A fire broke out in a shoe factory on the sixth floor of Nurpur Market in the port city’s New Market area on Thursday afternoon. The blaze erupted in the factory around 3.30pm. There are some other  markets in the adjacent areas.   Read more: Fire at Eastern Refinery in Ctg: 4 burnt Fazlul Quader, control room operator at Agrabad Fire Service and Civil Denfence Station, said on information eight firefighting units rushed to the spot and are working to tame it.

A Dhaka court on Friday placed three more people, including a student of Dhaka College, on a three-day police remand in two cases filed over the recent violence in New Market area. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mosharraf Hossain passed the order after Investigation officer Md Tariqul Alam Jewel, Inspector of Detective Branch of police, produced the accused before his court and sought a 7-day remand to interrogate them. Those remanded are- Dhaka College Student Mahmudul Hasan Siam, 21, and employees of Fast Food shop Moazzem Hossain Sajeeb, 23, and Mehedi Hassan Bappi, 21. In the remand prayer, the IO said delivery man Nahid Hasan succumbed to his injuries after Siam hit him with a rod, as per CCTV footage of the area. Siam needs to be interrogated to get information about the killing. Also Read: New Market clashes: Three arrested At the same time, the investigating officer of another case, Haldar Arpito Tagore, requested to remand the accused Bappi and Sajib for seven days for assaulting policemen during the clashes on the same day. The three were arrested from Shariatpur and Cox’s Bazar districts on Wednesday night, Rab officials said on Thursday. Five other Dhaka College students, who were placed on two-day remand on April 25, are now in jail custody for their direct involvement in the clashes.  On Sunday, the investigating officer appealed to keep them in jail till the investigation of the case is completed which was granted by the court. They are Abdul Kaiyum, a student of the Accounting Department, Palash and Irfan, both from the Social Science Department, Foysal from the Bangla department and Junayed from Islamic History department of Dhaka College. Also Read: New Market clashes: 5 Dhaka College students arrested Besides, Mokbul Hossain, a leader of BNP's Dhaka South unit convening committee, was placed on a three-day remand in the same case on April 23 and he is now in jail custody. Two people, Nahid and Mursalin were killed while more than 30 others, including journalists and students, were injured as the students of Dhaka College clashed with the traders of New Market at the Nilkhet intersection and adjoining areas on April 19. Shopkeepers alleged that the students were beaten up as they had refused to foot the bill at an eatery. Police subsequently registered four cases against 1,400 people in connection with the clashes. On April 20, a murder case was filed at the New Market police station following a complaint by Nahid’s father Nadim Hossain accusing anonymous people.      

Three people have been arrested in connection with the recent clashes in New Market that claimed two lives, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) said on Thursday. The arrestees have been identified as Moazzem Hossain Sajeeb, 23, son of Abdul Mannan of Keraniganj, Mehedi Hassan Bappi, 21, son of Hawladar of Barishal district, and Mahmudul Hasan Siam, 21, son of Hasan Ali of Shariatpur district. The three were arrested from Shariatpur and Cox’s Bazar districts on Wednesday night, Rab officials said. Also read: New Market clashes: 5 Dhaka College students arrested Commander Al Moin, director of Rab's legal and media wing, said Bappi was directly involved in delivery man Nahid's killing. “Bappi and Sajeeb were employees of Welcome Fast Food. The initial clash erupted when staffers of Capital Fast Food and Welcome Fast Food got engaged in heated arguments over placing tables for selling good before Iftar on April 18." Later, 10-15 miscreants, known to the staffers of Welcome Fast Food, appeared there around 11.30pm and started beating up the staff of Capital Fast Food. At one stage, both groups attacked each other, triggering the clash that spread to the Dhaka College area the following day, said Moin. Bappi and Sajeeb went into hiding after the clashes and to conceal their identities, they had a haircut and had been trying to grab jobs at hotels in Cox’s Bazar. Besides, in the CCTV footage of the area, Siam was found stabbing delivery man Nahid during the clashes. He also went into hiding to avoid arrest, Moin said. “Legal steps are being initiated against them." Also read: New Market clashes: 14 BNP leaders, activists granted anticipatory bail Two people were killed and more than 30 others, including journalists and students, were injured as the students of Dhaka College clashed with the traders of New Market at Nilkhet intersection recently. Shopkeepers alleged that the students were beaten up as they had refused to foot the bill at an eatery. Police subsequently registered four cases against 1,400 people in connection with the clashes. Earlier on April 28, police arrested five students of Dhaka College in connection with the clashes at New Market. AKM Hafiz Akter, additional commissioner of the detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, had said that the five were directly involved in the clashes between the Dhaka College students and New Market shopkeepers. Later, they were placed on police remand on the same day.

