A couple died as a speeding truck rammed into their motorbike on Naogaon-Santahar road in Naogaon on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Afaz Uddin, 55, and his wife Bilkis Banu, 50, of Kola Palsa village under Chhatin union in Bogura’s Adamdighi upazila. Witnesses and police said the couple was going to their village home in Bogura from Naogaon district headquarters riding on a motorbike. The accident occurred in Khalishakuri area around 2pm when the truck crashed into the bike, leaving the duo dead on the spot, they said. Officer-in-Charge of Naogaon Sadar police station Nure Alam Siddique said police and fire service personnel recovered the bodies and took them to the police station.

A BNP leader from Porsha upazila in Naogaon has been stabbed to death over a land dispute. The victim, Maidur Rahman, 40, was the general secretary of Nitpur Union BNP and an elected member of Ward No. 6 of Nitpur Union Parishad. According to sources from Porsha Police Station, Maidur had been involved in an ongoing dispute over land with Abdur Rahim, 57, of Gopinatpur village, along with Rahim’s son Ismail Hossain, 30, and another individual named Barkulla, 25. Read: Man stabbed dead in Dhaka's Lalbagh The altercation took place in the Ranshada area south of Balashhid Mouza in Nitpur Union, Porsha upazila, on Tuesday afternoon. During a land measurement, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation, during which Maidur was stabbed. Other individuals present at the scene rushed Maidur to Porsha Upazila Health Complex, where he was declared dead by the on-duty doctor. Maidur’s brother, Hamidul, 35, was also injured during the incident. Read more: Youth stabbed dead on college campus in Bogura Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Porsha Police Station Shahin Reza said that Maidur's body has been sent to Naogaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy. He added that efforts to arrest the accused are underway and police have initiated the process of filing a case.

Police arrested seven members of a suspected inter-district robber gang with sharp weapons in connection with the robbery and rape of a housewife in Mohadevpur upazila of Naogaon. Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Safiful Sarowar revealed this at a press conference at the latter’s office on Tuesday. The arrestees were Shariful Islam Pacha, 29, Tarek Hossain, 26, Solaiman Ali, 38, Sagar Hossain, 19, Rubel Sardar, 28, Ripon Ali, 30, Sagar Hossain, 19 (2). All hail from several upazilas of the district. The police super said a gang of robbers stormed into a house in Khajur village of the upazila at night on December 29 last. July uprising: 8 lawyers sent to jail in Khulna While committing the robbery, the accused abducted the housewife and raped her in turns after taking her away to an open field, the police super said. Being informed, police rescued the victim from the spot while a case was filed against some unidentified people in this connection later, he informed. With the help of technology, the police arrested the seven from several areas of the district on Monday night, the SP said. Three out of the arrestees confessed to the robbery and the rape while the rest would be interrogated in remand, he added.

The harsh chill and freezing winds have once again brought life to a standstill in Naogaon, disrupting daily activities and leaving vulnerable groups struggling to cope. Day laborers, rickshaw pullers, and low-income workers are among the hardest hit by the frigid weather conditions. As of Thursday morning, the minimum temperature in Naogaon was recorded at 10.3°C, with 100% humidity, according to Naogaon’s Badalgachhi Weather Observatory. The cold has intensified over the past two days, creating a freezing environment despite occasional sunshine. Moderate cold wave with fog likely across the country: BMD Residents report that the cold has grown more severe since the last two days. While morning fog has lessened, the icy winds have amplified the cold’s impact. For many, the chill is particularly harsh from evening until mid-morning. Roads have seen fewer workers compared to usual, as many are unable to brave the worsening conditions. Liton Hossain, a rickshaw puller from Barunkandi in Naogaon Sadar Upazila, shared his struggles: "The cold has become unbearable over the past two days. The winds are so harsh it’s difficult to even drive the rickshaw, and passengers are few and far between." Air pollution: Dhaka 6th worst city in the world today Mizanur Rahman, an official at the Badalgachhi Weather Observatory, confirmed the drop in temperature: "This morning at 9 am, the district recorded a minimum temperature of 10.3°C, compared to 11.8°C yesterday. The chilling winds are making the cold feel much harsher." The sudden increase in cold intensity has forced many to limit outdoor activities, highlighting the need for support for those who depend on daily labor to survive.

