United News of Bangladesh

A former Union Parishad (UP) member  was killed on Sunday evening after his motorcycle collided with a dog in Amuria Mondolpara area of Magura sadar upazila. The deceased UP member was identified as Sayem Uddin, 65, son of late Md. Ali of Baharbagh village. Eyewitnesses said that the accident occurred when Sayem Uddin was riding his motorcycle and suddenly hit a dog and got seriously injured. Girl, 12, dies slipping in mud after being chased by dog He was rushed to Magura 250-Bed Sadar Hospital, from where doctors referred him to Dhaka for advanced treatment, but he died on the way. Md. Ayub Ali, Officer-in-Charge of Magura Sadar Police Station, informed that a case of unnatural death was filed.

Train movement between Dhaka and the northern parts of the country restored on Monday after six hours of suspension as a bogie of an inter-city train derailed in Akkelpur Rail Station. Khadiza Khatun, station master of Bogura’s Santahar Railway Junction, said the power car bogie of Kurigram-bound inter-city train ‘Kurigram Express’ veered off the tracks around 3:30 am at Bhadrakali in Akkelpur upazila, halting train movement on the route. Later, the train movement resumed around 9 am after a relief train salvaged the derailed bogie, she said.  

A student of Cumilla University and her mother were found dead at a house at Khaliajuri in the city on Monday night. The deceased were identified as Sumaiya Afrin Rinti, 24, a 3rd year student of the Public Administration Department of the university and her mother Tahmina Begum Fatima, 50, wife of Nurul Islam. Mahinul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said Tahmina, her two sons and daughter Sumiya used to live at the rented house for the past four years. Tahmina’s  husband died last year. Tajul Islam Foysal, a son of Tahmina, said he returned home around 11 pm and found the bodies of his mother and sister in two separate rooms. On information police recovered the bodies and sent those to Cumilla Medical College and Hospital morgue. The bodies bore several injury marks on face and neck, said police. It seems to be a murder incident and police are trying to unearth the motive, said OC Mahinul.

Despite no significant local rainfall, the low-lying areas in Khagrachari district town have been inundated due to swelling of Chengi river water caused by the onrush of water from upstream, leaving 500 families stranded. Intermittent rainfall from upstream hills on Saturday night triggered sudden flooding in parts of the district town, including Garu Bazar, Mehedibagh, Uttar Ganjpara, Shobdomia Para, Madhubazar Rajbari, Khobongpuria and Golabari areas of the district town. A number of villages were also flooded, leaving over 500 families waterlogged, with many homes and roads submerged, causing significant disruption to daily life. Due to the swelling of Chengi River water and blocked drainage in canals caused persistent waterlogging across many parts of the district town. Besides, the low-lying areas of Panchhari and Dighinala upazilas were also inundated, affecting fish farms, Aman paddy fields and vegetable crops, which have been submerged under floodwaters.

A Pirojpur court on Sunday sentenced six people to life imprisonment and for killing a trader in 2014. Pirojpur District and Session Judge Md Majibur Rahman handed down the punishment. The lifers were identified as Ezaz Sharif, 27, Akkas Sharif, 52, Shafayet Sharif, 52, Shefali Begum, 45, Happy Begum, 28 and Lima Begum, 20 in Sadar upazila of Pirojpur district. The court also fined them Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer six months more in rigorous imprisonment. The court also sentenced Emran, 28 of the upazila to two years in jail in the case. It also fined him Tk 2,000, in default, to suffer three months more in rigorous imprisonment. According to the prosecution, Abul Kalam Sharif, 55 of Jhanjhania area in Sadar upazila of Pirojpur district was stabbed to death by the convicts on July 10, 2014 over previous enmity. Hakim Sharif, brother of the victim, filed a case with Sadar Police Station on the following day. On May 4, 2015, police submitted a chargesheet against eight people. After examining records and witnesses, the court acquitted one person as allegations brought against him could not be proved.    

