United News of Bangladesh

 A man was killed allegedly by his younger brother over a land dispute on Monday morning in Doakhani area of Baniachong upazila. The deceased was identified as Naushad Mia, 40, son of late Kimmat Ali of the area. Naushad’s younger brother Junaid Mia, 25, went into hiding after the incident. Locals said that Naushad Mia had a dispute with his younger brother Junaid Mia for a long time over ownership of land and family issues.As a sequel to the enmity, Junaid Mia attacked Naushad Mia with a sharp weapon on Monday , leaving him seriously injured.Later, neighbours took him to the Upazila Health Complex in critical condition where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Habiganj 250-bed modern district hospital for post-mortem, said Delwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Baniachong police station.“Efforts are underway to arrest him,” he added.  

 The water level of the Brahmaputra River may remain stable, while the water level of the Jamuna River may decrease in the next 24 hours, according to the report of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) on Monday.   Besides, the water level of the Ganges, that becomes the Padma in Bangladesh, is set to decrease or remain stable in the next 48 hours, it said.   The water level of Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in Rangpur division in the northern part of the country are increasing overall.   Normal flow of rivers may prevail and they may even flow below the danger level in the next 48 hours.   Kushiyara river water level is increasing whereas Surma river water level is decreasing, which may continue in the next 24 hours and may flow below danger level.   The water level of the Sangu river in Chittagong division of the south-eastern and eastern parts of the country is increasing while the water level of other major rivers is decreasing overall.   According to meteorological agencies, heavy rainfall is not expected in the southeast, eastern and adjacent uplands of the country in the next 48 hours. At this time, the water level of the main rivers such as Muhuri, Gomti, Sangu, Matamuhuri etc in the region may decrease.   The death toll from the recent flood in 11 districts has risen to 67 with eight more deaths till Monday, according to the report of the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.   Of the fresh fatalities, three deaths were reported in Feni and Cumilla while two in Noakhali district.   So far, the floods have claimed 26 lives in Feni, 17 in Cumilla, six in Chattogram, 11 in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur districts respectively.  

The emergency department at Dhaka Medical College Hospital started operating again on Monday afternoon, although the outpatient department remains closed. Bachchu Mia, the police outpost in-charge at DMCH, stated, "The emergency services are running, but there is a shortage of doctors." He added that extensive security measures have been implemented, with a significant presence of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), army personnel, and police at the hospital to provide protection to the doctors. 2 BGB platoons deployed at DMCH for ensuring doctors' security It will be determined after 8pm whether the outpatient department will reopen. On August 31, a patient died at DMCH, after which agitated loved ones alleged negligence on the part of the doctors and assaulted three of them at the hospital premises, prompting the doctors to call a strike. They withdrew their call for a 'complete shutdown' of medical services across the country upon assurances from the health adviser to the interim government of security and arrest of the individuals who manhandled the doctors. Subsequently two arrests were made, and security was beefed up. Doctors at DMCH halt services following assault and vandalism Senior Ansar member Mahbubur Rahman mentioned that only two or three doctors are available in the emergency department, and they are providing care while managing security concerns.  

Price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been further increased to Tk 118.44 per kg from the previous price of Tk 114.79 for the month of September. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price, saying that a 12 kg LPG cylinder’s price has been increased by roughly Tk 44. A retail consumer will now have to spend Tk 1421 for a 12 Kg cylinder instead of Tk 1377 (including VAT). Prices of other sizes of LPG cylinders – from 5.5 kg to 45 kg – will go up accordingly, the BERC said at a press briefing on Monday at the BERC office in Dhaka. The new prices will be effective from 6 pm today (September 2, 2024). BERC officials said the LPG price witnessed a little increase in the local market as Bangladeshi LPG operators normally import their products from the Middle-East market on the basis of Saudi CP. As per the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG used for motor vehicles) also increased to Tk 65.26 per litre (including VAT) from the previous price of Tk 63.21. The price of LPG, marketed by state-owned LP Gas Company, will remain the same as it is locally produced with a market share of less than 5 percent. LPG witnessed the highest price at Tk 1,498 (per 12 kg cylinder) in the local market in February last year.

