Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan made the sensational disclosure Wednesday (May 22, 2024) that Anwarul Azim Anar, MP for Jhenidah-4, had been murdered in West Bengal, while on a medical trip to India. He said the slain MP’s remains had been found in a flat in New Town, Kolkata. “Awami League MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who went missing in India, was murdered at a Calcutta flat,” Khan told journalists. “So far, we have come to know that all the killers involved are Bangladeshis. It was a planned murder.” Police in Kolkata however have said no body has been found, and they are continuing their search in this regard. All that has been found are blood stains in a flat in suburban New Town where Azim was seen entering with three others on May 13. What is known so far is that Azim went to Kolkata. He entered India through the Darshana border (connecting Bangladesh’s Khulna with Nadia) on May 12 for a medical consultation, and started staying with a friend, Gopal Biswas, a gold trader, in the Baranagar area. Bangladeshi criminals killed MP Anwarul Azim: DB Chief Around 1.40pm on May 13, he left Biswas’s house to meet a neurologist at a Kolkata hospital in a cab. According to The Telegraph, an influential Kolkata daily, the taxi driver who drove Azim around has told the police they had picked up another Bangladeshi national from the New Market area and from there proceeded to the flat in New Town. The medical appointment, had there been one in the first place, was not kept. CCTV footage has revealed that apart from Azim, two men and a woman had entered the flat at Sanjeeva Gardens, an upmarket development in Rajarhat. Over the next four days, CCTV footage shows the other three leaving the building at different times, but there is no further sighting of the MP. What West Bengal Police are saying Stating that the police had “reliable inputs” that Anwar “may have been murdered”, Akhilesh Chaturvedi, IG, CID, West Bengal Police, said that they were yet to recover the victim’s body, as of Wednesday evening. “We had no prior intimation of the Bangladeshi MP’s arrival to this city. We came to know about him after his acquaintance in Kolkata, Gopal Biswas, filed a missing diary on May 18. A Special Investigation Team was formed by the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate to trace the missing politician. “We were in the middle of that investigation when, on May 20, we received an intimation from the Ministry of External Affairs and today an input that makes us suspect that the victim may have been murdered,” Chaturvedi said. The IG confirmed that the apartment was owned by Sanjib Ghosh, an employee of the state excise department, who, in turn, had rented it out to one Akhtaruzzaman, a US national. Missing Jhenaidah -4 MP found dead in Kolkata; PM Hasina mourns death Additionally, police sources told the Deccan Herald, another influential Indian daily, that Anar was accompanied by two men and a woman when he checked into the New Town apartment. CCTV footage showed that the unidentified men and woman left the residential complex in phases between May 15 and May 17, and at least two of the three later returned to Bangladesh. Arrests in Bangladesh The killers of Anwarul Azim Anar were Bangladeshis, according to the Chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, backing up an earlier assertion by the home minister. "An investigation is underway to ascertain the reason behind the murder. A few persons were arrested and others who were involved in the murder will be brought to justice. But the names can't be disclosed now for the sake of the investigation," the DB chief said while talking to reporters at his office today (22 May). The home minister had also revealed the number of persons arrested was three. The arrests were reportedly made from Wari in the capital. There is no confirmation on whether any of them were part of the trio that accompanied the MP to New Town, and later slipped back inside Bangladesh. Meanwhile an abduction case was filed against unnamed persons at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, based on the complaint of Mumtarin Ferdous Dorin, daughter of MP Anar. The Indian authorities have not yet acknowledged the murder, complicating any intention to file a murder case. ‘Going to meet Amit Shah’ In the case statement, Dorin states: "On May 13, we received a message from my father's Indian SIM number. It said, 'I am going to Delhi suddenly, I have VIPs with me. I am going to meet Amit Shah. No need to call me. I will call you later.' Apart from this, several other messages also came.” The messages bear an eerie resemblance to messages received by Gopal Biswas around the same time, as revealed in the missing person complaint he filed with the local police on May 18. In his complaint, Biswas stated that Anar left his Baranagar residence to keep a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon of May 13, stating that he would be back home for dinner. BUt then later that day, Biswas alleged, he received a WhatsApp communication from the MP’s phone stating he would be moving to Delhi on some urgent work and that his host “need not call him”. Then on the morning of May 15, Biswas stated he received further communication from the victim confirming he reached Delhi and was “flanked by VIPs”. In her case statement, Dorin said she suspects that the abductors took hold of her father's phone and sent these messages from May 13th. Biswas may now contend the same. And some communication, or attempted communication, that apparently took place on May 16th with the MP’s aide in Bangladesh, was also probably the same. The truth, for now at least, still evades the people of Bengal on both sides of the international border. Abduction case filed over MP Anar's death

