Bangladesh
Crackdown on teen gangs in Dhaka: 35 including key leaders arrested
In a decisive move against gang violence, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have apprehended 35 operatives including two masterminds behind several notorious teen gangs, across key areas of Dhaka. From March 11 to 18, focused operations spanned Mohammadpur, Adabar, Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, and surrounding locales, marking a significant stride in curbing urban crime.
The arrest announcement came today via a statement from RAB-2’s Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP-media), Shihab Karim. Among those detained were Md. Akash, Md. Farid, and Md. Imam Hossain, alongside figures like Md. Arif alias Rasel Mia and Md. Mosharraf, pinpointing a wide net cast by law enforcement to dismantle these criminal networks.
Train movement between Dhaka and north resumes four hours after derailment in Tangail
This crackdown follows reports of rampant robbery, mugging, and extortion, leading to a targeted response from several RAB teams in areas under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) jurisdiction. Notably, operations led to the capture of leaders from the FDC Munna and King Jamal Group, including Md Ismail alias “FDC Munna” and Md Jamal Hossain, as well as heads of the King Mosharraf and Apna Bhai Groups.
Authorities also seized locally-made weapons used in these gangs’ criminal endeavours. The arrests reveal a disturbing trend of violence, snatchings, and extortion, with teen gangs frequently clashing over territory and influence. Preliminary interrogations have unearthed admissions of past crimes and plans for future violence, indicating a deep-rooted issue within Dhaka’s underbelly.
The arrestees engaged in criminal activities under the guise of everyday professions, from transport workers to vegetable vendors, making their operations not only diverse but challenging to dismantle, said the RAB statement, highlighting the deceptive methods employed by these groups to evade law enforcement.
Gazipur gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 11
Following their arrest, the teen gang members have been transferred to various police stations across the DMP area for further legal proceedings, signifying the beginning of a lengthy process to bring these individuals to justice.
Foreign Minister requests visiting Irish Minister to ease the visa process
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has invited Irish investment in Bangladesh, particularly in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and IT sectors.
He also thanked Ireland for hosting a few thousand Bangladeshis and requested the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney to ease the visa process to enable more Bangladeshi students and IT professionals to pursue higher studies and work in Ireland.
The Foreign Minister thanked the Irish Minister for visiting Bangladesh to further strengthen Bangladesh-Ireland bilateral relations.
He suggested further enhancement of bilateral trade in goods and services through new initiatives and sought Ireland’s support for EU’s EBA trade preferences to Bangladesh until 2032 and GSP+ benefits beyond 2032.
Minister Simon Coveney met with the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 18.
Foreign Minister requests visiting Irish Minister to ease the visa process
The Irish Minister congratulated the Foreign Minister on his new appointment.
Highly praising Bangladesh’s sustained high economic growth, he suggested exchange of visits of delegations with special focus on bilateral trade and collaboration in the areas of technology, pharmaceuticals and energy.
He also assured Irish support in favour of Bangladesh’s appeal for extension of EBA facilities until 2032 and GSP+ facilities beyond 2032.
Referring to the migrant-friendly policy of the Irish government, the Irish Minister welcomed more Bangladeshi students and professionals to Ireland.
The Irish Minister hoped for an early solution of the Rohingya crisis and added that an additional Euro 1.5 million humanitarian assistance would be provided to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
The two ministers shared their views on the war in Gaza and expressed deep concern over the killing of people, particularly women and children.
They agreed that the two-state solution can bring lasting peace in the region.
Earlier, the Irish Minister officially opened Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, which is seen as an “important milestone” in the relations between Bangladesh and Ireland.
In its desire to further expand the bilateral relations with Dhaka, Ireland has recently appointed Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan as its Honorary Consul in Bangladesh.
Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, and Masud Jamil Khan, among others, were present during the opening ceremony.
The Irish Minister arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
FM thanks Ireland for opening its Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
On the occasion of St Patrick’s Day, the National Day of Ireland and official opening of the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Bangladesh, Masud Jamil Khan and Kate Khan hosted an Iftar-dinner at a Dhaka hotel on Monday.
The Irish Minister, Irish Ambassador to India, former Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, business leaders and journalists were present at the event.
Swedish Crown Princess in Khulna’s Koyra to witness impact of climate change
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, as part of her visit to Bangladesh as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP, is now staying in Koyra upazila of Khulna to see firsthand the impacts of climate change and lifestyle of people living in vulnerable coastal areas.
A helicopter of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) carrying her landed at a helipad built in Gilabari area under Maheshripur union of the upazila around 8 am today.
Foreign Minister requests visiting Irish Minister to ease the visa process
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Yasir Arefin said the Swedish Crown Princess is scheduled to visit six areas including Maheshripur, Maharajpur union parishads and Madinabad digital office.
During her brief visit, Princess Victoria will visit two vulnerable spots impacted by climate change and hear from people living in the areas, he said, adding that she will inaugurate Madinabad SmartPost Centre.
