A fire that broke out in the warehouse of a tissue manufacturing factory in Meghnaghat, Sonargaon upazila, Narayanganj, was brought under control after nearly four hours of frantic efforts, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD). Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector at the FSCD headquarters said that the blaze was brought under control around 9am. Read: Foam factory fire under control in Chattogram Earlier, the fire erupted in the godown of Fresh Tissue Paper around 5:10 am. Upon receiving the information, 19 firefighting units from various stations rushed to the scene, he said adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be known.

Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Mamunul Haque has been acquitted in the rape case related to an incident at Royal Resort in Sonargaon of Narayanganj district. Judge Jasmine Ara Begum of the Narayanganj District Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict on Thursday in Mamunul Haque’s presence in the courtroom. Defence lawyer Advocate AKM Omar Faruq Nayan said that Maulana Haque was found not guilty of the charges brought against him in connection with the case. This case stems from an incident that took place at the Royal Resort in April 2021. After the trial, the court ruled in favour of the accused. On April 3 in 2021, local Jubo and Chhatra league activists confined the Hefazat leader along with a woman to Royal Resort. Mamunul then claimed the woman to be his second wife. On information, Hefazat fellows and madrasah students rushed to the spot and snatched him from the resort after carrying out an attack. On April 18, a team of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested him from a madrasah in Mohammadpur area.   On April 30, the woman, who was said to be Mamunul’s wife, filed a case under Women and Children Repression and Prevention Act with Sonargaon police station in Narayanganj. On September 10, the investigation officer of the case submitted a chargesheet to the court against Mamunul. On November 3, the court framed charges against him. Twenty-six, out of 40 witnesses, including the woman, gave testimonies against the Khelafat Majlish leader.

Nayamati, a key commercial hub in Narayanganj city, is marked by its narrow lanes, making it difficult for four-wheeled vehicles to navigate. Despite this, the area sees the annual trade of hosiery products worth hundreds of crores. However, these businesses, collectively valued in the thousands of crores, face significant fire hazards. A ground visit revealed that the entire area is ensnared in a tangle of electrical wires. In some spots, the clutter is so thick that the sky is barely visible from the streets. Locals report frequent fires caused by short circuits in these wires, which are typically extinguished using water from buildings on either side. However, in this bustling commercial zone, where every building is packed with fabric, chemicals, and thread, fire service vehicles are unable to reach the scene. "If a major fire were to occur in this area, no one knows how to handle it," said a hosiery businessman. On October 7 at 11pm, a severe fire erupted in Narayanganj's Kali Bazar area caused by an electrical short circuit, resulting in the destruction of 40 shops. Since that incident, fear and anxiety have taken hold of hosiery traders and workers in Nayamati. Read: Workplace Fire Safety: 12 Effective Ways to Prevent Fire Hazards The Bangladesh Hosiery Association reports that there are approximately 8,000 hosiery businesses in Narayanganj, with the majority situated in Nayamati and its vicinity. Data from the Fire Service highlights that Nayamati is at a high risk for fire incidents, despite its crucial role in meeting Bangladesh's domestic clothing needs. Hosiery businessman Abdus Selim stated, "Every market and building here involves transactions worth crores of taka, but there is no safety for our lives. If you monitor closely, you won't find any fire extinguishing equipment or water reserves. Since fire service vehicles cannot access this area in the event of a fire, businesses should take that into consideration." However, no one seems to be concerned about it, Abdus Selim added. He alleged that the City Corporation, Fire Service, and other government agencies are also responsible for this situation. Abeda Parveen, a worker at Rahman Hosiery, stated, "The road we enter frequently catches fire due to the wires. We have to extinguish the flames using water and sand from the buildings. What more can I say about our workplace? If a fire breaks out on the ground floor, there’s no way for us to escape." Read more: Panel formed to prove vessel fire at Ctg port She noted the stark difference between garment factories and hosiery units, explaining, "Garment factories have two staircases and fire extinguishing equipment, while the hosiery units in Nayamati lack these essentials. Are our owners not making enough money? But, they seem to evade scrutiny." She called on the government to address this issue, warning that without intervention, they could face deadly fires. Meanwhile, some local business owners recognized that although the area is highly susceptible to fire hazards, the Fire Service pays little attention here. They pointed out that there have been no substantial efforts from this government agency to establish a safe commercial environment in Nayamati.  When reached for a comment, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Narayanganj Fire Service, stated, "Please call me during office hours; I am currently unwell." Read more: Top Strategies to Enhance Fire Resilience in Dhaka City

