Bangladesh Railway has suspended the operation of six intercity trains to avoid sabotage during the ongoing blockade.  A railway source confirmed the information on Friday (Dce 22). According to sources, the trains that run at night and the routes where the risky spots are high will be temporarily closed.  Meanwhile, the Western Railway authorities have suspended the operation of the Uttara Express from Rajshahi to Parbatipur and the commuter train from Ishwardi to Rahanpur. The Dhaka Railway Divisional Office will hold a press conference at Kamalapur Railway Station at 3pm on Friday to give details in this regard. In the last one and a half months, 12 places on the railway track and five trains have been set on fire.  In addition, railway tracks were cut and fishplate clips were removed at three places. Among the six zones under the railway police, the incidents of sabotage are highest in the Dhaka region.  

Expatriate Bangladeshis sent around US $ 1,599.45 million remittances during the month of August in the fiscal 2023-24. Reports BSS. It is the lowest remittance in last six months. As per Bangladesh Bank (BB) available data, state-owned banks brought in $183.19 million while 43 private sector banks brought $1,376.02 million remittances. The highest $340.17 million remittance came to the country through Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. 

Six Ahmadiyas were arrested by Badami Bagh (Lahore) police from their workplace, a small shoe manufacturing unit in the area. Tehreek-e-Labbiak Pakistan (TLP) had earlier filed an FIR on July 31 against a total of eight persons for alleged blasphemy, under Section 298-C for posing as Muslims and preaching their religion. The owner of the factory, Mubashir, and his son Musharaf, who were also mentioned in the FIR closed the unit on August 1 and went into hiding and applied for interim bail.  They were to appear at Lahore Sessions Court on August 22 for their bail hearing. They, however, failed to make an appearance fearing mob lynching as the court was filled by TLP members raising anti-Ahmadiya slogans. According to reports, one Haji Saifi Muhammad of the nearby madrasa had in June 2023 asked Mubashir to close his unit and shift to some other location as Haji wanted to expand his madrasa.  When Mubashir refused Haji approached the local TLP leader, Karman Zafar who threatened Mubashir to vacate the property, filed the FIR in July and threatened Mubashir with violence. On the night of August 18, some relatives of Mubashir and others went to the already closed factory to collect some documents and their belongings when they noticed a mob of TLP members outside the factory. As a protective measure, they called the police. On pretext of protection, the six were taken into custody and taken to PS Badami Bagh. Though a statement of IGP, Punjab said that the unit was not stormed by TLP members, the Ahmadiyas claim that more than 90 per cent of the mob consisted of TLP cadres. Amir Mehmood, the Ahmadiya community spokesperson, however, claimed that on August 22 the Lahore’s Session Court complex was packed with TLP members who actually raised slogans, released a poster, and posted a picture of victory right after the court closed as the bail applicants failed to appear. The names of relatives of Mubashir arrested include Wajahat Ahmad Qamar, ShafiqueAdil, Nasir Ahmad, Mudassir Ahmad, Shiraz Ahmad and Umer Ahmad Bajwah. They were arrested and sent to judicial remand. 

India and the United States have agreed to end six trade disputes at the World Trade Organisation and New Delhi will also lift retaliatory customs duties on 28 American products. This is likely to shore up trade between the nations and also help Indian exporters get key tax advantages. The decisions come amid Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US, in 2018, had imposed 25 per cent and 10 per cent import taxes on certain steel and aluminium products, respectively, on grounds of national security. In retaliation, India in June 2019 imposed customs duties on 28 American products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents. United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that the United States and the Republic of India have agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization. "India also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs which it had imposed in response to the Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminium," Tai said on Thursday. It added that these tariff cuts will restore and expand market opportunities for US agricultural producers and manufacturers. "Today's agreement represents the culmination of intensified bilateral engagement over the last two years, including through the US-India Trade Policy Forum, to deepen our economic and trade ties," Tai said. "As a result of our work, US agricultural producers and manufacturers will now enjoy renewed access to a critical global market and we will strengthen our trade relationship with one of our closest partners. I look forward to continuing to work with my counterpart, (India's Commerce and Industry) Minister (Piyush) Goyal, as we identify additional ways to bring our people and our economies together," she added. The six disputes include three initiated by India and as many by the US. These include countervailing measures on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India, certain measures relating to solar cells and modules, measures relating to the renewable energy sector, export-related measures, certain measures on steel and aluminium products, and additional duties on some products from the US. According to trade experts, both countries can resolve the disputes on mutually agreed terms and later inform the Geneva-based WTO about the same. The US had filed a complaint in the WTO about India's support measures to its export sector under different schemes. In 2019, a WTO dispute panel ruled that India's export measures are inconsistent with global trade norms. The US is the largest trading partner of India. In 2022-23, the bilateral goods trade increased to USD 128.8 billion as against USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22. According to WTO rules, a member country can file a case in the Geneva-based multilateral body if they feel that a particular trade measure is against the norms of the world body. Bilateral consultation is the first step to resolving a dispute. If both sides are not able to resolve the matter through consultation, either of them can approach the establishment of a dispute settlement panel. The panel's ruling or report can be challenged by WTO's appellate body. Interestingly, the appellate body is not functioning because of differences among member countries to appoint its members. Several disputes are already pending with this body. The US has been blocking the appointment of the members. Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

