United News of Bangladesh

The body of a six-year-old girl who went missing a day earlier was recovered from a pond in Kachua upazila of Chandpur on Monday. The deceased was identified as Nadia Akter, a nursery student of Moon International Ideal School. According to family members, Nadia went missing on Sunday afternoon after returning home from school in Berkota village. Despite searching nearby areas, the family failed to trace her and later filed a general diary with Kachua Thana. On Monday around noon, the body was recovered from a pond. Upon receiving information, Officer-in-Charge of Sachar Police Outpost Mohammad Shahjahan Mia visited the spot and participated in the recovery and search efforts. Officer-in-Charge of Kachua Police Station Md Borhan Uddin said the body has been recovered and the incident is being investigated. “Necessary legal steps are being taken,” he added. 

A woman was killed after being hit by a truck in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat on Monday. The deceased was identified as Ismat Ara Begum, 35, wife of Mozammel Haque and a resident of Kalisha Madati village under Madati Union in Kaliganj. The accident occurred around noon in the Battala area of Chowdhury Mor when Ismat Ara was travelling to Tushbhandar Bazar sitting on the back of her younger brother’s motorcycle, eyewitnesses said. They said a Burimari-bound empty dump truck coming from the opposite direction rammed into the motorcycle, throwing her under the wheels of the truck. She died on the spot. Officer-in-Charge of Kaliganj Thana Md Abu Siddiq said the truck involved in the accident has been seized. “Necessary legal action is being taken,” the OC added.

At least two people were killed and 15 others injured in a clash over the occupation of a government pond in Goal Para village of Raiganj upazila in Sirajganj on Monday. The deceased were identified as Ismail Hossain, 45, son of late Mansher Ali, and Abdus Salam, 50, son of Maidan Ali, both residents of the village. Golam Kibria, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Raiganj Police Station, said the government pond had been leased by Asmat Ali of the same village and was later released for the development of a mosque. Tensions between two influential local groups over the pond had been ongoing for some time. The OC said the clash erupted on Monday morning when the opposing groups attempted to occupy the pond simultaneously, leaving 15 people injured. Police quickly reached the scene, brought the situation under control, and admitted the injured to hospitals in Sirajganj and Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. The two victims later died while undergoing treatment. The news of the deaths sparked tension in the area, prompting additional police deployment and patrols to prevent further violence. Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Santu visited the scene and instructed officers to maintain strict control of the situation, the OC added.

At least 19 people, including several women, were injured in a clash between two groups over irrigation of IRRI-Boro paddy fields in Charachithulia village of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj on Monday. Of the injured, 13 were admitted to Sirajganj General Hospital and different local clinics.  Saiful Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahjadpur Police Station, said an argument broke out in the morning between farmers Rahman Sarkar and Danez Sarkar over irrigation in an IRRI-Boro field. Steps demanded to protect Jamuna river banks in Sirajganj The dispute later escalated into a clash as supporters from both sides, including men and women, joined the fight using locally made weapons. The clash continued for nearly two hours before police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Both farmers are complaining against each other. Legal action will be taken upon receiving written complaints, the OC said. Additional police have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence.

An inspector of Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) was shot and injured in an attack allegedly by drug peddlers at Saidabad Bus Terminal in the capital on Monday. The victim was identified as Siddiqur Rahman, 38. Rajiur Rahman, Deputy Director of DNC (South Circle), said as part of an anti-narcotics drive, seven teams were conducting operations in different areas today. A team identified three drug traders in Saidabad rail line area at noon . When the team attempted to detain one of them, a drug peddler fired four rounds of bullet targeting the team and left the scene, leaving Siddiqur injured with bullet, he said. Siddiqur received bullet injuries below the knee of his left leg. Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Sunday said no canal excavation project would be halted under pressure from influential quarters, as allegedly occurred during previous unelected administrations. “The government led by Tarique Rahman will not suspend canal excavation projects in the face of any obstacles,” he told reporters while visiting the historic Choukkar Canal in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur. The minister said the Choukkar Canal was originally excavated during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman and emphasised the government’s commitment to restoring and protecting the country’s waterways. Canals to be reclaimed from illegal occupants: Water Resources Minister State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, who accompanied him, said legal action would be taken against industries and individuals responsible for encroaching on canals and rivers. During the visit, environmental activists campaigning for canal protection submitted a memorandum to the minister, urging stronger enforcement measures to safeguard natural water bodies. The minister later inspected the Lablong Canal as part of his tour of the area.

