United News of Bangladesh

At least 33 people, including women and children, were bitten by a dog suspected to be rabid at different places in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia within about an hour on Wednesday evening. The incident took place between around 6:30pm and 7:30pm in the Hall Bazar, Amtala, Indra Mor and Haytapara areas. Pratyay Biswas, an assistant surgeon at Kumarkhali Upazila Health Complex, said at least 33 people were taken to the hospital with dog-bite injuries. He said many of the victims sustained serious wounds. Of them, 27 received anti-rabies vaccines, while the remaining six were advised to visit the hospital on Thursday morning. Locals said a black dog, suspected to be rabid, was seen roaming through different parts of the town and biting people. The dog was reportedly seen in Amtala, Hall Bazar and Indra Mor before heading towards the Haytapara area of Charaikol in Nandolalpur union. Md Roknuzzaman, one of the victims, said the dog suddenly bit him on the leg and ran away while he was standing in the Hall Bazar area. He was later taken to the health complex, where doctors administered an anti-rabies vaccine. Around 8pm, Afzal Hossain, an elderly resident of Haytapara area, also went to the hospital after being bitten by the dog. Doctors advised him to return to the hospital the following day. Acting Kumarkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Navid Sarowar said over the phone that many people received treatment at the hospital after being bitten by the dog. “Efforts are underway to identify the dog and take necessary measures,” he said.  

The bodies of former Laxmipur Model Union Parishad Chairman Selim Khan and his son Shanto Khan were exhumed from their graves in Sadar upazila of Chandpur district on Wednesday for autopsies following a court order. Selim’s body was exhumed first, followed by that of his son Shanto, in the presence of Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Prottoy Hasem and the investigating officer of a case filed over their deaths, Sub-inspector Chand Mia. Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Foyez Ahmed said the exhumation was completed following the court order and approval from the deputy commissioner for appointing an executive magistrate. Selim was the chairman of Laxmipur Model Union Parishad and president of the union unit of Awami League, which now faces a ban on its activities. He was also involved in newspaper publishing and owned film production and distribution company Shapla Media. His son Shanto Khan worked as a film actor.  

A 45-year-old worker was killed and four others were injured when a boiler at a rice husking mill exploded at Hapania in Sadar upazila of Naogaon district on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Abdul Khalek, son of Basir Uddin of Sadar upazila. The boiler of the husking mill, owned by one Isarat Ali, exploded with a loud bang in the morning, leaving five people injured, said Rezaul Karim, sub-inspector of Sadar Model Police Station. Later, the injured were taken to Naogaon 25-bed Hospital, where doctors declared Abdul Khalek dead. Police are investigating the incident, said the OC.

