United News of Bangladesh

Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Sunday said that the cancelled Dhaka-Madinah and Dhaka–Jeddah flights will depart Hazrat Shahjalal Airport around 4 pm and 7 pm respectively on Sunday. The national carrier announced the revised flights schedule that were cancelled on February 28, said a press release of the airline. Passengers have been advised to reach the airport in time to complete all required formalities before departure. Earlier on February 28, a number of flights of different Middle Eastern countries including Jeddah, Madinah were cancelled as several Middle Eastern countries closed their airspace amid rising regional security concerns following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.  

US-Bangla Airlines flights to Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman will operate as per the schedule Sunday. Passengers are requested to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their flight and collect boarding passes from the US-Bangla Airlines check-in counters, said a press release. Meanwhile, considering the ongoing situation in the Middle East, US-Bangla Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Doha in Qatar. Airline authorities said they will contact affected passengers once flights to the UAE and Qatar resume. For information regarding US-Bangla Airlines flights, passengers can contact 13605 or 01777777800-806, it added.

NOVOAIR, one of the country’s leading private airlines, has announced an attractive offer allowing passengers to purchase air tickets on zero percent interest EMI, with the lowest monthly return fare starting from Tk 1,567. Under the offer, passengers can buy not only return tickets but also one-way tickets with a minimum value of Tk 5,000 through EMI facilities, said a press release issued on Sunday. The airline said no hidden fees or additional charges will be applicable on the installment payments. This EMI offer is available at any of NOVOAIR's sales offices. Valued passengers can pay the ticket price in six easy installments with all leading partner banks in the country. Sohail Majid, Director (Sales and Marketing) of NOVAIR, said that we hope that this installment facility will make traveling affordable and easier specially for family travellers. This will give them a relief of additional financial pressure right now. NOVOAIR is regularly introducing new facilities and services to ensure easy and comfortable service to passengers. Besides, there is also an offer for a two-night Cox's Bazar travel package with a minimum monthly installment of Tk 1,818. Under this package, there will be return air tickets to Cox's Bazar with all taxes, hotel accommodation, transportation from Cox's Bazar airport to the hotel and Sehri or Iftar facilities.   To enjoy this offer, a minimum of two persons must purchase the package. Currently, NOVOAIR operates daily flights from Dhaka to Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet and Saidpur routes.    

The prices of diesel, octane, petrol, and kerosene will remain unchanged in March, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has said. On February 26, the division sent a letter to the chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) instructing that all types of fuel prices be kept steady. The letter was made public on Sunday morning. Earlier, on February 1, the government reduced fuel prices by Tk 2 per litre. Diesel was lowered from Tk 102 to Tk 100 per litre, octane from Tk 122 to Tk 120, petrol from Tk 118 to Tk 116, and kerosene from Tk 114 to Tk 112. For March, prices will remain the same. Fuel prices in Bangladesh are determined monthly for consumers through an automatic pricing system which adjusts rates based on fluctuations in global oil markets. According to the revised  Automatic Fuel Pricing Guidelines,the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has decided to maintain March fuel prices unchanged.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged authorities to ensure health services for public even if it requires working with limited resources. He made the remarks in the morning while talking to reporters after inspecting the 250-bed General Hospital in Thakurgaon. Fakhrul, also BNP secretary general,  said the establishment of a medical college in Thakurgaon has been confirmed. He said the hospital’s supervisor would be provided with the necessary resources to maintain cleanliness and deliver proper health services. A lift will also be arranged by the district administration to facilitate the movement of patients and their relatives. Speaking on the overall health services in Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital and the district, he said the 250-bed general hospital will be expanded to 500 beds to better serve the local population. Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Farzana, Superintendent of Police Belal Hossain and  health officials were present.

The government is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad said on Sunday. He made the remarks while meeting passengers stranded at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to the escalating tensions in the region. The minister visited the airport to assess the situation, listened to the concerns of stranded passengers and assured them that the government is by their side during this difficult time. The minister said ensuring the safety and welfare of passengers is the government’s priority. He said coordination with relevant authorities is ongoing to facilitate the resumption of travel as soon as the situation stabilises. He urged everyone to remain patient. Several international flights have already been canceled amid rising tensions in the Middle East following attack on Iran by US and Israel . Flights to destinations including Amman, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain have been suspended, leaving many Umrah pilgrims stranded at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said a PID handout. Airport authorities and related agencies are working to manage the situation and provide information to passengers.

