The New Nation - Internet Edition

Godowns gutted in Gazipur

Gazipur, Feb 27: Fire that broke out near Tongi EPZ gate on Wednesday noon gutted at least 100 godowns and slum houses. Five people also received minor burn injuries when they went to douse the fire. Local sources said the fire originated from a cotton godown at about 12.30pm and soon engulfed the adjacent godowns and slum houses. Reason behind the fire could not be known immediately. Firefighters from Tongi, Kurmitola of Dhaka and Gazipur fire services rushed to the spot and put out the blaze after two hours of frantic efforts, reports UNB.

Train derails

Thakurgaon, Feb 27: Two bogies of a local train on Thakurgaon-Panchagarh route derailed at the middle of Ruhia and Kismat rail stations Wednesday morning. Railway sources said two goods-laden bogies veered off the track at about 8am when it was going to Panchagarh from Parbatipur disrupting train communication on the route. Stationmaster of Thakurgaon station Shamsul Haq said a rescue team has already started from Parbatipur to salvage the bogies. He also hoped that the train movement on the route would resume on Thursday, reports UNB.

One sentenced to death

Dinajpur, Feb 27: A tribunal here Wednesday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing his wife in 1999. The convict was identified as Abdul Hannan Shah, 37, of Gouripur village in Chirirbandar upazila. According to the prosecution, advocate M Siddik Ali ofGaneshtala area in the town married off his daughter Nasrin Begum, 27, to Abdul Hannan in 1997 with a promise to give dowry. Soon after the marriage Hannan started torturing Nasrin demanding the dowry. Later, on July 18, 1999 Hannan following a quarrel over the issue beat Nasrin mercilessly, leaving her dead on the spot. A case was filed against Hannan and four others, reports UNB.

One hurt in gun attack

Savar, Feb 27: A young man was shot and wounded by a gang of terrorists in Birulia area here today (Wednesday). Sources said the gang numbering 4-5 fired shots at Abdul Halim, 32, of the area, at about 12:15pm on his way back home, leaving him critically injured. Hearing Halim's scream, local people rushed in and sent him to Enam Clinics in the area. They also rounded up one of the terrors along with a revolver while others managed to flee the scene. Later, he was beaten up indiscriminately and handed over to local RAB members. The motive behind the attack could not be known immediately, reports UNB.

Firearms seized

Bagerhat, Feb 27: Police arrested some 949 people and recovered 24 firearms, huge bullets and contraband drugs in the last 27 days in their special drive in the district till early today (Wednesday). Police Super of the District AKM Shahidur Rahman said the drive started on February 1 to nab the miscreants and recover arms, ammunition and drugs. Over 800 police took part in the drive, he added. Of the arrested, 676 were wanted in various criminal cases, 37 fugitive convicts, seven listed criminals and 170 were arrested in regular cases and 59 others under various acts. The seized arms included nine rifles, three revolvers, eight pipe guns and four LGs. They also seized 206 rounds of bullet, 180 small packets of heroin and 700 grams of hemp, reports UNB.

5 killed in Road mishap

Brahmanbaria, Feb 27: At least five people were killed and 10 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside ditch at Puniaut in the town's bypass road on Comilla-Sylhet highway Wednesday morning. Police said the Ashuganj-bound passenger bus fell into the roadside ditch while overtaking a rickshaw at about 10:15am, killing the five passengers on the spot. Four of the injured were admitted to Sadar hospital while the rest to other local clinics, reports UNB.