United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam on Monday said the city corporation will work in coordination with RAJUK, WASA and other relevant agencies to prevent lake bank erosion and ensure that rainwater no longer remains stagnant on roads in the DNCC area. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the eroded lake bank and waterlogged area in front of Manarat University on Road No. 104 in Gulshan-2, the administrator said a coordinated approach is essential to address the city's recurring waterlogging problem. DNCC administrator claims zero tolerance for tender irregularities under his watch "If city residents become more aware and the drainage system is further improved, rainwater will no longer remain stagnant on roads in the future," he said. He urged residents not to dump waste indiscriminately and called on them to help keep drains clean to ensure smooth drainage. Replying to a question from journalists, Shafiqul Islam said the canals under DNCC that have been encroached upon must be recovered to effectively tackle waterlogging. He said the city's waterlogging problem and the resulting public suffering cannot be resolved unless the canals are restored. "To save the city and build a better urban environment for the future, it is essential to free the canals from encroachment," he said, seeking cooperation from journalists and city residents in the canal recovery drive. The administrator said mosquito infestation has already declined in many parts of the city following the cleaning of several canals and drainage systems, including the Muslim Bazar Canal. He also instructed DNCC officials to take necessary measures for the quick removal of water accumulated on roads and to implement long-term steps to prevent future waterlogging. Later, the administrator visited the Namapara area in Khilkhet to inspect the drainage outlet and directed officials to renovate the Namapara Canal to restore proper water flow and improve drainage. DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer, Chief Engineer, Chief Health Officer, the administrator's private assistant and local BNP leaders, among others, were present during the inspection.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said the government will take its next decision regarding Ad-din Medical College Hospital after a fresh inspection to verify whether the institution has addressed the deficiencies identified by the authorities. "If the inspection finds the situation satisfactory, the government will take the decision accordingly," he said while speaking at a press briefing on healthcare services in flood-affected areas at the Secretariat. Ad-din Hospital chief dares Health Minister to prove offer of ‘crores in bribe’ claim The hospital authorities had applied for a fresh inspection after claiming to have corrected the shortcomings, the minister said. Asked whether the government is reconsidering its decision revoking the hospital's licence, he said action had been taken following the deaths of six children, adding that the government would have faced criticism had it failed to respond to the incident. Sakhawat said the hospital had earlier been instructed to address various infrastructural shortcomings, including deficiencies in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and the authorities later informed the ministry that the required corrective measures were being implemented. According to him, officials of his ministry will conduct a fresh inspection to assess the actual situation before making any decision. The minister also said the ministry has not yet granted the hospital any final clearance, and a decision will only be taken after the re-inspection. Regarding the affected families, he said he was informed that the hospital authorities provided financial assistance for them. However, Sakhawat noted that a case over the incident is currently pending with the court and that any decision on the legal matter will be made in accordance with the judicial process and the law. On May 27, six newborns died in the postnatal ward at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the city’s Moghbazar area within three hours. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) later cancelled the licence of the hospital.

Continuous rainfall since early Sunday has triggered waterlogging in many parts of the capital, causing inconvenience for commuters. Rain started pouring down shortly after midnight and continued until Sunday morning. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) recorded 82 mm of rainfall in Dhaka between 6:00am and 12:00pm, said meteorologist Hafizur Rahman. Due to the downpour, roads in many areas, including Malibagh, Mouchak, Moghbazar, Green Road, Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, Jigatala, Dhanmondi, West Tejturi Bazar, West Shewrapara, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Paltan and Madhubagh, went under water. In many areas, vehicles were seen moving slowly while pedestrians wading through waterlogged roads. Nazmul Hossain, who was travelling from Rampura to Mouchak, said at 10:00am that the road from Malibagh Railgate to Mouchak remained waterlogged. After getting down from the bus at the Railgate, he had to wade through knee-deep water to reach his destination, he said. Commuters reported similar difficulties in other parts of the city, with water in some places rising to the footrest of rickshaws. There was also a shortage of buses due to the rain and waterlogged streets, forcing many people to rely on rickshaws or walk.  

A DESCO assistant lineman was electrocuted while disconnecting an illegal electricity connection at Korail slum in the capital's Banani area on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Haider Hossen, 35, son of Md Mohsin Forazi from Purbo Fulhar village in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi district. He lived with his family in Uttar Badda. Missing auto-rickshaw driver found dead in N’ganj Shukkur Gazi, the victim's brother-in-law, said both he and Haider worked for the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO), Haider served there as an assistant lineman. Haider contacted a live wire around 2:30pm while he and some of his colleagues were conducting a drive to disconnect illegal electricity connections in Korail slum. His colleagues immediately rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead around 4:30pm, Shukkur added. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said the body had been kept at the hospital morgue and the matter had been reported to the concerned police station.

