United News of Bangladesh

The death toll from last month’s deadly launch fire in Jhalakathi district rose to 49 on Monday as another man succumbed to his injuries at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Also read: Launch fire tragedy: Another 8-year-old victim succumbs to injury Russel, 38, breathed his last at noon at the hospital, said Coordinator of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery Dr Samanta Lal Sen. The fire broke out on the Barguna-bound launch carrying some 800 passengers from Dhaka and it engulfed the entire vessel within 10 minutes on December 24. Also read: Marine Court sends two drivers of MV Abhijan-10 launch to jail On December 26, the chief inspector of the Department of Shipping Shafiqur Rahman filed a case against eight people, including four owners of the launch, under the Marine Act with the Marine Court.

A 60-year-old woman and her two grandchildren drowned while another went missing when a trawler capsized in Meghna River at Char Kathalia village in Meghna upazila on Monday, fire service said. The deceased were identified as Julekha Akter, wife of Abdul Matin Mia of Titash upazila, Ayesha Akter, 15 and Mariam Akter, 7, granddaughters of Julekha. All the victims were resident of Demra in Dhaka. Tamanna Akter, 5, another granddaughter of Julekha remained missing in the incident. Also read: Trawler sinks in Bay: 13 Bhola fishermen go missing Mazharul Islam, station officer of Daudkandi Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the Titash-bound trawler with 14 passengers on board from Hasnabad in Keraniganj sank in Meghna River as a hole developed at the hull of the trawler around 3 pm. Locals recovered the bodies of three people while another was still missing, said Md Samiuddin, officer-in-charge of Meghna Police Station. Also read: 2 missing as trawler capsizes in Shitalakkhya The family met the tragic incident while going to one of their relative’s house. Ten people were injured in the incident and they were taken to local hospital.

Police on Monday recovered the hanging body of a  Chattogram University (CU) student from a cottage(privately owned) near the campus. The deceased was identified as Anik Chakma, a student of Marine Science and Fisheries department’s 2018-19 session and a resident of Rangamati district. His body was recovered around 1 pm from room-212 of S Alam cottage located on the opposite side of Shahjalal Hall, said Md Kabir Hossain, in-charge of university’s police outpost. Also read: Body of youth gunned down by Indian found near Sylhet border According to some CU students, Anik was alone in the room on Sunday night as none of his roommates were staying there. Upon getting no response from him till 11 am on Monday the students informed police and they recovered his body hanging from the  ceiling fan. Abu Tayeb, head of CU Medical Center said Anik might have killed himself  at night. Also read: Man’s body found inside a sack by Shitalakshya Md Kabir Hossain  said the body was sent to a hospital morgue for an autopsy.

The operation of a RT-PCR lab to conduct Covid-19 tests for departing passengers started at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram on Monday, three months after launching its operation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir, Additional Director General (Administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) inaugurated the RT-PCR lab at the Chattogram Airport. Earlier, the trial operation of the RT-PCR lab to test Covid-19 started on December 29 at the airport. Also read: Ministry to bear Covid test expenses of UAE-bound passengers With the opening of the RT-PCR lab, people can now go to the UAE from Chattogram airport, too. The UAE made it mandatory for returning migrant workers to get a rapid PCR test six hours before flying from a Bangladesh airport. Dr Kabir said those who are scheduled to go to the UAE can undergo Covid-19 tests at the airport and they have to reach the airport six hours before their departure to provide their samples. Besides, they have to come with their passports, tickets, Covid-19 vaccine certificates and the photocopies of their visas. “This lab offers free tests. A seven-member committee has been formed to ensure smooth operation of the lab in a coordinated way and the test reports will be available within three hours of collecting samples,” he said. Also read: Covid testing at Dhaka airport awaits UAE’s approval: State Minister Five booths have already been set up outside the airport to facilitate registration. Once the registration is done, the passengers will go to their respective booths for providing samples, said Dr Kabir. On September 6, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said PCR booths will be set up at three international airports of Bangladesh to facilitate passengers to take Covid-19 tests four to six hours before boarding their flights.

A Laxmipur court on Monday sentenced seven people to life term imprisonment in a case filed over killing a local Jubo Dal leader at Dattapara union in sadar upazila in 2011. District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Rahibul Islam passed the order acquitting one more accused of from the charges. The lifers are Md Aziz, former UP member of Dattapara Union, his son Md Sabuj, Billal Hossain Biplab, Md Ibrahim, Md Manik, Ismail Hossain and Abul Kashem. Ismail and Abul Kashem were present during the hearing while the other convicts remained absconding. Also read: Brahmanbaria AL leader murder: 13 to die, 8 get life term The convicts were  fined Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more rigorous imprisonment. According to case statement, on June 4, 2011, Anwar Hossain, president of union unit of Jubo Dal, was sitting in his brother’s election campaign office at Dattapara Bazar when some miscreants attacked the office and shot him, leaving Anwar dead the spot. Also read: 9 to die, 22 get life term for killing BCL leader in Rajshahi A murder case was filed at sadar police station the following day against 25 named people and 12 unnamed people following a complaint lodged by Anwar’s brother Md Ashek-E-Elahi. On January 10, 2015, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police submitted the final investigation report at the court.

