Imran Ali
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Articles by Imran Ali
One year after airport cargo village fire, safety measures strengthened
One year after a devastating fire broke out at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, authorities have strengthened fire prevention measures, increased patrols, including on holidays, and trained nearly 2,000 personnel to improve emergency preparedness. The fire broke out on October 18, 2025, destroying goods worth thousands of crores of taka and important documents. It drew widespread attention at home and abroad.
Expatriates take alternative routes to Riyadh despite extra costs, risks
Mamun, a resident of Noakhali Sadar, works as a truck driver for a company in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After living abroad for five years, he returned to Bangladesh for the first time two months ago. His return flight to Riyadh was scheduled for October 11, but it was cancelled. He booked another ticket for October 12, only for that flight to be cancelled as well. With just five days left on his visa, Mamun grew increasingly worried. He finally secured a ticket for a flight to Medina on October 15.
Old Dhaka fire safety recommendations remain unimplemented
Old Dhaka continues to face serious fire risks, with thousands of chemical warehouses and factories operating in densely populated neighbourhoods despite repeated deadly blazes and years of recommendations from the fire service. An estimated 25,000 small and large chemical warehouses are scattered across the area, leaving residents exposed to hazardous materials.
No traffic jams, unusual silence across Mirpur 10
The road from Mirpur 10 to Kachukhet in the capital looked markedly different on Friday afternoon following the eviction of street hawkers, with vendors and crowds no longer occupying the footpaths near the Hope International School intersection, leaving the area noticeably quieter.
Managing FPSO Carbon Performance: Reducing Emissions, Verifying Results
Floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) operators and developers face growing pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining production efficiency, project economics and asset reliability. Customers, investors and other stakeholders increasingly expect credible evidence that emissions-reduction commitments are being translated into measurable results. For floating production projects, carbon performance is no longer just part of a reporting exercise.
The curious case of 600 ‘lost’ passports a day
Nearly 600 Bangladeshi passports are reported lost every day. But many of them may not be “lost” in the conventional sense. Behind the extraordinary number are passports allegedly withheld by recruiting or visa agencies, documents migrant workers cannot retrieve from employers or intermediaries abroad, and cases in which passports are reported lost, or even deliberately destroyed, in connection with irregular migration, according to findings by the Department of Immigration and Passports.
New ATC tower boosts Dhaka airport overflight revenue
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport earned Tk805.02 crore in overflight fees from foreign airlines using Bangladesh’s airspace in the last fiscal year, according to a report published by the airport’s executive director’s office. The airport earned Tk388.10 crore in overflight fees between July and December 2025 and Tk416.91 crore between January and June 2026. Officials attributed the increase in revenue partly to the commissioning of a new air traffic control (ATC) tower at the airport.
SRB faces uphill task to recover 1,306 looted police weapons
The Special Response Battalion (SRB) faces a major challenge in recovering 1,306 firearms still missing more than two years after thousands of weapons were looted from police stations during the 2024 student-people uprising. Some of the missing weapons have since surfaced in criminal activities, including attacks on law enforcement, raising concerns that others could be used in crime and to establish dominance during the upcoming local elections.
Advanced industrial-scale recycling of nickel waste alloys: a driver for circular economy objectives
?Mathematical formulae have been encoded as MathML and are displayed in this HTML version using MathJax in order to improve their display. Uncheck the box to turn MathJax off. This feature requires Javascript. Click on a formula to zoom. Abstract An eco-friendly electrochemical method of nickel alloy waste leaching was developed for circular economy.
Intelligence report flags APBn negligence over airport security
Security and crowd-control measures at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport remain a concern, with an intelligence report identifying alleged negligence by the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in controlling access and maintaining discipline. The report said only two relatives are allowed to accompany a passenger into the airport area, but 8-10 people often enter due to inadequate monitoring.
Critical Inquiry Critical Inquiry
Jie-Hyun Lim. Victimhood Nationalism: History and Memory in a Global Age. Trans. Megan Sungyoon. New York: Columbia University Press, 2025. 440 pp. Review by Md Imran Ali 18 September 2026 Jie-Hyun Lim’s Victimhood Nationalism asks what happens when entire nations claim the status of supreme victim, and what such a claim does to those whose suffering was real, particular, and irreducible to national allegory. The question seems simple.
Jurain: An island of suffering in the capital
Just west of Jurain Railgate, the trappings of the capital begin to disappear. Beneath and around the elevated expressway connecting Mayor Hanif Flyover towards Padma Bridge lies a densely populated neighbourhood where residents say a decade of neglect has left them battling broken roads, stagnant sewage-mixed water, unreliable gas and electricity, unsafe water supplies and an escalating mosquito menace.
