special
Approach road in Narsingdi collapses prematurely
Narsingdi, July 30 (UNB) - The approach road of a bridge has caved in in Monohardi upazila, just two months after it was inaugurated.
A large portion of the road collapsed on the south side of the bridge over the Arial Kha River that connects Monohardi of the district with Pakundia of Kishoreganj.
Besides, cracks have developed on the Pakundia part of the approach road on the north side.
Although the contractor firm repaired the damaged road with sand bags and bamboo poles, locals fear it might collapse again anytime.
M/S Rezvi Construction of Mymensigh constructed the bridge spending Tk 9.74 crore. It was opened to traffic on May 16 last.
Hundreds of vehicles, including those plying Dhaka-Kishoreganj route via Monohardi, use the bridge every day.
During a visit to the site, it was seen that the Monohardi portion of the approach road caved in following incessant rains for the last several days.
The contractor firm placed sand bags along with bamboo poles to somehow repair the collapsed road.
However, locals fear it might collapse again in the case of heavy rains.
Local Awami League leader Lal Mia alleged that the road collapsed due to the use of substandard materials in the construction.
Rezvi Construction Supervisor Nirtan said a road may collapse after its construction. “However, we’ve repaired the road.”
Executive Engineer of Kishoreganj Roads and Highways Rashedul Alam said he was unaware of the collapse of and cracks on the road. “Actions will be taken against the contractor firm if it’s found correct. “
Railway to set up rooftop solar plants in stations, workshops
Dhaka, Jul 30 (UNB) – Bangladesh Railway (BR) is going to set up rooftop solar plants in its stations, office buildings, junctions, workshops and staff quarters across the country as part of government’s plan to promote green energy across the country.
Flood victims’ woes worsen with outbreak of diseases
Dhaka, July 29 (UNB) - A total of 18,073 people have so far been affected by various water-borne diseases and other natural disasters in the flood-hit areas this year, as floodwater is receding from different parts of the country.
Some 345 unions under 76 upazilas of 28 districts were hit by flood, according to sources at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
In the flood-affected districts, 6,860 people were affected by diarrhoea while 1,961 with respiratory tract infection, 2,405 with skin diseases, 585 with eye infection and 5,676 with other diseases in the last 19 days since July 10, said the sources.
Modern-day Shylocks running amok in Jashore village
Benapole, July 29 (UNB)- Even Shylock in Shakespeare’s famous play "The Merchant of Venice" would feel shy hearing the story of a village in Bangladesh where creditors have been snatching lands, belongings from poorer debtors.
Shylock had demanded a pound of flesh from Antonio when the latter failed to pay off his debt, but failed to get it in the face of Portia’s logic that he must take it without shedding a single drop of blood.
But there is no stopping the neo-Shylocks of Rajbaria village under Shankarpur union in Jhikargachha upazila of Jashore, who have been forcing their debtors to pay up to Tk 7,000 interest per month against Tk 1 lakh loan exploiting the frailty and needs of the poor villagers.
Meanwhile, failing to pay the huge amount in interest, let alone the capital, hundreds of poor villagers got trapped in the cycle of loan have been forced to sell off their land and other belongings and even to flee the village.
Shawkat, son of Mansur Ali, Rafiqul, son of Lutfar Rahman, Momin, son of Babar Ali, Jahangir, son of Razzak Sardar, Uzzal, son of Rawshan, Sabur Khan, son of Sayed Ali, and Israfil, son of Hazi Noor Islam, are just some of the borrowers who fell victims to the predatory lenders.
Talking to UNB, they relayed they have nothing left now as everything was seized by the cruel money-lenders. In some cases, the money-lenders have sold out their lands after forcibly snatching the papers of lands they had possessed.
Even after losing everything, we have to pay more to these lenders, they added.
A poor woman of Rajbaria village told UNB, “My male relatives left me alone and fled due to constant pressure from money-lenders. I don’t know where my husband, sons and nephews are.”
“We want the administration’s to take steps to save us now,” said a family member who is literally trapped in the cycle of high interest rate by local money-lenders.
During a visit to Chhotto Bazar, this correspondent found Jinnah, son of Abdul Gafur of Rajbaria village who works for money-lenders.
When asked about the source of money, Jinnah said he works for two brothers --Kamal Hossain and Anwar Hossain, sons of Hazi Amir Hossain of Rajbaria village.
Jinnah said he works as an interest collector on behalf of Kamal and Anwar.
This correspondent lastly found main money-lender Anwar Hossain and tried to talk to him. But after knowing the identity of this journalist, he burst out in anger.
Anwar threatened this correspondent and finished the meeting by saying, “I’ll see you later.”
Later, he also threatened the family members of borrowers for complaining to a journalist, they informed.
Masuar Rahman, Rajbaria Union Parishad member, said he was astonished to hear about the situation created by money-lenders. “I knew poverty led people to leaving their houses in Rajbaria village but never heard of the money-lenders,” he added.
Sumi Majumder, Jhikargachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said, “This is very sad to hear this. I think the cruel money-lenders should be punished.”
The administration will take legal action once the victims file complaints, she added.
Farmers profiting from commercial rose cultivation in Cumilla
Cumilla, July 29 (UNB)- Farmers have been profiting handsomely from commercial rose cultivation here this year after incurring losses over the last few years.
Govt plans post office revamp to boost revenue generation
Dhaka, Jul 29 (UNB) – The government has drafted a master plan to modernise the postal system aiming to improve the services and give a boost to revenue collection.
Panic grips DU as dengue prevalence worsens
Dhaka, July 28 (UNB) – There is nothing new in campus protests at Dhaka University (DU). Its students burst into protests occasionally to realise their various demands. They rocked their campus on Sunday, too. But this time it was prompted by an unusual reason -- dengue outbreak.
A DU student has died of dengue and at least ‘150 others’ have been infected with the mosquito-borne viral disease amid a worsening situation across the country, prompting their fellows to demand immediate postponement of their classes and examinations.
Impunity, erosion in family values behind growing mob-beating culture
Dhaka, July 28 (UNB) – At least 840 people have been killed in mob beatings in the country since January 1, 2011 as the heinous crime is going on with a public perception that the perpetrators of such brutal act go unpunished, said experts.
Tokyo moves over Rohingya issue; FM Taro Kono to visit camps
Dhaka, July 27 (UNB) – Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono arrives here on Monday night on a two-day visit to discuss bilateral issues with special focus on Rohingya issue amid global efforts to expedite the repatriation process of the displaced people to Myanmar.
Dengue: More people infected than ever before in a calendar year
Dhaka, July 27 (UNB) - Although outbreak of dengue is common during every monsoon since 2000, the year it first became an epidemic, this year the situation has taken a severe turn as the mosquito-borne disease has already infected more people than ever before in a calendar year, and claimed nine lives to boot.