United News of Bangladesh

A school student in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla has died while undergoing treatment after being attacked by relatives of a girl’s family over a love affair, triggering protests in the area. The deceased, Md Atiq, 17, was the son of Abdul Mannan Mia from Sonakatia Ardash village under Chauddagram. He was an SSC candidate at Chauddagram Government Technical School and College. Chauddagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Hilal Uddin Ahmed said, “A school student named Atiq was attacked and injured due to a previous dispute on Monday night. He later died while undergoing treatment in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon. The incident created tension in the area, but the situation is currently under police control.” Septuagenarian woman killed over payment of debt in Jashore According to police and local sources, Atiq’s friend Shajib fled with a girl named Nadia, and married her on October 13 last year. Following the incident, Nadia’s mother, Nazma Begum, filed a case against Shajib, and 10 others including Atiq at Chauddagram Police Station. Police later rescued Nadia and, following a court order, returned her to her family. On Monday night, a group of five-six unidentified people, allegedly led by Nadia’s father, Neemat Ullah, attacked and severely beat Atiq in Sonakatia. Locals rescued him in critical condition and took him to Chauddagram Upazila Health Complex. He was later transferred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital and subsequently to Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to his worsening condition. Failing to secure an ICU bed there, his family admitted him to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday afternoon. Following Atiq’s death, agitated locals staged a protest demanding the arrest of the accused.

A private car driver was killed by miscreants throttling his throat in Daudkandi area of Cumilla. The deceased was identified as Faizul Islam Sardar (40), son of Aktar Sardar hailing from Uzirpur thana of Barishal. Police confirmed the matter on Sunday afternoon. Locals informed the police after spotting an unidentified body of a man on a culvert (local bridge) on Sunday morning, according to police and family sources. Read: Man killed by nephew in Pirojpur Sub-inspector (SI) of Daudkandi Model Thana, Ziaur Rahman recovered the body. A family member of the victim identified the body. Faizul drove his car on rent. He was taking passengers from Dhaka’s Gulshan to Chattogram, sources said. Miscreants snatched the car after murdering Faizul, predicted SI Mohammad Ziaur Rahman. Besides, many injury marks were spotted on his body, he added. A case has been filed with Daudkandi Model Thana in this regard and they are trying to recover the car and find the criminals, Ziaur Rahman said.

At least two youths were killed and more than 20 others injured in a clash between two groups over alleged harassment of girls at Abdullahpur village in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla early Thursday. The deceased have been identified as 20-year-old Saiful, son of Habibur Rahman, and 19-year-old Fahim, son of Renu Mia of the same village.  Amir Ullah, assistant superintendent of Brahmanpara circle police, said the clash broke out at the house of a local resident where a ‘haldi ceremony’, a pre-marriage ritual, was organised on Wednesday evening.  "As girls and boys were showing off their dance moves at the programme, a group of youths from the neighbouring Gunjar village in Muradnagar upazila crashed the haldi function and started harassing the girls on the dance floor," the officer said. Also read: Stabbing leaves transgender woman dead in Cumilla: Police  This led to an altercation between the boys on the dance floor and the group of youths, Amir said. "Subsequently, the youths were driven out of the house by the owner."  The group left the spot only to come back again with more youths from Gunjar village. "Around 1 am, residents of Abdullahpur village caught the outsiders, triggering the clash," the police officer said. Also read: Jubo League leader murdered in Cumilla  While two youths of Abdullahpur died in the clash, those injured have been hospitalised. "Four of the 20 injured have been shifted to Cumilla Medical College and Hospital. The death toll may rise as the condition of three is said to be critical," Amir said.