Khulna
Sundarbans Day in southwestern region on Feb 14; a clarion call to love, save the forest
Although February 14 is celebrated as Valentine's Day, the people of the coastal areas of the Sundarbans celebrate the day as 'Sundarbans Day' with a call to come forward for protecting the forest and mitigating the impacts of climate change on the Unesco World Heritage Site.
Sundarbans, the land of mangrove and Royal Bengal Tiger, is facing the impacts climate change which is affecting nature-dependent livelihoods, health, and nutrition of nearby communities.
The day has been celebrated for two decades in the coastal southwestern region including Khulna to raise awareness among people about the need of conserving the Sundarbans.
On February 14, 2001, under the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan, Khulna University and 70 other environmental organizations of the country declared February 14 as 'Sundarbans Day' and celebrate it every year.
Read more: Wood collectors losing interest in Golpata collection in Sundarbans amid falling demand
Taking to UNB, Professor Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Paikgachha upazila adjacent to the Sundarbans, said, "The Sundarbans is vital for our survival. The Sundarbans is the lungs of South Asia. If we do not take proper initiatives to protect it, our country will face a great disaster. So first of all you have to love the Sundarbans. February 14 is the Sundarbans Day for us. “
Bidesh Ranjan Mridha, president of Koyra Unnayan Sangram Coordination Committee, said, "On February 14, we want to inspire the coastal people to love the Sundarbans. Many people do not understand what damages are being done to the Sundarbans. Nature in the forest is changing due to the rise in the salinity level.”
“Sundari tree, one of the most extensively found mangrove species in the Sundarbans, is disappearing fast. Goran, Gewa, Keora are growing there. The nature of water and soil of the Sundarbans has changed. If there was no Sundarbans, Koyra upazila would have been vanished by the cyclones, “ he added.
Keramat Mawla, a former member of Mahisharipur union adjacent to the Sundarbans, said, "Now fish are not found in the river next to our Sundarbans. Profit mongers are killing animals with poison to destroy the Sundarbans. The number of deer is also shrinking. Golpata collectors cut thousands of maunds of leaves with a permit of 500 maunds. We want to make local residents aware of these issues on Sundarbans Day.”
Read: Jashore flower growers eye Tk 70 cr sale in the month of language, Falgun, Valentine’s Day
Soaring prices in Khulna markets: A struggle for middle and low-income groups
In the aftermath of the January 7 national election, the kitchen markets in Khulna have witnessed a substantial hike in the prices of daily essentials, severely impacting middle-class and low-income families. This sudden increase in prices is making it increasingly difficult for these groups to manage their household budgets.
Recent market trends show a noticeable rise in the cost of various commodities. In particular, the prices of rice have seen a significant uptick over the past week. Seasonal factors have also led to increased vegetable prices during the winter, and essentials like broiler chicken, flour, pulses, chickpeas, ginger, and garlic are not exempt from this trend.
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Local consumers express a sense of helplessness, feeling like hostages to what appears to be an uncontrollable syndicate. This situation has exacerbated their financial challenges, especially for those struggling to meet daily expenses.
Traders attribute this surge in prices to a poor supply chain. However, residents speculate that certain unscrupulous traders are exploiting the post-election period to unjustifiably raise prices.
A recent survey of Khulna's kitchen markets revealed the following price points: Miniket rice at Tk 68-70 per kg, BR-28 Paijam variety at Tk 65-66 per kg, and local variety rice at Tk 50-52 per kg. Vegetable prices have also surged, with beans costing Tk 80-100 per kg, cauliflowers and cabbages at Tk 50 each, and eggplant, ridge gourd, and bottle gourd ranging from Tk 80 to Tk 100.
The poultry market is not immune to these increases, with broiler chicken now at Tk 220-225 per kg after a Tk 20 increase, and Pakistani chicken at Tk 320-340. Beef prices have also risen, selling at Tk 700 per kg despite authorities setting the price at Tk 650.
