United News of Bangladesh

Ten people, including women and children, remained stranded at the zero line along the Panchagarh border for more than 36 hours on Saturday after efforts by border forces of Bangladesh and India failed to resolve a standoff over an alleged push-in attempt. According to local sources and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) attempted to push the group into Bangladesh through the Barabari Pradhanpara border area in Harivasa union of Panchagarh Sadar upazila early Friday. However, BGB personnel prevented their entry and refused to accept them, maintaining its stance against any form of push-in. The BSF also did not take the group back, leaving them stranded at the border. A flag meeting between BGB and BSF officials was held on Saturday in an effort to resolve the situation, but no agreement was reached. The group has been staying near the zero line on the Indian side of the border since Friday morning. After enduring intense heat during the day, they spent the night in heavy rain under the open sky. Local residents expressed concern over their condition, particularly that of the women and children. "It was difficult even for people indoors to cope with the heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout the night. They had to remain outside with no shelter," said a local resident, urging the authorities concerned to find a quick solution. BGB sources said patrol members stopped the alleged push-in attempt soon after it began on Friday. A company commander-level flag meeting was later held, but the issue remained unresolved. Commanding Officer of the Nilphamari 56 BGB Battalion, Lt Col Md Sirajul Islam, said BGB would not accept any kind of push-in. "Border surveillance and patrol activities have been strengthened round the clock," he said.

A total of 51 people were killed and 65 others injured in 42 road accidents in Sylhet division in May, marking the highest monthly death toll from road crashes this year, according to a report. Of the deceased, 20 were motorcycle riders or passengers. The highest number of fatalities was reported in Sylhet district, while the lowest was recorded in Moulvibazar district. Elderly man killed in Sylhet road crash The Sylhet divisional committee of Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA) revealed the data in a report published on Saturday. According to the report, 17 road accidents occurred in Sylhet district in May, leaving 21 people dead and 40 injured. In Sunamganj, 13 accidents killed 16 people and injured 20 others. In Moulvibazar, five accidents left five people dead and two injured, while in Habiganj, seven accidents killed nine people and injured three others. The report said nine people were killed in nine Eid-related road accidents. Altogether, 42 road accidents occurred in the division during the month. It identified reckless driving, competition among drivers, overtaking, the failure of motorcyclists to use standard helmets, a lack of awareness among pedestrians, and flaws in road design as the major causes behind the high number of fatalities. Zahirul Islam Mishu, joint organising secretary of NISCHA's central committee, said the report was prepared based on information gathered from five local newspapers, online news portals, two national dailies, presumed unreported incidents, and data collected by NISCHA sub-branches in Sylhet. The report also said that in April, 15 people were killed and 58 injured in 19 road accidents across Sylhet division.

A case has been filed with Goalunda Ghat Police Station in Rajbari over the incident in which a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River from a pontoon at the Daulatdia Ferry Terminal on Friday morning. Abuzar Gifari, Sub-Inspector of Daulatdia River Police Station, filed the case late Friday night. The accused include bus driver Md Jhantu Ali, 48, of Alampur in Kushtia Sadar upazila; supervisor Md Ajmal Hossain, 38, of Sugribpur in Kushtia; and helper Shakib Hossain, 22, also from Alampur. Unidentified officials of SB Super Deluxe (Non-AC) Paribahan, the bus operator (registration number Dhaka Metro-B-15-5649), were also named in the case. According to the complaint, the accident caused damage to ferry infrastructure and passengers’ belongings estimated at around Tk 3 lakh. It said that the members of the Daulatdia River Police Outpost were on duty at the terminal on Friday morning when the Dhaka-bound SB Super Deluxe bus, travelling from Gangni in Meherpur, arrived at the ferry ghat. Following government directives, officials from the River Police and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) instructed the driver to disembark all passengers before boarding the ferry. Around 37 to 40 passengers got off the bus and proceeded on foot toward the ferry. The complaint alleges that driver Jhantu Ali then started the bus and drove it recklessly. Instead of boarding the designated ferry, Bir Shrestha Jahangir, he reportedly crossed the pontoon and entered another ferry, Karbi Oxfam. The bus then struck the ramp at speed, snapping its chain and safety belt before plunging into the Padma River. River Police said the bus supervisor and helper managed to jump onto the ferry before the vehicle fell into the river. The driver swam to the pontoon and was rescued by police personnel and locals before being taken to Goalundo Upazila Health Complex. The sunken bus was salvaged at around 11:55 am with assistance from the rescue vessel Hamza. It was later seized and taken into River Police custody. The vehicle sustained extensive damage, including twisted bodywork and broken glass. The complaint also states that the ramp, cable and chain of the Karbi Oxfam ferry were damaged. In addition, passengers reportedly lost or damaged luggage and personal belongings in the incident. Md Shafiqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Goalandaghat Police Station said the three named accused were arrested and sent to court on Saturday. River Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. Goaland Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sathi Das said belongings recovered after the accident had been verified and returned to their owners. Earlier, the incident occurred at about 9:25 am on Friday in the Daulatdia ferry ghat area.   END/UNB/Corr/SIS/ssk

