United News of Bangladesh

At least 614 people were killed in 616 road accidents across 10 districts of Khulna division between October 2024 and September 2025, according to data from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Khulna regional office. During the same period, 892 vehicles were damaged, with motorcycles involved in the highest number of accidents. Among the districts, Jashore reported the highest number of fatalities, with 107 people killed and 104 injured in 109 accidents. In Khulna district, 34 accidents claimed 43 lives and injured 38, while Bagerhat saw 48 accidents resulting in 45 deaths and 58 injuries. Satkhira reported 39 accidents that left 50 dead and 43 injured, and Narail recorded 25 accidents with 30 deaths and 42 injuries. Magura had 44 accidents that caused 48 deaths and 42 injuries, while Jhenaidah saw 84 accidents with 83 deaths and 44 injuries. Kushtia witnessed 103 accidents with 100 deaths and 104 injuries, Chuadanga 83 accidents with 60 deaths and 74 injuries, and Meherpur 47 accidents with 47 deaths and 65 injuries. Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, deputy director at BRTA Khulna, attributed the high number of road crashes to weak law enforcement, poor coordination, and inadequate driver training. Highway horror under Cumilla region; 525 killed in 9 months Competition among vehicles, the movement of small vehicles such as nosimon, autorickshaws, and rickshaws on highways, and pedestrians’ carelessness were also cited as contributing factors. He said three-wheeled vehicles, particularly autorickshaws, nosimon, karimon, and battery-run rickshaws, are major contributors to road incidents. Babul Hawlader, member secretary of Khulna Civil Society, said reckless driving, poor traffic management, and lax enforcement are fuelling daily road fatalities. He said strategic measures and stronger monitoring by authorities could significantly reduce deaths. Hawlader mentioned that many highway crashes occur when drivers try to overtake others, increasing the risk of head-on collisions. Authorities have underscored the urgent need for stricter traffic regulations, improved road safety infrastructure, and greater driver awareness to curb the rising trend of road accidents across the division.

Preparations for the upcoming national election are nearing completion in Khulna division, with the Election Commission (EC) almost finalising the draft list of polling centres and updated voter rolls across its 10 districts. According to EC data, the number of voters in the division has increased by 4.71 percent compared to the last parliamentary election. The total number of registered voters now stands at 14,080,722. However, the figure may change slightly before the announcement of the official election schedule, suspect officials. Like previous, the number of female voters has mounted more than male voters this time, indicating the sign of women’s engagement in the electoral process. Among the 10 districts, Jashore recorded the highest increase in voter numbers while Meherpur positioned on the contrary. The total number of polling centres in the division has also gone up by 147 but the number of polling booths has decreased by 3,090 compared to the previous election. EC officials said that data collection and verification work for the upcoming election are almost complete. Information on voter numbers, polling centres and booths of the division has been compiled and requisition letters have been sent to various government and educational institutions for election duties. Election preparations going on in full swing, reaffirms CEC Nasir A total of 5,131 polling centres have been initially designated for the next election in the division — up from the 4,984 centres used in the previous election. However, the number of polling booths has been reduced from 30,253 to 27,163. The EC reported that the reduction in booths was due to an adjustment in voter allocation per booth from 500 men and 400 women previously, to 600 and 500 respectively in the upcoming election. Renovation work for polling centres requiring repair is also nearing completion, according to officials. Regional election officials said that the number of voters is increasing regularly due to new registrations, changes in voter addresses, and other factors. As of now, according to the EC office, the division’s total number of voters has increased by a record margin of 633,939 since the last parliamentary election. During the 12th election, the total was 13,446,783 but now it stands at 14,080,722, an increase by 4.71 percent. Of this increase, female voters rose by 343,970, while male voters grew by 289,922. In terms of district-wise growth, Jashore tops the list with 107,211 new voters, followed by Kushtia with 83,058, Khulna with 78,371, Jhenaidah with 75,291, Satkhira with 70,201, Bagerhat with 64,138, Magura with 51,857, Chuadanga with 43,058, Narail with 35,570, and Meherpur with the lowest increase of 24,640. Bagerhat saw the largest increase in polling centres with 60, while Chuadanga was the only district to record a decrease, losing 5 centres. Fakhrul welcomes Yunus’ directive, hopes for prompt election preparations by EC The number of centres rose by 47 in Khulna, 21 in Kushtia, 7 in Satkhira, 6 in Meherpur, 5 in Magura, 3 in Jhenaidah, 2 in Jashore, and 1 in Narail. Meanwhile, the number of third-gender (Hijra) voters in Khulna division also rose by 47, bringing the total to 134 registered Hijra voters. Khulna Regional Election Officer Faisal Quader said, “We have collected all relevant data, including voter lists, polling centers, and booth information for the upcoming national election in all 10 districts of the division. These figures may still change slightly, as voter registration continues.” He also said the division has seen a record increase in the number of voters, particularly women and that both polling centres and booths have undergone necessary adjustments ahead of the next polls.

