United News of Bangladesh

A young man was hacked to death in broad daylight by miscreants in Rajbari Sadar upazila on Tuesday, police and family members said. The incident took place around 1:00pm on a paved road in Char Narayanpur area under Mizanpur union. The victim was identified as Zahid Hasan Fakir, 27, son of Mahtab Fakir of Binodpur area in Ward No. 9 of Rajbari municipality. Man killed by mob over extortion in Rajbari, firearms recovered from associate Family members claimed Zahid was killed after he demanded repayment of Tk 2,500 he had lent, while police said the murder was likely linked to prior enmity. According to locals, Zahid received a phone call around noon and left home, saying he was going to collect the money. Shortly afterwards, miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons about 200 yards from his house, leaving him critically injured before fleeing the scene in an autorickshaw. Locals rescued him and rushed him to Rajbari Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His mother Momena Begum broke down in tears, saying her son had left home after receiving the call and promised to return soon after collecting the money. Soon after, we heard that he was being hacked, she said. 20-year-old youth arrested for killing bKash agent in Rajbari Family members and neighbours said Zahid, the youngest among five siblings, had returned from Malaysia about a year ago and was running a business locally. He had reportedly been in dispute with two youths from the Mechoghata area for some time. Emergency department physician Dr Nurul Azam said the victim had six to seven deep wounds inflicted by sharp weapons and died due to excessive bleeding. Officer-in-Charge of Rajbari Sadar Police Station, Khondkar Ziaur Rahman, said the body was sent to the morgue for autopsy and police have launched a drive to arrest those involved.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday convicted a woman and sentenced her to death in a case filed in connection with the Dhanmondi double murder in 2019. Judge of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan and Session Judge Court-7, Tauhida Akter handed down the punishment. The convict is Surovi Akter, domestic help of deceased Afroza Begum. The court also fined her Tk 50,000, in default to suffer five-months more in rigorous imprisonment. Youth’s body recovered from Dhanmondi Lake The court also acquitted Bachhu Mia, a worker of the house, as allegations brought against him could not be proved. According to the prosecution, police recovered the bodies of Afroza Begum, 65 and her housemaid Diti, 18 from a house at Lobelia House in Dhanmondi area of the capital on November 1, 2019. A case was filed with Dhanmondi Police Station on November 3, 2019. Police submitted chargesheet against Surovi and Bachhu Mia on February 1, 2022.

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Robert Duvall, best known for his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at the age of 95. Duvall died peacefully at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement issued by his public relations agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana. She described him as not only an award-winning actor and filmmaker but also her entire world, praising his deep commitment to his craft and his love for storytelling, food and lively conversation. Tributes quickly poured in from across the film industry. Fellow Godfather star Al Pacino said it was an honour to work with Duvall, calling him a natural actor whose talent and understanding of the art would never be forgotten. Over a career spanning more than six decades, Duvall became renowned for portraying strong, often hard-edged characters. He played mafia consigliere Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and a commanding US army officer in Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. His brief but memorable performance in Apocalypse Now, including the iconic napalm line, became one of cinema’s most quoted moments. Coppola described Duvall’s death as a major loss, saying he was an essential part of American Zoetrope from its earliest days. Duvall later revealed that he deliberately toned down his Apocalypse Now character to make it more believable. Duvall received seven Oscar nominations during his career and won best actor in 1983 for his role as a troubled country singer in Tender Mercies. His wide-ranging filmography also included Network, The Great Santini, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Judge. He often said his favourite role was Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the television miniseries Lonesome Dove. He made his screen debut in To Kill a Mockingbird, delivering a powerful, wordless performance as Boo Radley that earned lasting acclaim. Actor Alec Baldwin later said the role was emotionally devastating despite the absence of dialogue. Beyond acting, Duvall also wrote and directed films, including The Apostle, in which he played a conflicted evangelical preacher. Colleagues and co-stars remembered him not only for his immense talent but also for his warmth, humour and love of simple pleasures. In a closing message, his wife thanked fans for their support over the years and asked for privacy as the family remembers and celebrates a life that left a lasting mark on cinema.   With inputs from BBC

Police have recovered the hanging body of a Jagannath University student from Gandaria in the capital. The deceased was identified as Imran Nabil Paramanik, a student of the 2016–17 session (12th batch) of the Islamic Studies Department, said Inspector (Investigation) Nazmul Hasan of Gandaria Police Station on Monday. Imran Nabil’s family hails from Dhumaitari village under Sundarganj Police Station in Gaibandha district. He was the son of Shafiqul Islam Paramanik. He was residing at 29/C Rajni Chowdhury Road in the Gandaria area of Dhaka. Hanging body of JnU student recovered from mess in Old Dhaka Inspector Nazmul said the body was found hanging inside his residence on Rajni Chowdhury Road, next to Monija Rahman School in the Dhupkhola area of Gandaria. His body was later recovered and sent to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy. Legal proceedings are underway in connection with the case. The preliminary finding suggests the student may have committed suicide due to depression.

Abdur Rashid Molla, a  freedom fighter and an adviser of Narsingdi district BNP, died at a hospital in Dhaka on Saturday morning. He was 80. He breathed his last around 9:30 am, family sources said. Rashid, a former commander of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangshad  in Narsingdi and  a former chairman of Joynagar Union Parishad , is survived by wife, four sons, one daughter and many relatives. His first namaz-e-janaza will be held after Asr prayers at Narsingdi Collectorate Mosque. A second janaza will take place after Esha prayers at his village home in Joynagar village under Shibpur upazila. Man held over killing of freedom fighter, wife in Rangpur He will be buried at the family graveyard with state honour. BNP Joint Secretary General and Narsingdi district BNP President Khairul Kabir Khokon, district BNP General Secretary Manjur Elahi, Narsingdi Press Club President Makhan Das, General Secretary Asadul Haque Palash and Narsingdi District Bar Association President Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan expressed deep sorrow at his death and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family.

