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Tejgaon train fire: 'Nadira was still holding onto her child's body'
As soon as fellow passengers on Mohanganj Express screamed "fire", Nadira Begum Popy grabbed her three-year-old son, held him to her chest, and ran in an attempt to get out of the carriage and escape the blaze. But tragedy struck as they were trapped in the billowing smoke. Both the mother and her son Yasin died in the fire. Nadira was still holding her son when the rescuers recovered four bodies from the train. Delwar Hossain Titu, Yasin's uncle, said, "Nadira couldn't get down and both were burnt to death ... She was still holding onto her child's body when rescuers found them." Four persons including the mother and son were killed after arsonists torched the Dhaka-bound train from Netrokona near the capital's Tejgaon area around 5:00am (Dec 19). Three coaches were burnt before fire engines doused the flames. Put in body bags, the four were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue, and Yasin's body was kept with his mother's. Nadira, accompanied by eight family members and relatives, was returning to Dhaka after a visit to her in-law's house in Netrokona. She went there on December 3 after the conclusion of her elder son Fahim's final exams in late November. Fahim, 9, who was sitting beside his mother, escaped narrowly as his maternal uncle Habibur Rahman was able to take him out of the train immediately after the fire broke out. "My sister was running to safety with Yasin and I was with Fahim. Although I managed to exit the train, the thick smoke made it impossible for me to locate my sister," Habibur said. The five other relatives got down from the train at Airport Raileway Station, just minutes before the tragedy occurred. But Nadira was going to get off at Kamalapur Railway Station, as decided in consultation with her husband Mizanur Rahman when the couple talked on the phone last night. It would be easier to get to their home in Paschim Tejturi Bazar in Tejgaon from Kamalapur, they thought. Visiting the DMCH morgue, this correspondent saw an inconsolable Mizanur, his gaze vacant, as he sat near the morgue where bodies of his wife and son were kept. At times, Mizanur was seen placing his hand on his head in deep frustration, agony and resentment. "I want to cry. But I can't. I can't explain what's going on inside of me. Everything is destroyed," Mizanur who is a manager of a hardware shop at Karwan Bazar, said. Mizanur went to bed on Monday night, overwhelmed with joy, anticipating the moment he would wake up to see the beloved faces of his sons and wife after nearly two weeks. "My wife's world revolved around her two sons. How has my elder son Fahim survived without his mother?" asked Mizanur with deep sorrowness.
19 Dec 2023,18:51

The Timeless Appeal of Striped Shirts: Why Everyone Should Own at Least One
Fashion trends come and go, but there are certain wardrobe staples that stand the test of time. Among these, the classic striped shirt has remained a constant favorite for both men and women. Whether you prefer bold, contrasting stripes or more subtle pinstripes, owning at least one striped shirt is a must. In this blog, we will explore the timeless appeal of striped shirts and why they deserve a special place in everyone's wardrobe.   Versatility One of the greatest advantages of owning a striped shirt is its versatility. Stripes can effortlessly transition from casual to formal, making them suitable for a variety of occasions. Pair a navy and white striped shirt with jeans for a relaxed weekend look, or tuck a black and white striped shirt into a pencil skirt for a chic office ensemble. The possibilities are endless, as stripes lend themselves well to various style combinations.   Classic Appeal Striped shirts have an inherent classic appeal that never goes out of style. This timeless pattern has been a favorite of fashion icons throughout history, from Coco Chanel to Audrey Hepburn. The clean lines and symmetry of stripes provide a polished and put-together look that is both elegant and eye-catching. By owning a striped shirt, you can tap into this timeless aesthetic and elevate your overall style.   Effortless Pattern Mixing If you're looking to experiment with patterns in your outfits, striped shirts are an excellent starting point. They effortlessly complement other prints and patterns, such as floral, polka dots, or even animal prints. The key to successful pattern mixing is to choose stripes that are of a similar color palette or scale. By incorporating a striped shirt into your wardrobe, you open up a world of possibilities for creating unique and stylish ensembles.   Flattering for All Body Types One of the remarkable aspects of striped shirts is their ability to flatter all body types. Contrary to the myth that stripes make you look wider, the right choice of stripes can actually accentuate your best features. Vertical stripes, for example, create an elongating effect, making you appear taller and slimmer. Horizontal stripes, on the other hand, can add curves to those with a more athletic build. With the wide range of stripe sizes and directions available, you can find a striped shirt that suits your body type and enhances your natural silhouette.   Effortless Casual Style For those days when you want a casual and laid-back look without compromising on style, a striped shirt is the perfect solution. It effortlessly exudes a relaxed yet put-together vibe. Pair it with your favorite jeans, shorts, or even a denim skirt, and you'll achieve a timeless and effortless look that is both comfortable and fashionable.   Conclusion From its versatility to its timeless appeal, owning at least one striped shirt is a fashion investment that pays off in countless ways. Whether you're aiming for a classic, sophisticated look or a more casual and relaxed style, the striped shirt effortlessly adapts to your needs. So, next time you're updating your wardrobe, be sure to include a striped shirt, and discover the endless possibilities it brings to your personal style.
12 Jun 2023,19:14

