ISPR
Fire at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market under control; smoke still billowing
The massive fire, which broke out at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market early this morning, is now under control.
The fire broke out at the market around 3:43 am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell).
Fire inside a parked train's private compartment kills nine in southern India
Seventeen firefighting units are working to fully douse the blaze. It was brought under control around 9:25 am.
Smoke is still billowing from the site, making it difficult for the firemen to work.
Fire breaks out at Mohammadpur furniture factory
No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report.
Fire breaks out at garment factory in Ctg
2 army personnel killed, 2 injured by KNA terrorists in Bandarban: ISPR
Two soldiers of Bangladesh Army were killed and two officers injured in an attack by armed terrorists of Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) in Ruma upazila of Bandarban district on Tuesday (May 16, 2023), said an ISPR press release issued on Wednesday (May 17, 2023).
The deceased were Altaf Ahmed and Md Touhid while the injured were Major Monwar and Captain Ishtiak Ahmed Shawkat.
According to the ISPR release, tipped off about a hideout of armed terrorists, a team of army, led by Major Monwar from Susingpara Army camp, conducted a drive at Jarulchharipara on Tuesday.
Read more: Army warrant officer killed as Kuki-Chin separatists open fire in Bandarban
When they reached near a water fountain at Jarulchhari around 1:55 pm, the armed KNA members opened fire on them and hurled improvised explosive device (IED) targeting the army personnel, leaving four of them injured.
Later, the wounded army personnel were airlifted to Chattogram Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where two soldiers succumbed to their injuries.
The injured army officers were undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Read More: Training commander of Jamatul Ansar, 8 other militants arrested in Bandarban: RAB
Earlier, on March 13, a senior army warrant officer was killed and two soldiers suffered injuries when members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) opened fire on a patrol team in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban district.
DGFI officer shot dead during anti-drugs drive at Tombru border: ISPR
An officer of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) was shot dead and a Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel was wounded while conducting a drive against drug smugglers at the Tombru border in Bandarban on Monday (November 14, 2022) night.
ISPR confirmed the information through a press release early today (November 15, 2022).
Gunshots were exchanged between the drug smugglers and the joint team of Rab and DGFI at the Tombru border with Myanmar, under the Ghumdhum union, which left the DGFI personnel dead and a Rab member injured, the press release said.
Read more: BGB-BGP flag meeting ends with Myanmar officially regretting border incidents
ISPR, however, did not reveal the names of the DGFI and Rab personnel yet.
Meanwhile, Sub-inspector Ripon Chowdhury, appointed at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, told the UNB correspondent that a Rab member was brought to the hospital around 10 pm with critical injury after being shot at the border during a drive.
Assistant Sub-inspector of Naikhongchhari police station Joydeb said they were informed about firing at Konarpara area near the border but don’t have information about who was involved.
Read more: Panic in Ghumdhum as Myanmar army engages insurgents close to border
Some locals claimed Myanmar insurgent group Al Yaqin members shot at a team of Rab-15 members at zero point of Bandarban's Tombru border around 7 pm last night while they were conducting a drive.
Army deployed to tackle flood in Sylhet, Sunamganj
The government has deployed army personnel in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts to speed up flood rescue and relief operations, according to ISPR.
Nine units of the Bangladesh Army started rescue operations in flood-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts in the afternoon.
“The troops have been deployed in Sylhet sadar, Gowainghat, Kompaniganj, Sunamganj sadar, Dirai, Chhatak, Doarabazar and Jamalganj upazilas to rescue the waterlogged people from their homes by boat and take them to safe shelter,” said an ISPR media release Friday.
In addition, troops have been deployed to protect food godowns in Sunamganj and the Kumargaon power station in Sylhet.
The following five tasks are assigned to the members of the army:
1. Rescue people trapped in water and take them to safe places.
2. Selection of temporary shelters with the help of civil administration and provision of accommodation for the rescued persons.
3. Provide medical assistance
4. Assist the civil administration in maintaining food godowns, power stations and other facilities.
5. Provide food and potable water.
International Day of UN Peacekeepers on Sunday
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Sunday as elsewhere in the world.
The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) will arrange a number of programmes on the day.
A programme commemorating the peacekeepers will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka Sunday morning.
Also read: Bangladesh to observe UN Peacekeepers Day on Sunday
The families and relatives of the injured and martyred peacekeepers will be honoured at the programme. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will join the programme through video-conferencing.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
President Abdul Hamid in his message said he hopes that Bangladeshi peacekeepers who are performing their duties with honesty, devotion and professionalism will be able to continue this trend for establishing world peace, harmony, and amity.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her full support to the UN for the protection and promotion of world peace on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh.
