Fire broke out at a factory in Lalbagh area in the capital on Monday.  Fire service control panels Duty Officer Rashed bin Khaled confirmed the information to RTV. He said, Nine fire fighting units have been working to douse the blaze.  

Cyclone 'Mocha' is heading to the coastal area of Bangladesh. Chattogram and Cox's Bazar seaports have been asked to show signal number 10. On Saturday, May 13, Md Enamur Rahman, the State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief, confirmed the information.

Celebrity Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has congratulated the government of Bangladesh for establishing a Marine Protected Area around Saint Martin's Island, a small island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal.     In a tweet on Friday DiCaprio, a candid global climate campaigner, also praised the local communities and NGOs on the issue, saying that it will protect biodiversity of the Bangladesh's only coral reef.     "Congrats to the Government of Bangladesh, local communities & NGOs on a newly established Marine Protected Area around Saint Martin's Island that  will protect an incredible community of biodiversity and provide key habitat for Bangladesh's only coral reef," DiCaprio wrote in his tweet.     St. Martin's Island, also locally known as 'Narikel Zinzira', is a small island of only three square kilometers in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal and about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula.     Also a most admired tourist spot, St Martin's Island is a safe haven to various species of fauna.     The presence of 153 species of sea weeds, 66 species of coral, 187 species of oysters, 240 species of fish, 120 species of birds, 29 species of reptiles and 29 species of mammals were found in the St Martin's Island, according to a research report of the Department of Environment (DoE) and the UNDP.  Source: BSS AH

Indian Army conducts a four-day exercise in training areas scattered across Gujarat and Rajasthan state of India. Pune-based Southern Command of India Army on Monday concluded high-intensity combat maneuvers in Kutch’s Creek sector, with the multi-agency drills involving the army, air force, navy, coast guard, Border Security Force, Gujarat state police and the fisheries department, officials familiar with the development said. Sir Creek is a 96-km maritime strip disputed between India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch. It divides the Kutch region of Gujarat and the Sindh province of Pakistan.   The four-day exercise, codenamed Dakshin Shakti, was conducted in training areas scattered across Gujarat and Rajasthan.   “The exercise involved the insertion of troops and maneuvers by forces in all three dimensions simultaneously in an integrated manner. It involved comprehensive coordination for effective response in a multi-domain environment, real-time communication, and sharing of operational data to overcome emerging threats,” the army said in a statement. Top officials of Indian Army taking part in the exercise witnessed the joint drills. The exercise saw India’s marine commandos being dropped from IAF’s Mi-17 helicopters into boats to simulate an attack on an enemy target, the officials said. Hovercraft from the coast guard also landed army reinforcements at the shore to neutralize an enemy post, they added.   The exercise validated future concepts of war fighting in a tri-service battlefield environment, the Southern Command said in a tweet. Source: HindustanTimes

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on carrying all kinds of firearms, explosives and other harmful objects around the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban from Saturday midnight ahead of the special session of the 11th parliament.  The special session will begin from Sunday to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The restriction will remain in force until the prorogation of the session.  Besides, there will be restriction on holding any kind of rally and procession during the time.  DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has imposed some restrictions to maintain law and order in and around the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to ensure a smooth session, said a DMP media release on Thursday afternoon.  The restricted areas are: Mahakhali crossing of Mymensingh road to Bangla Motor crossing via Old Airport Road, Western part of Bangla Motor link road to Saarc Fountain at Sonargaon crossing, Eastern part of Panthapath to Farmgate via Green Road link road, Shyamoli crossing to Dhanmondi-16 (old 27) link road on Mirpur road, Rokeya Sarani link road to Bijoy Sarani Parjatan crossing via old 9th division (airplane) crossing, Eastern part of Indira road to Manik Mia Avenue’s western part and restricted area of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and all the roads and lanes in the area.  Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday stressed the need for strengthening Bangladesh Navy further in a bid to protect the country’s vast maritime area. “It is essential to make our Navy stronger further to protect this sea area,” she said while commissioning the BNS Sangram through videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban. Navy chief Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, on behalf of the Prime Minister, formally handed over the ‘commissioning formans’ of the ship to captain Arifur Rahman at the BNS Issa Khan Naval Base in Chattogram. The Prime Minster asked the Navy to protect the vast sea area Bangladesh conquered through peaceful settlement of disputes with two neighbouring countries as Bangladesh will utilise marine resources for thriving the country’s economy. “We don’t want to fight with anyone. We want peace. But we want to develop our forces with modern technology knowledge keeping pace with the times so that we can properly face if anyone attacks us,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said every force of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Force – will be equipped with modern knowledge. About the Bangladesh Navy, she said many modern equipment, including ships have already been procured for the naval force. The Prime Minister said she first handed over Khulna shipyard to the Navy. Two dry docks in Narayanganj and Chattgram were also given to the Navy. Nothing that the country started building ships, she said Bangladesh is working in joint ventures with friendly countries where it is essential in this sector. “But we'll have to be learned, prepared and to have technology knowledge as well. So that we can build our ships on our own in future and can export if necessary. This though will have to be kept in mind,” she said. The BNS Sangram will leave for Lebanon on Friday to take part in the UN peacekeeping mission. Source: UNB AH

