United News of Bangladesh

Section 144 will be lifted in Khagrachhari municipality, Sadar upazila, and Guimara upazila from 6am Sunday, eight days after it was imposed in the wake of unrest sparked by an alleged rape and subsequent road blockade demanding the alleged rapists' arrest.  District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khondaker and Guimara Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Irene Akhter issued the withdrawal order around 8:45pm Saturday as the law and order situation gradually returned to normal. The administration had imposed Section 144 on September 27 afternoon amid escalating tensions after a rape allegation triggered violent protests and clashes. Earlier on Saturday morning, the Jumma Students’ Community announced the withdrawal of their road blockade through a press release. The unrest began after a Marma schoolgirl was allegedly raped in Singinala area of Khagrachhari Sadar on the night of September 23. During the protests, clashes broke out in Khagrachhari and Guimara, leaving three people dead and many others injured, while over 100 shops and houses, including those in Ramsu Bazar, were set on fire.  

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anwar Hossain was seriously injured in an attack by a group of miscreants who attempted to snatch away two extortionists caught red-handed while collecting money from drivers in Narsingdi city on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 10am at Arshinagar intersection in Narsingdi municipality, when ASP Anwar Hossain intervened after witnessing extortion from battery-run auto-rickshaw drivers and other vehicles. “While returning from Birpur area, I saw several individuals collecting money from moving vehicles. I detained two for questioning, and suddenly 30 to 40 people attacked me. They beat me until I lost consciousness,” ASP Hossain told reporters from the hospital. He was rescued by local residents and fellow police members and taken to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. Dr. Farida Gulshana Kabir, RMO of the hospital, said the officer suffered serious injuries, including blood clots on his neck and legs. He was later referred to the Rajarbagh Police Hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment. ASP Hossain claimed that the attackers were linked to individuals controlling illegal toll collection under the lease of the municipality’s CNG-autorickshaw stand. However, Md. Alamgir, leaseholder of the Narsingdi Municipal Council’s auto-rickshaw stand, denied the allegations. “No one attacked the police. We were collecting fees as per municipal guidelines. I only heard there was some pushing during a misunderstanding. The news of an attack is baseless,” he said. UNB tried to contact Narsingdi Superintendent of Police Menhazul Alam and Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Md. Kalimullah on their mobile phones repeatedly, but neither of them picked up.

One person was killed and 16 others injured in a clash between two criminal gangs over territory in the hilly area of Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram on Saturday evening. The incident took place around 6pm. The identity of the deceased has not yet been confirmed. Jungle Salimpur is a large hilly area where low-income people from different parts of the country have settled over the years, forming informal communities. Conflicts over land, extortion, and control of the area have led to the rise of several criminal groups. The area is listed by the authorities as crime-prone. Local sources said that around 15 to 20 armed criminals, led by top city gangster Sarwar Babla, tried to seize land in the area on Saturday evening. Hundreds of local residents of the settlement resisted and attacked the intruders. Illegal arms factory busted in Ctg’s Sitakunda; 4 held   One criminal was killed on the spot, while at least 16 others, including Gang member Jabed, were injured. Mujibur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Sitakund Police Station, said, “We heard that one person died and several others were injured in the clash. The injured have been taken to the hospital. The matter is under investigation.”

A fisherman was killed by a lightning strike when he went fishing in Hasaigari Beel in Naogaon Sadar on Saturday afternoon. The deceased fisherman was identified as Mofiz Uddin Bosu, 60, son of the late Sahir Uddin Pramanik of Bhimpur village in Hasaigar union. According to locals, Mofiz Uddin went fishing in the beel as usual despite cloudy weather and occasional rain in the morning. In the afternoon, while taking shelter under a tree near the road, he was struck by lightning and died instantly. Hasaigar UP Chairman Jashim Uddin Molla confirmed that the body was recovered from the site and taken home. Naogaon teen drowns during Durga Puja idol immersion Additionally, he expressed grief over the incident and said the Upazila administration will provide assistance to the victim’s family. Nure Alam Siddiqui, Officer-in-Charge of Naogaon Sadar Police Station, confirmed the death caused by natural calamity and said that the family was allowed to bury the body without autopsy.

The body of a tea seller was recovered from a pond in Harijanpalli area of Sherpur, 40 hours after he was reported as missing. Police recovered the body around 2:30pm on Saturday. The deceased is Abdul Motaleb aka Haji, 52, son of Abed Ali of Sojborkhila area near Harijanpalli. He went missing on Thursday after leaving his home around 9:30pm. According to police and locals, Motaleb ran a tea stall in front of his house near Harijanpalli. After closing the shop on Thursday night, he could not be found. His family searched for him for two days but found no trace. On Saturday afternoon, after the rain stopped, locals spotted his body in a pond inside Harijanpalli and informed the family and police. No visible injuries were found on his body, though eyewitnesses noticed slight marks near his face. The deceased’s son, Sajid Mia, said, “I believe he was murdered and then his body was dumped. I demand a full investigation and justice for his killing. Those responsible should be punished.” Zubaidul Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Sherpur Sadar Police Station, said, “The body has been sent to Sherpur District Hospital morgue for autopsy. The investigation is ongoing, and the exact cause of death will be known after the autopsy report.” Md. Mizanur Rahman Bhunya, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration & Finance), visited the site.

