United News of Bangladesh

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has warned that the earthquake-damaged building at Kasaituli in capital’s Armanitola will be sealed if the owner fails to submit its design and approval papers within seven days. It will disconnect of gas, electricity and WASA lines on the eighth day, followed by evacuation of the residents, Rajuk officials said when a team led by its chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam inspected the damaged ‘Rahmatulla building’ on 20 KP Ghosh Street around 10am on Saturday (November 22). The seven-member team visited the site after a section of the building’s railing collapsed during Friday’s earthquake, leaving four people dead. Read more: Bangladesh earthquake death toll rises to 10; scores injured Four others are still receiving treatment at Mitford Hospital. At least ten people were killed in the 5.7-magnitude quake that jolted Dhaka and several other districts on Friday. Of them, four died in Dhaka, five in Narsingdi—the epicentre of the quake—and one in Narayanganj. At least 5 injured after jumping from DU halls during earthquake

Two people were killed and two others were injured in a collision between a microbus and a battery-run auto-rickshaw at Tarabo in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district on Monday night. One of the deceased was identified as Shahrier Hasan Akash, 29, son of Abul Hasan while the identity of the other could not be known immediately. 10 students of school in Narayanganj fall sick with breathing problems Quoting witnesses, Liakat Ali, officer-in-charge of Tarabo Police Station, said the accident occurred in front of Saifing Factory in Tarabo Biswa Road area when the microbus hit the battery-run auto-rickshaw, leaving the driver of the auto-rickshaw and Akash dead on the spot and two more passengers of the vehicle injured. The injured were taken to a local hospital from where they were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for better treatment. Police could not arrest anyone as the microbus driver managed to flee the scene after the accident.    

Footpaths in the busy city of Narayanganj, meant to ease the movement of pedestrians, have now turned into a source of constant suffering. From illegal hawker occupation and haphazard motorcycle parking to months-long drain construction work, the city’s sidewalks are barely walkable, causing immense hardship for residents. Visiting the city’s key roads on Tuesday—starting from Chashara to Gate No. 2 on Bangabandhu Road and from Amlapara Mor to Gate No. 1 on Sirajuddowla Road—the UNB correspondent found the extent of the chaos. On one side of Bangabandhu Road, sections of the footpath have been demolished for drainage work, with piles of waste dumped on the roadside. Frequent rains over the past few days have worsened the situation by spreading the filth and stench throughout the road, resulting in waterlogging in several spots. Clean, odourless water remains a distant hope for Narayanganj residents The parts of the footpath not under construction are either used as motorcycle parking spaces or have been occupied by hawkers. Pedestrians are left with no choice but to weave through the clutter or walk along the edge of the main road, risking accidents amidst the city’s relentless rush. The situation is no better on Sirajuddowla Road, where large ditches have been dug for drain work from Amlapara Mor to Kalirbazar. The excavated soil has been heaped on the roadside, making it nearly impassable even for pedestrians, who now cross using a few scattered bricks. From Kalirbazar to Gate No. 1, the footpath has been overtaken by hawkers, vendors, and vehicles belonging to various companies—leaving virtually no space for walking. Expressing his frustration, Roushan, a shopkeeper in the city’s DIT area, said, “This problem didn’t start today. It’s been like this for years. Authorities sometimes conduct eviction drives, but within days, it returns to the same mess. Earlier, we could at least manage to walk. Now, with the drain work, the sidewalks are broken, and there's no space to walk at all. One or two steps forward, and you’re blocked by debris or waste. Who knows when this government project will end. Governments change, but our sufferings don’t.” Businessman Ahsan added, “Even a little rain brings waterlogging on the roads. I remember seeing knee-deep water on BB Road after just half an hour of rain. My home is in Pathantuli, and I travel through Khanpur and Kalirbazar every day to reach my shop in Digubabu’s Bazar. There’s no dry spot to step on during rain. Kalirbazar becomes a muddy mess. They started the roadwork before Ramadan, and we had to suffer the entire month. Now, the road has become unusable. I don’t even know how much longer it will take to finish.” Fugitive accused in rape case held in Narayanganj Farhad, a service holder, said, “Earlier, the City Corporation used to send a single garbage truck in the morning, and even that would block the entire road. Now, the road is filled with giant holes. No one paid attention to this road all year, and suddenly, work started during Ramadan. “ “From in front of Friends Market to Gate No. 1, hawkers have occupied the footpath with eyewear stalls, fruit carts, and temporary bag shops. Big buses pass through this route now, and with no footpaths, walking along the road feels dangerous, “ he said. Local residents have demanded immediate intervention from the city authorities to remove encroachments, accelerate ongoing public works, and ensure safe and accessible footpaths for all.    

