District
6 teen gang members held over murder in Cumilla
Members of Rapid Action Battalions (Rab) have detained six members of a teen gang named ‘Ratan Group’ over the killing of a teenage boy in Cumilla city.
A team of Rab-11 detained the teenage boys after conducting drives at Debidwar and Sadar upazilas on Saturday night, said Md Sakib Hossain, commander of Crime Prevention Company-2 of the battalion, at a press briefing on Sunday.
Read:Govt to lower age bracket for children to punish teen gangs
The detainees were handed over to Kotwali Model police station, the officer added.
On Friday afternoon, Ratan Group members hacked Shahadat Hossain, a member of teen gang ‘Eagle Group’, indiscriminately in front of Our Lady of Fatima Girls High School in Cumilla city following previous dispute, leaving him seriously injured.
Later, he was rushed to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police arrested 12 more people in connection with the killing.
Cox’s Bazar trawler capsize: 3 more bodies retrieved
A team of Coast Guard on Sunday fished out the bodies of three more fishermen from the Bay of Bengal two days after a fishing trawler carrying 19 fishermen capsized amid inclement weather.
The deceased were identified as Hossain Ahmad, Azizul Haque and Mohammad Absar, residents of Sadar upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
Local fishermen spotted the bodies at Maheshkhali Channel of the Bay around 10 am and informed the coast guard, said Selim Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Cox’s Bazar Sadar police station.
So far, five bodies have been recovered from the Bay, he added.
Read: Cox’s Bazar trawler capsize: bodies of two among missing eight recovered
On Saturday, coast guard members fished out bodies of two fishermen from Maheshkhali and Sonadia channels.
On Friday afternoon, fishing trawler ‘MB Mayer Doa’ carrying the 19 fishermen capsized at Najirartek Channel, said M Hamidul Islam, contingent commander of the CG East Zone in Cox’s Bazar Station.
Of them, eight fishermen were rescued and three others managed to swim to ashore
Three more fishermen are still missing, he added.
250 fishermen go missing as 16 trawlers sink in Bay, 150 rescued in Patuakhali
Over 250 fishermen of Patuakhali remained missing as 16 fishing trawlers capsized in the Bay of Bengal amid inclement weather on Friday, said Naval police on Sunday.
About 150 fishermen of 18 trawlers that sank in the Bay near Kuakata in Patuakhali have been rescued so far, said Akhtar Morshed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kuakata Naval police outpost.
Locals along with a rescue trawler of fish wholesalers’ association reached the fish landing center with the rescued fishermen from Saturday evening to 11 pm on Sunday, the OC added.
Kuakata-Alipur Fish Depot Owners Association President Ansar Uddin Mollah said 13 fishermen were rescued from the Bay while 11 fishermen were rescued by the fishermen of Rayadighi of India. They are currently in the South Sundarban Fishermen and Fish Workers Union of India’s custody.
Read:34 fishermen go missing as 11 trawlers sink in Bay
And the remaining fishermen were rescued by the trawlers of the owner's association and local fishermen.
However, at least 126 fishermen of seven trawlers of Alipur are still missing, he added.
Raju Ahmed Raja, general secretary of Mohipur Fish Depot Owners Association, said least 130 fishermen of nine trawlers of Mohipur are still missing.
Besides, a fisherman Rafiq, 32, fell into the sea from a trawler on the way back to the shore from the deep sea and went missing. The owners of the capsized and missing trawlers are from Charfashion, Mahipur, Kalapara and Rangabali upazilas of Bhola, he added.
“Operation is on to rescue the missing fishermen and trawlers,” said the OC.
Rice price hike adds to plight of low-income people in Bagerhat
The prices of all varieties of rice have gone up in the wholesale and retail markets of Bagerhat, creating a suffocating condition for the low-income group people who are already plagued by price hikes of daily essentials.
Wholesale and retail rice markets in the district are witnessing an increase in rice prices by Tk 10 per kilogram and Tk 150 per 25kg sack.
Both the buyers and rice traders are finding it hard to procure rice as per their demands. Traders alleged that rice prices have soared due to syndication by rice mill owners.
While visiting Chaupatti and Nagerbazar wholesale rice markets, the UNB correspondent found that both the buyers and sellers were engaging in altercations over rice price hike.
The rice traders were blaming rise in fuel prices for increases in rice prices. On the contrary, consumers were returning home with rice less than the amount bought by them previously.
In wholesale markets, the staple is being sold at rates between Tk 50 to Tk 85 per kg. Even price of coarse rice has also seen an increase by Tk 5 per kg. Rice traders are asking for prices according to their wish, while rice are being sold in the village markets at higher prices due to multiple handovers.
Read: OMS: Rice to be available at Tk 15 per kg from Sep 1
Pradeep Kumar Saha, a wholesaler of Nagerbazar area, said that they are receiving less rice than they’ve ordered.
