United News of Bangladesh

As winter settles over Narail, open fields in Shalua of Maijpara Union and Sholpur of Singasholpur Union transform into makeshift drying yards where the district’s famed dry fish season begins in earnest. For the communities here, the annual cycle is more than a tradition — it is a vital source of income that supports hundreds of families. Dry fish has long been considered a staple across the region, but in Narail it is an economic backbone. Fishermen, labourers, small traders, and transporters all rely on the trade, which has earned the district recognition as a notable hub for producing chemical-free dry fish. On raised bamboo macha, fish sourced daily from canals, beels, and rivers are cleaned, salted and arranged under the open sky to dry. The process is entirely natural, a fact that locals say has boosted demand in recent years. Read more: Fish export to India halted thru Akhaura land port Since this dry fish is prepared without any chemicals and in a safe environment, demand is increasing day by day, villagers said. Among those who travel to Narail for seasonal work are Md Kabir Sheikh and Kamrul Sheikh from Muksudpur in Gopalganj. They spend the winter months drying varieties such as climbing perch (koi) and glassy perchlet (chanda), along with the widely popular chapa shutki. No chemicals are used — only salt, they said, as rows of fish dried slowly under the sun. While the work continues smoothly, selling remains a challenge. Fisherman Md Mosa Mia said lower water levels during winter make it easier to catch different local species, allowing producers to buy raw fish at relatively low prices. The difficulty lies in accessing the market. “We buy the fish and make dry fish. But without a broker, it has become difficult to sell,” he said, adding, “If we could sell directly to buyers, we would earn better profits.” Another fisherman, Alok Biswas, described the realities of production: two to three maunds of raw fish reduce to one maund after drying. Read more: PKSF holds policy dialogue on fisheries market “Depending on the type, one maund of dry fish is sold for Tk 7,000 to Tk 8,000,” he said. Official target and growing reputation Narail District Fisheries Officer Mahbubur Rahman said a target of 80 metric tonnes of dry fish production has been set for the district this year. “Since the dry fish here is chemical-free, it is in demand not only within the district but across the country,” he said. The Fisheries Office has been providing training and technical support to help producers maintain quality and strengthen their position in the market. For now, as winter sunlight glints across the bamboo platforms, families continue the work that has sustained them for generations. The methods remain simple, the challenges persistent, but for Narail, dry fish remains a lifeline — one that keeps the district’s economy moving long after the drying season ends. Read more: Hilsa prices soar further putting this beloved fish beyond reach

Two minor children drowned in a pond while playing on the bank of the water body in Barguna Sadar upazila on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Junayed, 10, son of Siddiqur Rahman, and Yeasin, 9, son of Russell Hossain, both hailing from Patakata village under the Baaliatali union of the upazila. Locals said the children were playing on the bank of the pond beside their house in the afternoon. Accidently Junayed fell into the water body while Yeasin jumped into it to save him. 2 hurt, 4 missing in Barguna clash over alleged extortion As they were not found for long despite searching, later their bodies were found floating in the water body, they said.    Though they were immediately rushed to Barguna General Hospital where physicians declared them dead upon arrival, said Dr Tajkia Siddika, resident medical officer of the hospital. Later, the bodies were handed over to the families upon primary examination, she added.

The bodies of two children were recovered from the uncovered septic tank in Sat Mandir Road area of West Chhagalnaiya municipality in Feni late Friday night. The deceased were identified as Faisal Farabi, 9, son of Qatar expatriate Iqbal Hossain of East Shilua village in Pathannagar union and Sakhawat Hossain, 8, son of Dubai expatriate Shamsul Haque of Durgapur village in Ghupal union. The children went out to play and might have entered a nearby under-construction building where they accidentally fell into the open septic tank on the premises, said Chhagalnaiya Police Station Sub-Inspector Salauddin Rashed. Later, with assistance from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, their bodies were recovered from the tank. Five Feni villages innundated after collapse of flood embankments amid heavy rain Locals said  the building was still under construction and lacked basic safety measures. The mouth of the septic tank was left uncovered with no warning signs or protective barriers in place. The tragic deaths cast a pall of grief over the area. Police said the bodies were recovered and further legal steps will be taken in consultation with the families.  