A case has been filed over allegedly forcing Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Jawadul Haque and his personal secretary Section Officer Nazmul Hossain to sign resignation letters at gunpoint. Nazmul Hossain, the VC’s personal secretary, filed the case with Rajpara police station in Rajshahi city on Tuesday night accusing 50-60 unidentified people. Police later arrested Abdus Salam, vice-president of Rajpara thana BNP, from his residence in the Paramedical area of the city in connection with the case. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said Nazmul filed the case over the alleged forced resignation, obstruction of government duties, intimidation, physical assault, looting of government property and confinement at the university. After the case was recorded, police arrested Salam late at night and are trying to identify and arrest other accused persons by examining video footage, he said. Meanwhile, university officials and employees formed a human chain on Wednesday protesting the alleged humiliation, assault, threats to the VC’s life and forcing him to sign a resignation letter. The campus has remained tense since the incident, while officials and employees said they were unable to perform their duties despite attending the campus. “An environment conducive to work has not been created at the university. The entire campus remains tense. Following such an incident involving the head of the university, everyone is feeling insecure,” said Deputy Registrar Dr Md Mofakhharul Islam. On Tuesday, leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated Krishak Dal allegedly entered the VC’s office and forced him to sign a resignation letter prepared by them. He was subsequently removed from his office. When his personal secretary Nazmul Hossain tried to protect the VC he was also assaulted and forced to sign a resignation letter. Talking to reporters later, VC Dr Jawadul Haque said some people backed by contractors and political groups had earlier held a human chain demanding his resignation. “They would often ask me for contract work. Their demand was that I forcibly arrange work for them,” he said. “At around 11:30am yesterday, they suddenly forced their way into my office. They accused me of giving work to a contractor from Dhaka instead of them. At one point, they humiliated me by calling me an Awami League accomplice. They created a mob, snatched my mobile phone and, threatening to kill me, forced me to sign a resignation letter they had prepared,” he said. The VC said the group then removed him from the office and locked it after obtaining his signature. “A person cannot be forced to resign like this. But there is no situation in which I can return to the office. They confined my personal secretary Nazmul Hossain and subjected him to mental and physical harassment. They also took away the hard disk of the office’s CCTV system and the CPU of a computer. This is not a resignation through any lawful process; it is an act of terrorism,” he said. Nazmul Hossain said the attackers were armed. “They had weapons. They forced me to sign while holding weapons against me. This was not a resignation; it was done at gunpoint,” he said. Several attempts were made to contact Sharafuzzaman Shamim, convener of the Rajshahi city unit of Krishak Dal, for his comments, but he did not respond. Meanwhile, doctors from different levels of the profession held a protest meeting and human chain in front of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Wednesday morning, protesting the alleged forcing of the RMU VC to resign through mob. Under the banner of the medical community of Rajshahi, the protesters demanded legal action against those involved in the incident.

Seven years after the killing of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad, his elderly parents are still waiting to see the execution of the verdict in the case. A Dhaka court in December 2021 sentenced 20 people to death and five others to life imprisonment in the sensational murder case that sparked huge outcry across the coutnry. The High Court upheld the sentences on March 16, 2025. However, the judicial process has not yet reached its final stage as appeals against the High Court verdict remain pending before the Appellate Division. Abrar’s family said although verdicts have been delivered at two levels of the judiciary, their wait for the case to reach its conclusion continues. Abrar’s younger brother Abrar Faiyaz said the killing had a profound impact not only on their family but also on the country’s political and social landscape. “Fascism’s exit began with Abrar Fahad’s murder. But the trial of those responsible for the killing that contributed to the change in Bangladesh’s political scenario is still unfinished,” he told over the phone. He said his family contacted the relevant authorities after the High Court verdict in March 2025, but were told that cases are being dealt with according to their serial numbers. “Cases can be taken up earlier in the serial. But they are hesitant to bring this case forward. We have contacted everyone we needed to. Now there is nothing left for us to do but wait,” he said. “We do not know what is preventing the execution of the verdict. At this point, it feels like nothing but neglect,” Faiyaz said. Abrar’s father, Md Barkat Ullah, also expressed frustration over the delay. “Execution of the verdict against Abrar’s killers is not only my family’s demand; it is the demand of people across Bangladesh. Yet the sentences are not being carried out. I am not the only one disappointed by this — everyone in the country is,” he said over the phone. “We still have not received complete justice. I appeal to the government to complete the judicial process as soon as possible,” he said. Barkat Ullah said the family never imagined that their son, a student of one of the country’s premier educational institutions, would be brutally killed in such a manner. National Citizens Party (NCP) Kushtia district member secretary Sultan Mahmud Talha said the authorities should take steps to execute the court verdict. “The movement against fascism began with Abrar Fahad’s killing. That system has since been removed, and successive governments are benefiting from the circumstances created by his killing. They should ensure the execution of the sentences,” he said. Abrar, a student of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department at BUET, was beaten to death at Sher-e-Bangla Hall on the night of Oct 6, 2019. His father filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station. After investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against 25 BUET students on Nov 13, 2019. After more than two years of trial, a Dhaka court sentenced 20 accused to death and five to life imprisonment on Dec 8, 2021. The High Court later upheld the sentences after hearing the death references and appeals filed by the convicts. The killing sparked widespread protests and public outrage and prompted renewed debate over student politics, political influence on campuses and violence in residential halls.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Tuesday foiled an attempt by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India to push seven people into Bangladesh through Malkadanga border in Boda upazila of Panchagarh. The group, comprising six men and a woman, eventually returned to Indian territory through the same border point that night after facing resistance from the BGB. According to BGB sources, the seven were spotted near Malkadanga border area while attempting to enter Bangladesh on Tuesday morning. BGB personnel deployed there intercepted them and prevented their entry. The group subsequently remained near the border throughout the day. Later at night, they returned to India amid heightened vigilance by the BGB. Lt Col Sarkar Asif Mahmud, commander of the Nilphamari-56 BGB Battalion said the BGB has adopted a strict stance against smuggling, illegal border crossings, push-ins and other border-related crimes.

