Snippets

42 shops gutted
Our Correspondent, Tangail

A devastating fire at a market gutted at least 42 shops at Sagardighi Bazar in Ghatail upazila early yesterday. The fire broke out at a shop at around 2:45am after an electric short circuit and immediately spread to the adjacent shops, said  Fazlul Karim, officer in-charge (OC) of Ghatail police station. Local people tried to extinguish the fire but failed. Later, two  fire units from adjacent Madhupur in Tangail and Phoolbaria in Mymensingh rushed to the spot and doused the flame, the OC added. Most of the gutted shops were of cloths, cosmetics and grocery items,  locals said. The shop owners estimated the losses at Tk 2 crore.

Expat stabbed to death
Our Correspondent, Comilla

An expatriate was stabbed to death by a gang at Anandapur-Tetabhumi village in Brahmanpara upazila on Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as  Mirajul Haque, 22, son of Anu Miah of Aggapur village in Burichang upazila. Mother of the deceased alleged that two young men called her son out of house Friday afternoon. Mirajul had returned from Oman a few days ago to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with the family, she said. OC of Brahmanpara PS Uttam Kumar Barua said, a gang hacked the youth with sharp weapons killing him on the spot while he went to Tetabhumi area. He could not give details.  A case was filed but none was arrested.

Schoolgirl abducted
Our Correspondent, Benapole, Jessore

A schoolgirl was abducted at Uttar Burujbagan village under Sharsha upazila of Jessore on Thursday. The 14-year-old girl is a student of class VIII at Burujbagan Girls School. Mahtab Uddin, officer in-charge (investigation) at Sharsha police station said that the girl was abducted by one Raju and his accomplices just before the Eid day while she was shopping at Nabharan New Market. Police are trying to arrest the kidnappers, he added.

Jamaat men arrested
A Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Two Jamaat leaders were arrested on charge of planning subversive activities at Dhopahati village under Nikli upazila on Saturday noon. Police said, ameer of Nikli upazila Jamaat-e-Islami Ishrafil Sarkar, 55, and another leader Sattar Mia, 30, were arrested while holding a secret meeting at an under-construction building, said Mahbub Alam, officer in-charge on Nikli police station. Police raided the building and arrested them while others managed to flee the scene, he said. They were later shown arrested  in a police assault case and sent to court yesterday.

Housewife murdered
Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

Police recovered the body of a housewife on Saturday at Gohalbari village in Sadar upazila. The deceased was identified as Sonia Akhtar Rabu, 25, wife of Mohammad Sumon of the village under Baliadanga union. Jahangir Hossain, Sub Inspector at Sadar police station, said a neighbour saw the body of Rabu lying on the bed at her room at around 6:00am and informed police. Locals said, Sumon beat up and strangled Sonia Friday night over a family feud. Police said they found several marks of injuries on Rabu's body.

Police-Shibir clash
Our Correspondent, Comilla

Two policemen and five activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, were injured in a clash at Nangalkot upazila on Saturday. Officer in-charge of Nangalkot police station Swapan Debnath said, the clash erupted when a patrol team of the law enforcers came under attack by Shibir activists in Eidgah Maidan area in the evening. About 50 Shibir activists threw brick chips at the policemen during the clash that left two police men injured. Police fired 17 shots and lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.

Lightning kills youth
Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

A teenage boy was killed as a lightning struck him at Surandpur village under Kamalganj upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Bishnu Rudrapal, 18, son of Kundal  Rudrapal of the village. Locals said, lightning struck the youth while he was returning home at night from Munshibazar during rain, leaving him dead on the spot.