“If we order 100 sacks of rice, we only get 20 of them which is creating a crisis. So rice prices have gone up by Tk 6 to Tk 10 per kg. Fuel price hike and syndication by the rice millers are behind this situation,” Pradeep said.
Prabir Saha, a retailer from Falpatti area, also blamed syndication by the rice millers behind rice price hike.
“Prices of rice have increased by Tk 150 to Tk 200 per sack (25 kg) within just one week. We’re regularly facing customers’ wrath for selling rice at a high prices. The situation is such that we may have to stop doing business altogether,” Prabir said.
Gopal Saha, a wholesaler of Nagerbazar, said that people from the lower income bracket is feeling the real punch as the rice variant that they buy is out of stock most of the time.
Taposh Saha, a rice trader from Chaulpatti, said that they can’t even buy rice in the evening at the rate at which they had bought rice in the morning.
“We’ve nothing to do except selling rice at the rate of purchase,” said Taposh.
Md Belal Sheikh, a consumer, said that he had bought a 25 kg sack of rice at Tk 1,300 15 days ago, which he now has to buy at Tk 1,450.
Nasima Begum, another buyer, said that she came to buy a 25kg sack of rice but instead bought only 10kg due to exorbitant prices.
“Rice prices are varying from shop to shop. Traders are asking for prices as they wish. I’m confused about what to do but as prices of almost every essential item is on the rise,” said Nasima.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bagerhat Mohammad Azizur Rahman said that he is aware of the rice price hike in local markets.
“We’re monitoring the market regularly. We’ll conduct drives by mobile court so that no one can sell rice at exorbitant prices,” said the DC.
Cox’s Bazar trawler capsize: bodies of two among missing eight recovered
Members of the Coast Guard (CG) on Saturday recovered bodies of two fishermen from the Bay of Bengal a day after a fishing trawler carrying 19 fishermen capsized amid the low depression in the sea on Friday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Abu Tayeb, and Saiful Islam, were residents of Khurushkul union in the Cox’s Bazar town.
M Hamidul Islam, contingent commander of the CG East Zone in the Cox’s Bazar Station, said on information they recovered the bodies of Tayeb and Saiful from Maheshkhali and Sonadia channels respectively on Saturday afternoon.
Read: Two dead, two others missing in Noakhali trawler capsize
Mentionable, the fishing trawler ‘MB Mayer Dua’ carrying the 19 fishers capsized due to unrest in the sea at Najiratek Channel on Friday afternoon.
Of them, the CG could rescue 8 fishermen and three others were able to swim to safety while the rest went missing.
Of the missing, bodies of the two fishermen were recovered by the CG men on Saturday and still six others remain missing.
Bangabandhu taught us how to love people: Deputy Minister for Education
Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury on Saturday said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman taught us how to love the people and soil of the country.
“It is possible to build a prosperous country by properly following the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”.
The minister said these while addressing a discussion programme marking the distribution of copies of the book ‘Unfinished Biography of Bangabandhu’ among students in the city.
Uddokta Chattogram on Friday organised the event on Kazem Ali High School premises on the occasion of National Mourning Day and the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Read: Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
He said they (students) should be engaged in development activities being imbued with the ideals of Bangabandhu and it would be a real tribute to be paid to Bangabandhu, he added.
Sonia Azad, founder of Uddokta Chattogram presided over the meeting while Helal Akbor Chowdhury Babor, former finance affairs secretary of Awami Juba League, Md Shahabuddin Ahmed, president of the managing committee of Kazem Ali School & College, Ansar Ul Haque, general secretary of Chawkbazar thana Awami League, Nur Mostafa Tinu, councilor of No. 16 Chokbazar ward, among other, were present as special guests.
Injured indigenous man dies in Satkhira; 2 held
A 70-year-old man of the indigenous Munda community who sustained injuries during a clash in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira on Friday died in Satkhira Medical college and hospital on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Narendronath Munda of the community.
Earlier on Friday morning, some terrorists from Banshipur area led by Rashedul Islam and Ibadul Islam of Srifalakati village went to grab the land belonging to the tribal Munda community at Dhumghat in Shyamnagar.
Also read: Kushtia UP member shot by rivals; former UP chairman held
When the owners of the land obstructed them, the terrorists attacked them with sharp weapons leaving Narendronath and three others seriously injured, Kazi Wahid Morshed, officer-in-charge of Shyamnagar Police Station, said.
The injured were admitted to Satkhira Medical college and hospital where he succumbed to his injuries Saturday afternoon, he added.
On Saturday morning, a case was filed following a complaint lodged by Fanindra Munda at Shyamnagar police station accusing 30 named and 160 to 170 unknown persons in this connection.
Also read: 5 motorbike lifters held in city
Later, police arrested two people from Sriflakati area in the case.
The arrestees are Noor Hossain of Banshipur village and Noor Mohammad of Srifalakati village.
