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Clash between police, garment workers halts traffic on Dhaka-Tangail highway for an hour
Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Tangail highway remained suspended for one hour today following a clash between police and garment workers as the latter demonstrated in Noujor area in Gazipur demanding basic salary hike.
Witnesses said, workers of several garment factories, including Libas Knitwear and Hasan Tanvir Fashion in Chandona intersection, took to the street in the morning, halting traffic.
Read: Garment workers' unrest: 44 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, nearby areas
At one stage, they tried to put up a barricade on the highway by placing logs.
Later, police along with RAB personnel went to the spot and used tear gas shells to disperse them.
A chase and counter-chase took place during the demonstration.
Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Gazipur Industrial Police-2, said the situation is now under control.
Meanwhile, several garment factories shut down today following the unrest and the death of a female garment worker on Wednesday.
Read: Day 2 of 48 hr blockade underway with regular traffic movement on roads
Garment workers have been demonstrating since October 23, demanding increasing their basic salary to Tk 23,000.
The government on Tuesday fixed Tk 12,500 as the minimum salary for entry-level RMG workers.
13 arson incidents reported in 27 hours till this morning: Fire Service
Thirteen arson attacks have been reported across Bangladesh from 6 am on Wednesday (November 08, 2023) till 9 am today (November 09, 2023) during the ongoing 48-hour blockade.
Read: 21 arson incidents reported in 38 hrs till Monday evening: Fire Service
Of these, five arson attacks were reported in Dhaka City Corporation areas, three in Gazipur, one in Khagrachhari, one in Bogura, two in Barishal and Barguna, and one in Noakhali, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense's media cell.
A total of seven buses, four covered vans, and two trucks were burned during this period.
Read: 7 incidents of arson occur Tuesday: Fire Service
Garment workers' unrest: 44 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, nearby areas
A total of 44 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) platoons have been deployed in Dhaka and adjacent areas to beef up security in garment factories.
BGB troops have been deployed in Ashulia, Savar, Mirpur, Gazipur and other parts of the country, said, Shariful Islam, public relations officer at BGB headquarters.
Read: 228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade
Garment factory workers in Dhaka and nearby areas returned to work on Sunday after 12 days of unrest for a minimum wage of Tk 23,000.
The government on Tuesday announced Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry-level ready-made garment (RMG) factory workers, raising it by 56.25 percent from the current wage.
Read: BGB deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur
Day 2 of 48 hr blockade underway with regular traffic movement on roads
The second day of the countrywide 48-hour blockade, called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties, is underway.
The ongoing blockade will end at 6 am tomorrow (November 10, 2023).
The presence of public transport on Dhaka roads seemed usual despite heightened tension and fear of violence.
Guardians were seen rushing their children to respective schools safely as final exams are starting in many educational institutions.
Rickshaws are dominating Dhaka streets while a few private vehicles are seen plying the streets.
In Chuadanga, leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies brought out a procession in support of the blockade on Chuadanga-Jhenaidah road at Rail Bazar area of the district town in the morning.
Blockade: Two vehicles torched in two districts
They also hurled brick chips targeting some vehicles passing through the area.
Multiple cases of arson violence were reported in places in Dhaka and across the country since Wednesday evening, on the first day of the 48-hour road-rail-waterways blockade.
On November 6, BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties announced the latest blockade across the country from Wednesday morning.
Another bus set ablaze in Dhaka’s Tantibazar amid blockade
The opposition parties gave a day’s break from its action programme on Tuesday as BNP observes November 7 as the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’.
The latest spell of agitation was announced on the last day of the opposition’s previous 48-hour nationwide blockade which was marked by incidents of violence, including clashes with police, vandalising and burning vehicles .
Bus set on fire in Gazipur amid blockade
Earlier last week, the opposition’s three-day countrywide blockade saw clashes and widespread burning and vandalising vehicles, leaving four people — three in Kishoreganj and one in Sylhet — killed and over three dozen vehicles either burned or vandalised.
Dhaka’s air 4th worst in the world despite fewer vehicles on the road
Though the number of public transport is comparatively less than on usual work days due to the ongoing blockade called by the opposition parties, Dhaka's air quality has been marked as ‘very unhealthy’ this morning.With an air quality index (AQI) score of 208 at 9:13 am, Dhaka ranked 4th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Kolkata occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 463, 458 and 239, respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’ this morningAn AQI between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy', AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’ Friday morningAir pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’ this morning
DNCC launches ‘Smart on Street Parking’ scheme to stop illegal parking
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Wednesday launched a mobile application named ‘Smart on Street Parking’ to stop illegal parking and ensure safe parking under the DNCC area.
The DNCC launched the app on a trial basis at a function held at Nagar Bhaban in Dhaka’s Gulshan area on Wednesday noon.
Users will have to upload the app from Google Play Store and Iphone's app store. The app was launched at 200 spots on eight streets in the Gulshan area.
Details on the DNCC Smart Parking
A six-month piloting programme has been taken to monitor vehicles’ parking in the Gulshan area through the app primarily.
Necessary infrastructure construction works have already been completed with necessary painting of the road for parking of cars on Gulshan area road No- 52, 58, 62, 63, 64, 103, DIT Circular Road, Gulshan 2 Inner Circular Road.
Read: DNCC-UK FCDO sign MoU to improve traffic system
The piloting programme will be implemented in coordination with the DNCC, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and voluntary group Law and Order Coordination Council.
Parking allotment programme will be conducted through the app and registration of the vehicles will be completed by it.
Payment for parking will be available digitally.
Fees of Smart Parking
Car or jeep or microbus will have to pay Tk 50 for the first two hours, Tk 50 for the third hour and Tk 100 for every hour after the fourth hour.