Expatriates from Mirsarai residing in Riyadh accorded a reception to Advocate Saifur Rahman, Deputy Attorney General and Jamaat-e-Islami–nominated candidate for the Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai) constituency. The event, presided over by Nizam Uddin, was attended by a large number of Mirsarai expatriates. Enayet Hossain, Hafez Naimul Islam, Abdul Kaiyum and Abu Hanif, among others, spoke at the event. Its cultural segment featured musical performances by Saqib and child artist Arham. In his address, Advocate Saifur Rahman said that Mirsarai’s development requires strong and visionary leadership -- someone who can earn the trust of people from all walks of life and guide the youth towards enlightenment. He stressed the importance of ensuring justice and social stability in society. Advocate Saifur Rahman calls for collective efforts to develop Mirsarai Saifur Rahman also mentioned that Jamaat-e-Islami has been working to secure voting rights for expatriates. Calling for unity among supporters, he urged all to rally behind the Scale (party symbol) in the upcoming national election.

Police in a drive arrested three people including a former leader of banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) along with 22 Yaba pills from Bhabanipur in Savar early Saturday. The arrestees were Mazedul Islam alias Molla Hridoy, 27, former deputy social welfare affairs secretary of Savar Government College unit BCL and son of Siddik Molla and his two associates-Aminul 32, and Nizam Uddin, 30. Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive at a house and arrested them early Saturday morning, said sub-inspector of Savar Model Police Station, Kader Sheikh. A case was filed with Savar Model Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act.  

A woman was hacked to death by a neighbour in Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh on Friday evening following a dispute over a chicken. The deceased was identified as Rowshan Ara Begum, 50, of Khairati village under Ishwarganj union. According to the police and locals, there had been a long-standing conflict between Rowshan Ara’s family and their neighbours. On Friday evening, one of Rowshan Ara’s chickens went to the house of their neighbour Sakhawat Hossain, 21. When she went there to bring it back, an altercation broke out and at one stage, Sakhawat hacked her on the neck with a sharp weapon, leaving her critically injured. Family members and locals rescued her and took her to Ishwarganj Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared her dead. Police later arrested Sakhawat, his father Mostofa, 48, and his brother Sajjad Hossain, 24, in connection with the killing. A blood-stained machete and sticks used in the attack were also seized. Rowshan Ara’s daughter-in-law Hafsa Akter said, “My mother-in-law went to bring back a chicken that had entered the neighbour’s house. Over this matter, Sakhawat, his father, and grandmother attacked her with sharp weapons and killed her. We want the maximum punishment for those involved.” Lightning strike kills father, son in Mymensingh Obaidur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Ishwarganj Police Station (OC) said the body was sent for autopsy after completing legal formalities. “Three accused have been detained and weapons were recovered. Further legal action is underway,” he added.

A 3-year-old boy drowned while fishing with his father in a pond in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat on Thursday afternoon. The deceased, Zulfikar Ahmed Azam, was the son of rural doctor Wasim Akram Pollob of Mohishamuri area in Kakina union. According to the locals, the boy’s father was sitting by the pond and fishing using a trap. Zulfikar, playing nearby, accidentally fell into the water. Two-year-old drowns in Lalmonirhat Family members rescued him and took him to local rural doctor Mortuza Hasan Lucas at Kakina Bazar, but the doctor declared him dead. The incident was confirmed by Mohishamuri ward UP member Ramzan Ali. The tragic death of the child has cast a shadow of grief over the area.

After years of uncertainty, the newly constructed 250-bed Sylhet District Hospital at Chowhatta in the city is finally set to open, officials said. The hospital, built at a cost of Tk 85 crore after demolishing the historic Abu Sina Hostel, was completed in 2023 but has since remained unused due to administrative complications and lack of ownership by health authorities. Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Sarwar Alam on Thursday said that all complexities are being resolved and the hospital’s activities will start within the next one or two months. Once operational, it is expected to ease the heavy patient load at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. Officials said the delay stemmed from disputes over who would run the hospital—the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Osmani Medical College Hospital, or the Civil Surgeon’s Office. None agreed to take charge initially, leaving the Public Works Department unable to hand over the building. Last week, the Health Ministry formed an eight-member committee, including officials from the Civil Surgeon’s Office and DGHS engineers, to decide on management, staffing, logistics and supervision. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations soon. The PWD said construction of the 15-storey building, up to the eighth floor, has been completed with parking, outpatient, diagnostic, surgical, ICU and ward facilities. It includes 19 ICU beds, 9 CCU beds and 40 cabins. Only minor finishing and cleaning work remains. However, shortages of furniture, medical equipment, and even a boundary wall have delayed the inauguration. A supplementary budget is being prepared to complete the remaining work. Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Janmajoy Dutta said the hospital, built next to Shahid Shamsuddin Hospital, will likely be handed over to its management once the supplementary budget is approved and pending work is finished. Sylhet Divisional Civil Surgeon Director Dr Nure Alam Shamim has been given interim charge. The project began in January 2019, when then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated construction on 6.98 acres of land. Work started in early 2020 after cultural activists withdrew protests against the demolition of Abu Sina Hostel. Officials expressed hope that once operational, the modern hospital will significantly reduce pressure on Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital and improve healthcare access in the region.