Mirpur businesses squeezed by multiple criminal groups
Businesses across greater Mirpur are facing extortion demands from at least five criminal groups, with traders and entrepreneurs allegedly being forced to pay multiple groups operating in the same areas. The groups have established networks across Mirpur, Pallabi and Rupnagar, targeting businesses ranging from dish and internet services, bus stands and rickshaw garages to housing projects, restaurants and markets. Those who refuse to pay allegedly face threats, shootings and attacks.
100 CCTV cameras planned around Dhaka airport amid snatching concerns
Police are planning to install around 100 CCTV cameras from Kawla to Jasim Uddin in Dhaka’s airport area amid concerns over groups allegedly targeting expatriates and their relatives. The move comes amid reports of snatching and other crimes around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, with police also increasing surveillance through uniformed and plain-clothes personnel in the airport’s outer areas.
CNG shortage worsens, drivers endure hours-long waits
A severe gas crisis returned to CNG filling stations across Dhaka on Saturday, a day after supply pressure briefly improved, plunging CNG-run vehicle drivers back into hardship as they endured long waits for only a small amount of fuel. Drivers were seen spending hours in long queues outside filling stations, with many receiving only Tk40-Tk50 worth of gas after prolonged waits.
Third Terminal inches closer to take-off after years of delay
The long wait to bring Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Third Terminal into operation could finally end in December, with aviation authorities completing the evaluation of a Japanese company’s proposal to run the facility and preparing to enter the crucial negotiation stage.
Hours in line, barely enough gas for one trip
CNG driver Abdul Alim arrived at a filling station in Mohakhali at 6:30am to refuel. After waiting for around two and a half hours, he received just Tk42 worth of gas. With that, he made his first trip of the day, carrying a passenger to Banasree for Tk300. After dropping off the passenger, Alim waited at the CNG stand on FG Avenue for his next fare, where he spoke about the ordeal. “What am I supposed to do with Tk42 worth of gas after waiting for two and a half hours?” Alim said.
Chinese-linked crime rings take root in Dhaka
Chinese nationals entering Bangladesh as tourists have been implicated in a series of organized crimes ranging from international drug trafficking and online fraud to the trafficking of Bangladeshi women, with recent law-enforcement operations exposing networks operating with local accomplices.
Muggings surge across Dhaka as residents live in fear
Muggings and snatching incidents are spreading fear across Dhaka, with armed criminals increasingly targeting businesspeople, pedestrians and passengers in broad daylight and at night. Police have identified 342 mugging hotspots across the capital and listed 1,387 active muggers across the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s eight divisions.
Robbers, ‘Tana Party’ gangs keep Dhaka residents on edge
Armed robbers and so-called “Tana Party” gangs have become increasingly brazen across Dhaka, carrying out attacks and snatching valuables in broad daylight as well as at night, leaving residents concerned about their safety. Recent incidents involving armed gangs on motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and other vehicles have heightened fears among pedestrians, passengers and businesspeople.
Gas crisis cuts CNG, rented-car drivers’ earnings
The acute gas crisis in the capital is cutting into the earnings of CNG and rented-car drivers, who depend on carrying passengers for their daily income. With gas supplies dwindling, drivers are spending hours waiting in long queues at CNG filling stations instead of making trips. As a result, they are losing valuable working hours and fares while their vehicle payments and other daily expenses continue.
Gas crisis persists as CNG stations remain closed
The severe gas crisis at CNG filling stations across the capital has yet to ease, with most stations still unable to supply gas. At the few stations where gas is available, pressure remains extremely low, leading to long queues of vehicles. Meanwhile, gas supply to households has improved slightly since Sunday morning after remaining unavailable on Friday and Saturday. However, the pressure is too low for residents to cook properly.
Gas crisis brings daily life to a standstill
The gas crisis in Dhaka has shown no sign of easing, with severe shortages disrupting both transportation and household activities across the capital since Saturday morning. CNG stations are struggling with low gas pressure, forcing drivers of CNG-run vehicles to spend hours in queues. Even after waiting for several hours, many receive enough gas for only one or two trips. The crisis has also hit households, with gas stoves remaining unusable for hours in many areas.
CNG crisis: Drivers queue overnight as homes go without gas
CNG drivers in Dhaka are spending entire nights in queues to collect small amounts of gas, disrupting their earnings and daily lives as the capital grapples with an acute gas shortage. Many drivers are waiting six to 10 hours at filling stations, only to get enough gas for a few trips before returning to the queue. At some stations, lines stretching up to two kilometres have formed, while low pressure is forcing several stations to shut during the day.
