A fire broke out at a footwear factory at Temgra Bazar in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur on Monday.

Senior station officer of Sreepur Fire Service, Mia Raz, said the fire broke out at ‘Rana Footwear’ around 3:30pm.

On information, three fire fighting units went to the spot and extinguished the blaze around 5pm.

The cause of the fire and the extent of damage could not be known immediately.

Also read: Fire breaks out in Gazipur shoe factory

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury on Monday urged the government to abolish the Digital Security Act for strengthening democracy and removing the obstacle to investigative journalism.

Speaking at a human-chain programme, he also called upon the government to withdraw all the cases filed against journalists under the act and ensure the freedom of press.

“Give journalists the scope for divulging facts. All the cases filed against them have to be withdrawn. Not only that, I also call upon the Prime Minister to annul the Digital Security Act and send it to the grave. It’ll benefit you (PM), the country and its people. It’ll also help strengthen democracy,” Zafrullah said.

Bangladesh Mofussil Journalists’ Association arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of Ruhul Amin Gazi, president of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).

Stating that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged journalists to write reports based on facts shunning yellow journalism, he said unethical or yellow journalism flourishes when the freedom of press is obstructed.

"When such an act (digital security one) is used against journalists to prevent them from investigating facts, then yellow journalism and militancy emerge in the country,” the noted intellectual observed.

Zafrullah, also a freedom fighter, alleged that the government’s wrong policy, unfair behaviour and repressive acts are taking the country to a wrong direction.

He also criticised the government for arresting some journalists, including Ruhul Amin Gazi and photographer Shafiqul Islam Kajol, under the Digital Security Act. “I don’t find any reason to keep them in jail.”

"Journalists are your (PM's) friends as they present the truth to you and find out the truth. I would like to say no one can stay in power by indulging in repressive acts. You please release the journalists immediately and allow them to speak up and present the truth freely. This will pave the way for good governance in the country and ensure your benefits,” he observed.

Zafrullah said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday demanded the release of the arrested journalists, but he did not assure that their party, if returns to power, will revoke the black law and ensure the freedom of press and people’s freedom of expression.

He called upon all to get united to restore the freedom of expression in the country.

Zafrullah urged the government to take steps for giving journalists a special incentive during the current corona crisis recognising their contributions to the nation.

Also read: Govt activities 'anti-democratic': Dr Zafrullah

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday said that those who are involved in the crime will be brought to book irrespective of their identities.

“If anyone commits a crime, he/she will be brought under law, no matter who the person is,” he told reporters at his Dhanmondi residence when they sought comment about the attack on a Navy official.

A case has been filed against Irfan Selim, son of MP Haji Selim, for "attacking" Lieutenant Wasif Ahmed Khan of Bangladesh Navy at Dhanmondi in the capital on Sunday night.

Lt Wasif filed the case at Dhanmondi Police Station against four named accused, including Irfan Selim, also councillor of ward-30 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and several unnamed accused.

The three other accused are AB Siddique Dipu, 45, Md Zahid, 35, and driver Md Mizanur Rahman, 30.

According to the case statement, a private car hit Lt Wasif's motorcycle near Labaid Hospital around 7:45pm when he and his wife were returning to their Mohammadpur residence from Nilkhet.

Later, some people came out of the car and physically assaulted the navy official. They also verbally abused his wife, the navy official alleged.

Meanwhile, the incident went viral on social media.

Md Ikram Ali Mia, officer-in-charge of the police station, said the driver of the car, Mizanur, was detained from the spot and shown arrested in the case.

Also read: 'Assault on Navy official': Haji Selim’s son Irfan held

Later, members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) conducted a drive at the Old Dhaka residence of Haji Selim and detained his son Irfan and Irfan’s bodyguard Zahid on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Monday placed Mizanur Rahman, driver of MP Haji Selim, on one-day remand in a case filed over the assault.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Sufiyan Mohammad Noman passed the order when Dhanmondi Police Station's Inspector Ashfaq Rajib, also the investigation officer of the case, produced him before the court in the afternoon, seeking a five-day remand.

Also read: Haji Selim’s driver Mizanur put on remand

A Dhaka court on Monday placed Mizanur Rahman, driver of MP Haji Selim,  on one-day remand in a case over the assault of a Navy official.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Sufiyan Mohammad Noman passed the order when inspector of Dhanmondi Police Station Ashfaq Rajib, also investigation officer of the case, produced him before the court in the afternoon, seeking  a five-day remand.

A case has been filed against Irfan Selim, son of MP Haji Selim, on charge of "attacking" Lieutenant Wasif Ahmed Khan of Bangladesh Navy at Dhanmondi in the capital on Sunday night.

Lt Wasif filed the case with Dhanmondi Police Station against four named accused, including Irfan Selim, also councillor of ward-30 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and 2-3 unnamed accused.

The three other accused are AB Siddique Dipu, 45, Md Zahid, 35, and driver Md Mizanur Rahman, 30.

According to the case statement, a private car hit Lt Wasif's motorcycle near Labaid Hospital at Dhanmondi around 7:45 pm when he along with his wife was returning to their Mohammadpur residence from Nilkhet area.

Later, some people came out of the car and physically assaulted the navy official. They also abused his wife verbally, the navy official alleged. 

Meanwhile, the incident went viral on social media.

Md Ikram Ali Mia, officer-in-charge of the police station, said the driver of the car, Mizanur, was detained from the spot and shown arrested in the case.

Later, members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) conducted a drive at the Old Dhaka residence of Haji Selim and detained his son Irfan and Irfan’s bodyguard Zahid on Monday afternoon.

Also read: 'Assault on Navy official': Haji Selim’s son Irfan held

Members of Rapid action Battalion (Rab) detained Irfan Selim, son of Dhaka-7 MP Haji Selim, from his father’s residence in Old Dhaka in the city on Monday on charge of "attacking" Lieutenant Wasif Ahmed Khan of Bangladesh Navy.

Lt Col Ashique Billah, director (Legal and Media) wing of Rab, said a team of Rab conducted a drive in the house and detained him  in the afternoon.

They also detained Mohammad Zahid, Irfan’s bodyguard, from the house.

The drive at the house was going on till filling of this report at 4pm.

Earlier, a case was filed with Dhanmondi Police Station against Irfan Selim for ‘assaulting the navy official’ on Sunday night.

Lt Wasif filed the case against four named accused, including Irfan Selim, also councillor of ward-30 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and 2-3 unnamed accused.

The three other accused are AB Siddique Dipu, 45, Md Zahid, 35, and Md Mizanur Rahman, 30.

According to the case statement, a private car hit Lt Wasif's motorcycle near Labaid Hospital at Dhanmondi around 7:45 pm when he along with his wife was returning to their Mohammadpur residence from Nilkhet area.

Later, some people came out of the car and physically assaulted the navy official. They also abused his wife verbally, the navy official alleged. 

Meanwhile, the incident went viral on social media.

Md Ikram Ali Mia, officer-in-charge of the police station, said the driver of the car, Mizanur, was detained from the spot and shown arrested in the case.

Also read: Haji Selim’s driver Mizanur put on remand