United News of Bangladesh

At least 20 people have died and 171 others injured after a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone School and College in Uttara, according to the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR). Injured pilot Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam Sagar died at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, it said. In a press release issued on Monday, ISPR shared the hospital-wise list of casualties. Uttara aircraft crash: Death toll rises to 19, over 50 injured

A training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed in Dhaka’s Uttara area on Monday afternoon, leaving at least 19 people dead and an unspecified number of people including students injured. At a press briefing at the scene, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Brigadier General Md Jahed Kamal said 19 people gave died so far and the rescue operation is underway,” he said. Lima Khanam, a duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) control room, said the crash was reported at Milestone School and College around 1:18 pm. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene immediately, she said. Dr Abhijit, director of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said at least 50 injured people were brought to the hospital and the number is rising. BAF Aircraft Crash: Emergency service centre opened at Burn Institute An energy service unit has been opened to provide treatment to the aircraft crash victims, he said. Witnesses reported that the aircraft burst into flames upon impact, leaving an unspecified number of people injured. Several of the injured were rescued and taken to the Burn Institute in Dhaka, while others were airlifted due to the severity of their injuries.  A number of injured students were also admitted to Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital (BMSRI). The fate of the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam Sagar, remains unclear as of filing this report. Talha Bin Zashim, media cell station officer at FSCD headquarters, said eight firefighting units from Uttara, Tongi, Pallabi, Kurmitola, Mirpur, and Purbachal were working to control the blaze and assist in the rescue effort. A BAF rescue team also reached the site and joined the operation, UNB’s correspondent reports. Several ambulances arrived at the location to transport the injured, while local residents and Milestone College students were seen helping emergency responders. Bangladesh declares one-day state mourning Tuesday for aircraft crash victims To assist with rescue efforts and maintain order, two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer at the BGB headquarters. A large crowd gathered at the crash site, which has caused disruptions to rescue operations.

An SSC examinee was killed after being hit by a truck in Uttara area of the capital on Sunday. The deceased was Naim, 16, son of Nazrul Islam of Haluaghat upazila in Mymensingh  and a commerce group student of Uttara High School and College. He used to live with his family in Pakuria area of Uttara. Witnesses said when Naim was crossing the road in front of BNS Centre in Azampur area after the end of his today’s exam a truck struck him, leaving him critically injured. His classmates rescued him and first took him to a local hospital. Two expats killed in accidents in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia Later, he was shifted to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 3:15 pm where doctors declared him dead. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost, said that Naim’s body has been kept at the hospital morgue.  Locals managed to stop the truck involved in the accident.

Detectives arrested Md Shaher Alam Murad, former general secretary of Dhaka south unit of Awami League (AL), from Uttara of Dhaka on Thursday morning. Md Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, said Murad, also an executive member of Dhaka metropolitan unit of the AL, was rounded up from a house in Uttara in the morning. Murad is accused in several cases filed with different police stations in Dhaka. Following the fall of the AL government on August 5 last, many high-profile AL leaders fled the country while some were arrested.

DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrested three operatives of the banned outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir from Uttara of the capital early Friday. The arrestees are Monirul Islam, 40, Mohtasin Billah, 40, and Mahmudul Hasan, 21. Md Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said the three were arrested from sectors 11 and 12 under Uttara Paschim police station after conducting the drive since 12:15am. A CTTC team launched the operation after being tipped-off that several Hizb ut-Tahrir men were secretly planning to organise a gathering titled ‘March for Khilafah at Baitul Mukarram Mosque, he said. Two Hizb ut-Tahrir men arrested from Dhaka’s Turag: Authorities Later, the operatives were arrested and police seized some documents of the organisation from them, he said. A case was filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act with the relevant police station, Talebur said. During the primary interrogation, the arrestees admitted that they were active members of the organisation, the deputy commissioner added.

Police in a drive arrested four members of a robber gang from the Uttara area of the capital on Monday. The arrestees were identified as Md. Jumman Kazi (24), Md. Hasnain (28), Md. Mizanur Rahman Gazi (24), and Md. Hossain (20). They were apprehended around 8:25 pm on Monday from the Sector No. 10 area of Uttara West, police said on Tuesday. According to Uttara West Police, the patrol team arrested the suspects while they were positioned on the Ashulia-Abdullahpur highway in front of Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College. At the time, they were carrying 15 to 16 country-made weapons, preparing for a robbery. Around 10 to 12 of their accomplices managed to flee the scene. Police recovered a machete, two knives, and an iron chain from their possession. Initial questioning revealed that the arrested individuals were active members of a well-organized gang involved in robberies and snatching. The gang members typically stayed along the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Ashulia highways, armed with machetes, knives, and iron chains. They would ambush pedestrians and vehicles, robbing them whenever an opportunity arose. Chinmoy Das’ bail hearing deferred to January 2 Md. Jumman Kazi, one of the arrested individuals, has two prior cases of robbery and snatching filed against him at the Pallabi and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations in the capital. The arrested suspects have been sent to court, and an investigation into the case is underway. Police are also conducting a drive to arrest other members of the gang who are still at large.  

