United News of Bangladesh

After a long wait, Bholaganj Land Port, 24th land port of the country in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet has officially begun operations, raising hopes for expanded trade and tourism in the region. The land port was inaugurated on Thursday at around 11:30am by Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain. Built on 52 acres adjacent to the popular Sadapathar tourist jetty, the port is expected to boost trade with India’s Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Assam, as well as Bhutan. Officials said the port would generate hundreds of crores of taka in annual revenue and create new employment opportunities beyond the area’s quarry-dependent economy. Bholaganj has long served as a key route for importing limestone from India. In 2019, the government declared the Bholaganj customs station as the country’s 24th land port. After resolving land acquisition and other complexities, construction of the port began in June last year at a cost of around Tk 175 crore. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Shipping Ministry Secretary Dr Nurunnahar Chowdhury, Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Mohammad Manzarul Mannan, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police Kazi Akhtar Ul Alam, Companiganj UNO Mohammad Robin Mia, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Palash Talukder and Companiganj Police Station OC Shafikul Islam Khan, among others. Officials said the port has been developed with a strong focus on tourism as well as trade. Facilities include a modern cafeteria, mosque, glass-enclosed two-storey port building, a three-storey multi-agency building, a guest house, two dormitories, a clinic, parking facilities and dedicated internal roads. Project Director Sarwar Alam said the port was designed to be fully tourist-friendly, keeping Sadapathar tourism in mind. “The restaurants, guest house, mosque and medical centre will be open not only to port users but also to tourists and local residents,” he said. Currently, 280–300 trucks of limestone enter daily through Bholaganj using manual procedures. Once fully operational, officials said modern management systems would reduce clearance time to two-and-a-half to three hours. Designated port routes will ensure that tourist movement on the main road remains uninterrupted. Limestone imports through the Bholaganj customs station began in 2005 from the Majai area of India’s Khasi Hills district. In 2019, the government declared the station as the country’s 24th land port. With funding from the World Bank, construction of the port was carried out at a cost of around Tk 175 crore by Anik Trading Corporation and Majid Sons & Masud Steel. The project initially faced delays due to land acquisition and other complexities. After resolving those issues, the main construction work began in January 2024. Although construction was temporarily disrupted following the looting of building materials and equipment on August 5 this year, the contractors quickly resumed work and completed the project ahead of schedule. Anik Trading Corporation Chairman Jahangir Alam said the company suffered losses of around Tk 6–7 crore due to the looting, yet managed to finish the work within the stipulated timeframe. Masud Steel’s Rashed Ahmed also said they were able to complete their part of the project on time. Abdul Jalil, president of the Bholaganj Stone Crusher Mill Owners’ Association, said the port’s operation would transform the area by creating new employment opportunities for locals. He added that tourists would benefit from accommodation and dining facilities, expressing hope that the land port would emerge as a major attraction not only for trade but also for tourism.

Two women and a kid, including a grandmother and her granddaughter, were killed after being hit by a train in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur on Thursday afternoon. The victims were identified as Sadiya Begum, 24, wife of Mobarak Hossain of Dewalertek village under Kaliganj municipality, Anadi Akter, 13, daughter of Babu Mia of the same area, and Komola Begum, 55, of Morjal area in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi. Anadi and Kamala were granddaughter and grandmother and Sadiya was their neighbour. The accident took place near Arikhola Railway Station in the afternoon when the Noakhali-bound Upakul Express train was passing through the area. According to the locals, the victims were walking together near the railway track when they were hit by the moving train due to carelessness. Two of them died on the spot and Anadi was rushed to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex in critical condition but died on the way. Jasas leader stabbed dead in Gazipur Sub-Inspector Dilip Chandra of the Narsingdi Railway Police Outpost said, “The bodies were handed over to the families without autopsy following their request.” Md Zakir Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Kaliganj Police Station, said, “Police visited the scene after receiving the information and completed the necessary legal procedures.”  