With the Eid-ul-Fitr approaching fast, concerns are growing over possible travel disruptions at Paturia ferry and launch terminals, the main gateway to the country’s southwestern region covering 21 districts, as those damaged during last year’s monsoon remain unrepaired. The Paturia ferry terminal on the Padma River was badly damaged by strong currents during the last monsoon but repairs are yet to be completed, while several pontoons are now in a dilapidated state. The situation at the launch terminal is similarly worrying, locals said. After the only launch terminal was washed away by the river around six months ago, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority set up a temporary pontoon beside the No. 2 ferry terminal to keep launch services running. Launch operators and passengers fear extreme hardship if passenger pressure increases ahead of Eid. Visiting Paturia terminal the correspondent found that of the five ferry ghats, ferries are operating only through the No. 3 and No. 5 terminals. The No. 4 ghat is completely closed and under repair while the No. 2 ghat has become unusable as ferries cannot dock there. Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said that during normal times, an average of 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles, including buses, trucks, private cars, microbuses, motorcycles and pickup vans, cross the Paturia–Daulatdia route daily. During Eid, the number rises sharply to around 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles a day, prompting authorities to increase ferry services. BIWTC Aricha sector Deputy General Manager Abdus Salam said all five terminals were damaged by strong monsoon currents last August, of which three have since been repaired. Repair work at the No. 4 ghat is ongoing but he acknowledged that the shortage of functional ferry terminals creates problems during ferry loading and unloading. Local drivers and passengers said the approach roads to the terminals are riddled with potholes, making it difficult for vehicles to board and disembark from ferries. They said unless urgent repairs are carried out, long traffic tailbacks could form during Eid, forcing people to wait for hours to cross the river. Hundreds of passengers use the lunch terminal daily, with numbers multiplying ahead of Eid. The original terminal was washed away by strong currents on August 5 last year, forcing authorities to operate services from a temporary pontoon beside the No. 2 ferry ghat. Passengers said the steep approach road from the terminal building to the pontoon makes boarding and disembarking hazardous and uncomfortable. BIWTA Executive Engineer Rabiul Islam said adequate repairs could not be carried out due to budget constraints. He, however, said work has already begun to make the No. 4 ferry ghat operational including repairs to the pontoon and approach road. Rabiul expressed hope that it would be reopened within a week. He also said work would be carried out on the launch terminal’s approach road, adding that all terminals are expected to be fully operational just before Eid. 15 dead after passenger ferry capsizes on Nile River in Sudan Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana said relevant agencies, including BIWTC, BIWTA, the Roads and Highways Department, police and terminal authorities, have been instructed to take necessary measures to ensure smooth and safe ferry and launch crossings for Eid-bound passengers. She hoped that travellers would not face major difficulties during the holiday rush.

A 35-year-old man who was  shot and hacked by some miscreants in Khulna city on Sunday night died early Monday. The deceased is Md Aziz, son of Khalilur Rahman and a resident of Bagmara Main Road in the city. Witnesses said three miscreants wearing helmets arrived at the spot, shot and hacked Aziz and then fled quickly, leaving him  injured. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South)  of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Tajul Islam said police rushed to the scene after receiving information . He said Aziz sustained gunshot injuries and had multiple hacking marks on different parts of his body. He succumbed to his injuries around 2 am when was being taken to Dhaka for better treatment. “We learned that Aziz was a member of a group and had rivalry with another group. He had been shot in an earlier incident as well. Police recovered two bullet shells from the scene,” Tajul added. Jubo Dal activist stabbed to death in Khulna Police said he was wanted in three cases. Police are trying to identify and arrest those involved in the killing.  

Police arrested seven young men suspected of robbery from the Bandar Bazar area of Sylhet, recovering four knives in the process. Mohammad Saiful Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said the seven were arrested on Sunday afternoon from a drain near Rangmahal Tower in Bandar Bazar. All the arrestees have been identified as known robbers. The arrested individuals are Iman Ahmed, Iman (18), Shahan Ahmed (18), Yasin (18), Rubel (21), Hridoy Ahmed (18), and Shawkat Mia (30). Saiful Islam said a case has been filed with Kotwali Model Police Station in connection with the incident. 

Power supply will remain suspended in various areas of Sylhet from 6:15 am to 11:00 am on Monday (March 2) due to reconductoring work on a transmission line. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Sylhet Sales and Distribution Division-3, disclosed the information on Sunday. According to the notice, Power Grid Bangladesh PLC, Sylhet Grid Management Division (GMD), will shut down power supply in the 33kV Serampur and 33kV Gotatikar feeders, as well as the 11kV Shibbari Bazar, 11kV Chandai and 11kV BSCIC feeders to facilitate reconductoring work at the Sylhet (South) Grid Substation. Areas that will experience power outages include Mominkhola, Borikandi, Galimpur, Shibbari, Jainpur, Paintapara, Fakirpara, Talukdarpara, Sonargaon Royal City, Khojarkhola, Pathanpara, Alampur, Gotatikar, Ghatghar, Gangaram’s Char, Kusighat, Palpur and adjacent areas connected to the affected feeders. However, for safety reasons, the line will be treated as live during the shutdown period. The authorities of the Power Development Board expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to consumers.