Rajshahi
11 people killed in road crashes in 5 dists
Eleven people were killed and 11 others injured in a number of road crashes in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Pabna, Chandpur and Mymensingh district on Monday and Tuesday.
In Rajshahi, three people were killed when a truck rammed a motorbike at Dangerhat in Paba upazila of Rajshahi district on Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as Shaheen Ali, 40, son of Abu Syed, Sohagh Ali, 28, son of Md Babul and Rakib Ali, 26, son of Anwar Hossain of Bahrampur area.
Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kornahar Police Station, said the accident occurred around 4 pm when the iron-rod laden truck hit the motorbike when it reached in front of Dangerhat School, leaving Shaheen and Sohagh dead on the spot and injured one.
Read more: Road accidents leave 10 dead in 6 districts
The injured was taken to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared Rakib dead.
Police seized the truck.
In Rangpur, three people were dead and at least 10 were injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila this morning.
The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.
The accident occurred in Doalipara area of the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway around 7:45 am, said Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Taraganj police station.
According to the police, a Rangpur-bound bus of Tripti Paribahan from Saidpur collided head-on with another bus, of Saimon Exclusive Paribahan, coming from the opposite direction in Doalipara area -- leaving two dead on the spot and 10 injured. "Another person died at the hospital while undergoing treatment there," the OC said.
The bodies have been kept in the hospital morgue for autopsies, added the OC.
In Chandpur, a teacher and a student of a local madrasha were killed when a bus hit a motorbike at Rasulpur in Kachua upazila in the afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Zahid Hossain, 25, son of Abdur Razzak of Shahrasti upazila and jabber Hossain, 13, son of Sahabuddin of Laksham upazila.
The accident occurred around 2 pm when the bus of ‘Bogdad Paribahan’ from Chandpur hit the motorbike, leaving them injured, said Ibrahim Khalil, officer-in-charge of Kachua Police Station.
They died while taking to upazila health complex.
Vehicular movement remained suspended for some time following the accident.
In Pabna, two students were killed and another one was injured when a motorbike skidded off the road on Madhupur-Sathia road at Boalmari intersection in Sathia upazila on Monday midnight.
The deceased were identified as Rubel Hossain, 22, a student of Pabna government Edward College and son of Nazrul Islam and Juboraz, 16, an SSC examinee and son of Yunus Ali of the upazila.
Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sathia Police Station, said the accident took place at 12 am when the motorbike carrying trio fell on the road as its driver lost control over steering, leaving them injured.
Later, they were taken to Pabna General Hospital where the doctors declared two of them dead.
The duo met the tragedy while returning home from a trade fair.
Read more: Road accidents leave 4 dead in 2 districts
In Mymensingh, Apu Mia, 20, a helper of a truck driver and son of Abdur Rahman of Kishoreganj district, was killed when the sand-laden truck overturned at Dighirpar in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district in the morning, said Rasheduzzaman Khan, officer-in-charge of Pagla Police Station.
Wife drowns, husband goes missing while bathing in Padma
A 32-year-old housewife drowned while bathing with her husband and two offspring in the Padma River in Godagari municipality of Rajshahi on Friday morning.
Her husband Salauddin Quader, 38, also went missing.
The deceased—Manjuri Tanvir Nishi and her missing husband Salauddin were residents of Shrimantapur area under the Godagari upazila.
Salauddin, a private banker posted in Kishoreganj, his family members and some 15 others had a picnic on the bank of the river on Friday, said Namiruddin, deputy officer of Godagari Fire Service and Civil Defense station.
After travelling by boat, he and his family members were bathing in the river at noon. Suddenly a heavy tide came along and all four members including Manjuri went missing at first.
Read more: Two kids drown in Chandpur
Though others could rescue Nishi and her two offspring, Salauddin remained missing after the tide hit. Manjuri breathed her last on the way to hospital, the fire service officer said.
A team of divers was conducting a search operation in the river but till the filing of this report at 9pm, there was still no sign of him, he added.