The Meteorological Department has predicted storms with a maximum speed of 80 km per hour in six regions of the country. Warning signal number 2 has been issued for the river ports in these areas.  On Sunday, June 18, this information was reported in the weather forecast for the country's river ports until 1:00 p.m. Bangladesh Meteorological Department meteorologist Md. Monowar Hossain said, "There may be temporary rain or thunder with gusty winds at a speed of 60 to 80 km per hour from west or north-west over Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur, Tangail, Mymensingh and Sylhet regions may occur. The river ports in these areas have been asked to show warning signal number 2. Apart from this, there may be temporary rain or thundershower with gusty or wind speed of 45 to 60 km per hour from south or south-east over other parts of the country. The river ports in these areas have been asked to show warning signal number 1. On Sunday, June 18 till 6 pm in the forecast of the Department of Meteorology, Light to moderate rain with gusty winds or thundershowers may occur at many places in Chattogram, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, Rangpur, Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions and at a couple of places in Khulna and Barishal divisions. Along with this, there may be heavy rainfall at some places in Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. According to the Meteorological Department's forecast, mild to moderate heat wave is prevailing over Rajshahi division including Tangail, Jessore, Kushtia and Chuadanga districts and it may subside at some places.  Day temperatures may drop slightly across the country. The weather may change slightly in the next two days. The highest temperature in the country on Saturday was 39.3 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi and the lowest temperature was 22 degrees Celsius in Srimangal.  The highest 129 mm rainfall was recorded in Sylhet on this day.

Six security officials were martyred after more than a dozen militants stormed an oil and gas exploration site, police and the energy firm said on Tuesday. The attack took place at facilities run by MOL Pak­istan Oil and Gas Com­pany, a unit of Hungary’s MOL, in the Manji Khel area of Hangu district near the Afghan border. Police said the militants targeted two wells, known as M-8 and M-10, with hea­vy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades. The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pak­is­tan (TTP) claimed res­ponsibility for the attack. The martyred officials included four members of the Frontier Constabulary, identified as Hamzali, Waleed, Shariatullah and Zafar Alam. Two of the victims were private guards, identified as Sabz Ali and Aseel Khan. The Counterterrorism Department told Dawn on Tuesday that about 15 to 20 militants equipped with modern weapons sca­led the mountains adjacent to the North Waziris­tan district and opened fire at the guards at the oil and gas installations late on Monday night. The exchange of fire continued for two hours, and the attackers fled after the gunfight. The Thal scouts and pol­ice reached the spot and launched a combing operation, which continued until Tuesday morning. Police official Irfan Khan told Reuters that the security guards at M-8 repulsed the attack, but the casualties occurred at M-10. He said the attackers also damaged a solar power plant. The militants then fled to adjoining North Waziristan, from where they had originally come, he said. Similarly, district police chief Asif Bahadur told AFP that about 50 fighters attacked the site. “They were armed with light and heavy weapons and fired mortar shells, killing six security personnel at the main entrance” to the remote site near the Afghan border, he said. MOL said in a statement that none of its employees was present at the scene of the attack. It added that members of the security forces martyred in the attack included soldiers and third-party contractors. It said production from the wells had been temporarily shut down by remote access and the wells are now secured, pending the completion of an on-site regulatory investigation. The attack occurred at a distance from the plant area, and production at the other wells continued uninterrupted, it said, adding that the incident did not affect MOL’s production. Source: Dawn

