United News of Bangladesh

A 28-year-old man who sustained burn injuries in a fire following an explosion at an LPG filling station in the Kolatoli area of Cox’s Bazar district town died on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Abu Taher Siraj. He died at around 6:45 pm while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, resident physician of the institute. He said Siraj had been admitted to the ICU at around 8:30 am on Friday with 90 percent burns. Mother, son found dead in Cox's Bazar His condition was critical due to inhalation injuries and severe burns to the airway, the doctor added. The explosion occurred at around 10:20 pm on Wednesday at the ‘N Alam’ LPG filling station with a loud bang, triggering a fire that spread to nearby houses, said Syed Muhammad Morshed, Deputy Assistant Director of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence. At least 16 people sustained burn injuries in the incident. Besides, 10 houses adjacent to the filling station and 20 to 25 tourist jeeps were gutted in the blaze.

The Bangladesh Army has seized illegal timber worth more than Tk 6 lac during an overnight operation in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari, as part of efforts to protect forest resources in the hill tracts. The operation was carried out around 10:30pm on Saturday (Feb 28) based on a tip-off, according to army sources. Members of the Bangladesh Army from the Dighinala Zone under Khagrachhari Region, stationed at the Betchhari Army Camp, took part in the drive. Army sources said a total of 135 pieces of illegal timber were seized during the operation. The volume of the recovered timber was estimated at 174 cubic feet, with an approximate market value of Tk 626,400.  The timber was reportedly collected from the Marishya area of Baghaichhari upazila and was being smuggled through Hajachhara of Merung Union. The seizure was made after searching two locally known vehicles, popularly called “Chander Gari,” at a checkpoint of the Betchhari Army Camp. Those involved in the smuggling managed to flee the spot during the operation. The seized timber was later handed over to the Forest Department for further legal action, the sources added.  

A teenage domestic worker was allegedly scalded with hot water in Mehendiganj, prompting police to arrest the accused woman and send her to jail. Police arrested Faiza Akter on Friday night from a house in the Charhogla area of Mehendiganj municipality. She is the wife of expatriate Jahir Talukder of Charhogla. The victim, Lamia, 14, is currently receiving treatment at the Mehendiganj Upazila Health Complex. 2 construction workers die after falling from Chattogram building According to Lamia, she had been working at the expatriate’s house for a long time and was frequently beaten on various pretexts. She alleged that late Thursday night, following a trivial issue, the house owner Faiza poured hot water on her body, leaving several parts burned. Upon receiving the information, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Mosharraf Hossain of Mehendiganj Police Station conducted a raid at a house near Swarna Bakery in Charhogla and arrested Faiza Akter. Imranul Haque, a physician at the Mehendiganj Upazila Health Complex, said the girl worked as a domestic help at a house where she was allegedly abused. “She has burn injuries, with severe burns on one hand and comparatively milder burns on the other,” he said. Mehendiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman said a case has been filed over the abuse of the domestic worker. “The accused has been arrested and sent to jail,” he added.

The annual Lalon festival at Chheuriya Akhrabari in Kumarakhali upazila of Kushtia district, traditionally held over three days on the occasion of Dol Purnima, will be observed for one day this year due to Ramadan. Every year, the Akhrabari premises fill with devotees, Bauls and spiritual leaders, with songs and a rural fair adding to the festive atmosphere. This year, however, there will be no cultural programs or fair. With the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the district administration, the observance will be limited to discussion sessions and hospitality for Baul singers, concluding at noon on Tuesday, said acting caretaker of the Akhrabari, Mashiur Rahman. Around 10–12 lakh people attend Lalon Fest 2025 in Kushtia: Farooki Traditional spiritual gatherings will follow established rituals. Several days ahead of the festival, Baul singers and Lalon devotees have already started arriving at the Akhrabari. Groups are taking seats, exchanging thoughts and singing Lalon’s songs, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Observers visiting on Saturday afternoon noted the fervent participation of devotees. Lalon’s philosophy of inclusion, harmony, compassion, humanity transcends national borders: Pranay Verma Fakir Fahim, a visitor from Dhaka, said, “We look forward to these days all year. During the Dol festival, Bauls and spiritual leaders from home and abroad come here and share their thoughts.” Mizanur Rahman, an American expatriate attending for the first time, said, “I have been listening to Lalon’s songs since childhood. Here, I could experience their essence. Fakir Lalon preached love for humanity beyond caste, creed, or religion.” Sadhu Tofazzel Hossain from Manikganj said he had arrived a few days early, drawn by Lalon’s message of love and compassion. He noted that the festival would be smaller this year due to Ramadan. Shanto Fakir from Chuadanga said the festival coincides with a sacred day during Dol Purnima, when Lalon Fakir used to gather disciples and devotees for spiritual and intellectual discourse. “Being here nurtures self-purification and enhances mental and theoretical knowledge,” he added. Mashiur Rahman said the festivities would begin on Monday evening with Gurukarya, followed by Rakhial service, midnight Adhibash, Balya service at dawn on Tuesday and conclude with Purna service at noon. The observance would be limited this year and public turnout might be lower due to Ramadan, he added. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Akhtar said CCTV cameras have been installed around the shrine for security and sufficient police and Ansar personnel will be deployed. Village police, volunteer teams and medical staff have also been organized to assist visiting Bauls, devotees, and spectators.

