United News of Bangladesh

A sudden storm accompanied by heavy hail caused widespread damage to houses and standing crops across Lalmonirhat district late Friday night. The storm swept through all five upazilas, damaging homes, uprooting structures, and destroying crops. Large hailstones punctured tin roofs, leaving many houses exposed and soaking household belongings. Strong winds also blew away fences and roofing materials, leaving several families homeless. Field visits on Saturday showed many affected families living under the open sky as their homes were severely damaged. Tin sheets were seen scattered in distant fields and on treetops. Power supply was also disrupted in several areas after falling trees snapped electric lines, with restoration work underway. Standing crops including maize, onion, garlic, tobacco, peanuts and vegetables suffered heavy losses. Farmers expressed concern over financial losses, especially after investing heavily in cultivation. The worst-hit areas include Harati and Khuniagachh unions of Sadar upazila, Votmari and Kakina in Kaliganj, Mahishkhocha in Aditmari, and parts of the Teesta char region. Local representatives are preparing damage lists. Acting chairman of Mahishkhocha Union Parishad Abdul Majid Hossain said around 100 families lost their homes. District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (additional charge) Mir Faisal Ali said authorities are assessing the damage and will provide assistance once allocations are received.

Two farmers died and four others were injured in lightning strikes at  Kharibaria village of Shailkupa upazila on Saturday afternoon. The deceased were Apu Biswas ,20, son of Prakash Biswas of Kharibaria, and Shushil Biswas 40, son of Sushil Biswas of Laxmipur village. The four injured farmers were immediately taken to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Shailkupa police station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla said the victims were working in the field when lightning struck them. Dr. Ehtesham Shahid, a physician of the hospital, said the injured suffered severe burns.

Police recovered the bloodied body of a young man in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia on Friday night. The body of Taizul Islam Tazem (38), son of Abul Kashem, was found around 9:30 pm in a lychee orchard in front of the main gate of Buzruk Bakhoi High School in Nandalalpur Union. The body was later sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination. Family members alleged that Tazem was hacked to death due to a longstanding personal feud. On the scene, police found multiple injuries on his hands, legs, and body. A crowd had gathered near the orchard alongside the Kumarkhali-Durgapur-Mirzapur road. Speaking to reporters, Tazem’s cousin, Bipul Hossain, said, “We came around 9 pm after hearing the news and found Tazem’s bloodied body. The police were informed immediately.” At Tazem’s residence, his elderly parents, Sahida Khatun and Abul Kashem, were seen grieving. His father lamented, “My son was made mad by them before they killed him. Who will deliver justice now?” His mother said that a past dispute involving his ex-wife and a local youth named Miraj had escalated over the years, eventually leading to the attack. The alleged perpetrators, identified as members of the Miraj family, are reportedly in hiding. OC Jamal Uddin of Kumarkhali Police Station said the body was recovered from the roadside and preliminary investigations suggest it may have been a premeditated killing. Detailed findings will be released after the investigation.

A Man has been arrested in Faridpur for allegedly defrauding several poor residents by promising to provide “Family Cards.” The accused, Md. Saiful Islam, son of Tamiz Uddin of Keshabnagar village in Gerda Union of Faridpur Sadar Upazila, was handed over to Kotalipara Police Station on Friday night around 7pm by local residents and BNP leaders. Locals said Saiful Islam collected money ranging from BDT 700 to 1,000 from several underprivileged individuals in Keshabnagar, claiming he could provide them with “Family Cards.” When inconsistencies in his statements emerged, the victims and other locals contacted the hotline of Faridpur-03 MP Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf. Following verification of the claims, the hotline authorities, with the support of local residents, apprehended Saiful Islam and handed him over to the police. The accused admitted to taking the money and expressed regret, saying he acted without understanding and vowed not to repeat the offense. He also sought unconditional forgiveness before being handed over to law enforcement. Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Kotalipara Police Station, confirmed that the complaint is under investigation.

Miscreants set fire to the July Memorial in Shariatpur on Friday, built in memory of the martyrs of the 2024 July uprising. Mohsin Madbar, convener of the district unit of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), shared a 17-second video on his personal Facebook page, writing: “Kudos to the leaders and activists of Shariatpur district Chhatra League. Many thanks for setting fire to the so-called July Memorial in Shariatpur.” The video shows an unidentified individual igniting the July Memorial near the central Shaheed Minar of the district. A subsequent on-site inspection revealed that the memorial had been partially burned in several places, though the exact time of the incident remains unknown. Elora Yasmin, Executive Officer of Shariatpur Sadar Upazila, said the fire was reported unexpectedly during the night. She added that CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify the perpetrators, and the incident has been reported to the local police station. Contacted for comment, Officer-in-Charge Shah Alam of Palong Police Station said an on-site inspection had been carried out and that the authorities would conduct an investigation and take legal action against those responsible.