Today is the first day of Falgun, the first month of spring. Falling leaves, buds on mango trees are a clear sign of spring. Seeing these views, we found Falgun in the nature.  Today, six districts of the country are experiencing cold wave. According to the Meteorological Department, the temperature has fallen in almost all regions of the country on the first day of spring.  The temperature in the capital Dhaka also dropped near about three degrees Celsius than the other days. Meteorologists said that the temperature may remain unchanged for another day or two. After that the temperature will increase gradually. Meteorological Department said, cold wave is blowing in six districts of the country today. These districts are Panchagarh, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Pabna, Chuadanga and Moulvibazar. The three regions of the country are called 'winter hotspots'. They are Tentulia of Panchgarh, Srimangal of Moulvibazar and Chuadanga.  Cold wave is also blowing in these three districts. This winter, these three districts have experienced the lowest temperature in the country for several days and continued during the end of winter. Meteorologist Abdul Hamid told that the cold wave will not last long. It will continue a day or two. After this the temperature may increase.  Today's lowest temperature in the country was recorded 7.6 degrees Celsius at Srimangal.  Yesterday, the lowest temperature in the country was 10.1 degrees Celsius in Tentulia. That is, the minimum temperature of the country decreased by about 3 degrees Celsius in one day. Like other regions of the country, the temperature has dropped in Dhaka too. Today's minimum temperature in Dhaka is 13.9 degrees Celsius. Yesterday the minimum temperature in Dhaka was 16 degrees Celsius.

Six people were shot dead when two gunmen entered a home in California and opened fire. Among the dead were a teenage mother and her six-month-old baby.  Local government officials said that the gun attack occurred at 3:30 a.m. local time on Monday. The shooting occurred in Tulare County in central California.  Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux described the attack as a 'horrific crime'.  He said in the press conference that it was a pre-planned attack. A criminal gang and drug smugglers may be involved in this attack. According to the local police, "Early on Monday, two gunmen entered the house and shot multiple times. Hearing the gunshots, a person from the neighboring house reported the matter to the police over phone. Few minutes later, he went to the spot. On reaching the spot, he found dead bodies lying inside and outside the house." "The whole incident is tragic," said Mike Boudreaux.  Mike Boudreaux added, "Two men survived because they hid inside the house during the shooting. However, several others were injured. They were admitted to the emergency department of the hospital. One of the injured died shortly after being taken to hospital." The sheriff speculates the attack was a drug-related incident.

Six people were killed in an ambulance-truck collision in front of the toll plaza at the Zajira point of the Padma Bridge. The accident took place on Tuesday morning. The identities of those killed in the crash were not immediately known. It is known that all the victims were ambulance passengers. Their bodies are being brought to Zajira Upazila Health Complex. Padma Bridge South Police Station SI Shuruj Uddin Ahmed said, "The ambulance was going to Dhaka from Barishal. The ambulance collided with a truck when it reached the Naudoba Bridge area of the Zajira point Expressway."

An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck at around 2 a.m. local time in the Doti district in western Nepal. The army has been deployed, as rescue and relief operations are underway. At least six people were killed and five others injured as an earthquake shook Nepal early Wednesday. Tremors were also felt in parts of northern India, including the capital city of Delhi. There were no reports of damage from the Indian side. Nepal's seismological center set the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.6. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) had set the earthquake at a magnitude of 5.6. It struck at 2:12 a.m. local time (2027 GMT).  Nepal's prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, tweeted his condolences and said rescue and relief efforts were being carried out.  Rescue efforts underway Local media showed collapsed houses and rubble in the western district of Doti. An army spokesperson told Reuters news agency that at least two people had been reported missing. There were four children and two adults among those killed by the quake. They were crushed in their houses in a mountainous region, said local authorities.  A ground rescue team of the army has been rushed to the site, an army spokesperson said. Two helicopters were on standby in nearby Surkhet and Nepalgunj towns. Kalpana Shrestha, a senior bureaucrat in the Doti district, said details were being collected from villages near the epicenter. She added that several people had been rescued from under the debris, including a child. Videos being circulated on social media showed local villagers moving debris to rescue people trapped underneath. Most of the mountain villages are reached on foot. There are no roads to drive heavy equipment to help with the rescue. "It shook terribly and I rushed out immediately. Now we are collecting details including the dead bodies," Ram Upadhyay, chairman of the Purbi Chowki rural municipality in Doti told Reuters news agency. Mountainous country Nepal experienced two massive earthquakes in 2015, killing 9,000 people and causing major damage. The south Asian nation is still rebuilding after the destruction caused then.