A young girl has allegedly been raped by four people at Gachabari Madhyapara in Shaghata upazila of Gaibandha district early Saturday. Mahbubur Rhman, Officer-in-Charge of Shaghata Police Station, said the victim, daughter of a Bangladeshi expatriate in Saudi Arabia, had an affair with local Muktar Hossain. Around 1:30 am, Muktar asked the girl to come out from her house and met him. 12-year-old schoolgirl found 5 months pregnant in Chandpur; elderly neighbour accused of rape At one stage, some miscreants chased them and managed to catch the girl while her lover managed to flee. Later, they took the girl to a bamboo bush owned by Gafur Ali and violated her in turns overnight, said police. The victim raised hue and cry for help and local people then managed to catch three people—Nirob Mia, Labu Hasan and Rahmat Ullah—from the spot. While another one Shwadhin Mia managed to flee. A case was filed with Shaghata Police Station, said OC Mahbub.

Three people suffered burn injuries in an explosion apparently from accumulated gas due to leak in gas pipeline at a house at Paikpara in Mirpur area of the capital early Saturday. The injured were identified as Miraz, 26, Sujon, 24 and Biplab, 24. Dr Shaown Bin Rahman, resident surgeon of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said the explosion occurred around 4:30 am when lighting a cigarette, leaving three young men injured. Among them, Miraz received 15 percent burn injuries while Sujon and Biplab were admitted with 24 percent and 10 percent burn injuries, respectively at the hospital, he said.

Rows of mango trees laden with fruit stretch across the horizon in Naogaon, Bangladesh’s one of the largest mango-producing districts. In orchards across Sapahar, Porsha and other upazilas, farmers are now busy with the final stages of care, hoping for a profitable harvest after overcoming weather-related challenges. The district’s signature Amrapali mango, which accounts for the largest share of local production, is expected to hit markets by mid or late June. But despite producing a substantial portion of the country’s mangoes, Naogaon still lacks large-scale processing industries or preservation facilities that could protect farmers from market volatility and post-harvest losses, said farmers. Growers said rising production costs and labour wages continue to squeeze profit margins, while traders often dictate prices during peak harvest periods. When supply surges, they allege, groups of traders work together to push down prices, leaving farmers with little bargaining power. The absence of mango-based industries has compounded the problem. According to local traders, mangoes worth an estimated Tk 300-400 crore spoil every season due to inadequate storage and processing facilities. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), mango cultivation has expanded to 30,310 hectares in Naogaon this season, with a production target of 450,000 tonnes. Last year, mangoes were grown on 30,300 hectares, yielding around 375,000 tonnes. “We have only 25 to 30 days to sell Amrapali mangoes after they start ripening,” said Redwanur Rahman Mun, a grower from Kuchkurilia village in Sapahar upazila. “Farmers cannot keep the fruit on the trees beyond that period. When the market is flooded with mangoes, traders lower prices, forcing us to sell at reduced rates. A large cold storage facility or mango-based industry could save farmers from such losses,” he said. Motour Rahman, a farmer from Amoir village in Porsha upazila, said weather conditions had been less favourable for mango cultivation this year compared to previous seasons. “Almost all orchards have fewer fruits this season. Last year, I sold Amrapali mangoes at Tk 1,500 to Tk 4,000 per maund depending on quality. This year, if prices fall below Tk 3,000 per maund, it will be difficult even to recover production costs,” he said. He added that a mango processing zone could help stabilise prices and ensure fair returns for growers. Sapahar, home to what traders describe as the country’s largest mango market, attracts thousands of buyers from across Bangladesh every season. Imam Hossain Rifat, general secretary of the Sapahar Mango Traders Association, said the seasonal market handles mango transactions worth Tk 6,000-7,000 crore annually. “Nearly 20 percent of our mango production goes to waste every year, representing losses of around Tk 300-400 crore,” he said. “Establishing large-scale processing industries would benefit not only farmers but also traders. It would create a sustainable market for surplus production and reduce wastage significantly.” Agriculture officials acknowledge the need for infrastructure to support the sector. Humayra Mondal, deputy director of DAE in Naogaon, said the issue has been raised at various coordination meetings involving government agencies. “We have proposed the establishment of cooling houses and packing houses in  Sapahar region under a project focused on producing export-quality mangoes,” she said. “These facilities would help preserve fruit quality, reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ profitability.” For now, however, Naogaon’s mango growers continue to rely on a short marketing window and uncertain market prices. As production continues to rise, stakeholders said investment in processing industries, cold-chain infrastructure and export-oriented facilities is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has recovered over 1 lakh yaba pills during a special operation at the Jaruliacchhari border area in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Friday morning. The operation was conducted at around 7:30am under the directive of the battalion commander by a special patrol team of Jaruliacchhari Border Outpost (BOP) under Naikhongchhari Battalion (11 BGB). BGB foils attempt to push in 17 through Naogaon border During the patrol, the team conducted the raid in Poabun area, approximately 200 yards inside Bangladesh territory from border pillar 46/4-S. Sensing the presence of the patrol team, smugglers fled towards nearby hilly forest leaving behind two bags. Later, the abandoned bags were searched and a total of 1,00,841 pieces of yaba tablets  were recovered. The estimated seizure value of the drugs is Tk 3,02,52,300. Lieutenant Colonel Md Foyzul Kabir, commanding officer of Naikhongchhari Battalion (11 BGB), said BGB operations are being conducted continuously to ensure border security, prevent smuggling and human trafficking, control illegal infiltration, recover illegal arms, and curb drug trafficking and to implement the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against drugs, while strict surveillance and intelligence activities continue along the border areas.