A man was killed and at least six others were injured in two rounds of clashes between activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami at Hasadah Bazar in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Hafizur Rahman, 55, owner of a jewelry shop  in Jibannagar town  and elder brother of Jamaat’s Banka union unit ameer. Hafizur died around 2:30am while undergoing treatment at Islami Bank Hospital in Dhaka, said Jibannagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Solaiman Sheikh. Among the seriously injured was Mofizur Rahman, ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Banka Union and the younger brother of the deceased. He was later shifted to the ICU of a private hospital in Dhaka, where his condition remained critical till filing of this report. Witnesses said the clashes broke out in front of  Kamil Madrasha gate at Hasadah Bazar between 7pm and 9pm, shortly after iftar on Saturday over previous rivalry. About 40 to 45 minutes later, activists from Hasadah and neighbouring Banka unions regrouped at the market, triggering fresh violence. During the second clash, BNP activists allegedly attacked Banka Union Jamaat ameer Mofizur Rahman and when his elder brother Hafizur Rahman tried to intervene, he was assaulted and seriously injured. Both brothers were later taken to Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex and then referred to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. As their condition deteriorated, they were airlifted to Dhaka, where Hafizur later succumbed to his injuries. Police rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control and rescued the injured. Additional police were deployed in the area to prevent further violence. Other injured Jamaat activists included Mofizur Rahman, 40, son of late Ohab of Sutiya village, Khairul Islam, 50, son of late Gopal Mondal of the same village, and Sohel, 35. Two of them were admitted to Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex. On the BNP side, three people were injured. They are Abdus Salam Master, 50, general secretary of BNP’s Banka Union unit, Mehedi Hasan, 40, a recently relieved former leader of Hasadah Union Swechchhasebak Dal, and his father Jasmin Uddin, 65. Later in the night, when BNP’s Banka Union general secretary went to Jibannagar police station to file a complaint, he was reportedly attacked in front of police personnel. The OC and his force intervened and arranged his treatment at the upazila health complex.  

Dhaka, the densely-populated capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 3rd on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 183 at 9 am on Sunday. Dhaka’s air was classified as ' unhealthy', according to IQAir, a Swiss free real-time air quality monitoring platform. Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi occupied the first and second spots in the list, with AQI scores of  244 and 193 respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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

The government will provide overnight accommodation for passengers whose flights have been cancelled due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment said on Saturday. In a statement, the ministry said several flights were cancelled, causing unexpected inconvenience to passengers. “All passengers whose flights have been cancelled will be provided with overnight accommodation,” the statement said, requesting them to contact the Expatriate Welfare Desk or Lounge for necessary assistance. Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad spoke with the stranded passengers at the airport on Saturday assured them of the government’s support during this difficult time.

In Chattogram, armed criminals opened fire on the house of former MP and Managing Director of Smart Group, Mujibur Rahman CIP, despite police presence. Early Saturday, four masked gunmen repeatedly fired at the businessman’s house located in the Chandanpura area in Chawkbazar. The bullets shattered window glass on the second floor of the house. Although no one was injured, panic spread across the area. Earlier, on January 2, the same house was targeted in a similar manner. A video of the incident, captured by CCTV cameras, has circulated on social media. The footage shows four armed men firing at Mujibur Rahman’s house. All of them were seen carrying modern firearms. After the shooting, they fled through the road beside the Chaktai canal behind the house. Confirming the incident, Officer in Charge of Chawkbazar Police Station Babul Azad said four armed men opened fire and left the scene within 30 seconds. “Police are investigating to identify those involved and legal action will be taken,” he added. On January 2, criminals also fired indiscriminately in front of the same house in a similar way. Police investigation later found the involvement of followers of former Shibir cadre Sazzad Ali Khan. That attack was carried out over a demand for Tk 100 million in extortion. After that incident, Chattogram Metropolitan Police arranged round-the-clock police guard in front of the house.