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members arrested five suspected members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and a Bangladeshi from Siddhirganj upazila of Narayanganj on Tuesday. The arrestees are ARSA leader Ataullah Abu Ammar alias as Jununi, Moshtak Ahmed, 66, Salimullah, 27, his wife Asmaul Hosna, 23, Hasan, 15, and Bangladeshi Moniruzzaman, 24. They recovered Tk 21.39 lakh in cash from the arrestees. A team of the Rab-11 conducted a drive at a high-rise building in Bhumi Palli Abasan area on Tuesday morning after being tipped-off that some Rohingyas were holding clandestine meetings there. Top ARSA leader arrested with firearm, bullets in Cox’s Bazar Later, they were arrested from the building and handed over to Siddhirganj police station, said Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahinur Alam. Two separate cases were filed against the arrestees, he said. The arrestees were holding a secret meeting to carry out acts of sabotage in parts of the country including in Narayanganj and Mymensingh, said the OC. The arrestees were produced before a Naryanganj court with pleas for remand.

Traffic congestion in Narayanganj city is becoming increasingly severe as many drivers, including those of private cars, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and human haulers, continue to flout road rules. To avoid the daily gridlocks, some drivers are choosing to travel in the opposite direction creating new traffic jams. In addition, the situation is worsened by illegal vehicles parked along the roads, which are narrowing the streets. This traffic problem has been affecting city residents year-round, with major roads such as Bangabandhu Road, Shayesta Khan Road, Nawab Sirajuddaula Road, and the Dhaka-Narayanganj Old Road experiencing frequent jams. Several factors including ongoing roadwork, illegal parking, hawkers blocking footpaths, and illegal vehicle stands, contribute to the congestion. During a recent visit to the area, it was observed that renovation work is underway along Bangabandhu Road, with piles of gravel, soil, bricks, and stones blocking parts of the road. Govt intensifies efforts to improve Dhaka's traffic management As a result, one lane between Nitaiganj and Chashara is now unusable. At Rail Gate No. 2, traffic from Chashara is also being held up by ongoing construction, causing a queue that stretches back to Digubabur Bazar. Auto-rickshaws and human haulers have been going in the wrong direction from Narayanganj Club towards Rail Gate No. 2, picking up passengers and slowing down the already blocked traffic. Auto-rickshaw drivers said that rather than wait for long periods in traffic, they prefer to drive on the opposite side of the road, believing it will allow them to drop off passengers faster. Siam Ahmed, a government employee, said that the lack of following traffic laws is making the situation worse. He said that illegal parking and hawkers have already made it difficult to navigate the roads. The additional issue of vehicles travelling in the wrong direction is adding to the chaos, and the risk of accidents is increasing. He urged the police and local authorities to take strict action to restore order on roads. A local pedestrian, Rifat, mentioned that vehicles often drive the wrong way near Popular Diagnostic Center, Friends Market in Kalir Bazar, and Rail Gate No. 2, which leads to traffic jams and frequent quarrels between drivers. Delay in Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road expansion causes severe traffic disruptions Ruhul Amin Sagar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic), said that road renovation projects are causing some of the congestion. He said that renovation work is underway on various roads in the city. Drain renovation work is underway towards Rail Gate No. 2. Almost half of the road is occupied with soil, bricks, stones, and machinery, he added. He also noted that work by DPDC in Chashara has resulted in soil being dumped in the area, further restricting traffic. To address the issue, traffic police are conducting operations with the army, magistrates, and local authorities, issuing fines, making arrests, and taking action against violators. Despite these efforts, many drivers continue to disregard traffic laws. He mentioned that since August last year, many have been ignoring traffic rules and regulations, with cars that were previously prohibited from entering the city now being driven there. However, the officer remains hopeful that once the roadwork is completed, the situation will improve and road order will be restored.

A former councilor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) and his son were arrested from Bashundhara Residential area in the capital early Monday. The arrestees were  Matiur Rahman Moti, 55, former councilor of NCC and a Jubo League leader and his son Mashiur Rahman, 29. Two arrested in connection with attack on Elephant Road businessman Sujon Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Bhatara Police Station, said police arrested Matiur, a close aide of Shamim Osman and his son from a flat in Bashundhara Residential area around 2 am. They were wanted in several cases filed in Dhaka and Narayanganj. Abdullah Al Masud, additional superintendent of Narayanganj District Police, said both of them were wanted in different cases including murder. 3 muggers arrested from Dhaka’s Pallabi: DMP They will be shown arrested in the cases, he said. Matiur was  president of Siddhirganj thana unit Jubo League and he was elected the councilor of No 6 ward in NCC twice.