Dengue infections are rising sharply in Khulna Division exposing  gaps in hospital preparedness and treatment capacity. In just one week leading up to July 4, at least 117 new patients were hospitalised  in 10 districts in the division, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Last year, more than 10,000 people in Khulna Division contracted dengue, with 35 fatalities reported.  Health officials are now expressing concern over an unusually early spike in cases this year, with many patients showing atypical symptoms such as severe shivering, vomiting, and extreme fatigue. Although dengue season typically runs from August to December the rise in infections this year has begun as early as June and July.  Hospitals are admitting new patients daily, they said. Tanzila Akter, currently undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital,  said, “After the fever started, my body began to shake and I started vomiting. The doctors diagnosed it as dengue. I’ve never felt anything like this before.” In another case, the sister of Solaiman Mia, a dengue patient from Sharankhola in Bagerhat, said, “My brother works in the fields. He might have been bitten by a mosquito there. We first took him to the upazila hospital but when the fever didn’t subside and tests confirmed dengue we had to bring him to Khulna.” 116 medical teams to provide treatment to Khulna dengue patients Relatives of several patients have raised concerns about the lack of dedicated dengue treatment facilities.  Rafiqul Islam, a caregiver,  said, “There are no separate arrangements for dengue patients in the hospital. Without isolation, there’s a risk to others too.” Doctors said unlike previous outbreaks, many of this year’s dengue patients are experiencing fever along with intense shivering, vomiting, and extreme fatigue.  In neighbouring coastal district Barguna, dengue has reached alarming levels, with health experts linking the outbreak to stored rainwater used due to the scarcity of clean water in the salinity-hit district.  Similar practices of water storage in drums, tanks, and pots are common in parts of coastal districts Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat, increasing the risk of Aedes mosquito breeding. Advocate Babul Hawlader, Member Secretary of the Khulna Citizens' Committee, expressed dissatisfaction with the local authorities.  “Despite the looming threat, the city corporation’s anti-mosquito drive appears to be weaker than last year. Hospital preparedness is also lacking,” he said. Dr Kazi Didarul Islam, Professor at the Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline of Khulna University, said, “This year, we’re seeing an early spike in dengue cases, and new symptoms suggest a different strain—possibly dengue serotype 1. Standard larvicide spraying alone will not be effective. A comprehensive and coordinated response is essential, and the time to act is now.” Meanwhile, Dr Md Mojibur Rahman, Director of DGHS in Khulna Division, said that directives have been given  to all districts to intensify mosquito control measures and keep hospitals ready to handle a surge in patients.

