Customs officials and National Security Intelligence (NSI) personnel seized 63 tolas of gold ornaments  at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport on Saturday.  Sctress Anamika Juthi  and Mohammad Raihan Iqbal from Raojan, Chattogram were detained in this connection, said MD Ibrahim Khalil, public relations officer of Shah Amanat International Airport. Tipped off, they searched the two passengers of Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-148 which had arrived from Dubai around 9:50am.  Woman stabbed to death in Khagrachhari, suspect arrested The officials seized gold ornaments including bangles, chains, and white gold chain-like items—543 grams of 24-carat gold and 190 grams of 22-carat gold. The bangles were wrapped around Juthi's hands with scotch tape, while the chains were concealed around her neck tactfully and inside her handbag, they said.  No Bangladesh-India border gathering in Thakurgaon this year As the duo were originally bound for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka they were sent there on the same flight per aviation protocols. Upon arrival, they were handed over to customs and the intelligence team at Dhaka airport for further investigation. 

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday asked his party leaders and activists to refrain from any negative or controversial activities that may  undermine the public confidence as the next general election would be ‘very tough’ for the party. “Let’s come to take an oath that we will refrain from doing anything that undermines the public confidence (in BNP),” he said, while addressing a workshop in Chattogram through a virtual platform. Tarique urges people to show utmost restraint BNP Training Affair Committee arranged the Chattorgam Divisional workshop titled “31-point state structure reform proposal and the public engagement” at Chattogram Engineers’ Institute. Tarique said, “If anyone thinks those whom we considered our main political opponents are not there or they are now weak in the field and we would go to power easily, please remove it (this thought) from the mind.” Tarique Rahman seeks limit on PM’s consecutive terms    He said the next election will be very tough for his party as many conspiracies continue and many invisible forces are working against BNP. The BNP acting chairman said BNP leaders and activists had to tolerate numerous torture and repression for the last 15-16 years. “Please don’t spoil our achievements and sacrifices with small mistakes. We should be conscious so that our achievements and sacrifices are not foiled,” he said. He said BNP won't be able to woo voters in the next election if it fails to keep up the existing public trust in the party. “We’ll have to keep up the existing public confidence. Otherwise, you won’t gain the votes of people. It is not the responsibility of people to retain this confidence, rather it’s yours (BNP representatives) duty,” he added. Tarique reminds BNP leaders of tough election, urges hard work “You will have to uphold this confidence until the vote is held. And when you win the election, you will have to work to implement the 31-point reform proposal,” said Tarique. The BNP leader asked his party leaders and activists to take its 31-point reform proposal to the doors of people and to drum up support for it.

A fire that broke out at a foam manufacturing factory near Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Sagorika area of Chattogram city has been brought under control. The blaze started around 4:45 pm and five units from the Fire Service successfully brought the fire under control within half an hour, said Abdul Aziz, a firefighter from the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Five people including four members of a family were killed in separate road accidents in Mirsarai and Hathazari upazilas of Chattogram on Tuesday, In Mirsarai, a truck crashed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in the Khoiyachhora area, leaving all its four passengers, including a child, dead on the spot when they were on their way to attend an event in Sitakunda. The auto-rickshaw got smashed and truck fell into a roadside ditch after the crash, said police and witnesses. 20 dead, 24 injured in Sylhet division road accidents in Sept The deceased were identified as Kajol Rekha, Nurjahan, Shirina, and 7-month-old infant Nihat. Sohel Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Jorarganj Highway Police Station, said they went to spot upon receiving news of the accident and recovered the bodies. In a separate incident in Hathazari upazila, Mohammad Azwad Mahin, a madrasha student, was killed after being hit by a speeding bus on the Chittagong-Khagrachhari road. Following the accident, fellow madrasa students and local residents blocked the road in protest. Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

