United News of Bangladesh

Since its inauguration, the Padma Bridge has significantly boosted government revenue, collecting a staggering Tk 1500 crore in tolls from the myriad of vehicles that have traversed this architectural marvel. Amirul Islam Chowdhury, additional director of the Padma Bridge Site office, reported, “As of Saturday at 11:59 pm, a total of Tk 1,502,62,15,900 in tolls has been collected, with 1,12,91,095 vehicles having crossed the bridge since its opening.” The bridge first opened to traffic on June 25, 2023. Detailed traffic analysis shows that approximately 56,01,232 vehicles used the Mawa entry point, while 56,89,863 vehicles crossed at the Jajira point. A notable record was set on April 9 of this year when the bridge saw its highest single-day toll collection, amassing Tk 4.90 crore from 45,204 vehicles. Padma Bridge: Record Tk 4.90 crore toll collected in 24 hrs The bridge was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25, 2023 and was opened to traffic the following morning, marking a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure development and economic enhancement. Padma Bridge Rail Link project: Test run of train on Bhanga-Rupdia route begins

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a warning that the ongoing heat wave may persist for 72 hours starting Sunday morning. "Due to increasing moisture incursion, the discomfort may increase," said the Met office. This announcement follows earlier alerts issued on April 19, 22 and 25.  

A 48-hour transport strike initiated by the Brihattor Chattogram Ganaparibahan Malik Sramik Oikkyo Parishad began this morning (April 28, 2024), significantly disrupting daily life in the port city amidst a severe heatwave. The strike, which affects buses, minibuses, human haulers, autorickshaws, and other three-wheelers, has led to considerable difficulties for commuters across the city. Impact on Commuters From early in the morning, commuters, including office workers, students, and senior citizens, were seen waiting for long periods at several points in the port city due to the scarcity of mass transportation. The streets showed a markedly decreased traffic flow, with most vehicles off the roads in response to the strike call. Transport workers confirmed that no long-distance buses departed from Chattogram today. Md Musa, the member secretary of the transport body, stated that movement of buses and three-wheeler vehicles has been suspended since 6 am. Buses from other parts of the country are also prohibited from entering Chattogram during the strike period. MV Abdullah leaving UAE for Bangladesh today Background of the Strike The strike was called following an incident where students of the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) reportedly set buses on fire in protest after two of their peers were killed in a road accident. The students, Shanto Saha and Tawfiq Hasan, both from the Civil Engineering department, died when a bus hit their motorbike on the Chattogram-Kaptai road on April 22. In retaliation, some CUET students vandalized three buses and set another on fire. The protests escalated over the following days, leading to the university's closure and the postponement of academic activities. Demands and Protests The transport workers' strike is a protest against the damage inflicted on their vehicles and calls for compensation for the burnt buses, along with the arrest of the accused students. The strike encompasses Chattogram city, district, Cox’s Bazar, and three hilly districts. It aims to press home a four-point demand, emphasizing the need for justice and reparations from the damages incurred during the student protests. Emergency Services Exempt Despite the widespread disruption, the strike organizers say that emergency vehicles, including ambulances, will not be affected by the strike. The transport strike is scheduled to conclude at 6 am on Tuesday. Water crisis adds to woes of Khulna residents amid extreme heat University Response and Continued Tensions The CUET administration attempted to quell the unrest by meeting with the protesting students, who assured they would halt their demonstrations and return to academic activities. However, following an emergency syndicate committee meeting on April 26, CUET authorities decided to keep the campus closed until May 9.

The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, recently liberated from Somali pirates, is scheduled to depart Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh today (April 28, 2024) at noon, officials confirmed. The vessel, which had been hijacked for 33 days, successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal at Al-Hamriya Port yesterday. The owner, KSRM Group, announced that the vessel and its crew of 23 sailors are expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May. Mizanul Islam, a spokesperson for the Chattogram-based KSRM Group, reported that the loading operations were completed yesterday, and the vessel is now ready to embark on its journey back to Bangladesh. MV Abdullah reaches Dubai’s Al Hamriya Port MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from pirate captivity. Distinguished guests including Mohammad Abu Jafar, the Bangladesh Ambassador, and officials from SR Shipping, the vessel's operating company, were present to welcome the crew upon their arrival. The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai. The pirates took control of the vessel and its crew, holding them until a ransom of Tk 55 crore facilitated their release on the night of April 13. Family counting days for safe return of MV Abdullah's chief engineer Following the release, MV Abdullah headed to Al-Hamriya Port under the escort of an EU NAVFOR warship, navigating through approximately 480 nautical miles of high-risk areas along the Somali coast and the Red Sea before reaching the safety of the United Arab Emirates. This voyage marks a significant step towards recovery after the harrowing pirate attack, with the crew looking forward to a safe return to their homeland. Previous experience used to rescue MV Abdullah, crew: KSRM

