The bodies of nine fishermen, who went missing in a trawler capsize in the Meghna River in Charfasson upazila of Bhola on Sunday, were recovered from the Machhkata River in Mehendiganj upazila in Barishal on Monday night, taking the death toll from the incident to 10. The deceased were identified as Kamal Dalal, 35, son of late Nurul Haque, Hasan Mollah, 38, son of Quader Mollah, Nur Nabi Bepari, 30, son of Quader Bepari, Mofiz Matabbar, 35, son of Salimon Bepari, Nazrul Islam, 35, son of Yasin Patwary, Kabir Hossain, 40, son of Mosleuddin Majhi, Billal, 32, son of Ismail Khan, Abbas Munshi, 44, son of late Mujibul Haque Munshi, and Rafique Biswas, 44, son of late Jamal Biswas of Abdullahpur in Charfasson upazila. Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard and police retrieved the bodies from the sunken trawler at Bahadurpur around 10pm, said officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj Police Station Abidur Rahman. He said the bodies were found inside the trawler after it was salvaged. Earlier, the body of another fisherman Khorshed was recovered after the trawler capsized in the river at Ilisha Rajapur in Charfasson upazila. Twenty-four fishermen were returning home after selling hilsa in Chandpur when their trawler sank in the river around 1pm on Sunday, said Ruhul Amin, Charfasson Upazila Nirbahi Officer. Although 10 fishermen managed to swim ashore, the rest went missing, he said, adding that four fishermen still remained missing in the incident. Source: UNB AH

The three-member probe committee formed by the Bhola district administration has submitted the report in connection with the clashes and overall situation in Borhanuddin upazila centering the facebook account hacking and hurting the religious sentiment. Copy of the investigation report was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Bhola on Saturday morning. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique said that the report was sent to the concerned office in Dhaka. On the other hand, Member of Parliament from Bhola-2 constituency Ali Azam Mukul after holding press conference at his Borhanuddin residence handed over five lakh taka each to the family members of four victims on behalf of former industry and commerce minister Tofael Ahmed. At the press conference Ali Azam Mukul raised question saying that Chhatra Dal president Sabuj and other Jubo Dal leaders were seen leading the attack. He said, the situation was not expected. It was not scheduled to hold gathering at the Borhanuddin Eidgah ground on last Sunday. Then who called the rally that is under investigation. Even the rally concluded at 10:30 am but one group attacked at 11 am. Of the two teams one have submitted the report, another is performing investigation. Municipal Mayor Md. Rafiqul Islam, upazila Awami League president Jasim Uddin Haider and other leaders and activists were present in the press conference. AH

The person who reportedly hacked the Facebook account of Biplob Chandra has been identified with the assistance of Facebook authorities. Quoting Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Public Relations Officer of the Home Ministry Sharif Mahmud told UNB on Thursday that the Facebook authorities on Wednesday confirmed the identity of the hacker. “Soon the person’s identity will be disclosed before the media. We’re trying to arrest the person shortly,” the Home Minister was quoted as saying. Four people were killed and more than 200 others were injured on Sunday in a clash between police and demonstrating locals in Borhanuddin upazila, demanding the punishment of a youth for allegedly hurting religious sentiments on Facebook. Police and locals said messages containing derogatory remarks about Allah and Prophet Muhammad (SM) were sent to several people from the Facebook ID of Biplob Chandra Shuvo. The screenshots of the messages went viral on Facebook, triggering condemnations and protests. Md Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Borhanuddin Police Station, said Biplob came to them on Saturday to file a general diary claiming that his Facebook account had been hacked. Later, two suspected hackers were detained. Source: UNB AH

