United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members seized smuggled Indian medicines and food items worth over Tk 2 crore during a drive in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj on Tuesday. Members of Habiganj Battalion (55 BGB) conducted the operation in the Muktijoddha Chattar area based on a tip-off. Around noon, BGB personnel signalled a suspected truck to stop and carried out a search. During the search, they found a large quantity of banned Indian medicines and food items, including fuchka, hidden inside sacks beneath bricks in the vehicle. BGB officials said the seized items, worth around Tk 2.20 crore, are being handed over to the customs authorities following legal procedures. Commanding officer of Habiganj BGB Battalion Lt Col Md Tanzilur Rahman said the force remains firm in preventing smuggling and ensuring border security. He added that intelligence surveillance has been strengthened in border areas and such drives will continue to protect the local pharmaceutical industry and maintain economic stability.

Local residents in Golapganj upazila blocked a regional highway on Tuesday evening, protesting prolonged power outages that they claimed have left many areas nearly 16-17 hours a day without electricity. The demonstration on the Sylhet-Zakiganj-Beanibazar regional highway, organised by the residents of Fulbari union, lasted for around two hours and caused severe traffic congestion. Locals said they have been facing acute suffering for days due to erratic electricity supply, with Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees forced to study under candlelight. The blockade began around 7:00pm, halting vehicular movement on the highway. Tension escalated during the protest, prompting deployment of the army. A team of army personnel arrived at the scene around 8:30pm and brought the situation under control, clearing the road. The residents demanded uninterrupted electricity supply, warning that they will launch a tougher movement if the demand is not met.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday underlined the need for forming a strategic cooperation framework to effectively harness the full potential of bilateral engagement in priority sectors. During a meeting with Foreign Minister of Nepal Shishir Khanal at his office, the Ambassador suggested that the two sides may consider identifying a set of time-bound, mutually agreed deliverables to guide their implementations. The two sides reviewed the existing avenues to expand bilateral trade and investment, underscoring that early conclusion of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) will provide a meaningful impetus to deepen commercial ties and create mutually beneficial opportunities for businesses in both countries. Recalling the strong public mandate, the envoy urged that this is an opportune moment for both the leadership to review the current state of cooperation and take forward-looking action plans with a view to further elevating the partnership. He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh stands ready to advance and build upon the positive momentum and synergies that mark the two countries’ shared efforts towards economic development and peace. The Ambassador conveyed warm congratulations and regards from the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh to the Foreign Minister of Nepal on his recent appointment and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong commitment to work closely with Nepal under his esteemed leadership. Noting the longstanding bonds of friendship between the two countries, the two sides held constructive discussions on a broad range of issues of mutual interest, with a shared focus on translating the goodwill into practical cooperation. The two sides also expressed keen interest in advancing cooperation in tourism, agriculture, food security, and hydropower, with a view to delivering tangible benefits to their respective peoples. Foreign Minister Khanal highlighted the potential value of establishing direct air connectivity between Pokhara and Cox’s Bazar, noting that such a link could significantly facilitate tourism, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and further deepen mutual understanding between the two countries.

A 14-year-old boy died after falling from the rooftop of a five-storey building in the Jatrabari area of the capital on Tuesday evening. The deceased was identified as Shah Alam, a garment factory worker, according to family members. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in a critical state, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Hailing from Raybazar village in Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh, Shah Alam, son of Saidul Islam, had been living with his family in a rented house on the first floor of a five-storey building in the Kajla School Goli area of Jatrabari. Neighbours Mohammad Shuvo and Kamruzzaman, who took him to the hospital, said Shah Alam went to the rooftop to pass time. They said they were sitting in front of the building when they heard a loud sound. Rushing over, they found Shah Alam lying on the ground in a pool of blood. In-charge of the DMCH police camp Md Faruk said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue.

Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie Amde has welcomed Bangladeshi investment in Ethiopia, particularly in the garment and pharmaceutical sectors.  He highlighted the need for closer interaction between the business communities of the two countries, including business-level cooperation, to facilitate trade and investment. The issues were discussed when Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman met the President at the latter's office in Addis Ababa. Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir was present at the meeting.  The Foreign Minister invited the Ethiopian President to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time and requested him to open Ethiopia’s embassy in Dhaka, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   