A farmer was killed after being struck by lightning during thunderstorms in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur on Friday noon. The deceased was identified as Nabi Hossain Mizi, 27, son of Monir Hossain Mizi of Noa Bari in Saishanga village under Gupti West Union.   Lightning strikes leave 9 dead in four northern districts Md Jilon, local UP member, said that thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain began before Friday’s Jumu’ah prayers. At that time, Nabi Hossain Mizi was returning home after finishing work from Bhotal village. As he was walking home through a path beside a paddy field near his residence, he was suddenly struck by lightning and collapsed on the spot. Locals rushed him to the Upazila Health Complex, where the attending doctors declared him dead.

A tractor driver died after his vehicle overturned and plunged into the Padma River while ploughing farmland in Charbhadrasan upazila of Faridpur. The deceased was identified as Joy Biswas, 20, son of Golam Ali Biswas of Shahbazpur village in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah district. His body was recovered around 11am on Friday from the riverbank area of Balurghat village under Char Jhaukanda union with the assistance of the Fire Service, police and local residents said. According to police and local sources, Joy was employed as the driver of a TAFE tractor owned by Mohammad Ali, a resident of Balurghat village. He had been ploughing agricultural land in the area for the past two days. The accident occurred around 1am on Thursday night while Joy was cultivating a field near the Padma River embankment. The tractor reportedly went out of control and overturned into the river, leaving the driver trapped underneath. As no one else was present at the scene at the time, the incident went unnoticed until Friday morning when locals spotted parts of the tractor, including a wheel, floating in the river and informed police. A team from Charbhadrasan Fire Service launched a rescue operation and recovered Joy's body. Wahidul Islam, station officer of Charbhadrasan Fire Service, said the tractor had partially sunk near the riverbank. “We suspect the driver may have fallen asleep or that a portion of the riverbank collapsed, causing the accident,” he said. Confirming the incident, Sub-Inspector Mozammel Haque Biswas of Charbhadrasan Police Station said an inquest report had been prepared and the victim’s family had been informed. Further legal steps will be taken after discussions with the family members, he added.

A madrasa teacher was beaten by a mob and subsequently handed over to the police on Friday morning after allegedly attempting to sexually assault a student in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha. The accused, Rabiul Islam, is a teacher at Jamia Qawmi Darul Uloom Madrasa in the Bonarpara area of the upazila. He hails from Boalia village under Gaibandha Sadar upazila and joined the institution about a month ago. According to eyewitnesses and local sources, taking advantage of the Friday weekly holiday when the campus was deserted, Rabiul called the student from his home over the phone. Once the student arrived, the teacher took him inside the madrasa's office room and attempted to sexually assault him. Following a scuffle, the student managed to scream for help. Hearing his cries, locals rushed to the spot, rescued the boy, and caught Rabiul red-handed. The agitated crowd then dragged the teacher out of the room and administered a mass beating before turning him over to the Bonarpara police investigation centre. The madrasa is located adjacent to the Railway Banmari field in Shimultair village under Bonarpara union of Saghata upazila. Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Saghata Police Station, confirmed the incident, stating that the accused teacher is currently in police custody. "The process of filing a formal case against Rabiul Islam is underway,’’ the OC added.