Lives of tens of thousands of workers on the line as garment titan NASSA shuts 16 plantsNASSA Group, once one of Bangladesh’s largest garment exporters, has permanently shut down 16 of its factories, throwing the future of roughly 30,000 workers into uncertainty and deepening wage arrears across its plants. I don’t know when or if we will get it,” said Nasir Uddin, a helper at Nassa Super Garments in Ashulia, who supported his parents and siblings with his wages. Unrest mounted across NASSA plants as wages and benefits fell into arrears and workers took to the streets. Among them are AJ Super Garments, Feroza Garments, NASSA Super Garments, NASSA Embroidery, NASSA Basic, and NASSA Hi Tech Wash.NASSA workers responded by blocking the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, demanding payment of arrears and reopening of the factories. If the factories don’t reopen, we are doomed.”Rafiqul Islam Sujan, president of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, condemned the decision.

The meeting, held in the presence of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Advisor Supradip Chakma, saw the protesters present an nine-point list of demands. Later, in a statement, the protesters said the civil administration had verbally agreed to accept all of their demands except the withdrawal of Section 144 restrictions. “We welcome this meeting as a formal beginning of dialogue with the government and administration,” the statement read. The protesters were represented by Kripayon Tripura, Bagish Chakma, Shadok Chakma, Pintu Chakma, Monika Chakma and Toshita Chakma. • The families of the dead must be compensated with Tk 2 million each; those seriously injured must receive Tk 1 million, others injured must receive Tk 200,000, and those whose homes, shops or properties were damaged must receive Tk 500,000.

Police have disclosed the identities of three men who were killed in Khagrachhari's Guimara during clashes sparked by the alleged gang rape of a Marma schoolgirl. The victims, all aged between 20 and 22, were residents of Halfchhari Union in Guimara Upazila. They were named as Teiching Marma, 20, son of Alakai Marma from Ramsu Bazar, Athuihpru Marma, 21, son of Thuhlaiang Marma from Amtali Para, and Akhrao Marma, 22, son of Hasu Marma from Cheng Guli Para. He added that 10 others were injured in the violence, with one taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. On Sunday, violence flared in Guimara, where the trio were reportedly shot dead during clashes with security forces.

During the student protests in the July Uprising last year, police fired as many as 305,311 rounds of ammunition across the country under instructions from deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, an investigation has revealed. These bullets were used in an attempt to suppress the movement, with 95,313 rounds fired in the Dhaka Metropolitan area alone, it added. The shocking details were presented by the investigation officer, Mohammad Alamgir, during his testimony at the International Crimes Tribunal. The other members of the tribunal included Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. Alamgir also said the report included information on the use of helicopters by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has lent weight to suggestions that Indian instigation or fascists may be behind the ongoing unrest in Khagrachhari, sparked by the alleged gang rape of a Marma schoolgirl last week. Jahangir endorsed the claim, saying: “You have raised a very valid question. India or the fascists are instigating these incidents. We are taking all possible measures to ensure they can't succeed.”Authorities in Khagrachhari have been struggling to restore calm after days of protests, blockades and clashes triggered by the rape allegations. Security has been tightened across the hill district, while restrictions on gatherings under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure remain in force.

Based on Mamunur’s initial interrogation, police said in his remand plea on Monday that the Jatiya Party leader had received Enayet at the airport upon his arrival in Bangladesh. Earlier, DB Ramna Zonal Team Inspector Akhtar Morshed, the investigating officer, sought 10 days to grill Mamunur in custody at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque's court. Enayet was detained on Sept 13 after being spotted “moving suspiciously” in a Prado SUV near Minto Road. According to the case statement, Enayet went to the US in 1988 and received citizenship in 2004. Mamunur, however, was placed in custody for a six-day interrogation.

Bangladesh reports three more dengue deaths with 735 hospitalised in a dayBangladesh has reported three more dengue-related deaths in the past 24 hours, alongside 735 new hospitalisations due to the Aedes mosquito-borne disease. The tally of hospital admissions has reached 46,786 this year, alongside 195 deaths. In the last 24 hours, the total number of dengue patients admitted in September has risen to 15,310. As many as 2,407 dengue patients are receiving treatment in various hospitals across the country. In 2023, the country saw its highest number of dengue hospital admissions -- 321,179 -- along with a record 1,705 deaths.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the "Jumma Chhatra-Janata" announced that the blockade on the Dhaka–Khagrachhari and Chattogram–Khagrachhari roads would be relaxed from noon “until further notice”. The group also requested cooperation in ensuring the arrival of a medical team from Dhaka to treat the injured without obstruction. The protest action was enforced by the Jumma Chhatra-Janata from early Saturday after the alleged gang-rape of a teenage girl from the Marma community. TRAVEL PARALYSEDRoad links between Khagrachhari and Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangamati and other districts have been suspended, stranding both locals and tourists. DEADLY CLASHES IN GUIMARADespite the Section 144 order, three members of the hill community were killed in attacks by assailants in Guimara on Sunday.

