blast
Sidddique Bazar blast: Shop owner ‘picked up by DB police’
The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has allegedly picked up the owner of a shop that collapsed during an explosion in a building at Siddique Bazar in the capital on Tuesday.
The detainee is Abdul Motalib Mintu, the owner of ‘Bangladesh Sanitary’.
Mintu’s brother-in-law, Abul Khayer, told reporters on Wednesday that Mintu was picked up from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) burn unit at around 3 am.
“He went to the Dhaka Medical College hospital in search of his shop employees. His manager, Swapan, is yet to be found. Two employees were admitted to the hospital,” Abulr Khayer told reporters on DMCH premises.
Read more: Siddique Bazar blast: 2 bodies retrieved from debris, death toll now 19
Meanwhile a DB official, who did not wish to be named, said Mintu was picked up by a team of DB's Lalbagh division. He is currently at the DB office in the capital’s Mintu Road.
“The explosion took place under his shop in the basement. That's why he's being questioned,” he told UNB.
At least 19 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter at Siddique Bazar in Gulistan area of the capital on Tuesday .
Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
A four-member probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Operation and maintenance), has been formed to investigate the incident.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell.
Gas explosions took 82 lives in 3 years in Narayanganj, threats remain: Police, fire service
At least 82 people died in gas explosion-related fires in Narayanganj over the last three years, according to police and fire service. This excludes the number of victims of such fire incidents who died while receiving treatment.
Although gas pipeline leaks and cylinder explosions are the leading causes of these recorded fires, threats still persist. A blast in Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque of Narayanganj killed 37 on September 4, 2020.
There have also been accusations of irregularities in the investigation process, and the accused in the majority of cases remain uncharged due to the slow process of investigation.
Also read: Fire in Ctg’s Andarkilla area leaves one dead
According to police and fire service, there were 104 gas explosion-related fire incidents in Narayanganj district in 2022. Sixty-nine of them were caused by flaws in the gas pipeline, 34 incidents were reportedly caused by cylinder and air conditioner blasts. A total of 18 people, including children, died and 25 were injured in those incidents.
There were 114 gas explosion-related fire incidents in 2021. Pipeline flaws were responsible for 96 incidents. That year, 20 people were killed and more than 50 were injured.
A total of 44 people died and 26 were injured in 106 gas explosion-related fire incidents in 2020. Seventy-one incidents were caused by gas line faults, while the rest were caused by cylinder and air conditioner blasts. That year, 37 people died in a massive explosion at the Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque.
Also read: Death toll from Gulshan fire rises to two
Locals of the district say that the authorities show concern for a few days following an incident. But their efforts to address these threats got nipped in the bud every time, they said.
Locals reportedly file complaints about gas leaks, but no significant action is taken to address this serious issue.
Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said that the negligence of Titas gas authorities and lack of awareness among locals are to blame for many incidents.
Read More: Fire breaks out in Ctg’s VIP Tower
Fakhruddin, deputy director of Narayanganj Fire Service, said, “We urge residents to stay cautious and inspect their gas pipelines for leaks.”
Mamunur Rashid, deputy general manager of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited in Narayanganj, said, “Gas pipelines inside the homes are the responsibility of the consumers. All we do is distribute the lines.”
“The majority of fire incidents are caused by faults in house lines. Gas leaks cause explosions when burners are left on,” he added.
Read More: Fire Service team going to Turkey to be part of rescue effort
“Customers need to be cautious and should never leave gas stoves on,” he said.
Chai Lau Marma, additional superintendent of police (Crime and Operations) in Narayanganj, said, “We file cases in response to complaints. After investigating, we put the names on the chargesheet and file in court.”
Narayanganj residents urged the government to take measures to address these fire risks promptly.
Read More: 6 charred bodies retrieved from Old Dhaka plastic factory: Fire Service
8 injured in gas pipeline blast in Chattogram
Eight people were injured in blast apparently from leakage in a gas pipeline at Balirhat in Chattogram port city early Thursday.
Bahar Uddin, senior station officer of Kalurghat Fire Station, said the explosion occurred in a semi-pacca building in the area near the residence of one Makbul Haji around 3 am, leaving eight people injured.