Two children drowned in a pond near their house at Atalia village in Kalia upazila of  Narail on Wednesday The deceased were Rahad Sheikh, 2, son of Shimul Sheikh from Atlia village and his cousin Rihan Sheikh, 2, son of Riaz Sheikh of the same village. 13-year-old tourist drowns in Sylhet’s Jaflong on eid day According to police and locals, Rahad and Rihan were playing at the courtyard of the house in the morning. After some time, they were found missing and their family members started searching them. Later they were found drowning in a pond near the house. They were taken to Narail Sadar Hospital where a doctor declared them dead. Kalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Abdullah Al Mamun said the death of two children from the same family is a tragic incident. After the initial investigation and legal procedure, the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families.

A 38-year-old man was killed and eight others, including policemen injured in a clash between two groups in Kalia upazila of Narail on Saturday. Haseem Mollah, a resident of Silimpur village in Hamidpur union of the upazila, died while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College and Hospital, said Rashidul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kalia Police Station. Factional clash leaves man dead in Narail Joint forces detained Siraj Mollah, 44, and Azizar, 55, with a one-shot gun and bullets during the clash. According to police and locals, on Saturday morning, supporters of Thandu Mollah from Silimpur village in Hamidpur Union of the upazila attacked his opponent, Jony Mollah, and his group. At least eight people, including two policemen, were injured in the incident while trying to stop the clash. Meanwhile, when the supporters of Jony Mollah tried to counterattack, the joint forces detained two people from the group. During this, a one-shot gun and 20 rounds of ammunition were recovered from them. Two killed in separate BNP factional clashes in Rajshahi OC Rashidul Islam said additional police and army units were deployed to the area, and legal proceedings were underway.

In a bid to ensure price stability and a steady supply of essential goods, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has conducted market drives across 21 districts, imposing fines of Tk 4,70,500 on 61 businesses for various irregularities. In a media release, the DNCRP said that Thursday’s operations focused on key essential items like potatoes, vegetables, eggs, broiler chickens, lentils, onions, garlic, ginger and edible oils. Special task forces spearheaded the initiative, conducting drives in Dhaka Metropolitan areas and other districts simultaneously. In Dhaka, seven teams led by DNCRP officials inspected markets and oversaw pricing compliance. Across the country, a total of 32 teams carried out similar monitoring activities. Read: E-commerce business must be sustained to build Smart Bangladesh: DNCRP DG The market monitoring drive aimed to address irregularities and prevent unfair practices amid rising concerns about essential commodity prices. The DNCRP said that their ongoing drives are part of a broader effort to protect consumer rights and maintain stability in the supply chain.

An elderly patient died allegedly after jumping off the 3rd floor of a medical college hospital in Dianjpur Sadar upazila early Saturday. The deceased is Amina Khatun, 80, wife Afsar Ali of Uttar Shandar village under Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur district. Read: DU student commits ‘suicide’ The relatives of the deceased said she was admitted to M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital in the district with fever and other complications on September 5. She was undergoing treatment at the medicine ward on the third-floor of the hospital. The body of the elderly woman was found lying on a slab between two buildings of the hospital in the morning, they said. Read: Young couple found dead in Dhaka’s East Rampura, police suspect suicide Farid Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said on information they recovered the blood-stained body from the spot.  An unnatural death case was filed in this connection, the OC added.

