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Bangladesh marks 17th anniversary of serial blasts
Bangladesh on Wednesday marked the 17th anniversary of the serial bomb blasts that left two people dead and over 50 others injured across the country in 2005.
Various socio-cultural organisations and political parties led the nation in paying tributes to the victims with a renewed call to stamp out extremism from the country.
On this day in 2005, around 500 bombs went off at 434 locations in 63 districts of the country. Banned militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was behind the mayhem.
According to the police headquarters, some 159 cases were lodged at different police stations across the country in connection with the bombings.
In the last 17 years, trials in 94 cases have already been disposed of in which 334 people were sentenced to different jail terms while 55 cases are still under trial, the sources said.
Read: Dhaka warehouse blast: Death toll rises to 8
Twenty-seven accused in the serial blasts had been handed down capital punishment and eight of them were hanged.
The JMB tried to showcase its existence to the nation by carrying out the blasts. But their organisational activities suffered a huge setback with the execution of JMB’s top six leaders in 2007.
The six leaders -- Shaikh Abdur Rahman, his second-in-command Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai, military commander Ataur Rahman Sunny, think-tank members Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah and Salahuddin -- were hanged on March 30 in 2007 for killing two judges in Jhalokathi district.
Transformer blast leaves 4 steel mill workers injured
Four workers of Salam Steel Mill sustained burn injuries in a transformer blast in the capital’s Shyampur area on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.
The victims -- Sunil, 40, Raton, 35, Rony,29 and Akaeed, 22 -- are undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, said Md Bacchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost.
The blast occurred around 7pm when the workers were washing their hands and faces at the water tap next to the mill after work.
Also read: 2 killed in Chawkbazar transformer blast, 3 injured
Among them, Raton received 25% burn injuries while Sunil sustained 22%, and Rony and Akaeed 5% burn injuries, he added.
Dhaka warehouse blast: Death toll rises to 6
The death toll from the Rajabari scrap godown explosion rose to six, with another injured succumbing at a city hospital in the small hours of Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Al Amin, 30.
Al Amin, who sustained 75% burns, breathed his last at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 2.30am, said Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost in-charge Md Bacchu Mia.
On Monday night, Masum Ali, 35, son of Rahad Ali, who received 80% burns, succumbed to his injuries around 7:35 pm at the hospital, said Md Bacchu.
Earlier on Monday, around 1.30am, Mizan, who suffered 95% burns, succumbed to his injuries, Bacchu Mia said.
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On Sunday, three injured -- Gazi Mazharul Islam, 48, Md Alam Mia, 20, and Md Nur Hossain, 60 -- died at the same hospital.
Eight people suffered burn injuries in the blast that occurred around 11.45am on Saturday in the godown, said officer-in-charge of Turag Police Station, Mehedi Hasan.
The other injured -- Masum, 35, Shafiqul and Md. Shahin, 25 -- are undergoing treatment at the hospital with severe injuries.
Among them, Masum sustained 95% burns, Shafiqul 80% and Shahin 35%, said the hospital’s resident surgeon, Dr SM Ayub Hossain.
Blast leaves 7 burnt in city warehouse
At least seven people were received burn injuries following an explosion in a hand sanitizer godown in Rajabari area of Kamarpara in the city on Saturday.
The injured were identified as rickshaw garage owner Gazi Mazharul Islam, 48, Md. Mizan,35, Md. Nur Hossain,60, Md. Alam Mia 20, Masum, 35, Md. Al-Amin,30 and Md. Shaheen, 25.
Read: Two suffer burn injuries in blast at S Alam Power Plant
Officer-in-Charge of Torag Police Station Mehedi Hasan told UNB that the blast occurred around 11:45 am in a godown of hand sanitizer, leaving the seven people wounded.
Local people rescued them and rushed to the emergency department of the Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, he said.
Resident surgeon Dr. SM Ayub Hossain of the institute said most of the injured are in critical condition.
3 siblings killed in Feni septic tank blast
Three brothers were killed as a septic tank of an under-construction building exploded in Feni municipality Tuesday morning, said police.
The deceased were identified as Md Moniruzzaman, Nurul Islam Munshi and Md Abdur Rahman Munshi, of Bagerhat district. They were workers of the under-construction building.