47 fishermen missing as four trawlers sink in bay
Four fishing trawlers from Bhola’s Lalmohan upazila sank in the Bay of Bengal at Cox’s Bazar’s Fishing Ground point with 60 fishermen on board after getting caught in a storm on Friday night.
Although 13 fishermen have been rescued and kept at safe shelters in the Sundarbans and Hatia areas, 47 of them are still missing, said Tanvir Ahmed, Marine Fisheries Officer of the upazila.
According to locals, the sunken trawlers belonged to Lalmohan Batir Khal area’s Harunur Rashid Faruque, Lord Hardinge Burirdhan area’s Nuruddin Majhi and Gaitta area’s Nazim Uddin Majhi.
Also read: 34 fishermen go missing as 11 trawlers sink in Bay
Faruk, owner of the trawler FV Lamiya, said that his trawler set sail towards the Bay from Batirkhal area with 13 fishermen on board on August 17.
“The trawler came across a storm and capsized on Friday night. On Saturday, I came to know that eight of the fishermen were rescued and brought back to safety while five others were still missing. The missing fishermen are Abdul Motaleb, Abul Kalam, Md Arif, Md Maksud and Md Nirob,” said Faruk.
Abul Kashem Mia, a UP chairman from Lalmohan area, said that five fishermen from the other three trawlers have been rescued.
Also read: 11 fishermen missing as another trawler sinks in Bay
“They are currently in Hatia. 42 fishermen are still missing,” said Kashem.
General tea workers reject Tk25 wage hike, vow to continue movement
The general tea garden workers have rejected the Tk 25 daily wage hike fixed by the government on Saturday and vowed to continue their movement for a Tk 300 daily wage.
Around 8pm, the workers blocked the Choumuhona Chattar area at Sreemangal on the road connecting Moulvibazar with Dhaka-Sylhetand staged a rally and demonstrated against the decision to withdraw the strike.
The workers said they will continue their movement till the Prime Minister gives a proper solution to their wage issue.
Many of them refused to go back to work, defying the announcement to call off the strike that came earlier from the Tea Workers Union leaders.
Tea worker union leader Mohan Rabi Das, Organizing Secretary Bijoy Hazra were unavailable for a comment in this regard when contacted by the UNB reporter.
Also read: Tea garden owners propose wage hike by Tk 20 Workers now want PM's intervention
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, after a meeting with the Labour Department, tea workers’ union leaders had withdrawn their indefinite strike after assurance of raising their wages to Tk 145 from Tk 120.
After the meeting at divisional Labour Department office at Sreemangal in Moulvibazar district on Saturday, Nipen Paul, General Secretary of Tea Workers Union, said they have withdrawn the strike after getting assurance from the Prime Minister.
“Our wages will be raised by Tk 25 and the Prime Minister has assured us that she will hold a meeting after her visit to India. In that meeting we will inform her about our demands. From Sunday all workers will resume their work in their respective gardens,” he said.
The general tea garden workers however opposed their announcement immediately and demonstrated in front of the Sreemangal Labour Department office for raising their wage to Tk 300.
Md Abdus Shahid, a member of parliament from Moulvibazar-4 constituency who was present in the meeting said, “I have come here today as per the PM’s instruction. The Prime Minister asked to raise the wage by Tk 25 against the tea garden owners’ proposal of Tk 20 and she will hold a meeting with the workers after returning from India.”
The Deputy Commissioners of Sylhet and Habiganj districts will sit in meetings with the workers’ union leaders of their respective districts Saturday afternoon.
On August 9, the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union started two-hour work abstention a day demanding daily wage hike.
Workers demanded an increase of their wage to Tk300, with inflation rising and the currency depreciating. The workers of 241 tea gardens across the country went on a full-scale strike on Aug 13, after four days of two-hour work abstention.
Also read: Tea workers continue strike; tripartite meeting in city Aug 23
Bangladesh is producing a record amount of tea every year through the toil of the tea workers. In 2021, a record 96 million kilograms of tea was produced in the country thanks to the hard labour of the underpaid tea workers.
Although two agreements on increasing wages were signed, the fate of more than 1.5 lakh tea workers in the country hasn’t changed a bit.
3 of family die from electrocution in Cumilla
Three members of a family including a child were electrocuted in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Hosne Ara Begum,60, her son Tara Mia,30 and her grandson Rifat Hossain, 8, said Jashim Uddin, a local UP member.
Rifat went to collect some vegetabls from a land beside their house at Elkhal village.
He got electrocuted when a electric wire connecting Doulatpur with Elakhal fell on him from a pole around 1:30 pm.
As his uncle Tara Mia and grandmother Hosne Ara rushed to save him they got electrocuted too, said UP member Jashim Uddin.
Read: Father, son die from electrocution in B’baria
Later locals informed Doulatpur power office to cut the power connection but they died in the meantime, he said.
Kamruzzaman Talukder, officer-in-Charge of Bangra Bazar police station, said the bodies were recovered and legal action will be taken in this regard.