Two people were killed when a bus collided with the rear of a sand-laden truck on Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Lalpol Hafizia area in Feni. One of the deceased was bus supervisor Robiul, 30, son of Wazed Ali from Santhia area of Pabna while the details about the deceased bus helper could not be known immediately. Police and Fire Service officials said the Shyamoli Paribahan bus crashed into the stationary truck around 6:30am, leaving the bus helper dead on the spot. Injured Robiul and the driver were taken to Feni 250-bed General Hospital in critical condition where Robiul succumbed to his injuries. The bus driver was referred to Dhaka for better treatment while truck driver went into hiding . Mohipal Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Harun or Rashid said the bodies were kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the truck driver, he said.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that the temporary police camp recently established in Guagachia Union of Gazaria Upazila, Munshiganj, is expected to become permanent soon. Speaking to reporters on Saturday after visiting the camp in the remote Jamalpur area, he said, “It was a long-standing demand of the local residents to have a police camp here. By the grace of God, although it is temporary for now, I hope the camp will soon be made permanent.” He mentioned that a proposal has already been submitted to make the outpost permanent.“It has been forwarded from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Finance. Hopefully, insh'Allah, it will be approved as a permanent outpost soon,” he added. Speaking on the overall law and order situation in the country, the adviser said, “I’m not claiming that the country is free of problems — there are many. But we must work within those challenges. We will continue doing what we believe is best. Many people have their own interests, but as representatives of the government, our responsibility is to ensure that law and order remain stable.” Bangladesh loses $1.48 billion annually in remittance outflows: NALA In response to a question about the recent attack on a police patrol speedboat, he said the suspects, Nayan and Piyash, might have fled to a neighbouring country. “However, if they return, there will be no place for them except Keraniganj jail,” he warned. Local residents expressed satisfaction over the adviser’s visit to the newly established police camp in the remote area, which he reached by crossing a long river. Villagers thanked the adviser, stating that the presence of the police has brought a sense of security to the community. Several displaced families have begun returning to their homes, and incidents such as illegal sand mining have started to decline. Forum calls for global unity to address climate crisis The adviser assured villagers that steps would be taken to ensure their safety and that those involved in criminal activities would face legal action. A two-year analysis of crime statistics in Munshiganj district shows that the number of murders and robberies declined in the past year compared to the previous one. The adviser said that such crimes could be reduced even further by setting up more police camps and outposts in remote and crime-prone areas. The temporary police camp in Guagachia was officially opened on August 22.  

A 4-year-old boy was killed after being run over by an auto-van in Roumari upazila of Kurigram on Friday evening. The deceased, Md Raihan, was the son of Md Rafiqul Islam of Kashiabari village. The accident occurred around 7 pm near his home. Police and locals said Rahab was playing in his yard when he suddenly went onto the road and was crushed by a moving auto-van. Fragile bamboo bridge puts Kurigram’s Phulbari residents in danger He was taken to Roumari Health Complex but died on the way. Roumari Police Station OC Md Selim Malik confirmed the incident, saying an unnatural death case was filed following a written complaint from the family.