Large swathes of the capital, including Moghbazar, Eskaton, and Banglamotor, suffered extensive power outages today after a fire broke out at an electrical substation near the FDC intersection. The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 PM on Saturday behind the Uttara Center building in the Tejgaon area. Upon receiving information about the blaze, three units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence station in Tejgaon rushed to the spot. Firefighters worked swiftly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent structures. Lima Khanam, a duty officer at the Fire Service Central Control Room, confirmed the incident. The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damages could not be determined immediately. The fire significantly disrupted the power grid distribution system, plunging major residential and commercial zones into darkness. Residents of Moghbazar, New Eskaton, and Banglamotor reported continuous power outages lasting over six hours following the mishap. Utility officials stated that emergency maintenance operations were quickly mobilized to isolate the damaged components and restore electricity to the affected areas sequentially.

An alleged top criminal was found dead at his residence in Savar on Wednesday night with police suspecting it as a case of suicide. The deceased was identified as Babul, 55, better known as "Kana Babul," who was accused in more than a dozen criminal cases. According to police, Babul has recently been released from jail on bail after spending a long period in jail. Bodies of  2 women recovered in Dhaka Inspector (Investigation) of Savar Model Police Station Nur Mohammad said Babul allegedly locked himself inside his room on Wednesday evening and hanged himself. Neighbours broke open the door around 10:00pm after receiving no response and found him hanging, he said. On information, police recovered the body around midnight. According to local sources, Babul was an accused in several criminal cases, including the murder of a night guard at Razzak Plaza, a shopping complex in the Savar Bus Stand area, as well as cases involving robbery, snatching and narcotics. Police said legal procedures are underway.

In separate incidents, traffic police detained three alleged muggers in the city’s Mohammadpur and Banani areas on Wednesday. At Mohammadpur, two alleged snatchers were detained after they robbed a pedestrian of an iPhone 13 Pro Max and tried to flee. The detainees were identified as Md Dulal Hossain and Md Shuvo. According to the Mohammadpur Traffic Zone under Tejgaon Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the incident occurred around 2:00pm at the crossing in front of the July Memorial Museum. The two allegedly snatched an iPhone 13 Pro Max from a pedestrian, Radia Islam, and attempted to flee. Traffic policemen on duty immediately chased them and caught one suspect with the stolen phone, while the other was detained with the help of pedestrians. The two suspects were handed over to Mohammadpur Police Station for further action and the stolen handset was returned to its owner. At Banani, traffic police detained a suspected snatcher while he was attempting to snatch a mobile phone from a woman in the morning. The detainee was identified as Imon, 26. Quoting Traffic (Gulshan Zone), DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Niaz Mehedi said the incident occurred around 10:00am at the Kakoli crossing under Banani Police Station. Sergeant Shahin Mia and his team members were performing routine duties when they heard a woman's cries, he said, adding that they immediately rushed to the spot and, with the help of passersby, detained Imon on charges of attempting to snatch a mobile phone from the woman. The suspected snatcher was later handed over to Banani Police Station for legal action.

Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 2,062 cases against motorists for violating traffic rules during drives conducted in different parts of the capital in 24 hours till Wednesday. According to the DMP Traffic Division, the highest number of cases, 533, was filed in the Wari Traffic Division, followed by 387 in Uttara, 272 in Mirpur, 245 in Gulshan, 203 in Tejgaon, 184 in Motijheel, 153 in Lalbagh and 85 in Ramna. DMP arrests 555 in June special drives, seizes illegal arms, narcotics Besides, a total of 524 vehicles were impounded and 384 others were towed away during the drives, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) of DMP, Niaz Mehedi. The DMP Traffic Division will continue such drives to maintain discipline on Dhaka's roads, he said.

Traffic police detained a suspected snatcher while he was attempting to snatch a mobile phone from a woman in the Banani area of the capital on Wednesday morning. The detainee was identified as Imon, 26. Quoting Traffic (Gulshan Zone) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Niaz Mehedi said the incident occurred around 10:00am at the Kakoli crossing under Banani Police Station. 3 members of autorickshaw snatching gang held in Dhaka Sergeant Shahin Mia and his team members were performing routine duties when they heard a woman's cries, he said, adding that they immediately rushed to the spot and, with the help of passersby, detained Imon on charges of attempting to snatch a mobile phone from the woman. The suspected snatcher was later handed over to Banani Police Station for legal action.

Police in a drive arrested three members of auto-rickshaw snatching gang from Wari area of the capital on Wednesday in connection with their alleged involvement of snatching an auto-rickshaw after killing its driver. The arrestees were identified as Delwar Hossain alias Hridoy, 40, Manik Sardar, 52, Md Liton, 50. Police said Didarul Islam, an autorickshaw driver, had gone missing on June 28. Police arrest wanted criminal Red Munna in Pallabi Local people found Didarul in an unconscious condition from Nawabpur Road in Wari and took him to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on June 29 where he succumbed to his injuries on July 2. A case was filed with Wari Police Station in this regard. After analysing the CCTV footage, a team of police identified the muggers,said Niaz Mehedi, Additional deputy commissioner (media) of DMP.. Later, a team of Wari Police Station conducted separate drives in Sreepur of Gazipur district, Keraniganj and Lalbagh area of the capital and arrested them early Wednesday. Police also recovered an auto-rickshaw, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and three mobile phone sets from their possession. They had long been involved in snatching auto-rickshaws after making drivers of auto-rickshaws unconscious.