United News of Bangladesh

Young Iranians who took part in recent nationwide protests have told the BBC that the security forces’ response marked one of the deadliest crackdowns in the history of the Islamic Republic, as human rights groups report thousands of deaths amid a near-total communications blackout. Several protesters from Tehran and other cities said the unrest, which began on Dec 28 over worsening economic conditions, rapidly escalated into mass demonstrations demanding political change. They said the authorities responded with overwhelming force as protests intensified on Jan 8 and 9. A 29-year-old woman from Tehran said the scale of the killings was unprecedented compared with earlier protests. She claimed to personally know at least 13 people who had been killed during the unrest, adding that demonstrations in her area were peaceful before security forces opened fire. Another protester, a 24-year-old man from Tehran, said he had never witnessed such large crowds or such levels of violence. He said many people continued to protest despite the deaths, believing they had nothing left to lose. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), at least 6,159 people have been confirmed killed since the protests began, including protesters, children and individuals affiliated with the government. Hrana said it is investigating reports of thousands more deaths and warned that the confirmed toll is likely to rise. Norway-based group Iran Human Rights has said the final death toll could exceed 25,000. Iranian authorities, however, said more than 3,100 people were killed, claiming most were security personnel or bystanders targeted by what they described as “rioters”. Due to restrictions on international media, foreign journalists have been unable to report freely inside Iran. However, videos verified by the BBC appear to show security forces using live ammunition and pellet guns against crowds. Protesters also described widespread injuries, particularly to the face and eyes, and said hospitals were overwhelmed with wounded demonstrators. Some said they avoided public hospitals for fear of arrest. Several activists and witnesses alleged that authorities pressured families of those killed, demanding large sums of money or requiring victims to be recorded as members of security forces in order to release bodies. Human rights groups say such practices may be intended to intimidate families and obscure the true scale of the killings. The communications shutdown has further deepened fear and uncertainty, with protesters saying they struggled to obtain information about missing friends and relatives during the unrest. Iran’s leadership has blamed foreign powers, particularly the United States, for fomenting the protests, a claim repeatedly rejected by protesters and rights groups.   With inputs from BBC

Bagerhat’s Saberkhanda village was shrouded in grief on Friday evening as a young mother allegedly ended two lives—her nine-month-old son’s and her own—inside the family home. Kaniz Surbana Swarnali, 22, reportedly drowned her infant son, Nazim Hossain Swarnali, in a water bucket before hanging herself, police said.  The child was the only son of Swarnali and her husband, Jewell Hasan Saddam, Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League president, who has been imprisoned in Jessore since his arrest following the student-public uprising on August 5, 2024. Mother and daughter found dead in Keraniganj; tutor and sister held Family sources said Swarnali had been married to Saddam for about five years and had been struggling to secure his release.  Her brother, Shubho, said repeated failures to help her husband led her into severe mental distress. “First she drowned her son in a water bucket, then she hanged herself,” Shubho said.  At the time, the family, including Swarnali’s mother, brother, husband, wife, and child, was living together in Saddam’s home. Swarnali was the daughter of district Jatiya Party leader Ruhul Amin Howlader, connecting the tragedy to two politically known families, though grief struck them all alike. Bagerhat Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md. Shamim Hossain said the bodies were recovered and sent to the morgue for autopsy. “The exact circumstances of the killing will be revealed after the autopsy report,” he added. Police said they are investigating the incident and preparing to file two cases—one for murder and one for unnatural death. As evening fell over Saberkhanda, neighbours were left in stunned silence.  A child who had just begun his life and a mother overwhelmed by despair were both gone, leaving behind a household forever marked by sorrow.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday urged patience, responsibility and national unity following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho and a July Movement activist, who died on Wednesday while receiving treatment in Singapore. In a statement, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the nation is mourning Hadi’s death amid public anger over the failure to ensure his safety. He said while grief and anger among students and the public are understandable, no group should exploit the situation for political gain, warning that such actions could derail the movement from its proper course. Osman Hadi no more Dr Rahman underscored the need for safeguarding media freedom, describing attacks on journalists as attacks on democracy and the rule of law, and stressed that protests must remain peaceful and lawful. He also demanded quick identification and exemplary punishment of those responsible for Hadi’s killing, urging citizens and students to act with restraint and responsibility, adding that national unity and democratic processes are the only way forward during this critical period.

