United News of Bangladesh

An eight-year-old boy was found dead in the space where an elevator was being installed at the under-construction building he had moved into with his family, in Chawkbazar of Pirganj upazila, Rangpur on Friday. The deceased was identified as Tamam Sarkar, 8, son of Monayem Sarkar Manu of the upazila. Quoting local people, sub-inspector Izar Ali of Pirganj Police Station, said Tamam went missing on Friday evening, after he and his family moved into the building in the morning. Getting no whereabouts of Tamam, his family members went to search for him and police were called in, who found his body under water in the space where a lift wa sto be installed. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to the local hospital morgue.

Two motorcyclists were killed in Faridpur’s Gajaria area of Nagarkanda on Dhaka-Khulna highway as their motorcycle was hit by a bus on Friday night. Sabit Hossain, 17, of Satkhira’s Shamnagar and Sourav Hossain, 16, of Norail’s Lohagora died in the bike crash occurred around 8 pm, said Bhanga Highway Police officer-in-charge (OC) Jahangir Arif. READ: School teacher killed in Cox’s Bazar road crash  He said the accident occurred when the Dhaka-bound bus of Hamim Poribanhan from Khulna hit the Satkhira-bound motorcycle. One of the motorcyclists, Sabit, died on the spot. Sourav was taken to Gopalganj's Muksudpur Upazila Health Complex in a critical condition where doctors declared him dead, the OC said. READ: 2 killed in Chattogram road crash

Health Secretary Md Lokman Hossain Miah on Friday visited Faridpur General Hospital to see the services provided to the patients. During the visit he told doctors, nurses and other staff to deliver their services effectively so no patient goes without treatment. Patients should not suffer due to damaged equipment and lack of supplies, he said. Read: Current booster effective against Omicron: Health Minister Regarding the Covid vaccine, he said there is no shortage of vaccines. “But we are concerned that many people have not been vaccinated yet.” Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur Atul Sarkar, Civil Surgeon Dr Siddiqur Rahman, Director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and Hospital Dr Saifur Rahman and Additional Deputy Commissioner Deepak Roy were present among others.

At least 30 people were injured as supporters of two chairman candidates clashed in Shibpur union of Bhola Sadar upazila. The incident occurred on Thursday night as supporters of Awami League-backed chairman candidate Jasim Uddin and independent candidate Sirajul Islam Rakib at around 8 pm as the were holding ralies. Read: AL activist killed in post-poll violence in Pabna During the hour-long clash, supporters of both groups beat and hacked each other, vanalised houses and set fire to four election offices. Cocktail explosions occurred at Ratanpur and Santipur Bazar areas, said the locals. Later, police and RAB brought the situation under control. Both groups held each other responsible for the clash. Read:UP-polls violence: 1 succumbs to injuries in Sirajganj, 1 arrested Assistant Commissioner (Land) and executive magistrate Md Ali Shuja said that supporters of both groups have been removed from the streets and the situation is now under control. Legal action will be taken if any further attempts are made. The fifth phase of the election in the union will be held on 5th January.

Two female students who failed this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations allegedly committed suicide in Kushtia and Khulna districts on Thursday. In Kushtia, Lima Aktar, 17, hanged herself from  the ceiling of her house with a scarf on 12pm after receiving her result at Daulatkhali Bazarpara village in Kushtia’s Doulatpur upazila. Later, her family member rushed her to Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared her dead, said Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station. Lima Akter appeared this year's SSC examinations from Daulatpur Pilot Girls High School. In Khulna, Arthi Dhali committed suicide by hanging herself t at her room around 5pm in Paikgachha upazila after receiving her result. She appeared the SSC examinations from ABP Lata Secondary School, said  Md Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Paikgachha Police Station.

The district administration has gone back on its decision to keep a dedicated zone for women and children visiting the world's longest unbroken sea beach in the space of just 10 hours. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mamunur Rashid inaugurated a separate 'reserved area' for women and children at Labani Point on the beach around 12 noon on Wednesday. But after drawing an adverse reaction from the tourists, the district administration changed their decision on Wednesday night. The news of the inauguration of a 'reserved area' for women and children at the beach sparked nationwide criticism. DC Mamunur Rashid said a special zone was set up for the benefit of women and children tourists. But tourists do not like such a zone. Cox's Bazar is a tourist area so their opinion needs to be given importance. As they do not want such a zone, the special zone for women and children will not be made. READ: Kuakata Sea Beach, Bangladesh: Magnificent sunrise, sunset views to remember According to the district administration, the reserved area would have separate dressing rooms and locker rooms for female tourists. The district administration determined an area of 150 meters for the special zone to make women tourists feel safe at the beach. Now that the special zone for women and children will not exist, the facilities for the zone won’t be available too. READ: ATJFB joins beach cleanup on World Tourism Day

