United News of Bangladesh

A BNP leader in Badarganj, Rangpur, resigned from the party in an unusual public act, bathing in milk before announcing his decision on Tuesday. The incident took place in the afternoon at Mondolhat Bazar in Lohanipara Union. The leader, Golam Rabbani, was serving as the president of BNP’s Ward No. 2 in Badarganj Upazila. He said he decided to resign due to frustration over corruption and other issues among some union-level BNP leaders. He had previously submitted his resignation formally to the union BNP president. Rabbani told reporters, “I joined BNP politics inspired by the ideals of the late President Ziaur Rahman. But due to the corruption of some union BNP leaders, I became a target of criticism in the community and even faced pressure from my family. That forced me to resign from the party.” Asked whether he would join another party, he said, “I have only resigned from BNP. If I like another party’s ideals, I may join them in the future.” Locals at the scene witnessed the unusual resignation, which has sparked discussions and reactions across political circles. It is reported that on April 30 last year, Golam Rabbani was elected president of Ward No. 2 in Lohanipara Union through a direct vote by party members, with Ashraful Islam as general secretary, forming a 51-member committee. Union BNP President Abdul Majid commented, “The leader joined the party seeking personal benefits, but the party could not grant him unethical advantages. That’s why he staged this act.” Union BNP General Secretary Ilias Hossain added, “Golam Rabbani was primarily associated with Jamaat politics and was never active in BNP activities. We believe he joined BNP hoping for personal gain. Since he did not get that, he resigned.”  

A grocery owner was stabbed to death by some unidentified assailants in Palash upazila of Narsingdi on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Moni Chakraborty, 40, a resident of Sultanpur village in Char Sindur Union and son of late Madan Thakur of nighboring Shibpur Upazila’s Sadharchar Union. He had been running a grocery shop in Char Sindur market for several years. Police and locals said when Moni was returning home on his motorbike the attackers stabbed him near his house with a sharp weapon around 9 pm, leaving him injured. Locals rushed him to Palash Upazila Health Complex where a doctor declared him dead. Moni’s brother Rony Chakraborty, said, “We left the shop together. On the way, my brother came under attack. He had no enemies and was a good person. We demand exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.” Officer-in-Charge of Palash Police Station Shahed Al Mamun said police visited the scene. His motorcycle, mobile phone, and money were left untouched. Police are investigating and have sent the body to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said.

Police recovered the throat-slit body of a schoolboy from Parua in Rangunia upazila of Chattogram district on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Shahed Islam, a class X student of Sahabdinazar High School and son of Abdul Monaf. Arman Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Rangunia Model Police Station, said Shahed had left his house on Monday evening and since then he remained missing. Local people first spotted the body of Shahed and informed police who recovered the body. Police are investigating it, said the OC.

A businessman was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Kapalia Bazar area in Manirampur upazila of Jashore on Monday evening. The deceased was identified as Rana Protap, 45, son of Tushar Kanti Bairagi of Arua village in Keshabpur upazila and owner of an ice factory at Kapalia Bazar. He also served as acting editor of Narail-based daily BD Khobor. Police and witnesses said some miscreants opened fire on him in the market, leaving him dead on the spot. Manoharpur Union Parishad Chairman Akhter Faruk Mintu said Rana had been running the ice factory in Kapalia Bazar for about two years. The killing sparked panic in Kapalia Bazar and adjacent areas. Rajiullah Khan, Officer-in-Charge of Manirampur Police Station, said police inspected the scene and sent the body to Jashore General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved,he said. A local source claimed that Rana Protap had several cases filed against him at different police stations in Jashore and was previously linked to extremist activities. However, Abul Kashem, news editor of BD Khobor, said Rana Protap had been acquitted of those cases. The motive behind the murder is yet to be known,he added.

An earthquake was felt in Sylhet and surrounding areas early Monday morning. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and other international earthquake monitoring agencies, the earthquake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the tremor jolted the region at 4:47am. The epicenter was 14 kilometers south-southwest of Dhing town in Assam, India, and 68 kilometers northeast of Guwahati, with a depth of around 35 kilometers below the surface. Residents reported feeling the tremor in several areas of Sylhet city including Kumarpara, Zindabazar, Upashahar, Ambarkhana, Tilagor, and Shahporan police station areas, as well as in the upazilas of South Surma, Jaintapur, and Companiganj. Many Facebook users posted that they had felt the tremor early in the morning. Earthquake Alerts: Best Free Mobile Apps in 2025-26 The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has not yet officially confirmed the magnitude or epicenter of the earthquake but the matter is under observation, BMD sources said.