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.

Jamdani weavers are working round the clock at Noapara Jamdani palli in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj to make new and fashionable Jamdani sarees with hope of good sale during Eid. Visiting the Jamdani palli, the correspondent found that weavers are working relentlessly spinning the yarn with hands. The workers are not getting a chance to rest. This busyness runs from 5 am to 10 pm every day. Sometimes the clock goes past 10 pm to 11pm or even 12 pm. Such busyness is going on almost every day as Eid-ul-Fitr is around the corner. Jamdani traders and BSCIC officials concerned expect a sale of Tk 150-160 crore on the occasion of Eid. According to official sources, there are 407 entrepreneurs in 407 plots in the area under BSCIC Jamdani industrial estate. They have total 1,665 looms and about 3,500 people have been employed here. They have to do all the work without machines.   Eid Shopping: Popular Bangladeshi Clothing Brands for Families Maidul Islam, who has been weaving sarees at Jamdani palli for 20-22 years, said that the work pressure has increased a lot due to upcoming Eid. “There is no opportunity to rest amid the pressure of work,” he added. Weaver Nadeem said, “I have been weaving Jamdani sarees for 17 years. On the occasion of the upcoming Eid, the work has increased like every year. We want the work to increase. If the work increases, it will be good for the owners, financiers and workers.” Shamim, a worker of Jamdani palli, said, “Earlier I used to come to the workplace at 9 am. Now I have to come at 5 am. Earlier I used to go home in the evening. Now I have to return home sometimes at 10 pm or 11 pm. Now the workload has increased.” Ruhul Amin, owner of Junaid Jamdani Weaving, said, "Our market is being destroyed due to Indian Jamdani. They weave jamdani by machine. They can sell at lower prices as their production costs are lower. But we can't. They can sell a saree for Tk 2000. But we need yarns of Tk 2000 to weave a Jamdani saree. We cannot sell a saree below Tk 5000.” "Earlier we used to sell 100 sarees every month, but now our sales have reduced to half because of Indian sarees," he added. Shah Alam, son of a Jamdani artisan family, said, “Now I see that Jamdani is sold online. But many people don't know about Jamdani saree. India's machine-made sarees are being sold as  Jamdani. Actually those are not Jamdani sarees. If you want to buy original Jamdani sarees, you have to come to BSCIC.", “Our Jamdani sarees are being exported. We are weaving new sarees  targeting Eid. Now if you come to the palli, you will get a good saree,”he added. How to Identify an Authentic Bangladeshi Jamdani Saree? Zahirul Islam, officer of Rupganj Jamdani Industrial City, said that there are all kinds of entrepreneurs here. Some sell more and some less. “It can be assumed that those who have 15-20 looms will sell sarees worth Tk 1-1.5 crore during Eid-ul-Fitr. And those who have fewer looms will sell a little less. We are expecting total sales of Tk 150-160 crore this year in Jamdani Industrial Estate,” he said.

