Gazipur
Two held for Rangpur arson attacks 'admit guilt'
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has detained two persons, including the prime suspect, allegedly responsible for burning down the homes and shops of the Hindus in Rangpur.
Saikat Mandal, 24, son of Rashedul Haque and his accomplice Rabiul Islam, 36, son of Moslem Uddin of Pirganj upazila, have been nabbed by RAB-13 personnel from Gazipur district's Tongi area, following a raid based on a tip-off, sources told UNB on Saturday.
During preliminary interrogation, the two admitted their guilt, Director (Legal and Media Wing) at the Rab headquarters Commander Khandaker Al Moin told reporters.
READ: Rangpur: 1 arrested in Joypurhat under DSA, 42 for arson
The detainees told interrogators that they had used loudspeakers to instigate people to carry out the arson attacks in a bid to create anarchy and disrupt communal harmony in the country, after posting misleading comments on social media, the RAB Commander said.
“Saikat provoked people by uploading false information on Facebook. He led a number of arson attacks directly. Rabiul used loudspeakers to instigate people, on Saikat's instructions," said Moin.
After the attacks, Saikat, a student of a Rangpur college, went into hiding. "Efforts are on to take legal steps against the detainees,” said RAB officers.
READ: Rangpur offenders must face action: Home Minister
On October 17, the attackers set fire to 20-25 houses and shops of the Hindus at Boro Karimpur Majhipara village in Rangpur's Pirganj upazila over a social media post, deputy commissioner Asif Hasan had said.
The attackers had also looted cash, cattle and other valuables from the houses of the Hindus. Police have so far detained 42 men in connection with the arson attacks.
Three cases have been filed in this connection with Pirganj Police.
Xiaomi launches smartphone manufacturing plant in Gazipur
Global smartphone company Xiaomi has launched a smartphone manufacturing plant in Gazipur with its partner DBG technology BD.
DBG is a global EMS company, which has been operating manufacturing business around the world for several renowned brands of consumer electronics.
The plant will produce around 3 million mobile phones per year. Around 1,000 people will be employed in the plant in the initial phase.
Read Xiaomi brings Mi Notebook, RedmiBook 15 laptops to Bangladesh
Xiaomi revealed its "Made in Bangladesh" plan at a special event Thursday in Dhaka.
The first phone of the company to be assembled in Bangladesh belongs to the Redmi sub-brand, which is expected to be available in the market from the first week of November 2021. Next, the POCO and Xiaomi series will be made in the country.
Ziauddin Chowdhury, country manager of Xiaomi, said: "Manufacturing smartphones locally is a significant step towards incorporating Xiaomi into the fabric of Bangladesh in the years to come. Local manufacturing shows Xiaomi's commitment to being in Bangladesh for the long haul, and we can contribute to generating more jobs here."
Read Top features of Xiaomi 12 Pro
Communal violence seeks to turn Bangladesh into a failed state: Minister
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on Tuesday said communal violence is taking place in the country to turn Bangladesh into an ineffective country like Pakistan.
“A vested quarter, who are against independence and directly opposed it re involved in a conspiracy to turn the country into a failed state. Those responsible will be identified soon and people will know everything,” he said.
Also read: PM orders stern action against those involved in communal attacks
The minister said this after laying the foundation stone of Collectorate High School near Gazipur Circuit House in sadar upazila.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell was present.
Also read: Rangpur: 1 arrested in Joypurhat under DSA, 42 for arson
2 motorcyclists killed in Gazipur road crash
Two motorcyclists were killed as their motorbike crashed into a truck on Rajabari road in Sreepur of Gazipur district on Saturday night.
The deceased were identified as Kajol Sardar, 30, and Abul Kalam, 40. Both were residents of Sreepur upazila.
Read: Mymensingh road crash leaves seven dead
Witnesses said the motorcycle crashed into the stationary truck on Rajapur road near Joynarayanpur of the upazila around 8:30pm, leaving Kajol dead on spot.
Kalam succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital, said Sreepur Police Station SI Abdur Razzak.
RMG workers block Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding arrears
Traffic movement on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway remained suspended since Sunday morning as the workers of two readymade garment factories put barricade on the highway demanding payment of their dues.