Former Water Resources Minister and ex-MP of Thakurgaon-1 constituency  Ramesh Chandra Sen passed away at Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital on Saturday. He was 85. Ramesh fell sick at Dinajpur district jail on Saturday and was taken to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital  where doctors declared him dead around 9 am, said Jailer of Dinajpur Jail Farhad Sarkar. Ramesh Sen was arrested from his home in Ruhia Senpara village in Thakurgaon’s Sadar Upazila on August 16, 2024. Jailer Farhad said Ramesh was transferred from Thakurgaon Jail to Dinajpur District Jail on August 17 of the year. The body will be handed over after completing the post-mortem, he added. Ramesh  Chandra was elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the 7th and the 9th national parliamentary elections in 1996 and 2008.  

National Press Club member and veteran journalist Zakaria Kajal passed away on Friday afternoon. He was 67. He breathed his last around 3:30 pm while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and numerous relatives, colleagues, and admirers. He had been suffering from various physical complications, including liver, kidney and heart ailments, as well as diabetes, for a long time. Born on December 16, 1959, Kajal worked as Head of News at Dainik Azad, Inqilab, The Observer, bdnews24.com and, most recently, Jamuna Television. His namaz-e-janaza will be held at the National Press Club premises at 1:00 pm on Saturday. National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz and General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan have expressed deep shock and sorrow over his death. In a statement, the leaders prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed their deepest condolences to his bereaved family members.

A revenue official was found dead at Naogaon 250-bed General Hospital early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Zunayed Saki, 37, an assistant revenue officer of Dhaka and hailed from Pirojpur district. Bappi, a trolleyman said two people arrived at the hospital in a pickup van carrying the body around 5 am and fled the scene after leaving the body onto a trolley in front of the emergency department of the hospital. Read More: 5 farmers killed in Naogaon road crash “As they were leaving, several people shouted at them from behind, but they ignored it and ran away,” Bappi said. Staff of the hospital later took the body to the emergency department where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Quoting family members, Zunayed Saki had travelled by train from Dhaka and got down at Santahar Railway Junction to visit his wife in Mahadevpur upazila of Naogaon. Rashed Ahmed, Naogaon Customs Assistant Revenue Commissioner said Zunayed, son of Manjurul Haque, was serving as an assistant revenue officer at Dhaka Customs, while his wife is a college teacher in Naogaon. Read More: Mother, daughter killed in Naogaon road crash Rehenuma Munmun, duty doctor of the hospital, said the victim was brought dead. Several injury marks were found on his hands and legs. Niamul Haque, Officer-in-charge of Naogaon Sadar Model Police, said the victim’s wife came to the police station to lodge a complaint. “We are trying to identify those who left the body in front of the hospital,” said OC. Legal action will be taken after investigation, he said.

Saiful Islam Rony, a Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader, who suffered burn injuries in an explosion at a house on January 27, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on Monday. Rony, a student of Anthropology Department of JU, breathed his last around 10am at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Monday. He had been undergoing treatment at the ICU of the hospital. On January 27, Abdus Sobhan Raihan set fire on his house by pouring Octane over family feud at Islamnagar area, adjacent to the university. Rony along with three others suffered burn injuries when they tried to keep him calm. Later, the injured Rony, Raihan, Rahat and Hasinur were taken to National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery where Rony succumbed to his injuries on Monday. Dr Zahir Uddin, duty doctor of the hospital, said “Rony's physical condition had been extremely critical from the beginning. His throat was burned while vital organs like the heart, kidneys and lungs had become nonfunctional.”  

Bagerhat’s Saberkhanda village was shrouded in grief on Friday evening as a young mother allegedly ended two lives—her nine-month-old son’s and her own—inside the family home. Kaniz Surbana Swarnali, 22, reportedly drowned her infant son, Nazim Hossain Swarnali, in a water bucket before hanging herself, police said.  The child was the only son of Swarnali and her husband, Jewell Hasan Saddam, Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League president, who has been imprisoned in Jessore since his arrest following the student-public uprising on August 5, 2024. Mother and daughter found dead in Keraniganj; tutor and sister held Family sources said Swarnali had been married to Saddam for about five years and had been struggling to secure his release.  Her brother, Shubho, said repeated failures to help her husband led her into severe mental distress. “First she drowned her son in a water bucket, then she hanged herself,” Shubho said.  At the time, the family, including Swarnali’s mother, brother, husband, wife, and child, was living together in Saddam’s home. Swarnali was the daughter of district Jatiya Party leader Ruhul Amin Howlader, connecting the tragedy to two politically known families, though grief struck them all alike. Bagerhat Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md. Shamim Hossain said the bodies were recovered and sent to the morgue for autopsy. “The exact circumstances of the killing will be revealed after the autopsy report,” he added. Police said they are investigating the incident and preparing to file two cases—one for murder and one for unnatural death. As evening fell over Saberkhanda, neighbours were left in stunned silence.  A child who had just begun his life and a mother overwhelmed by despair were both gone, leaving behind a household forever marked by sorrow.