A tigress trapped in a snare set by deer poachers in the Sundarbans was rescued by the Forest Department on Sunday afternoon near Boiragi Bari along Sarkir canal in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat district. The tigress was tranquilised and safely freed from the trap around 3pm, said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Division Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury. He said Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information and cordoned off the area from Saturday evening. “The rescue operation began on Sunday and was completed in the afternoon after continuous efforts,” he added. The tigress sustained a deep injury to its front left leg, he said. Veterinary surgeon Dr Julkar Naeem from Gazipur Safari Park used a tranquiliser gun to render the animal unconscious while Forest Department experts were present during the operation. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said it is believed the tigress was caught in the snare set by deer poachers three to four days earlier. “The animal also became weak due to prolonged entrapment and exposure to cold weather. The tigress will be taken to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Khulna for treatment and once recovered, will be released back into the Sundarbans, “he said.

Gas supply will be suspended in several areas of Sylhet metropolis on Monday (Jan 5) due to urgent renovation work, officials said. Md Abdul Mukit, Deputy General Manager of Jalalabad Gas T&D System Limited, confirmed the suspension in a press release on Sunday afternoon. According to the release, gas supply will be cut from 2:30pm to 8:00pm in areas including Khadim DRS, Chamelibag, Nurpur, Mohammadpur, Purabi Residential Area, Islampur, Shyamli Residential Area, Textile Road, Rajpara, Majortila, Tilagarh Point, Lamapara and surrounding localities. The release added that the work may finish slightly earlier or later than scheduled due to technical reasons. Authorities apologised for the temporary inconvenience and urged customers’ cooperation.

People from all walks of life and various organisations, including Dhaka University teachers of the White Panel, Bangladesh Open University (BOU) and the Ex-Forces Association, paid tributes to former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia by visiting her grave on Sunday. As in previous days, a large number of people, including BNP leaders and activists, began gathering at Zia Udyan in the capital from the morning to offer fateha and pray for the eternal peace of Khaleda’s departed soul. Some mourners were seen offering prayers with tears in their eyes, expressing deep love and respect for the former prime minister, who passed away on December 30. Teachers of Dhaka University’s White Panel, a pro-BNP teachers’ association, paid floral tributes to former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia by placing wreaths on their graves. The teachers visited Zia Udyan in the morning, where they also offered fateha and prayed for the departed souls of both leaders. A munajat was conducted by ABM Siddiqur Rahman Nizami, a professor of the Arabic Department of Dhaka University. Talking to reporters, white Panel Convener Morshed Hasan Khan said Khaleda Zia had left the nation without its guardian. “We pray for the forgiveness of her departed soul. May Allah grant her Jannah,” he said. Morshed said Khaleda Zia was free from hatred and malice and never behaved badly with anyone. “Similarly, Tarique Rahman also has no hatred or malice. He is holding talks with everyone and thinking about running the country together with all. We hope he will unite everyone and lead the country in the right direction,” he viewed. White Panel Joint Conveners Abdus Salam and Abul Kalam Sarkar, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Siddiqur Rahman Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University Prof ABM Obaidul Islam, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of National University Lutfor Rahman, among others, were present. Later in the afternoon, the BOU authorities paid tributes to Khaleda Zia by placing a wreath on her grave. They also offered fateha and munajat seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of Khaleda and Ziaur Rahman. BOU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, Treasurer Prof Dr Shamim Ahammed, along with teachers, officers and staff of the university, were present at the programme. The Ex-Forces Association also paid tribute to Khaleda Zia at noon by placing floral wreaths on her grave and offering fateha at the mausoleum of late President Ziaur Rahman at Zia Udyan. President of the Ex-Forces Association, retired Lieutenant Saifullah Khan Saif, along with other leaders of the organisation, attended the programme.  

A Royal Bengal Tiger has been trapped in a snare set by deer poachers in the Sundarbans near Boiragi Bari along Sarkir canal in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat district. A local fisherman first spotted the tiger inside the trap around noon on Saturday, about half a kilometre away from human habitation in the Sundarbans East Division and informed forest officials. Upon receiving the information, members of the Forest Department rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area, said Dipan Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests of Chandpai Range under the Sundarbans East Division.  

Border Guard Bangladesh has stepped up surveillance along Benapole border following the killing of BNP leader Alamgir Hossain in Jashore town. Alamgir Hossain, 55, was shot dead around 8 pm on Saturday in Shankarpur area of Jashore town. BGB set up additional checkposts in the morning and intensified monitoring and search operations at every point along the border, officials said. Commanding Officer of Jashore 49 BGB Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Saifullah Siddiqui said the force is on the highest alert to prevent suspects involved in the killing from fleeing to India through the border. He said surveillance and search operations have been strengthened at all border points with increased patrols and intelligence activities in important and vulnerable areas. Additional BGB members have been deployed in border and special attention is being given to stretches of the border without barbed wire fencing to prevent any illegal crossings, he added.