Police has detained seven members of a teen gang in Uttara area of the capital on charges of kidnapping and extortion.  One of the arrestees was identified as Munna alias Chika Munna alias Imran Hossain, 24, said a press release issued on Sunday. Police also recovered a motorcycle, a knife, two mobile phones and Tk 2,000 in cash from their possession.  According to Uttara West Police Station, one of the gang members took the victims — Shakhawat Hossain and his friend Alamgir Hossain — to a secluded spot near Lake Drive Road in Sector 7 and robbed them at knifepoint on November 12. Later, the gang demanded a ransom of Tk 2 lakh. The gang snatched two mobile phones and Tk 19,600 from the victims. Joint Forces arrest 12 men with arms in Dhaka's Geneva Camp After physically assaulting them and failing to secure the ransom, the gang released the victims and fled the scene.  Police identified the gang members using intelligence information and technology. Legal proceedings against the detainees are underway, the release added.     

As part of the announced countrywide ‘Complete Shutdown’ from dawn to dusk today (July 18, 2024), students demanding quota system reform from several colleges and universities took to the streets in Dhaka’s Uttara. Their protest turned violent when police intervened to disperse them, leading to clashes. To bring the situation under control, police lobbed tear gas multiple times. Protesters then vandalized a police box and two buses. The clash occurred in front of Zamzam Tower in Uttara. Read more: Situation tense at Badda after students-police clash According to witnesses, the protestors gathered at the same location as on previous days. Upon receiving news of the gathering, police rushed to the scene and began firing tear gas shells to clear the street, which sparked the confrontation. At one point, protesters retaliated by hurling brickbats at the police, leading to repeated chase and counter-chase. During the clash, demonstrators vandalized a traffic police box near Zamzam Tower and damaged two buses. Sub-nspector (SI) Ripon, duty officer at Uttara Purbo Paschim Police Station, said that the clashes were going on and the extent of the damages was yet to be determined. Police officers are actively working at the scene. Read more: Shutdown cripples capital city amid clashes between police and protesters

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said a survey is underway for extension of Dhaka Metro Rail from Uttara to Tongi. He said this after inaugurating the Bangabandhu Corner at the DMTCL Building in Uttara’s Diabari. The minister said the construction work of metro rail’s Motijheel to Kamalapur part will be completed by June next year.  With Karwan Bazar and Shahbagh Stations opening today, Dhaka Metro Rail ends 2023 with a milestone A decision will be taken after discussion on extending service hours of metro rail on different days including Ijtema and Boi Mela, he said. “From today, metro rail started operating from Uttara North to Motijheel from 7:10 am every day except Friday and the last train from Motijheel will leave for Uttara North at 8:40 pm,” he said. The headway during peak hours will be 10 minutes and during off-peak hours it will be 12 minutes.  Metro rail’s Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh stations to open Dec 31 “This afternoon, I will travel from Uttara North to Motijheel by metro rail. I also urge you to travel regularly on time-saving and environment-friendly metro rail,” the minister said. “Maximum facilities for passengers will be ensured in metro rail. Six lines of the metro rail will be operational by 2030,” said the minister. Dhaka Metro Rail extends service hours on Uttara-Motijheel route; here are the timings 

Police arrested a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activist after two crude bombs were thrown at a police vehicle at the House Building area of Dhaka’s Uttara on Sunday morning (November 05, 2023). The arrestee was identified as GM Hasan, also former vice president of JCD's Gazipur city unit. Read: 11 BNP leaders-activists arrested in Narail The incident took place in front of Pubali Bank in Uttara’s House Building area at around 7:30am. Confirming the incident, Inspector (Operations) Partha Pratim Brahmachari of Uttara West Police Station, said miscreants threw two crude bombs targeting a police vehicle which was deployed in the area to tackle any untoward situation. One of the crude bombs exploded upon impact. Later, the law enforcers chased and arrested JCD activist involved in the attack, said Inspector Partha. Read: Six members of a Rohingya family arrested with 6,275 Yaba pills at HSIA The unexploded crude bomb was recovered from the spot, he added. Picketing and arson violence were reported across the capital since this morning amid the road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties across the country.