Preeti Urang Photo Credit/bdnews24.comMany of you may not know what happened to 15-year-old Preeti Urang. Ashfaqul was charged with culpable homicide for the death of Preeti Urang. 1) A former executive editor named Syed Ashfaqul Haque of Bangladesh English daily The Daily Star and his wife Tania. If the Preeti case has been shelved for years to come then this will create an imbalance and it will be very difficult to serve justice in Preeti’s case. I got the chills seeing a picture of Ashfaqul with his wife Tania in the Business Standard.

A Dhaka court has placed Shaheed Ahmed Mojumder, the youngest son of former MP Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, on a five-day interrogation in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Police arrested Shaheed in Gulshan on Saturday night. The following day, Sub-Inspector Abdus Salam of Gulshan Police produced him in court and sought 10 days to interrogate him in custody. The case was filed on Sept 13 by Gulshan Police Sub-Inspector Mahbub Hossain under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Kamal, a former MP for Dhaka-15, was arrested in Gulshan on Oct 19, 2024, and has been in jail since.

Representatives from civil society urged the Election Commission to be vigilant against the threat of “mob violence” ahead of the parliamentary polls. On Sunday, civil society leaders expressed concern over the “serious situation” in which the current EC has taken charge, emphasising that any deviation from traditional election methods could exacerbate tensions. They warned that the likelihood of “mob” formation remains high, and the commission must be prepared to address this growing risk. The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, held its first round of dialogues with stakeholders on Sunday, aiming to gather input for the upcoming election process. The dialogue was an opportunity for the civil society representatives to voice their concerns, which the CEC acknowledged as essential for the development of a credible election framework.

A total of 10,644 candidates have passed the preliminary examination of the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS). The results were published on Sunday evening, Public Service Commission (PSC) spokesman SM Matiur Rahman confirmed to bdnews24.com. “According to that schedule, the results of the 47th BCS preliminary examination have now been published.”The exam was held from 10am to 12pm on Sept 19 simultaneously across 262 educational institutions in eight divisional cities. The PSC had issued the original circular for the 47th BCS on Nov 28 last year to recruit for 3,487 cadre posts and 201 non-cadre positions. The preliminary test had originally been scheduled for Aug 8 but was postponed by 43 days before finally being held.

They include Mohammad Mamun Mia of the Public Administration Department, Amit Saha of the Statistics Department, organising secretary of Chhatra League, Tariqul Islam Lyon of the Business Administration Department, and Chhatra League Vice-President Ashikur Rahman. Chhatra League Organising Secretary Farhan Chowdhury Aryan has been expelled for life on both charges. Meanwhile, 20 Chhatra League leaders and activists have been suspended for various terms on charges of attacking students and possession of arms and drugs. They include Akash Talukder, Chhatra League Vice-President Maidul Islam Murad of the Sociology Department, Chhatra League activist Nafiuzzaman of the Bangla Department, Durjoy Sarkar Niloy of the Political Studies Department, Maruf Mia of the Department of Public Administration, Rafaun Jahan Millennium of the Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering. They include Chhatra League Vice-President of the Sociology Department Rezaul Haque Caesar, Vice-President of the Bangla Department Majidul Haque, Vice-Presidents Mohammad Rakibuzzaman, Ismail Hossain and Moniruzzaman Munna and others.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir says the words of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus at an event in the US evoked memories of former Bangladesh president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. “The people of Bangladesh have fought back every time. From the day a cruel, monstrous ruling clique sat over Bangladesh, the people began to resist. Our next generation -- our sons and daughters ahead of us -- undoubtedly think in more modern ways. We must have the mindset to embrace this, and we must build organisations to promote it.

Joint security forces are conducting a raid on the home of former member of parliament and Awami League leader Haji Mohammad Salim. Law enforcers say the raid on the house in Dhaka’s Lalbagh began around 11am on Sunday. However, they were unable to confirm why the operation was taking place. Deputy Commissioner Mollik Ahsan Uddin Sami of the Lalbagh Division of police said: “I do not know the details, but they asked us for police personal. Accordingly, we provided police personnel to support them.”Salim is currently in jail in connection with cases related to the July Uprising.