A portion of a wall was blown away during the explosion.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and rescued the injured victims.
Later, they were taken toa local hospital and given first aid.
Mothers can now be listed as legal guardians of students in official documents, HC rules
In a historic judgment today, the High Court said that from now on, mothers will be recognised as legal guardians of students in official documents.
The High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil pronounced the judgment.
After hearing on January 16, the court fixed January 24 for delivering the verdict on whether mothers will be recognised as legal guardians or not.
Advocate Ainun Nahar Siddiqua, Advocate SM Rezaul Karim and Advocate Ayesha Akhter stood for the petitioner at the court while Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta represented the state.
Read more: HC issues rule on migration system in admission process
According to the lawyers, a female SSC examinee from Thakurgaon was denied admit card in 2007 as she could not mention her father's name in the information form which is required before participating in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination.
The girl grew up with her mother after her father left them without giving them recognition.
Later, on August 2, 2009, three human rights organizations — Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and Nari Paksha — jointly filed a writ petition citing public interest.
On August 3 of the same year, the High Court bench of Justice Syed Refat Ahmed and Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury issued a rule asking why this discriminatory provision, which is an obstacle to human rights, equality and especially the right to education, should not be declared as contrary to law and unconstitutional.
Read more: HC issues rule on compensation for daily labourers jailed by mobile court
The court also ordered submitting a report on the education boards where mentioning both father’s and mother’s names is compulsory in getting the registration cards for the SSC examinations and what kind of measures are taken to ensure participation of those eligible examinees in the examination who are unable to mention the identity of their fathers.
Later on June 6, 2021, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) filed a supplementary affidavit in court on behalf of the petitioners.
Blast at Dhaka's Moghbazar leaves 4 injured
At least four people were injured in an explosion in Dhaka's Moghbazar area earlier today (January 24, 2023).
The blast occurred at around 9:45 am in front of a medicine store in the Moghbazar Wireless area and the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station.
The injured are Saiful Islam, 36; Tareq, 20; Abul Kalam, 25; and Md Shaheen, 30.
Read More: Dhamrai gas cylinder blast death toll rises to four
The reason behind the explosion could not be known yet, added the OC.
"However, we are looking into whether it was a crude bomb or anything else," said Abul Hasan.
The injured are now receiving treatment at the hospital, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) police outpost.
Read More: 205 BNP leaders, activists sued over crude bomb blasts in Barishal
“All are out of danger,” he added.
Fuel tanker tunnel blast kills at least 19 in Afghanistan
At least 19 people were killed and 32 injured when a fuel tanker exploded in a tunnel north of the Afghan capital Kabul, a local official said Sunday.
The Salang Tunnel, which is around 80 miles north of Kabul, was originally built in the 1960s to assist the Soviet invasion. It is a key link between the country's north and south.
A spokesman for Parwan province, Said Himatullah Shamim, said Saturday night's tunnel explosion killed at least 19 people, including women and children. He said survivors remain trapped under rubble and that the number of casualties could rise.
It was not immediately clear what caused the incident, which happened at around 8.30 p.m.
Parwan's health department has received 14 dead and 24 injured so far, according to local official Dr. Abdullah Afghan. There are five women and two children among the dead, he said, and the rest are men who are severely burnt and cannot be recognized.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works, Molvi Hamidullah Misbah, said earlier Sunday that the fire was extinguished and that teams were still working to clear the tunnel.
Minor boy dies in blast of toy-like object in Sylhet
A 10-year-old boy died in an explosion of a toy-like object coined with wire in Gowainghat upazila of the district Saturday night.
The deceased--Jewel Mia, was son of Moina Mia of Mohammadpur village under the upazila.
KM Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gowainghat police station, said the victim’s parents break stones imported from India.
Mother Josna got a toy-like substance coined with cables while breaking the stones recently, he said, adding that the blast occurred around 7pm when Jewel was attaching a battery of his father’s mobile phone to the object, leaving him critically injured.
He was rushed to a hospital where physicians declared him dead on arrival, the OC said.
Read: Worker dies in N’ganj gas cylinder blast
“Explosives often come with the consignment of stone imported from India and those are used in breaking the stones,” he said, quoting businesses and workers.