A youth was arrested on Sunday (March 17, 2024) after a video of him went viral on social media where he could be seen lending ladders to bus passengers in exchange of Tk5 on a highway in Narayanganj . AKM Sharifuddin, In charge of Kanchpur Highway Shimla Police Camp, said they arrested him after watching the viral video. Risky road crossing had become a common scene in the 3.3 km area for the past two months as there were no crossing points from the long distance route's road to the regional road which is at least 24 minutes walking distance. With 3 more demises today, death toll from Gazipur gas cylinder blast rises to 6 For the past two months, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) authority has kept the crossing point at Dhaka-bound road from Kanchpur Bridge in Siddhirganj to Kuwait Plaza area closed. As a result, passengers have been crossing roads by jumping the lane's divider. According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the four-lane Dhaka-bound road from Kanchpur Bridge in Siddhirganj to Kuwait Plaza area was divided into two lanes with high dividers to stop risky road crossing and to ensure long-distance vehicles' direct route to Dhaka. A gate was kept open in front of the RHD office for the movement of passengers from long-distance lanes to regional lanes, but the RHD authorities closed it two months ago. Abantika’s death: JnU students place 6-point demand Narayanganj RHD's Executive Engineer Shahana Ferdous said, they tried several times to enforce the movement of bus services in the designated service line with Highway Police, but they failed to enforce it.

Gas supply will remain suspended in many areas of Narayanganj, and parts of Dhaka and Munshiganj districts for 16 hours — from 8 am on Monday (March 04, 2024) to 12 am — for emergency gas pipeline repair work. Gas outage for 8 hours in parts of capital city Saturday A public notice from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said the areas where gas supply will remain off include Godnail, Enayetnagar, Bau Bazar, Lucky Bazar, Hajiganj, Wabdapul, Qayyumpur, Fatulla, Sistabpur, Jail Khana Road, Post Office Road from Hajiganj junction to Shibu Market, Panchbati, Maizdair, Izdair, Chashara, Khanpur, Killarpool, Talla, Kutubail, Dharmaganj, Takkarmath, Pagla, Chitashal, Delpara, Jalkuri, Nayamati, Dapa Idrakpur, Bhuigarh, Qutubpur Union, Dhaka Match, Senpur, Moktarpur, Narayanganj BSCIC Area, Kashipur Union to Moktarpur via Panchabati area, Shimgaon, Siddhirganj, Adamji, Sahebpara, Mizmiji to Chittagong Road, and Siddhirganj. The adjoining areas under Fatulla Police Station, Munshiganj and Narayanganj city may experience disruption or low pressure in gas supply, said Titas, regretting temporary inconveniences during the period. Gas crisis: Indefinite transport strike underway in Sylhet

Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj continue to be afflicted by an acute gas crisis, even though Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned distributor of natural gas, claims the situation has improved. As reported in the media previously, garments and textiles firms in the industrial belt of these central districts have been suffering from an acute gas crisis for the last few months. “The factories are in dire straits,” a top top-level manager of a group of textile factories in Gazipur told UNB. Most of the industries in Gazipur do not get adequate supply of gas during their operational periods, the most crucial hours during which their machines need to be running. Inadequate supply manifests in the form of low pressure gas flow, he added. FBCCI urges for strengthening oil, gas exploration to ensure uninterrupted supply to industries Low pressure gas flow is akin to low voltage electricity - many appliances won't run, even though an electric charge is present. The textiles group official said that due to the lack of gas supply, production in various factories is being disrupted and they are on the verge of shutting down. In the ongoing gas crisis, important machines like generators and broilers in the dyeing section of the factories are not being run. This has been posing a great risk for the industries to continue their production and pushing them towards huge financial losses. “Many industries would not be able to pay the salaries and festival bonuses during the coming Eid if the situation does not improve,” said an industry owner. Industry insiders said there are more than 300 factories in Kaliakoir and other areas in Gazipur. All these industries have been suffering from the nagging gas crisis and some of them have already suspended their productions. 100% percent prepaid gas meters within four years: Nasrul Hamid Each of the industries has more than 1000 workers. But following the gas crisis, they have to reduce their production target while some of them use CNG at a higher cost to continue their operations. A similar situation is prevailing in the Mirpur, Tongi and Narayanganj areas, said Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). He said that despite increasing the price, the government is not able to provide adequate gas. “Production in garment factories has come down to half due to non-availability of gas. Many buyers meanwhile are pushing for air shipments as the normal schedule for shipments has failed in keeping the commitment,” he said adding, some buyers are asking for discounts on the rates. More gas likely to be found in Sylhet’s Kailashtila field: Nasrul “Some customers are upset and cancel the order in such a situation,” he noted. Recently the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) has also alleged that no industry in the country is able to run at its full potential due to the gas crisis. A Bangladesh Chamber Of Industries delegation, led by its president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), raised the allegation when it met Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at his ministry office. The lone chamber for industries said the prices of electricity and gas were increased on the pretext of increasing prices on the international market in the hope that the government would ensure their continuous supply. “But despite the declining trend of energy prices in the international market, it is being heard that the prices of electricity and gas will be increased again,” BCI said in a statement. Read more: Govt okays import of LNG cargo from Singaporean firm to meet gas demand It demands for a sustainable solution to the problem. “If a long term plan is given to the industrial sector in terms of power and gas supply, it can move forward accordingly." Titas Gas general manager Arpana Islam admitted the gas crisis. But she claimed that the situation has improved to some extent recently following measures to increase the gas supply. She advised to talk to Petrobangla when asked whether there is any possibility in near future to further improve the gas supply situation. Petrobangla official statistics reveal that in the last one month the total gas supply across the country has increased by just 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) or so, leaving a deficit between production and supply of about 1500 mmcfd. The Petrobangla data shows that on February 16 it produced 2671 mmcfd gas including its import from abroad against a demand for more than 4000 mmcfd. The TItas Gas data also shows that about 30 power plants now remained out of operation due to gas shortage. Read more: BNP denounces move to double monthly rent for prepaid gas meters

Police arrested three young men red-handed while they were allegedly trying to hurl bombs targeting rail tracks ‘in a bid to sabotage’ at No 2 Narayanganj Railway Station on Sunday. The identities of the arrestees are Joynal, Habibur and Hasan. Sramik League leader arrested with yaba in Narayanganj Mokhlesur Rahman, sub-inspector of Narayanganj Railway Police, said a team of police guards the rail tracks at the station to check any possible attack on railways. At one stage, policemen noticed some young men trying to hurl bombs targeting the rail tracks in the afternoon. Narayanganj-4: This may be my last election, says Shamim Osman Later, police caught them red-handed, said SI Mokhlesur. However, it is not clear whether the arrestees have any involvement with any political parties. 4 family members burnt in gas explosion in Narayanganj Cases will be filed against them under the Sabotage, Explosive Act and Speedy Trial Act.

Narayanganj DB police have arrested a Sramik League leader with 700 pieces of yaba pills at Sonargaon in the district. Police arrested Sonargaon Union Sramik League General Secretary Ashik Sarkar with Yaba on Wednesday night, according to Narayanganj DB police SI Md. Ruhul Amin. SI Md. Ruhul Amin said Ashik was arrested during an anti drug operation in the area. Narayanganj-4: This may be my last election, says Shamim Osman Preparations are underway to file a case against Ashik under the Narcotics Control Act, he said. The arrestee was identified as Ashik Sarkar, son of Rup Miya Sarkar from Kathalipara village of Sadipur union under Narayanganj. 4 family members burnt in gas explosion in Narayanganj However, Sadipur Union Member Al Amin said police took his signature as witness of seizing 1400 pieces of Yaba and four rounds of bullets.  But later the police mentioned about only 700 pieces of Yaba, said UP member Al Amin. When contacted, Sonargaon area in charge of DB police Al Mamun said, “I don’t know anything about this. But I will inform you if I find any information about this.” Woman, son burnt in Narayanganj fire Later, he couldn’t be reached by phone.