An alleged activist of Chhatra League had his three fingers of the left hand blown off in a blast while “making crude bombs” at his house at Dhaoyakola Namapara of Bogra Sadar upazila.

A youth was killed in a "shootout" with a Detective Branch team in the capital's Jatrabari area, taking the death toll in such incidents to 24 since the BNP-led alliance declared the nationwide blockade on January 5. Of the victims, 15 were killed in "shootouts" with police while nine with the Rapid Action Battalion. In the last six days, some 10 “gunfights” left 11 people dead. Yesterday's victim was Russell Sarder of Fatullah, Narayanganj, his family said, adding he was an employee of a mobile servicing shop in South Keraniganj area. His newly married wife Shefali Begum broke down in tears, embracing the lifeless body smeared with blood and mud on a trolley at the Dhaka Medical College morgue.

At least 11 vehicles were set ablaze across the country yesterday, according to fire service and police officials. In Dhaka, eight people were injured in three separate bomb attacks in Shaheednagar, TSC and Matshya Bhaban areas.

Two youths who were accused for murder of a politician are killed in separate “gunfights” with Rab and police in Jessore and Comilla districts today. They are Shamim Ashraf and MH Sunny.

Six more names were added to the list of those died in mindless arson attacks since the BNP-led alliance enforced an indefinite countrywide blockade on January 6.

At least 272 Biman officials and staff are involved in gold smuggling through three international airports of Bangladesh, according to an intelligence report.