United News of Bangladesh

A 45-year-old worker was killed and two others were injured after being hit by large aluminum tank at a ship breaking yard in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Sadekur Rahman Bulbul, hailing from Naogaon district. Also read: Construction worker crushed under falling shaft of crane in Khulna The accident occurred around 1pm at Sagarika Ship Breaking Yard near Shitalpur Chowdhury Ghat coast when Sadekur and two other workers were hit by an aluminum tank (big drum) of an old ship, said Suman Banik, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sitakunda police station. Later, the injured were rushed to nearby BSB Hospital where doctors declared Sadekur dead, he added. Also read:Union worker 'ends life' in Chapainawabganj

A Rangamati court on Wednesday granted bail to journalist Fazle Elahi in a case filed under the  Digital Security Act. Rangamati Senior Judicial Magistrate Fatema Begum Mukta granted the bail and asked Elahi, editor of Dainik Parbatya Chattogram and Pahar 24.com, to appear before the Chattogram Cyber Tribunal within seven days. Also read:Comment on ‘nomination trade’: Janipop chairman, 2 others sued under DSA Earlier in the day, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Biplab Chakma filed a petition seeking bail for his client. Nazneen Anwar, daughter of former Rangamati MP (reserved seat) Firoza Begum Chinu lodged the complaint with police against Elahi under the Digital Security Act over publishing a report against her mother Chinu. Chattogram Cyber Tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Elahi following the case and police arrested him from his ADC Hill residence in Rangamati Tuesday evening. Also read:HC stays trial against journo Kajol in 3 cases under DSA A group of journalists held a human chain in front of Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s Office Wednesday morning demanding release of Elahi. Later, social workers, political activists and students expressed solidarity with them. They also demanded cancellation of the DSA.

The deadly fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda was fully doused Wednesday morning, nearly 85 hours after the incident which has so far claimed 44 lives, said firefighting officials. Finally the firefighters managed to douse the flame around 10 am, said Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense. They are still conducting the dumping work at the depot and they will continue it today. Read: Ctg container depot fire: Death toll rises to 44 Now the firefighters are engaged in clearing the damaged containers and spraying water there, he said. The death toll from the deadly fire rose to 44, with a 36-year-old man succumbing to his burn injuries at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in the early hours of Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Masud Rana, a worker of the container depot. He was originally from Sarishabari in Jamalpur district. Masud had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours, said Dr Harunur Rashid of the hospital. Masud’s body will be handed over to his family later in the day, said assistant sub-inspector Alauddin, in-charge of CMCH police outpost. Read: Legal action against depot fire culprits after probe, says IGP Meanwhile, the condition of many victims, who sustained burn injuries in the fire, is critical, said deputy commissioner Mominur Rahman. The fire and subsequent blasts at the container depot left over 200 people wounded. Around 130 people are currently undergoing treatment at the burn unit of CMCH. Earlier, on Tuesday noon, the firefighters recovered two bodies from the debris, taking the death toll to 43. However, what caused the fire could not be known yet. Already three probe teams have been formed to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.  

Transporters at Benapole on Wednesday embarked on an indefinite strike to press their three-point demand, including the transfer of an official of the land port.  Azim Uddin Gazi, general secretary of Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association, made the announcement on Tuesday. "We will not call off our strike until our demands are met." Read: C&F agents’ strike: Unloading at 11 customs station including Benapole suspended on Tuesday The demands include withdrawing Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, deputy director of Benapole Land Port, appointing a skilled driver and keeping the port area free from traffic congestion. Mamun Tarafdar is involved in corruption, Azim said. Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh C&F Agent Association staged a protest at the port on Tuesday to press their several-point demands.

The death toll from the massive fire at Chattogram BM Container Depot rose to 45 with a the death of a injured victim at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) and the recovery of another body on Wednesday. Fire service personnel recovered a burnt body from the debris while doing dumping work after the fire came under control at noon, said said Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense. The body of the unidentified person was sent to CMCH to confirm the identity, he added. Read: Legal action against depot fire culprits after probe, says IGP Masud Rana, a worker of the container depot, succumbed to his injuries at CMCH. He was originally from Sarishabari in Jamalpur district. Masud had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours, said Dr Harunur Rashid of the hospital. Masud’s body will be handed over to his family later in the day, said assistant sub-inspector Alauddin, in-charge of CMCH police outpost. The condition of many victims, who sustained burn injuries in the fire, is critical, said deputy commissioner Mominur Rahman.