The death toll from the recent flood in 11 districts has risen to 67 with eight more deaths till Monday, according to the report of Disaster Management and Relief Ministry. Of the fresh fatalities, three each deaths were reported in Feni and Cumilla while two in Noakhali district. So far, the floods have claimed 26 lives in Feni, 17  in Cumilla, six in Chattogram, 11 in Noakhali, three in Cox’s Bazar and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Lakshmipur districts respectively. Among them, 42 were male, seven female and 18 children. Besides, 6, 05, 767 families have been stranded in 68 upazilas of 11 flood-hit districts--Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox’s Bazar. Moreover, 51, 08, 202 people have been affected in 504 municipalities or unions of the 11 districts. According to the ministry, the flood situation in Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Habiganj, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and Khagrachari districts is stable, it has improved in Moulvibazar while Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur districts are witnessing improvement. Meanwhile, at least 3, 06,741 people have taken shelter in 3,615 shelter centres while 32, 830 domestic animals were kept there, according to data from the ministry.  A total of 472 medical teams are providing medical services in the flood affected areas. So far, a sum of Tk 4.52 crore has been allocated in the flood-stricken districts while 20,650 tonnes of rice, 15,000 pieces of dry foods or other foods and baby foods and fodder worth Tk 35 lakh each were allocated, said the ministry. As the flood situation has improved in different parts of the country, some people, who have taken shelter in shelter centres have started to return to their homes.

Interim government’s Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury  on Monday said full investigation into and fair trial for the BDR (now BGB) killings will commence shortly. He said this while talking to reporters at his office at the Secretariat. "The current government is committed to upholding the rights of the people by ensuring good governance, and establishing justice," said the adviser. "Not only as a Home Adviser, but also as a common citizen and former member of the Bangladesh Army, I want justice for the BDR killings," he added. On 25-26 February 2009, a mutiny in the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) left 74 people, including 57 army officers, murdered at the Pilkhana Headquarters. On 5 November 2013, a Dhaka court awarded death sentences to 150 BDR members and two civilians, and life imprisonment to 160 others in the case. On 27 November 2017, the High Court confirmed the death penalty for 139 out of 152 accused. Following the heinous killings of the army officers at the Pilkhana headquarters, the government renamed the mutiny-hit paramilitary force BDR as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), changing its logo as well as uniform.

-Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain or thundershowers in all divisions including Dhaka in 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country,” said a met office bulletin. The country’s highest 59mm of rainfall was recorded in Cumilla in 24 hours till 6am on Monday. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country, according to the BMD. The country’s highest temperatures were recorded in Chuadanga at 34.6 degree Celsius over the past 24 hours till 6pm Sunday while the lowest temperature was in Dinajpur at 24.8 degree Celsius .

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced a special facility for flood-affected farmers and CMSME (Cottage, Micro, Small and medium enterprises) entrepreneurs to repay the loan installments. In this case, August installments of short-term agriculture and CMSME sector term loans in these areas can be repaid over three months. The Banking Regulations and Policy Department (BRPD) of BB issued a circular in this regard on Sunday. In the circular, the central bank stated that borrowers affected by the recent floods are finding it difficult to repay or adjust their loans. To continue the normal economic activities of the affected borrowers, it has been asked to ease the repayment. The BB circular said to ease the repayment or adjustment of existing unclassified (non-compensatory) short-term agriculture and CMSME loans as of July 1 of other flood-affected areas-including Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Comilla, and Chattogram- identified by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Short-term agriculture and CMSME sector term borrowers can repay the loan installments for August to October within three months of the expiry of the respective loan period. The BB asked banks to increase the adjustment period of the ongoing loans of the CMSME sector between August 2024 and October 2024. “No penalty interest, additional interest, excess profit, late fee penalty (by whatever name called) other than regular interest shall be levied or levied on late payment. This directive will be effective immediately,” stated in the circular.

Students from the Interdisciplinary Institute for Food Security (IIFS) at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) are preparing to distribute 'Food Safety Kit Boxes' to flood-affected communities in Feni and Cumilla districts. Nubah Nashita Farihat, a student from the institute, confirmed the initiative on Sunday. The project named ‘Asha Neer’, aims to support around 100 flood-affected families. The kits are divided into four categories: water purification tools, sanitary supplies, emergency medications, and high-energy dry foods. Each kit includes water purification tablets, bleach powder, essential medications such as anti-nausea drugs, vitamin C supplements, antacids, cough syrup, anti-diarrheal medicine, and pain relievers. It also contains antiseptics, bandages, chocolates, biscuits, and nuts for energy. Nubah also mentioned that handmade water filters are being developed to provide clean water for up to two months. The kits will be distributed in areas where flood waters are receding, starting with Feni and Cumilla.

Law enforcers have recovered 3,880 arms looted in recent times from police stations, police lines, police outposts and other places, till September 1 (Sunday). Police headquarters shared this information this afternoon. Moreover, a total of 2,86,353 rounds of bullets, 22,201 tear gas shells, and 2,139 sound grenades have been recovered till date, it said. A large number of arms and ammunition were looted from the police stations and other protected zones after attacking law enforcers before and after August 5. Members of the Bangladesh Army have also been working to recover the looted arms across the country.