Police on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) arrested Ayesha, the young domestic help who had been working at the flat for only four days, in connection with the murders. She was detained during a drive in Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi around 1pm, said Abdullah Al Mamun, Assistant Commissioner (Mohammadpur zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police under the Tejgaon Division. The victims—Layla Afroz, 48, and her daughter, Nafisa Binte Aziz, 15—were found dead hours earlier by Layla’s husband, AZM Azizul Islam, who rushed home after failing to reach them. Read more: Mother, daughter found dead at Mohammadpur flat He filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station that same night, launching an investigation now centred on the young domestic worker who had recently entered their lives. A Young Helper With Troubled Past According to the case statement, Ayesha had only just begun part-time work at the family’s flat. Police said that she originally hailed from Rangpur but had been staying with an uncle and aunt at Geneva Camp after reportedly losing both her parents in a fire—details that paint a portrait of a vulnerable girl navigating an uncertain life in the capital. Chilling Movements Captured on CCTV Investigators say building CCTV footage has emerged as a crucial piece of evidence. At 7:51am on Monday, Ayesha was seen entering the premises dressed in a burqa. Less than two hours later, at 9:35am, she appeared again—this time in the school uniform of Nafisa, wearing a mask and carrying the teenager’s school bag as she exited the building. Read more: Domestic help sued over Mohammadpur double murder The change of clothing and hurried departure have deepened suspicions about her role in the killings. Missing Valuables, Possible Motive The complainant told police that several items—including a mobile phone, laptop and gold jewellery—were missing from the flat. Investigators say the disappearance of valuables suggests that burglary may have been a motive, though the brutality of the killings points to a crime far more complex. Arrest in Jhalakathi Raises Questions Why Ayesha travelled to Nalchity upazila and who, if anyone, helped her flee remain part of the ongoing inquiry. Her arrest marks a significant breakthrough, but police say they are now focused on retracing her steps between the time she left the flat and her eventual capture. Read more: Mohammadpur Murders: Chilling details emerge as hunt for domestic help intensifies

A murder case has been filed against a woman who used to work as a domestic help in the Mohammadpur flat where a woman and her daughter were found dead on Monday (December 08, 2025). AZM Azizul Islam, husband of the deceased woman and father of the girl, filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station against their domestic aide Aysha. The accused has not been arrested yet. Read more: Motives behind Mohammadpur mother-daughter murders still unclear: Police Assistant Commissioner (Mohammadpur Zone) of DMP's Tejgaon Division Abdullah Al Mamun said an investigation is underway over the murder of Layla Afroz, 48, and her daughter Nafisa Binte Aziz, 15. According to the case statement, the accused, Ayesha, started working as a part-time domestic help at the flat four days earlier. Azizul Islam said he found his wife dead with multiple cut injuries and his daughter critically injured when he returned home around 11am on Monday. His daughter was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital where she was declared dead. Read more: Mohammadpur double murder: Maid disguised herself in victim’s school uniform to flee The complainant said CCTV footage showed the accused entering the flat at 7:51am and leaving around 9:35am with valuables, leading him to believe she killed the two during that period.

A sleepy night in Haluaghat upazila of Mymensingh turned into a scene of horror and grief on Tuesday (11th November 2025) when miscreants killed a father and his minor daughter by slitting-throat after entering their house. The victims-Ratan Mia, 32, and his 7-year-old daughter Nuria Akter, were found dead at their home in Amir Khan Kura village of Baghaitala union around 3am Tuesday. Quoting locals, police said Ratan, a garment worker by profession, had gone to sleep after dinner when assistants entered the house between 2am to 3am. The attackers slaughtered Ratan and his daughter, said police. Read more: Physically-challenged schoolboy among 2 killed in road crashes Besides, the miscreants attempted to slaughter Ratan’s wife Julekha Akter but failed due to her screaming.  She is now undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH). Officer-in-charge Hafizur Rahman of Haluaghat Police Station said on information in the morning they recovered the bodies from the scene and sent them to the MMCH for autopsy. Several teams visited the spot and are working to unveil the reason behind the murder, he said. On July 14 this year, a 25-year-old mother and her seven-year-old daughter were killed by slitting their throats at their house in Bhaluka upazila of the district. Read more: Daylight Murder in Dhaka: Police call slain Mamun a top-listed criminal