Read more: Two children drown in Ctg pond
Two brothers killed in clash over land in Rajshahi
Two cousins were killed during a clash over a land dispute at Charghat upazila in Rajshahi on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Azizur Rahman alias Aziz, 45, son of Dedar Hossain, and his paternal cousin Akram Hossain, 60, son of Jeker Hossain from Bankra Paschimpara village in the upazila.
A clash with locally made sharp arms began on Saturday afternoon over a land dispute and more people from the both groups joined later, said Pranab Kumar, Senior Assistant Superintendent of police (Charghat circle).
Read more: Habiganj housewife's throat slit over property dispute
Eight people from both groups were injured in the clash and were taken to upazila health complex where the duty doctor declared Aziz and Akram dead.
“The bodies have been sent for autopsy while other injured are being treated at the hospital, '' said ASP Pranab Kumar.
He said police have visited the area to take control of the situation and legal actions will be taken in this reagard.
150 Jamaat-Shibir men sued, 6 held over attack on police in Rajshahi
Police Wednesday said they filed a case against 150 leaders and activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir over the attack on the law enforcers in Rajshahi city as a reaction to the arrest of the party's chief.
Ariful Islam, sub-inspector (SI) of Boalia Model Police Station, filed the case against 16 named and 134 unnamed people at the police station Tuesday night.
Boalia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mazharul Islam said they have so far arrested six people, including the chief of Shah Makhdum Thana unit chief. "Efforts are on to arrest others."
Read more: Arrest warrants issued against Jamaat chief, 11 others in sabotage case
A clash broke out Tuesday when the Awami League men intercepted a procession brought out by Jamaat and Shibir in the Darikharbona area to protest the arrest of their party chief Md Shafiqur Rahman. As result, a clash broke out between the two parties.
At that time, two law enforcers sustained injuries while trying to disperse the Jamaat and Shibir men, Mazharul said.
Jamaat chief arrest: 2 cops hurt in Jamaat demonstration in Rajshahi
Two police officials were injured in a clash with Jamaat-e-Islami activists during their a demonstration protesting the arrest of their ameer Shafiqur Rahman in Rajshahi city on Tuesday.
The injured police members are Sub Inspector Abu Haider and Constable Ahad of Boalia police station in Rajshahi city.
The Jamaat-e-Islami activists carried out the demonstration led by Jamaat secretary Emaj Uddin Mandal from the New Market area of the city demanding the release of the central ameer of Jamaat.
Read more: Jamaat ameer involved in breeding new militant outfit: CTTC chief
The clash broke out when police chased them to disperse the procession at the Nagar Bhaban intersection, said Boalia police station officer-in-charge (OC) Mazharul Islam.
Two police members were injured as the Jamaat activists hurled brick chips on them and were given first aid immediately, he said.
The OC said there was no permission to bring out the procession.
Besides, a case will be filed in this regard, said the OC.
The Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman in the early hours of Tuesday from his residence in the capital.
Read more: Police: Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman arrested
He was also placed on a seven-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act today (Tuesday).
On December 10, the ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami announced a 10-point demand largely overlapping with the BNP's, and declared a mass rally on December 24 just after the BNP's announcement.
Jamaat-e-Islami made the announcement to build a nationwide simultaneous mass movement based on the 10-point demand to restore democracy in the country and bring back the people's rights, said a media statement.
Appearance of reported “patron of militants” in BNP’s Rajshahi rally draws criticism on social media
Photos of BNP leader Mizanur Rahman Minu, who featured in media reports as a “patron” of militants during the BNP-Jamaat government in 2001-2006, sitting on the stage – right next to two chairs dedicated to Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia – ahead of the party’s recent Rajshahi rally has drawn condemnation on social media.
Citing media reports on how the former Rajshahi mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu donated money to the Al Qaeda affiliated radical Islamist organization Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh, Bangladesh Awami League through social media post questioned: “With the presence of Minu at Rajshahi rally, what message does BNP intend to convey to the countrymen?”
