United News of Bangladesh

Two members of Jatiotabadi Swechhasebak Dal have been expelled from the party following a clash over beef prices in Sylhet. They are Aziz Khan Sajib, joint convener of the Metropolitan Swechhasebak Dal, and member Golam Rabbani. The decision was taken by Central Committee President SM Jilani and General Secretary Rajib Ahsan, according to a press release by Joint Office Secretary Md. Osman Gani on Friday. The incident occurred on Thursday night around 9:30 pm at the Medina Market area, where a scuffle broke out between leaders and activists of two BNP-affiliated groups over beef prices. At least 10 people were injured. Police and army personnel rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control. Sylhet Metropolitan Volunteer Party member secretary Afsar Khan said the central committee suspended the two members after verifying the facts of the clash. Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md. Manjurul Alam said quick action was taken to ensure public safety.

A group of local people attacked police and snatched away two suspected accused while they were being taken to a police station with drugs in Sylhet district. Manjurul Alam, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said a team of Shahparan Police Station, led by sub-inspector Alif intercepted a pick-up in front of Doloipara Sakina in district town around 6 pm on Tuesday. Later, they recovered 297 pieces of Yaba tablets and arrested Shahidul Islam, 45, son of Samsu Mia and Jabed Ahmed, 26, of Alibagh area of the city. Seven suspected robbers arrested with knives in Sylhet At one stage, some local people, numbering 30-35 people, including Abdul Ahad, Enam, Sakib and Rebul carried out an attack on police and snatched away the accused from police custody and allowed them to flee the scene. However, no policeman was injured and police are trying to arrest the accused, said Manjurul. Two separate cases were filed in this connection.

Police have arrested a woman for allegedly killing her mother-in-law in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj. The deceased was identified as Ferdousi Islam Chowdhury, 53, wife of the late Sirajul Islam Chowdhury. Her son, Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, is an expatriate living in Dubai. Ferdousi had been living at the house with her daughter-in-law Tamanna Akhtar, 22. Police said Ferdousi’s body was recovered from her residence on Monday morning with her hands and feet tied and her face taped. The body was later sent to Habiganj Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Police arrested victim’s daughter-in-law Tamanna Akhtar. During initial interrogation, she reportedly confessed to her involvement in the murder. Police said Tamanna had an illicit relationship with a youth from Sunamganj. On the night of the incident, the man, along with two to three accomplices, entered the house. They allegedly broke open a cupboard and looted gold ornaments and cash. When Ferdousi woke up and began to scream, the accused tied her hands and feet, taped her mouth, and later strangled her to death, police said. In this connection, the victim’s brother, Faruk Ahmed, filed a murder case against Tamanna,s alleged lover and several unidentified persons. Nabiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monayem Mia said it was a planned killing. “The main accused has been arrested and drives are underway to arrest the others involved,” he added.

A 55-year-old fisherman was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while he was catching fish in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet district on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Ram Chandra Talukdar, 55, son of Mohananda Talukdar of Dharmapasha upazila in Sunamganj district. He used to live in the Kalairag Natunbazar area. Shafiqul Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Companiganj Police Station, said Ram Chandra died on the spot when a thunderbolt struck him while he was catching fish in the Dhalai River around 9 pm amid rain. The body of Ram Chandra was sent to the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue.

The Department of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has seized and publicly destroyed a large quantity of expired and hazardous cosmetic products, including items imported illegally from India, in Sylhet city. The shop responsible was fined Tk 60,000. The operation took place on Monday around 4:00pm at Lal Dighirpar Hawkers Market. Acting on a tip-off, officials raided the warehouse of Rudrakshi Enterprise, and found a stockpile of banned and adulterated cosmetics that posed a risk of skin cancer. Md Arif Murshed Mishu, Deputy Director of the DNCRP Sylhet office, said the raid was conducted with support from members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-9, during which one employee of the shop was detained. The shop was fined Tk 60,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, and the employee was released after payment. All confiscated expired and hazardous products were publicly burned.  The raid also recovered various counterfeit Indian cosmetic items, including fake olive oil products. Authorities warned that similar illegal and dangerous cosmetic items would not be tolerated and urged consumers to report suspicious products.

Commerce  Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Friday said the government has adequate stocks of essential commodities to keep market prices stable during the holy month of Ramadan. “The main responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce is to ensure price stability of essential food items. This responsibility becomes even more important during Ramadan,” he told reporters in Sylhet.  The minister said when the current government assumed office, there was little scope to take special measures ahead of Ramadan.  “However, the positive aspect is that the amount of food stock we currently have is sufficient to maintain price stability in the market,” he added. Minister Muktadir speaking to journalists at Sylhet Osmani International Airport after exchanging greetings with officials of different government departments and party leaders. Responding to a question on development plans for Sylhet, the minister said he had highlighted these issues throughout his election campaign and manifesto.  “We want to implement initiatives that are directly linked to improving the quality of life of the people of Sylhet,” he said, adding that priority would be given to employment generation, expansion of IT-related professions and the establishment of an AI centre. The minister also said the government would work sincerely over the next five years, utilising every single day to move Bangladesh forward in the global arena. 'Not all collections in the road transport sector is extortion': Roads, Railways and Shipping Minister Replying to a question about job creation at the Sylhet IT Park, he said investment is essential to generate employment.  “To attract investment, we need to improve communication systems, reduce red tape and ensure a supportive environment, including political stability,” Muktadir said. He added that special policy support is needed for expatriate and local investors in Sylhet. “We are working on these issues and their implementation will be visible very soon." Among others present were Sylhet MP MA Malik, Divisional Commissioner Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi, Range DIG Md Mushfekur Rahman, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam, Sylhet Metropolitan BNP Acting President Rezaul Hasan Koyes Lodi and Sylhet District BNP President Abdul Qaiyum Chowdhury, along with leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its associate bodies.

