United News of Bangladesh

The DMP Educational Scholarship is not merely financial assistance but recognition of students’ merit, hard work, perseverance, dreams and future potential, DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said Saturday. “The success of DMP members’ children is a matter of great pride and joy for their families as well as the DMP,” he said. The commissioner was speaking at the ‘DMP Educational Scholarship-2025’ distribution ceremony at the Rajarbagh Police lines Auditorium. He said DMP members work day and night to ensure people’s security and often have to stay at their workplaces during important family occasions while performing duties in rain or shine, late at night and during different festivals. “The contribution of police families is also very important behind these responsibilities,” he said, adding that their children’s success was one of the biggest sources of inspiration for their sacrifices. Addressing the scholarship recipients, Mosleh Uddin urged them to take the recognition as inspiration for greater achievements and build themselves as a source of inspiration for others. He said today’s meritorious students would lead Bangladesh in different fields in the future, create new knowledge, serve people and contribute to the country’s development. A total of 437 meritorious children of DMP members received the ‘DMP Educational Scholarship-2025’. Of them, 249 students at secondary and higher secondary levels received merit scholarships, while 188 received higher education support scholarships. The DMP commissioner handed over the scholarship money to the students as the chief guest. He congratulated all the recipients and wished them a bright future, a beautiful life and overall success.

Police recovered the body of an advocate, identified as Anwar Hossain, 30, from a rented room in the capital’s Lalbagh area on Saturday. Police recovered the body from a room on the second floor of a house at 10/2, Fala Mosque Lane in Shahid Nagar-3 of Lalbagh and later sent it to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Youth shot at Lalbagh succumbs to injuries Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman said locals had seen Anwar on Thursday. “Initially, it is suspected that he died either Thursday night or Friday,” he said, adding that he was living alone there. Police were informed on Saturday morning after a foul smell was noticed coming from the room, the DC said. The actual cause of death will be known after receiving the post-mortem report, he added. According to house owner Monir Hossain, Anwar had rented the room earlier this month for Tk 4,000 a month and lived there alone. A CID forensic team collected various pieces of evidence from the scene. Police also found an address — 312 Jagannath Saha Road — on Anwar’s driving licence and contacted his relatives. Talebur Rahman, along with additional deputy commissioner and the officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station, visited the scene. The body was subsequently sent to the forensic department morgue of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam on Saturday urged journalists to criticise the government’s mistakes and shortcomings, but also provide positive suggestions to help the country move forward without creating unnecessary obstacles to its functioning. “The government’s mistakes and shortcomings should be criticised, but alongside criticism, positive suggestions should be given so that the country can move forward without creating unnecessary obstacles to the government’s journey,” he said. DSCC administrator pledges to turn city areas greener Abdus Salam made the remarks as the chief guest at a programme organised at the IDB Bhaban in Kakrail in the capital on the occasion of the fifth founding anniversary of The Daily Bangladesh Diary. He said journalism is an integral part of society and newspapers are regarded as the fourth estate of the state. “Journalists have responsibilities to the country, the people and society. Journalists played an unforgettable role in various movements and struggles of the country, including the Liberation War. By highlighting irregularities and shortcomings in society and criticising them, they play a role in guiding society in the right direction,” he said. Referring to the Liberation War, Abdus Salam said more than 50 years have passed since independence, but the country has yet to reach its desired destination. “One of the main objectives of the Liberation War against Pakistan was to institutionalise democracy and establish people’s rights. But democracy has stumbled repeatedly,” he said. He said the country’s democratic journey had begun anew after 17 to 19 years of movements and struggles. “Everyone must remain aware so that this journey is not disrupted and the country does not once again fall off the path of democracy,” he said. Addressing journalists, he said positive criticism is necessary to help the country move forward. “But unnecessary obstacles should not be created in the government’s journey. It is not possible to solve all the electricity and gas problems within five or six months of taking responsibility. The government should be given positive suggestions on how these problems can be solved,” he said. Talking about urban management in Dhaka, Abdus Salam said the city management system was largely in disarray when he assumed responsibility. “Battery-run rickshaws, hawkers and waterlogging are longstanding problems. Most areas of Old Dhaka have not undergone systematic development. Many drains have also lost their capacity to drain rainwater. As a result, areas including Dhanmondi, New Market and Green Road become waterlogged after even light rainfall,” he said. Regarding plans to control battery-run rickshaws, he said Dhaka South City Corporation is planning to divide its area into four zones so that rickshaws from one area could not enter another. “Alongside preventing rickshaws from Narayanganj and surrounding areas from entering Dhaka, efforts are being made to bring the rickshaws under registration. There are also plans to use solar power instead of illegally using electricity to charge their batteries,” he said. He urged citizens to become more aware of dengue prevention, saying the three-month programme could not be implemented by the city corporation alone. “Everyone has to come forward. Houses, courtyards, rooftops and nearby drains must be kept clean. Water should not be allowed to remain stagnant anywhere for more than three days,” he said. Abdus Salam also stressed the importance of planting trees to protect the environment. He urged journalists, editors and newspaper owners to play their role in raising public awareness. “If everyone works together, Bangladesh will move much further forward and Dhaka will become a clean and green city,” he said.