A court in Bhola on Thursday placed five people on a three-day remand each in a case over Sunday’s clash between police and demonstrating locals in Borhanuddin upazila that claimed four lives and injured 200 others. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge Sanaul Haque passed the order when the investigation officer of the case sought a 7-day remand for Biplob Chandra, Imon and Shakil each and a 5-day remand for Arif and Sajib each. Among them, Arif and Sajib were arrested on Wednesday night after scrutinizing a video footage, said officer-in-charge of Borhanuddin Police Station. The process of arresting the offenders through examining video footages will continue, he said. Meanwhile, the situation in the district in calm now but  law enforcers are put on alert to fend off any unwanted situation, the OC added. Four people were killed and more than 200 others injured on Sunday in a clash between police and demonstrating locals who were demanding punishment of a youth in Borhanuddin upazila for allegedly hurting religious sentiments on Facebook. Police and locals said messages containing derogatory remarks about Allah and Prophet Muhammad were sent to several persons from the Facebook ID of Biplob Chandra Shuvo. Screenshots of the messages went viral on Facebook, triggering condemnation and protests. Md Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Borhanuddin Police Station, said Biplob came to them on Saturday to file a general diary claiming that his Facebook account had been hacked. Two suspected hackers were detained. Source: UNB AH

Mentioning that prima facie evidence suggest that police opened fire on the demonstrators in Bhola in self-defense, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday said they were investigating whether there was any negligence on the part of police and others. “Whether there’s any negligence of duty on the part of police or others is under investigation and legal action will be taken if anyone is found guilty,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with a delegation of Oikyafront at the Secretariat. The minister said he talked to the local MP and the officer-in-charge of the police station concerned and came to know that people under the banner of ‘Touhidi Janata’ held a rally protesting a Facebook post made from the hacked ID of a young man of a minority community demeaning religion. At one stage, some 300 people from the rally ran amok and tried to break the door of a room where the OC, other police officers and UNO took shelter, he said, adding that they heard the UNO ordered the firing at that time. Asaduzzaman, however, said it will be known after investigation as to who passed the order to fire gunshots. Expressing shock over the incident, he said the local MP went to the spot immediately after the incident and took steps for the treatment of the injured. He also provided financial assistance to the families of the deceased. The minister also said they sought assistance of the Facebook authorities to find out the real culprit who made the derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad (pubh). “We’ve sent necessary information to the Singapore office of Facebook and details will be known within two or three days,” he said. Four people were killed and about 200 others injured in a clash between police and demonstrating locals in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola, demanding the punishment of a youth for allegedly hurting religious sentiments on the social media. Police and locals said messages containing derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (SM) were sent to several persons from a hacked Facebook ID of Biplob Chandra Shuvo, triggering widespread protests. Source: UNB AH

The experimental gas extraction from Bhola North-1 gas field has begun. Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) began the extraction work at around 1:15 pm on Saturday. BAPEX Project Director Bazlur Rahman said, gas was found in 348 feet underground level. Extraction work began from there. There is 6 hundred billion cubic feet gas reserve in this well. Earlier in December 9 the excavation work began in North-1 well at Bheduria area in Bhola sadar. BAPEX discovered gas there on January 15 of this year. Four wells were excavated after discovering gas at Shahbazpur in Bhola. Of the wells 40 to 42 million cubic feet gas is being extracted daily from two wells. Gas was also discovered in another well named Shahbazpur East-1 in December. BAPEX said, the total gas reserve is 1 thousand 5 hundred billion cubic feet in Bhola including Shahbazpur, Shahbazpur East-1 and North-1. AH

Bangladesh has found a new natural gas reserve at Bheduria in the southern coastal district of Bhola. The matter was disclosed at the cabinet meeting on Monday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. State owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) officials said, after primary experiment it seemed that there is gas in the well named Bhola North-1. After the meeting cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said to the newsmen, it is estimated primarily that 600 billion cubic feet gas could be found in the new field. It will be the country’s 27th gas field. The government hopes that more gas could be found there after exploration. BAPEX engineers estimated that there is more than 35 billion cubic feet gas reserve in Shahbazpur. 35 million cubic feet gas has been exerted daily from the three wells of the four from there. A new gas field was discovered in October last year nearby that gas field. Its name was given Shahbazpur East-1. Earlier BAPEX officials said that there could be a gas reserve of 700 billion cubic feet. AH