United News of Bangladesh

Four members of a family suffered burn injuries in a fire caused by a leakage in a cooking gas pipeline in Narayanganj's Fatullah union in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said.  The injured have been identified as rickshaw puller Anwar Hossain, 40, his wife Rozina Akhter, 33, and their sons -- Roman, 17, and Rohan, 9. Read: Two electrocuted to death in Natore Of them, three are being treated at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Alam Hossain, senior station officer of Fatullah Fire Service Station. The fire broke out at the family's tin-shed house before dawn due to the leakage in the cooking gas pipeline, when the four were fast asleep, he said. On information, a fire tender was rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Read: 63-yr-old killed over property feud in Chuadanga SM Ayub Hossain, a resident surgeon at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Anwar sustained 17% burns, Rozina 14% and Rohan 35%. However, Roman has been released after administration of first aid.

Two people were electrocuted to death in Natore on Monday. The deceased were identified as Ratan Ali, 32, a resident of Hamlaikola village, and Milon Hossain, 28, of Khacchop Bazar area in Gurudaspur upazila. Mizanur Rahman Suja, Biaghat Union Parishad chairman, confirmed the deaths of the two locals on Tuesday. Also read: Van driver electrocuted in Chandpur "Ratan was electrocuted while trying to plug an electrical line in his litchi orchard," he said. "Milon, on the other hand, got an electric shock while repairing a paddy harvesting machine at a shop in Singra upazila. He died on the spot," Mizanur said. Also read: Madrasa teacher electrocuted in Madaripur

A 63-year old private contractor was killed allegedly over a property dispute in Chuadanga district on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Kamal Hossain, a resident of the Munshiganj Clinic Para area in Alamdanga upazila. Locals spotted a severely injured Kamal lying unconscious near Protigya Nursing Home around 11pm and informed cops. Also read: 2 REB staffers killed in Jamalpur train accident A team from the local police station rushed to the spot and took Kamal to the nursing home and then to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival around 12am. “The body had injury marks,” said Ahsanul Haque, duty doctor at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital. Abdul Alim, officer-in-charge of Alamdanga police station, said, "We got to know that the victim had a land dispute with a local youth, named Shadhin, who might have plotted his murder." Also read: Man killed in clash over delivering sermon after Jumma: 3 arrested “The body was sent for an autopsy and a probe is on. Efforts are also on to nab the suspect,” said the OC.

Kalia upazila health authorities in Narail decided to close a private clinic Monday over the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child during surgery by a quack doctor.  Upazila Health Officer Kajal Mallik said he directed to close the clinic named Baradia Khan Rowshan Ali Private Clinic after a probe body formed in this regard found the clinic along with its doctors and nurses were all unregistered. On May 6, Shiuli Begum, 25, wife of Jinnat Ali, an autorickshaw driver, from Gopalganj sadar upazila got admitted in the clinic to deliver her second baby. The hospital admitted her taking Tk 15,000 as fee for a c-section surgery.  But Shiuli died when she was given anaesthetic injection at the Operation Theater by a doctor. The hospital authority tried to cover up the situation by calling an ambulance and sending her body off to another hospital.  READ: Suspected militant leader held in Narail However, the relatives of the patients learned of the situation and got agitated.  Later, some police personnels called by the authority took control of the situation.  Meanwhile the alleged quack doctor who was conducting the operation managed to flee.  The poor husband of Shiuli agreed to settle the case with intervention of police and some local influentials upon receiving Tk 3 lakh as compensation from the hospital authority. But the matter refused to die after the news spread.  Narail Civil Surgeon formed a three member probe committee led by Upazila Health Officer Kajal Mollik and asked to submit a report within next four days after investigating the incident. “The clinic was following none of the conditions that a hospital should follow and it had no regular doctor or nurses. As the hospital authority and its staff remained absconding since the incident we could not know the identity of the quake who was conducting the operation,” said Kajal Mallik. 