A Public Prosecutor (PP) in Naogaon has been accused of contempt of court and threatening judges over the delivery of judgments. On December 2, Senior Judicial Magistrate Judge Rabilul Islam of Naogaon’s Magistrate Court sent a letter to the Supreme Court’s Register, accusing the PP of threatening to besiege the court if judicial services were not properly delivered. 17 out of 69 jails in Bangladesh highly vulnerable: IG Prisons Court officials said the accused, advocate Abu Jayid Md Rafiqul Alam, a former joint convenor of the Naogaon district unit of the BNP, allegedly made the threats during a protest rally. The letter says that the PP warned the judges they would face consequences if they continued their work for what he termed "the fallen Awami League and their collaborators." Seven judges have signed the letter, calling for action to be taken against the accused. Former ministers Amu, Qamrul produced before ICT In another development, on December 1, a joint statement was issued by Bangladesh Judicial Service Council President Aminul Islam and General Secretary Muhammad Mazharul Islam, demanding the immediate removal of the accused within 10 days. The controversy began during a rally held on November 27 by the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum on the Naogaon court premises, protesting the murder of Chattogram lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. During this event, the PP made controversial remarks. According to the letter, he told the judges, "You have done many justices against judicial killings" and proceeded to criticize the judiciary, accusing judges of being politically biased. Alam also claimed that many judges in Naogaon were relatives of Awami League MPs and ministers. Economic opportunities for women through south-south cooperation He allegedly warned, “There are some judges in Naogaon who are nephews and nieces of Awami League MPs and ministers,” and threatened the judiciary with further actions if they favoured the ruling party in their judgments. In response to the complaints, Alam defended his remarks, saying that he had spoken as a political figure, not a lawyer. "If the Supreme Court register summons me, I will put forward my statement there," he said.

Police recovered two bodies, one of a young man and another of an elderly man, from separate locations in Naogaon on Thursday. The discoveries were made near the Atrai River bank in Manda upazila and in the Shahpukur area of the Naogaon-Rajshahi highway around 12:30 pm. The deceased have been identified as Shafiqul Islam Babu (32), son of Abul Kalam Azad of Arpara village in Gopalganj’s Sadar upazila, and Ratan Chandra Modak (63), a resident of Kaligram in Manda upazila. Police confirmed Shafiqul’s identity through a mobile phone found on him, while Ratan had been reported missing for over two weeks. Shafiqul's mother, Shefali Begum, expressed her shock upon learning of her son's death. "My son works at a garment factory in Gabtoli, Dhaka. He told us on Monday that he was going to his father-in-law's house in Pabna. His phone had been switched off for two days, and today we were informed by Manda Police Station about his body being found," she said. Similarly, the family of Ratan Chandra Modak had been searching for him for 15 days. His grandson, Badhan Kumar Modak, said, "We filed a general diary with Manda Police Station after failing to locate my grandfather despite searching everywhere." Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mansur Rahman of Manda Police Station said that the bodies have been sent to the morgue at Naogaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy.  

Police have arrested former chairman of Manda Upazila Parishad, Tofazzal Hossain in the Bindubazar area of Manda upazila in Naogaon on Monday.  Tofazzal Hossain,52, son of the late Karim Mondol from Sahapur village in Manda Sadar Union, currently serves as the joint general secretary of the Manda Upazila Awami League.     According to police, a case was filed at Manda Police Station by a man named Uzair Nabi, accusing Tofazzal of extortion, arson, attempted murder, and possession of explosives. Ex-MP Sheuly Azad placed on 8-day remand in Brahmanbaria murder case Tofazzal was listed as an accused in the case and was arrested as part of the investigation. Manda Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monsur Rahman confirmed the matter. He said Tofazzal was arrested based on the plaintiff's allegations. After questioning at the police station, he was presented before Naogaon court on Monday evening. Later, on the court's order he was sent to Naogaon District Jail.

The local administration in Naogaon district has announced an ambitious goal to achieve Tk 2500 crore in mango sales, as the region prepares for the upcoming harvesting season. The diverse range of mango varieties grown here, including the early Guti mango set to be harvested from May 22, positions Naogaon as a significant player in the agricultural sector. Officials from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) have provided a detailed schedule for the harvest: Gopalbhog mangoes from May 30, Khirsapati or Himsagar from June 2, Nag Fazli from June 5, Langra and Haribhanga from June 10, Amrapali from June 20, Fazli from June 25, and later varieties like Aswina, Bari Mango-4, Gourmoti, and Katimon from July 10. This year's cultivation covers 33,300 hectares, aiming for a production of 431,500 tonnes of mango. The district is known for its rich diversity in mango varieties, with farmers cultivating 16 different types. Local mango growers are optimistic about the market prospects despite the challenges posed by weather conditions, including a costly drought. Mango harvesting in Natore to begin on May 25 Sohel Rana, who owns Agro Park in Sapahar upazila, has invested in 75 bighas of land dedicated to mango cultivation. He emphasizes the adherence to advanced agricultural practices to ensure quality produce. Another local farmer, Nur from Islampur village, shared that while initial costs range from Tk 30,000 to 35,000 per bigha, drought conditions have pushed costs up by an additional Tk 4,000 to 5,000 this season. Despite lower yields, high market prices could still ensure profitability for growers. Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of DAE in the district, highlighted the export potential, noting that approximately 220 metric tonnes of mango were exported last year. This year, the district has set a target to export 500 tonnes. Azad remains hopeful about reaching the sales target of Tk 2500 crore, provided the weather conditions are favorable, which will play a crucial role in achieving these ambitious goals. As the harvesting season approaches, the market is poised to be flooded with a variety of mangoes from Naogaon, promising both local consumption and significant export opportunities. Mangoes dropping early in Rajshahi amid intense heat; growers, traders worried

