ekramul Haque, 54, and Roni Ahmed, 22, from Sirajpur village, Niamatpur, Naogaon. Tragic road accident claims life of Rajshahi University professor According to locals, a balloon seller was filling balloons with helium gas from a cylinder when it exploded, injuring him and four others. Dr. Shankar K. Roy, spokesperson and emergency in-charge at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), said, “All five were admitted to the burn unit, Ward 29, with burns on various parts of their bodies. Their treatment is ongoing.”  

Several farmers from Galachipa upazila in Patuakhali have alleged that they are being prevented from cultivating 200 acres of government khas land due to interference by local BNP leaders. The farmers, members of the Charbangla Bittaheen Krishak Samabay Samity Ltd., made the allegation at a press conference held at the Patuakhali Press Club on Thursday night. They sought intervention from the administration and the media to resolve the issue. Seraj Khan, president of the cooperative, said, “We have no ancestral land. For the past 30–35 years, we’ve been cultivating khas land in Char Bangla of Char Biswas Union under Galachipa upazila with yearly permission from the Upazila Land Office.” He added that following a directive from the High Court, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Galachipa issued Duplicate Carbon Receipts (DCRs) to landless members of the association, formalizing their right to cultivate the land in accordance with government policy. However, when the farmers attempted to begin cultivation this season, they were allegedly obstructed by local land grabbers, including Md. Baker Biswas, BNP President of Char Biswas Union; Abdul Matin Howlader, the Union’s BNP Organizing Secretary; and Md. Anwar Howlader, Ward BNP President — along with 14 to 15 other BNP members. “They told us we had no right to the land after August 5 and questioned why we received DCRs,” said Seraj Khan. “They threatened us, physically assaulted some members, and warned us to leave the area.” Left with no alternative, the association filed a complaint with Galachipa Police Station. ASI Md. Zakir Hossain investigated the matter and submitted a report to the Galachipa Executive Magistrate Court under Sections 107/117 of the Penal Code. The court later issued summons against the accused. On October 6, 15 of the accused appeared in court and secured bail on a bond of Tk 2,000 each, under the custody of Advocate Md. Monirul Islam. Mojibar Howlader, general secretary of the cooperative, said: “Out of our nearly 700 members, 155 have received official DCRs following the High Court's order. We used to cultivate this land without issue, but now we’re being harassed and obstructed.” When contacted, Md. Baker Biswas denied the allegations, claiming that some Awami League-affiliated individuals had been exploiting the land for 16 years using the cooperative as a front. He said, “I only asked the AC Land to ensure land goes to genuine landless people. In Baishakh, the previous AC Land issued temporary certification to 12 individuals. The cooperative filed a writ against that, and the High Court ordered DCRs in their name instead. I have no personal claim on this land.” Md. Siddiqur Rahman, president of Galachipa Upazila BNP, said efforts are being made to resolve the dispute. “If any BNP members are found to be involved in wrongdoing, organizational action will be taken,” he said. Galachipa Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Asadur Rahman said the matter primarily concerns the land administration.  “No formal complaint has been lodged with the police so far. If one is received, we will take appropriate legal action after investigation,” he added.

Two minor cousins drowned in a river near their home in Battala village of Khutamara Union under Jaldhaka upazila on Thursday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Hasan Ali, 10, son of Atiar Rahman, and Masum, 8, son of Hridoy Hossain — both residents of Battala village. Quoting locals, Arju Mohammad Sajjad, officer-in-charge of Jaldhaka Police Station, said the two boys had gone to bathe in the Charalkata River near their house. When they did not return for a long time, family members began searching for them. Failing to locate the children, they informed the fire service. A diving team was dispatched, and after an extensive search, the bodies of the two boys were recovered from the river. The tragic incident has cast a pall of mourning over the entire area.  