A college student in Fulbari upazila in Kurigram has accused her former lover of raping her multiple times with promises of marriage after he got married with another woman. Police rescued the girl on Saturday from in front of the alleged rapist's house upon receiving a call in this regard on Emergency call service number 999. The girl went on a hunger strike in front of the accused Mamun Sarker’s house, said Fazlur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Fulbari police station. Also read: 3 arrested in Ctg over gang rape of girl who escaped from Cumilla According to the girl’s statement, she got aquainted with Mamun while studying in a local college. Mamun later instigated an affair with her and on April 25 raped her several times at her sister’s house. Soon after the locals learned about their affair Mamun married another woman. The girl said, “He raped me by promising marriage. If I don’t get justice I’ll commit suicide.” Also read: 2 held over strangling a girl to death during rape attempt in Joypurhat A case has been filed at Fulbari police station following the girl’s complaint under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, said OC Fazlur Rahman. “The girl has been sent to Kurigram for medical test to confirm she was raped,” said the OC.  

Two people were shot during a clash between activists of ruling party student front Bangladesh Chhatra League and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday at Redwan Ahmed College premises in Chandina upazila of Cumilla. After the clash, Dr Redwan Ahmed, LDP Secretary General and former Parliament member of Cumilla-7 constituency, was held as he was accused of firing from his gun, said Md Foyez Iqbal Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Daudkandi circle). The two shot men were identified as Mahmudul Hasan Jony and Najmul Hasan, both BCL activists, he said. Also read: Man killed in clash over delivering sermon after Jumma: 3 arrested According to police, LDP activists arrived at the college premises on Monday noon for a pre scheduled Eid get together but BCL activists also were present there for a meeting. Amid the tension, some BCL activists allegedly chased the personal vehicle of Dr Redwan Ahmed when he reached the spot. In reaction to this, he fired at them from his gun through the window of his vehicle. “Immediately after the incident Dr Redwan was taken under custody with his gun and police troops were deployed at the spot. Further actions will be taken in this regard after investigation”, said ASP Md Foyez Iqbal. Also read: LDP leader held with loaded magazine from Dhaka airport Liton Sarkar, General Secretary of Cumilla North Awami Secha Sebok League said the shot BCL activists are currently admitted at hospital and demanded justice in this incident.

All necessary preparations have been taken in five coastal districts to face any possible situation that might arise due to cyclonic storm ‘Asani’. Barishal divisional administration has kept 4,915 shelter centres ready even though the Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicted that the cyclone is unlikely to hit the country's coastline.  Of these, 1,071 shelters have been prepared in Barishal district, 925 in Patuakhali, 1104 in Bhola, 712 in Pirojpur, 629 in Barguna and 474 in Jhalakathi. Two million people along with their livestock can take shelter at these centers. Besides, the Divisional Commissioner's Office has instructed the concerned officials to provide clean water, dry food and electricity in the shelters. CPP (Cyclone Preparedness Programme) volunteers have also been prepared, said a source at district administration. The Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and various government and non-government organizations have already been instructed to remain alert. Amin-ul-Ahsan, Barishal Divisional Commissioner, said adequate preparations have been taken to face the possible cyclone. UNB Patuakhali correspondent reports: The coastal areas of Patuakhali district have been experiencing rainfall since Sunday morning, due to the impact of severe Cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ that is brewing over the Bay. The local Met office recorded 41.6 mm of rainfall activities around 6 pm on Monday. The local Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office asked the farmers to harvest their paddy as soon as possible to mitigate damage. Also read: Cyclone ‘Asani’ over Bay: Heavy rainfall likely in 3 divisions Rahat Hossain, an observer of Patuakhali Weather Office, said “Light to moderate rains are likely to continue for two more days in the district. The southern part of the country including Patuakhali is likely to be safe but it will likely make landfall in Odisha in India." Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamal Hossain, said “We will sit in a meeting after getting No 4 signal but we still are observing the situation.” Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist distant warning signal No 2. UNB Bhola correspondent reports, the local administration has kept 691 shelters ready to tackle the cyclone ‘Asani’. The local Met Office recorded 4.5 mm of rainfall from Monday morning until Monday noon. The authorities concerned have alerted the fishermen and residents of the coastal areas through loudspeakers. Meanwhile a sense of panic has been prevailing in the area. Deputy Commissioner of Bhola district said all out preparation has been taken and 13,600 volunteers of Red Crescent are ready to face any situation. Around noon on Monday, it was centered about 1105 Kms Southwest of Chattogram port,  1045 kms Southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1015 kms South-Southwest of Mongla port and 1000 kms South-Southwest  of Payra port, said a Met Office bulletin. It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction, it said.  State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman on Sunday said there is no possibility of Cyclone Asani hitting Bangladesh coast. He said the cyclone is moving northwestwards and it will weaken while passing Odisha, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar and West Bengal in India on May 12 and will turn into a low, he told reporters at his Secretariat office. The cyclone might cause storms and rains in Bangladesh but there will be no tidal surge, he added.

