Bangladesh
Dhaka’s Mirpur witnesses highest arson attacks since Oct 28: Fire Service
More than eight arson attacks were reported everyday on average between October 28 and November 20 across the country, Fire Service and Civil Defense said on Tuesday.
Of these, Dhaka's Mipur witnessed highest 19 arson attacks during this period.
"A total of 197 arson attacks were reported across the country during this period, leaving 5 people injured,” said Talha Bin Jashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's media cell.
Of the total fire incidents, 95 arson attacks were reported in Dhaka city, he added.
Read: 11 arson attacks reported in 15 hours: Fire Service
According to the fire service, out of 197 arson attacks across the country, 132 attacks were reported in Dhaka division including in Dhaka city, 22 in Chattogram, 24 in Rajshahi, 7 in Barishal, 7 in Rangpur, 2 in Khulna , 2 in Mymensingh division, and 1 in Sylhet division.
A total of 118 buses, 26 truck, 13 covered vans, 8 motorcycles, 2 private cars,3 microbus , 3 pickup vans , 3 CNG-run auto rickshaws, some cariages of 2 trains, 1 human hauler, 3 Lagunas, 1 fire service water truck, 1 police van, 5 BNP offices, 1 Awami League office, 1 police box, 1 councilor office, 2 electricity offices, 1 bus counter, and 2 shops were burnt during this time, according to fire service.
According to the statistics, the highest, 29, arson attacks were carried out on October 28.
Read: 16 arson attacks reported since Nov 14: Fire Service
While most of the arson violence occurred in areas under the two Dhaka city corporations, the Fire Service says it did not receive any such report in 30 districts.
A total of 1,888 members of 341 firefighting units worked to douse the fire across the country during this period.
On 28 October, both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami called rallies in the capital which were marred by violence.
Many vehicles were torched and two people died, including a police constable.
Young voices must be heard on key issues impacting their future: EU Ambassador
Noting growing relations with Bangladesh, Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley today said that they want to see more business from Europe to Bangladesh, noting that Bangladesh will be the ninth largest consumer market in the world by 2030.
“Bangladesh is increasingly an attractive market. And that is why our relationship is really becoming a shared partnership on so many different levels,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at an interactive event titled “Bangladesh Decides: The Youth Speaks" (BDYS) at Dhaka University.
Ambassador Whiteley said they want to enhance and advance their commercial interests in Bangladesh.
“It’s vital that young voices are heard on key issues facing their future. Today’s event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views with students on the economy and global challenges. The EU is supporting youth worldwide, including through our Youth Action Plan adopted last year,” he said.
HerNet Foundation organized the first episode of the programme envisioned and conceptualized by the founding CEO and MD of HerNet TV, Alisha Pradhan.
Read: Terminal 3 will transform Bangladesh's passenger and cargo handling capabilities: EU Ambassador
The event, co-funded and supported by the EU Embassy in Bangladesh, is a testament to their commitment to empowering the youths of Bangladesh.
Highlighting the importance of export diversification, the EU envoy said readymade garment products are still dominating Bangladesh’s export basket.
7 buses vandalised in Khagrachhari
Miscreants vandalised seven buses at Baillachhari in Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari district on Monday night during the 48-hour hartal enforced by BNP and like-minded opposition parties.
Rajib Chandra Kar, officer-in-charge of Guimara Police Station, said a group of miscreants vandalised Dhaka-bound seven buses of different transport companies including Robi Express, Shyamoli Paribahan and Shanti Paribahan around 11:30 pm.
Read: Two buses burnt in Rajshahi on day 1 of hartal
A passenger was injured during the attack.
Panic gripped the passengers when the attack was carried out.
On information, police rushed to the spot.
Read: Brahmanbaria back on rail network after 14 hours
However, no one was arrested as the miscreants managed to flee the scene.
RAB arrests 4 ‘opposition party activists’ over burning bus in Mirpur
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four people on Monday for torching a bus of Basumati Paribahan in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on November 18.
The arrestees are Ali Mohammad Chan, 27; Md Sagor, 25; Md Al Amin Rubel, 29; and Md Khorshed Alam, 34.
Read: 14 BNP men sentenced to jail in absentia over 2015 cocktail blast at New Market
Members of RAB conducted a drive last night in Mirpur and arrested them, according to a media release.
“They are members of an opposition party. One of them planned the arson attack under the direction of top leaders of their party,” RAB’s media release said.
Read: Youth killed by lynch mob on suspicion of stealing in Bogura
On November 18, a Basumati Paribahan bus was set on fire around 11:30 pm in Mirpur’s Kalshi.
21 crude bombs recovered from Benapole
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered 21 crude bombs from Bhoberber village under Benapole Land Port police station of Jashore district early today.
Major Mohammad Saqib Hossain of RAB-6 said they conducted a drive in the village in the early hours of today after being tipped off that some bombs were stored there for carrying out subversive activities.
Later, a total of 21 crude bombs, wrapped with tape and jute thread, were recovered from the bank of a pond, he said.
Efforts are on to identify and arrest those involved, said the RAB official.