On the other hand, a motorcycle will have to pay Tk 15 for the first two hours, Tk 15 for the third hour and Tk 30 for every hour after the fourth hour.
Read: DNCC mayor urges people to protect developed fields and parks
The parking fees will be applicable between 8 am to 10 pm from Saturday to Thursday. No fees will be needed from 10 pm to 8 am.
Moreover, parking will be free of cost every Friday and other government holidays.
Chaired by DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was present as the chief guest at the event where local MP Mohammad Ali Arafat, Senior Secretary to the Public Security Division of the ministry Md Mostafizur Rahman and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun also attended as special guests.
Referring to many development schemes of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman said, “We are moving at a fast pace as we are getting digitised."
He said people of the remote areas of the country are now under mobile and internet network, and they are having several services due to digitalisation.
“The PM announced plans to build a 'Smart Bangladesh'. Today we launched ‘Smart on Street Parking’ at the DNCC. Smart society, education, governance are needed for a Smart Bangladesh. It will also happen under the Prime Minister,” he said.
Read: ACC files case against DNCC ward councilor
Mayor Atiqul said they have been realising tax online and all people were asked not to pay any tax in person to the DNCC officials.
Besides, many problems are being solved digitally and the DNCC opened an app ‘Sobar Dhaka’ where people under the area can lodge their complaints, he said.
2 die in Cumilla road accident
Two women were killed as a truck hit them while crossing the road on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Shabdalpur area of Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla on on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Nasima Begum, 50, daughter of Ayat Ali of Baura area of Debidwar upazila of Comilla, and her aunt Monowara Begum, 80, of Babutipara area of Muradnagar upazila of the same district.
Read: Two killed in Rangamati road accident
Abdur Rahim, sub-inspector of Eliotganj Highway Police Outpost, said the accident occurred when a Dhaka-bound truck hit them while they were crossing the highway in the area, leaving the both dead on the spot.
The body has been handed over to the family, he said.
Read more: 3 motorcyclists killed in Chattogram road accident
Girl dies after jumping off high rise building in Dhaka
A young girl died after jumping off a high rise building in Dakshin Banashree area of Dhaka on Wednesday, her family said.
Fatema Bhuiyan Putul, 15, was the SSC examinee from Intelligential School next year. She used to live with her family on the 10th floor of a 16-storey building.
Mursheda Khanan, Putul's sister-in-law, said Putul went to the roof of the building in absence of family members in the morning and jumped off it.
Read: 12-year-old dies after being crushed under ambulance wheels
As she was critically injured she was rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where physicians declared her dead.
Mursheda suspects that Putul committed suicide over love affairs. She was the youngest among five sisters and one brother, she said.
Md Bachhu Miah, in-charge of DMCH police outpost, confirmed the incident, saying that the body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.
Read: 20-year-old injured in dispute over autorickshaw fare, dies in Sylhet
Diversify products to achieve $100 billion export target: Tipu Munshi
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday urged businessmen to diversify their products for exports to achieve a $100 billion export target rather than depending on the garment industry alone.
He said this while addressing as the chief guest at the National Export Trophy 2020-2021 awarding ceremony organised by the Ministry of Commerce and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Munshi said that there are many more products that can be exported and the country should not depend only on the RMG sector.
He said that businessmen can diversify products more countries could be Bangladesh's export destinations.
"(this way) The overall trade volume will increase. New jobs will be created and the country will gain prosperity. It will be possible to earn $100 billion from exports,” he added.
In this context, the commerce minister said that the minister called on all businessmen to work together to achieve the target of exports worth $100 billion by 2030.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry, Mahbubul Alam, President of the FBCCI, and AHM Ahsan, vice chairman of the EPB, among others, spoke at the function.
The EPB, based on the highest export earnings, has awarded the export trophies for the fiscal year 2020-21 to 73 businesses in 28 categories.
5 cops hurt in APC blast during clash with RMG workers in Gazipur
At least five members of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) sustained injuries in a blast of an Armed Personnel Carriers (APC) during a clash with readymade garment (RMG) workers on Dhaka-Tangail Highway on Wednesday afternoon.
The injured are Prabir, 30, Fuad, 28, Khorshed, 30, Ashiqul, 27, and Bipul, 24.
Locals said RMG workers were demonstrating on the highway demanding a monthly minimum wage of Tk 23,000 instead of government-announced Tk12,500.
Also read: Bus set on fire in Gazipur amid blockade
At one stage of the demonstration, a clash broke out between the RMG workers and law enforcers, they said.
The APC went off suddenly when it was being used to tackle the demonstrating workers. Five cops who were inside the APC, sustained injuries in the blast.
Initially, they were rushed to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital and three of them shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said Shaheed Tajuddin Hospital's resident physician Rafiqul Islam.
Also read: Clash with police leaves female garment worker dead in Gazipur
Prabir, Fuad, and Khorshed, 30, were sent to the DMCH for better treatment, he said, adding that Ashiqul and Bipul, 24, were undergoing treatment in Gazipur.
Md Ibrahim Khan, deputy commissioner (DC-DB) of the GMP, could not be reached over mobile phone despite repeated attempts in this regard.
Earlier in the morning, a female RMG worker named Anjuara Khatun was killed and 10 were injured in a clash between police and workers at Konabari in Gazipur.
Witnesses said workers of garment factories took to the streets in the morning in Konabari, demanding Tk 23,000 as the monthly minimum salary.
Also read: Garment factories reopen in Gazipur, several hurt in clash with police
On information, police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse them, triggering a clash that left 11 people injured.
The protesting garment workers claimed that Anjuara died on the way to the DMCH.