Bidi workers and tobacco farmers of Kushtia have urged the government to reduce taxes on bidi and fix fair prices.Bidi workers and tobacco farmers of Kushtia held a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner's office in Kushtia on Wednesday to press home a 5-point charter of demands.Tobacco is used in the bidi industry but due to conspiracies hatched by foreign multinational tobacco companies the government has imposed high taxes on bidi, forcing the factories to close down, workers said, adding because bidi factories are closing down, tobacco farmers are not being able to sell their produce. READ: Drowning in debt, govt school principal ends life in Kushtia Due to the increase in tariffs on bidis, unscrupulous traders are marketing bidis with fake band-rolls to evade tax. As a result, the government is being deprived of a huge amount of revenue.The five demands are: bidi workers should have to work for six days a week, tax levied on bidi should be reduced, the 10 percent advance income tax imposed on the bidi industry should be withdrawn, fair price should be fixed for tobacco, and factories of counterfeit bidi should be busted.The speakers further said that tobacco farmers are becoming helpless due to the aggression of foreign multinational companies. Held hostage by the foreign companies, farmers are being deprived of a fair price for tobacco. As a result, thousands of tobacco farmers and traders are suffering financially and they are in dire straits with their families.The speakers called upon the government to address the problems of tobacco growers and bidi workers. READ: Missing youth found dead in Kushtia Golam Mostafa, labour affairs secretary of the Kushtia district of the Awami League, was the chief guest at the protest programme, chaired by Md Nazim Uddin, general secretary of Kushtia Zilla Bidi Sangram Parishad and vice-president of Bangladesh Bidi Workers Federation. Workers' leader Tarun Sheikh moderated the event.

At least two people were killed in as a three-wheeler overturned at Abutorab Bazar in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram  Wednesday morning. One of the deceased was identified as Sukkor Shabdakar, 30, the three-wheeler driver and son of Rakesh Shabdakar of Srimangal upazila in Moulvibazar district and his helper Mosharraf Hossain Babul, 30, son of Mahfuz Miah of Sultari Mistri Bari in Sarkartola area. Read:4 of a family killed in Nawabganj road crash Witnesses said the cement-laden three wheeler overturned on the road after hitting a wall as its driver lost control over the steering. The driver died on the spot while his helper was rushed to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared him dead. SI Amir Hossain of Mirsarai Police Station said the bodies will be handed over to the families after completion of legal process.

Police on Wednesday arrested Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Md Selim from Port Link road of Banglbazar area in connection with the 2020 bomb blast in a traffic police box in Sholoshohor area of Chattogram. Arrestee Md Selim, 33, is a JMB commander of its military wing and son of Abu Taleb of Jangal Padua Asrayan Project’s Tarulata area of Lohagara. Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Counter-Terrorism Unit’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) Farukul Haque said the JMB leader was the mastermind behind the bomb blast. READ: After suicide bombing, Congo officials fear more attacks Police produced him before a court in the afternoon seeking a 5-day remand but the count put him on one-day remand, he said. Five people including two cops were injured in the blast on February 28 of the year. Nine of the 12 accused arrested in the case have already testified in the court under section 164. Of them, eight accused  mentioned Selim’s name. READ: Suicide bomber attacks bar in eastern Congo, killing 6

At least two people were killed in a gunfight between the activists of Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati district Wednesday noon. The deceased were identified as Janan Chakma, a member of JSS (Santu Larma faction), and Manimoy Chakma, a member of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF). Read: 2 ‘robbers’ killed in Bhola ‘gunfight’ According to locals, the gunfight began between the activists of JSS and the UPDF in 2 Kilo area of Baghaichhari upazila around 12pm over establishing dominance in the area, leaving the duo dead on the spot. Manu Mia, a Bengali worker, suffered injuries as he was caught in the line of fire. Read: 2 ‘criminals’ killed in Moulvibazar ‘gunfight’ Injured Manu Mia is undergoing treatment at Baghaichhari Upazila Health Complex. Anwar Hossain, Officer-in-charge of Baghaichhari Police Station, said law enforcers have been deployed in the area. “However, the situation is not under control yet.”