Three-hour wait for Tk100 gas
Dhaka’s gas crisis has spilled onto the streets, forcing CNG-run vehicles into hours-long queues at the few filling stations still operating and squeezing drivers’ incomes as many pumps across the capital shut during the day because of critically low pressure. From Badda and Tejgaon to Malibagh and Mohakhali, drivers said they were spending three to four hours in queues only to receive Tk60-Tk160 worth of CNG, sometimes barely enough to earn back the time and money lost waiting.
CNG crisis: Long queues, limited supply leave Dhaka drivers struggling
Long queues, closed filling stations and limited gas supplies have left CNG-run auto-rickshaw and private car drivers scrambling for fuel across Dhaka, with many spending hours at stations for just Tk20-100 worth of gas. The shortage was particularly acute in Badda, Tejgaon and areas along the airport road on Wednesday. Jaman CNG station in Merul Badda was closed, with a notice saying there was no CNG. The station in Middle Badda was also without gas.
‘We were left like nomads for 40 hours at Rome airport’
Bangladeshi passengers on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Toronto endured a nearly 40-hour ordeal at Rome airport after a technical problem grounded their flight, with many claiming they were left stranded in the airport lounge due to visa restrictions. “We spent 40 hours like nomads. Eight hours were spent inside the aircraft. We were then taken to the airport lounge and told we would be taken to a hotel.
10 fruit shipments may have carried gold worth Tk300 crore
A 16kg gold seizure from fruit crates at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has led investigators to suspect that a much larger smuggling operation may have been running through the airport for at least a year, with fresh fruit imports allegedly being used as cover. Investigators have found records of at least 10 fruit shipments imported from Hong Kong under the same company’s name over the past year.
A disturbing pattern has emerged in the capital’s recent crime landscape, with a series of high-profile killings allegedly involving hired professional killers and shooters. Law enforcement agencies have found evidence suggesting that professional gunmen were used in several recent murders, raising concerns among ordinary residents as well as political leaders and civil society representatives.
Dhaka airport entry restricted to passengers, two companions
The government has decided to restrict entry to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to passengers and a maximum of two accompanying persons as part of a broader push to strengthen aviation security ahead of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) security audit later this year.
Application of vibrational circular dichroism for determining the absolute configuration of Bubonium graveolens plant major constituents
Abstract The determination of the absolute configuration of chiral molecules is essential because of the 3D arrangement of the atoms directly affects the chemical reactivity, biological activity, and therapeutic effects. Therefore, the absolute configuration of the major chiral components of the essential oil of Bubonium graveolens plant was determined by experimental VCD studies and DFT-calculated VCD spectra. The major components of B.
Dhaka now lives by the ‘gas clock’
Thousands of families across Dhaka are setting alarms for 2am, 3am and 4am, not to begin their workday, but to catch a few fleeting hours of gas supply before it disappears again, as Bangladesh’s worsening energy crisis forces households to reorganize their lives around empty pipelines.
Gas crisis deepens as LNG disruption hits homes, industries
Bangladesh is facing a worsening gas crisis as a technical failure at an LNG terminal has triggered a major supply shortfall, disrupting households, industries, power generation and transport services. Natural gas remains a key driver of the country’s economy, powering industrial operations, electricity generation and daily household needs. However, the disruption has forced Petrobangla to meet only around 56% of national demand, intensifying pressure on consumers and businesses.
Fuel queues empty Dhaka’s roads as ride fares soar
The capital’s worsening gas crisis has spilled far beyond household kitchens, crippling public transport across Dhaka as hundreds of CNG-powered buses, auto-rickshaws and ride-sharing vehicles disappear from the streets after spending hours in fuel queues, leaving commuters stranded and driving transport costs sharply higher.
LNG terminal disruption chokes gas supply
A prolonged gas crisis in the capital has taken a turn for the worse, with many neighbourhoods now receiving no gas even during scheduled supply hours, leaving households unable to cook and forcing motorists into hours-long queues at CNG filling stations. The nationwide shortage follows a technical fault at a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which has significantly reduced gas supply.
HSIA canopies still mired in chaos two years on
Nearly two years after Bangladesh's political transition on August 5, 2024, chaos continues to define the arrival and departure canopies at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), with authorities struggling to enforce a long-standing restriction limiting each passenger to a maximum of two companions. A visit to the airport paints a familiar picture of disorder.
Opinion | The double standard of the Minneapolis City Council
Opinion | The double standard of the Minneapolis City Council Wellness for me, not for thee. Guest contributor(s) to the Minnesota Star Tribune Minneapolis Police recruits are sworn in as officers during an MPD graduation ceremony May 20 at Shiloh Temple in Minneapolis. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
Challenges ahead
Security personnel stand at Zero Point Bridge in a high security area as Pakistan gears up to host the US and Iran for peace talks, in Islamabad, April 9, 2026. — Reuters Pakistan’s sustained diplomacy, which has led to the first framework document for peace between Iran and the US, is not just a victory for our mediation; rather, it has forced the world to reconstruct its perceptions of our nation.