At least four people including two students were killed and seven others were injured in separate road accidents in Thakurgaon, Narail, Magura, Chattogram and Khulna districts on Saturday. In Thakurgaon, a 13-year old schoolgirl was killed and two others were hurt in a motorcycle accident at Goalkari on Baliadangi-Lahiri road in Baliadangi upazila. The deceased was identified as Munni Akter, a sixth grader of Baliadangi Government Girl’s High School and dauther of Sadekul Islam, said Khayrul Anam, Officer-in-Charge of Baliadangi police station. The accident occurred in the morning when the Baliadangi-bound motorcycle hit Munni from behind when she was passing the area, leaving her dead and the two riders injured. The injured were admitted to Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital. Also read: Van driver killed in Kushtia road accident In, Narail , a sand-laden trolley truck ran over a 17-year old student on his way to madrasah on Khararia-Nawapara road in Kalia upazila, said Sheikh Tasmim Alam, OC of Kalia police station. The deceased was identified as Asif Mina, a student of class eight  of Khararia Rahima Habib Dakhil Madrasah and son of Hiru Mina. OC Tasmim Alam said the vehicle has been seized and legal action will be taken in this regard. Meanwhile, in Magura an unidentified youth was killed being hit by a trolley truck in front of Jashpur schoolin Mohammadpur upazila, said Ikram Hossain, OC of Mohammadpur police station. A case was filed in this regard and the body was sent for an autopsy, he said. Also read: Road accidents claim 7 lives in 3 districts In Chattogram, a motorcyclist died being hit by a truck on Mariner’s Road in Fishery Ghat area in the city at noon. The deceased was identified as Tripti Dhar,34, son Chandra Sutradhar from Cumilla. Truck driver named Alamgir was arrested and the vehicle has been seized, said Zahidul Kabir, OC of Kotwali police station. Besides, five people were injured at East Jhiler Danga in Dumuria upazila of Khulna as two trucks collided head on at 11:30 am, said Md Shihab Molla, Sub-Inspector of Dumuria police station. All the injured were truck drivers and their assistants, he said. They were taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital by locals. Of them driver Babu’s condition is critical, said the SI.

Four people died and another person sustained injuries after being struck by lightning in Magura, Joypurhat and Nagaon districts, police said on Friday. In Magura, 35-year-old Md Jannu Mollah, a farmer from Satyabanpur village in Sadar upazila, was killed on Thursday afternoon. A thunderbolt struck him while he was cutting paddy on a field near his house. Officer-in-charge Nasir Uddin of Magura Sadar Police Station said that an unnatural death case was registered over the incident. In Joypurhat’s Kalai upazila, 13-year-old Hridoy, son of Rabiul Islam of Shreepur village was killed by lightning.   According to sources in Kalai Upazila Health Complex, to escape rain he was standing under a eucalyptus tree near his house when lightning suddenly struck him. READ: Two killed in Thakurgaon lighting strike In Naogaon's Porsha upazila, two farmers -- Sayem Ali, 40,  and Nur Mohammad Nooh, 55 --  were killed by a bolt of lightning while they were harvesting paddy in the field on Friday morning. Meanwhile, 50-year-old Jahanara Begum of Nitpur Bangalpara village was severely injured after being struck by lightning when she was on her way to a field. She was later admitted to Porsha Upazila Health Complex, said locals. Porsha police station officer-in- charge Zahurul Haque said the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families. Porsha upazila nirbahi officer Nazmul Hamid Reza said the families of those killed and injured in a natural calamity "are given financial assistance by the government". Each of the affected families has been given Tk 20,000 by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, he said.

District administrations have been given the authority to enforce lockdown in their areas if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates there, the cabinet secretary said on Monday. The government has already given such an instruction to local administrations, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press briefing after a virtual Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. “Deputy commissioners, civil surgeons, chairmen and mayors have already been told that if they think the situation would be harmful (deteriorate) in any place, they can close down that area,” said Anwarul Islam. Read: Lockdown in Chapainawabganj extended for another week The ongoing lockdown in Chapainawabganj was enforced as per the suggestion from the field administration, he said. “We’ve told other district administrations that if they think it necessary, they can enforce a lockdown there. They also have authority to enforce lockdown only in bordering areas, not keeping the entire district under it (the restriction),” he said. Anwarul Islam made the remarks in reply to a question over the suggestion of the Directorate General of Health Services to bring seven bordering districts under the lockdown. Read:Variation between PCR and antigen test positivity rates hides true situation of Covid-19 in Chapainawabganj The prime minister joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other Cabinet members from the Bangladesh Secretariat.