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed five students of Dhaka College on a two-day police remand each in a case over the killing of Nahid Hasan during recent violence at New Market. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shanta Akter passed the order after Md Tariqul Alam Jewel, Inspector of Detective Branch of police,  produced the accused before court and sought a 7-day remand to interrogate them. Those remanded are Abdul Kaiyum, a student of Accounting Department, Palash and Irfan, both from Social Science Department, Foysal from the Bangla department and Junayed from Islamic History department of Dhaka College. Earlier in the day, AKM Hafiz Akter, Additional Commissioner of the DB Police, said at a briefing that these five were arrested for their direct involvement in the clashes between the Dhaka College students and New Market shopkeepers that claimed two lives. Two murder cases were filed at New Market police station in connection with the clashes, he said. Also read: New Market clashes: 5 Dhaka College students arrested Two people, Nahid and Mursalin were killed while more than 30 others, including journalists and students, were injured as the students of Dhaka College clashed with the traders of New Market at the Nilkhet intersection on April 19. Shopkeepers alleged that the students were beaten up as they had refused to foot the bill at an eatery. Police subsequently registered four cases against 1,400 people in connection with the clashes. Also read: New Market clashes: 14 BNP leaders, activists granted anticipatory bail On April 20, a murder case was filed at the New Market police station following a complaint by Nahid’s father Nadim Hossain accusing anonymous people.  

Police have identified two people involved in the killing of delivery man Nahid Hossain during the recent clashes between the students of Dhaka College and New Market shopkeepers. Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman, assistant commissioner (New Market Zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said after scrutinising a video footage and other evidences police identified two people. Police are trying to arrest those for their suspected involvement in the killing, he said adding “We are also trying to identify other attackers after scrutunising the video footages of the incident.” 20-year-old Nahid Hossain, a delivery man for Dlink courier service, who was severely beaten during New Market clashes, died on April 19. READ: New Market clashes: Another case filed over Mursalin’s death Nahid and another youth were killed and over 30 people, including journalists and students, were injured as students of Dhaka College locked into a series of clashes with shopkeepers of New Market at the Nilkhet intersection on April 19. Meanwhile, more than 1,300 people have been booked in connection with Tuesday’s violent clashes on April 21.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that police are trying to hush up its failure and indifference to contain violence in the city’s New Market area and the involvement of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in it. “BNP thinks that this illegitimate government is resorting to its old game. While people are blaming police inaction and indifference for not being able to stop the clashes for two days in a row, the police are trying to cover up their own failures and Awami cadres’ involvement by arresting innocent BNP leader Makbul and filing cases against others purely with a political motive,” he said. Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, the BNP leader also said their party is deeply concerned and upset over the series of clashes between traders and Dhaka College students in the New Market area that killed two people and injured many others, including journalists. “This incident has exposed how fragile the law and order situation in the country is. A suspicion has been created in public minds over the inaction of police as horrific attacks and counter-attacks happened and terrorists wearing helmets and equipped with arms and weapons beat people to death in their (police’s) presence,” he said. Fakhrul alleged that cases were filed against 1,200 people mentioning the names of 24 leaders of BNP and its associate bodies instead of arresting the real offenders who engaged in the clashes wearing helmets. “BNP strongly protest and express anger ovet it.” He said it has been proved through different media reports that the ‘cadres’ of Chhatra League were involved in the violence. “At least three people--who are active activists of Dhaka College Chhatra League--have been identified from the video footages. It is also clear from the media reports that the terrible terrorists of various groups of Chhatra League were responsible for this incident mainly due to collect extortion and establish their supremacy.” The BNP leader also said the ruling party student body leaders have long been indulging in massive extortion and terrorist activities in the adjoining areas of New Market. “Chhatra League and Juba League are establishing a reign of terror with the help of police. This entire area is under the control of Chhatra League.” READ: Chhatra League 'cadres' involved in New Market violence: Fakhrul Stating that there are many groups of Dhaka College Chhatra League in the area in absence of any specific committee of the ruling party student body, he said the incident of clashes often occurs there due to conflicts among those groups. Fakhrul said their party thinks that the government is deliberately implicating BNP in New Market violence to divert people’s attention to a different direction from its failure to deliver on all fronts, control soaring prices of daily essentials and rampant corruption. “The government is conspiring to arrest BNP leaders and activists in the same way as before. Lawsuits, arrests, enforced disappearances, murders and assassinations are the main weapons of this government and it is trying to keep BNP away from politics by using these weapons,” he alleged. The BNP leader said the present ‘unelected’ Awami League government has taken a stance against the country’s people by using all the state machineries to stay in power illegally for the last one decade. “There is now no security in people's lives and no business environment. The judiciary has been politicised while corruption has been institutionalised. Human rights are being grossly violated. A fascist state system has been established by enacting repressive laws one after another in violation of the constitution,” he observed. He said BNP will stage rallies in all metropolitan cities, including in the capital, on April 26 demanding the release of arrested BNP leader Makbul Hossain and withdrawal of false cases filed by police in connection with the bloody violence in the city’s New Market area. At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night. Later, two injured people—computer accessories delivery man Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday. Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.