The explosion occurred around 11 am as toxic gas accumulated inside the tank after its pipe got clogged in ‘Rahul Amin Bhaban’ in Nazir Road area of the town, leaving two brothers dead on spot, said Feni Fire Service Officer Purna Chandra Mutsuddi.
Read: Child dies falling into septic tank in Khulna
Another brother who sustained injuries was rushed to Feni General Hospital where he died.
The workers used to live in a tin-shed room on the septic tank of the building, he added.
“It is yet to be known whether any other person was injured. Rescue operations are still going on,” said the fire service official.
The bodies were kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, said Nizam Uddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Feni Model police station.
Two die a week after Sylhet gas cylinder blast
Two people, who sustained severe burn injuries after a gas cylinder blast at a CNG filling station in Sylhet on July 15, succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka Thursday and Friday respectively, said police.
The deceased were identified as Nurul Hoque, a resident of Sunamganj district, and Nurul Hoque, another resident of Kumargaon area in Sylhet district.
Nazmul Huda Khan, officer-in-charge of Jalalabad police station, confirmed the death news through Dhaka police Saturday evening.
Read:10 hurt in N'ganj gas cylinder blast
On July 15 night, four people including the deceased sustained severe burn injuries after a gas cylinder explosion at “Safat Ullah CNG Filling Station” in Kumargaon area in the district.
Helal Ahmed, owner of the filling station, claimed that the blast occurred at a reserved cylinder room when one of the victims was about to plug his mobile phone charger on a switchboard triggering a spark with a big bang.
The accident left the staff injured, he said, adding that they were rushed to Dhaka where two of them died while undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute.
Opposition lawmakers blast govt during passage of national budget
Opposition Jatiya Party, BNP and Gono Forum lawmakers on Thursday slammed the government for what they said deplorable condition in the election commission, education system, law and order and widespread corruption in health sector.
A total of twelve lawmakers of the opposition bench came down heavily on Education Minister Dipu Moni, Law Minster Anisul Haq who is in charge of the election commission and parliamentary affairs, Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal while participating in the discussion on passage of the proposed budget for 2022-23.
Jatiya Party MP Chunu launched the blistering attack on the education minister saying an anarchic situation is prevailing in the sector.
He said students are showing muscle power in different educational institutions under the patronization of a section of teachers.
“Teachers are being humiliated by their own students. So that the environment at the country’s education institutions has been ruined,” he added.
The JP MP said, there is no monitoring by University Grants Commission of alleged mismanagement and irregularities in private and public universities.
“I see lots of people around me who have degree on BBA, MBA. But there is no quality of education in them,” he added.
Pointing to the brutal killing of a college teacher in Savar and humiliating a teacher at Narail, another JP MP Kazi Firoz Rashid questioned, what is happening in educational institutions today?
Education institutions are giving degrees to students but they are not preparing students as proper human beings, he also said.
READ: Parliament passes new national budget by voice vote
He also said vice chancellors are being appointed at the universities on political consideration.
BNP MP Harunur Rashid said, “Quality of education and the teachers have fallen to all time record low at present,” he also said.
Describing the sorry state of the country’s education system, Harun said, not a single university of Bangladesh has been placed in the international ranking.
All the opposition MPs blasted the government for insufficient allocation in the proposed budget in education sector comparing to the neighboring countries.
On behalf of the education minister, agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque told parliament that the present situation will not improve overnight.
“It will take time to improve the situation. I do hope, we will be able to bring positive change if we work hard and remain united,” he said.
Razzaque also ruled out the allegations that the private universities are running without control of the government.
BNP MP Harunur Rashid said when people's confidence in the Election Commission and the electoral system is destroyed, democratic institutions are destroyed. In the last 10 years, people have no confidence on the EC.
He said not the EC, but police and the local administration are holding elections at present.
In order to bring the BNP to the polls, a neutral government must be formed during the elections. There must be free, fair and neutral elections.
Another BNP MP Rumeen Farhana said, the Election Commission has been destroyed under the present government and voting under the present EC cannot be free and fair.
JP MP Shameem Haider Patwari said democracy means elections. The Election Commission has been empowered for holding fair voting. But the vote held in a questionable manner. The EC are now toothless tigers. He proposed formation of electoral police under the Election Commission.
