United News of Bangladesh

Ninety-five per cent of the target population has been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the country, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Friday. So far, 25 crore vaccine doses have been administered, said the minister at an Iftar mahfil organised by Manikganj district police. As per the population of the country, more than 75 percent of the people have been vaccinated against Covid-19, he added. The number of Covid infections is declining as around 40-50 or 60 cases are being reported with no death every day across the country, said the minister. “The economy is booming as the Covid situation in the country is under control.” Zahid Maleque also urged those who have not got jabbed with the booster dose yet to take the jab.

Farmers in the sandbar areas of Kurigram have started harvesting Boro paddy before the season as the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla and Brahmaputra rivers have been increasing due to continuous rains and downpours over the last few days. Farmers in the sandbars on around 16 rivers’ basin were seen harvesting paddy on Friday morning before it matures to minimise their losses. But the water level in the rivers was still far below the danger level. Also read:Flash floods in Boro-producing areas bodes ill for days ahead Many farmers said that their dream of harvesting Boro paddy as expected was being dashed due to heavy rains. They are also worried about getting paddy straw due to the sudden rise in river water. According to the Kurigram Agriculture Extension Department, Boro has been planted on 1,200 hectares of land on the sandbars of the river. However, in a few days, the farmers will be able to harvest this paddy.

A member of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was detained by the Bangladesh Army from the Kharikhyong area in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati early Friday. The detainee was identified as Prashanta Tanchangya, 52, an active member of UPDF. Also read: UPDF chief collector held with arms in Khagrachari Lt Col Rubaiyat Hussain PSC, commander of Naniarchar Zone, said they nabbed Prashanta conducting a drive at Guichari in the Kharikhyong area in the early hours of Friday. During the drive, a pistol, two rounds of ammunition, a walkie-talkie, four notebooks and a copy of the extortion money receipt were seized from his possession. Also read: Army drive at UPDF den: Barracks, training centre destroyed in Khagrachhari Prashanta has been involved in extortion and murder, said the official. He was later handed over to the Rangamati police station. Legal steps are underway against the detainee, said Md Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station in Rangamati.

Police have arrested two farmers for protesting against load shedding in Rajshahi on Thursday night. The arrestees are Saleh al Sara,26, of Bangpur village in Kalma union of Tanore upazila and Mohammad Abdullah, 24, of Divyasthal village. Also read: 2 farmers’ suicide in Rajshahi: Krishak League leader held Sources said, some farmers of Kalma Union of Tanore Upazila went to Debipur Palli Bidyut office around 8:30 pm on Thursday demanding uninterrupted power supply. On information, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control after detaining two farmers, said Station Kamruzzaman Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tanore Police Station. Later, the detainees were shown arrested under section 151. Police also seized 6 motorcycles from the spot, Mia added. DGM Tanore Rural Electricity Office, Juhurul Islam said that load shedding is going on almost all over the country. There is no irrigation crisis in Tanore. There is a shortage of electricity in comparison to the demand. So, “We are bound to cut power supply for a certain time”. The arrestees were sent to jail on Friday morning, the OC added. Earlier on March 24, Rabi Marandi, 32, a Santal community member of Nimghatu village in Godagari upazila, and his cousin Abhinath, 30, consumed poison for allegedly not getting irrigation water for their land. Also read:Another farmer dies in Rajshahi after suicide bid ‘for irrigation water’ Abhinath died around 9pm on March 24 while Rabi died two days later at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH).

Sylhet transport workers will enforce an indefinite strike in the district from Sunday morning demanding the withdrawal of two officials of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority in Sylhet alleging corruption and harassment. The strike was announced at an emergency meeting on Thursday, said joint secretary of the District Bus-Minibus-Coach-Microbus Workers Union Ali Akbar. Also read: Sale of beef, mutton suspended in Sylhet Workers will abstain from their work from 6 am on Sunday as part of the strike. According to transport workers' leaders, BRTA Sylhet Officer (AD) Sanaul Haque and Record Room employee Delwar issue vehicle documents or driver's licenses in a short period through bribes which cannot be obtained at the specified time in the proper process. They also harass transport workers for bribes. Also read:Fuel traders stage demonstration for uninterrupted fuel, gas supply in Sylhet And so, the transport workers demanded the withdrawal of the two BRTA officials in the next 24 hours.