A passenger plane from Afghanistan's Ariana Airlines crashed Monday in a Taliban-held area of the eastern Ghazni province, local officials said. However, Ariana Airlines told The Associated Press that none of its planes had crashed in Afghanistan. The conflicting accounts could not immediately be reconciled. The number of people on board and their fate was not immediately known, nor was the cause of the crash. Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the plane went down around 1:10 p.m. local time (8:40 a.m. GMT) in Deh Yak district, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of the capital Kabul. He said the crash site is in territory controlled by the Taliban. Two provincial council members also confirmed the crash. But the acting director for Ariana Airlines, Mirwais Mirzakwal, dismissed reports that one the company's aircraft had crashed. The state-owned airline also released a statement on its website saying all its aircraft were operational and safe. The mountainous Ghazni province sits in the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains and is bitterly cold in winter. The Taliban currently control or hold sway over around half the country. The last major commercial air crash in Afghanistan occurred in 2005, when a Kam Air flight from the western city of Herat to Kabul crashed into the mountains as it tried to land in snowy weather. The war, however, has seen a number of deadly crashes of military aircraft. One of the most spectacular occurred in 2013 when an American Boeing 747 cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Bagram air base north of Kabul en route to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. All seven crew member were killed. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that large military vehicles were inadequately secured and had shifted during flight, causing damage to the control systems that "rendered the airplane uncontrollable." Afghanistan's aviation industry suffered desperately during the rule of the Taliban when Ariana, its only airline at the time, was subject to punishing sanctions and allowed to fly only to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage. Since the overthrow of the Taliban's religious regime, smaller private airlines have emerged, but the industry is still a nascent one. Source: AP/UNB AH

The surrounding areas of the Secretariat have been declared ‘No Horn Zone’ and the decision will become effective from December 17 aiming to prevent sound pollution. No vehicle will be allowed to play horn at Zero Point, Paltan intersection and secretariat link road areas. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the secretariat on Sunday. The meeting stressed the need for creating public awareness to stop honking of horns in the surrounding areas of the secretariat and sought cooperation of all including media workers in this regard. According to Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995, if anyone violates this ban, the offender will be sentenced to maximum one month imprisonment or fined maximum of Tk 5,000 or awarded both fine and jail term. Earlier, on November 25, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said the surrounding areas of the secretariat will be declared as ‘No Horn Zone’ from December 17. Source: UNB AH

Director of Meteorological Department Md. Shamsuddin Ahmed said, ‘Fani’ is staying in its position as a strong cyclone on the Bay of Bengal. Its wind speed is 160 to 180 kilometers per hour. It is a very severe cyclonic storm. As per our analysis when it will remain in Bangladesh then the wind speed may not be 160 to 180 kilometers per hour. It may be weakened to 100 to 120 kilometers per hour. But that is also a matter of concern for us.     He delivered the information at the inter-ministerial meeting about preparation to face the cyclone ‘Fani’ at the secretariat on Thursday. The meeting presided over by State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman where Principal Secretary of Prime Minister’s Office Nozibur Rahman, disaster management and relief Secretary Md. Shah Kamal and other senior officers of different ministries and departments were present. Shamsuddin Ahmed said, the cyclone has come within 850 kilometers. It is heading towards Indian coastal areas. It will touch Bangladesh coastal belts alongside Khulna. He said, till 6 pm on Friday Khulna region and south-western regions of Bangladesh are going to be under coverage of the cyclone. From 6 pm to the whole night Bangladesh will be under coverage of the cyclone. It will be the most critical time for us. He also said, it needs continuous electricity and internet service to maintain communication. Meteorological Department’s website was down as 1 lakh 50 thousand people at a time hit it between 11 am to 12 pm. The capacity should be 5 to 7 lakh but it was not. In response to question of hoisting extreme danger signal the meteorological department Director said, we can declare about landfall of extreme danger signal about 10 hours in advance. That specific time has not come. We have kept tonight and the morning of tomorrow for observation. AH        

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Enamur Rahman said, severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is heading towards Bangladesh. At present it is only 700 kilometers far from Bangladesh. The maximum sustained wind speed within the storm center is 180 kilometers per hour. He said these while exchanging views with newsmen at the meeting room of disaster management and relief ministry on Thursday. The State Minister said, I have just got news that strong cyclone ‘Fani’ is situated 700 kilometers far from Bangladesh. It is heading with a speed of 27 kilometers per hour. The wind speed in the storm center is 180 kilometers per hour. He said, I have also got news that ‘Fani’ has hit costal area of Odisha state in India. If it hit the West Bengal coast then it will become weak. Then the possible damage may decrease in Bangladesh. If it moves to the north then damage may increase in Bangladesh. Dr. Enamur Rahman said, there is no fear of losing life following government’s preparation. 4 thousand 71 shelter centers are prepared. Five lakh taka, 200 metric tons of rice and two hundred packets of dry food were sent to each of 19 districts. The State Minister also urged for arranging special ‘doa’ after holding Juma prayer on Friday to save the country from possible risks of ‘Fani’. According to the met office report cyclone ‘Fani’ is going to hit Bangladesh coastal area on Friday evening. AH