চট্টগ্রাম

Incessant rainfall-triggered floods and landslides have claimed 30 lives across the southeastern region-- including 19 in Cox’s Bazar, five in Chattogram, five in Bandarban, and one in Rangamati-- Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu informed parliament on Thursday.  Delivering a formal statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure in the Jatiya Sangsad, the minister emphasized that the administration is treating the safety of affected populations in Chattogram and the Chattogram Hill Tracts with the highest priority, operating on a war footing to deliver emergency relief and meet immediate humanitarian needs. To accommodate displaced residents, the government has set up 1,057 total shelters, comprising 41 in Chattogram, 640 in Cox’s Bazar, 21 in Rangamati, 135 in Khagrachhari, and 220 in Bandarban. Current figures show 8,340 people housed in Chattogram, 126 in Rangamati, 1,755 in Khagrachhari, and 2,173 in Bandarban.  To jumpstart the response, an initial allocation of BDT 1 million in Gratuitous Relief cash and 200 metric tonnes of rice was dispatched to each of the five districts on July 7, followed by expanded disbursements approved on Thursday.  Read More 5 of a Family Dead as Landslides Triggered by Heavy Rains Bury Homes in Lama Under the latest tranche, Chattogram received BDT 2.5 million, Cox’s Bazar BDT 2 million, and Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban received BDT 1 million each. Additionally, extra food stocks totaling 300 metric tonnes of rice for Chattogram, 250 metric tonnes for Cox’s Bazar, and 200 metric tonnes each for the remaining three districts were allocated. Public loudspeaker announcements remain active to persuade individuals in vulnerable zones to evacuate, while shelters have been provisioned with safe drinking water, proper sanitation, baby food, and three daily meals. Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund has routed BDT 2 million to each affected district.  "The Prime Minister is closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary directives. More emergency assistance will be allocated if required," Dulu stated.  Addressing the recurring fatalities caused by landslides, he noted that the government stands ready to rehabilitate families residing on hazardous hill slopes by building homes on available khas and state-owned land, while urging local parliamentarians to spearhead public awareness and support relocation efforts to curb future casualties.  Concurrently, State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin reported to Parliament that 1,300 metric tonnes of rice had already been distributed across the three hill districts on Wednesday. With Inputs from UNB

The Chattogram district administration today (Monday) urged residents of nine hazardous hills in the port city to evacuate immediately due to the risk of landslides. The authorities have also set up shelter centres at different locations across the city for people living illegally on these vulnerable hills. The initiative aims to prevent possible casualties during the monsoon season, when prolonged rainfall saturates the soil and increases the risk of landslides, threatening the lives of people living in these vulnerable hill areas. Since this morning, the authorities have been making announcements through loudspeakers at nine locations, including Debpahar, Tigerpass, Battali Hill and Miar Pahar, urging residents to leave their makeshift homes, as Chattogram and its surrounding areas have been experiencing heavy rainfall for the fourth consecutive day. Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah told BSS that the Bangladesh Meteorological Department had advised maritime ports to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No. 3, indicating an increased risk of landslides. "In view of the warning, the district administration has been urging people living in hazardous hill areas to move to safe shelters through miking," he said. Efforts are underway to evacuate residents from Akbarshah Jheel areas 1, 2 and 3, as well as Bijoynagar Hills, Shantinagar Hills and Beltalighona Hills. Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Chandgaon Circle Plaban Kumar Biswas told BSS that miking was being carried out in and around the Tankir Pahar and Amin Jute Mill areas. Shelters have been opened at Paharika, Samabaya Abasik, Samasmit Griha Nirman, Mia Pahar, the railway hill near Muradpur Railway Station, and several nearby schools and madrasas. Read More 8 Die in Landslides Across Cox’s Bazar, Including Women and Children Baklia Circle Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shifat Binte Ara told BSS that miking had also been conducted in the hazardous Motijharna hill area. In Baklia, announcements have been continuing since noon to alert people living on vulnerable hills and along riverbanks to move to safer places. Agrabad Circle Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanvir Hasan Turan told BSS that residents of the hills adjacent to the Lalkhan Bazar Pora Colony slum, Dhebarpar and Ambagan were also being urged through miking to relocate to safe shelters. People living near the seashore in North Halishahar have also been advised to evacuate. Meanwhile, Chattogram City Corporation employees, under the direction of Mayor Dr Shahdat Hossain, have been conducting miking since this morning, urging residents in all nine landslide-prone hill areas to move to safer locations.

The government has launched a major infrastructure initiative to bring Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, long affected by the presence of criminal groups, under full administrative control. As part of the drive, the Bangladesh Army's 34 Construction Brigade began construction work on four roads last Thursday under high-level directives.  Lt Col Md. Kamrul Al Masud, Commander of the 26 Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB) disclosed the development at a views-exchange meeting today. The planned road network includes routes from Chhinnamul to Alinagar High School, Alinagar to the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, and Alinagar via the BMA area to the Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway, along with an internal road system within the locality. Officials said the 3,100-acre area had long remained outside effective state control due to the influence of armed criminal groups, which severely restricted mobility and development activities. The current initiative follows a recent government decision to restore law and order and ensure administrative access in the area. The project, funded by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the DPM system, will also include the construction of bridges, culverts, drainage systems, and retaining walls. Work on the project is expected to be completed within six to seven months. Law enforcement agencies, including the Army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), are jointly providing security during implementation. Local residents said the road construction would significantly improve access to education, healthcare, and markets, and is expected to open up new opportunities for trade and development in the long-neglected area.