Fungal infections that can be dangerous for human body
Fungi exist in the environment. Some of these cause disease in the human body. Fungal infections usually get better with treatment.  However, some fungi can cause loss of life. The World Health Organization has issued warnings about some fungi. Cryptococcus neoformans It can infect the brain and cause death. Usually this fungus enters the body through fruit with bird droppings. It can also spread through contact with an infected person. Aspergillus fumigatus This fungus exists in both indoor and outdoor environment. It breeds on dead leaves, rotting vegetables and fruits, stored grains and food, carpets in the house. It cannot cause disease in people with immune system. However, it can infect the lungs and sinuses in people with weakened immune systems and the elderly and children. Candida auris It usually creates in healthcare centers. Healthcare workers are infected. Others can also get infected if they come in contact with infected health workers, doctors and nurses from the healthcare center. Its infection causes severe fever and chills. Candida albicans It is one of the main causes of fungal diseases. This fungus is infected in different places of the skin. It can usually be cured with treatment. But lately this fungus has acquired drug resistance. Let's check out how to prevent from these fungi: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Avoid eating rotting fruits and vegetables. Clean your home carpets regularly.Do not stay in hospital or health center longer than necessary. Avoid using antifungal medicine without doctor's advice.
07 Feb 2023,11:39

Iran expelled from UN women's rights body over crackdown
  Tehran has been voted out of a UN commission on women's rights for "increasingly" suppressing human rights amid nationwide protests. The US, which proposed the vote, said it marked a victory for the protesters. The UN Economic and Social Council on Wednesday voted to oust Iran from the its Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), citing Tehran's violation of the rights of women and girls.  Iran has been rocked by nationwide anti-government protests, to which it has responded with a bloody crackdown. Why was Iran voted out of the UNCSW? The vote, proposed by the US, passed with a 29-8 vote and 16 abstentions.  Iran's key ally Russia opposed the vote and said it wanted an opinion from UN legal experts on whether the Economic and Social Council was legally able to oust Tehran. The resolution expressed "serious concern" over Tehran's actions since September "to continuously undermine and increasingly suppress the human rights of women and girls." The text decried Iran's "use of lethal force resulting in the deaths of peaceful protesters, including women and girls" and said Tehran's policies "flagrantly" contradicted the mandate of the UNCSW. The 45 members of the UNCSW are elected by the Economic and Social Council for four-year terms. Wednesday's vote removed Iran for the remainder of its 2022-2026 term.  US campaigned to oust Iran US Vice President Kamala Harris said in November that Washington would work with other states to remove Iran from the UNCSW. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also campaigned for Iran's expulsion.  "Today's vote to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women is a victory for those protesting in Iran and all of those who stand with them," Harris wrote on Twitter.  Iran had accused the US of pressuring countries ahead of the vote. Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group think tank, said some council members were "queasy about the precedent" of the vote. Gowan wrote on Twitter that the US "forced the issue by tabling the proposal with little warning [and] Iran's actions against protesters left many with little choice but to vote yes."  Iran's crackdown on protests The death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, in the custody of Iran's notorious morality police in September triggered a massive wave of protests.  She was accused of having defied the country's strict dress code. Protests or individual public displays of defiance in the aftermath often involved young women and girls removing their headscarves in public. The demonstrations against the Iranian regime have continued, despite police responding with force and the judiciary handing down death sentences to protesters.  Two protesters have so far been executed, according to Tehran, and more face the death penalty. Iran's crackdown on protests The death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, in the custody of Iran's notorious morality police in September triggered a massive wave of protests.  She was accused of having defied the country's strict dress code. Protests or individual public displays of defiance in the aftermath often involved young women and girls removing their headscarves in public. The demonstrations against the Iranian regime have continued, despite police responding with force and the judiciary handing down death sentences to protesters.  Two protesters have so far been executed, according to Tehran, and more face the death penalty. 
15 Dec 2022,11:36

