United News of Bangladesh

Divers from a newly-hired private company launched their operation on Monday to help salvage the sunken ferry Shah Amanat a week after it went down with several vehicles on it at Paturia terminal here. A team of divers from Genuine Enterprise made several sorties into the sunken vessel surveying its location and latest condition in preparation of the recovery operation, said Ajay Debnath, manager of the company. He said that two winch machines will reach the scene within two days from Chattogram to join the operation. Divers working in the mission said huge amount of silt has deposited in the under-water vessel, while it's loaded with heavy iron goods at the bottom. It will take more time to search the ferry properly, they said. Also read: BIWTA capable of salvaging MV Shah Amanat: Chairman Deputy Director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Mohammad Selim said the private organization will conduct the salvage operation under the supervision of BIWTA. So far, eight covered vans, six trucks and five motorcycles were pulled out of water since the ferry careened and sank on Wednesday at Paturia terminal. Meanwhile, the salvaged vehicles have been handed over to the owners. However, the owners complained that the goods in the truck were not recovered. The owners also demanded compensation. Also read: MV Shah Amanat: Salvage operation suspended again Earlier on Wednesday morning, the MV Shah Amanat capsized near Paturia's fifth ferry terminal while preparing to dock. It was carrying 14 goods-laden trucks and four motorcycles at the time. On the following day, the shipping ministry and Manikganj deputy commissioner formed two separate committees to investigate the incident.

Golam Faruq Majumder, father of Chittagong Medical College student Mahadi J Akib who suffered serious head injuries during a clash on Saturday, has blamed dirty politics for his son’s plight. “My son is a victim of dirty politics. I want no one’s son to face this fate. Now my only prayer to the Almighty Allah is his speedy recovery. Waiting to hear ‘Baba’ from him again,” Faruq said in a chocked voice in front of the ICU of the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on Monday. Akib, a second-year student of the medical college, was seriously injured during the clash between two BCL factions on the college campus on Saturday morning. Also read: Clash between BCL factions at CMCH; several injured, 16 sued The two BCL factions -- one led by a former mayor and another by a junior minister -- locked into a clash on Friday. They reengaged in clashes on Saturday morning leaving Akib and two others injured.

Rice imports from India through the Benapole port have been suspended on Sunday after instruction from the food ministry. According to the agreement, Saturday (Oct 30) was the last day for rice import and traders will not be able to bring in rice until further notice. Rush among the importers were seen to complete the import of rice through the Benapole port on Saturday. However, the traders on Sunday claimed that the rice-laden trucks were still waiting to enter through Benapole port. Also read: 700 trucks headed to India stranded in Benapole Rice importer Mosharraf Hossain said that according to the government agreement, it will not be possible to import rice from October 31. Alauddin, a rice importer, said coarse rice imported from India was being sold at a wholesale price of Tk 40 per kg and thin rice at Tk 52 to the locale market. Traders have bought the rice from the port and taken it to different parts of the country. Also read: Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole Benapole Customs Commissioner Md Azizur Rahman said rice imports from India through this port will remain closed until further notice.

Fourteen fishermen sustained burn injuries as a gas cylinder exploded on a fishing trawler in the Bay of Bengal near Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar on Saturday night. Locals said the blaze started from the spark of the engine and spread quickly fuelled by on-board oil near Dakshin Dhurung Bazar while the trawler ‘FB Mayer Doya’ was returning from the sea around 10 pm. At this time, the gas cylinder exploded leaving the 14 fishermen burnt seriously. The injured were taken to Kutubdia Upazila Health Complex and six people were released with first aid. Read:Trader dies as gas cylinder fell on him at Sitakundu shipyard Eight injured were later shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Kutubdia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Omar Haider said the local chairman has been directed to send the list of affected families in this incident.

An excessive pressure of vehicles on Daulatdia –Paturia ferry route created a four kilometres-long traffic jam at the Daulatdia ferry terminal on Sunday. During a spot visit to the area the UNB reporter found at least 400 vehicles – carrying passengers and goods - waiting to cross in a line that started from zero point of the terminal and stretched to Bangladesh Hatcheries on Dhaka-Khulna highway. Besides, 300 vehicles were seen stuck at Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway near Ahladipur area in Goaloudo waiting for their turn. Also read: Paturia ferry accident: Salvage vessel ‘Rustom’ joins rescue operation on day 4 Some drivers said passenger carrying buses have to wait a minimum of five hours while some goods-laden vehicles have been waiting for three days.