Two construction workers died after falling from an under-construction building in Anwara upazila of Chattogram district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Siam, 19 of Kushtia district and Anis, 25 of Rajshahi district. The accident occurred in the afternoon in the Gundhipara area when the workers fell from the building as the railing of the building collapsed on a scaffold while they were engaged in plastering the exterior of the six-storey building, leaving one dead on the spot and another injured. Man stabbed dead in Chattagram The injured Anis was taken to Anwara upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared him dead. Md Junayet Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge of Anwara Police Station said police recovered the bodies.

Another victim of Monday’s gas explosion at a house in Chattogram city’s Halishahar area succumbed to his injuries on Saturday evening, raising the death toll to six. Md Shipon, 30, died around 7pm while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, said the institute’s resident surgeon, Shawon Bin Rahman. Shipon had suffered 83 percent burns and inhalation injuries. Earlier, his sister-in-law Nurjahan Akter, nephew Shawon, brother Samir Hossain, another sister-in-law Pakhi Akter, and elder brother Sakhawat Hossain had died in the incident. Three other victims are still undergoing treatment in critical condition. The explosion occurred around 4:30am on Monday at a flat on the third floor of ‘Halima Manzil’ in Halishahar, triggering a fire that left nine people injured. Two separate probe bodies have been formed to investigate the incident.

A college student allegedly commited suicide  after her mother's scolding for poor nursing admission test in Kathia Daspara area of Satkhira town in the Kathia Daspara area of Satkhira town on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Amena Khatun, 20. Family sources said Amena Khatun appeared in the government nursing admission test for the 2025–26 academic year on February 27. She reportedly became distressed after returning home as the exam did not meet her expectations, and her mother scolded her that night over the matter. Man kills brother over fishing dispute in Satkhira It is suspected that she committed suicide by hanging herself with a rope around her neck out of anger. Locals, however, claimed that there was some family dispute. Masudur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Satkhira Sadar Police Station, said the body was recovered and sent to the morgue for autopsy. OC added that further details would be known after investigation.

Police recovered the body of a man from a mango orchard in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Shihab Ali, 28, son of Rafiqul Islam of Sorjon village under Gobratala union in Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila. Relatives said Shihab left home on Friday night and did not return. Locals found the body on Saturday afternoon and informed police. Two charred bodies recovered in Gazipur Police said the body had multiple injury marks and initially suspected it to be a murder. Empty ampoules and syringes of narcotic injections were seized from the scene, and authorities are investigating whether he was drug-addicted. SM Shakil Hasan, Inspector of Shibganj Police Station, said the body was sent to Chapainawabganj District Hospital morgue for autopsy. Legal action will be taken in this regard, he added.

Police recovered two charred bodies from Sreepur and Sadar upazilas of Gazipur on Saturday. An unidentified youth's body, aged around 20, was recovered from the Brindaban area of Sreepur upazila in the morning, while the body of a madrasa student was found in the Bhabanipur area of Sadar upazila in the afternoon. In Sreepur, locals spotted the body along the Bormi–MC Bazar road and informed police. Witnesses said the victim’s body was burnt and had a rope tied around the neck. On information, police recovered the body, said ASI Ruhul Kaiyum of Sreepur Police Station. After collecting evidence, the body was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added. Mohammad Nasir Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreepur Police Station, said it is suspected that the youth was killed elsewhere and his body was later taken to the secluded Gazari forest area and set on fire in an attempt to conceal the crime. Members of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are working to identify the body. In a separate incident, madrasa student Mahabur Islam Roni, 14, son of Sohag Mia of Daulatpur village under Gouripur Police Station in Mymensingh district, was found dead in Bhabanipur area. Roni had been living with his family in a rented house in Bhabanipur and studying at a local madrasa. He had been missing since Friday evening. The Officer-in-Charge of Joydebpur Police Station said relatives searched for him at various places throughout the night. On Saturday morning, locals found a burnt body in the area and informed police. Man’s charred body recovered in Gazipur The body was later identified as Roni and sent to the morgue for autopsy. Police said further details would be known after investigation.

Workers of an export-oriented garment factory, B-Brothers Limited, blocked the Dhaka–Sylhet highway in Rupganj on Saturday morning demanding unpaid wages. At least 15 people were injured in clashes, including workers and police, witnesses said. The protest created severe traffic jams along a 12-kilometer stretch, causing difficulties for passengers and drivers. Workers set fire on the road to enforce the blockade. Clashes broke out when workers threw bricks at police, who responded with batons and tear gas. During the violence, several buses and factory property were damaged. The names of the injured were not immediately known. The protest started around 8:30 am after workers gathered outside the factory in Maikuli area. The factory employs more than 2,000 workers who have been demanding payment of wages and allowances for December 2025 and January-February 2026. Workers also alleged harassment and layoffs by the management. Fire at Rupganj Textile Mill: 2 workers die in hospital Monday Repeated negotiations between police, factory management, and workers failed to reach a final solution, prompting the road blockade. Subzel Hossain, officer-in-charge of Rupganj Police Station, said, “The workers returned to the factory after the management promised to pay the pending wages. Traffic has now returned to normal.”