Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Wahida Khanam, who is undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during a break-in at her house, has been transferred to Public Administration Ministry as officer on special duty (senior assistant secretary).

Besides, her husband Md Mejbahul Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Rangpur’s Pirganj, has been made senior assistant secretary of the Health Services Division.

The Public Administration Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard, saying the order is effective without any delay. 

Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Wahida and her father Omar Ali were seriously injured in an attack by miscreants at her home on the Upazila Parishad premises on September 3.

They were initially taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.

Later, the UNO was airlifted to Dhaka. She is currently undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital.

Also read: UNO Wahida’s condition improves further: Doctor

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Saturday forecast light to moderate rain, thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind for a few places over Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions, in the next 24 hours since 6pm.

The same was forecast for one or two places over Rajshahi and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over southern part of the country, a weather bulletin said, adding that weather may remain mainly dry elsewhere over the country.

The bulletin also said mild heat wave is sweeping over Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Dhaka, Rangmati, M. Court, Feni, Bogura, Sirajgonj, Mongla, Jashore, Barisal and Bhola. It may continue at some places.

About synoptic situation, the bulletin said the axis of monsoon trough was running through Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across Central part of Bangladesh. One of its associated troughs was extending up to Northwest Bay.

Monsoon was less active over Bangladesh and weak over North Bay.

A low-pressure area is likely to form over Northeast Bay and adjoining areas during the next 24 hours, it added.

During the period, day temperature may remain nearly unchanged while night temperature is likely to rise slightly over the country.

The sun rises at 5:47 am in capital city on Sunday.

Amid the skyrocketing onion prices in the local market, consignments of Indian variety of the essential kitchen item have finally started entering Bangladesh through different land ports on Saturday.

A good number of trucks carrying onions from the neighbouring country entered Bangladesh through Bhomra land port at Satkhira and Sonamasjid land port of Chapainawabganj.

The development ushered in a ray of hope that the overheated onion market will cool down with the Indian bulb.

The Indian government imposed a ban on onion export on September 14 in an effort to meet domestic demand.

As Bangladesh is largely dependent on imported onions, the ban put an adverse impact on Bangladeshi onion market and resulted in a sharp hike of onion price.

Later, India declared to allow the export of some quantity of onions which had been handed over to customs on the date of imposing ban on onion export.

The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry made it clear that the ban will not be applicable for those pre-contracted shipments and necessary directives have been given to allow such eligible consignments. 

But there will be no more new contract henceforth until the notification is revised, a senior official told UNB.

Thanks to the initiative, trucks loaded with Indian onions started entering Bangladesh through Bhomra port of Satkhira at noon.

Mostafizur Rahman Nasim, general secretary of C&F Agents Association of Bhomra, said, “Thirty-two trucks have entered the country from India on Saturday. Each of the trucks was carrying around 25 tonnes of onions.”

Also read: India bans export of onions again

Some 255 trucks were waiting on Indian side to enter Bangladesh, he said, adding that the rest will cross the border gradually.

India announced the export of 25,000 mt tonnes of onions through Bhomra, Hili and Sonamasjid land ports. Of them, 8,000 mt tonnes are likely to enter Bangladesh using Bhomra port, Nasim mentioned.

Meanwhile, local traders disclosed that a large quantity of onions got rotten as the trucks loaded with the cooking ingredients had been stuck in Indian side for the last five days.

Also read: Bangladesh urges India to withdraw ban on onion export

Mohshin Hossain, a customs official of Bhomra, said how much onions will come depends on India’s decision.

In Chapainawabganj, consignments of Indian onions started entering the country through Sonamasjid land port in the morning.

Taufiqur Rahman Babu, general secretary of the Sonamasjid Land Port Import-Export Group, said India has allowed the export of onions, which were tendered before India's export ban.

Also read: India allows pre-contracted onions to Bangladesh

Following the development, the consignment of onions started arriving at the port around 11 am on Saturday.

He hoped that all the trucks stuck on Indian side would enter Bangladesh gradually.

Over 150 onion laden trucks got stuck on the Indian side of Sonamasjit port when Indian government imposed the ban.

Also read: Onion export ban: FM says Indian ministry “very repentant"

A Narayanganj court on Saturday placed the eight suspended officials of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, on two-day remand over the blasts at a mosque in Nayaranganj that left 33 people dead.

Naranyanganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Court Judge kawsar Alam passed the order after the investigation officer sought five-day remand for each of the accused.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the suspended officials, said CID’s acting DIG Moinul Hasan at the Police Superintendent’s office.

The arrestees are Fatullah zonal office manager engineer Mohammad Sirajul Islam, deputy manager Mahmudur Rahman Rabbi, assistant engineer SM Hasan Shahriar, assistant engineer Manik Mia, senior supervisor Md Manibur Rahman, senior development officer Md Aiyub Ali, helper Md Hanif Mia and Md Ismail Prothan.

Also read: N;ganj mosque blasts: 8 suspended officials of Titas Gas held

Moinul Hasan said they were arrested from their respective areas in Fatullah.

Around 40 people were injured in the blasts at Baitul Salam Jame Mosque in Fatullah after Isha prayer on September 4.

Of them, 37 were taken to the Dhaka hospital in critical condition and 33 of them have died so far.

Also read: Another N’ganj mosque blast victim dies; death toll now 33

FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim has expressed deep grief over the death of Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, chief of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.

In his condolence message, FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim stated, “Ahmad Shafi was as one of the leading religious scholars in Bangladesh. Besides, he had also played a role in modernizing the Qawmi madrasa education system.”

Also read: Ahmed Shafi no more

“Our condolences to all members of Ahmad Shafi’s family. May everyone in his family find the strength to endure this grave ordeal”, he said in a press release.

Shafi, the Islamic scholar died at a hospital in the capital on Friday evening at the age of 104.

Also read: Ahmed Shafi laid to rest