A boatman went missing Wednesday after falling into the Padma River from a bulkhead in Charbhadrasan, Faridpur. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. near Tilar Char and Sabulla Sikder’s Dangi areas of Charbhadrasan Sadar Union. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., two divers from the Faridpur Fire Service conducted search operations but could not locate the missing boatman. The rescue mission was suspended for the day and will resume Thursday morning. The missing man has been identified as Arif Sheikh, 46, son of Mojibur Sheikh of Sholomari village in Alfadanga Upazila. Arif is the eldest of four siblings, married, and father of three children. According to his uncle, Abul Kasar, Arif worked as a boatman at the bulkhead. He had arrived at the CNB Ghat in Faridpur Sadar on Tuesday afternoon to unload sand and, while returning, accidentally fell into the river near Tilar Char and Sabulla Sikder’s Dangi. Charbhadrasan Fire Service leader Mortaza Fakir said the diver team conducted multiple search attempts but failed to recover Arif. CNB Ghat police officer-in-charge Nasim Ahmed confirmed the incident and said a police team also joined the search but found no trace of him as of Wednesday evening.

Three people died unnatural deaths in separate incidents in Chowgacha upazila of Jashore on Wednesday. The deaths occurred due to burn injuries, drowning and suicide in different areas of the upazila. An elderly woman, Fekshi Bala, 80, died after suffering severe burns while warming herself, along with other family members, by a fire at her home in Marua village under Jagadishpur union. She was the widow of Kartik Paramanik Biswas. According to family, her sari caught fire accidentally on Tuesday night. She was taken to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital, where she died during treatment on Wednesday noon. In another incident, a madrasa student drowned in a pond at Niamatpur village under Patibila union. The deceased was Hafiz Abdullah, 16, an eighth-grade student of Tanzimul Ummah Cadet Madrasa in Uttara, Dhaka. He was the son of Abdul Gni of Niamatpur village. According to locals, Abdullah’s lived in Narayanganj due to his father’s job. He came to the village two days ago from Narayanganj. He lost consciousness while bathing in a pond and drowned. He was taken to Chowgacha Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, a woman died by suicide at Ballavpur village under Sukhpukuria union. Man stabbed to death in Jashore The deceased was Monwara Begum, 30, wife of Solaiman Ali. She took her own life by hanging in her room around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, following a domestic dispute with her husband. Rezaul Karim, Officer-in-Charge of Chowgacha Police Station confirmed the incidents and said, “Legal steps were underway.”    

A mosque's imam was killed after being hit by an illegal and high-speed trolley in Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet on Tuesday evening. The accident took place around 6:30pm at the Atgram Station area of the upazila. The deceased was identified as Maulana Badrul Islam, 55, son of late Elias Ali of Kazirpaton village under Kajalsar union. He was serving as an imam at a mosque in Jagannathpur upazila. According to police and local sources, Badrul Islam was getting onto the Zakiganj-Sylhet road from his home when a fast-moving trolley hit him with force and he fell on the road with serious injuries. Locals rushed him to Zakiganj Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Krishak Dal leader killed in Sylhet road accident Confirming the matter, Zakiganj Police Station Investigation Officer Md Sujon Mia said police have visited the spot and are trying to seize the trolley involved in the accident. “The burial process is being carried out without an autopsy following a request from the victim’s family,” he added.

Iron Mia, 50, convener of the Bishwanath Upazila unit of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Krishak Dal, was killed in a road accident at Nazirbazar in Dakshin Surma, Sylhet. The accident occurred at around 6:30pm on Tuesday. Irun Mia was a resident of Naogaon village in Bishwanath upazila. According to witnesses, he was heading back to Bishwanath on his motorcycle (Sylhet-2 11-2563) after attending a party programme in Osmaninagar when a covered van hit him at Nazirbazar. Motorcycle collision leaves 2 dead in Sylhet He sustained critical injuries and died on the way to hospital. Khan Md Mainul Zakir, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dakshin Surma Police Station, confirmed the death. “Police rushed to the spot after receiving the information. The covered van was seized, but its driver fled the scene. Legal action will be taken in this regard,” the OC added.    