Evaluation of routine laboratory markers for identifying insulin resistance in normal-weight adults
Abstract Objective: To determine the frequency of insulin resistance in normal-weight adults and evaluate the ability of routine laboratory markers to identify insulin resistance. Material and Methods: This Cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, from June to December 2025. Adults aged 18–60 years with BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m² were included.
Nanotechnology based electrochemical estimation of kaempferol: the challenges, future perspectives and artificial intelligence
Ali, I., Demir, E., Kocak, M., Oztemur, H., Locatelli, M., Said, M.A. and Messali, M. (2026), Nanotechnology based electrochemical estimation of kaempferol: the challenges, future perspectives and artificial intelligence. J Chem Technol Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.70231 REFERENCES 1, and , Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in 32 selected herbs. Food Chem 105: 940–949 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.04.038.
Capillary Chiral Separation of Agrochemicals: Complementary Insights From Molecular Modeling and NMR
Data Availability Statement All data are given in the manuscript. References 1, , , and , “Enantiomeric Resolution of the Novel Aromatase Inhibitors by HPLC on Cellulose and Amylose Based Reversed and Chiral Stationary Phases,” Chirality: The Essential Tool in Chemistry 12 (2000): 727–733. 2 and , “Enantioseparation of Some Clinically Used Drugs by HPLC Using Cellulose Tris (3, 5-Dichlorophenylcarbamate) Chiral Stationary Phase,” Biomedical Chromatography 17 (2003): 113–117.
10 Best E-Readers in 2026 (Screen Quality and Battery Ranked)
The 10 best e-readers in 2026, ranked by screen quality, battery life, and reading experience. A good e-reader does one thing well: it disappears. You stop noticing the device and just read. The screen looks like paper, the battery lasts weeks, and there is nothing pinging you with notifications. That experience depends on the E Ink display quality, the frontlight tuning, and how well the software stays out of your way.
12 Best Meditation Apps for Beginners in 2026 (Guided Sessions)
The 12 best meditation apps for beginners in 2026, ranked by how well their guided sessions teach you to meditate, what you get for free, and whether the subscription is worth it. A thread on r/Mindfulness with 97 comments asked for a meditation app that does not charge a monthly fee. The frustration is real: Headspace costs $69.99/year, Waking Up costs $99.99/year, and most “free” apps lock their best content behind a paywall within the first week.
15 Best Weighted Blankets in 2026 (Cooling and Heating Options)
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7 Best Journaling Apps in 2026 (Privacy and Prompts Compared)
The 7 best journaling apps in 2026, compared by end-to-end encryption, daily writing prompts, mood tracking, and what actually keeps people journaling. You download a journaling app, write three entries, and never open it again. Sound familiar? Most journaling apps fail at the same point: they give you a blank page and expect you to know what to write. The apps that stick do something different. They prompt you. They make the entry fast enough to finish in two minutes.
10 Best Subscription Boxes for Women in 2026 (Curated Monthly)
The best subscription boxes for women in 2026, ranked by product quality, curation accuracy, and value per box across beauty, fashion, wellness, and lifestyle categories. You signed up for a subscription box, got excited for three months, then started stacking unopened boxes in the closet because the contents stopped matching your taste. That is the subscription box cycle, and it is the reason half of all subscriptions get cancelled within six months.
Full airspace surveillance now operational in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has significantly tightened control over its skies after installing a long-awaited modern air traffic control system at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, sharply increasing surveillance coverage and boosting state revenue from foreign aircraft using the country’s airspace.
‘Sunny moment’
PAKISTAN is enjoying a rare ‘sunny’ moment thanks to its success in last May’s conflict and its current eminent role in mediation in the US-Iran war. Pakistan has had a few sunny moments earlier. In June 2003, when I was posted in our Washington embassy, the then president Gen Pervez Musharraf visited Camp David. Seen as a hero in America, by both the government and its people, he drew large crowds. President George Bush would have given him the moon had he asked for it.
Dhaka cattle farms gear up for Eid-ul-Azha amid expected price rise
Cattle farmers in Dhaka are making last-minute preparations to sell livestock ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with many bringing cows from their own farms to market in the capital. A visit to several cattle farms in Dhaka found that farmers are getting ready for the upcoming Qurbani season. On the road from Rampura Bridge to Demra Staff Quarter, just past Meradia Bazar and west of Trimohini, Adil Dairy Farm is located on Hazi Akhtar Road.
Dhaka airport trafficking ring: CAAB staffer accused of running syndicate with airlines, police
An aerodrome operator at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been accused of masterminding a major human trafficking network that allegedly used airport channels, airline staff and immigration police to send Bangladeshis abroad illegally through dangerous routes to Italy.
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