Two people were killed and one injured in a motorcycle accident in Ghior upazila of Manikganj on Friday evening. The deceased were identified as Sujan Mondal, 20, son of Maynal Mondal Nagarpur and Sohan, 20, son of Babul Mia of the same area. The injured was identified as Maruf Hossain, 21, son of Zakir Hossain of the same upazila. Kohinur Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Ghior Police Station, said that the accident occurred around 6:30pm near the new bridge area. He added that while coming towards Manikganj on the Tangail-Aricha regional highway near the new bridge, they lost control and hit a road safety post and three fell on the road and were seriously injured. Rajshahi University student killed in road crash Local people took them to Ghior Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Sujan and Sohan dead. Maruf was sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Transparency International (TI) Chair François Valérian has said Bangladesh has the historic opportunity to create a new democracy, not a democracy of the past, which in many countries consisted and still consists solely of more or less regular elections held to select those who will extract profit from power, but the democracy of the future. He laid emphasis on the full participation of the young people, women and marginalised communities in the process, a democracy where power, in the true sense of the word, at last belongs to the people. The TI chair talked about a kind of democracy where all the citizens are considered as who they are, - the public officials, private sector employers and political leaders are accountable, and finally, citizens have the right to know and to voice their demands and concerns about everything that may affect their lives without fear or intimidation. As part of the concluding day of his official visit to Dhaka, Transparency International Chair François Valérian had a dinner meeting on Thursday at TIB’s Dhaka office with civil society representatives, as well as delegates from donor agencies, embassies, and other key stakeholders. He delivered a talk on “People Power and the Fall of Authoritarianism: Opportunities and Challenges for Democratic Transition and Accountable Governance.” He highlighted the role of citizens in resisting authoritarian practices and advancing accountable governance. The talk was followed by an open discussion, where dignitaries shared perspectives on pressing issues such as the current political landscape, indigenous rights, corruption, people’s power, and authoritarianism. The TI chair said what the civil society and the current authorities in Bangladesh are doing also has to be supported by the international community. He said all countries, those where public money is stolen or where bribes are paid in the public sector, and those where stolen money is supposedly safe, have a common interest in cooperating for a world with better-being for all. “Confrontation is never, has never been the right approach to address global challenges,” said the TI Chair. He said Bangladesh has a historic opportunity to set an example for the world in breaking the vicious circle of authoritarianism, - where authoritarian regimes in many countries steal so much money that citizens become desperate and are still more victims of abuse of power and corruption. In the face of a global rise of authoritarianism, Valérian said, the New Bangladesh began its journey with a dream born from unprecedented sacrifices that overthrew authoritarian rule. To fulfill that dream, it is essential to maintain the continuity of reforms. Although corruption still exists even after the fall of the authoritarian government, the fight against it must continue, he said on the final day of his first visit to Dhaka during a ‘Meet the Press’ session with journalists from various media outlets. The program was also attended by TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman; Adviser, Executive Management Prof Dr Sumaiya Khair, and Communication & Outreach Director Mohammad Tauhidul Islam. Transparency International Chair François Valérian due Tuesday Reflecting on his visit to Dhaka, he also noted that had billions of dollars not been laundered abroad, Bangladesh’s GDP could have been significantly higher. He emphasised the need for global cooperation, adequate civic space, and an independent judiciary to effectively combat corruption. TI Chair Valérian said, “Our global movement admires what is happening in Bangladesh. We know the stakes are high and that reforms are ongoing. All these reforms must be sustained. There needs to be a sustainable effort that delves deeply into the necessary reforms of the state and into how power is exercised at every level in Bangladesh.” Addressing the challenges faced by the Interim Government, the TI Chair said, “The challenges are high and I feel that the interim government is aware and genuinely willing to address those challenges. Corruption did not vanish from the country after fall of the authoritarian regime. But there are reforms that are being worked on. Some of them have started, some of them are being implemented and that is what counts.” In response to a question from journalists, Valérian said, “For speaking out against corruption, TIB has always been criticized by those in power. At every government’s tenure, TIB has pointed out mistakes and shortcomings and offered criticism. Since its founding, no government has refrained from criticizing TIB. After the elections in February, the government that comes to power may also feel uncomfortable due to TIB’s watchdog role.” Supporting Valérian’s statement, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the average annual outflow of 16 billion dollars from Bangladesh during the rule of the fallen authoritarian government is only a partial estimate; the actual amount laundered is much higher. Over the past 15 years, he said, more than twice the total amount of annual foreign investment—combined with foreign development aid—has been siphoned off through corruption, said Dr Iftekhar. Closing all avenues for money laundering is therefore far more effective and important, he said. “With political will and institutional capacity, it is also a more realistic approach.”