The shops and markets of the Dhaka New Market area started reopening from Thursday after two days of continuous closure due to clashes between the traders and students of nearby Dhaka College following a trivial argument. Since the reopening, the situation in the area has been normal. The New Market, Gausia Market, Chandrima Super Market and Nurjahan Market started reopening from 10.00 am and within an hour the markets opened fully. Tamim, one of the shop owners, said, "I collected clothes for the shop on the occasion of Eid only two days ago. But everything has been torched." Traders said they hoped that they would make up for the losses of the Covid-19 pandemic during this year's Eid market. But the clash destroyed all their plans. Read: Those who attacked journalists during New Market clashes to face action: Minister Asked about whether they will be able to recover the loss, Salahuddin, another shop owner, said, “We are counting loss in our business as we have lost two days on this Eid season. But if buyers spontaneously come to this market, I hope, we will be able to recover our loss." New Market Traders’ Association's vice president Ashraf Uddin said a monitoring cell will be set up for market management. Behavioral training will also be given to the owners and employees of each market. "We are helping law enforcement agencies to ensure the punishment to the culprits," he added. Expressing anger, he added that three thousand shops of New Supermarket, seven hundred shops of New Market, 500 shops of Chandrima Super market and more than 400 shops of Gausia Market remained closed during those days which resulted in an immeasurable loss to their business. He estimated that the damage will be worth at least Tk 5-6 crore.