Also read: UN honours 2 Bangladeshi fallen peacekeepers
“Bangladesh today has become one of the largest troops contributing nations in the UN peacekeeping missions. The unique contribution of our peacekeepers to the UN multinational forces has brightened the image of the nation and made Bangladesh a dignified country in the world, she said.
Special supplements will be published by the national dailies to highlight the significance of the day.
Army engages terrorist group members in their hill hideout
A special operational team of Bangladesh Army under Roma Zone conducted a drive at Minjhiripara of Bandarban district and seized illegal arms, ammunition and other contraband items after a brief gunfight with a group of terrorists early Tuesday.
On the basis of secret information, the operational Army team conducted the drive at hilly terrorists’ hideout at Minjhiripara at around 3:35 am. They reached the targeted area overcoming various natural obstacles and inaccessible mountain paths.
Also read: Army operation in Bandarban: Weapons, huge amount of ammunition and equipment recovered
As the operational team approached the terrorist hideout, the army exchanged fire with the terrorist group and at one point the terrorists fled their hideout, said an Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) press release on Tuesday afternoon.
Later, they searched the terrorists' hideout and found 2 Russian made SMGs, three magazines, 12 rounds of SMG ammunition, three rounds of pistol ammunition, a knife, 100 grams each of cannabis and opium, 750 ml of local made liquor, one solar charger and one combat bag.
Also read: ‘Police, Ansar, BGB to be deployed at vacant CHT army camps’
It is to be noted that this terrorist group besides collecting donations from the locals through terrorist activities, it has been carrying out various anti-social campaigns through various social media against the country and the security forces.
Military Police distributes relief in capital
The Military Police (MP) unit on Tuesday distributed relief among the workless, distressed and underprivileged people to survive the pandemic.
The relief was distributed under the management of PS section under AG department, reads an Inter Service public relations (ISPR) press release.
Army Chief leaves for Zambia Friday
Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed will leave Dhaka for Zambia on an official visit on Friday at the invitation of Zambian Army Chief Lt Gen William Sikazwe .
General Aziz Ahmed will lead a 6-member delegation of Bangladesh Army during this visit, says an Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) media release on Thursday.
He is scheduled to visit various military installations and training institutes during the official trip.
Besides, he will also visit a parade at the Arakan Barracks in Lusaka, Zambia and also place floral wreath at the mausoleum.
General Aziz Ahmed will also pay courtesy call on Zambian Defense Minister, its Army Chief, Air Force Chief and Commandant of Zambian National Service (ZNS).
During the meetings, he will discuss further strengthening the relations between the armies of the two countries and mutual cooperation.
General Aziz will also visit Zambia Defense Service Command and Staff College and deliver a lecture there. The army chief will return home on May 6.
Nature of peacekeeping has changed: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said the nature of peacekeeping has changed due to the use of advanced technology and sophisticated weapons, the misuse of social media and the ongoing global epidemic.
He made the remarks at the “Army Chiefs' Conclave” at multipurpose complex of Dhaka Cantonment.
Bangladesh Army organised the seminar with the participation of local and foreign military and civilian dignitaries.
Also read: Bangladesh tops in UN Peacekeeping Mission
Foreign Minister Momen said meaningful mutual cooperation, increased participation of women and development of health-related emergencies were essential to address the challenges posed by this unprecedented global epidemic in establishing world peace.
The main topic of discussion at the seminar was ‘Future Trend of Global Conflict: The Role of UN Peacekeepers’.
Indian army chief meets Bangladesh army chief
Visiting Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane made a courtesy call on Bangladesh Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed at the Army Headquarters of Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday.
During the meeting, they discussed various issues related to the existing good relations between the armed forces of the two countries and mutual cooperation in the future.
Issues related to the implementation of the Border Road Organization, training of Army pilots, exchange of defense experts and trainers, mutual defense cooperation got priority during the discussion, says an Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) media release.
Also read: Indian Army chief arrives in Bangladesh
General Aziz expressed gratitude for India's commendable cooperation in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also hoped that India would be beside Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis.
Earlier, General Naravane paid tributes to the members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces who made supreme sacrifices during the Liberation War of 1971, by laying a wreath at the altar of Shikha Anirban in Dhaka Cantonment.
Also read: India offers Covid vaccine for Bangladesh army
Later, the Indian Army Chief was then given a "Guard of Honor" by a smart team of the Bangladesh Army at Senakunja. Then General Naravane planted a sapling at Senakunja.
Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane arrived in Dhaka on Thursday on a five-day visit.
The Indian Army chief is accompanied by his wife Veena Naravane and a two-member delegation.