United News of Bangladesh

At least nine shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Bithangal Akhra Bazar in Baniachong upazila of Habiganj early Wednesday. The fire which broke out around 2:00 am at a restaurant owned by Sanjit Roy spread rapidly to adjacent shops after a gas cylinder inside the establishment exploded, according to Fire Service and local sources. Station Leader of Baniachong Fire Service, Riaz Uddin said although they received information at night poor road conditions delayed their response. Three grocery stores, an electronics shop and several other establishments were completely gutted, bringing the total number of affected shops to nine. The intensity of the blaze left no time to salvage goods, said shop owners. Affected traders said they suffered losses worth around Tk 1 crore in the fire incident. The exact cause of the fire could not be determined immediately and an investigation is underway, said Riaz.

Police recovered the body of a 60-year old woman stuffed inside a sack from Bejpara area of Jashore town. The deceased was identified as Sakina Begum, wife of Lal Chand Khalifa and a resident of Bejpara Main Road area. According to family sources, Shahidul left for his shop around 9:00 am on Tuesday after his wife Mariam asked him to eat outside, saying no food had been prepared. When he asked about his mother before leaving he was told that she had gone out. However, when he returned home around 10:00 pm and still did not find her he grew suspicious and informed police. Later, around 12:30 am, he noticed a sack lying in front of the house. After opening it, he and his sister Shahida Begum identified the body as that of Sakina Begum. Police later recovered the body from the spot. Kotwali Police Inspector Kazi Babul said investigation is underway.

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.

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.

Bus services on the Natore-Rajshahi route remained suspended from Tuesday morning due to a dispute between bus owners, disrupting road communication and causing immense suffering to passengers. The situation did not improve till evening. Sources said, the conflict erupted over allegations that Rajshahi-bound buses were not being allowed to pass through Natore. In response, Natore bus owners claimed their vehicles were being obstructed in Rajshahi, although the allegation was denied by leaders of the Rajshahi Motor Workers’ Union. Cumilla bus services suspended as owners enforce strike Transport insiders said the dispute began after a bus named ‘Andan Paribahan’, owned by the general secretary of Natore Bus Owners’ Association, allegedly operated violating scheduled timing and route rules on the Rangpur-Rajshahi corridor. Rajshahi Motor Workers’ Union acting general secretary Rafiqul Islam Pakhi said the irregular operation created a passenger crisis. “Despite warnings, they continued and even threatened to stop Rajshahi buses if their vehicles were not allowed,” he said. He said Rajshahi buses were blocked in Natore in the morning. Although some buses entering Rajshahi were later released, new services from Natore were not allowed. Ticket counters for Dhaka-bound buses were also shut in Natore, halting services from Rajshahi. Bus movement on multiple routes, including Rangpur division, Sirajganj, Pabna, Dhaka and Khulna via Natore, remained suspended. Passengers were seen struggling at Rajshahi’s Shiroil Bus Terminal, trying alternative transport. Natore Bus Owners’ Association president Prashanta Kumar Poddar Lakkhan denied blocking buses, alleging instead that several Natore buses were held in Rajshahi. He warned that passenger suffering may worsen if the situation persists.

Police suspect a land dispute behind the murders of four members of a family, who were found slaughtered at their house in Niamatpur upazila of Naogaon district early Tuesday. District’s Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tariqul Islam said during primary investigation, they found that the murders took place due to enmity over land dispute, not robbery. He came up with the information while talking to reporters during a visit to the spot in the afternoon. Parents, 2 children found dead in Naogaon Four people have so far been taken into custody for interrogation, the SP said. They are victim Habibur Rahman’s father Namir Uddin, 70, sisters Dalima Khatun and Halima Khatun, and nephew Sabuj Rana, 25. “Prima facie, it does not appear to be a case of robbery. It may have occurred over a family or land-related dispute. Victim Popy Sultana still had earrings in her ears, indicating valuables were not taken away,” the SP said, adding that mystery behind the incident will be uncovered soon. Habibur Rahman, 32, his wife Popy Sultana, 25, their son Parvez, 9, and three-year-old daughter Sadia Akter were found dead at their house at Bahadurpur village in the upazila, with their throats slit. Neighbours first spotted the bodies after entering the house following Fajr prayers when they found the door open and later informed police. Locals said there had been a long-standing feud between Habibur Rahman and his sister Shirina over land-related issues, and threats had reportedly been made earlier. Popy’s father Moazzem Hossain alleged that Shirina and her son Sabuj Rana were involved in the killings, claiming they had previously attempted to kill his daughter and son-in-law.