Another JP MP Raushan Ara Mannan said the election will be fair if the current election commission works properly.
Law Minster Anisul Haq who is in charge of the Election Commission in parliamentary affairs, refuted all the allegations of the opposition MPs.
He said BNP is saying that they will not participate in the election without caretaker government.
“But I want to say that the government will not go beyond a single inch of the highest court of the country as the court as declared the caretaker government illegal,” he added.
He said BNP can participate in the polls if they want to.
BNP MPs told the House that police are now engaged to ensure security of Awami League men, they are not engaged in the welfare of people.
BNP MP Harunur Rashid said a terrifying environment is prevailing in the country. Enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings have not stopped.
Rumeen Farhana said the government is preparing a blue print centering the next national election. One of the signs in this regard is that the government has not renewed the registration of Odhikar, a rights organization.
JP MP Mujibul Haque said there were many questions about the corruption of some police officers. Many officials live a luxurious life in Gulshan and Banani.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in reply to the criticism said, members of police who are committing misdeeds are not being given exemption. Starting from a DIG, many members are now in jail.
He also said the government is taking various measures for ensuring better services of law enforcement agencies.
Almost all the opposition MPs blasted the health minister for widespread corruption in the health sector specially in purchasing of various medical equipment.
They also said people have almost no confidence on the health system of the country due to massive irregularities and that’s why well-off people are rushing abroad for getting treatment.
Zahid Maleque said that no one in the country died in the Covid-19 situation without treatment as the government succeed to ensure treatment for all.
Responding MPs' criticism that a huge number of people are going abroad for treatment due to poor health services at home, the minister said that there is no reason of taking treatment abroad.
‘Some people are coming to Bangladesh from America to take treatment here,’ he said.
He also said that the government did not procure any unnecessary medical equipment.
Two suffer burn injuries in blast at S Alam Power Plant
Two workers suffered burn injuries in an explosion at an under-construction coal-fired thermal power plant at Gandamara in Banshkhali upazila on Saturday.
The victims are Shahadat Hossain, 22, and Imam Uddin, 31.
Read: Massive fire at Ctg container depot: Death toll climbs to 49, over 200 injured
The explosion occurred from an unknown source at S Alam Power Plant on Saturday afternoon, leaving two workers injured, said Md Jahangir, additional superintendent of Chattogram district police.
Later, the victims were taken to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
However, it is still not clear what caused the explosion, added the officer.
Arman Chowdhury, a resident doctor of Banshkhali Upazila Health Complex, said among them Imam's leg was broken and one of Shahadat's hands is almost severed and his condition is critical.
Desperate search for survivors in Cuba hotel blast; 27 dead
Relatives of the missing in Cuba’s capital desperately searched Saturday for victims of an explosion at one of Havana's most luxurious hotels that killed at least 27 people. They checked the morgue, hospitals and if unsuccessful, they returned to the partially collapsed Hotel Saratoga, where rescuers used dogs to hunt for survivors.
A natural gas leak was the apparent cause of Friday’s blast at the 96-room hotel. The 19th-century structure in the Old Havana neighborhood did not have any guests at the time because it was undergoing renovations ahead of a planned Tuesday reopening after being closed for two years during the pandemic.
On Saturday evening, Dr. Julio Guerra Izquierdo, chief of hospital services at the Ministry of Health, raised the death toll to 27 with 81 people injured. The dead included four children and a pregnant woman. Spain's President Pedro Sánchez said via Twitter that a Spanish tourist was among the dead and that another Spaniard was seriously injured.
Cuban authorities confirmed the tourist’s death and said her partner was injured. They were not staying at the hotel. Tourism Minister Dalila González said a Cuban-American tourist was also injured.
Representatives of Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA, which owns the hotel, said during a news conference Saturday that 51 workers had been inside the hotel at the time, as well as two people working on renovations. Of those, 11 were killed, 13 remained missing and six were hospitalized.
González said the cause of the blast was still under investigation, but a large crane hoisted a charred gas tanker from the hotel's rubble early Saturday.
Search and rescue teams worked through the night and into Saturday, using ladders to descend through the rubble and twisted metal into the hotel’s basement as heavy machinery gingerly moved away piles of the building’s façade to allow access. Above, chunks of drywall dangled from wires, desks sat seemingly undisturbed inches from the void where the front of the building cleaved away.
