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Baleen whale, dolphin carcass wash ashore on Kuakata beach
A large Baleen species whale and a dolphin carcass washed ashore on Kuakata beach in Patuakhali on Saturday.
The whale was 30 feet long and 6 feet in width while the dolphin was around 5 feet long and 1.5 feet in width, said Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, leader of Patuakhali Dolphin conservation Team.
The decomposed whale was noticed around 9 am near Jhau bagan point and then the dolphin carcass found around 12 pm near Tourism Park area on the beach, he said.
Read: Whale carcass washes ashore on Cox’s Bazar beach
Abul Kalam, range officer of Mohipur Forest Department said after being informed by locals forest officers have been sent to the spot to collect samples and bury the decomposed carcasses.
Security tightened along border after firing from Myanmar side: Police
Law enforcement agencies have further strengthened security measures along Bangladesh-Myanmar border at Naikhongchhari point as locals reported firing from helicopters from the Myanmar side today (September 3, 2022), says an official.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe again on Sunday to lodge strong protest regarding the matter, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told UNB.
Around 9:20 am two helicopters and two aircraft appeared between pillar No 40 and 41 under Reju Amtali Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) BOP at Ghumdhum union of the upazila, said Md Jahangir Aziz, Chairman of Ghumdhum Union Parishad.
“Two mortar shells fell 120 meters inside the Bangladesh border,” he said.
For last few days tension has been growing along the Myanmar border with Bangladesh which has also spread among locals at Naikhongchhari and Ghumdhum border areas, said Md Tariqul Islam, Superintendent of Bandarban police.
“Today locals have reported spotting firingfrom a Myanmar helicopter near the border and two mortar shells dropped from it” he said.
The law enforcement agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) remains alert and intelligence surveillance has also been increased near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, said SP Tariqul Islam.
Also read: “BGB vigilant, none can enter from Myanmar now”
On Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh is better prepared so that none can enter from Myanmar now due to the deteriorated situation in Rakhine state.
The Myanmar side was warned twice in August following mortar shells landing in Bangladesh territory from Myanmar and strong protest was lodged in this regard.
“We do not want to step into Myanmar's provocation or trap,” he said, adding that they (Myanmar side) might have a strategic benefit if they can move in such a unilateral direction.
Also read: MOFA lodges strong protest over Myanmar’s mortar shells into Bangladesh
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Monday summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe and lodged a strong protest against Myanmar’s mortar shells landing inside Bangladesh territory a day earlier.
BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 12 crore in Cox's Bazar
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Saturday claimed to have seized banned drugs worth nearly Tk 12 crore from Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila.
Acting on a tip off, a special patrol team of BGB conducted a drive in Teknaf’s Jaliapara area early this morning.
"The team seized a plastic bag containing 2.1kg of Ice and 30,000 pieces of Yaba worth Tk 11.65 crore from a boat anchored on the banks of the Naf river at 3am," said Lt Colonel Sheikh Khalid Md Iftekhar, Commander of BGB’s Teknaf battalion.
Read: BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 7 crore in Cox’s Bazar
However, no one has been detained in connection with the seizure, he added.
Keraniganj gas pipeline explosion: Death toll rises to 3
The death toll from the explosion in a gas pipeline in Keraniganj rose to three as two of the six victims died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Friday.
The deceased were identified as Shahadat, 20, and his grandmother Begum, 60.
Shahadat, who sustained 52 percent burn injuries, breathed his last at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 2:30 pm, said the hospital’s Resident Surgeon Dr SM Ayub Hossain.
Begum died around 6:30 pm while undergoing treatment at the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) with 23 percent burn injuries, he added.
The bodies were kept at the hospital morgue, said DMCH police outpost in-charge Inspector Md Bacchu Mia.
Read: Fire breaks out at DNCC building
On Tuesday, six members of a family suffered critical burn injuries in a fire in the gas pipeline of their house in the Jinjira area of Keraniganj.
Maria Akter, 8, succumbed to her burn injuries hours after she was brought to the hospital.
The other injured are Iduni Begum, 50, Sonia Akter, 26, Md Sahadat Hossain, 20, and Md Yasin, 12.
13 arrested over recovery of counterfeit fertilizer in Bogura
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested 13 people accused in a case filed over the recovery of counterfeit TSP fertilizers brought from Chattogram for a gowdown in Bogura on Thursday night.
The elite force rounded them up from the buffer warehouse of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) in Tinmatha area of the Bogura town.
The arrestees are identified as Nur Hossain, Abul Bashar, Jasim, Sohail, Asadul, Babu, Abdul Awal, Tarek, Shakil, another Shakil, Hanif, Jahangir Alam and Shah Alam. They are the drivers and helpers of the trucks that carried the fertilizer.
Md Towhidul Mobin Khan, squadron leader of Rab-12, disclosed the news of the arrest at a press conference at his office on Friday.
He said 17 trucks of M/S MHR Corporation, which was appointed to carry the fertilizers to Buffer godown of the BCIC in Bogura from Chattogram, started their journey from the port city on August 27.
Drivers and helpers of seven trucks unloaded real fertilizers from their vehicles and replaced them with counterfeit ones during a stopover in Savar area of Dhaka, the Rab officer said.
The drivers and helpers of the seven trucks numbering 13 people were arrested from the Buffer godown on the arrival of the test report on Thursday night, he said.