The body was sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, the police officer added.
Two sustain burn injuries in Gazipur
Two people, including comedian Abu Hena Rony, sustained burn injuries after some helium balloons exploded at a program marking the fourth anniversary of the founding of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) on Friday.
According to Abu Sayem Noyon, Assistant Commissioner (ACP) of GMP, the program was going on at the Gazipur District Police Lines field commemorating the anniversary around noon.
“The accident occurred when some balloon sellers tried to fly balloons in front of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan using fire,” said Noyon.
Read: Balloon vendor killed in gas cylinder blast in city
The injured have been sent to Sheikh Hasina Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment, added Noyon.
Market blast in north Syria kills 15 people, wounds dozens
A rocket attack on a crowded market in a town held by Turkey-backed opposition fighters in northern Syria killed 15 people on Friday and wounded dozens, an opposition war monitor and a paramedic group said.
The attack on the town of al-Bab came days after a Turkish airstrike killed at least 11 Syrian troops and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, blamed Syrian government forces for Friday’s shelling, saying it was in apparent retaliation for the Turkish airstrike.
The Observatory said three children were among the 15 killed, and that there were more than 30 wounded. The opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets, had the same death toll but said 28 people were wounded. The paramedic group said its members evacuated some of the wounded and the dead bodies.
“This is the worst massacre committed by regime forces since the battles stopped between the regime and the opposition,” said the Observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman, referring to a cease-fire in March 2020 that ended a wide Syrian government offensive on rebel-held areas.
The U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement that its fighters did not shell al-Bab. There was no comment from the government.
Turkey has launched three major cross-border operations into Syria since 2016 and controls some Syrian territory in the north.
Although the fighting has waned over the past few years, shelling and airstrikes are not uncommon in northern Syria — the last major rebel stronghold in the country.
Syria’s conflict, which began in March 2011, has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million. President Bashar Assad’s forces have regained control of most parts of Syria over the past few years, with the help of their allies, Russia and Iran.
Also read: Market blast in north Syria kills at least 9, wounds dozens
In other developments, the Observatory and the U.S. military said a drone strike late on Thursday night in northeastern Syria killed four women and wounded several others.
The Observatory blamed Turkey for the strike, saying it targeted a facility where Syrian Kurdish women were doing sports. A female Syrian Kurdish commander with the U.S.-backed forces was visiting at the time of the attack, the Observatory said.
A U.S. military commander, Maj. Gen. John Brennan, condemned the attack and said the drone struck a group of teenage girls playing volleyball under a U.N. education and outreach program.
“Such acts are contrary to the laws of armed conflict, which require the protection of civilians,” Brennan, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force, said in a statement.
Brennan also said the “increase in military hostilities in northern Syria is creating chaos in a fragile region” and called for immediate de-escalation from all sides in the conflict, citing the still-present threat of the Islamic State group in the area.
Market blast in north Syria kills at least 9, wounds dozens
A rocket attack on a crowded market in a town held by Turkey-backed opposition fighters in northern Syria Friday killed at least nine people and wounded dozens, an opposition war monitor and a paramedic group reported.
The attack on the town of al-Bab came days after a Turkish airstrike killed at least 11 Syrian troops and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, blamed Syrian government forces for the shelling, saying it was in retaliation for the Turkish airstrike.
The Observatory said the attack killed at least 10 and wounded more than 30.
Also read: Lebanon announces plan to repatriate Syrian refugees
The opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets, had a lower death toll, saying nine people, including children, were killed and 28 were wounded. The paramedic group said its members evacuated some of the wounded and the dead bodies.
Discrepancies in casualty figures immediately after attacks are not uncommon in Syria.
Turkey has launched three major cross-border operations into Syria since 2016 and controls some territories in the north.
Also read: Syrians in desperate need of aid hit hard by Ukraine fallout
Although the fighting has waned over the past few years, shelling and airstrikes are not uncommon in northern Syria that is home to the last major rebel stronghold in the country.
Syria’s conflict that began in March 2011, has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
President Bashar Assad’s forces have regained control of most parts of Syria over the past few years, with the help of their allies, Russia and Iran.