United News of Bangladesh

Two people, including a woman, were killed and at least 15 others injured when a passenger bus hit two auto-rickshaws in Bhaluka on Friday afternoon. The accident occurred in front of Tafrid Cotton Mill in the Club Bazar area on the Dhaka–Mymensingh Highway. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. According to police and local sources, a bus coming from Dhaka lost control in the area and rammed into a battery-run auto-rickshaw and a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw. A woman died on the spot as the CNG auto-rickshaw was mangled in the crash. At least 15 passengers of the bus and the auto-rickshaws were injured. Another person succumbed to injuries on the way to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex. The injured were taken to the same health complex for treatment. Senior Station Officer of Bhaluka Fire Service, Atiqur Rahman, said the deceased included a man and a woman, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.

Detectives, in separate drives, arrested two more accused from Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district on Wednesday night, in connection with the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das on December 18. The arrestees were identified as Siam Ahmed, 19, of Dakuria, and Abdullah, 28, of Bhaluka upazila. Abdullah Al Mamun, additional superintendent of Mymensingh police, said detectives arrested the two accused over their alleged involvement in the murder with the help of technology and by analysing CCTV footage on Wednesday night. A team of DB police conducted a drive in Batajor Dakuria and arrested Siam around 8:30pm, while Abdullah was arrested from the Jamirdia area around 10pm. During preliminary investigation, police said the two accused played a key role in provoking the agitated crowd and encouraging them to assault the body. So far, a total of 25 accused have been arrested in connection with the murder of Dipu. Of them, 12 have already given confessional statements before the court, said ASP Abdullah. Dipu Chandra Das, 28, a local garment worker, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district on December 18. His body was later set on fire. A case was filed in this connection the following day.

A nine-year-old boy was beaten to death over allegations of stealing betel nuts in Haluaghat in Mymensingh on Friday afternoon. The victim, Imon Mia, was the son of Dulal Mia of Bausha village in Swadeshi Union. According to police and local sources, Imon had allegedly stolen betel nuts from his neighbor Atahar Ali’s tree about a month ago. After keeping silent for nearly a month, Atahar Ali on Friday called Imon to his house, locked the door, and beat him severely. Imon’s family rescued him and took him to Haluaghat Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. Police recovered the body and are preparing for post-mortem examination. Four election officials withdrawn in Mymensingh, Naogaon over irregularities Md Ferdous Alam, officer-in-charge of Haluaghat Police Station, said preliminary investigation shows the killing was linked to the betel nut theft. “The matter is being investigated seriously,” he added.

Four election officials were withdrawn from duty in Mymensingh and Naogaon on Thursday following allegations of irregularities during voting. In Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila, an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers were dismissed at Kansherkul High School centre over allegations of allowing open voting and forcing out agents of rival candidates. Confirming the matter, Bhaluka Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Firoz Hossain said an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers were removed for “not preventing open voting.” Come out and vote without fear: Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman At Birunia Dakhil Madrasa centre in the same upazila, several youth were found sitting inside booths posing as agents without proper identification. Their ID cards carried only the presiding officer’s signature, without names or candidate details. Presiding Officer Mujibur Rahman said, “I was feeling unwell and did not notice the matter.” He later asked them to write their respective symbols in front of journalists. Speaking on condition of anonymity, some alleged that supporters of the “Dhaner Shish” candidate had driven out rival agents and taken their places with the presiding officer’s support. In Naogaon, Presiding Officer Nazim Uddin of Katkhoir High School centre in Sadar upazila was withdrawn around 1:30pm for allegedly signing and sealing the result sheet before vote counting and announcement. “There is no provision to sign the result sheet before counting,” said Assistant Returning Officer and Sadar UNO Mohammad Ibnul Abedin. He said Mukatadul Hasan, a senior officer of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, took charge around 3pm. Nazim Uddin has been brought to the UNO office and further action will be taken after review. 47.91% voter turnout by 2pm: EC Secretary

Joint forces in a drive on Thursday arrested two activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) along with firearms from Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district. The arrestees were identified as Quamrul Islam, 35 and Md Sabbir, 23, of Uthora village in the upazila. Tipped off, a team of police and members of the Bangladesh Army conducted a drive in the area and arrested them along with one pistol, one magazine, one bullet, one Chinese axe, two locally made pistols and eight sharp weapons, said Abdullah Al Mamun, additional superintendent of Mymensingh police. Later, they were sent to jail after interrogation, police said. Read More: DB arrests listed terror suspect with firearms in Pallabi

