Sanad Saha

With just around two weeks left for Eid-ul-Azha, price of unrefined salt has shot up, at least in the wholesale hub of Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj, in what appears to be an attempt at cashing in on the upcoming seasonal rise in demand for preserving hides of sacrificial animals.

Almost a year after the brutal murder of Tanwir Muhammad Taqi, the draft of a Rab probe report got leaked in the media, revealing the involvement of 11 people, including Ajmeri Osman, in the killing.

As the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections come to a close, it was found that at least 13 councillors with murder, drugs, arms or explosives-related cases against them won their respective ballots on Sunday.

Selina Hayat Ivy was on course to win a straight third term as the Narayanganj mayor as she was ahead of her rival by 42,054 votes in yesterday’s city corporation polls, which was largely festive and peaceful.

Narayanganj goes to polls today to pick its mayor and 36 councillors, in an election that can be expected to be a departure from the recent violence-ridden voting for Union Parishad seats.

With the Narayanganj city polls campaign ending at midnight tonight, major mayoral candidates Selina Hayat Ivy and Taimur Alam Khandakar are making last-minute efforts to woo women and first-time voters who may make the difference.

With the Narayanganj city polls only two days away, voters fear there may be chaos on election day over taking control of polling centres by supporters of some ward councillor candidates.

Electioneering in the Narayanganj city polls has heated up as the two major mayor hopefuls have accused each other of foiling the peaceful election atmosphere.

Ruling Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman finally broke his silence and asked AL leaders and activists in Narayanganj to work in favour of Selina Hayat Ivy, the party’s mayor candidate in the January 16 city polls.

Although the atmosphere surrounding the Narayanganj city polls is still peaceful, locals believe candidates will face a big challenge maintaining it as internal conflicts between parties and leaders have started coming to light.

With just one week left for the Narayanganj City Corporation election, the political equations for the two major mayor contenders remain unclear.

Awami League mayor nominee Selina Hayat Ivy in her re-election campaign is highlighting her development activities while her main rival, independent runner and BNP leader Taimur Alam Khandakar, is trying to cash in on the anti-government sentiment by mobilising support from all opposition parties.

The streets were still quite empty and the sun was up trying to chase away the winter chill. Some friends, all in their 60s, were sipping tea at the Bose Cabin in Narayanganj city.

The government’s factory inspection department has been negligent in monitoring safety measures, found a government probe body formed after the devastating Hashem Food and Beverage factory fire in Narayanganj.

Still reeling from Thursday’s fire tragedy, workers of Hashem Foods Limited now hang in the dark over their salary and Eid bonus payment, as the factory suspended its activities, and its owner and high officials were arrested.

Two months ago, her husband fractured his leg in an accident on his way home from Dhaka to Rupganj.

The fire that killed 51 employees of a food processing factory in Narayanganj was not a bolt from the blue for the owners who, according to police, knew such a disaster was imminent but chose to do nothing.

At least 49 workers and staffers died in a fire at a Narayanganj factory as they were trapped on the third floor with its lone exit locked when the blaze engulfed the building on Thursday.

She earned fame, respect and prestigious awards for her outstanding achievement as the first graduate in her community.

The Narayanganj district administration reimbursed some of the money a man spent for distributing relief among 100 people as punishment for seeking government food assistance.