United News of Bangladesh

Two people, including a woman, were killed and at least 15 others injured when a passenger bus hit two auto-rickshaws in Bhaluka on Friday afternoon. The accident occurred in front of Tafrid Cotton Mill in the Club Bazar area on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. According to police and local sources, a bus coming from Dhaka lost control in the area and rammed into a battery-run auto-rickshaw and a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw. A woman died on the spot as the CNG auto-rickshaw was mangled in the crash. At least 15 passengers of the bus and the auto-rickshaws were injured. Another person succumbed to injuries on the way to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex. The injured were taken to the same health complex for treatment. Senior Station Officer of Bhaluka Fire Service, Atiqur Rahman, said the deceased included a man and a woman, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.

Police have arrested a woman for allegedly killing her mother-in-law in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj. The deceased was identified as Ferdousi Islam Chowdhury, 53, wife of the late Sirajul Islam Chowdhury. Her son, Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, is an expatriate living in Dubai. Ferdousi had been living at the house with her daughter-in-law Tamanna Akhtar, 22. Police said Ferdousi’s body was recovered from her residence on Monday morning with her hands and feet tied and her face taped. The body was later sent to Habiganj Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Police arrested victim’s daughter-in-law Tamanna Akhtar. During initial interrogation, she reportedly confessed to her involvement in the murder. Police said Tamanna had an illicit relationship with a youth from Sunamganj. On the night of the incident, the man, along with two to three accomplices, entered the house. They allegedly broke open a cupboard and looted gold ornaments and cash. When Ferdousi woke up and began to scream, the accused tied her hands and feet, taped her mouth, and later strangled her to death, police said. In this connection, the victim’s brother, Faruk Ahmed, filed a murder case against Tamanna,s alleged lover and several unidentified persons. Nabiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monayem Mia said it was a planned killing. “The main accused has been arrested and drives are underway to arrest the others involved,” he added.

A 55-year-old fisherman was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while he was catching fish in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet district on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Ram Chandra Talukdar, 55, son of Mohananda Talukdar of Dharmapasha upazila in Sunamganj district. He used to live in the Kalairag Natunbazar area. Shafiqul Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Companiganj Police Station, said Ram Chandra died on the spot when a thunderbolt struck him while he was catching fish in the Dhalai River around 9 pm amid rain. The body of Ram Chandra was sent to the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue.

A local leader of Jubo Dal was killed in a gun attack by some miscreants at Doulatpur in Khulna city on Monday. The deceased was identified as Rashiqul Anam Rashu, former organising secretary of the Doulatpur thana unit of Jubo Dal and son of Shariful Anam of the Deyana area of the upazila. Md Farhad, sub-inspector of Doulatpur Police Station, said Rashu was involved in the brick business at KDA Kalpataru in the city. On Monday morning, a group of miscreants appeared there and opened fire at Rashu, targeting his head and leaving him injured, said SI Farhad. Later, he was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The motive behind the killing could not be known immediately.

Two chicken traders were killed when a truck hit a chicken-laden van in Motijheel area of the capital early Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Md Ripon, 45, son of Shakhawat Hossain and Md Sultan, 50, son of Jamshed Ali of Sherpur district. The accident occurred around 4 am when the speedy truck hit the chicken-laden van while taking U-turn in front of Bangabhaban, leaving the two traders injured. Later, they were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where the doctors declared them dead, said Inspector Faruk, in-charge of DMCH police camp.

A motorcyclist was killed after being hit by a truck in Jatrabari area of the capital early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Md Arafat, 19, son of Ruhul Amin of Konapara area of the capital. The accident occurred around 2:15 am when the truck hit the motorcycle carrying two people, leaving Arafat injured. Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where the doctors declared him dead, said Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of DMCH police camp. Police seized the truck but could not arrest its driver as he managed to flee the scene.