The cultivation of coloured cauliflower has been gaining popularity among farmers in Naogaon as it is easy to grow and they earn good profit at low cost. Cultivating yellow and purple cauliflower successfully Jalal Hossain, a farmer of Kasba village under Hafania union of the district’s Sadar upazila, has created enthusiasm among other farmers who are thronging to his land to know about the cultivation process. Jalal said he received training on its cultivation from non-governmental organization(NGO) "Moushumi" last year. “Inspired by the cultivation of coloured cauliflower in a video footage during the training, I had bought 1,000 saplings with the assistance of the NGO and planted them on the land,” he said. Ranisankail farmers find fortune in cauliflower cultivation “Many people were saying that this cauliflower would not grow well in this area. They said who will buy it if tastes bad but I didn't lose hop,” the farmer said. He said he was adamant about selling the vegetable in the market. “I have received huge response buyers and farmers after success in coloured cauliflower cultivationand I have been able to earn profit. I have cultivated two types of cauliflower on 12 decimals of land.” It cost me about Tk 8000 for cultivation and now selling each piece at Tk 40-50 with a turnover of Tk 20,000 so far, he said. He hoped that he would be able to earn Tk 25, 000 more from the sale of the rest of the cauliflower. Early winter vegetables come as blessings for Jashore farmers Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said colourful cauliflower is consumed as salad in China and it has more nutritional value and demand than the white one. Farmers can make profit by cultivating it with less cost and labour. Organic fertilisers and pheromone traps are used instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides for its cultivation, they said. This variety of vegetable can be harvested within 70 to 80 days of planting and each weighs about two kilograms. The UNB correspondent talked to some local people- Mokhlesur, Asaduzzaman, Selina and Morsheda- who went to the cropland of Jalal to see and buy colourful cauliflower.Mahmudul Hasan Arif, agriculture officer of the NGO ‘Moushumi’, said under high yielding and high value new crops exhibition, 'yellow coloured ‘valentena’ variety and purple ‘carotena’ variety cauliflower were showcased. Read more: Apiculture in mustard field bring smile to Thakurgaon farmers Due to the success, the vegetable will be cultivated extensively in this region in the future, he hoped, he said adding farmer Jalal cultivated this cauliflower for the first time in the district. District DAE’s Agronomist Abul Kalam Azad told UNB that the first time cultivation by farmer Jalal will encourage other farmers in the district. Such colourful cauliflower contains vitamin A and B and beta carotene, folic acid, magnesium, manganese and antioxidants which has many health benifits. A white cauliflower is sold at Tk 20 to 30 per piece whereas the yellow and purple ones are sold at Tk 40 to 50, he said, hoping that its cultivation will increase a lot in future. Read more: Chapainawabganj farmers set to surpass Boro rice production targets

Voting in the election to Naogaon-2 constituency (Patnitala and Dhamoirhat upazilas), which was postponed following the death of independent candidate Aminul Haque, began amid strict security measures on Monday (February 12, 2024) morning. The balloting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. The Election Commission suspended the election due to the death of the independent candidate on December 29, eight-day ahead the 12th national election held on January 7 this year. Visiting several polling stations, the UNB correspondent found a huge presence of voters. Read more: BNP's program is nothing but restarting an old car: Foreign Minister Abdullah Al Mamun, presiding officer of Puiya Government Primary School centre, said that they have taken all preparations to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful environment. With the cooperation of the members of the law enforcement agencies, they will be able to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful environment, he hoped. Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Golam Mowla said all security measures have been taken so that election can be held in free, fair and neutral manner. There are 16 police and Ansar members in important centers each and 15 members in other centers each, he said, adding that on an average there is one police mobile team for every four centers along with a striking team and reserve team. Read more: 15 BNP men died in police custody 'for lack of care or torture': Rizvi Executive Magistrates and Judicial Magistrates are performing duty along with patrolling by members of the Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh, he said. A total of four candidates including one from the ruling Awami League and one from Jatiya Party are contesting the polls.