News in Briefs (2022-03-20)

Two die after inhaling toxic gas in Chuadanga
CHUADANGA, Mar 19: Two persons died allegedly after inhaling toxic gas inside the septic tank of an under-construction building in Chuadanga on Friday morning. The deceased were identified as sanitation worker Shariful Islam, 30, son of Ansar Pramanik of Kalyanpur village in Kushtia, and Sagar Das,15, the grandson of the building owner. Around 10am, Shariful got down into the septic tank of the building owned by Nipen Das in Anandadhap village of the Alamdanga municipality area. When he failed to return, Sagar entered the tank to check on him. When both failed to return, Sagar's family members informed the Alamdanga Fire Service and Civil Defence. "A team came and pulled the duo out of the septic tank and rushed them to Alamdanga upazila health complex, where doctors declared them dead on arrival", said Mokhlesur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Alamdanga fire service station. Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Alamdanga police station, said a team was sent to the spot for a probe. — UNB
Police rescue tourists as they lost their way
CHATTOGRAM, Mar 19: Police rescued 17 tourists as they lost their way while visiting a hill in Sitakunda of Chattogram early Friday after they called the national emergency service number 999. Suman Banik, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sitakunda Model Police Station, said, "A group of 17 tourists came to enjoy a waterfall at the hill in Panthichhila area of Sitakunda and decided to spend the night camping here". However, four of them lost their way while walking on the hill. Later, the remaining tourists fell in danger while searching for the four and called on the helpline number 999. On information, Sitakunda police rescued them safely at 1:30am from the hill, he added. The OC also said the hill is so inaccessible that no one goes to the area at night usually. "Even if anyone goes there during the day, they have to come back in the daylight." — UNB
Two held with 224 bottles of Phensidyl in Rangpur
RANGPUR, Mar 19: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 arrested two alleged drug traders with Phensidyl from Baro Awlia area on the Rangpur-Dhaka highway under Tajahat police station in the metropolis on Thursday midnight. "On a tip off, an operational team of RAB-13 set up a check post at Baro Awlia area and arrested the duo with 224 bottles of phensidyl, three mobile phone sets and cash money from their possession," a press release said on Friday. The arrested persons were identified as Md Abdur Razzaque, 25, and Md Swapan, 21, of Thakurgaon district. During primary interrogation, the arrested persons admitted that they had been involved in drug trading for a long time. After filing a case in this connection against the arrested persons, the elite force handed them over to Tajhat police station of Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) on Friday. "More investigation continues to nab other absconding associates of the arrested persons," the release added. — BSS