Benapole, Sept 22 (UNB) - Indian traders have suspended exporting goods through Benapole Land Port from Saturday morning alleging that Bangladeshi handlers have been charging ‘extra money’ for unloading goods from their trucks.

It was decided at a joint meeting of trader representatives from both the countries last week that no ‘extra money’ will be charged, said Kartik Chandra Dey, secretary of Indian Petrapole Customs Clearing and Forwarding Staff Welfare Association.

“But, the Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) staffs at Benapole land port are still charging extra money. So, we have suspended sending goods to Bangladesh from the morning (Saturday),” he added.

Denying their allegation, Nasir Uddin, secretary of Benapole Customs Clearing and Forwarding Staff Welfare Association, said they are collecting money for unloading goods from Indian trucks as fixed by both the parties.

Assistant Commissioner Uttam Chakma of Benapole Customs House said hundreds of trucks carrying different goods including industrial raw materials, machineries, fish and other perishable goods got stranded on both sides of the port since morning.

“Each day we will lose around Tk 23 crore as revenue due to this halt,” he added.

The passengers of both the countries are continuing crossing the border as usual, said Tarikul Islam, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration Police.

Sylhet, Sept 22 (UNB) - Two workers of Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity (Rural Electricity Board) were killed and three others injured as a bus hit a van defying a red flag signal at Gazia in Osmaninagar upazila on Saturday. 

The deceased were identified as Abdul Hai and Rasel of Chantashain village in Shahghata upazila of Gaibandha district.

According to Palli Bidyut office sources, the accident took place when a Sherpur-bound bus hit the van while the workers were loading electric poles on it, leaving two of them dead on the spot.

The injured ones were admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital, said Sub-inspector Muminul Islam of Osmaninagar Police Station.

Dhaka, Sept 22 (UNB) – Speakers at an opinion-exchange meeting here on Saturday laid emphasis on working together to highlight the prospects and challenges of Chattogram and make it an environment-friendly sustainable city through continuous development efforts in the interest of the country.

They sought a stronger media role in digging out problems and bringing those to the notice of policymakers so that proper steps are taken to see continuation of development of Chattogram as a whole. 

Chattogram Samity Dhaka arranged the meeting with journalists from news agencies, newspapers and television stations at its office. 

Samity President and former secretary of the government Mohammad Abdul Mubarak, vice president Syed Nurul Islam, general secretary M Abdul Mabud, former principal secretary to Prime Minister Md Abdul Karim, former Samity president Abu Alam Chowdhury, senior journalists Nizam Ahmed, M Wahid Ullah, Anis Alamgir, Mustafa Kamal and Anup Kumar Khastagir, among others, spoke at the programme.     

Leaders of Chittagong Journalists’ Forum Dhaka (CJFD), including its general secretary Shamim Jahangir, also spoke.

Abdul Mubarak highlighted the glorious role of Chattogram Samity and laid emphasis on building bridges between journalists and the Samity. 

Syed Nurul Islam, also convener of Samity’s annual Mejban, announced that the annual Mejban (feast) and get-together will be held in the city on December 8. 

He sought cooperation from all, especially the media representatives, in holding the mega event successfully as in previous years.  

Bandarban, Sept 22 (UNB) – A suspected robber was killed in ‘gunfight’ with police in Baishari brick field area in Naikhongchhari Upazila early Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Anwar Boli. He was wanted in accused in several cases with Ramu thana in Cox’s Bazar and Naikhongchhari police station.

Jakir Hossain Mazumder, superintendent of Bandarban Police, said on information that a gang of robbers was taking preparation to commit robbery, a team of police, led by Sheikh Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Naikhongchhari police station, conducted a drive in the area around 1am.

Sensing the presence of police, the robbers opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight, leaving Anwar dead on the spot.

Police recovered a pistol, a LG, two bullets, several bullet shells from the spot.

Two policemen were also injured during the gunfight, said police.
 

Jashore, Sept 22 (UNB) – A suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight between two groups of drug traders in Bablatola area in the district town early Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Shahidul Islam Tapan alias Tera Tapan.

Naimur Rahman, assistant superintendent of Jashore Circle, said on information that a gunfight was taking place between two groups of drug traders a team of police conducted a drive in the area around 3am.

Sensing the presence of police, the drug traders fled away.

Then police recovered the bullet-hit body of Tapan from the scene.

Police also recovered 5 kgs hemp from the spot.