FM thanks Ireland for opening its Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
Koyra police station Officer-in-Charge Md Mizanur Rahman said around 16,000 police personnel are on duty along with members from Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, Navy, BAF, Coast Guard and intelligence to ensure security of the state guest.
Train movement between Dhaka and north resumes four hours after derailment in Tangail
Train movement between Dhaka and northern parts of the country resumed around four hours after a bogie of ‘Panchagarh Express’ derailed in Bangabandhu Bridge Purbo Rail Station in Tangail early Tuesday.
Khairul Islam, master of the rail station, confirmed the matter, saying that train operation normalised around 3 am when a rescue train removed the derailed bogie from the rail tracks.
Earlier around 10 pm last night, the bogie of the Dhaka-bound ‘Panchagarh Express’ derailed when it started running after a stopover at the station.
The impact of the derailment left several trains stranded.
Lakshmipur Jubo League leader’s eye gouged, no arrest so far
Miscreants gouged a local Jubo League leader’s eye in Sadar upazila of Lakshmipur last night.
The victim, identified as Kamal Hossain, is president of Awami League’s youth wing Jubo League’s ward 3 unit under Bashikpur union and a fruit seller at the local Poddar Bazar.
Police and locals said Kamal came under attack on his way to Poddar Bazar from his house around 8:30 pm.
The miscreants obstructed his way, attacked him with rods and gouged his right eye when he reached Nandigram, leaving him critically injured, they said.
Hearing his screams, locals rushed to him and took him initially to Sadar Hospital. He was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) due to his critical condition.
Dr Anowar Hossain, resident medical officer of Sadar Hospital, said there were marks of injuries on several parts of his body including head, face, nose and eyes.
Due to his critical condition, he was referred to DMCH, he said.
Chandraganj police station Officer-in-Charge Md Enamul Hoque said there had long been a dispute between the victim and a fertilizer trader of the Poddar Bazar. This dispute might have led to the attack.
Drives are on to arrest the accused involved with the incident, the police officer said.
Gazipur gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 11
One more person who suffered burn injuries in the gas cylinder blast in Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila, died on Monday evening, raising the death toll from the incident to 11.
Tawhid (7), died at the ICU of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery while undergoing treatment at 6:45 pm on Monday, Associate Professor Hossain Imam of the institute confirmed the matter.
Gazipur gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 10
Tawhid had 80 percent burn injuries on his body. Earlier on Saturday, his younger sister Tayyaba (4) died, he said.
At present, 17 more people are under treatment at the hospital, added the doctor.
Earlier, four more people including died from burn injuries.
With 3 more demises today, death toll from Gazipur gas cylinder blast rises to 6
The deceased were identified as Golam Rabbi, 11, Solaiman, 9, Jahirul Islam, 40, and Motaleb, 40.
Dr Partha Shankar Pal, a resident physician at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery said victims breathed their last at the ICU of the burn institute from Sunday night to Monday morning.
RMG worker injured in Gazipur gas cylinder blast dies
The bodies were kept at the hospital morgue, he added.
Rabbi suffered 90 percent burns, Solaiman 80 percent, Zahirul 65 percent and Motaleb 95 percent, he said.
At least 35 people, including women and children, sustained burn injuries after a gas cylinder exploded in Kaliakair on Wednesday evening.
One patient was admitted with 100 percent burns while three were hospitalised with 95 percent burns, and 16 were hospitalised with over 50 percent burns, according to sources at the hospital.
Locals said a fire broke out from a gas cylinder at a house in Telir Chala area of Mouchak in Kaliakair around 6 pm on Wednesday. When the residents of the house threw it out on the road, the explosion occurred.
FM thanks Ireland for opening its Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has thanked Ireland for opening the Honorary Consulate in Dhaka and requested to increase the employment of Bangladeshis in Ireland.
He especially requested to ease the student visa process by allowing students to submit their visa applications to the Honorary Consulate in Dhaka.
Irish Minister Simon Coveney officially opens its first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
The Foreign Minister also sought Ireland's support to continue the Everything But Arms (EBA) benefits of the European Union even after Bangladesh's graduation.
The issues were discussed when the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney met the Foreign Minister at his office.
Irish Minister Simon Coveney pays homage to Father of the Nation at Dhanmondi-32
Ireland's Minister said he views the visit as his country's first full ministerial visit to Bangladesh with great importance and expressed consensus that more manpower and students from this country would go to Ireland.
He also responded positively to the Foreign Minister's call for increased investment and diversification.
Irish Minister Simon Coveney to meet PM Hasina Monday
Earlier, the Irish Minister officially opened Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, which is seen as an “important milestone” in the relations between Bangladesh and Ireland.
In its desire to further expand the bilateral relations with Dhaka, Ireland has recently appointed Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan its Honourary Consul in Bangladesh.
Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, and Masud Jamil Khan, among others, were present during the opening ceremony.
The Irish Minister arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
He met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Adviser Salman F Rahman separately on Monday.
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam (Titu), MP hosted an iftar-dinner in honor of the visiting Irish Minister Sunday evening at the State guesthouse Padma.