Power supply will be temporarily suspended in several key areas of Sylhet city on Tuesday due to transformer repair, renovation, and transmission line development work. A press release on Monday, signed by the Executive Engineer of Sales and Distribution Division-3 of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, Sylhet, said that electricity will be cut off in areas under the Lalabazar feeder, including Telibazar, Badikona, Bhalki, Bhorout, Lalabazar Nijgaon, Tengra, Betsandhi, Munshirgaon, Munshibazar, Farhadpur, Kararpar, Gangapar, Monokupa, Alamnagar, Chhomipur, and surrounding localities, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Mild earthquake jolts Sylhet; epicentre in Gowainghat upazila The release added that the power line will be considered operational during the shutdown, and if the work is completed earlier than scheduled, electricity supply will be restored immediately. Authorities apologised to customers in the affected areas for the temporary inconvenience and sought their cooperation.

Three presiding officers have been withdrawn in Faridpur and Jhenaidah districts over allegations of irregularities while a presiding officer was physically assaulted at a polling centre in Sylhet. In Faridpur, two presiding officers were withdrawn from separate constituencies over allegations of allowing unauthorised persons to enter polling centres. The withdrawn officials are Md Al Amin of Hitaishi High School centre in Faridpur-3 (Sadar) and Zahidul Islam of Ashapur Madrasha centre in Faridpur-1 (Alfadanga-Boalmari-Madhukhali). Faridpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Molla said new presiding officers have been appointed in their place. In Jhenaidah, Jesmin Ara, presiding officer of Salimunnessa Girls’ School centre under Jhenaidah-4 constituency, was removed after 23 pre-signed result sheets were recovered on Wednesday night. Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Abdullah Al Masud said such irresponsible conduct would not be tolerated in the interest of holding a free and fair election. A new presiding officer, Shamsuzzaman Khan, a senior lecturer at Kaliganj Shaheed Nur Ali College, has been appointed. Jesmin Ara later claimed she had signed the result sheets unintentionally and tore them up after realising her mistake. In Sylhet, a presiding officer of Sylhet-3 constituency was assaulted following a dispute over the entry of a candidate’s agent at Mahishashi polling centre in Balaganj upazila around 11:30pm on Wednesday. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Saiful Islam said three people attempted to enter Shahjalal Jamiya Islamia School and College polling centre in Sylhet city, posing as election observers. Local residents later detained them and handed them over to police. Law enforcers also recovered several bamboo sticks from Chowkidekhi petrol pump area in the city late at night. Sylhet Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam said no one is permitted to enter polling centres at night.

A mild tremor shook Sylhet and its adjacent areas on Tuesday. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the tremor was recorded at 5:32 pm with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake was Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet division, 214 km North-East from BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka, according to BMD. Another earthquake jolts Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqul Rahman will attend an election rally in Sylhet on Saturday. The rally, organized by Sylhet district Jamaat-e-Islami, will be held at the historic Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground at 3:00 pm, where Dr. Rahman will deliver his keynote speech. Leaders of the 11-party alliance will also address the gathering. Extensive arrangements have been made by Jamaat and the 11-party alliance to welcome the Ameer. Ahead of the event, senior officials of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) and Sylhet City Corporation inspected the venue to ensure security and traffic management. Jamaat leaders also conducted multiple inspections of the rally ground. On Friday, SMP Commissioner Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury led a team of senior police officials to review the site and briefed on security arrangements. Earlier in the day, city corporation and administration officials also visited the venue. Jamaat Ameer to address major rally in Sylhet on Saturday Among the Jamaat leaders present during the inspection were central working committee member and Sylhet metropolitan Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam, Sylhet-1 constituency candidate Maulana Habibur Rahman, district Naib Ameer Professor Abdul Hannan, election director Hafiz Abdul Hai Harun, assistant election director Dr. Nurul Islam Babul, and other senior party officials. Muhammad Fakhrul Islam said the rally, starting at 3:00 pm and concluding by 4:30 pm, will introduce Jamaat and 11-party candidates from six Sylhet constituencies and four constituencies from Sunamganj. Dr. Shafiqul Rahman will arrive at Sylhet district stadium by helicopter after attending rallies in Habiganj and Moulvibazar. Special arrangements have been made for women participants.