A man and his wife were killed by their son and buried inside their home in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh, reportedly over a financial dispute. The victims were identified as Mohammad Ali, 70, and his wife Ranwara Begum, 60, residents of the Bashkuri Karbala School area under Bailor Union. Accused Riyad Hasan Raju, 30, has been detained in connection with the gruesome incident, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Md Abdullah Al Mamun. Police said that last Wednesday, Raju strangled his mother Ranwara Begum during the day and hid her body inside the house. Later that evening, when his father returned home, Raju killed him by striking him with an axe. He then buried both bodies inside the house. In an attempt to mislead others, Raju later informed his sisters that their parents were missing. However, his sister Zarina Khatun became suspicious upon visiting the house and noticing fresh soil and bloodstains on the floor. She informed neighbors who caught Raju and subsequently informed the police. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, recovered the buried bodies, and took Raju into custody. Md Mansur Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Trishal Police Station, said Raju confessed during preliminary interrogation. He said he had been unemployed and had asked his parents for money to start a business. After they refused, he killed them out of anger. The OC said the bodies have been sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested an alleged robber from Taltola Road in Gazipur district on Wednesday. The arrestee was identified as Joynal, 43, son of Abdul Khalek of Araihazar upazila of Gazipur district. Jashim Uddin Khan, special superintendent of police, said robbers looted valuables including gold ornaments, cash Tk 22.76 lakh, from a house in Dhirasram of Gazipur district on October 2. 2 killed, 3 of a family injured in Gazipur road crash Police arrested Monir, ringleader of a robber gang, along with a mobile phone set, six crude bombs, 11 torchlights and one cutter, from Nandipara area of Dhaka on October 4 in this connection. Based on information from Monir, police arrested Joynal from Gazipur district on Wednesday.      

Vast low-lying areas in Dacope upazila of Khulna have been flooded after a 100-metre stretch of an embankment on the Dhaki River collapsed early Wednesday, allowing tidal waters to rush in and inundate nearby villages, triggering panic among local residents. The embankment breach occurred near Hari Mandir, west of Batbunia Bazar under Ward 7 of Tildanga Union in Polder No. 31, as the Dhaki River devoured the 100-metre section during the night. The collapse caused tidal water to enter surrounding areas, submerging over a hundred homes and vast tracts of farmland. When this correspondent visited the area on Wednesday, local residents were seen moving their houses and belongings to safer places to protect them from further damage. Authorities have yet to plug the breach, and tidal water continues to flow into the locality through the damaged portion of the embankment. 130 metres of Teesta bridge embankment collapses threatening 1700 families

Handwritten letters were once the heart of human communication, carrying everything from joy and sorrow to love and news through the postman’s bag, but now things have changed thanks to technology. The red post box, once the trusted roadside messenger of letters, is disappearing as mobile phones, emails, and social media bring speed and convenience, replacing the personal touch and warmth of handwritten messages. In Lalmonirhat’s villages, post boxes were once the only way to send messages long distances. Children often raced to drop a letter first. Families, friends and officials all relied on these boxes for communication. Farmers’ fortunes rise as Rautnagar Canal revives Thakurgaon’s farmlands Today, most lie neglected—some broken, others rusting, their bright red fading. Once, post boxes at upazila and union-level offices in Aditmari were opened daily. Now, personal letters are rare and boxes are largely unused. Noor Nabi, Postmaster of Lalmonirhat, said, “There are 81 post offices in the district, and the boxes are still maintained. But people no longer post letters like they used to. Personal letters are almost non-existent. Mostly, only official or institutional mail remains.” Once a symbol of emotion and connection, the red post box now stands as a relic of the past, he said.  

Three people, including two motorcyclists and a pedestrian, were killed in separate road accidents in Chattogram on Wednesday night. Police said the accidents took place in Halishahar area of the Faujdarhat–Port Link Road and near Akmal Ali Point in port area. The deceased were identified as Shahriar Aziz Anik, 26, Md Sohan, 25, and a pedestrian named Shahjahan, 48. Halishahar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Zakir Hossain said that around 11:30pm, a motorcycle lost control on the rain-slicked Faujdarhat Toll Road near Chittagong Filling Station and collided with another vehicle from behind. Oman road accident kills 8 Bangladeshis, 7 from Swandip The crash left Shahriar and Sohan dead on the spot. Their bodies were sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue, the OC added. In another incident, Shahjahan died after being hit by a speeding motorcycle on Ring Road near Akmal Ali Link Road under EPZ Police Station. EPZ Police Station said the victim was walking along the roadside when the motorcycle struck him. He sustained critical injuries and died on the way to hospital. The motorcyclist fled the scene, leaving the bike behind. Police later seized the vehicle.