United News of Bangladesh

A railway police officer was injured after being hit by a train at Joydebpur Rail Station in Gazipur district on Thursday. The injured was identified as sub-inspector Habib. Md Kaiyum Ali, officer-in-charge of Joydebpur Railway Police Outpost said, the accident took place on line No. 4 at Joydebpur Railway Station when a train hit SI Habib while he was talking on his mobile phone and walking along the railway track, leaving him injured. His right arm and right leg were severed during the accident, said OC. He was first taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Train communication on Rahanpur-Rajshahi route in Chapainawabganj remained suspended as four wagons of an oil-laden train derailed at Amnura Railway Junction in Sadar upazila of Chapainawabganj district on Thursday. Hasibul Hasan, Station Master of Amnura Railway Junction, said the train was carrying oil from Khulna to the Amnura Power Plant. When the train reached Amnura Junction, four wagons of the train veered off the tracks around 4:45am, disrupting train movement on the Rohanpur-Rajshahi route. A relief train from Ishwardi Railway Junction reached the spot around 10am and is conducting salvage operation. Train services will resume once salvation work is completed, the station master said.

A man person was killed and another injured when a truck crashed into the back of a parked truck on Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj early Thursday. The deceased was identified as truck driver Shawkat Bepari, 23, son of Dabir Bepari of Kazirhat area under Zajira upazila in Shariatpur district. The injured, Imran Mondol, 24, son of Abdul Aziz of Mardah Bangal area under Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj district  was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police and Fire Service officials said a truck had been parked on the expressway due to mechanical problems and another truck coming from the same direction lost control and hit it from behind, leaving the truck driver and his helper injured. The helper of the rear truck became trapped inside the vehicle. On information, members of the Srinagar Fire Station rushed to the spot and rescued the trapped helper using hydraulic equipment. The injured were taken by Fire Service ambulance to Srinagar Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared Shawkat Bepari dead. Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, deputy assistant director of Munshiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, said traffic on the expressway remained suspended for about an hour following the accident but has since returned to normal.

Members of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) seized 24 Kgs of hemp and arrested two alleged drug traders during a raid in Jhenaidah on Wednesday afternoon. The raid was conducted at Kalalaxmipur area of Sadar upazila targeting a Purbaasha Paribahan vehicle. The arrestees were Abul Kalam Azad, son of Lal Mia of Sundarpur village in Kaliganj upazila, and Hossain Monir, son of Shariful Biswas of Garabaria village in Maheshpur upazila. Deputy Director of DNC Jhenaidah Sheikh Md Hasem Ali said tipped-off, a total of 44 packets containing 24kg hemp were recovered. A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act with the police station concerned, The arrestees were sent to court after initial interrogation while the seized drugs handed over to the police station, officials added.

Food supply activities in Khulna have come to a standstill following an indefinite strike by members of Khulna Food Transport Contractors Association, with leaders blaming a truck owners’ syndicate for the crisis. The work stoppage has halted the movement of goods trucks and suspended loading and unloading activities at Maheshwarpasha, CSD, and 4 and 7 No ghat areas of Khulna, disrupting government emergency services, according to the association. Around 270 contractors were engaged under the Food Transport (Road Division) in 2005. Due to the absence of fresh tenders since then, they have been operating for nearly two decades under the same 2005 rates, the contractors said. Business leaders warned that if the indefinite work stoppage is not withdrawn, emergency services would be severely affected, about 2,500 workers in Khulna would lose their livelihoods, and contractors and traders would face losses amounting to crores of taka. Association President SM Azizur Rahman Swapan said contractors working with the food department in Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Dhaka hold government-issued transport licences and are entitled to hire trucks from any licensed transport operator as per their convenience. But in Khulna’s Maheshwarpasha, CSD, and the 4 and 7 No ghat areas, they do not have the freedom to hire trucks, he said. “The transport system there is controlled by a truck workers’ union-linked group known as Joint Transport which forces traders to take vehicles only from them. Their one-sided syndicate remains active,” he alleged. He said the syndicate had also operated during the previous government’s tenure, eased temporarily after the August 5 mass uprising, but became active again following the national election. Because of this truck owners’ syndicate, it has now become impossible for us to continue business, Swapan added.

Four members of a family, including a woman, sustained burn injuries after a fire broke out from an electric spark at a tin-shed house in sadar upazila of Manikganj district on Wednesday. The injured were identified as Shamsul Biswas, 65, his wife Mafiyara Begum, 55 and their two sons — Masum Biswas, 35 and Jony Biswas, 25. Witnesses said the incident occurred around 1 pm when a spark from an electric wire reportedly ignited a curtain inside the house, causing fire. Fire breaks out at Karwan Bazar, 10 units battling blaze Masum Biswas said his mother and younger brother were inside the house during the fire. “My father rushed in from outside to douse the flames and he was also burnt. I sustained minor injuries while trying to rescue them,” he said. The injured were first taken to Manikganj Sadar Hospital and later shifted to the emergency department of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 6:30 pm for better treatment. Resident surgeon, Dr Md Harunur Rashid, confirmed that four burn victims from Manikganj were brought to the hospital in the evening. Gazipur jhut godown fire under control “They are currently undergoing treatment. The extent of their burn injuries cannot be confirmed at this moment,” he added.

