Nine people died in separate road accidents across the country over the last two days, report our correspondent and two news agencies.

For Awami League mayoral nominee Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, yesterday was a day of prayers and reflection as he went to the Banani graveyard in the afternoon to offer special prayers for his parents’ departed souls.

BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraque Hossain yesterday said that his party leaders and activists would remain active to thwart “the ruling quarter’s threat to grab voting centres” in today’s elections.

Awami League mayor candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Atiqul Islam spent a busy day yesterday, meeting party members and preparing for the election.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda calls upon all polling agents not to leave their respective voting centres of their own accord during Dhaka North and South City Corporation Elections to be held tomorrow.

BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraque Hossain draws attention of Brent Christensen, political counselor of US embassy in Dhaka, alleging that the ruling quarter is planning to grab centres during the Dhaka city corporation elections on February 1.

The government asks the diplomatic missions in Dhaka not to include local employees who are Bangladeshi citizens as part the election observer teams for the Dhaka City Corporation Elections scheduled for February 1.

Dhaka District police have suspended seven members of its Detective Branch for their alleged involvement in taking Tk 4.5 lakh in extortion from a businessman after ‘threatening to kill him in crossfire’.

Returning officers of both Dhaka north and south city corporations have been distributing election materials including Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) a day before the city elections are to be held tomorrow.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has been admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after he fell sick.

A fire that broke out at a slum in Panchlaish area of Chattogram city this morning was doused around one and half hours later.

Various cold-related ailments affected 4,631 people across the country in the last 24 hours until 8am yesterday, according to the government.

Bangladesh is a role model for communal harmony, said Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain yesterday.

Department of Environment yesterday destroyed two brick fields at Swaraswati area of Sylhet’s Golapganj upazila.

Three of the four Dhaka University students, who were tortured allegedly by Chhatra League men at a university dormitory on January 21, yesterday spoke to the probe body formed over the incident.

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed February 17 for hearing on charge framing against 25 Buet students in Abrar Fahad murder case.

The government attaches top priority to technical education aimed at generating skilled human resources, said Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton yesterday.

The work on publishing a special souvenir marking Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary celebration is going on in full swing.

Dr Md Abdul Wohab has joined Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) as its new director general yesterday, said a press release.

Bangladeshi diplomat Muhammad Imran has received the UAE’s Medal of Independence of the First Order, in recognition of his efforts that contributed to promoting friendly relations and cooperation between the UAE and Bangladesh.