Electricity supply will be suspended for nine hours on Tuesday (Dec 23) in areas under the 11 kV feeders of the Sales and Distribution Division-2 of Sylhet Electric Supply Board (BEB) due to urgent repair, maintenance, and development work on distribution lines and transformers, as well as ongoing electricity distribution system improvement projects. The information was confirmed on Monday (Dec 22) through a notice signed by Md. Abdur Razzak, Executive Engineer of Sales and Distribution Division-2, Sylhet Electric Supply Board. According to BEB Sales and Distribution Division-2, the electricity supply will be cut from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the following areas under the respective 11 kV feeders: ·         11 kV Senpara feeder: Senpara, Shibganj, Bhatatikor, Sadipur, Tilagarh, Gopaltila, MC College, and surrounding areas. ·         11 kV Shibganj feeder: Shibganj, Tilagarh, Sabujbag, Borhanbag, Hatimbag, Lamapara, Rajpara, and nearby areas. ·         11 kV Raynagar feeder: Sonarpara, Majumdarpura, Darzipara, Purba Mirabazar, Kharpara, and surrounding areas. ·         11 kV Kumarpara feeder: Jatrapur, Mirabazar, Uddipan, Agpara, Moushumi Agpara, Jherjheripara, and nearby areas. ·         11 kV Upashahar feeder: Upashahar Blocks A, B, C, D, ABC Point, Terrotan, Saiyadani Bag, Sadarpara, and adjacent areas. 422 stolen mobile phones recovered in Sylhet, 4 arrested For safety reasons, residents are asked to consider the line energized during the maintenance period. If the work is completed earlier than scheduled, electricity supply will be restored immediately. The Executive Engineer of Sales and Distribution Division-2, Sylhet BEB, expressed sincere apologies to customers for the temporary inconvenience and requested their cooperation to ensure better services.  

At least five people were injured when a cocktail was hurled in a clash between the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the BNP's student front, Chhatra Dal, in Shariatpur , police said. The incident occurred on Monday evening during a protest procession by NCP leaders and activists through the Chowrangi area of Shariatpur city. The procession was held to demand justice for the slain Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi and the attack on Motaleb Shikder, 42, a leader of the NCP's in Khulna. Tensions rose during the procession when a disagreement broke out over the entry of a Chhatra Dal activist’s motorcycle, triggering a clash. At one stage, a cocktail explosion left at least five people injured. Leaders and activists of both parties have blamed each other for the violence. Police reached the spot shortly after being informed and brought the situation under control.

Clash of two rival groups over dominance in Habiganj’s Nabiganj upazila injured more than 50 people on Monday afternoon. According to police and local sources, the clash took place in Mandarkandi village of Kaliarbhanga union. The violence broke out following a long-standing dispute between two groups - one led jointly by Samu and Abdul Hair and another led by Muhit Mia. The dispute involved agricultural land and local influence in the area. Men and women from both sides took part in the clash, using locally made weapons and throwing bricks and stones at each other. The fighting continued for nearly two hours. Police from Nabiganj police station rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Later, a team from the Baniachong Army Camp also went to the area and helped restore normalcy. Hadi killing sparks unrest in Habiganj The injured were rescued and taken to Nabiganj Upazila Health Complex and Habiganj Modern Sadar Hospital for treatment. Monayem Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Nabiganj Police Station, confirmed the incident and said, “The situation is now under control.” He added that extra police have been deployed in the area to prevent further trouble.    

Police on Monday recovered the hanging body of a staff member of a District and Sessions Judge Court from a tree near the Fatehpur railway line in Feni. The deceased was identified as Enamul Haque, son of the late Fazlul Haque of Nagarkanda village in Panch Gachia union of Sadar upazila. His body was found at around 11:30 am. Enamul had been serving as the head clerk of the Joint District and Sessions Judge 1st Court of Feni for a long time. He lived with his family in a rented house at Momena Mansion in Barahipur area of the city. According to locals, a speech-impaired person spotted Haque’s body hanging from a tree in a bush near the railway line and alerted nearby residents, who then informed the police. Police recovered the body and sent it to the Feni General Hospital morgue, said Feni Sadar Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Nishat Tabassum.  She added that authorities are working to unravel the circumstances of the death, and the cause will be determined after an autopsy. Legal action will follow once a formal complaint is lodged by the family. Nizam Hazari’s house set on fire in Feni The deceased’s son, Ehsanul Haque Saikat, said his father left home for the office around 7:00am.  He received news of the incident around 11:30am and rushed to the scene.  He alleged that his father may have been murdered and demanded that those responsible be punished after a proper investigation.