“These are common occurrences here, no big deal” — this was the remark made by those present at the Teribazar Traders' Association office when a female shopper, who was recently harassed and abused by a shop employee at the Teribazar commercial center, sent her brother to submit a formal complaint. They refused to accept the complaint letter and turned her brother away. Located just about 100 yards from Anderkilla in the heart of the city, the Teribazar commercial center houses more than two and a half thousand shops and eighty-two shopping malls. Not only retail shoppers, but wholesale traders from various sub-districts of the district also flock here. According to many, it is the country's second-largest and most reliable wholesale cloth trading hub after Islampur in the capital, Dhaka. Yet, shoppers coming here to buy goods, especially female shoppers, are constantly subjected to harassment and abuse. It is learned that employees or owners of various shops in Teribazar use any opportunity to behave indecently and offensively, and make vulgar remarks towards female buyers. The incident of extreme harassment and abuse of a female shopper at the hands of an employee of such a shop occurred on May 19, right during the bustling Eid market. Later, hiding her identity, she detailed the event in a post on a Chittagong-based Facebook group. The comment section of the post revealed many group members sharing various embarrassing incidents they faced, including harassment, abuse, and even sexual harassment by different shop employees and owners in the market. Following the trail of the post, this reporter contacted the victimized female shopper, who admitted to the authenticity of the event and shared the details. She disclosed that her name is Puja Chowdhury (26); she is a resident of Chittagong city and a recommended officer under the Department of Posts. Relating the details of the incident to RTV, she said, "On that day, at around 9:30 PM, I went to a shop named 'Ajmir Shopping Center' in Teribazar to buy unstitched fabric. After fixing the price with the shop employee, he cut the fabric without confirming how much I actually needed and started forcing me to buy the entire cut portion. Amid the altercation, he first began behaving poorly and then started addressing me disrespectfully as 'tui' (an informal/derogatory form of address). When I protested, the employee aggressively advanced to beat me and even lunged at me with a shoe. Although nearby shoppers and regular salespersons from a few other shops came forward and tried to restrain him, he did not stop; rather, he continued to hurl abusive and obscene language. At one point, he even attempted to touch me physically." The victim added, "Seeing that the situation was getting worse, I pulled out my mobile phone to call '999' for help. At that moment, the employee tried to snatch my phone and the bag I was carrying, and threatened to violate my modesty. During this crisis, a neighboring shopkeeper assisted me and asked me to stand in front of his shop so that the employee from Ajmir Shopping Center could not misbehave with me any further." When asked if she received immediate assistance upon calling 999 to ask for help, the victimized shopper Puja Chowdhury said, "They connected me to the duty officer of the nearest police station, which is Chittagong Kotwali Police Station. However, instead of coming to rescue me from that location, the officer told me to visit the station and lodge a written complaint, saying they would take action then. How could I go to the police station alone to file a written complaint in such a harrowing situation? Generally, large markets display the phone numbers of the traders' association or owners' association, or at least maintain an office or a control room to ensure the rights and safety of shoppers. But unfortunately, there was no such number anywhere to get immediate help, and under those circumstances, it was impossible for me to go looking for an office room." Read More Four Dead, 10 Injured in Nadda Bus Collision She further stated, "Somehow managing to leave that place, I informed my family members, several friends, and well-wishers about the incident. It was then that I found out such incidents happen quite frequently in this market. Shop employees and even owners misbehave, intimidate, and harass female shoppers. Many male shoppers also face embarrassing situations here. I am a recommended citizen for a government job and know a bit more about the law than others. If I have to be harassed and humiliated like this, one can only imagine how ordinary shoppers are treated! Later, I informed a local organization working for women's rights and safety. They advised me to file a GD (General Diary) at the police station and submit a complaint letter to the president of the traders' association. The organization assured me that they would accompany me to the association's office after the Eid holidays to resolve the issue, ensure exemplary punishment for the guilty employee, and compel the association to take all possible initiatives so that such incidents do not recur." When questioned whether complaints had been submitted to the Kotwali Police Station and the association, she said, "I went to the police station twice myself to file a General Diary (GD). I spoke with multiple officers on duty there, and the process of filing the GD is still underway. However, yesterday (Tuesday), I sent the complaint letter to the association office through my brother. But those present there not only refused to accept it but instead told my brother—'These are common occurrences here, no big deal'. In a country where various quarters are vocal about women's safety and rights, and various anti-eveteasing and anti-rape campaigns are active, the harassment of a female shopper is seen as completely normal by those in charge at Teribazar! I demand a fair trial and exemplary punishment so that no other female shopper has to suffer such harassment or abuse in the future." To learn about the police action regarding this untoward harassment incident, the duty officer of Chittagong Kotwali Police Station was contacted over the phone on Wednesday (May 27). He stated that if Puja Chowdhury had filed a GD, its record would be at the station and a copy would be provided to her as well. However, simply filing a complaint does not leave a permanent record. Whether a GD or a complaint is lodged, the police take immediate action. Nevertheless, noting that it was not possible to provide detailed information without looking at the records at that moment and mentioning his busyness, the officer on duty requested the reporter to hang up the phone. The Teribazar commercial center operates under the management of the 'Teribazar Traders' Association'. Therefore, when the association's office number was dialed to seek a response on this matter, President Abdul Mannan spoke with the reporter. He stated, "I have already come to know about the incident involving the female shopper. Now the Eid holidays have started. Once the market reopens after the holidays, I will summon her along with the complaint letter." When informed that the matter would be published in the mass media, he replied, "Of course, the matter can appear in the media. We have no objection to that from our side."