The Nachol upazila administration has imposed Section 144 to prevent any untoward incident as two factions of upazila Awami League planned rallies on Monday at the same venue. Nachol Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sharif Ahmed said the restriction will remain in force in  Nachol Bus stand and adjacent areas from 7am to 7pm on Monday. Read: Chapainawabganj pourashava election postponed Selim Reza, officer-in-charge of Nachol Police Station, said the local administration resorted to the restriction to keep the law and order situation under control. Earlier, Nachol Upazila Awami League General Secretary and Nachol Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Quader called a rally at Nachol bus stand at 10 am on Monday. Besides,Municipality Awami League President and municipality Mayor Abdur Rashid Khan Jhalu also called a rally at the same venue.

A portion of Chandpur town protection dam has collapsed into the Meghna River, triggering panic among local people. Concrete Cement (CC) blocks of 25 meters area were washed away by the  Meghna River near Chandpur Madrasa road around 6am on Sunday within 10 minutes, said local people. Read:Teen killed as bike ride turns fatal for 3 minors in Chandpur Mamun Hawladar, additional executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), said at least 25 meters area collapsed into the river and the surrounding area is also vulnerable. “Dumping of CC blocks started on Monday morning. We have 14,700 CC blocks in stock,” said the official. Read:Long-cherished Chandpur-Sylhet intercity train still a dream However, there is nothing to panic, the official added. Deputy Commissioner Anjana Khan Majlish visited the spot.

Two leaders of Swechchasebak League suffered bullet wounds in a clash between two factions over previous enmity in Bogura town. The injured are Nazmul Hasan Orange, 28, assistant secretary for literature and cultural affairs of Bogura District Committee of the Swechchasebak League, and Minhaj Hossain Apel, 28, ward committee leader of the party. Read: Pre-polls violence: 10 injured in Bogura’s Nandigram Police said a number of youths came at Malgram Dabtola Mor in 4-5 motorcycles and opened fire at Orange and Apel around 8pm, leaving them inured. Later, the duo were rushed to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition. Read: One killed, 40 injured as two commuter buses collide on Dhaka-Bogura highway Selim Reza, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bogura Sadar Police Station, said Orange and Apel were shot due to rivalry between two groups in Swechchasebak League. The identities of those who opened fire have been confirmed and a drive is underway to arrest them, said the OC.

A man was killed and two others sustained injuries Sunday as two motorcycles collided head-on at Karpashdanga in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga. The deceased was identified as Abul Kalam, 52, a trader from Dhyanghara village in the upazila.  Injured in the accident Shakil Malita, 22, and Hasibul Islam, 25, are currently being treated at Chuadanga Sadar Hospitall. According to locals, Abul Kalam's motorcycle was heading towards  Karpashdanga Bazar on Sunday evening when it collided with a motorcycle carrying Shakil and Hasibul coming from opposite side near Natunpara intersection. Locals rescued the three from the spot and rushed them to the hospital. Dr Utpala Bishwas, duty doctor of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, said Abul Kalam died under treatments after he was admitted to the emergency department but the two others are out of danger. Ferdous Wahid, Officer-in-Charge of Damurhuda Model police station, said the body will be handed over to the family without an autopsy as no complaint was lodged. A general diary will be filed at the police station in this regard, he said. 

The Cox’s Bazar administration will enforce Section 144 to prevent any untoward incident after BNP and Juba League planned rallies on Monday at the same venue in Cox's Bazar. The restriction will be effective in the area adjacent to and around the Shaheed Minar in Cox's Bazar city from Monday morning till Tuesday morning. Also read: Police charge baton on BNP rally in Khulna; 15 injured Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate Md Abu Sufian on Sunday said that the administration resorted to the restriction to keep the law and order situation under control. Earlier, the Cox's Bazar district BNP called the rally at 1pm on Monday in front of the BNP office on Cox's Bazar's Shaheed Swarani Road demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her treatment abroad. At the same time, the Cox's Bazar District Juba League also called for a rally in front of the Shaheed Minar. Also read: Section 144 to be imposed in Feni on Wednesday