At least seven people were killed and several others injured in separate road accidents in Jhenaidah, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and Pabna districts on Tuesday. In Jhenaidah, two teenage motorcyclists were killed after being crushed by a truck in Sadar upazila in the evening. The deceased were identified as Arif Hossain, 17, son of Mizanur Rahman, and Sohan Ahmed, 17, son of Shipon Ahmed, both from Bijoypur village in Sadar upazila. According to police, the two teenagers were returning home from Jhenaidah town on a motorcycle. At that time, the motorcycle was hit by a Mahindra vehicle at Pachmile, causing it to fall under a truck. Both victims were crushed by the truck and died on the spot. In Dinajpur’s Birol upazila, a two-month-old baby was killed after being run over by a ‘Hanif Paribahan’ bus while in its mother’s arms. The incident occurred in the Narabari area in the evening. The child had come to visit relatives with the mother but died instantly in the accident. The mother and five other women were injured in the accident. Officer-in-Charge of Birol Police Station Al Imran said the child was killed in a bus-related accident, adding that the victim’s family is not interested in filing a case. In Mymensingh, two people, including a child, were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision between a tractor and a Mahindra vehicle in the Shambhuganj area on the Mymensingh-Netrokona road around 7:45pm. The deceased were identified as Rabeya Khatun, 60, and a one-and-a-half-year-old child named Toufiq. In Pabna, an 18-year-old madrasah student, Jesmin Akter Ritu, was killed in a road accident in the Pakshi area of Ishwardi upazila. Ritu, an Alim examinee and daughter of Zahidul Islam of Saraikandi village under Muladuli union, was travelling in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw with her father when her scarf got entangled in the vehicle’s wheel. She lost balance, fell onto the road, and sustained critical injuries that led to her death.

Jhenaidah, Apr 21 (UNB) - Two teenage motorcyclists were killed after being crushed by a truck in Sadar upazila of Jhenaidah on Tuesday evening. The deceased were identified as Arif Hossain, 17, son of Mizanur Rahman, and Sohan Ahmed, 17, son of Shipon Ahmed, both from Bijoypur village in Sadar upazila. The accident occurred around 6:30pm in the Pachmile area on the Jhenaidah-Magura road. According to police, the two teenagers were returning home from Jhenaidah town on a motorcycle. At that time, the motorcycle was hit by a Mahindra vehicle, causing it to fall under a truck. Both victims were crushed by the truck and died on the spot. Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station Shamsul Arefin said the bodies were recovered and sent to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue.

Two minor girls drowned in a pond at Dangra village in Nandail upazila of Mymensingh district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as two-and-half-year-old Saifa Akhter, daughter of Sumon Mia, and Suraiya Akhter, 3, daughter of Tuhin Mia of the village. Family sources said the two children were frolicking on the bank of a pond in the afternoon. At one stage, they fell into the water body, unnoticed. Child dies after drowning in pond in Sylhet They were found floating in the pond around 5:00pm and taken to Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared them dead. Officer-in-charge of Nandail Police Station Azharul Islam said the bodies were handed over to the families without autopsy following petitions.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday granted bail to a Jubo Mohila League activist in an attempted murder case linked to the July uprising, paving the way for her release along with her one-and-a-half-month-old infant. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a review petition filed by the defence. The court granted bail on a bond of Tk 5,000, effective until submission of the police report. Earlier in the day, the investigation officer of the case – Sub-Inspector Sheikh Nazrul of Tejgaon Police Station Islam – sought a court order to keep the accused – Shilpi Begum – in jail. Ex-Speaker Shirin Sharmin walks out of jail on bail Following hearings from both sides, Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid initially rejected her bail and ordered her to be sent to jail. Shilpi Begum, an activist of Dhaka North Jubo Mohila League’s ward No. 26, was arrested on Monday evening from the Tejkunipara Railway Colony area. She was produced before the court around 2:00pm on Tuesday, where several family members, including her husband, sister and aunt, were present. Family members told the court that Shilpi had given birth to the baby through a caesarean section on March 4 and is still physically weak. They said she is unable to properly breastfeed or even hold the baby due to complications, including a fractured left arm from a recent fall. Despite family appeals to keep the infant with them, police did not permit separation, and both mother and child were later taken to Kashimpur Jail. According to the case statement, Dhaka University student Tahmid Mubin Ratul was shot in the Chankharpool area on July 16, 2024, and later attacked along with fellow students at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On July 23, a group of 120-130 people allegedly attacked his residence in Tejgaon, vandalising property worth Tk 5 lakh and looting goods valued at Tk 3 lakh. The case was filed on January 25, 2025 by Ratul’s mother Shahnur Khanam at Tejgaon Police Station, naming 103 accused, including former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

A security guard died reportedly after being electrocuted in the Sabujbagh area of the capital on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Md Mobarak Hossain, 45, son of Mongol Mia of Dumuria village in Homna upazila of Cumilla. He had been living with his family at South Basabo of Sabujbagh. According to police, the incident occurred in the morning near a playground in South Basabo. He was found unconscious beside an electric pole and later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Sub-Inspector Naruttam of Sabujbagh Police Station said they found Mobarak in an unconscious state near the electric pole. Meanwhile, the victim’s nephew Sumon said Mobarak worked as a security guard and had been in feud with his wife for not attending work regularly.