The workers of Interlink Apparels factory in Maleker Bari area and another in Bhogra in the city corporation area found the gates of the factories shut in the morning.
Read:Oil tanker fire: missing worker’s body found on Karnaphuli river
Workers said said the authorities were scheduled to pay the salaries of the previous month today.
Youth, girlfriend found dead in Gazipur
A 25-year-old man and his girlfriend were found dead in his house at Satanipara in Kaliganj upazila on Wednesday night.
The deceased were identified as Hridoy Gomez, an NGO worker, and Evana Rozario, 22, of Bandakhola village. The woman was a nursing student.
Read: Ex-DU prof dies as train rams car in Gazipur
Police suspect Hridoy killed Evana over some issue and then stabbed himself to death. The two were in a relationship for a long period of time.
On Wednesday, Evana went to Hridoy's at his invitation, said Saiful Islam, sub-inspector at Kaliganj police station. He was alone at the time as other family members had gone out.
When Hridoy’s mother returned home after a while, she found the door and windows of the house locked from inside. She also heard loud music from inside, police said.
Getting no response from inside for long, she along with local people peeped through the window of the house and found the duo lying in a pool of blood.
Read: Child crushed under truck in Gazipur
On information, police rushed to the spot and sent the bodies to the local hospital morgue. Evana's body bore several injury marks, cops said.
"A probe has been ordered into the deaths," the officer said.
Ex-DU prof dies as train rams car in Gazipur
A retired Dhaka University professor was killed while his wife and driver were injured when a train hit their car at an unmanned level crossing in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahim Khan, 72, a resident of NAM Garden Officers Quarters in Mirpur.
The accident occurred around 6pm when the car in which the three were travelling fell into a roadside ditch after being hit by the Chattogram-bound Subarna Express in the Nalchata area.
The impact of the collision was such that Abdur died on the spot.
READ: Dhaka-Chattogram rail services hit as freight train derails in Gazipur
His wife Diljuara Khanam (63) and their driver Soleman Mia, 32, of Barishal district, sustained injuries and were rushed to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, from where they were shifted to Dhaka for better treatment, said Pradeep Kumar Saha, sub-inspector at Kaliganj Police Station.
The former DU professor and his wife were heading towards Dhaka’s Mirpur in their private car from Tangail district when the accident occurred.
READ: 2 siblings killed as train hits auto-rickshaw in B’baria
His body has been sent to Narsingdi General Hospital morgue for an autopsy, the police officer said.
Child crushed under truck in Gazipur
A seven-year-old child was crushed under the wheels of a truck on Kapasia-Gazipur road near Chandpur village in Kapasia upazila on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Rafin, son of Monir Paloan of Chandpur village in the upazila.
Police said the Dhaka-bound truck hit Rafin on his way to a madrasa around 7am, leaving the child dead on spot.
Read:Truck driver, helper killed in Sylhet road crash
Later, police handed over the body to the deceased’s family.
SI Mizanur Rahman of Kapasia Police Station said they seized the killer truck from Ajmotpur area of Kaliganj but the driver managed to escape.
Dhaka-Chattogram rail services hit as freight train derails in Gazipur
Rail services between Dhaka and Chattogram have been suspended since Tuesday morning, following the derailment of a freight train at Tongi junction of Gazipur district.
Nur Mohammad, in-charge of Tongi railway, said that three bogies of the freight train veered off the tracks in the junction area around 10.30 am, disrupting rail services on three key routes -- Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Mymensingh.
Read:Derailment: Rail communication between Khulna and rest of the country suspended
Though authorities managed to restore services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and the Dhaka-Sylhet routes, train communication on the Dhaka-Chattogram route is yet to resume.
A relief train has already reached the spot to conduct the salvage operation.
No causality was reported till the filling of this report around 1 pm.
Jhut godown catches fire in Gazipur
A fire broke out in a jhut godown at Majukhan in Gazipur on Sunday.
The fire originated around 10:30 am in a godown and spread soon, said Abdul Hamid Mia, deputy assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service and civil defence control room.
On information, five fire fighting units from Tongi, Uttara and Joydebpur rushed to the spot and are trying to tame down the fire.
Read: Mirpur fire: Another victim dies at DMCH
However, no causalities were reported till the filling of this report at 1 pm.
The origin of the fire could not be known yet.