Police recovered the bodies of a young man and a young woman from a beach along the Marine Drive road in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday. One of the bodies was found near Uttar Lombrori and another near Mitapani Chhara boat terminal areas. Locals spotted the bodies and informed police who recovered the bodies, said Saiful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Cox’s Bazar Model Police Station. ‘Stray bullets’ leave 2 teenagers injured near Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar Police are working to identify the deceased and determine the cause of death, said the OC.

Long queues formed in Rangpur city on Wednesday as residents lined up to buy subsidised essential goods from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), which launched truck-based sales at 15 areas in the city ahead of of Ramadan. With TCB trucks operating in 15 out of 33 wards in Rangpur city, many low- and middle-income people were seen waiting early in the morning at spots where the trucks would be stationed. People said they faced hardship in accessing the goods and called for one TCB truck per ward to ease the situation. Under the programme that started on Tuesday, consumers can buy soybean oil, lentils, sugar, chickpeas, and dates at prices lower than the regular market rate. The initiative will continue until March 12. According to TCB officials, chickpeas and dates have been added to the regular Ramadan items. Each package is priced at Tk 590. Nearly 400 customers can purchase goods from each truck daily, allowing around 6,000 people to benefit each day. Bablu Mia, who came to buy TCB goods, said, “For poor families, TCB supplies are a big help. With the current market situation, this service is beneficial even temporarily. Though the range of goods is limited, we hope it continues throughout Ramadan.” Another resident, Romjan Ali, said, “In Bangladesh, prices of all food items usually double during Ramadan. For low-income people like us, this month is very difficult. TCB’s subsidised goods are a good initiative, but more trucks would make it easier for everyone to access them.” Essentials’ prices hike in Sylhet ahead of Ramadan, SCC price list ignored Kulsun Begum, a day labourer, said, “We live hand to mouth. I have been waiting in line since morning, but I still haven’t received anything. We have no guarantee when we will get the items. Poor people have no choice but to wait in line.” Habibur Rahman, regional deputy director and office head of TCB in Rangpur, said the goods will be sold daily except on public holidays. Both family cardholders and general customers can purchase the items. He said to ensure low-income people in Rangpur city can access the goods, sales will take place at different spots on different days. Currently, 15 trucks are operating in Rangpur city while sales continue at five points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Nilphamari districts.

Sylhet city has witnessed an unusual surge in the prices of daily essentials ahead of Ramadan, leaving consumers frustrated over soaring costs. Visiting Ambarkhana, Bandar Bazar, Madina Market, Subid Bazar, and Kazir Bazar in the city the UNB correspondent on Wednesday found that meat and fish shops were selling products at higher rates than before. Traders said the demand for meat at the start of Ramadan has put pressure on the broiler and Sonali chicken markets. Consumers said the price of broiler chicken has risen by up to Tk 25 per kilogram in a week. A chicken that sold for Tk 165 on February 11 is now being sold at Tk 185–190 depending on location. Similar trends were observed in the fish market, with prices increasing by Tk 25–50 per kilogram for almost all types of fish, according to sellers. Prices of banana, commonly used for iftar, have increased by Tk 5–10 per bunch depending on size. Apple and orange prices have also risen compared to previous weeks. Besides, lemons that were sold at Tk 30–40 a few days ago are now priced at Tk 90–120 depending on size. Cucumbers are being sold at Tk 80–100 per kilogram, up from Tk 30–40 last week. Traders said rising wholesale prices are affecting retail rates. Abdul Qadir, a resident of Tal Tala area, said, “Prices usually rise during Ramadan but this time they have surged early. Market rates do not match the official prices, putting extra pressure on low-income families.” A meat seller at Bandar Bazar said supply is slightly lower than usual while demand is increasing rapidly. “That’s why prices are adjusting in the market. We also have to buy at higher rates from wholesalers,” he added. Earlier on Monday (Feb 9), a meeting at Nagar Bhaban chaired by Sylhet City Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Reza Rafin Sarkar urged traders to sell essentials at fair prices during Ramadan. The meeting fixed rates for beef at Tk 750 per kilogram, buffalo meat Tk 650, goat meat Tk 1,100, mutton and sheep meat Tk 1,000, Sonali chicken Tk 310, and poultry chicken Tk 170. Measures for displaying price lists, preventing adulteration, and regular market monitoring were also decided. However, market visits revealed a different picture. Traders were openly selling goods above the fixed rates, ignoring CSCC’s price list. Customers alleged that beef is being sold at Tk 800–900 per kilogram and prices vary widely between different shops. Shoppers said that ensuring supply-demand balance and strengthening regular monitoring could stabilise the market ahead of Ramadan. SCC Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Rezaie Rafin Sarkar said mobile courts are being conducted and action will be taken against those selling meat above the fixed prices set by the corporation.

A 65-year-old woman and her son died from electrocution at Dakkhin Nalua village in Matlab South upazila of Chandpur district on Tuesday night. The deceased were identified as Rina Begum, wife of Shahadat Khan, and her son Russel Khan, 35, of the village. Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Matlab South Police Station, said Russel first came into contact with a live wire and was electrocuted while trying to take a connection from an electric pole set up on the road adjacent to their house around 9:30 pm. As Rina Begum rushed to rescue him, she was also electrocuted and died on the spot. On information, police recovered the bodies and sent them to a local hospital.