The recovered bombs were handed over to Jashore's Benapole Port Police Station and Kotwali Model Police Station.
US Secretary of State outlined how they engage with govts, workers to protect labor rights: State Dept Spokesperson
The United States has said it will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of Bangladeshis, to ensure “free and fair” elections conducted in a peaceful manner.
“We do not take a position in favor of one party or the other. We want what the Bangladeshi people themselves want: free and fair elections which are conducted in a peaceful matter,” Spokesperson at the US Department of State Mathew Miller told reporters in a regular media briefing in Washington on November 20.
Read: No political issues on agenda for foreign secretary's meeting with Indian counterpart: Momen
The US State Department spokesperson again mentioned the attempt to draw him into Bangladesh’s internal issues, and reiterated that he is going to continue to refrain from doing so.
“So I appreciate the urge – the repeated urge, I should say – to try and draw me into internal Bangladeshi matters, but I am going to continue to refrain from doing so and just state, as I said before, that our goal for the election in Bangladesh is what it has always been: free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner,” he added.
Miller also said the US Secretary of State outlined how they engage with governments, workers, labor organizations, trade unions, civil society, and the private sector around the world to protect and promote respect for internationally recognized labor rights.
Read: US to hold accountable those who threaten, intimidate, attack union leaders, labour rights defenders, labour orgs
“We will continue to do that in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world,” he said.
“We condemn the recent violence against workers in Bangladesh protesting over the minimum wage, as well as the criminalization of legitimate worker and trade union activities,” Miller said.
He said they are also “concerned” about the ongoing repression of workers and trade unions.
“Our principle, as we have stated before, is that government must ensure that workers are able to exercise their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining without fear of violence, reprisal, or intimidation,” Miller said.
Read: It's up to Bangladeshis, their democratic system, says India about polls
Through their work in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world, the US State Department spokesperson said they are firmly committed to advancing those fundamental human rights.
Khaleda Zia's advisor Habibur Rahman arrested
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advisor and the party’s Vice Chairman Md Habibur Rahman Habib.
RAB arrested the BNP leader from Dhaka’s Mirpur DOHS area early today (November 21, 2023) in connection with a case filed for contempt of court, RAB-2 Senior Assistant Director (Media) ASP Shihab Karim informed the media.
Read: 562 arrested by RAB on charges of sabotage since Oct 28
He was handed over to Sher-E-Bangla Nagar Police Station this morning for further legal action against him, added the RAB official.
Earlier, the High Court asked Habibur Rahman to appear before the court on November 6 and explain his “derogatory remarks” about a judge of the High Court on social media.
The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the suo moto order.
The court issued a rule seeking explanation as to why punitive action should not be taken against the BNP leader for contempt of court.
Read: RAB arrests 4, including Sramik Dal leader, from Dhaka's Jatrabari in sabotage case
Talking about BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment Habibur said in a video, “I want to take an oath that the day when this government will be not be in power, even if Justice Akhtaruzzaman is alive, he will have to die, even if he dies, the body will be exhumed from the grave.”
Armed Forces Day: PM Hasina pays tribute at Shikha Anirban
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday paid tribute to the martyred members of Bangladesh Armed Forces on the occasion of Armed Forces Day-2023.
The prime minister paid homage by placing a wreath at the Shikha Anirban (flame eternal) in Dhaka Cantonment this morning.
After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time to show profound respect to the memories of the armed forces martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices during the 1971 Liberation War.
A smartly-turned out contingent drawn from Army, Navy and Air Force presented a guard of honour at that time, while the bugle played the last post.
Later, Sheikh Hasina, also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, signed the visitors' book kept on the premises of Shikha Anirban.
Truck set on fire in Rajshahi
Unidentified miscreants set fire to a truck near Muktijuddho Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi city early today, just before the countrywide 48-hour hartal called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties ended.
Abu Sama, senior station officer of Rajshahi Fire Service and Civil Defense Headquarters, said that the truck of 'Shovon Enterprise' was parked in front of the city's Muktijuddho Smrity Stadium on Monday night.
Around 4 am, arsonists torched the truck and fled.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control, added the fire official.
Meanwhile, the Fire Service recorded at least 17 arson attacks till 6 pm on Monday during the 48-hour hartal.
One arson attack was reported in Dhaka division, seven in Rajshahi, four in Chattogram, and one in Mymensingh division.
Ten buses, six trucks, one covered van, one CNG-run autorickshaw and three carriages of a train were burnt during this period.
60-year-old man dies after falling between two trains
A 60-year-old man died after falling between two trains in the capital's Kawranbazar area on Monday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Kashem Mia, 60, a resident of Chauddagram upazila of Comilla district. He used to live in Manipuri Para of Farmgate with his family.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Dhaka Railway Police Station Md Faruk Ahmed said that the accident occurred when Kashem Mia was walking through the railway line in Kawranbazar Fishpatty area and talking on his mobile phone, but suddenly fell between two trains and died on the spot.
The body was handed over to his wife Rehena Begum and son Zakir Hossain without an autopsy on the request of the deceased's relatives, the police official said.