READ: Rescuers look for victims at Cuba hotel after blast kills 25
At least one survivor was found early Saturday in the shattered ruins, and rescuers using search dogs clambered over huge chunks of concrete looking for more. Relatives of missing people remained at the site while others gathered at hospitals where the injured were being treated.
A desperate Yatmara Cobas stood outside the perimeter waiting for word of her daughter, 27-year-old housekeeper Shaidis Cobas.
“My daughter is in the Saratoga; she’s been there since 8 a.m. (Friday), and at this time I don’t know anything about her,” Cobas said. “She’s not at the morgue, she’s not in the hospital.” The mother said she had gone everywhere seeking answers from authorities, but coming up empty.
“I’m tired of the lies,” she said.
Gov. Reinaldo García Zapata said Saturday evening that 19 families have reported loved ones missing and that rescue efforts would continue.
Lt. Col. Enrique Peña briefed Comandante Ramiro Valdés, who fought alongside Fidel Castro, on the search efforts at the site. Peña said the presence of people had been detected on the first floor and in the basement and four teams of search dogs and handlers were working. He did not know if the victims were alive or dead.
“I don’t want to move from here,” Cristina Avellar told The Associated Press near the hotel.
Avellar was waiting for news of Odalys Barrera, a 57-year-old cashier who has worked at the hotel for five years. She is the godmother of Barrera’s daughters and considers her like a sister.
Neighbors were still in shock a day after the explosion.
“I thought it was a bomb,” said Guillermo Madan, a 73-year-old retiree, who lives just meters from the building, but was not injured. The three-decade resident of the neighborhood was cooking and watching television when he heard the blast. “My room moved from here to there. My neighbor’s window broke, the plates, everything.”
Katerine Marrero, 31, was shopping at the time. “I left the store, I felt the explosion,” she said. “Everyone started to run.”
Although no tourists were reported injured, the explosion is another blow to the country’s crucial tourism industry.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic kept tourists away from Cuba, the country was struggling with tightened sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and kept in place the Biden administration. Those limited visits by U.S. tourists to the islands and restricted remittances from Cubans in the U.S. to their families in Cuba.
Tourism had started to revive somewhat early this year, but the war in Ukraine deflated a boom of Russian visitors, who accounted for almost a third of the tourists arriving in Cuba last year.
A 300-student school next to the hotel was evacuated.
The emblematic hotel had a stunning view of Cuba's center, including the domed Capitol building about 110 yards (100 meters) away. The Capitol suffered broken glass and damaged masonry from the explosion.
The hotel was renovated in 2005 as part of the Cuban government’s revival of Old Havana and is owned by the Cuban military’s tourism business arm, Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA. The company said it was investigating the cause of the blast and did not respond to an email from the AP seeking more details about the hotel and the renovation it was undergoing.
In the past, the Hotel Saratoga has been used by visiting VIPs and political figures, including high-ranking U.S. government delegations. Beyoncé and Jay-Z stayed there in 2013.
García Zapata said structures adjacent to the hotel were being evaluated, including two badly damaged apartment buildings. Díaz-Canel said families in affected buildings had been transferred to safer locations.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador arrived in Havana for a visit late Saturday. He was scheduled to meet with Diaz Canel Sunday morning and return to Mexico Sunday night.
1 killed, dozens injured after explosion at night club in Baku
At least one man was killed and more than 30 others were injured after a huge blast at a night club in the center of Azerbaijan's capital Baku in the early hours of Sunday, according to law enforcement authorities.
The explosion resulted in a huge fire that engulfed the building of the night club and caused part of it to collapse, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The blast also damaged nearby properties, including cars.
Several fire and emergency crews were sent to the area, who managed to extinguish the fire. One body was discovered at the scene. At least 31 people suffered injuries, mainly burns, and were hospitalized, according to initial estimates of law enforcement authorities.
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The blast was caused by a propane gas cylinder, said Ruslan Aliyev, general director of the country's main gas provider Azerigas, adding that gas supply to the area was halted for safety reasons.
Senior officials, including Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Etibar Mirzayev, First Deputy Prosecutor General Elchin Mammadov and Baku Mayor Eldar Azizov rushed to the scene.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident as emergency crews were still searching for victims.