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has directed that anyone violating the election code of conduct during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and 2026 referendum must be immediately brought under the law. The instruction came at a law and order consultation meeting organized by the Mymensingh divisional administration at the Mymensingh City Corporation conference hall on Monday. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Goni presided over the event. Special guests included BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui NDC PSC and Additional IGP (Finance) Md Akram Hossain BPM, while Divisional Commissioner Farah Shammi NDC delivered the welcome speech. Bangladeshi expats cast 458,000 postal votes ahead of Feb-12 polls The adviser emphasized that no illegal activity will be tolerated during the elections. Election officials and law enforcement personnel were instructed to strictly follow the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025, relevant ministry circulars, and Election Commission guidelines. He urged officers to provide continuous instructions to subordinates, hold regular briefings on election preparations, ongoing activities, and compliance with the code of conduct. Appointments of presiding, assistant presiding, and polling officers must ensure honesty, efficiency, and impartiality, while officials with a history of partisanship or irregularities must not be assigned electoral duties. Chowdhury highlighted the role of the Election Security App-2026, developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, in maintaining law and order. The app will link law enforcement, returning officers, and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ central control room to record complaints and enable prompt response. Officials must complete training on its use without delay. No scope for vote rigging in expatriate voting process:  EC Sanaullah He also instructed that polling stations be fully prepared, access routes kept smooth, and election materials, including ballot boxes, secured and delivered on time. Sharing his electoral experience, he said honest and efficient conduct by officials and law enforcement can ensure a free, fair, and festive election, describing it as a moral and ethical responsibility. The meeting was attended by deputy commissioners, police superintendents, upazila executive officers, election officers at all levels, and armed forces representatives from Mymensingh division.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman reached Mymensingh to conduct the third phase of his election campaign on Tuesday afternoon following his campaigns in Sylhet and Chattogram regions. Tarique left his Gulshan residence for Mymensingh around 11:04am and reached the town around 4pm along with wife Zubaida Rahman, BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB. He said the BNP chairman will address a rally at the Mymensingh Circuit House field in the presence of all party candidates from the entire district. Later in the evening, he is scheduled to speak at rallies in Gazipur’s Rajbari ground, followed by Dhaka’s Azampur Eidgah field at night. Tarique Rahman warns of possible plot to disrupt national election Earlier on Sunday, during a rally in Cumilla, Tarique told his audience that he was suffering from a fever and had been prescribed antibiotics for seven days by doctors to recover. He was seen coughing repeatedly while speaking at different rallies, as he had caught a cold. The BNP chairman began his campaign from Sylhet on Thursday (January 22), addressing seven rallies on the same day in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj. On Sunday, Tarique completed the second phase of his campaign by holding six rallies in around 14 hours across Chattogram, Feni, Cumilla, and Narayanganj, seeking votes for BNP and its alliance partners. He concluded the second phase with a rally at Balurmath in Narayanganj around 2:15am. Tarique returned to his Gulshan residence around 3:10am on Monday after the intense day of rallies. He also virtually addressed a rally in Noakhali’s Hatiya on Monday afternoon, seeking votes for BNP candidate Mahbubur Rahman Shamim in Noakhali-6.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to start the third phase of his election campaign from Mymensingh on Tuesday, following the completion of his campaigns in Sylhet and Chattogram regions. Tarique will leave his Gulshan residence for Mymensingh on Tuesday morning to carry out the third phase of campaigning in support of party candidates, BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB. He said the BNP chairman will address a rally at 2:30pm at the Mymensingh Circuit House field in the presence of all party candidates from the entire district. Tarique wraps up second phase of campaign with six rallies in 14 hours Later in the evening, he is scheduled to speak at rallies in Gazipur’s Rajbari ground, followed by Dhaka’s Azampur Eidgah field at night. Earlier on Sunday, during a rally in Cumilla, Tarique told his audience that he was suffering from a fever and had been prescribed antibiotics for seven days by doctors to recover. He was seen coughing repeatedly while speaking at different rallies, as he had caught a cold. The BNP chairman began his campaign from Sylhet on Thursday (Jan 22), addressing seven rallies on the same day in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Narayanganj. On Sunday, Tarique completed the second phase of his campaign by holding six rallies in around 14 hours across Chattogram, Feni, Cumilla, and Narayanganj, seeking votes for BNP and its alliance partners. Tarique calls for guarding polling centres until vote count finishes  He concluded the second phase with a rally at Balurmath in Narayanganj around 2:15am. Tarique returned to his Gulshan residence around 3:10am on Monday after the intense day of rallies. He also virtually addressed a rally in Noakhali’s Hatiya on Monday afternoon, seeking votes for BNP candidate Mahbubur Rahman Shamim in Noakhali-6.

 A 35-year-old man was stabbed to death by miscreants at Shyampur Ghoshbari in Muktagacha upazila of Mymensingh district on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Rafiqul Islam, son of Kashem Ali of the upazila. Additional Superintendent of Mymensingh Md Abdullah Al Mamun, said a group of miscreants stormed into the house of Shafiqul around 11:45 pm and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. On information, police recovered the body. Read More: 2 killed in Jashore over land dispute Police are working to identify those involved in the killing, said ASP Mamun.    

A man was killed in a clash allegedly between two groups of BNP supporters following the inauguration of an election office of an independent candidate in Dhobaura upazila of Mymensingh on Friday evening. The deceased was identified as Nazrul Islam, 40, son of Mofiz Uddin of Ramsinghpur village of the upazila and an activist of independent candidate Salman Omar Rubel.   Additional Superintendent of Police (Finance and Administration) Abdullah Al Mamun said Salman Omar Rubel went to Ershad Bazar on Friday evening to inaugurate his election office. After the programme ended and he was leaving the area, supporters of BNP-nominated candidate and BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince allegedly attacked Rubel’s supporters, triggering a clash. During the clash, Nazrul Islam was stabbed by rivals. Locals rushed him to Dhobaura Upazila  Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. Following the incident, tension has been prevailing in the area. Independent candidate Salman Omar Rubel alleged that Prince’s supporters carried out a sudden attack from behind after the office inauguration. He demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the killing of his supporter. BNP-nominated candidate for Mymensingh-1 (Haluaghat-Dhobaura) constituency Syed Emran Saleh Prince said he was not fully aware of the incident as he was in Haluaghat at the time. BNP leader Alamgir murder case: fourth suspect arrested in Jashore “From what I have initially heard, the incident stemmed from a family dispute. Attempts are being made to give it a political colour,” he said.  If it is found that anyone linked to our party is involved,  action will be taken, he added. Dhobaura police station  Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shafikul Islam said  police visited the scene and legal action is underway.