United News of Bangladesh

A temple in Purbo Solapara neighborhood of Tarash municipality in Sirajganj was hit by a daring theft, with thieves breaking open the donation box and making off with cash and other valuables. The incident has sparked widespread anger among locals in the temple area. Tarash police station OC Habibur Rahman confirmed the matter, saying the thieves entered the temple on Thursday night using a cunning method. “They broke the lock of the donation box and stole cash along with plates, utensils, and other items. The exact amount of money taken is not yet known,” he added. Senior police officials inspected the site on Friday morning. A special investigation into the incident has already been launched, according to the officer.

Police recovered five cocktail bombs and five petrol bombs from the roadside in Nalduanga, Natore. OC of Nalduanga Police Station, Sakerul Azam, said that on Friday around 9 pm, locals spotted the explosives along with a banner near the Mahishmari Bridge on the Natore-Naogaon regional highway and informed the police. Acting on the information, police recovered the explosives from the site and took them to the police station. Authorities suspect that the items may have been stored by criminals to create unrest in the area.

The nomination papers of five candidates, including a BNP nominee, have been rejected in the verification process for two parliamentary constituencies in Jashore ahead of the 13th national election. The decision was announced on Friday by District Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Ashek Hasan. The verification of nominations for Jashore-3 (Sadar) and Jashore-4 (Bagharpara-Abhoynagar & Basundia unions) was conducted at the DC’s office on Friday morning. In Jashore-3, six candidates submitted nominations, but the nomination of Muhammad Shoaib Hossain, industrial and commerce secretary of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, was rejected due to defaulted loans with Al-Arafah Islami Bank. Following this, the valid candidates in Jashore-3 are Abdul Qader (Jamaat-e-Islami), Anindya Islam Amit (BNP), Khabir Gazi (Jatiya Party), Rashed Khan (Bangladesh Communist Party), and Nizam Uddin Amit (Jatiya Ganatantrik Party). In Jashore-4, of ten candidates, nominations of BNP’s T.S. Ayub, BNP leader Advocate Syed A.H. Saberul Haque, independent Farhan Sajid, and Jatiya Party’s Zahurul Haque were canceled. Ayub’s nomination was rejected due to defaulted loans, Saberul Haque submitted incorrect party details, Zahurul Haque’s papers were incomplete, and Farhan Sajid provided inaccurate voter support lists. The valid candidates in Jashore-4 are Matiyar Rahman Farazi (BNP’s alternate nominee), Professor Golam Rasul (Jamaat-e-Islami), M. Nazim Uddin Al Azad (independent), Sukriti Kumar Mondal (Bangladesh Minority Janata Party), Bayezid Hossain (Islami Andolan Bangladesh), and Ashek Elahi (Khelafat Majlis). Returning Officer Ashek Hasan said the disqualified candidates may appeal, and the verification for the remaining two Jashore constituencies is scheduled for Saturday.

Dr. Fakhruddin Manik, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Feni-3 (Daganbhuiya-Sonagazi), has been fined Tk 20,000 for violating the election code of conduct. On Friday afternoon, a mobile court held at Bibi Fatema Orphanage Madrasa in Daganbhuiya Upazila imposed the penalty. The court was conducted by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shahidul Alam. Shahidul Alam said the candidate’s event had concluded before officials arrived, and his supporters were not present at the site. However, evidence of code violations was found, and after confirming Dr. Manik’s presence, the candidate was fined Tk 20,000. The fine was paid by Daganbhuiya Upazila Jamaat Amir Gazi Salauddin. According to the court, Dr. Manik held a campaign program under the guise of a parents’ meeting at the madrasa, which violated clause 20(b) of the 2025 parliamentary election code of conduct. Dr. Manik told reporters that while he attended the parents’ meeting, he did not seek votes and was unaware of any violation. Local sources, however, said the candidate conducted electioneering in violation of rules.

Railway police in Akhaura seized Indian-made sarees and blankets from an intercity train during a stop at the station on Friday. The haul included 82 blankets in five sacks and 105 sarees in two sacks, recovered from the goods wagon of the intercity Paharpika Express traveling from Sylhet to Chattogram. Akhaura Railway Station Officer-in-Charge SM Shafiqul Islam said a team conducted a raid on the train around 3:15 pm following a tip-off. The total value of the seized goods is estimated at nearly Tk 17 lakh. Authorities are investigating the source of the items and those involved in the smuggling. The confiscated goods are currently held at the railway police station.

