There were clashes between workers and law enforcement members in the Chattagram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) for about an hour.

The clash began at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday (January 22) inside the CEPZ.

Police said that although the situation was brought under control within about an hour, the situation is still tense in the area.

It is learnt that hundreds of workers from some factories hurled bricks and stones at the under-construction buildings and vandalized some vehicles. Upon receiving the information, EPZ police, industrial police and RAB members reached the spot and started working to bring the situation under control.

EPZ police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Absar Uddin Rubel said that three children entered the under-construction factory. The construction workers beat them up, suspecting them to be thieves. At that time, two children managed to escape, but one could not be found. After learning about the matter, garment workers who were passing by the road after work attacked the construction workers and beat them up.

He also said that at that time, a Navy patrol car was passing by that road. The agitated workers vandalized the car of the Navy members who had come to protect the construction workers. Army and RAB members also arrived at the scene to handle the situation. It has not been completely controlled yet. Some people were injured in the clash.

Earlier, after rumors spread, hundreds of workers from nearby factories came out on the road. Law enforcement agencies tried several times to calm the situation.

Chattagram Region Police Superintendent Md. Sulaiman said that the situation was brought under control after an hour of effort. However, the situation is still tense.

Bangladesh Railway running staff have announced that they will stop train operation from January 28 unless the mileage system of pension and gratuity is reinstated and two conditions of the appointment letter are withdrawn.

The leaders of Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union made this announcement at a press conference at the Battali Old Railway Station in Chattagram on Wednesday (January 22) afternoon

General Secretary of the organization's central committee and Chief Coordinator of the Running Staff Unity Council Md. Mojibur Rahman said in a written statement that the railway running staff have been receiving pension and gratuity based on mileage after retirement for 160 years. But on November 3, 2021, the Finance Ministry reduced the salary, pension and gratuity of the running staff through a decision. This is unfair and discriminatory. Although the Bangladesh Railway and Railways Ministry is in favor of the running staff in this regard, the Finance Ministry is creating complications.

He also said that two conditions are imposed on the newly recruited staff after 2022. Firstly, they will not get any allowance other than running allowance for performing duties on moving trains. Secondly, their monthly running allowance will not be more than the basic salary. Apart from this, pension and gratuity will be given on the basis of the last basic salary drawn in case of retirement. But these conditions are not mentioned in any railway law.

The leaders present at the press conference said that the current interim government has been given three times to solve this problem. But since there is no permanent solution, they have been forced to announce a program to stop train operations from January 28.

The organization's joint general secretary Md. Abdul Bari, vice-president Khurshid Alam, organizing secretary Mir ABM Shafiqul Alam and others were also present at the press conference.

Although the capital experienced severe cold at the beginning of the year, the severity of the cold eased somewhat by mid-January. This brought some relief to public life. But by the end of the month, the extent of the cold has started to increase again. The sky of the capital has been covered with a sheet of fog since this morning. Due to this, the level of cold is being felt more than the previous few days since morning.

Although the Meteorological Department has said that even if the cold comes at the end of the month, it will start decreasing again in two to three days. However, there is a possibility of another cold wave on January 27. It may or may not happen in all districts.

Meanwhile, in a 72-hour forecast, the agency said that the night and day temperatures may increase slightly in the southern parts of the country on Thursday (January 23) and they may remain almost unchanged elsewhere.

It also said that the weather across the country may remain dry with temporarily partly cloudy skies. From late night till morning, moderate to dense fog may occur at some places in the northwestern part of the country and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere in the country and it may continue at some places till noon.

The synoptic weather forecast says that the extended part of the sub-continental high pressure area is affecting West Bengal and its adjoining areas. The normal low pressure of the season is located in the south Bay of Bengal, its extended part extends to the north Bay of Bengal.

Tomorrow's weather forecast says that the weather across the country may remain dry with temporarily partly cloudy skies. Light to moderate fog may occur across the country from late night till morning.

However, the night temperature across the country may increase by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius and the day temperature may decrease slightly.

The extended five-day weather forecast says that the night and day temperatures may decrease in the early part of this period

A threat message has been sent to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on WhatsApp again. The airport authorities are trying to find out whether the message is true or not. However, flights at the airport are still normal.

Airport sources said that a threat message was sent to the airport from a Malaysian WhatsApp number on Wednesday (January 22) at 11 pm on the APBN duty officer's WhatsApp number. After that, airport security was tightened. Searches were conducted at various points.

Earlier, on Tuesday (January 21) morning, a message was given that there was explosive material or a bomb on a Biman flight en route from Rome to Dhaka. The flight made an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport at 9:20 am on Wednesday (January 22). Later, the entire plane was searched. No bombs or bomb-like objects were found on the plane during the search.

The message about the presence of explosives on the plane came from a Pakistani number to the WhatsApp number of the duty officer of the airport APBN.