United News of Bangladesh

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday warned that unfair elections would no longer be tolerated in Bangladesh and that any attempt to follow such paths would be resisted. “There will be no more elections through backdoor means, nor will such elections be allowed. All backdoor paths will be shut,” he said while addressing a public rally at Katiadi Government College ground in Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj district. The Jamaat Ameer said he does not want the victory of Jamaat alone but the victory of the country’s 180 million people. “If 180 million people win, that victory will belong to all of us,” he said. Laundered money to be brought back, promises Jamaat Ameer He urged all concerned to respect the people’s verdict on February 12. “Jamaat will be ready to congratulate whoever is elected through a fair election.” Noting that Tk 28 lakh crore had been looted and siphoned off abroad, the Jamaat Ameer vowed to recover the money and deposit it in the state treasury to ensure development across the country.

Train services on the Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Chattogram routes were suspended early Tuesday after a bogie of  a Chattogram-bound train derailed in Bhairab upazila of Kishoreganj. The incident occurred around 3:30 am as the train departed Bhairab Bazar Junction, railway officials said. The fourth coach of Dhaka Mail-1 train veered off the tracks about 150 metres from the junction, blocking both the up and down lines and bringing rail communication on the busy routes to a halt. Several trains were stranded at different stations, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. A relief train from Akhaura has reached the site, and efforts to restore normal rail movement are ongoing. Pickup overturns in Kishoreganj, 1 Killed, 12 injured Bhairab Railway Station Master Md Yusuf said the Dhaka Mail-2 left Dhaka Railway Station at 2:55 am and reached Bhairab Bazar Junction before the derailment occurred shortly after receiving clearance to proceed. No casualties were reported, he said.

A person was killed and at least 12 others were injured when a cattle-laden pickup van overturned in Kishoreganj’s Austagram upazila on Saturday. The accident occurred around 10:30am at the Austagram Zero Point area under Kastul Union of the upazila. The deceased was identified as Hadis Mia (56), son of late Ali Hossain of Ghagra Union in Mithamain upazila, that adjoins Austagram. According to local sources, some devotees and followers of the Chilikon Darbar Sharif from Ghagra were on their way to the shrine in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria with several cows. Read More: Bus-truck collision leaves 2 dead in Faridpur The pickup lost control at the Austagram Zero Point and plunged into a roadside ditch. The injured were identified as Md Araf Ali (58), Nur Alam (40), Jalal Mia (45), Mohammad Rishad (18), Saim Mia (13), Md Fahim Mia (16), Md Hakim (48), among others. All of them are residents of Ghagra Union in Mithamain upazila. On information, police, Fire Service personnel and local people rescued the injured and took them to Austagram Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Hadis Mia dead. After receiving primary treatment, the critically injured were referred to Bhagalpur Zahirul Islam Medical College Hospital in Bajitpur upazila for advanced treatment. Austagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Soheb Khan confirmed the incident, saying the accident-hit pickup van has been recovered from the ditch and legal process is underway.

Two people who died during Friday's (November 21) earthquake in Narsingdi were laid to eternal rest at their village home in Kishoreganj district on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Delwar Hossain Ujjal, 37 and his son Omar Faruk, 12, residents of Gabtoli in Narsingdi district town. The first namaz-e-janaza of the duo was held at Jameya Kashemia Kamil Madrasah in Gabtoli area in Narsingdi on Friday midnight where additional deputy commissioner of Narsingdi Abu Taher Mohammad Samsuzzaman, BNP district unit BNP President Khairul Kabir Khokon and others were present there. Later, the bodies was taken to Hossainpur upazila of Kishoreganj district where the 2nd janaza was held and they were buried. Additional deputy commissioner of Narsingdi Abu Taher, said five people were killed in the earthquake and the local administration provided Tk 25,000 each to the family members of each deceased. Earlier on Friday, a six-storey building collapsed on the adjacent house of Delwar Hossain during an earthquake in Gabtoli area of Narsingdi district town, leaving Delwar, his son Omar and daughter Tasfia injured. Read more: Ceiling And Wall Cracks After An Earthquake: When To Worry Later, they were taken to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital from where Delwar and Omar were referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Delwar died on way to Dhaka while Omar died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

