United News of Bangladesh

'Underworld' criminal Dilip alias Binash ordered the killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir over extortion and control in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area, detectives said on Saturday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner and Detective Branch (DB) Chief Shafikul Islam disclosed the information while briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Saturday morning. He said eight to nine extortion syndicates are currently operating at Karwan Bazar and the murder stemmed from rivalry over control of extortion earnings. Shafikul said the DB is working to dismantle the syndicates and will launch drives soon. Replying to a question, he said preliminary findings indicate that Dilip alias Binash is currently staying abroad. Musabbir, former general secretary of Swechchhasebak Dal’s Dhaka North City unit, was shot dead on January 7 in an alley beside Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. His wife filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station the following day against four to five unidentified individuals. Earlier, on January 11, DB arrested Jinnat (24), Abdul Kadir (28), Md Riaz (31) and Md Bilal in connection with the killing. On Friday morning, another alleged shooter, Rahim, was arrested from Narsingdi, bringing the total number of arrests to five. Asked about the identities of the arrestees Shafikul Islam said they should be described as extortionists. “Extortionists have no political ideology and often misuse political identities or banners to carry out illegal activities.” he added. Responding to another query, he said police reviewed CCTV footage from the crime scene immediately after the incident and identified two shooters. One of them, Jinnat, was arrested earlier while the second shooter, Rahim, was arrested on Friday.

Vehicular movement at Karwan Bazar remained suspended for nearly three hours as a group of stranded migrant workers staged demonstration demanding government steps to ensure their return to Malaysia. Witnesses said the workers took to the street around 9 am, halting vehicular movement. The workers were supposed to travel to Malaysia through recruiting agencies on May 31, 2024 but due to ticket complications they were unable to travel. CNG drivers’ protests cause severe traffic jam at Mohakhali The demonstration created huge traffic gridlock at Farmgate, Bangla Motor, Panthapath and adjacent areas, causing suffering to commuters. Traffic Inspector Anwar Kabir  said the traffic movement returned to normal around 12 pm after they left the roads. The protesters later marched towards the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to press home their demand. Bhorer Kagoj shuts down operations; workers stage protests They were staging demonstrations in front of the ministry till the filling of this report around 3 pm. On October 5, 2024, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said that Malaysia has agreed to receive 18,000 Bangladeshi workers who previously missed the deadline to enter the country.

Dhaka's ambitious metro rail project reached a significant milestone with the opening of the Karwan Bazar and Shahbagh metro rail stations. This achievement marks the completion of all 16 stations along the Dhaka Metro Rail route, extending from Uttara North to Motijheel. Following the commencement of the Bijoy Sarani and Dhaka University stations on December 13, only the Karwan Bazar and Shahbagh stations were pending activation. With their launch, Dhaka residents can now enjoy full access to the metro rail network, significantly easing urban transportation. Also read: New Metro Rail Station at Dhaka University: A milestone in student connectivity Commuters, particularly office-goers, have warmly welcomed the operation of these crucial stations in the heart of the capital. Many have expressed their satisfaction and are eagerly anticipating an expanded schedule on the Agargaon-Motijheel route. "The metro rail has transformed our daily commute, and the new stations are a much-needed addition," shared a business trader from Gazipur’s Tongi who has to travel at least twice a week to Old Dhaka’s Bakshi Bazar, a distance of almost 24 kilometres.

The plan to relocate Karwan Bazar, Dhaka's largest wholesale kitchen market, is in the final stages and the vacated location will be turned into an international-standard economic and business hub. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said this to the media Saturday during the inauguration of a 10-day public awareness campaign on the use of masks at Karwan Bazar. A big wholesale kitchen market like Karwan Bazar should not sit in the centre of the capital, he added. Wholesale markets are set up in the peripheries of a city all over the world. Read: Workshop on APA, NIS held at Foreign Service Academy To cut traffic congestion in Karwan Bazar, the government decided to relocate the traders of the wholesale kitchen market of the area. "A campaign to encourage everyone to wear masks is being carried out in 54 wards of the DNCC, at public places including shopping malls, bus stands and kitchen markets," Atiqul said. "During the campaign, which will run till January 31, around five lakh masks will be distributed by 72 DNCC councillors."

Kitchen markets in Dhaka saw huge crowds of Hilsa lovers on Sunday evening as they rushed to buy the delicious fish ahead of a 22-day ban on its catching, selling, hoarding and transporting. Many of the customers, however, retuned home empty as most of the sellers of the popular fish ran out of their stocks by 10 PM due to its high demand and supply crunch. Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight Talking to UNB, some Hilsa traders at Karwan Bazar said this season saw its higher prices due to its short supply and large volumes of export. “The demand was very high, even well before the restriction period, due to the short supply,” said Kamrul Hasan, a fish trader. The government has given a go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of Hilsa to India by October 10, ahead of Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community. The government had banned the Hilsa export to India in 2012 but it approved the export of 500 tonnes of the fish in 2019 and 475 tonnes in 2020. The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight as it is aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25. Read: Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel will carry out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly. Aminul Islam, district fisheries officer of Laxmipur, told UNB that there are around 52,000 fishermen in his district and 3,000 of them are registered. They will get around 40 kg food aid as compensation during this restriction period, he said. Meanwhile, the district administration was seen campaigning along riversides to make the fishermen aware about the importance of the government decision. Read:Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni On Sunday, Raunak Mahmud, secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry, said some 1,118.068 metric tons of VGF rice has been allocated for 555,944  fishermen families in 36 districts where the  ban on selling and fishing Hilsa will be enforced. According to Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985, fishermen not abiding by the ban can be punished with a minimum of 1 to maximum of 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment or be fined up to TK 5,000.

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested six alleged robbers, including the main accused in a robbery and murder case, from Rupgonj in Naryangonj on Tuesday night.

Police have shut down Karwan Bazar Wholesale Market, one of the largest kitchen markets in the capital, for retailers in a bid to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.