Afghanistan’s ground forces attacked Pakistani military positions at 16 locations along the southwestern border early Tuesday and opened fire at several points in the northwest, The clashes killed 67 Afghan and one Pakistani soldier, entering their fifth day. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the country “successfully repelled these multiple attacks” along the Afghan border. In a post on X, he said Afghan troops launched ground assaults in 16 locations across the southwestern districts of Qilla Saifullah, Nushki and Chaman in Balochistan province. In retaliatory action, Pakistani forces killed 27 Afghan security members, he added. Pakistan srikes Afghan targets, claims 300+ killed in border clashes Tarar also said Afghan forces attacked 25 locations in the border areas of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani troops killed 40 Afghan personnel. There was no immediate response from Kabul regarding the casualty figures released by Pakistan. Both sides have repeatedly claimed to have inflicted heavy losses since Thursday, when Afghanistan carried out attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has continued border operations. On Monday, Tarar said 435 Afghan security members had been killed and 31 positions captured in the fighting. In recent days, Kabul has also claimed that its forces inflicted significant damage on Pakistan’s military. Why are Afghanistan and Pakistan fighting? The latest escalation came a day after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari defended the strikes in Afghanistan, saying Islamabad had exhausted all diplomatic options before targeting militants operating from Afghan soil. He urged Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has described its campaign as an “open war” with Afghanistan, raising international concern. The border region remains a base for militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Islamabad has linked a recent surge in violence to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it says operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens to the TTP, an allegation Kabul denies. The renewed clashes have ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October. Talks held in Istanbul failed to reach a permanent agreement, and Pakistani authorities have said operations will continue until Kabul takes practical and verifiable steps to curb the TTP and other militant groups involved in violence in Pakistan.

A 14-year-old boy was killed and his father was injured when a truck knocked them down on Feni-Noakhali regional highway in Dagonbhuiya upazila of Feni district early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Nur Mohammad, son of Nur Alam of Lakshmipur district. The accident occurred around 5 am when a truck ran over them while they were going to a local mosque for offering fajr prayer, leaving Nur Mohammad dead on the spot and his father injured, said Asadul Islam, officer-in-charge of Mohipal Highway Police Station. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital. On information, police recovered the body and seized the truck.

Pakistan’s military, supported by artillery and air power, launched strikes deep inside Afghanistan overnight and into early Saturday, killing more than 300 Afghan forces in days of fierce border clashes, officials said. The fighting began Thursday night after Afghanistan struck Pakistani positions in retaliation for attacks Islamabad said hit seven training camps and hideouts of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate group allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said over 331 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 500 wounded. He added that Pakistan destroyed 102 Afghan posts, captured 22, and destroyed 163 tanks and armoured vehicles at 37 sites. State media reported that Pakistan Air Force targeted key military installations across eastern Afghanistan on Saturday. Authorities said hundreds of residents near the northwestern Torkham border have fled to safer areas, while dozens of Afghan refugees waiting at the border were transported to secure locations inside Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry confirmed its forces struck Pakistani military bases in Miranshah and Spin Wam overnight, destroying installations and causing heavy casualties in response to Pakistan’s airstrikes. The Afghan Department of Information and Culture accused Pakistan of hitting civilian areas, destroying homes, and killing at least 11 people. Mullah Taj Mohammad Naqshbandi, an Afghan border official said,  “brave forces of the Islamic Emirate destroyed the Pakistani military regime’s commissariat, military units, and three key security towers.” The Afghan government claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in its counterattacks, with Afghan losses far lower than Pakistan’s claims. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attacks were “a message that our hands can reach their throats” and criticised Pakistan for avoiding dialogue. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif declared on X that “our patience has run out” and warned of open war. Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Afghanistan had to “choose TTP or Pakistan.” Civilians are struggling amid the conflict, with Afghan refugees at Torkham unable to return home and locals near the border urging a ceasefire. Tensions, which escalated last October, had briefly eased under a Qatari-mediated truce, but peace talks in Turkey failed to produce a lasting deal. Regional powers including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and China are again seeking to mediate. Qatar’s state minister, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, spoke with the foreign ministers of both countries on Friday to try to reduce tensions.  

A BNP activist was beaten to death allegedly over enmity between two factions of the party  at Sipaipara in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi district on Friday. The deceased was identified as Ershad Ali, 65, a member of Yusufpur union unit BNP. Sirajul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Charghat Police Station, said an altercation ensured between the supporters of two BNP leaders—one led by Anwar Hossain Ujjal and another led by Abu Syed Chand MP over making local MP Abu Sayeed chief guest at a programme organised by the local unit BNP. However, the meeting ended without any settlement over the issue. Later, the supporters of Anwar Hossain including Saidur Rahman, Gazi, Sumon ali, Sabbir, Ashadul and others intercepted Ershad when he was returning home after Esha prayer and beat him up mercilessly with sticks, leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital morgue.