A death row inmate allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with his clothes in the barrack toilet at Kashimpur central jail on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Golam Mostofa, originally from Utrail village of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district. As soon as jail authorities noticed Mostofa hanging at the toilet, they rushed him to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival, said senior jail superintendent Md Abdul Jalil. The body will be handed over to his family after completion of legal procedures, said the jail superintendent. Also read: Prisoner dies at DMCH Mostafa was arrested in a case filed under the Women and Child Abuse Prevention Act by the Demra police. Later, a court sentenced him to capital punishment and he was transferred to Kashimpur Jail from Dhaka Central Jail on July 11, 2021  

A construction worker was killed under the shaft of a malfunctioning crane at a construction site in Khulna’s Shantidham intersection area. The deceased was identified as Md. Hafizul Nayeem, son of Mohammad Borhan Sheikh of Baintala village in Dumuria upazila, said officer-in-charge Hasan Al Mamun of Khulna Police Station. The accident occurred on Tuesday at around 6 pm during the casting of rooftop construction of the building. SI Md. Oliur of Khulna Police Station, said deceased Hafiz was working on the roof of a seven-storey building opposite the United Nations Children's Park in Shantidham with other workers. Also Read: Construction worker dies from electrocution in city During the work, the shaft of the mixer crane broke down and fell on Hafiz. His right leg and left arm were broken. The workers took him to the Khulna Medical College Hospital where the doctor declared him dead, he said. The body will be handed over to his family after an autopsy, he added.

Bakerganj Forum in association with Harvest Plus Bangladesh, under the “Commercialization of Bio-fortified Crops” project has organized a workshop on the production and marketing of Zinc Paddy on Tuesday morning.   The programme was chaired by Executive Director of Bakerganj Forum Md Shah Alam Howlader. Deputy Director of Jashore Agricultural Extension Department Md Nuruzzaman attended the program as chief guest while Senior Officer of Jashore Agricultural Marketing Department Md Rabiul Islam, Divisional Coordinator of Harvest Plus Md Zahid Hussain, Project Officer of Harvest Plus Ruhul Quddus and Keshabpur Upazila Food Inspector SM Rakibul Hasan joined the program as special guests. “Supply of zinc rice in the market has to be ensured. Besides, the consumers have to be made conscious about the benefits of zinc rice,” said Nuruzzaman. He added that zinc rice has many nutritional benefits. It helps in the proper development of a person’s mental capabilities. Also Read: Govt to procure 6.50 lakh mts Boro paddy at Tk 27 per kg Nuruzzaman requested the farmers to increase the production of zinc rice. He also assured to provide necessary assistance to those entrepreneurs who  harvest zinc rice. A total of 40 people including millers, storekeepers, farmers and rice traders attended the program and vowed to collectively work towards the production and marketing of zinc rice in the coming days. 

Experts and agricultural journalists from Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines have stressed the importance of evidence-based knowledge sharing and informed policy decisions to ensure sustainable food security. They also laid emphasis on a better understanding of agricultural biotechnology and relevant policy issues. Farming Future Bangladesh in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development, and U.S. Department of State, organized the regional media roundtable titled, “The Role of Innovative Technologies in Addressing Agricultural Challenges" on Monday.  The roundtable followed previous country-specific “virtual tours” organized in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines to encourage collaboration between journalists, farmers, and scientists on educating the public about the benefits and importance of agricultural biotechnology. “The media plays an important role in reaching and engaging a wide range of audiences and stakeholders with science and fact-based reporting and debunking myths about agricultural biotechnology and agricultural innovations,” said Helen LaFave, Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy in Dhaka.  She also said “biotechnology offers proven and effective tools to sustainably expand production, address global hunger and nutritional deficiencies, and respond to adverse growing conditions.” Media experts on agriculture interacted with speakers and expressed their views on consumer acceptance and effective marketing of genetically engineered crops.  Also Read: Russia slams sanctions, seeks to blame West for food crisis The group emphasized publishing more research-based work to allow consumers to differentiate between the myths and facts about gene edited crops. Participants exchanged their views and proposed ways forward on agricultural innovation and sustainable agricultural practice.  Md. Arif Hossain, CEO & Executive Director of Farming Future Bangladesh, moderated the virtual round table discussion.  Scientists and experts from Indonesia, Philippines, and Bangladesh also gave technical presentations on effective applications of agricultural biotechnology in their respective countries.

Five organisations including the Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association have announced an indefinite strike from Wednesday to press three demands,  including withdrawal of an official of the Benapole port. Azim Uddin Gazi, general secretary of Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association, made the announcement on Tuesday and said they will go for indefinite work abstention from Wednesday. The demands include withdrawing Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, deputy director of Benapole Land port, to appoint a skilled driver after increasing the supply of much equipment needed for the port and keep the port area free from traffic congestion after expanding designated places and ensuring adequate sheds. Meanwhile, five organisations staged a demonstration in front of the port. Loading and unloading of goods at Benapole port remained suspended for Tuesday as the Federation of Bangladesh C&F Agent Association enforced a day-long strike at the port to press home their several-point demands. Also Read: C&F agents’ strike: Unloading at 11 customs station including Benapole suspended on Tuesday Trade between India and Bangladesh remained suspended following the strike, at least through the ports covered by the strike. Azizur Rahman, the customs commissioner of Benapole Customs, said the customs house, port and check-post activities were operating as normal during the daylong strike. Activities at a number of  ports including Chattogram port, Dhaka customs, ICT, Mongla Port, Hili Port, Sonamasjid port and Bhomra port were however suspended as the strike was enforced countrywide.  When speaking, Azim said the loading and unloading activities of the port have been disrupted due to a crane forklift at the port. The transport agency owners placed their demand for ensuring adequate supply of port equipment but the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to their demand. Besides, Mamun is involved in many irregularities taking advantage of his post, he said. Azim also threatened to continue their movement until their demands are met.