Mild cold wave may spread at different districts
Mild cold wave that is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Naogaon, Dinajpur and Moulvibazar may spread.
Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) today (Jan 20).
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Night and day temperature may fall slightly over the country.
Country’s maximum temperature was 27.5 degree Celsius at Sandip, Sitakunda, Feni and Cox’s Bazar and minimum was 9.6 degree Celsius at Srimangal.
The sun will set at 5.36pm today at Dhaka and rise at 6.43am tomorrow (Jan 21).
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Ship Robbed in Chandpur's Meghna River, 6 Killed
In the Meghna River of Chandpur, the dead bodies of six people have been recovered from a cargo ship. It is suspected that they may have been killed in a pirate attack.
The bodies were discovered after 1 pm on Monday (December 23).
Lieutenant Colonel Shams, Staff Officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard (Dhaka Zone), confirmed the incident to the media.
The ship is identified as MV Al-Bakhera, and it was anchored at the time of the discovery.
5 Arrested for Harassing a Freedom Fighter
Five individuals have been arrested for harassing Abdul Hai Kanu, a valiant freedom fighter, by forcibly placing a garland of shoes around his neck in Chauddagram, Cumilla. Later, they were presented before the court under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
Chauddagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) ATM Akhtar-Uz-Zaman confirmed the matter on Tuesday (December 24) afternoon.
The arrested individuals are Ismail Hossain Majumder (43) and Md Jamal Uddin Majumder (58) from Kuliyara village in Chauddagram. Ilias Bhuiyan (58), Abul Kalam Azad (48), an imam of Kuliyara Mosque from Raikot village in Nangalkot, and Imtiaz Abdullah Sajjad (19) from Chandpur District Sadar.
According to the OC, since no formal case has been filed in this regard, the arrested individuals were presented to the court under Section 54. They were identified through viral social media video footage of the incident. Police teams are actively conducting operations to apprehend other suspects involved.
Cold Wave Grips Panchagarh, Temperature Drops to 9°C
A mild cold wave has been sweeping over Panchagarh, a northern district of the country nestled at the foothills of the Himalayas for two consecutive days. The piercing cold wind has severely disrupted the daily lives of the district's residents.
On Wednesday (December 25) at 9 am, the temperature was recorded at 9.3°C. Earlier at 6 am, it was slightly higher at 9.4°C.
Meanwhile, the biting cold has caused great suffering for the locals, especially due to a lack of warm clothing. Daily activities have been hampered, particularly for low-income individuals. At night, dense fog falls like drizzle, adding to the chilling conditions. The elderly and children are facing extreme discomfort in this bone-chilling cold.
Jitendra Nath Roy, an official at the first-class weather observation station in Tetulia, confirmed that the district is experiencing a mild cold wave. He reported that the temperature was recorded at 9.4°C at 6 am and 9.3°C at 9 am.
Midnight Blaze at Secretariat Rages On for Hours
A devastating fire that broke out in Building 7 of the Secretariat, the administrative hub of the nation located in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, could not be extinguished even after five hours of relentless efforts.
The fire has already spread to several floors, including the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Tragically, a firefighter, Sohanur Rahman Noyon, lost his life after being hit by a covered van while working to control the blaze.
As of 7 AM on Thursday (December 26), 19 units of the Fire Service were engaged in efforts to bring the fire under control. A video posted on the official Facebook page of the Fire Service showed the entire length of Building 7 engulfed in flames, with the blaze visible from outside.
The fire reportedly began around midnight in Building 7. Initially, at 1:54 AM, the Fire Service unit stationed at the Secretariat attempted to control the fire. However, as the fire's intensity increased, 19 units were deployed sequentially to battle the blaze.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the entire Secretariat area, including Segunbagicha and Purana Paltan, was shrouded in black smoke. Traffic in the surrounding roads came to a halt. A significant number of personnel from the Army, Police, and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were present at the site, assisting the Fire Service in extinguishing the fire.
Confirming the deployment of law enforcement, BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam stated that two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had been deployed for rescue assistance following the fire in Building 7 of the Secretariat.
Meanwhile, the Fire Service worker who was hit by a covered van succumbed to his injuries. Initially, he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition, where doctors pronounced him dead. The driver and helper of the covered van have been detained in connection with the incident.
