After last week’s devastating blaze in Dhaka saw its 119th victim on Monday, authorities began a crackdown on illegal chemical warehouses, which they blame for the fire. One of our Observers who was at the scene tells us why he thinks so many died . . . .
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At least 116 people, mostly women and children, were burned alive and scores more wounded in a blaze in the densely populated Old Dhaka last night.The death toll may rise sharply, as rescuers early today were pulling out bodies from eight houses and 20 shops that had been reduced to ashes by the fire, the biggest in recent years. The government has declared a day of national mourning on Saturday across the country while special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches and pagodas for the departed souls of the fire victims.
A five-story building undergoing construction collapsed onto several tin-shed houses late night on 1 June in Begunbari, Dhaka. Rescue operations by the army, firefighters and Red Crescent are worked jointly. At least 25 people were killed while 21 were rescued when a five-story building collapsed onto tin-roofed shanties in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.
Dhaka. June 2010. Musa Ibrahim, first Bangladeshi to climb Mount Everest smiles after arriving in Dhaka. The first Bangladeshi to conquer Mount Everest, Musa Ibrahim, has returned. The special plane flying him home touched down at around 4.30pm in Dhaka international airport. Ibrahim climbed Everest on May 23, 2010
Police arrested JMB (Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh) chief Maulana Saidur Rahman, his wife and three other top leaders of the banned Islamist outfit. They made the arrests in the capital and Narayanganj this week.
Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad said to media several militant organizations are still operative in the country and they might have an alliance. He also said that since militancy is now a global phenomenon, Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh might have connections with militant groups in neighboring countries.
Since the serial blasts across the country in 2005, the law enforcers arrested over 600 JMB leaders and activists. Of them, Shaekh Abdur Rahman, his deputy Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, Rahman’s brother Ataur Rahman Sunny, brother-in-law Abdul Awal, suicide bomber Iftekhar Hasan Mamun and Majlis-e-Shura member Khaled Saifullah were executed on March 29, 2008 for killing two Jhalakathi judges on November 14, 2005.
27 June 2010 down to dusk countrywide strike ( Hartal) declared from the massive rally of BNP at Palton Maidan yesterday 19 May. BNP chairperson Kaleda Zia said protesting tender-grabbing and extortions by government cronies; and demanding resolution of the ongoing water, gas, and electricity crises; resignation of the Election Commission; and cancellation of the recently signed treaties with India.
The theme of the Fashion Show was Projapoti (Bengali for Butterfly) facing the courage from within. The Fashion Show was presented by acid survivors together with the Australian Youth Ambassadors and students from the NSU Earth Club. Together they walked on the red carpet to show that “We can equal to each other” and “together we can make difference”
Acid violence not only affects people physically and emotionally, it also has a devastating long-term effect on their economic and social life. Survivors face discrimination social inequality and a lack of opportunity. Bangladesh is the witness off the highest number of acid attack related incident.
My photography set up an agenda, which is unfolded for our wider world people. To me camera is as like a weapon, which I use to make a truth. I recorded many times as an eyewitness. Witness our time for future for past and for the present world. My main interest lies in documentary photography, concerning environmental, social and political issues.
– Monirul Alam, Bangladesh
Link page: http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/monirul
MONIRUL ALAM 