A fire broke out at Safipur Bazar in Gazipur ‘s Kaliakair upazila on Friday noon. Although no casualties were reported, fire gutted 14 shops, said fire service sources. According to the shop owners, fire broke out at Latif Hossain's shop and quickly spread to the other shops. Locals tried to bring the fire under control but as they failed, they informed the fire service. Saiful Islam, in-charge of Kaliakair Fire Service, said that two units of the fire service reached the spot and brought the fire under control after an hour of effort. READ: Fire at Kamrangirchar polythene factory under control Initially, it was suspected that the fire could have been caused by an electrical short circuit. However, the cause of the fire and the extent of damage will be ascertained after an investigation, he said. Meanwhile, the affected traders claimed that the amount of loss caused by the fire is about Tk 1 crore.

A mother-daughter duo drowned while three other passengers went missing after a ferry capsized in the Gazaria river in Barishal’s Mehendiganj upazila on Friday morning, police said. The deceased were identified as Mahinur Begum, 55, and her daughter Nasreen Begum, 25, residents of the upazila. Also read: Tugboat sinks at Matarbari channel: Missing Chinese national’s body recovered Officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj police station Touhid Zaman said that the accident occurred around 10.30am when the vessel was ferrying some eight passengers to Dalil Khajuria from Mehendiganj Majherchar. The ferry overturned due to strong waves and capsized. "A Coast Guard team fished out two bodies later. Three passengers are still missing," the OC said, adding that three people managed to swim ashore. The bodies have been sent to Mehendiganj Upazila Health Complex. "A search and rescue operation is underway," he added.

Bus services to Dhaka returned to normal after three days  on Friday, as transport workers in Rangpur withdrew their strike on Thursday night. The workers called off their strike after a meeting with the bus owners over their five-point demand, including wage hike, in the presence of senior officials of the district administration and the metropolitan police, said AWM Rayhan Shah, additional deputy commissioner (education and ICT). "We helped clear the misunderstanding between the striking workers and the bus owners in the meeting, following which the former decided to resume services to Dhaka," he said. READ: Indefinite bus strike in Sylhet from Tuesday Passengers heaved a sigh of relief. "Finally, we feel relieved," said a commuter. On Tuesday morning, the transport workers in Rangpur embarked on an indefinite strike without any prior notice causing immense sufferings to regular passengers.

Two men were killed and another injured in an alleged attack by members of a rival group over establishing dominance in Jandi village of Faridpur on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as Kamrul Matubbar, 32, and Chhaleman Sharif, 35, residents of the village in Tujarpur union under Bhanga upazila. Eyewitnesses said that around 15 people attacked Kamrul and Sharif while they were returning home on a bike from a local bazar around 10pm. Miscreants chopped the duo mercilessly, leaving Sharif dead on the spot. Also Read: One killed in fight between football fans in Sylhet; two critically injured A critically injured Kamrul was rushed to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and Hospital in Faridpur. However, his condition worsened and he succumbed to his injuries on the way to a Dhaka hospital. Aminul, the one riding the bike, also sustained minor injuries in the attack. He is being treated at Bhanga upazila health complex. Police suspect Kamrul and Sharif were killed by their rivals over establishing supremacy in the village. The other group is led by Jamal Sheikh. “I visited the spot immediately after the killings. Efforts are on to nab the perpetrators of the crime,” said Fahima Quader Chowdhury, additional superintendent of police (Bhanga Circle). Additional police force has been deployed in the area to avert an unwanted incident, the police officer added. Also Read: One killed, 7 injured in bus-van collision on Cumilla highway      

Two brothers were stabbed to death while a youth was injured in an alleged attack by assailants in Jashore on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as Ayub Hossain, 65, and Yunus Ali, 50, sons of Abdur Rahman of Teenage village in Chougachha upazila. Locals suspect the attack was the fallout of a property dispute. Rony, 22, son of Ayub Hossain is currently being treated at Jashore General Hospital. Also read: Youth stabbed to death in Munshiganj The assailants barged into Ayub Hossain’s house around 11.30pm on Thursday and stabbed him with sharp weapons, according to family members. As Yunus and Rony tried to stop them, they were stabbed too. While Ayub dead on the spot, Yunus succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital, said the family. Nurul Kader, Narayanpur UP chairman, said, “It’s not clear yet why some armed men had attacked them. A property dispute could be the reason." Also read: Student stabbed dead on college premises in Khulna Saiful islam sobuj, officer-in-charge of Chougachha police station, said the bodies were sent for autopsy. "Efforts are on to nab the perpetrators of the crime."