A youth who was not involved but simply happened to be in the vicinity during violent clashes between Dhaka College students and New Market traders since Monday night has died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). The deceased Nahid Hossain, 20, worked as a delivery man for Dlink courier service, and happened to be passing through the area on Tuesday when he was hit on the head by a brick. DMCH resident doctor Md Alauddin said that Nahid was put on life support and died at around 9.40 pm. Another young man injured in the clash, Mursalin (26), a clothes shop employee, is in critical condition at DMCH, said Dr Alauddin. Over 30 people, including journalists and students, were injured Tuesday as students of Dhaka College locked into a series of clashes again with traders of New Market around the Nilkhet intersection.  The whole area turned into a battleground after a fresh clash erupted between them around 10am today, as a sequel to Monday night's tensions, said witnesses. Of the injured, some 24 people were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said a  source.  The clashes disrupted vehicular movement from Science Lab to Azimpur  and created a long tailback on the Mirpur Road and adjacent areas.  Vehicular movement returned to normalcy around 6pm as police dispersed the Dhaka College students after lobbing tear gas shells. Shop owners in the area kept their shutters down since morning.  The fresh clash erupted as the students went to the intersection around 10am to form a human chain in protest against last night’s alleged attack on them by members of the New Market Traders’ Association. READ: Violent clashes erupt again between Dhaka College students, traders; Over 30 hurt  Some traders of New Market "teased and provoked" the protesters, triggering the morning's clashes, according to witnesses. Brick chips and crude bombs were thrown during the chase and counter-chase between the two groups while police lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.  “Around 12pm fire broke out in some shops at Chandrima Super Market and Nurjahan Super Market after crude bombs were thrown at those allegedly by students. It was later doused but a vehicle of the Fire Service sent there could not reach the spot as the traders did not allow it to move,” said Khaleda Yasmin, Deputy Officer (media), Fire Service and Civil Defence.   “At least 30 students of Dhaka College were injured in the clash that started last night”, said Dr Md Abdul Kuddus Shikder, Secretary of Dhaka College Teachers Council.  Sharif, Assistant Commissioner (New Market zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said,"I am currently undergoing treatment at a hospital after suffering injuries while controlling the situation last night. The students took to the streets again in the morning to protest last night’s attack and some of them said they would not let the traders open their shops until the perpetrators of last night's alleged attack are brought to justice."  According to the students, two of their peers are being treated at Square Hospital as they "sustained injuries in their eyes when police fired rubber bullets last night." UNB photojournalists Abu Sufiyan Jewel and Rakibul Hasan, Deepto TV’s journalist Asif Sumit, and its cameraperson, SA TV’s reporter Tuhin and cameraperson Kabir Hossain, MY TV’s reporter Danny Drong and RTV’s camera person Sumon Dey were among the injured. Photographer of the Daily Star Prabir Das and reporter of Ajker Patrika Al Amin Raju were allegedly beaten up by the traders during the clash.  Around midnight on Monday, a clash ensued between the  traders and college students, with the latter alleging that few of their peers were thrashed and stabbed by a couple of shopkeepers when they had gone to the market for shopping, and refused to pay the bill at an eatery.  Police lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control after nearly four hours on the first night. Traffic on Mirpur Road came to a halt for a few hours due to the clash, in which some cops also sustained injuries.

The Executive Committee of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) has strongly condemned the barbaric attacks on journalists who were performing their professional duties at great risk anyway during the horrifying clashes between students of Dhaka College and traders in the  New Market area since late Monday night. CRAB members  Asif Sumit, senior reporter of Dipta TV, and Jasim Mihir, Staff Reporter of Dhaka Post, were among those who came under attack.  The association's president, Mirza Mehdi Tamal, and general secretary Asaduzzaman Biku in a statement demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers.  Journalists were attacked in front of Dhaka College when they went there to collect news of clashes between students and businessmen. Among others, cameraperson of the Dipta TV Imran Hossain Lipu, MyTV reporter Danny Drong, SA TV reporter Tuhin, cameraperson Kabir Hossain, RTV cameraperson Sumon Dey, Daily Star photojournalist Prabir and the daily Aajker Kagoj 's reporter Alamin Raju were also injured while performing their professional duties during the attack.  In a statement, the leaders of CRAB said that those who attacked journalists while performing their professional duties, regardless of their identity, were terrorists. These terrorists are the enemies of the country and the nation, they said. READ: Mobile internet services suspended in New Market area CRAB leaders demanded that those involved in the incident be immediately identified and brought under the law. Besides, they also called upon the law enforcement agencies to be more vigilant in providing security to the journalists.  Over 30 people including journalists and students were injured on Tuesday as students of Dhaka College locked into a series of clashes again with traders of New Market at Nilkhet intersection in the city.   The whole area turned into a scene from a warzone after a fresh clash erupted between them around 10 am as a sequel to Monday night's events. 

Telecom operators have suspended internet services in New Market area after a series of clashes between Dhaka College students and traders there Tuesday afternoon.  The mobile internet services in the area were suspended around 3:15 pm after getting directives from the government, said sources in telecom operators. Also read:Those responsible for New Market violence to face action: Home Minister The mobile internet services will remain snapped until further notice. Over 30 people including journalists and students were injured on Tuesday as students of Dhaka College locked into a series of renewed clashes with traders of New Market at Nilkhet intersection in the city. The whole area turned into a battleground after a fresh clash erupted between them around 10 am as a sequel to a clash Monday midnight.