A prayer session was held at Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Friday for the forgiveness and peace of the late former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event was organized by the university’s unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD). The session took place after Asr prayers at the central mosque of the university, where participants also prayed for the well-being of Khaleda Zia’s family members. Speaking at the event, unit secretary Wasim Ahmed Anik said, “As Head of State and a three-time Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia played a significant role in Bangladesh’s politics and democratic movements. Her death is a great loss to the nation.” Unit convener Jahir Uddin Mohammad Babar added, “Her contributions to multi-party democracy, women’s education, and democratic activism will remain memorable in Bangladesh’s political history.” The prayer session was attended by JUCSU General Secretary Md. Majharul Islam, Unit joint convener Mohammad Faisal Hossain, Humayun Habib Hiron, and other leaders and activists of the organization. Earlier, separate prayers were held at the central mosque and residential halls of the university, organized by the university administration.

In the verification process for parliamentary constituencies 4, 5, and 6, the Returning Officer has suspended two nominations and cancelled two others in Barishal. Dr. Monisha Chakraborty of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) from Barishal-5 and Abdul Quddus of the Muslim League from Barishal-6 had their nominations suspended due to missing documents and discrepancies in affidavits. Two other candidates from Barishal-5 had their nominations cancelled for incomplete forms and incorrect information. In total, 21 candidates’ nominations were scrutinized, with 17 declared valid. Verification for Barishal-1, 2, and 3 is scheduled for Saturday. A total of 62 nomination forms were collected across Barishal’s six constituencies for the 13th national parliamentary elections, of which 48 candidates submitted their papers.

A fire broke out on Friday at a cosmetics warehouse in Taha Market, Borobazar, Kushtia, causing an estimated loss of around Tk 40 lakhs. The blaze started around noon at the warehouse of New Sadia Traders, which stored cosmetics, toys, and other items. A unit of the Kushtia Fire Service quickly arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes. No casualties were reported. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Rafiquzzaman, assistant director of Kushtia Fire Service and Civil Defence, said an investigation has been launched to ascertain the reason behind the incident.

Passengers of multiple Biman Bangladesh flights faced severe hardship at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram after their flights were diverted due to dense fog. Frustration over the lack of food for more than six hours sparked protests, during which some airport chairs were vandalized. Airport sources said that between 3:00 and 4:00 am on Friday, three flights from Delhi, Muscat, and Kuwait landed at Shah Amanat. Over a thousand passengers were on board these flights. Despite the long wait, no food was provided, and the flights eventually returned to Dhaka in the morning and afternoon. The prolonged lack of arrangements angered the passengers, who protested Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ mismanagement, leading to the damage of airport property. The incident caused embarrassment for airport authorities, with passengers demanding a proper investigation and accountability. Shah Amanat International Airport’s Public Relations Officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, said the passengers became impatient due to the long wait and absence of food. Some chairs were damaged during the protest, but security personnel eventually brought the situation under control.

A young man from Sonagazi upazila was killed in a road accident early Friday while heading to Feni town. The deceased was identified as Badsha Faisal, a resident of Chharaitkandi village under Sadar Union of Sonagazi. He was the son of late Sahab Uddin of Osman Ali Miazi Bari. According to family members and local sources, Faisal set out on his motorcycle early Friday morning carrying date palm juice to deliver to customers in Feni. When he reached the area in front of the Dakbangla Petrol Pump at Mangalkandi Union along the Sonagazi–Feni regional road, a pickup van ran him over amid dense fog. Locals rushed to the scene and took him to Feni Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was later kept at the hospital morgue. Faisal is survived by his wife, one daughter and two sons. Locals said his janaza would be held after the Esha prayers at his village, followed by burial. Residents described Faisal as a hardworking and dedicated young man. He had earlier served as the in-charge of the Sonagazi branch of Far East Life Insurance Company before starting an online business. During the winter season, he used to collect fresh date palm sap and deliver it to customers based on online orders. On Friday, he had collected sap from the Muhuri Project area and was on his way to Feni when the fatal accident occurred. Some locals said thick fog may have caused him to lose control of his motorcycle. Meanwhile, a live video recorded by Faisal shortly before his death, while collecting date palm sap, has gone viral on social media. His advisory and motivational words in the video have deeply moved people in Sonagazi. Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kamrul Islam said police were sent to the scene upon receiving the information. “Before police arrived, locals had already taken him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” he said.