Lightning-Killed, Ld Nine people were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Naogaon and Brahmanbaria districts on Sunday. In Kishoreganj three people including a college student were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Kishoreganj district on Sunday. Witnesses said, Faruk Mia, 60, of Rasulpur village in Bhairab upazila was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while he was cutting paddy in the haor areas around 4:30 pm. Three schoolgirls among 4 killed in Kishoreganj lightning strikes Meanwhile, Foysal Mia, 28, son of Yunus Mia of Srinagar union of Bhairab upazila was killed by the lightning strike while going outside during rain in the afternoon. On the other hand, Kabir Hosain, a student of Hazi Asmat College, was killed when a streak of thunderbolt struck him while working at a filed in Kuliarchar upazila in the afternoon. Dr Umme Habiba, medical officer of Bhairab Upazila Health Complex said all of them were brought dead at the hospital. In Brahmanbaria, four people were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Akhaura and Nasirnagar upazilas of the district on Sunday. Quoting witnesses, police said, Abdur Razzak of Tekanagar village in Nasirnagar upazila was killed on the spot by the lightning strike while cutting paddy. Shamsul Huda of Beribadh area of the same upazila was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while working at his field. Meanwhile, two more people were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Akhaura upazila of the district in the afternoon. The deceased were identified as Jamir Kha and Selim Mia. In Habiganj, Saju Mia, 20, was killed by the lightning strike while taking bath at Demikandi village of Ajmiriganj upazila on Sunday afternoon, said officer-in-charge of Ajmiriganj Police Station Shafiqul Islam. In Naogaon, a farmer was killed and another one injured by the lightning strike in Mushumba Diarapara in Manda upazila on Sunday evening. The deceased was identified as Zillur Rahman, 40, son of Ayesh Uddin of the village. Ashekur Rahman, Naogaon District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, said the local administration will provide Tk 20,000 to the family members of the deceased.    

A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced four people to death and two others to life imprisonment in a case filed for killing a hawker in 2021.Judge of the Narayanganj Additional Session Judge Court-4, Mohammad Akteruzzaman Bhuiya handed down the punishment.The condemned convicts were identified as Md Iqbal Hossain, son of Abdus Samad Munshi of Barumdi area of Sonargaon upazila and Md Swapan, 49, son of Nur Islam and Saiman alias Yunus Mia, 26, son of Abdul Mannan, Anwar Hossain Sunny, 27, son of Muhitur Rahman of Barumdi area in Sonargaon upazila. Husband accused of killing wife and child over suspicion of infidelity in NarayanganjThose who got life imprisonment were identified as Hasan Al Mamun, 22, son of Kabir Hossain and Russel Hossain, 27 of Cumilla district. Russel tried in absentia.According to the prosecution, the hawker named Zubayer, 30 was brutally killed by the convicts over setting up a stall on footpath in front of Balaka Petrol Pump on Bangabandhu Road in Narayanganj city on October 14, 2021.Mukta Begum, mother of Zubayer, filed a case against eight people with Sadar Model Police Station.Police submitted chargesheet against six people in this connection.After hearing records and witnesses, the court handed down the punishment and acquitted two more accused in the case as allegations brought against them could not be proved.  

Four people, including three schoolgirls, were killed in lightning strikes in Pakundia and Mithamain upazilas of Kishoreganj district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Faria Jannat Irina, 15, daughter of Jalal Uddin, Audrita Islam Priya, 15, daughter of Badal Mia, and Barsha, 15, daughter of Borhan Uddin, and Katu Mia, 40, son of late Abdul Motaleb. They were class nine students of local Charteki Girls’ School and College and going to the school to attend the scheduled an exam from 1pm. Lightning strike kills 2 siblings in Bogura The institution’s Principal Md Aminul Islam said a streak of thunderbolt struck them around 12:30pm on their way to the school, leaving them critically injured. Pakundia Upazila Health and Family Planning Official Dr Md Nur-e-Alam said Irina and Priya were brought dead and Barsha was shifted to Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital. She succumbed to her injuries there, he said. UNO Md Billal Hossain said the upazila administration provided the families with financial assistance for burial. Besides, farmer Motaleb was killed in lightning strike when he went to a field to fetch cattle amid the thunderstorm during the same time, said Officer-in-Charge of Mithamain police station Shaiful Alam.  

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday submitted  its report accusing eight policemen in a case over the killing of six students during July-August movement  in Dhaka's Chankharpul area. The accused are former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Zone) Shah Alam, former Assistant Commissioner Md Imrul, former Inspector (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station Arshad Hossain, and constables Sujon, Imad Hossain, and Nasirul Islam. This is the first case investigated over the killings that took place during July-August. The 90-page report was prepared and submitted to the prosecution within 195 days of initiating the investigation, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal  Tajul Islam said. “The investigation into Chankharpul  massacre has been completed. The investigation agency submitted the report to us on Sunday .This marks the completion of the first investigation related to the July-August killings,”he said. Families of victims of enforced disappearances demand justice According to the report, six people were killed in Chankharpul on August 5 last year. Tajul Islam said the report includes evidence—collected through various video footages—of direct involvement of some accused in the shooting. Others, mostly senior officials, were charged under the doctrine of command responsibility. Four of the eight accused are currently on the run, the chief prosecutor added.