A Kishoreganj court on Tuesday sentenced three people including two women to death for killing a college student in 2008. Judge of the Kishoreganj Additional district and Session Judge court-3 Fatema Zahan Swarna handed down the punishment. The condemned convicts are—Selina Begum alias Sheuli, 25, wife of Kaiyum Sarkar of Brahmanabria district, Shobha Prokash Meghla, 20, daughter of Abdul Khalek of Ashuganj upazila and Md Sumon, 22, son of Sahil Uddin of Bhairab upazila of the district. Of them, Meghla and Sumon were tried in absentia. The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each.  Three schoolgirls among 4 killed in Kishoreganj lightning strikes According to the prosecution, Mohammad Ali, 22, a honours first year student of Hazi Hasmat College and son of Samsuddin Mia of Kuliarchar upazila, and his friend Murad were stabbed indiscriminately by a group of miscreants after entering the college premises on the night of January 6, 2008. Later, they were taken to Bhairab Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared Mohammad Ali dead while Murad was shifted to Dhaka for better treatment.  Kishoreganj’s ‘Pagla Mosque’ collects 28 sacks of donation Samsuddin, father of the deceased, filed a case with Bhairab Police Station in this connection.

Eleven people were killed and three others were injured by lightning strikes in Cumilla, Chandpur, Shariatpur, Habiganj, Netrakona and Kishoreganj districts on Monday. Among the deceased, four were killed in Cumilla, three in Kishoreganj and one each in Shariatpur, Habiganj, Chandpur and Netrakona district. In Cumilla, four people, including two schoolboys, were killed by lightning in Barura and Muradnagar upazilas. Witnesses said Fahad Hossain, 13, son of Khokon Mia of Poyalgaccha village and Saimon Hossain, 13, son of Abdul Barek, were killed when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while flying kites at noon in Barura upazila of the district. Both of them were class VI students of Boroharipur High School. In another incident, Nikhil Debnath, 64 and Jewel Bhuiyan, 30, son of Jashim Uddin Bhuiyan, were killed by lightning while working at their paddy fields at Korbanpur Purbapara in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla district in the morning. In Kishoreganj, three people were killed as lightning struck them in different places. Witnesses said Fulesa Begum, 65, wife of Asrab Ali of Raniganj Kewarjor in Mithamoin upazila was killed by a thunderbolt while working outside her house at Shantiganj Haor around 8 am. Besides, Indrajit Das, 36, son of Jatindra Das of Halalpur village, was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while working at a paddy field at Halalpur haor amid rain in the morning. Meanwhile, Swadhin Mia, 14, son of Idris Mia of Khayerpur village in Astagram upazila was killed when a streak of thunderbolt struck him while cutting paddy at Khayerpur haor, said Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Austagram Police Station. In Chandpur, Bishakha Rani Sarkar, 35, wife of Haripodo Sarkar of Nahara village in Kachua upazila of Chandpur district, died during rain coupled with thundershowers while collecting paddy from the field. Sohel Rana, Kachua Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said Bishakha might have died after being panicked by the lightning strike. In Shariatpur, Shefali Begum, 35, wife of Sorhab Bepari of Bepari Kandi village in Bhedarganj upazila of the district, was killed when a thunderbolt struck her while she along with her husband were returning to home after collecting grass amid rain in Shakhipur area of the upazila. She was taken to Bhedarganj Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared her dead. In Habiganj, Durbas Das, 35, were killed and three others were injured in separate incidents of lightning strike in Baniachang upazila of the district. The injured were taken to Sylher MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital, said Azadur Rahman, District Relief and Disaster Management officer. In Netrakona, Arafat, 10, a Madrasha student and son of Abdus Salam of Triosree in Madanpur upazila of the district was killed when a thunderbolt struck on him while going to the Madrasha after fazar prayer in the morning, said Motahar Hossain, member of Triosree Union of the upazila.

Authorities have collected  28 sacks of cash from the donation boxes of the historic ‘Pagla Mosque’ in Kishoreganj on Saturday morning, after four months and 12 days since the last count. The donation boxes were opened around 7am in the presence of Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) and President of Pagla Mosque Management Committee, Fouzia Khan and Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury. Fouzia Khan said 11 donation boxes were opened this time, and the cash collected was brought to the mosque’s second floor for counting. “Although the boxes are usually opened every three months, this time they were opened after four months and 12 days. Currently, the mosque’s bank account has Tk 80.75 crore,” she added. Additional Deputy Commissioner and Rupali Bank Assistant General Manager (AGM) Mohammad Ali Haresi were also present. Gold, cash ‘looted’ from storeroom of Natore court; 3 in custody: Police A team of nearly 400 people including members of the mosque management committee, teachers, and students of the madrasha and orphanage situated within the mosque complex took part in the counting process. Earlier, on November 30, last year, the authorities found Tk 8.21 crore in ten donation boxes and a tank  after opening those after three months and 14 days. Apart from local currency, a significant amount of foreign currencies and gold ornaments were also recovered from the donation boxes.