The Awami League won a comfortable two-thirds majority for a fourth election in a row on Sunday (January 07, 2024), in 299 out of 300 constituencies, and a strong showing by independent candidates as predicted. Ruling party candidates won in 222 seats in Sunday’s election, while independent candidates — most of them belonging to AL — won 62 seats. Read more: Election 2024: List of winners from Chattogram division Here’s the list of candidates from Khulna division who won in the National Election 2024:

Seven more people died of Covid-19 and 130 others tested positive in Khulna division in 24 hours till Monday morning, health officials said. Of the deceased three died in Jashore, two in Kushtia, one each in Khulna and Narail, said Divisional Health Director of the health directorate Dr Jashim Uddin Hawlader. With the fresh figures, the total fatalities in the division have  reached 3,086. The fresh numbers took the total caseload to 1,10,870. Besides, 538 more patients recovered from Covid during this period. In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. However, Khulna district has so far recorded 782 fatalities which is the highest in the division.

Khulna division has logged 34 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning, as the Delta variant of the deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the country. According to the health director's office, nine people died in Kushtia, six in Jashore, four each in Khulna and Meherpur, three each in Magura and Jhenaidah, two each in Bagerhat and Narail, and one in Chuadanga district. Read: Covid: Khulna aims to inoculate over 1.16 lakh residents The total death toll in the division has now reached 2,554, officials said. Besides, some 817 new Covid infections have been detected in 10 districts of the division in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total cases to 97,693. Earlier, 35 people died of Covid-19 in the division on Wednesday, while 745 people were found infected with the virus. Read:Khulna div registers another 40 Covid deaths, 880 cases In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. So far, 75,320 people have been recovered from Covid in the division.

Khulna division has logged 31 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, as the Delta variant of the deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the country. According to the health director's office, eight people died in Khulna, seven each in Jashore and Kushtia, four in Jhenaidah, three in Meherpur and one each in Chuadanga and Magura districts. Read:Khulna div registers another 40 Covid deaths, 880 cases The total death toll in the division has now reached 2,485, officials said. Besides, some 946 new Covid infections have been detected in 10 districts of the division in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total cases to 96,131. Earlier, 26 people died of Covid-19 in the division on Friday, while 1,373 people were found infected with the virus. Read: Khulna division sees 46 Covid deaths amid deepening crisis In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. So far, 72,872 people have been recovered from Covid in the division.

Khulna division has logged 41 new Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Thursday. According to the health director's office, 15 people died in Khulna, nine in Kushtia, five in Jhenaidah, four in Jashore, three in Meherpur, two each in Narail and Magura, and one in Chuadanga district. Read:16 more die of Covid at Khulna hospitals Besides, some 1,019 new Covid infections have been detected in 10 districts of the division in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total cases to 91,568. Similarly, the total death toll in the division has now reached 2,335, said the officials. Earlier on Wednesday, some 866 people tested positive for Covid-19 while some 31 succumbed to the virus, according to the divisional health department. Read: Khulna division sees 46 Covid deaths amid deepening crisis In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. So far, 66,580 people have been recovered in the division.

Khulna division has logged 31 new Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Wednesday. According to the health director's office, nine people died in Khulna, six in Jashore, five in Kushita, four in Jhenaidah, three in Magura, two in Chuadanga, and one each in Bagerhat and Meherpur districts. Read: Khulna division sees 46 Covid deaths amid deepening crisis Besides, some 866 new Covid infections have been detected in 10 districts of the division in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total cases to 90,549. Similarly, the total death toll in the division has now reached 2,294, said the officials. Earlier on Tuesday, some 1,435 people tested positive for Covid-19 while some 46 succumbed to the virus, according to the divisional health department. Read:Khulna division logs 33 new Covid deaths In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020. So far, 65,461 people have been recovered in the division.

Khulna division has logged 46 Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Tuesday. According to the health director's office, 18 people died in Kushtia, nine in Khulna, four each in Chuadanga and Meherpur, two each in Bagerhat, Jashore, Narail, Magura and Jhenaidah, and one in Satkhira district. Read: Khulna division logs 45 more deaths The total death toll in the division has now reached 2,263, said the health officials. Some 1,435 people tested positive for Covid-19 during the period, according to the divisional health department. Some 89,883 cases have been detected in 10 districts of the division since the onset of Covid. Read:Covid claims 52 more lives in Khulna division 1,165 fresh cases recorded In Khulna division, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Chuadanga on March 19, 2020.