United News of Bangladesh

More than 50 workers of Garments Export Village Limited in Tongi fell ill on Wednesday, prompting panic at the factory. The affected workers, from two factories located in Ma Tower and Alam Tower of the industrial complex, were taken to nearby hospitals after falling sick one after another. Most were admitted to Tongi Government Hospital, while others received treatment at local medical facilities. Dr Nahid Sultana, Emergency Medical Officer at Tongi Government Hospital, said the workers showed symptoms of panic attacks, vomiting and respiratory problems. “Most of the workers are now out of danger,” she said. Factory sources said the workers had staged strikes on Monday and Tuesday over arrears of their November wages. Some reportedly fell ill during the demonstrations. Read More: Hotel workers threaten strike over unpaid minimum wage After resuming work on Wednesday, several workers suddenly became ill. Mehedi Hasan, officer-in-charge of Tongi East Police Station, said the factories were temporarily closed following the incident. Police are investigating to determine the cause of the illness, he added.

A mosque and a police station were set on fire in Iran as nationwide protests over economic hardship turned increasingly violent, with state media reporting that more than 100 members of the police and security forces have been killed since the unrest began. Iran’s state television said on Sunday that 30 police and security personnel were killed in Isfahan province and six others in Kermanshah in the latest clashes. The semi official Tasnim news agency reported that a total of 109 security officers have died across the country during the protests. State media also said a mosque was set on fire in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Saturday night, while a police station was torched during clashes in Tehran, according to videos circulating on social media. Burning vehicles and debris were seen blocking roads in several cities as protesters confronted security forces. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said one of its staff members was killed during an attack on a relief building in Gorgan city in northern Iran. The protests, which began in late December after a sharp fall in the value of Iran’s currency, have spread to many cities as people took to the streets over rising prices, inflation and worsening living conditions under Western sanctions. What started as economic protests has increasingly taken on an antigovernment tone. Interior Ministry officials said the riots are now gradually subsiding, while the attorney general warned that those involved in violence could face severe punishment. Speaking in parliament on Sunday, Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned the United States against any military action after US President Donald Trump threatened strikes if Iranian authorities kill protesters. He said any attack on Iran would make Israel and all US bases and ships in the region legitimate targets. Trump said on Saturday that the United States is ready to help Iranian protesters and again warned of possible military action. President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a televised interview, pledged to overhaul Iran’s struggling economy and said his government is ready to listen to the people’s demands. At the same time, he accused the United States and Israel of trying to create chaos in Iran and called on citizens to stay away from violence. Human rights groups have urged restraint, saying dozens of protesters have been killed and many more arrested during the crackdown.   With inputs from agencies

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on Wednesday ordered the police officers to enhance their monitoring capacity to ensure quality service in the police station. The service quality of the police station has to be increased and the service seekers who come to the police station should be treated well, the IGP said. The IGP gave this directive in his closing speech on the last day of a two-day Police Headquarters Quarterly Conference held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh on Wednesday. Read more: IGP promises stern action against anyone breaking the law He said that police are capable of facing any challenge as its capacity has been enhanced a lot. The police have great success in controlling law and order, he added. The IGP instructed the police officers to increase supervision so that thana police perform their duty with sincerity and goodwill in providing the expected service to the people. The IGP also directed the field level police officers to discharge their duties with professionalism, dedication and integrity. Referring to National Emergency Service '999', the top officer of the police force said, '999' has become a symbol of trust and reliance for the people. He asked the police officials to ensure the provision of this service at the earliest. Read more: Militancy under full control in Bangladesh: IGP The two-day Police Headquarters Quarterly Conference started on Tuesday. All Additional IGPs, Commissioners of Metropolitan Police, Range DIGs and District Superintendents of Police (SPs) participated in the conference. In the conference in the third quarter of this year (July-September) the overall crime situation across the country was reviewed and necessary guidance was provided to the field level officers.