The largest Eid-ul-Fitr congregation in Bangladesh is set to take place at the historic Sholakia Eidgah field in Kishoreganj at 10:00 am on the day of Eid. This marks the 198th edition of the Eid prayer at this iconic location, which attracts worshippers from across the country and abroad. Mufti Abul Khayer Mohammad Saifulloh will lead this year’s prayer, continuing a long-standing tradition of renowned scholars presiding over the event. Due to the field's prestigious reputation and its strong connection to local and regional heritage, hundreds of thousands of worshippers, including those from remote districts and foreign countries, gather here annually to participate in the congregation. Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and President of the Sholakia Eidgah Management Committee, Fouzia Khan, said, “To facilitate the movement of worshippers to Sholakia for the Eid prayer, two special trains named Sholakia Express will operate on the Bhairab-Kishoreganj and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj routes. The district administration has arranged for the accommodation and meals of the worshippers coming from far-off places.” No threat of conspiracy in empty Dhaka during Eid: Adviser This year’s congregation is expected to see over two lakh worshippers, further cementing the field's reputation as the largest Eid prayer venue in the country. The prayer will be held promptly at 10:00 AM, with security and logistical arrangements carefully planned to accommodate the large turnout. Police Superintendent Md. Hasan Chowdhury said, “Various measures have been taken to ensure tight security and a smooth Eid prayer. In light of the 2016 militant attack at Sholakia, additional security measures will be implemented this year. The entire field and its surroundings will be under a security blanket. During the prayer, a strong security perimeter will be maintained with five platoons of BGB, a large number of police, RAB, and Ansar personnel.  “Various intelligence agency personnel will also monitor the field in plain clothes. Additionally, CCTV cameras, watchtowers, archways, and metal detectors will be installed at the entrance points, and a drone camera will fly overhead for surveillance. As a result, worshippers will be able to offer their prayers safely, without any disturbances, and with complete peace of mind.” RAB-14 Commanding Officer Mohammad Naimul Hasan said, “Over a hundred RAB members will be assigned to various security duties in several layers at the field. Watchtowers have also been constructed to monitor the field.” The number of participants has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing importance of the Sholakia Eidgah as a spiritual centre.  “Praying together at this location is considered a significant source of spiritual reward, with many believers attending in the hope that their prayers will be accepted by Allah Ta'ala,” said a local worshipper. The Sholakia Eidgah, established in 1828 by Dewan Hazrat Khan Bahadur, the sixth descendant of Masnad-e-Ala Isha Khan, spans about seven acres and has 265 rows of prayer spaces. The first Eid prayer at Sholakia, attended by around 1.25 lakh worshippers, gave the field its original name, "Sowa Lakhi Maath." Over time, the name evolved into the current "Sholakia Field." There is a tradition at this field where, five, three, and two minutes before the start of the prayer, the sound of blank gunshots from a short gun is used as a signal to indicate that it is time to prepare for prayer. With such comprehensive planning in place, the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer at Sholakia is set to proceed smoothly, allowing worshippers to offer their prayers in peace and safety.

Traffic on Kishoreganj-Bhairab highway remained suspended for two hours on Tuesday as locals blocked the highway, protesting the death of 2 schoolboys in Madhyapara area in Katiadi upazila of the district. The deceased were identified as Ali Akbar, 13, an eighth-grader of  Madhyapara High School and son of Faruk from Madhyapara village, and his cousin Junaid, 12, a sixth-grader of the same school and son of Ferdous from the same area. Witnesses said when the boys were going to their school’s sports event on a motorbike a bus hit the motorbike, leaving Ali Akbar dead on the spot. Feni road crash kills six, injures 10 Junaid was rushed to a hospital with critical injuries where he succumbed to his injuries. Enraged by the deaths, locals including students blocked the highway by setting fire to tires and vandalised several vehicles, disrupting traffic for nearly two hours. Katiadi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tariqul Islam said he and Katiadi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Maidul Islam visited the scene.

Gas supply will remain suspended for 12 hours in Monohardi upazila in Narsingdi and Kishoreganj on Wednesday. According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, the gas supply will remain off for 12 hours from 6 pm on Wednesday to 6 am on Thursday in Kishoreganj district and Monohardi upazila due to modification works of the gas metering stations. Gas supply likely to improve this evening in Dhaka city, elsewhere During the period, low pressure in gas supply may prevail in Narsingdi district, eastern part of Dhaka City, Kaliganj, Jaydevpur, Konabari, Chandra and adjacent areas, said the Titas Gas regretting the inconvenience of its consumers. Gas supply to be low countrywide for 72 hours from Wednesday