At least 10 people were injured in two rounds of clashes between Chhatra Dal(JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists at Chattogram Government City College on Tuesday over the writing of the word “Gupto” on a graffiti drawn during the July movement. Witnesses said a graffiti drawn during the July-August movement on the college building initially carried a slogan declaring the campus free from student politics and Chhatra League. Later, a group of Chhatra Dal activists allegedly led by JCD leader Abdullah Al Mamun removed the word “student” from the slogan and replaced it with the word “secret (gupto).” Tensions escalated after a video of the incident spread on social media, leading to clashes on the campus around 4:30 pm. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. Among them, a Shibir activist reportedly suffered a serious leg injury after being attacked during the clash. Principal of Government City College Abu Saleh Mohammad Nayeem Uddin said a scuffle broke out between the two groups and teachers initially tried to control the situation before police intervened. Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Md Aftab Uddin said additional police were deployed on the campus to maintain law and order.

Three youths were found dead in a remote hilly area at North Shilkhali in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday morning. The deceased were identified as Aminul Islam Robi, 19, son of Ruhul Amin, Mujibur Rahman, 38, son of Nurul Kabir and Nur Bashar, 20, son of Nurul Islam of Baharchhara union of the upazila. Ruhul Amin, father of one of the victims, Robi, said that after being informed by local people, he went to the area and identified his son. A police team rushed to the spot and is conducting a rescue operation, said Durjoy Sarkar, in-charge of Shamlapur police camp. However, the exact cause of their death will be determined after the post-mortem. The matter is being investigated with the highest importance, said ANM Sajedur Rahman, superintendent of Cox’s Bazar Police.

A gynecologist in Rangpur has been accused of leaving a piece of gauze cloth inside a patient’s abdomen following a caesarean section surgery, causing severe complications. The accused doctor has been identified as Rajia Begum Mukta. According to the victim's family, housewife Habiba Jannat from Baro Ambari village under Pirganj upazila underwent a C-section at Bondhon General Hospital in Rangpur city on March 8, performed by Dr Rajia Begum Mukta. Since the operation, she has been suffering from severe abdominal pain and complications. The family said they repeatedly informed the doctor about her condition, but she advised an ultrasound and allegedly dismissed further concerns. Later, when they consulted another gynecologist, Dr Mousumi Hasan, a CT scan confirmed the presence of a foreign object inside the abdomen, suspected to be surgical gauze. The victim’s husband, Shaon Mia, alleged that when the matter was brought to Dr Mukta’s attention, she ignored it and avoided responsibility. He also claimed that during attempts for a corrective surgery, the doctor’s husband and others allegedly threatened both the family and medical staff involved. Eventually, the gauze was removed through another operation at a private hospital. The victim’s family has demanded justice and punishment for those responsible. Meanwhile, Dr Rajia Begum Mukta could not be reached for comment at her chamber. When contacted by phone, a staff member said she was seeing patients and would respond later, but the call was later disconnected. Subsequent attempts to reach her went unanswered. Rangpur Civil Surgeon Dr Shahin Sultana said authorities would investigate the matter if a formal complaint is submitted. “It is a very unfortunate incident. We will take action after investigation if we receive a written complaint,” she said.