A devastating fire destroyed historic Jhalmhal Cinema Hall and around 20 adjoining business establishments in Gauripur municipality of Mymensingh early Wednesday. The fire broke started around 2:15am apparently from a LPG gas cylinder warehouse near the cinema hall, said Fire Service and Civil Defence Assistant Director Purna Chandra Mutsuddi.  Four units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control after nearly two hours of efforts. The fire completely gutted the cinema hall and 15-20 adjoining businesses including the LPG cylinder warehouse, a decoration shop and a second-hand clothing shop. Local administration and Fire Service officials are working to assess the extent of damage. The exact amount of financial losses will be determined after an investigation, officials said. Jhalmhal Cinema Hall is housed in a historic century-old zamindar mansion in Gauripur. The old zamindar residence had been used as the venue for the cinema hall.

A youth was shot and seriously injured by unidentified attackers near the second gate lof BL College in the city’s Daulatpur early Wednesday. The injured, Mahidul Islam, 22, son of Shawkat Khan of Muksudpur, Gopalganj, works at an oil depot. Police said 8-10 youths surrounded Mahidul at around 6:30 am while he was having breakfast at a hotel and opened fire, hitting him in the abdomen. Locals rushed him to Khulna Medical College Hospital. SI of Daulatpur Police Station Md Abdur Razzak said police visited the spot after receiving the information and trying to collect CCTV footage from the area.

Police have arrested a man for allegedly hanging a garland of shoes on the incomplete and distorted sculpture of Bir Sreshtho Hamidur Rahman at the central bus terminal area in Jhenaidah city. The arrestee is Abdur Rahman Samrat, son of Shahadat Hossain of Kanchannagar village. Police arrested him from the village on Tuesday night. Jhenaidah Superintendent of Police Miah Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan said police formed several special teams and activated the Detective Branch after learning about the incident. They examined CCTV footage and arrested Abdur Rahman. “He confessed that he was solely involved in the incident,” the SP said. Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner Md Noman Hossain said such disrespect to a memorial of the Liberation War and a Bir Sreshtho would not be tolerated. “Following an emergency meeting, the district administration has formed an impartial investigation committee with the highest priority. Regardless of who is behind this heinous act, strict legal action will be taken under a zero-tolerance policy,” he said. Several photographs showing a garland of shoes tied with a rope around the head of the sculpture spread on social media around noon Tuesday, triggering widespread anger, tension and condemnation across the district.

A cashier of Barishal Government Women’s College died allegedly after jumping from the Barishal Chief Judicial Magistrate Court building on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Md Nazmul Haq, 35. He jumped from the 6th floor of the 10-storey court building around 4:00pm, said Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station. He was rescued in critical condition and taken to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where an emergency department physician declared him dead. Court Police Inspector Tarak Biswas said police went to the spot after receiving information that someone fell from the court building and found Nazmul there. However, it could not be known immediately why Nazmul went to the court building and reason behind the fall. Police were investigating the incident, the OC said.