Two people were killed as a speedboat  hit a trawler in the Meghna river at Marichakandi in Bancharampur upazila on Saturday night. The deceased are Farid Mia, 45, son of Juluf Mia and Jewel, 35, son of Khurshid Mia of the upazila. The speedboat with 10/12 passenger on board crashed into trawler while heading towards Marichakandi ghat on Saturday night, leaving two people injured. Also read: Food-laden trawler capsizes in Meghna River Later, Jewel and Farid died on way to hospitals in Dhaka and Narshingdi respectively. Also read: Bride among 7 dead as trawler sinks in Meghna However, police could not arrest anyone as the driver of the speedboat went into hiding.

A young man died from electrocution in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Md Sobuj, 30, son of Jalal Uddin Molla, a resident of West Lahini Para of Chapra Union in the upazila. He worked in a WiFi connection company. According to locals, Sobuj came in contact with a live electric wire while repairing the WiFi connection of an organization on an electric pole in Alauddinnagar area around 11:30 am. Read: 2 of a family among 3 die from electrocution in Bogura On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and recovered the body hanging from the electric poll. Officer-in-charge  of Kumarkhali Police Station Kamruzzaman Talukdar said after completing legal procedure the body will be handed over to his family.

Three persons, including a woman and her mother-in-law, were found murdered in the latter's house in Kashtala village of Tangail on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Sumi Begum (25), her mother-in-law Jamela Khatun (60), and Shahjalal (30), said the officer-in-charge of Ghatail police station, Md Azharul Islam Sarker. Sumi’s husband works abroad. Sumi’s four-year-old son Shafi was found in a critical condition and rushed to Kalihati Health Complex. He was later shifted to Sheikh Hasina Medical College in Tangail. Also read: Kaptai UP member killed in election violence According to Sumi’s sister-in-law, Shahnaz Begum, Sumi went to bed on Friday night in her room along with her son and mother-in-law. "We broke open the door of their room Saturday morning after getting no response from inside, despite repeated knocking." When the family members broke open the door, they claimed to have found Sumi and the "unknown" man lying in a pool of blood on the bed. Her mother-in-law was found lying in a pool of blood on the floor. "We found Shafi in a critical condition," she said. Also read: 3 members of a family found dead in Mirsarai: 2 held OC Azharul Islam said that a shallow machine and an iron rod were found near the bodies. "We believe they were used in the crime. The man has been identified as Shahjalal." Police and Rapid Action Battalion members, who reached the spot, recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem. "A probe has been launched," the OC said.

At least two persons died and one sustained injuries in a collision between a microbus and a lorry in the Katherpull area of Cumilla's Chandina upazila in the early hours of Saturday. The deceased were identified as Ibrahim, son of Abdul Malek of Bhatgaon village in Manoharganj upazila, and Towhidul Islam son of Kamal Hossain of Laksham upazila. Also read: 1 killed, 4 injured in clash over a road accident in Sunamganj Officer-in-charge of Moynamoti highway police station Belal Uddin Jahangir said the accident occurred when the microbus hit the lorry from behind after its driver lost control of the speeding vehicle. "While two persons died on the spot in the impact of the crash, the injured is being treated at Cumilla Medical College Hospital," he added. Also read: 3 die in two road accidents in Savar

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is capable of salvaging the Ro-Ro ferry, the Shah Amanat, and if needed the ferry will be rescued using private salvage vessel, said its Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq on Friday. "Vehicles that are still submerged in the water need to be salvaged first," he said. BIWTA chairman made this remark while inspecting the salvage operation on the 3rd day at the Paturia Ferry Terminal. Also read: Paturia ferry accident: Rustom to join rescue ops; one more van retrieved "Besides BIWTA salvage vessel Hamza, another vassel 'Rustam', instead of 'Prattoy', is being brought from Shimulia and it will reach Paturia by Friday evening," said the BIWTA chairman. He also said only four trucks are yet to be salvaged. "I hope the vehicles will be salvaged by tomorrow." Also read: Ferry capsizes at Paturia dock Earlier on Wednesday morning, the MV Shah Amanat capsized near Paturia's fifth ferry terminal while preparing to dock. It was carrying 14 goods-laden trucks and four motorcycles at the time. On the following day, the Shipping Ministry and Manikganj Deputy Commissioner formed two separate committees to investigate the incident.