Witnesses reported that the firefighter was arranging an alternative water supply to tackle the fire. While crossing the road with a pipe on his shoulder, he was hit from behind by a speeding covered van, causing him to fall onto the road. His helmet came off on impact, and bloodstains were visible on the road.
The driver of the covered van attempted to flee via the road in front of the Public Works Department building. However, students set up a barricade, forcing the driver to stop. They apprehended him, transported him on a motorcycle, and handed him over to law enforcement. During this time, an agitated crowd attempted to assault the driver, but army personnel brought the situation under control.
Speaking about the incident, Fire Service Duty Officer Rafi Al Faruk confirmed that the injured (later deceased) firefighter was rescued following the road accident and admitted to DMCH.
Regarding the fire, he stated, "At 1:52 AM today (Thursday), we received a report of a fire in Building 7 of the Secretariat. In response, 19 of our units are currently working at the site. Based on available information, the fire appears to be large. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have yet to be determined."
Fire at Secretariat Brought Under Control After 6 Hours
The fire at Building No. 7 of the Secretariat, the administrative hub of the country, has been brought under control after six hours.
On Thursday (December 26) morning, Brigadier General Muhammad Zahid Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Directorate, confirmed the information to RTV News.
He stated, "The fire at the Secretariat was brought under control at 8:05 a.m."
The fire broke out earlier in the night at Building No. 7 of the Secretariat. Initially, the fire service unit stationed at the Secretariat began efforts to extinguish the blaze at 1:54 a.m. However, as the intensity of the fire increased, 19 units gradually joined the operation to control the situation.
Tragically, a fire service member, Sohanuzzaman Noyon, lost his life during the firefighting efforts after being struck by a truck.
It has been reported that Sohanuzzaman Noyon was injured while crossing the road to connect a water line from a pump. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Private Car Hit by Bus on Expressway, 5 Dead
A road accident on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway has left 5 people dead and at least 10 others injured.
The incident occurred on Friday morning (December 27) near the Dhaleshwari Toll Plaza.
Reports indicate that a bus lost control and collided with a private car at the Dhaleshwari Toll Plaza in the morning. The accident claimed the lives of 5 individuals, including pedestrians, and left at least 10 others injured. The injured have been rescued and sent to the hospital.
Dewan Azad, Station Officer of the Srinagar Upazila Fire Service, stated that the injured were sent to Dhaka Mitford Hospital. Among them, five people died on the way to the hospital.
Clash Between 2 Parties in Madaripur, 3 Dead Including Father, Son
Three people, including a father and son, were killed during a clash between two parties over territorial control with a bomb explosion in Kalkini Upazila of Madaripur. At least 10 others were injured in the incident.
The incident occurred early in the morning on Friday, December 27, in the Madhyerchar area of the
Banshgari Union.
The deceased are Akhtar Shikdar (42), the son of Matiur Rahman Shikdar from Madhyerchar, his son Maruf Shikdar (20), and Sirajul Chowkidar (35) from Khunerchar village. Akhtar Shikdar was a member of Ward No. 8 of Banshgari Union and the Senior Vice President of the local Awami League. Sirajul Chowkidar was a farmer and day laborer.
According to the police and local sources, there had been a long-standing feud between the Fakir and Shikdar families over control of the area. After the fall of the government on August 5, Awami League leader Akhtar Shikdar left the area.
On the morning of the incident, Akhtar Shikdar and his supporters were returning to the Madhyerchar area via the New Bazar of Shariatpur when Jalil Fakir's supporters gathered in the area, alerting locals through loudspeakers. Subsequently, Akhtar's group and Jalil's supporters engaged in a violent clash using local weapons. Several hand grenades exploded during the altercation, causing panic. Akhtar Shikdar died on the spot due to the bomb blast. His son, Maruf Shikdar, who was severely injured by the explosion, later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital. Sirajul Chowkidar, also injured in the bomb blast, died on his way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
In the clash, at least 10 people from both parties were injured and received treatment at hospitals in Barishal's Muladi and Shariatpur's Damudya Upazila, as well as private hospitals. To control the situation, the authorities deployed RAB, police, and military forces in the Banshgarhi area.
The officer-in-charge (OC) of Kalkini Police Station, Mohammad Humayun Kabir stated that three people from one party died in the clash. After the father and son, their supporter, Sirajul Chowkidar, died on the way to Dhaka. Police are conducting raids to arrest the perpetrators. The situation is now under control, and the bodies are being sent to the morgue for autopsies.