An eight kilometer long tailback has been created on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Narayanganj following excessive rainfall, causing suffering to commuters. Women, children, office-goers and students were the worst sufferers. Many office-goers were seen heading towards their destinations on foot amid the rain as vehicles got stranded on both sides of the highway. Locals said the traffic gridlock started on Wednesday night after the heavy rainfall that submerged some parts of the highway, resulting in an eight km jam stretching from Siddhirganj’s Sanarpara to Bandar’s Keodhala area. One Gafur Hossain, who got stuck in the traffic jam, said he boarded a bus from Shani Akhra at 7am to go to office. The bus could reach Kanchpur Bridge and then it got stranded due to long tailback. “Today I missed the office.” Read: City dwellers suffer amid unusual traffic jams  Another passenger Abdur Rahim alleged that said there have been no efforts by the law enforcement agencies to restore discipline on the road. “I have been stranded in a traffic jam since the morning. The bus in which I am travelling took around one hour to reach the Kanchpur Bridge from the Mouchhak bus stand,” he said. Abu Nayeem, traffic inspector of Kanchpur highway police station, said the traffic gridlock was created after some vehicles went out of order in Keodhala and Langalbandha areas on the waterlogged road and movement of vehicles from the opposite direction. Read more: Bangabazar Market fire in Dhaka causes huge traffic jam “We have already removed some vehicles from the highway and efforts are on to remove the rest,” he said, adding that they have been facing trouble in performing duty due to heavy rain. Several teams have been working to reduce the traffic jam, he said hoping that the normalcy on the road will return soon.

As part of the nationwide ‘March for Justice’ programme on Wednesday (July 31, 2024), protesters are holding a demonstration at the Chattogram Court premises to press home their nine-point demand. A tense situation prevails in and around the court area as a significant number of law enforcers have surrounded the protesters, according to UNB’s Chattogram correspondent. Earlier, around 11:30 am, protesters began gathering in front of Chattogram Zilla Parishad in Laldighi area, occupying the busy Laldighi Road for about half an hour, causing a traffic gridlock on both sides. A group of lawyers from the court later joined the protesters, extending their support. In response, the police administration issued a half-hour ultimatum for the protesters to vacate the road. The combined group of protesters and lawyers then marched to the front of the Lawyers’ Building, where they continued to demonstrate and chant slogans. Read more: Shamim Osman seeing signs that tonight 'not normal'

Two students from a school in Chattogram district who initially received GPA-5 without taking an SSC exam have now been failed by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Chattogram. The two students from Chambal High School in Banshkhali upazila not only managed to pass but also achieved GPA-5 in the SSC exams despite not attending one of their written tests. This anomaly was later corrected, and their results were changed to reflect their actual performance. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination results were altered after re-evaluation of their answer scripts. The updated results were published on the Chattogram Education Board's website. Earlier, on June 8, media reports highlighted the incident, causing an uproar across the country. The news revealed that the two students had passed despite being absent for one of their exams, leaving education board officials baffled. The board initiated an investigation which led to the re-evaluation and subsequent failure of the students. GD filed over missing mark sheets from Ctg Education Board It was discovered that the two students missed the 50-mark Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exam, which included a 25-mark objective and a 25-mark practical test, held on February 28. The students did not attend the objective part of the test, mistakenly believing there was no exam that day. When they rushed to the center, they found the objective exam had already concluded. Despite their absence, the SSC results published on May 12 showed that the students, Sadia Sultana and Urmi Akhtar, received a GPA of 3.5 in ICT. This sparked curiosity and concern in the upazila about how they passed without sitting for the test. Education board officials noted that the examination center (Banshkhali-1) had erroneously reported that both students had passed the practical test and submitted high marks for the theoretical (objective) exam as well. Ratan Chakraborty, the center secretary of Banshkhali Adarsha High School, informed the education board that the two students were absent on the day of the ICT exam. "They did not even come to the center that day. We reported their absence to the board immediately. I do not understand how they received a GPA of 3.5 without taking the exam," he said. On Tuesday, the Chattogram Education Board's website reflected the corrected results, showing that the two students had failed. HSC exams to begin from June 30; Coaching centres to remain shut from June 29 to Aug 11 When contacted, Chattogram Education Board's Exam Controller, Professor AMM Mujibur Rahman, explained, "This happened due to an error by those involved in preparing the exam results. Mistakes can occur, but this one will be reviewed by our discipline committee." Chattogram Education Board Chairman, Professor Rezaul Karim, said, "There are minor mistakes in result preparation, but this error is severe and unacceptable. The board will take action against those responsible under the Board Ordinance, 1961. Criminal proceedings may also be pursued if necessary."

