In accordance with their pre-announced ultimatum, the regular officials and employees of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) have declared a full-scale work stoppage and suspension of all passenger services starting at 7:00 AM on Friday (December 12). This decision comes after the company failed to formulate and publish a self-sufficient service rules (job-by-laws) by the December 9 deadline. The employees also announced that they will hold a peaceful demonstration daily in front of the DMTCL main office. This information was conveyed via a press release on Wednesday (December 10). Despite DMTCL being established 12 years ago in 2013, a separate and final service rules document has yet to be finalized for the company’s more than 900 officials and employees. Employees who joined through open recruitment since the start of commercial operation of the Metro Rail on December 28, 2022, complain that despite working day and night, they are being deprived of various fundamental benefits, including leave, CPF (Contributory Provident Fund), gratuity, shift allowance/overtime, and group insurance. It is reported that although the Service Rules were supposed to be formulated within 60 working days as per the Advisory Committee’s instruction on September 12, 2024, this was not implemented. Read More Election Schedule to be Announced This Evening Later, when employees launched a movement on February 13, 2025, the authority assured them on February 20 that the Service Rules would be finalized by March 20.  However, as this promise was also not fulfilled, intense resentment has built up among the employees over the last nine months. In a meeting with employees on December 10, the Managing Director stated that while the Board of Directors agreed on all clauses of the Service Rules, the Chapter XI concerning 'Special Provisions' remains an obstacle. This 'Special Provision' involves the controversial issue of assimilating manpower from Metro Rail projects into DMTCL, which employees claim contradicts the prevailing laws of Bangladesh and rulings of the Supreme Court. Employees allege that although the Board of Directors is willing to exclude the disputed provision, the publication of the Service Rules is being delayed due to pressure from the DMTCL authority. Deadline Missed, Work Stoppage Announced As the Service Rules were not published by the December 9 deadline, the employees declared that if the rules were not formulated even by December 11, a full-scale work stoppage would be observed, and passenger services would be completely shut down starting 7:00 AM on Friday, December 12.

The massive fire that broke out in Dhaka's Karail slum has been brought under control after five and a half hours, following the efforts of 19 units of the Fire Service. The fire was contained at 10:35 PM on Tuesday (November 25), after it initially started at 5:22 PM that afternoon. Anwarul Islam Dolan, an official from the Fire Service Headquarters' Media Cell, confirmed the information. He stated that 19 Fire Service units worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control by 10:35 PM. However, firefighters faced significant challenges in extinguishing the fire due to the congested nature of the slum and a severe water shortage at the scene. Fire Service officials reported that the fire was devastating, resulting in over a hundred slum dwellings being completely gutted. As of now, officials have not been able to confirm whether there were any casualties or injuries from the fire. The Fire Service has also not been able to immediately state the cause of the fire.

Unidentified assailants set fire to multiple buses and a private car across the capital late on Monday, November 10. The spate of arson attacks began in the evening and continued into the early hours of Tuesday. Incidents Reported Overnight Rayerbagh: A bus belonging to Rajdhani Paribahan was torched at 12:54 AM. The Fire Service was immediately dispatched and brought the blaze under control. Jatrabari: Another bus of Raida Paribahan was set on fire, with the report coming in at 2:08 AM. Two Fire Service units responded, extinguishing the flames by 2:30 AM. Bashundhara Gate (100-ft Road): An arson attack on a private car was reported at 2:35 AM. Fire Service and law enforcement personnel arrived at the scene. Uttara Sonargaon Janapad (Khalpar area): The latest incident saw a third bus, also of Raida Paribahan, set ablaze by miscreants at 4:00 AM. Fire Service units put out the fire at 4:20 AM. Earlier Incident The series of attacks began earlier in the evening when miscreants set a bus on fire in front of LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi around 7:30 PM. Fire Service Response: Duty Officer Khaleda Yasmin of the Fire Service control room confirmed that two units from the Mohammadpur Fire Station were dispatched and worked to bring the fire under control. Details Unknown: The Fire Service official could not confirm how the fire started or whether the bus was carrying passengers or was parked at the time of the attack. Fire Service and Civil Defence Duty Officer Md. Shahjahan Hossain confirmed the overnight incidents, providing the timeline of events as the fires were reported and subsequently extinguished across different areas of the city. No casualties were immediately reported in any of the attacks. Authorities are investigating the incidents.

Another chapter of pride has been added for expatriate Bangladeshis living in New York. The New York studio of the popular private television channel RTV was inaugurated with a spectacular event on the evening of October 20 in the Hillside area of Jamaica, New York. The inauguration ceremony was attended by expatriate Bangladeshi community leaders, media personalities, cultural activists, and artists residing in the United States. Among those who spoke at the event were Shahnewaz, proprietor of Golden Age Homecare; musician and BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) director Asif Akbar; Ahsan Habib of the Bangladesh Society; and many others. In his speech, RTV Chief Executive Officer Syed Ashik Rahman said, "By establishing a studio in New York, our responsibility towards expatriate Bangladeshis living in North America has increased." He commented that RTV is now more than just a channel; it has become the voice of global Bangladeshis. Various RTV programs, community coverage, and future plans were also discussed at the event. Musician Asif Akbar recalled fond memories of his long association with RTV during his speech. He stated, "RTV always broadcasts objective news." He expressed hope that RTV will serve as a window of information for expatriate Bangladeshis living in North America in the future. It is worth noting that the colorful inauguration event for the RTV New York Studio will be held in two parts. The first part took place on October 20, and the attractive second part will be held on the evening of October 27, New York time.

Prominent writer, researcher and leftist intellectual Badruddin Umar today passed away due to old-age complications at a city hospital at the age of 94. "Badruddin Umar died at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital at 10:05am after a long struggle with age-related complications," Jatiya Mukti Council Secretary Foyzul Hakim said in a statement.  Foyzul said he was admitted to the hospital on July 22 with shortness of breath and low blood pressure. After receiving treatment for 10 days, he was discharged last week, he added.  Badruddin Umar was born on December 20, 1931 in Bardhaman of India. His father Abul Hashim was a Muslim nationalist politician of the sub-continent.  His writings on the nationalist movement in Bangladesh, religion, and politics left an immense impact on the liberation of Bangladesh. Some of his famous works include Samprodayikota (1966), Sangskritir Sangkat (1967), and Sangskritik Samprodayikota (1969).  A longtime Marxist thinker, Badruddin Umar debuted his career as a part-time lecturer at Dhaka University. Then he founded the Department of Sociology at Rajshahi University.  He was the president of the Bangladesh Krishok Federation and served as central coordinator of the Gonotantrik Biplobi Jote. He was once a member of the central committee of the Purba Banglar Communist Party. In 2003, Badruddin established the Jatiya Mukti Council, where he served as president until his death.