The interim government has appointed new deputy commissioners(DCs) in Kushtia and Narayanganj districts. The Public Administration Ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard on Monday. Kushtia deputy commissioner Toufiqur Rahman has been transferred and posted as deputy commissioner of Narayanganj district. Thakurgaon, Rangamati get new DCs Besides, Shamim Ara Rini, secretary of Gazipur City Corporation has been appointed as the deputy commissioner of Kushtia district.      

BNP has dissolved its Narayanganj district committee as per the recommendation of a probe body. A new committee for the party’s Narayanganj district unit will be announced soon, said a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday. “BNP’s Narayanganj district committee has been dissolved based on recommendations of the investigation committee formed over it,” said the release. On June 18, 2023, former lawmaker Gias Uddin and Golam Faruk Khokon were elected the president and the general secretary respectively of the Narayanganj district BNP committee. Read: BNP’s Magura and Kushtia district units dissolved Sources within the party said the probe committee was formed over alleged involvement of some leaders and activists of the district unit in misdeeds including extortion and sheltering criminals in exchange for money following the August 5 political changeover.

A fire broke out at Jahin Spinning Mill, a yarn manufacturing factory of Narayanganj's  Araihazar on Monday night. The fire started around 10:08 pm in the Jhaugara area of the upazila. Upon receiving the news, five units of the Fire Service worked to bring the blaze under control. Fire at agro-products warehouse in Mymensingh under control According to eyewitness, the flames spread rapidly within moments. Warehouse Inspector Anwarul Islam from the media cell of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters said that the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

As winter weather sets in, the demand for warm clothing has started to rise in Narayanganj, with both city markets and street stalls seeing a boom in sales. The streets and rural areas are now covered in fog, signaling the arrival of colder temperatures. While light fog was observed in urban areas in the morning, it cleared by midday, but the temperature continues to drop, making warm clothes increasingly necessary. Fog shrouds Dhaka; people feel pinch of winter The cold weather has led to a change in people's clothing preferences, with many starting to wear warm items like sweaters, jackets, gloves, earmuffs, and shawls. As a result, the sale of winter clothes has picked up, with small traders setting up stalls along roadsides and in markets across the city, including popular areas like Chashara Hawkers Market, Salimullah Road, Bangabandhu Road, and Shayesta Khan Road. Shops and stalls are now filled with a wide variety of winter clothes for all ages, from children to the elderly. Both new and second-hand clothing is available, with colorful sweaters, jackets, woolen gloves, socks, earmuffs, and more on display. Kurigram battles intense winter, poor desperate for warm clothing Shoppers have been flocking to these markets, especially in the evenings, to buy clothes for themselves and their families. In Chashara, several shops near the Hawkers Market have already started selling winter clothes. Shoppers are roaming through the stalls, picking out items they like, while others continue to compare prices and styles at different shops. Many people are buying clothes for their children, parents, or for themselves. According to the sellers, the evening hours see the highest number of customers. Vendors said that sales are brisk during the early winter, with the demand for warm clothing growing due to the cool weather. However, they note that sales typically slow down as winter progresses. The clothes available in these markets are sourced from various local garment factories, as well as from countries like China and the Philippines. Winter cloth sale rises on Lalmonirhat footpaths Some vendors have informed that their stalls are particularly popular due to the affordable prices. Deep Hossain Fahim, a seller in Chashara, mentioned that velvet T-shirts from China and the Philippines are in high demand, especially among young people. "The sales are good, but we know that towards the end of winter, demand will decrease," he said. Other sellers, like Md. Saiful Islam, offer a variety of winter items, including sweaters, jackets, and full-sleeve T-shirts made of thick fabric. Shimu Akhter, who was at a stall with her mother and daughter, said that the colder weather prompted her to buy winter clothes for her child. "The weather office says it will be colder this year, so I am looking for good winter clothes at affordable prices. The prices here are much lower than in the shopping malls," she added. Another shopper, Jahangir, shared that he prefers buying local winter clothes as he prepares for cold weather abroad. "I lived in Europe for a long time and prefer buying locally made clothes because they are often cheaper and of good quality," he said. Other shoppers, like Lata Debnath and Tasmia Akhter, also expressed satisfaction with the variety and prices of winter clothes available at the stalls on the footpath. Many people are choosing to buy from these stalls, finding good deals and a wide selection of items, compared to the higher prices in bigger stores. Lata Debnath said, "Winter has arrived, and I need to buy warm clothes. I also need to buy clothes for my parents, so I came with my mother to shop." Overall, the winter clothes market in Narayanganj is thriving as people gear up for the colder months, with both large shops and small street vendors contributing to the rise in sales.