Two flights carrying passengers from two Middle-Eastern countries landed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata in India instead of Dhaka due to dense fog last night. The flights started landing in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka after 9:30 am this morning (January 14, 2024) when invisibility improved, said Group Captain Mohammad Kamrul Islam, executive director of the HSIA. Read more: Flyers on Indian flight stuck in Dhaka Airport for over 12 hours. Here’s why On January 4, thirteen flights that failed to land at Dhaka airport were diverted to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Sylhet, and Chattogram international airports.

Several Bangladeshi artists were honoured in multiple categories for enthralling audiences, transcending the borders between the two Bengala at the Kolkata 20th Tele Cine Awards on Sunday (June 4, 2023). Eminent Bangladeshi thespian-painter Afzal Hossain received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while "Hawa"-famed star Chanchal Chowdhury received the award for best actor. Bidya Sinha Mim received best actress for her stellar performance in "Poran" and Bappy Chowdhury received a special award at the 2023 edition of the award. Popular singer Bappa Mazumder received best male singer, and Samina Chowdhury was awarded best female singer at the awards, held at the Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata. Also read: “Nodir Kul”: Coke Studio Bangla’s tranquil ode to Polli Kobi Jashimuddin “For such a long time, we have been trying to take Bangla content to a whole new level. Owing to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn't screen our films and dramas here for many years but we are glad that now our audiences are able to enjoy our content," said Chanchal Chowdhury. “I want to express my gratitude to the jury board and all of the participants and everyone associated with this event. I also want to express my gratitude to all of my listeners and well-wishers. Stay well everyone, and keep supporting our Bengali music," Bappa Mazumder wrote on his official Facebook profile. At the 19th edition of the Tele Cine Awards in 2022, a number of Bangladeshi artists were honoured namely Momtaz Begom, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Mir Sabbir, Deepanwita Martin, Masud Hasan Ujjal, SI Tutul, Chanchal Chowdhury, Zakia Bari Mamo and Anika Tasnim. Also Read: Concert,  documentary to raise awareness against human trafficking in Cox's Bazar The Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 was handed over to eminent singer Runa Laila and evergreen Bangladeshi actor Alamgir, while late actor-politician Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque MP received the honour in 2021.

Two Bangladeshis were hospitalized with injuries following Friday’s (June 2, 2023) train crash in India, Andalib Elias, deputy high commissioner at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, said. “We do not have any information about any deceased Bangladeshis; what we know so far is two Bangladeshi injured passengers are currently undergoing treatment in two hospitals in Odisha,” he said in a video message. Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades “Also families of four train passengers contacted us from Bangladesh and said they (the four Bangladeshis) are still missing. We are trying to trace them and already a team from the Kolkata deputy high commission went to the accident site this morning. Hopefully after reaching there they will coordinate with the injured Bangladeshis there,” he added. The mission provided an emergency Whatsapp number: +919038353533 for further assistance. Aslo read: Train accident in Odisha: Hotline opened for query about Bangladeshis Rescuers found no more survivors in the overturned and mangled wreckage of two passenger trains that derailed in eastern India, killing more than 280 people and injuring hundreds in one of the country’s deadliest rail crashes in decades, AP reported. Also read: India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission

The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata has received reports of minor injuries suffered by a few Bangladeshi passengers, but the number is not known yet, a diplomat has told UNB. A team of the High Commission is on the way to the accident site to learn more details, he said. Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades Two passenger trains derailed in India last night (June 2, 2023), killing more than 280 people. Hundreds of others were trapped inside more than a dozen mangled rail cars in one of the country's deadliest train accidents in decades. The train accident happened about 220 km southwest of Kolkata. About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the state of Odisha, said the state's top administrative official.

