The hustle and bustle of everyday life came to a stop in Kurigram on Friday as a mild cold wave swept across the area. 

Subal Chandra Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Kurigram Agricultural Meteorological Observatory said, the temperature dropped to 8.8 degrees Celsius in the district and may fall further in the upcoming days.

The temperature slowly drops as the sun remains elusive most of the time and fog begins to form as the day progresses towards the evening and it continues till noon the next day, locals said.

Also read: Winter in Bangladesh not over yet, another cold wave coming

The cold wave is hitting children and elderly people of low-income families, and the farmers hard.

Also, most of the day labourers are failing to go outside in search of work due to the cold snap.

Many locals were seen trying to keep warm by burning tree branches and dry leaves as the temperature fell.

Also read: Mild cold wave sweeps over country's north-western trajectory

As the weather is getting colder, more people are getting admitted to hospitals with diarrhoea, pneumonia and cold-related diseases.

Kurigram General Hospital source said at least 800 to 900 people were taking treatment every day.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said a mild cold wave was sweeping over Rangpur division and Tangail, Gopalgonj, Mymensingh, Srimangal, Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Jashore and Chuadanga and it may continue.

Also read: Severe cold threatens Boro seedbeds in Kurigram

Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the river basins of the country and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere over the country during midnight to morning.

Weather will remain dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

Also read: Mild cold wave sweeps Rangpur division, 8 districts

Police on Thursday arrested two suspects for the alleged gang rape of a teenager at Teesta Toll plaza in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

The arrestees were identified as Nirmal Chandra Roy, 28, and Atikul Islam, 25. They were neighbours of the victim.

Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station Shah Alam said the duo called the victim to the remote area and raped her around noon.

Also read: Reform rape law, finish probe, trial timely: MJF

Police arrested the accused after the victim informed the law enforcers about her ordeal, OC said.

“We’re preparing to file a case,” he added.

Also read: Gang rape at Sylhet MC College: Indictment hearing Jan 17

 Death penalty for rape

The rape incident at MC College and another in Noakhali sparked countrywide protests against sexual violence against women last year that prompted the government to amend the law to ensure maximum penalty for rape.

The much-talked-about 'Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2020' was then passed in Parliament on November 17 with death penalty as the highest punishment for rape.

Also read: Bangladesh introduces death penalty for rape

Last year, 1,627 women fell victim to rape. Fifty-three of them were murdered after rape and 14 of the victims took their own lives, according to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).

But the actual number is believed to be higher as many victims choose not to report assaults fearing for their safety.

Also read: O-level student ‘raped, killed’ in Dhaka

Supporters of two factions of Awami League locked  into a series of clashes at Arani municipality in Rajshahi on Wednesday over the mayoral election.

Locals said a clash broke out between the supports of AL-backed mayor candidate Shahiduzzaman Shahid and rebel candidate Muktar Ali when Shahid was holding  a rally at Taltola bazar in the municipality around 9:30 pm.

Also Read: Chattogram City Corporation polls: Man killed in AL factional clash

Shahid’s supporters alleged that Muktar’s supporters swooped on them during  their rally that sparked the calsh.

After a break, the two groups, equipped with arms, again attacked each other around 11 pm  that left Shahid’s nephew Tushar, 28, seriously injured. He was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

Also Read: Over 50 injured in Faridpur AL factional clash

Besides, around 100 shops at Taltola bazar were reportedly vandalized and looted during the clash.

Police Superintendent (SP) of Rajshahi ABM Masud Hossain said police brought the situation under control and additional force have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble.

​​​​​​​Also Read:  Two injured in IU officers' factional clash

Legal action will be taken against those who  were involved in the violence.

Muktar Ali is currently serving as the mayor of Arani municipality. He was expecting  Awami League nomination  in this election as well but AL nominated Shahiduzzaman Shahid. Now he is contesting the polls as a rebel candidate.

​​​​​​​Also Read:  16 injured in BCL factional clash at CMCH

He was removed from the post of organizing secretary of Arani municipality Awami League.

​​​​​​​Also Read: AL factional clash leaves one dead, 20 injured in Jhenaidah

About 40 tonnes of fabrics imported under false declaration were seized at the Chattogram Port by the Customs House on Wednesday.

Customs officials say the seized fabrics has an estimated market value of Tk 1.5 crore.

Sources at the Customs House said Nakano International Company Limited in Ishwardi export processing zone imported two containers of ‘bleached fabrics’ from China.

Also read: Ships docking at Ctg Port declined by 2pc due to Covid in 2020

One of the containers arrived about six weeks ago and the second one reached the port about three weeks ago but the company did not take any initiative to get them released.

This made the port officials suspicious about the importers. Customs House’s Assistant Commissioner Rejaul Karim said they verbally requested a representative of the importing company to have the goods tested.

Also read: Chattogram Port Customs organises ' biggest ever' auction

The company told them that they did not import the goods and that someone else had imported them using their name.

Karim said they would take legal action against people involved in the incident.

A Chattogram court on Wednesday granted three-day remand of 11 people including rebel councilor candidate Abdul Quader in a case filed over death of a man in a clash centering the Chattogram City Corporation polls.

Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge Shafiuddin Ahmed passed the order.

The other remanded accused are MK Kabir Helal Uddin, 40, Obaidul Kabir Mintu, 40, Asaduzzaman Nur Raihan, 29, Imran Hossain Dollar, 24, Didar Ullah Dilu, 48, Minhaz Hossain Forhad, 20, Shahidul Alam Shahed, 37, Jahidul Alam Jahid, 25, Shahidul Islam, 33, and Abdur Rahman, 44.

Also read: 40 sued over CCC polls violence

Earlier, Sejan Mahmud, son of Babul Sardar, filed a case against 13 identified and 27 unidentified people in this connection with Double Mooring Police Station

Before that, around 26 people, including rebel Awami League candidate Abdul Quader, were arrested in this connection.

Also read: CCC city polls violence: AL rebel candidate, 25 others held

On Monday morning, an argument broke out between the supporters of Awami League-backed councillor candidate Nazrul Islam Bahadur and rebel candidate Quader after a poster was torn down at Magpukur in the Pathantuli area. The argument soon turned violent as the factions exchanged fire.

A 52-year-old man, identified as Azgarh Ali Babul Sardar, a supporter of Nazrul Islam, died on the spot after sustaining gunshot injuries during the violence, police said.  Jubo League activist Mahbub, who also suffered bullet injuries, is being treated at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Das said.

Also read: Chattogram City Corporation polls: Man killed in AL factional clash

When contacted, Nazrul Islam blamed the supporters of Abdul Quader for the clashes as well as the death of his supporter.

The Chattogram City Corporation election is scheduled to be held on January 27.