The residents across 91 villages in Chattogram district are set to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on Wednesday, one day ahead of the rest of the country. These early celebrations are observed by the followers of two renowned local religious centers: the Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif in Satkania and the Shah Sufi Darbar Sharif in Chandanaish upazila.  The disciples traditionally align their lunar calendar and major Eid celebrations with Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations. The early festivities will span several hundred devotees across multiple upazilas in the district, including Patiya, Chandanaish, Satkania, Anowara, Banshkhali, Sitakunda, Lohagara, Boalkhali, and Fatikchari.  Read More Dhaka’s Recreation Centres All Set for Massive Influx of Eid Holidaymakers Devotees residing in parts of the neighboring Feni and Chandpur districts will also join the celebrations tomorrow. A total of 107 Eid congregations have been scheduled for Wednesday morning across the region.  The two largest congregations are slated to take place at 7 am at the Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif and the Shah Sufi Darbar Sharif in Elahabad village.  Additionally, eight other large-scale congregations will be held in various upazilas throughout the district. Meanwhile, the Chattogram district police confirmed that comprehensive security measures have been fully implemented across all venues to ensure safe, orderly and peaceful celebrations for the devotees.

MT Fossil, carrying 1,00,000 tons of Crude oil arrived at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port. Panama-flag carrier MT Fossil sailed from Fujairah Port, UAE and reached the outer anchorage early today (Friday), a senior official of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) said. This is the second shipment of crude to Bangladesh since the war in the Middle East began.  Eastern Refinery, lone state-owned oil refinery produces 16 types of oil products including LPG, petrol, octane, kerosene, diesel, and furnace oil from crude oil. The crude oil distillation unit of Eastern Refinery was temporarily closed down in the night of April 12 as crude oil stocks ran out.  However, during this time, ships carrying lakhs of tonnes of refined diesel and octane from Singapore and Malaysia arrived at the port one after another, resolving the fuel crisis quickly. Eastern Refinery General Manager (Operations and Planning) Md. Mustafizur Rahman said, MT Fossil has reached the outer anchorage and the lightering process is underway. Port officials said, after customs formalities and surveyor company procedures, the process of lightering or transferring the crude oil to Eastern Refinery in Patenga will begin. Read More Rajasthan Camel Becomes Star Attraction at Cumilla Farm ahead of Eid A vessel ‘Nordics Pollux' loaded with 100,000 tonnes of crude oil is stranded at Ras Tanura port in eastern Saudi Arabia due to closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Loading of one lakh tons of crude oil another ship at Yanbu Port of Saudi Arabia on May 30 has been finalized.  The initiative was taken to bring crude oil from Yanbu port on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia as an alternative source. MT Ninemia with more than 100,000 tonnes of crude anchored at Chattogram Port on April 21 and successfully unloaded the oil at the Eastern Refinery in Patenga on May 6. The state-owned Eastern Refinery refines 15 lakh tonnes of crude oil annually, meeting about 20 percent of the country’s annual demand of 72 lakh tonnes.   Nearly 92 percent of the country’s fuel oil is imported to meet its needs, with the remaining 8 percent obtained from local sources and condensate processing. Diesel is the most in-demand fuel, followed by furnace oil, petrol, octane, kerosene, and jet fuel. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, BPC sold 68 lakh 35 thousand 341 tons of fuel.

A major fire broke out at the 'Chattogram Shopping Complex' in the city’s Sholoshohor area on Saturday morning, causing panic among local shopkeepers and shoppers. The fire reportedly originated at a shop on the ground floor of the commercial hub, located near the city’s No. 2 Gate, at approximately 10 am.  Fueled by flammable materials within the retail space, the flames spread quickly before emergency services arrived. Upon receiving the alert, five units from the Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene.  Read More 51,000 Tonnes of Octane and Furnace Oil Due at Chattogram Port Wednesday Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly an hour, successfully bringing it under control and preventing it from spreading to the upper floors of the massive complex. Jashim Uddin, assistant director of the Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence, stated that an electrical short circuit is initially suspected as the cause of the fire.  "Five firefighting units worked to extinguish the flames. We are currently investigating to determine the exact extent of the damage," he added. Fortunately, no immediate casualties were reported, though the fire caused significant damage to the ground-floor establishment where it began.