Bangladesh Embassy in Cairo celebrates 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, National Children's Day
Bangladesh Embassy in Cairo on Sunday celebrated the 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day 2024 with due dignity and solemnity.
The program of the day begins with the official hoisting of the national flag.
Ambassador Samina Naz formally hoisted the national flag along with the national anthem at the embassy premises. The officials and employees of the embassy were present on the occasion.
Recitation from the Holy Qur'an and special prayers were offered seeking the prosperity and development of the country and also the peace for departed soul of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In the special discussion meeting at the embassy Ambassador Samina Naz remembered the great architect of independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The ambassador mentioned that Bangabandhu gave the Bengali nation a country, flag and map.
Due to his extraordinary leadership, he was not only considered as the undisputed leader of Bengal, but he also established himself as a great leader of the world at that time, she said.
On the day, an age-based painting and writing competition was organized with the participation of Bangladeshi children living in Egypt.
In the competition, several young children and teenagers submitted their paintings and compositions to the embassy. The ambassador distributed the prizes to the winners of the competition.
Bangladeshi teachers and professionals working in various universities, international organisations, Bangladeshi businessmen in Egypt, and Bangladeshi students studying in various universities were present at the event.
An Iftar with dinner was hosted by the embassy on the occasion.
Journalists' safety will be ensured everywhere while performing duty: Arafat
The government would ensure the safety of the journalists so that they don’t face any harassment while seeking information, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said on Monday.
The state minister was speaking at a function on the occasion of cheque distribution of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust (BJWT) at Tatya Bhaban in the city’s circuit house road this afternoon.
“We want to ensure that no journalist anywhere in the country faces any kind of harassment or trouble while performing their professional duties,” he said.
Govt always welcomes constructive criticism: Arafat
"It is the responsibility of the government to ensure journalists' safety and welfare. The media will do their job with complete independence. We want to build such a society where journalists would be allowed to criticize authorities and the government" he added.
“The government of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thinks nothing beyond this,” he said.
About the imprisonment of a journalist outside Dhaka, the state minister said, he inquired about the incident and the Information Commission immediately took the incident into its cognizance.
He also urged the media owners to pay the arrears of the 9th wage board as soon as possible.
At the event, he distributed the grant among 42 journalists of Dhaka district in the second phase of the fiscal year 2023-2024.
Bangladesh's ranking on RSF's Press Freedom Index 'incorrect': Arafat
The government allocated a total of Taka 2.03 crore for the disbursement of BJWT grant among 263 journalists and their families across the country in the second phase.
He said the financial assistance is being given to the journalists as part of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s endeavor to ensure safety and security of the journalists. She took the initiatives for all journalists irrespective of their political views and ideologies considering their necessity.
BJWT Trustee Board members Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Zafar Wazed, BFUJ- Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists President as well as Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) acting Chief News Editor Omar Faruque, Managing Editor of Dainik Sangbad Kashem Humayun and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Sohel Haider Chowdhury and DUJ General Secretary Akhter Hossain spoke on the occasion with BJWT Managing Director Shubash Chanda (Badol) in the chair.
PM calls upon UNDP to raise more funds for Rohingya
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to make an effort to raise a larger international funds for the support of the Rohingya people.
She made the call at a meeting with visiting UNDP goodwill ambassador and Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria at a city hotel here.
PM’s speech writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
The prime minister said Bangladesh had given shelter to forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar on humanitarian grounds and arranged improved accommodation for them in Bhashanchar, ensuring many facilities for them. Now some one lakh Rohingya can reside there in Bhashanchar, she added.
PM seeks Ireland’s support to get EU's GSP support until 2032
She sought assistance from the UNDP to relocate more Rohingyas to Bhashanchar.
Princess Victoria arrived in Dhaka on Monday on a four-day visit to Bangladesh during which she will tour Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhashanchar.
Bilateral and multilateral issues including climate change came up for discussion during the meeting with the PM.
The princes said there is a huge scope to deepen the bilateral relations between Sweden and Bangladesh.
She expressed her optimism for strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries specially in trade, business and investment.
The Bangladesh prime minister urged the Swedish businesses to make investment in Bangladesh particularly in special economic zones.
Won't allow anyone to take the country back to darkness: PM Hasina
The PM said Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change. Bangladesh’s contribution to carbon emission is negligible but the country is badly affected. Bangladesh faces different natural calamities like floods and cyclones due to climate changes, she said.
About the local climate adaptation and mitigation programmes, she said Bangladesh formed a climate trust fund to protect the local community and their livelihood.
The PM said her government’s main goal is poverty alleviation as it has already reduced the poverty rate to 18.7 percent from 41 percent and the extreme poverty rate to 5.6 percent from 25.1 percent.
She said the government has been providing the homeless people with free cyclone-resistant houses throughout the country so that there will be no homeless people in Bangladesh
She said her government constructed cyclone shelter centres on the coastal areas.
Hasina recalled her first visit to Sweden in 1969 when her husband was there for study.