A five-year-old drowned in a pond in Bishwanath Upazila, Sylhet, on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred near Ashkir Ali Colony in the New Market area of the town around midday. The deceased Farzana Khatun was the daughter of Rubel Mia, a resident of the area. According to family members and police, the child accidentally fell into a pond adjacent to the colony sometime in the morning without the family’s knowledge. After a search, she was rescued and taken to Bishwanath Upazila Health Complex, where doctors on duty declared her dead. Confirming the incident, Sub-Inspector Swapan Kumar of Bishwanath Police Station said the body was recovered from the pond and sent to the morgue of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The local administration has imposed Section 144 in Shimulghar area of Madhabpur Upazila in Habiganj ahead of a planned Waz Mahfil by Mufti Giyas Uddin Taheri. The event was scheduled to take place Saturday afternoon in a field near the village hospital. The order was issued Friday by Madhabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Zahid Bin Kasem. According to residents, the Mahfil was organized by a committee led by Mufti Muzammel Haque, with Mufti Giyas Uddin Taheri as the chief speaker. Advocate Aminul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, was invited as the chief guest, and local UP Chairman Minhaz Uddin Chowdhury was to preside over the program. Mufti Muzammel Haque Masumi, speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, alleged that a group is attempting to disrupt the Mahfil by misleading the administration. “We request intervention from the Deputy Commissioner to ensure the program is held,” he said. Local UP member Kamal Mia added, This Section 144 order was unnecessary. It was imposed to obstruct Taheri Huzur’s Mahfil. We hope the event can proceed peacefully. Reports indicate that a separate committee, under the banner “Noore Madina Gauciya”, circulated posters for a conflicting Waz Mahfil, listing speakers and officials who were not aware of the program. Locals allege that vested interests created the fake posters to create confusion and mislead the authorities. The local mosque imam, Maulana Rokon Uddin Salehi, whose name appeared as president on the poster, called it entirely fake. Sohel Rana, Officer-in-Charge of Madhabpur Police Station, confirmed that due to the risk of communal unrest from the scheduling of two rival Mahfils in the same location, the administration issued Section 144 as a precaution. Notably, Mufti Giyas Uddin Taheri had contested the 13th National Parliamentary Election on February 12 from this area as a Bangladesh Islami Front candidate, securing 84,323 votes but losing to BNP’s S.M. Faisal.

To mark the 55th Independence Day, a cultural event titled ‘Shatadhwani-e-Shadhinotar Jhongkar’ was held in Naogaon on Friday, featuring 175 artists performing together on a single stage. The event, organized by the local cultural group Hatekhori Naogaon, took place at the premises of Biyam Laboratory School. Naogaon-5 (Sadar) MP Zahidul Islam Dholu attended as the chief guest, while Magfurul Hasan Bidyut, president of the organization, presided over the program. Other dignitaries included Local Government Deputy Director TMA Momin, Additional Superintendent of Police Joybrat Pal, District Freedom Fighters’ Council convener Sirajul Islam, Hatekhori Naogaon advisor Baizid Hossain Palash, Naogaon Cultural Unity president Monowar Hossain Liton, and general secretary Nowrin Akhtar Sharmin. In the evening, the 175 artists presented recitations, songs, and dance performances, making the event vibrant and engaging. The organizers said that since its founding in 2010, Hatekhori Naogaon has been promoting cultural activities to nurture children’s talent and creativity. Over the past 15 years, many participants have gone on to study at Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, and Jagannath University, while achieving national recognition in recitation and painting.

A case has been filed following a tragic accident in Kala Kachua, Burichang Upazila, Cumilla, where a private car was hit by a bus on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway, killing five people, including a husband, wife, two children, and the car driver. The case was lodged at Burichang Police Station by the brother of deceased Jharna Begum, Faisal Ahmed, confirmed OC Lutfur Rahman on Friday evening. The district administration provided financial assistance of Tk 25,000 each to the deceased families and Tk 15,000 each to the injured. Locals said the private car was on the wrong side of the road, which led to the fatal collision near Miami Hotel on Thursday evening. The car was heading towards Dhaka but had entered the Chattogram-bound lane to stop at the hotel for food. OC Abdul Momin of Moynamati Highway Police said the case was filed against unidentified persons, and an investigation is ongoing. He added that the private car was reportedly on the wrong side, and more details would be available after the probe. Burichang Upazila Executive Officer Tanvir Ahmed said the administration gave Tk 1,40,000 to the victims’ families and the injured. Families were also advised to apply for additional support from the BRTA Trustee Board.

At least 20 people were injured when a passenger bus crashed into the rear of a sand-laden truck on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Feni on Friday. The accident occurred around 1pm in the Silonia area under Kalidah union of Sadar upazila. According to police and local sources, a Didar Paribahan bus travelling from Chattogram lost control and rammed into a sand-laden truck ahead, leaving the driver, helper and several passengers injured. Among the injured, four were treated at Feni Royal Hospital and another four at Feni General Hospital, while others received primary treatment at nearby pharmacies and private clinics. The identities of some of the injured were confirmed as Md Arif (37) from Noakhali, his wife Minu (25), and Sohag (48). The identities of several others could not be immediately known. A staff member of Feni Royal Hospital said four injured persons were brought there for treatment, though some left after receiving primary care without providing details. Mahipal Highway Police Sergeant Kajal Kanti Nath said police rushed to the scene and restored traffic movement. Most of the injured sustained minor injuries, while those more seriously hurt also left after receiving treatment. He said over speeding is suspected to be the primary cause of the accident. The bus driver and helper fled the scene after the crash. The damaged bus has been taken into police custody.