–A local leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League, who’s images holding firearms went viral on social networking site Facebook, was held from Rajshahi on Monday, said Rab. The arrestee is Abu Bakar Siddique alias Ratul, son of Mostafa Kamal of Sujanagar upazila in Pabna district. He is the vice-president of Manikhat union unit of BCL. Tipped off, a team of Rab detained Ratul from Boalia area in Rajshahi city in the morning, said Commanding officer of Rab-5, Lieutenant Colonel Reaz Shahrier at a press briefing at Rab-5 headquarters here. Also read: BCL leader expelled on allegation of abducting, torturing youth in Satkhira The images of Ratul holding firearms in his hand that went viral on Facebook drew a huge flack and since then he remained absconding. According to his statement, Rab members also seized one pistol, one magazine and three bullets from Sagarpara area of the city. Ratul confessed that uploaded the photos on FB to inform people that he keeps arms with him and establish himself as a criminal. Also read: BCL leader, 5 others held for cheating in teachers’ recruitment test

Members of Border Guard (BGB) detained a drug peddler with 1.06kg of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth or ice) and 10,000 of Yaba pills from Teknaf in the early hours of Monday. The detainee was Md. Saker Ali,22, son of late Kalu Mia of 25 Mochni Myanmar Citizens Camp, Block-B of Teknaf. Also Read: BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 143 cr in April According to a media release of BGB, tipped off, a patrol team of BGB-2, detained Saker conducting a drive at Omarkhal area under Domdomia BOP in Teknaf around 12:15 am. During the drive, the BGB men seized 1.06kgs of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth or ice) and 10,000 pcs of Yaba pills worth Tk 5.60 crore from his possession, said the release.      

Vehicles in eight northern districts are not getting fuel oil at the petrol pumps to run the wheels as the supply of fuel oil remained stopped after Eid-ul-Fitr,  causing immense suffering to people.  According to petrol pump owners , petrol, octane and diesel are supplied to the railway head depot in Parbatipur of Dinajpur from Chattogram through Khulna to meet the demand of eight districts of the northern region.  The authorities concerned did not supply even one liter of petrol to the depot after Eid which created a huge fuel crisis in the region.  An official of local Petrobangla office said he doesn’t know when the next shipment of fuel oil will reach Parbatipur depot. He, however, said, a freight train started the journey from Khulna to Dinajpur on Monday.   Also Read: Cabinet purchase body approves import of diesel, Jet fuel, LNG and fertilizer Meanwhile, petrol pumps have been supplying octane on a limited scale which does not meet the demand.  Petobangla had supplied two lakh liters of petrol to Dinajpur depot from Khulna before Eid. On the other hand, it supplied the same amount of octane on Sunday (May 8) which is not sufficient to meet the demand.  Md. Imran, manager of Parbatipur head depot, said, eight northern districts have 125 petrol pumps. Oil tankers from these pumps are waiting in queues at the depot for oil.   Petrobangla set up a head depot at Parbatipur rail station to supply fuel oil to eight northern districts to meet of demand for fuel oil.