Read more: What the footage of turnout at BNP’s Rajshahi rally says about the state of affairs
A short video shared from AL’s verified Facebook page, that also contains previous reports from mainstream media outlets, shows a list of eight politicians including then ministers and lawmakers behind the rise of the military commander of JMB, notoriously known as “Bangla Bhai”, who unlashed an unprecedented reign of terror in Rajshahi region back then.
During the last BNP-Jamaat government, the rise of JMB in the Rajshahi region – with direct backing from then top brass – was vividly documented in media reports.
In the name of restoring law and order, members of this now banned terrorist group were involved in looting, beating people to death, and hanging lifeless bodies from trees – a brutal tactic employed to instill fear among people, according to media reports from that time.
Between 2001 and 2006, the country witnessed an unprecedented surge in terrorism with simultaneous bombing in 63 districts and the gruesome grenade attack in 2004 on a rally attended by then opposition chief Sheikh Hasina, besides targeted killings of minorities, pro liberation writers and judges among other atrocities.
Read more: Arrest warrants issued against BNP's Rizvi, Ishraque
What the footage of turnout at BNP’s Rajshahi rally says about the state of affairs
Putting Tarique Rahman’s photo on media cards — for journalists covering BNP’s Rajshahi rally on Saturday — seemed to have backfired.
This outright rejection by journalists points to a larger roadblock that speaks of a leadership crisis in BNP.
Meanwhile, low turnout despite the much hyped pledges of pulling unprecedented crowds and incident of infighting triggered a fresh spell of criticism towards the opposition party.
Read: December 10: Naya Paltan, Paltan Maidan or somewhere else?
Drone footage, as reported by media outlets, captured from BNP’s latest rally in Rajshahi, has served a blow to its well-publicized claim of unprecedented turnout.
Netizens on social media, including on Facebook, referred to drone footage and top shots of the Rajshahi rally venue — exposing large empty spaces on the ground, even when BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was addressing the crowd.
Several television channels used drone footage that showed half of the rear part of the venue wore a deserted look even when top party leaders appeared on the stage.
Meanwhile, footage also emerged of activists wielding sticks — loyal to different leaders — locking in a clash, only to be later dissolved at the intervention of senior leaders.
Some TV channels also carried reports with interviews of survivors, in the Rajshahi region, who endured brutal torture at the hands of the dreaded late militant “Bangla Bhai”, who rose reportedly under BNP’s patronage during its last term.
Read: Sheikh Hasina: A legend in her own lifetime
After the footage showed less that satisfactory turnout at BNP’s latest public rally, many netizens pointed out lack of leadership, promoting some leaders in exchange of money, record of plundering billions from public welfare fund and grisly arson attacks on general people are to be blamed for the party’s current state of affairs.
The writer is a Professor at the Department of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi.
Jubo Dal president, VP arrested while returning from Rajshahi rally
Three BNP leaders including Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, president of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the BNP's youth front, were arrested while returning from the party's divisional rally held in Rajshahi on Saturday.
The two other arrestees are Jubo Dal vice president Noor Islam Nayan and Tuku's personal assistant Mokhles.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi confirmed this matter at 11:10 pm Saturday night.
He said that when they reached Dhaka's Amin Bazar area on their way back from the Rajshahi public rally, DB police waylaid and arrested them.
Rizvi strongly condemned and protested this incident and demanded their immediate release.
Read more: Crude bomb blast in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
Sources said police have started an arrest drive across the country ahead of BNP's rally scheduled on December 10. A search operation is also underway in the capital.
After the cocktail explosion in front of the BNP central office in the capital’s Nayapaltan on Saturday evening, police arrested several people from there as well, sources added.
BNP's Naya Paltan office has also been kept under police surveillance.