A hotline has been opened to provide information or query about Bangladeshis following the horrific train crash in India’s Odisha.Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Kolkata issued a press release in this regard soon after the accident.It also expressed profound condolences to the families of victims of the tragic Coromandel Express accident, and wished early recovery of the injured.For further query it asked to contact +919038353533 (WhatsApp). Also read: India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in country's deadliest rail accident in decades At least 280 bodies were recovered overnight and into Saturday morning, Sudhanshu Sarangi, director of Odisha's fire department, told The Associated Press. He said more than 800 injured passengers were taken to various hospitals with many in critical condition.The accident, which happened about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday night, led to a chaotic scene as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to free survivors.About 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, said P.K. Jena, the state's top administrative official. The cause was under investigation.Read more: India train crash: some Bangladeshis suffered minor injuries, says deputy high commission

Dhaka’s air quality is still in the 'unhealthy' zone this morning (March 12, 2023). With an air quality index (AQI) score of 165 at 9:00 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked 10th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. Thailand’s Chiang Mai, India’s Delhi, and Kolkata occupied the first three spots, with AQI scores of 198, 188, and 184, respectively. An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘’very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents. Read More: 9-point directive on air pollution: HC asks DoE to submit report within 2 weeks. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a particular city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognized as increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections, and cancer, according to several studies. Read More: Govt committed to doing all it can to defeat pollution: Environment Minister As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

A tyre of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ flight bursted during takeoff from India's Kolkata this morning. The Biman flight, BG-392, had 72 passengers on board when the incident happened at 9:19 am (local time). The plane landed safely in Dhaka at 10:03 am without any incident, Group Captain Kamrul Islam, executive director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said.

US-Bangla Airlines, one of the largest private airlines in the country, will operate two flights on daily basis from Dhaka to Kolkata from August 4 due to the increase in passengers, said a press release signed by Md. Kamrul Islam, general manager (Public Relations) of the organisation. The airlines is currently operating one daily flight from Dhaka to Kolkata which takes off at 10:00 am and again comes back at 12:55 pm. The newly second flight will depart Dhaka for Kolkata at 6:30 pm every day from August 4 and depart from Kolkata to Dhaka at 7:35 pm IST. Read: US-Bangla to run daily flights on Dhaka-Kolkata route from March 26 The airlines will operate the flights with Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the route. The US-Bangla has a total of 16 aircraft including 6 Boeing 737-800 to its fleet. Along with the existing route, the airline plans to operate new flights on Chittagong-Kolkata and Dhaka-Delhi routes in the days coming. Ticket aspirants are asked to contact their sales points or any travel agency. Read Triplover, US-Bangla sponsor Dhaka Travel Mart 2022

A student of Chittagong University has been killed and her mother, a teacher of the university, severely injured in a road accident in Kolkata. The deceased was identified as Shajmila Jismam Moon, a third year student of the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) of CU. The injured was Moon’s mother Dr Shirin Ara Chowdhury Doly, a Professor of Management department of CU. Read: Two killed as bike ploughs into pedestrians in Ctg According to family sources, Moon and her elder brother Lieutenant Safwan Jasir Chowdhury took their mother Doly to India on July 8 for health check-ups. They were schedule to go to Delhi on July 10. “Moon and her mother were hit by a speedy bus while they were crossing a road on July 10. Both of them were rushed to Kolkata PG hospital where Moon breathed her last on July 12,” said Jashim Uddin Chowdhury, Moon’s father and former Vice President of AB Bank. Jashim added that his wife is still in a critical condition and the process to bring Moon’s body back is underway.