Mentionable, on information the warehouse authorities seized 238 metric tonnes (MT) of TSP fertilizer suspecting counterfeit in front of the godown on August 29,
Read: 238 MT of TSP fertilizers seized on suspicion of being counterfeit
Reacting to the incident, the authority of TSP fertilizer factory in Chattogram formed a three member probe committee headed by its Manager (Admin) Mazharul Islam and asked for a report within three working days.
The probe body collected samples from the all trucks and sent them to the two respective labs for experiment.
Md Shahidul Islam, chief scientific officer of Rajshahi Soil Resource Development Institute, said they found evidence of counterfeit fertilizers in the samples collected from seven out of the 17 trucks.
Acting on the test report, TSP fertilizer factory Officer Mazharul filed the case against 14 people including the M/S MHR Corporation’s owner Moazzem Hossain at the local police station.
Selim Reza, Officer-in-charge of Bogura Sadar Police Station, said efforts are on to nab the main accused Moazzem.
Teesta banks erosion: Over 250 houses in Kurigram washed away in 3 days
More than 250 houses have been washed away by the Teesta River in Ulipur upazila of Kurigram in the last three days.
Erosion has started along the 2 kilometre-long bank of the Teesta since last a month in West Kalpani Bajra, Kalpani Bajra and Satalskar villages of Bajra Union of the upazila.
Due to the sudden intensity of erosion, the Teesta has also devoured 500 bighas of cropland, a community clinic, educational institutions, markets, mosques, temples, Eidgah grounds in the union.
Maulvi Refakat Hossain, superintendent of Bajra Paschim Para Dakhil Madrasa, said half of the madrasa has been devoured by Teesta since Wednesday. “The remaining part will also be washed away soon.”
The villagers requested the Water Development Board to take immediate preventive measures.
Read: Teesta erosion: Over 100 families left homeless in Kurigram, Gaibandha
Ulipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bipul Kumar said the union chairman and members were asked to list those affected by the erosion at the earliest. “Assistance will be provided once the list is received.”
“We also updated the erosion issues with the Water Development Board. They said that they are not able to do anything due to lack of budget.”
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board Abdullah Al Mamun said erosion has suddenly started here due to river management measures at the upstream of the villages.
“We have reported the matter to the higher authorities. Action will be taken soon.”
Ban on public assembly in Bogura to avert possible AL-BNP clash
Authorities at Bogura Sadar Upazila imposed restrictions on public gathering from 2pm to 12am on Friday to ward off any untoward incident as opposition BNP and ruling Awami League announced simultaneous rallies at the same venue.
The restrictions applied under Section 144 of the CrPc have been in force in parts of the upazila during the period, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Samar Kumar Pal said.
He said they took the decision to impose the section to ensure a peaceful situation in the area.
Sources said the ward No 3 of the upazila BNP called for a rally in protest against the price hike of essential commodities and fuel as part of the central programme in Kalitala Bazar at 6pm.
Read: Section 144 imposed in B’baria
Local Awami League and Jubo League also announced another rally in the same venue, raising possibility of clashes.
Sadar Police Station’s Officer-in-charge Selim Reza said they deployed additional cops to avert any violence.
Make PM stronger to materialize Bangabandhu’s dream: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged all to strengthen Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s hands to materialize the dream of Bangabandhu to build Sonar Bangla.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had done everything for the nation that he had to do as a Father of the Nation, said Momen.
He said this at the inauguration ceremony of the extension of Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet on Friday morning.
Bangabandhu was able to get recognition for Bangladesh as an independent nation from 126 countries only in three and half years, he said.
During Bangabandhu's time, Momen said, Bangladesh was able to become a member of most of the major organisations of the world, including the United Nations.
He presented the country a strong constitution in just nine months after the independence, he added.
“All these were possible because of the dynamic and visionary leadership of Bangabandhu," he noted.
Read: Shinzo Abe was a true friend of Bangladesh: Momen
UPDF leader shot dead in Khagrachhari
A leader of a Chittagong Hill Tracts-based political group was shot dead allegedly by his rivals in Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Angthoi Marma alias Agun, 52, of the Guimara unit of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF).
The crime occurred around 10am near the Dewan Para area of the upazila, said Md Rashid Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Guimara police station.
Also read: Youth killed in gunfight between 2 UPDF factions in Khagrachhari
According to locals, Marma was gunned down by a group of armed men while he was on his way to carry out the group's work.
The body has been sent for an autopsy and the matter is under investigation, said OC Rashid.
Also read: UPDF man shot dead in JSS-UPDF ‘gunfight’ in Rangamati
Jashore: 'Gold smuggler' killed in clash with cops, 2 others held
An alleged gold smuggler was killed in a clash with police while his two accomplices were held with 30 gold bars in Jashore early on Friday.
The detainees have been identified as Rabin Sarkar,32, son of Abul Sarkar, and Abul Kashem, 34, son of Kabir Hossain from Cumilla.
During a drive by detectives in the Jamtala area of Jashore's Sharsha upazila, the gold smugglers attacked the sleuths, said Jewel Imran, assistant SP (Nabharan circle).
Also read: CAAB trolleyman held with Tk32 lakh gold at Chattogram airport
A clash ensued when the cops retaliated, leaving one of the smugglers dead on the spot and three detectives injured, he said.
The body has been sent for an autopsy.
Also read: Gold smuggling case: 3 get life terms in Ctg court
“The gold bars worth around Tk 7 crore were seized from Rabin and Kashem. They had been handed over to Sharsha police,” said the ASP.