Read more: BNP won't be allowed to orchestrate violence surrounding December 10 rally: Quader
Ahead of BNP rally in Rajshahi, commuters bear the brunt of transport strike
Commuters are bearing the brunt of the indefinite strike enforced by transport owners in all eight districts of Rajshahi division – to press home their 10-point demand – ahead of BNP’s December 3 rally in Rajshahi city.
Movement of all types of vehicles, except private cars and microbuses, remains halted in the city since this morning – causing immense sufferings to the commuters.
Though only a BRTC bus left the Rajshahi Bus Terminal, other bus counters were found closed.
Ashraful Islam, who was waiting for transport in the city’s Talaymari intersection, told the UNB correspondent that he will have to pay extra fare to go to Bogura through Natore.
“Commuters like me are the worst sufferers due to the strike,” he observed.
Matiur Hoque Titu, general secretary of Rajshahi Road Transport Group, said no bus left from Rajshahi and entered from other parts of the country as the strike is on.
Read more: Transport strike in Rajshahi ahead of Saturday’s BNP rally
In Natore, presence of all types of public transport is very thin, while commuters were seen standing by the road.
Some commuters were seen rushing to their destinations, taking CNG-run autorickshaws.
Rajshahi Divisional Transport Owners’ Association has enforced the strike since this morning, following a decision taken from a joint meeting at the office of Rajshahi Road Transport Group on Wednesday.
They claimed that the strike has no link with BNP’s rally, as they gave an ultimatum to meet their demands earlier.
On November 26, the Divisional Transport Owners and Workers Solidarity Council gave an ultimatum to the authorities concerned to meet their 10-point demand by November 30.
They called the strike for various demands including scrapping the Road Transport Act 2018 and banning movement of illegal three-wheelers and battery-run autorickshaws on highways by November 30.
On the other hand, leaders and activists of BNP have started gathering at the rally venue, Madrasa Field, after law enforcers gave permission for the rally on eight conditions on Wednesday.
Ruhul Quddus Dulu, an organising secretary of the BNP and coordinator of the rally organising committee, said the party activists will stay at the rally venue from today and return home after making it a success.
BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional and major cities. The party began the rallies by holding the first one in Chattogram on October 12.
Read more: Water transport workers withdraw indefinite strike
Transport owners and workers called strikes ahead of all the rallies in various cities, except in Chattogram and Cumilla.
BNP will end its divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
Transport strike in Rajshahi ahead of Saturday’s BNP rally
Transport owners will enforce an indefinite strike beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday in all eight districts of Rajshahi division to press home for various demands ahead of the BNP’s rally on Saturday.
The main opposition BNP said that the strike was called to spoil their rally, but the transport owners rejected the allegation.
Safakat Manjur, president of Rajshahi Divisional Transport Owners’ Association, said they took the decision following a joint meeting at the office of Rajshahi Road Transport Group on Wednesday.
The strike has no link with the BNP’s rally as they gave an ultimatum to meet their demands earlier, he said.
Read more: BNP gears up for Saturday’s rally in Rajshahi
On November 26, the Divisional Transport Owners and Workers Solidarity Council gave an ultimatum to the authority concerned to meet their 10-point demand by November 30.
They had threatened to go for the indefinite strike from December 1 if the demands were not met by the deadline.
Safkat said they called the strike for various demands including the scrapping of the Road Transport Act 2018 and the ban on movement of illegal three-wheelers and battery-driven auto-rickshaws on highways by November 30.
He said all types of passenger and goods carrying vehicles will remain under purview of the strike.
“We will call off the strike if any assurance comes in favour of our demands”, he said.
Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, an organising secretary of the BNP and coordinator of the mass rally committee, said the strike was called to refrain the leaders and activists from joining the rally.
He said that the rally would be organised successfully at any cost.
The BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional and big cities. The party began the rallies by holding the first one in Chattogram on October 12.
Transport owners and workers called strikes ahead of all the rallies in various cities, except in Chattogram and Cumilla.
The BNP will end its divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
Read more: No transport strike during BNP’s Dhaka rally: Obaidul Quader