Two books authored by former Bangladeshi diplomats - "Serendipity in Diplomacy, Between Protocol & Politics", a memoir by Ambassador Mahmud Hasan and "In Search of a Role Model" by Ambassador M. Fazlul Karim - were launched in Dhaka on Saturday. The books were launched at a programme organised by the Association of Former Ambassadors of Bangladesh (AOFA) at the Foreign Service Academy. Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, a former foreign secretary and former ambassador, attended the programme as the chief guest. Ambassador Golam Mohammad, Secretary General of AOFA, delivered the welcome remarks, while AOFA President Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hasan moderated the discussion sessions on both books.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Thursday said the government is working to install new water pumps to resolve the long-standing water crisis in the capital’s Pallabi and Rupnagar areas, apart from a plan to construct a government hospital in Pallabi. “Water pumps will be installed in phases in areas experiencing severe shortages, including Wards 2 and 3, and Bauniabad’s Block C,” he said. The State Minister made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of a deep tube well and a mini-road construction project at Block C in Pallabi’s Bauniabad area arranged by Pallabi Thana Ward-5, BNP. “Land has already been allocated for several pumps, while the process for acquiring more space is underway. Dhaka WASA is working sincerely to expedite the installation process, and work on a few pumps has already begun,” he said. The State Minister assured that the government will work relentlessly over the next five years to address the water crisis and other civic issues in Pallabi and Rupnagar, seeking cooperation from the locals. “Directives have been issued to construct a hospital in Pallabi, and the proposal for its approval has been forwarded to the Health Ministry,” he said. He also said discussions are currently ongoing with the health and land ministries to identify and finalize a suitable location for the facility. “Inshallah, a government hospital will be built for you,” he assured the audience. Chaired by Haji Md Badsha Mia, president of Pallabi Thana Ward-5 BNP, the event was moderated by its acting general secretary, Md Aslam Hossain Gazi. Dhaka North City BNP Joint Convener Mahbub Alam Montu, Pallabi Thana BNP Acting Convener Anisur Rahman, Senior Joint Convener Ashraf Ali Gazi, Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal Convener Nur Salam, Swechchhasebak Dal Member Secretary Rabiul Karim Babu, and Mohila Dal leader Syeda Dilara Poli were present, among others.

A fire broke out on the roof of a four-storey building in the capital’s Mohakhali area on Thursday. The fire started at around 11:11 am in abandoned plastic materials kept on the rooftop of the building, said Talha Bin Zashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell). The Fire Service reached the spot at 11:28 am, he added. The fire was brought under control around 11:40am with the help of three units from Tejgaon Fire Station, Talha said. There is a power substation on the third floor of the building, but there is no risk of the fire spreading, he said.

A fire that broke out at an Apex footwear showroom in the capital’s Dhanmondi area on Thursday morning was brought under control around noon. The Fire Service received information about the fire at around 10:05am and reached the spot at 10:15am, said Talha Bin Zashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell). Four units from Mohammadpur Fire Station were initially working to bring the blaze under control, while two more units were on their way to the scene. The fire was brought under control at around 12:00pm, he said.

Gas supply will remain suspended for eight hours in several areas of Dhaka on Thursday due to pipeline relocation and tie-in work under the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said. According to a notice issued by Titas Gas, the supply will be suspended from 1:00pm to 9:00pm on September 10 in Basabo, Khilgaon, Madartek, Shahjahanpur, Sipahibagh, Tilpapara, Malibagh, Shantibagh and Taltala Market and adjoining areas. The interruption is required to facilitate the installation of valves on both sides of the railway tracks at the Shahjahanpur railway crossing and the tie-in work for relocating a distribution pipeline as part of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project. The temporary suspension will affect residential and commercial customers in the specified areas. Titas Gas also said customers in surrounding areas could experience low gas pressure during the work. The gas distribution company apologised for the temporary inconvenience caused to its customers and other stakeholders.

A youth died after being stabbed in the capital’s Shah Ali area early Monday. The deceased was identified as Mehedi Hasan, 25, son of Md Alam of Sahebganj village in Faridganj Upazila of Chandpur. He used to live in Borbag area under Mirpur Police Station and worked as a signboard maker. Mehedi was stabbed on the road in front of Shah Ali Mohila College around 12:30am on Monday, said witnesses. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he died at around 6:15am while undergoing treatment. Shah Ali Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Atowar Rahman said police detained a man carrying a knife near the college around midnight. Shortly afterward, they learned that a youth was stabbed nearby allegedly by the detained man. Police are investigating the incident and legal proceedings are underway, he added.  

A 32-year-old man was shot dead and another injured in an attack by some criminals in Dhalpur area of Jatrabari in the capital early  Monday. The deceased was identified as Imran, son of Khokon Ali, a resident of Sardar Goli in Dhalpur while the injured person was identified as Mohammad Zakaria, 33, of North Dhalpur. Police and hospital sources said Imran sustained a gunshot wound to his head, while Zakaria was shot in his leg. Both were taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared Imran dead at around 12:07am.Zakaria is receiving treatment at the hospital. Quoting Zakaria, police said six to seven helmet-wearing attackers opened fire at a youth in North Dhalpur while shouting, “Imran, don’t run.” Zakaria said he was also hit by a bullet in the leg during the attack. According to Zakaria’s wife, Jhinuk Akter, her husband runs a rickshaw garage in Dhalpur Sardar Goli. Imran and Zakaria were sitting in front of the garage at night when seven to eight helmeted men riding four motorcycles opened fire at them indiscriminately, she said. Inspector Mohammad Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said Imran’s body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. Police were investigating the incident and trying to identify those involved in the attack.