The much-anticipated Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port commenced operations today (June 10, 2024), marking a significant milestone for the port and the country. A container vessel, the Singapore-flagged ‘MAERSK DAVAO,’ anchored at the terminal this morning, initiating regular handling activities. Authorities anticipate the terminal will handle approximately 500,000 Twenty-ft Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually. PCT is the first terminal in Chattogram Port’s history to be operated by a foreign company, heralding a new era of foreign investment and operational models. This transformation has positioned Chattogram as a landlord port, a significant upgrade for Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure. Ctg Port resumes partial activities after Cyclone Remal Six months ago, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) signed an agreement with the Jeddah-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) of Saudi Arabia. Following customs formalities and equipment installations, Red Sea Gateway Bangladesh Limited has now officially commenced operations. Omar Faruk, Secretary of CPA, confirmed that RSGT is fully prepared to manage container handling at the newly built terminal. According to the CPA, the new terminal will not only enhance the port’s capacity but also reduce the average stay time for vessels. Constructed at a cost of Tk 150 crore, funded by the port, the PCT features state-of-the-art facilities, including gantry cranes that significantly increase loading and unloading efficiency. Rear Admiral Md Sohail, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, noted that it would take approximately 18 months for the terminal to become fully operational. The PCT was built on 32 acres of land near Chattogram Drydock Limited to Boat Club, with the foundation stone laid on September 8, 2017. The project, supervised by the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Army, commenced construction in 2018, involving a total cost of Tk 1,230 crore. Parliamentary delegation explores Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Ctg With the new terminal, vessels will no longer need to wait at the outer anchorage for extended periods, as the Patenga Container Terminal can accommodate four vessels at once across its jetties. This increased capacity is expected to alleviate congestion and streamline operations at Chattogram Port.

Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal, which made landfall on Bangladesh’s coast on Sunday (May 26, 2024) night, moved northwards and weakened into a cyclonic storm and further weakened into a land deep depression over Jashore and adjoining area, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department. It is likely to move northeastwards further and weaken into a land depression by giving precipitation, the BMD stated in its special bulletin. Dhaka’s air quality improves after rain due to the influence of Cyclone Remal Maritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to lower danger signal number 10 but instead hoist local cautionary signal number three (R ) three. Maritime ports of Cox's bazar and Chattogram have been advised to lower danger signal number nine but instead hoist local cautionary signal number three (r) three. Cyclone Remal: Another man dies on the way to shelter All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay have been advised to remain in shelter till tomorrow morning (28 may 2024) and then proceed with caution.

In preparation for Cyclone Remal, 500 shelters and 290 medical teams have been kept prepared in Chattogram, said the District Disaster Management Committee. The decision to keep those shelters and teams prepared was made at an emergency meeting of the committee held last night. Furthermore, the Fire Service and Civil Defense has canceled the leave of all officials and employees from nine stations, mobilizing 270 personnel for immediate response. A special control room has also been formed at Agrabad Fire Service Station in the port city. Rakib Hasan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Chattogram district administration, informed that around 500 shelters were being prepared, 290 medical teams were formed, and all executive officers and local union chairpersons and members in the coastal areas of Chattogram were on high alert. Read more: Cyclone Remal moves northwards over Bay According to the Civil Surgeon’s Office, a medical team has been assigned to each union, five teams to each upazila health complex, and five teams are on standby at Chattogram General Hospital. Dr. Md. Elias Chowdhury, district Civil Surgeon, said that 200 teams at the union level, 75 teams across 15 upazila health complexes, nine teams at urban dispensaries, one team for school health, and five teams at the general hospital were formed to face the impact of the cyclonic storm. Moreover, all doctors, officers, and employees under the Civil Surgeon’s Office have been instructed to remain at their posts while an emergency control room has also been opened, he said. Dinmoni Sharma, Deputy Director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense, informed that the fire service has started operations in various coastal areas. Read more: Cyclone Remal: Biman suspends all Cox's Bazar bound flights Sunday Announcements are being made through loudspeakers urging residents to move to safe locations before the storm hits. Operations in the city will commence based on weather conditions, he said, adding that 270 fire personnel across nine stations are prepared, with all leaves canceled. The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm Saturday night, with the name 'Remal.' The cyclone is predicted to make landfall today, affecting the coasts of Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal. The Meteorological Department reported that the depression has been moving north and northeast at 15 kilometers per hour over the past six hours. Gaining strength over the sea before hitting the coast between Khepupara, Bangladesh, and Sagar Island, West Bengal, it will hit with speeds of 110 to 120 kilometers per hour, with wind gusts reaching up to 135 kilometers per hour. Read more: Cyclone Preparedness: Safety measures to follow before, during and after disaster