A 19-year-old girl was found hanging from a ceiling fan  at the Victim Support Centre of Kotwali Police Station in Rangpur city on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Ruhi, daughter of Sekendar Ali of Harinakunda upazila in Jhenaidah district. Quoting local people, police said Ruhi developed a love affair with one Akash of Ram Gobindamore area of Rangpur city. Following their relationship, Ruhi came to the city to meet Akash on January 22. Also read: Youth’s body recovered in Dinajpur After reaching a designated place Ruhi failed to see Akash and she also found his phone switched off. Also read: Woman's decomposed body found in Jashore school's septic tank Local people found Ruhi in the area alone late in the night and made a phone call to emergency service 999 around 3:30 am on Sunday and informed police. Responding to the call, a team of police took her to the Victim Support Centre of Kotwali Police Station where she ‘killed herself by hanging from the ceiling fan’. Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, deputy police commissioner of Metropolitan Police (DB media) said “Ruhi killed self by hanging herself from the ceiling fan.” The body of Ruhi was taken to local hospital morgue for autopsy.  The body will be handed over to Ruhi’s family after completing legal process, he said.

Seven youths were arrested on Friday night in connection with the unprecedented attack on Karimpur Highway Police Station in Faridpur.  Abdullah Al Mamun Shah, officer-in-charge of Karimpur Police Station, and owner of the building housing the station, filed two cases with the station against unidentified persons in the case. Three policemen were also injured in the mob attack.  The arrestees are Sojib Bapar, 22, Rafi Mollah, 18, Parvez, 21, Akash Sheikh, 22, Sohel,18, Rakib Matobbor, 20, and Sazzad, 25. They are all the residents of Faridpur Sadar Upazila. READ: 6 arrested for killing autorickshaw driver in Gazipur Additional Police Super Jamal Pasha confirmed the matter in a media release on Saturday.   Jamal Pasha said, "The cases were filed on charges of attack and destruction of government property. We have already arrested 7 people in connection with the incident. The arrestees were produced before a court, which sent them to jail.”  Earlier locals arranged Waz-Mahfil or religious gatherings at Lakkhipur area of Kanaipur Union. It was announced that controversial Islamic preacher Abu Tawhaa would be the chief speaker in the Mahfil.   Hearing this, Kotwali police station decided to obstruct Tawhaa from attending the Mahfil and an official was sent to request the organisers not to invite him. The organizers assured that they would not invite Tawhaa, said Police Super. READ: Arrest made over B’baria chairman candidate’s killing But on Dec 12, at one stage of the Mahfil, it was said from the stage that Abu Tawhaa was not allowed by law enforcers to attend the Mahfil.   Agitated locals then headed towards the police station with sticks, rods and sharp weapons and attacked, leaving three police officials injured and vandalised ambulance, microbus and other valuables. 

Eight men have been arrested and some 3,000-4,000 people booked in connection with the violent clashes between police and locals in Saltha upazila of Faridpur district on the first day of lockdown, officials said Wednesday.   Monday's clashes left one youth dead and at least 20, including eight cops, injured.   "A case was filed against 3,000-4,000 people at the Saltha Police Station on Tuesday night, on a complaint by sub-inspector Mizanur Rahman. Of those booked, 88 people have been identified and eight arrested so far," said officer-in-charge Md Ashikuzzaman. Read: 1 dead, 20 injured in Faridpur violence: Police Super According to Md Alimuzzaman, police superintendent of Faridpur, a mob attacked several government offices and houses of government officials on Monday, following rumours of some deaths in police firing and assault on two maulanas by cops.   Few offices and houses of government officials were also set on fire by locals during the mayhem that continued from 8 pm to 11 pm on Monday night, the SP said.   The Upazila Parishad building, the residence of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the local police station, the office of the Assistant Commissioner (land) and the sub-registry office were all vandalised by the mob, the SP said.   Vehicles of Saltha UNO and the AC (land) were also torched by the mob, said Upazila Parishad Chairman Wadud Matabbar.   How it occurred   It all happened when a team led by AC (land) Marufa Sultana Khan Hiramoni went  to Saltha on Monday to ensure a smooth lockdown in every corner of the upazila, said UNO Hasib Sarkar.   Seeing a gathering of people at a spot, Marufa Sultana returned to her office and sent a team of police there.   Read: Upazila parishad, police station vandalised in Faridpur   When the cops reached the spot, an altercation ensued but it soon turned violent when the locals attacked sub-inspector Mizanur Rahman, the UNO said.   "Subsequently, violent clashes broke out across the upazila between local people and the cops in the wake of rumours that some people died in police firing and two maulanas had been assaulted at the police station after their arrests," he said.   The UNO said that police have been trying to identify all the attackers from a video footage of the clashes. "A huge police force has been deployed in the area."