Police recovered the body of a man from the footpath of Mugda Madinabagh area of the capital on Saturday. The identity of the deceased, aged around 35, could not be ascertained immediately, said police. Sub-Inspector (SI) of Mugda Police Station Md Ferddaus Alam said they recovered the body from the footpath of the Madinabagh area of Mugda around 6pm. Young woman killed in city road crash Later, the body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Police initially believed that the man might have died from heat stroke. However, the exact cause of death will be known after getting the post-mortem report. Son arrested for killing mother in Chandpur “We are trying to identify the deceased through fingerprints,” he added.

A 20-year-old woman was killed after an unidentified vehicle hit her in front of the press club under Shahbag police station in the capital on Saturday. The deceased Most Meghna was the wife of Md Nayem. She was a resident of Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh district. Son arrested for killing mother in Chandpur Nayem said the accident occurred at 5pm when the unidentified vehicle hit her leaving her seriously injured. Later, she was rescued and taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced her dead at 5:30pm. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of DMCH Police outpost Md. Masud Mia said the body has been kept in the hospital morgue. Woman, 2 children electrocuted in Barishal The matter has been informed to the concerned police station, he added.  

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested three BNP men who were allegedly involved in setting fire to a bus of Achim Paribahan in Demra of Dhaka city in October last year, leaving its helper dead and another injured. The arrestees are former Vice-President of Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatra Dal Md Nurul Islam Monir alias Monir Munshi, 37, member secretary of Narayanganj City Jubo Dal Md Shahed Ahmed, 38, and Monir Munshi’s personal driver and BNP activist Mahabubur Rahman Sohag, 33. Private cars and motorcycles used during the arson were seized by the Anti-Illegal Arms and Canine Team of the CTTC's Special Action Group, said CTTC Chief Asaduzzaman during a briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road in Dhaka city on Saturday. He said on October 28, 2023, BNP leaders and activists carried out a hellish rampage in Paltan area of the capital to thwart the 12th national parliamentary elections. Following this, in the early hours of October 29, a bus of Achim Paribahan, parked at Deilla bus stand under Demra Police Station, was set afire, leaving one helper Naim, 22, dead on the spot and another helper Robiul, 25, seriously injured. The victims were asleep on the bus during the arson, added the CTTC chief. A case regarding the arson was filed with Demra Police Station the following day. Later, the Anti-Illegal Arms and Canine Team of CTTC's Special Action Group started investigating the case to identify those involved in the incident, he added.  

Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in separate statements condemned Bangladesh Bank’s decision of banning journalists' entry into the central bank headquarters. The DUJ in a statement on Saturday said that for 53 years reporters have been entering the central bank premises and collecting reports freely, sudden banning of entry in the central bank would create misunderstanding regarding the banking sector. DUJ President Sohel Haider Chowdhury and General Secretary Akhtar Hossain in the statement said that such a ban would raise the possibility of publishing wrong information due to lack of verification option. They urged the BB governor to allow reporters in the central bank freely, which was happening during the last 53 years, as part of assisting independent journalism. Acting President of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) Shafiqul Islam Shamim and General Secretary Mohiuddin in the statement on Friday said that reporters have always been freely collecting information from the BB and publishing independent news. “Sudden entry barriers are against independent journalism. As a result, there will be a risk of wrong reporting about the banking sector, which is not desired by any party,” they said. The DRU leaders demanded that journalists should be assisted in fulfilling their professional duties by ensuring unhindered access to the BB immediately. Earlier, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) termed the ban on access of journalists to the BB as a reprehensible example of arbitrary imposition of secrecy. Expressing deep concern over such action, the organisation has called for the immediate withdrawal of such ban on disclosure of banking and financial sector information in the public interest. TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said that most of the news of big scams in the financial sector in the last few years have come from the sources of journalists. Such steps have been taken to hide the fact that the policy and leadership of the BB has become hostage to the criminal gang, he said.

Bangladesh reported 10 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 20, 49, 955, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29, 494 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. The daily case test positivity rate was 4.57 percent as 219 samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Saturday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, 15 patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS. Of them, nine were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest were outside the capital. A total of 114 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, 2,126 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year. Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.