Investigators find ‘bullet’ in Arshad Sharif’s body
Those close to the investigations in the brutal killing of senior TV anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the members of the medical board that conducted the autopsy of the slain journalist at a Islamabad hospital were surprised to find a “piece of metal”, later declared as a bullet, from the body that had been transported to Pakistan reportedly after his post-mortem in Nairobi on Tuesday night. Sources told Dwan that the authorities had decided to carry out a forensic examination of the “metal piece” recovered from Arshad Sharif’s chest, believing that it could definitely help determine the type of the weapon used in the incident. According to the sources, the eight-member medical board of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), which conducted the autopsy on Oct 26, had handed over the “piece of metal” to the police for further investigations, stating that this recovery of the bullet could provide a crucial lead to the investigations into the murder surrounded by mystery and controversies. “This metal piece is actually a bullet and it is surprising that those conducted the autopsy on Arshad’s body in Nairobi had left it inside the body,” said one of the sources, associated with the investigations. According to him, under the standard operating procedure, bullets were never left inside the body after the autopsy and its recovery had made the post-mortem conducted by the authorities in Nairobi doubtful. He said the bullet has now been removed from the body and handed over to the investigators for a forensic examination. The test, he said, would help determine the type of the weapon used in the incident and then it might prove helpful in identifying the killer(s). “Now the weapon is in Kenya and the bullet is in Pakistan,” he said, adding that as a result the matching of the bullet with the weapon would become a difficult task until these were combined at one place. Giving further details, he said, the autopsy showed that Arshad Sharif had received bullets on his chest and head and the wound mark on the chest showed that the bullets had been fired from behind and from a close range. “There is a bullet injury at front side of the body, which might be an exit point of another bullet,” he said, adding that a mild-blackening was found around the bullet injury at the backside of the chest which could happen only if the bullet was fired from close range — with a distance of four feet or less. A bullet injury was also found at the upper part of Arshad Sharif’s skull, the sources said, adding that a significant part of his skull had been found smashed. The sources said the recovered bullet would either be sent to a forensic science laboratory in Islamabad or the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Lahore. A final decision in this regard, they said, would be made on Saturday (today). They said the samples taken from various body parts, including heart, lungs, liver, spleen and stomach, had already been sent to the forensic science agency in Lahore for pathology and toxicology tests. Allegations denied Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of ARY News TV channel Salman Iqbal has categorically refuted the allegations of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan about his role in Arshad’s murder and termed it ‘part of a campaign against him’ by the PML-N government. “The wild and baseless allegations recently levelled against me by the interior minister in relation to Arshad’s killing are a continuation of this campaign. Let me say categorically that I had no involvement whatsoever in the gruesome act against my brother,” said Mr Iqbal through his official Twitter handle. Mr Iqbal said under the present PML-N government, he had no confidence in any investigation and called for a probe through the UN Human Rights Cell. “I am calling for an independent investigation overseen by the UN Human Rights Office, and I will of course provide my full cooperation to any such investigation seeking to get to the full truth behind the killing of Arshad Sharif with a view to bringing those responsible to justice,” he said. At a media briefing on Friday, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said the investigation team set up by the government for ascertaining facts related to assassination of the journalist left for Kenya on Friday. Source: DAWN
31 Oct 2022,16:08

Pak rights group calls for probe against anti-graft body chief in harassment case
A prominent human rights group in Pakistan has called for a probe into the allegations of harassment against former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) head retired Justice Javed Iqbal. Tayyaba Gull, whose controversial video with the former NAB chairman had surfaced in 2019, alleged that NAB officials stripped her naked, made videos and filed cases, when she refused to comply with Iqbal’s “demands”. “I was stripped naked and videos were made,” Gull was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. Her throat felt swollen and she stuttered before adding: “I was taken to a room, cameras were installed, officials conducted frisking, stripped me naked, laughed at me and my videos were made.” In a statement, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it took “serious note of the allegations of sexual harassment” levelled against the official, who was also chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED). “The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) takes serious note of the allegation of sexual harassment against Justice (Retired) Javed Iqbal–chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED) and former chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)–as well as other NAB officials,” the HRCP said in a statement. The group raised grave concern over these allegations levelled by a woman who had approached Justice (Retired) Iqbal in his capacity as COIED chairman–a position in which he was responsible for protecting Gul’s testimony and securing her right to seek justice for a missing relative. Not only has Justice (Retired) Iqbal allegedly abused his office in two capacities, but he has also failed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to answer these charges, the group said. According to HRCP, the allegations against him and other public officials must be investigated with transparency and independence, and he should be removed from office if these allegations are proven. Noor Alam Khan, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman, has urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to remove or suspend Javed Iqbal as head of the commission on missing persons, following allegations he harassed innocent women. On Thursday, Noor Khan assured the victim that he would ensure justice in the case, adding that he would call the NAB and police officials as the “misuse of authority” was evident. Source: ANI
11 Jul 2022,19:51
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