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Amirul Islam, a local fish trader, noted that fish prices have escalated by Tk 10-50. Additionally, the cost of chickpeas has jumped from Tk 85-90 to Tk 100-110 per kg, and high-quality pulses are now at Tk 150-160 per kg. Even the price of local onions has risen, now selling at Tk 80-100 per kg, up from the previous Tk 80-90.
This alarming price rise in essential commodities is placing significant strain on the residents of Khulna, with the most substantial impact felt by those in the middle and lower economic brackets.
Election 2024: List of winners from Khulna division
The Awami League won a comfortable two-thirds majority for a fourth election in a row on Sunday (January 07, 2024), in 299 out of 300 constituencies, and a strong showing by independent candidates as predicted.
Ruling party candidates won in 222 seats in Sunday’s election, while independent candidates — most of them belonging to AL — won 62 seats.
Read more: Election 2024: List of winners from Chattogram division
Here’s the list of candidates from Khulna division who won in the National Election 2024:
Election 2024: Those trying to obstruct voters will be resisted, says RAB DG
M Khurshid Hossain, Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has said those trying to obstruct voters from casting ballots will be resisted as voting is a constitutional right.
Alongside other law enforcing agencies, the elite force will perform their duties in a coordinated way to ensure smooth movement of voters to the polling centers, he said while speaking at a press briefing held at Khulna RAB-6 office on Tuesday (January 02, 2024).
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RAB will remain in the field before, on election day and after to maintain law and order, he also said.
Besides, RAB is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any kind of sabotage or violence centering the election, said the RAB DG.
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12th Parliamentary Election: Over 1.34 crore voters in Khulna division to cast ballots
In the upcoming 12th Parliamentary Election, 1,34,46,783 voters across ten districts in the Khulna division are set to cast their ballots for 36 seats.
There are 67,46,491 male, 67,00,205 female voters, as confirmed by Khulna Region Election Officer Md Humayun Kabir.
The division will feature 4,984 polling centers. Out of 322 nomination papers submitted, 228 were accepted, 94 rejected, and 38 candidates withdrew.
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A total of 236 candidates are contesting for the 36 seats. In Khulna district, 19,99,882 voters (10,00,084 male, 9,99,784 female, and 14 transgender) will vote at 793 centers, with 39 candidates vying for six seats.
In Bagerhat, 12,81,134 voters (6,44,086 male, 6,37,040 female, and eight transgender) will participate in electing representatives for four seats from 26 candidates across 4,088 stations.
Satkhira district has 30 candidates for four seats, with 17,46,224 voters (8,76,984 male, 8,69,228 female, and 12 transgender) voting in 602 stations.
In Jashore, 23,39,055 voters (11,76,105 male, 11,62,953 female, and 15 transgender) will cast votes for six seats in 825 booths.
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Narail district has 6,41,132 voters (3,21,000 male, 3,20,129 female, and three transgender) voting at 257 centers for two seats, contested by 14 candidates.
Meherpur, with two seats, has 5,55,966 voters (2,77,049 male, 2,78,915 female, and two transgender) and 13 candidates, voting in 207 stations.
Jhenaidah's 15,01,480 voters (7,54,670 male, 7,46,798 female, and 12 transgender) will select from 26 candidates for four seats in 585 stations.
Kushtia district, with 16,43,912 voters (8,22,516 male, 8,21,388 female, and eight transgender), has 31 candidates for four seats, voting in 578 centers.
Chuadanga has 9,50,078 voters (4,75,792 male, 4,74,278 female, and eight transgender) voting in 354 centers for two seats from 15 candidates.
Magura's 7,87,920 voters (3,98,205 male, 3,89,710 female, and five transgender) will vote for two seats in 295 centers, contested by ten candidates.
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To ensure a free, fair, and neutral election, ten returning officers, 71 assistant returning officers, 4,984 presiding officers, 30,253 assistant presiding officers, and 60,506 polling agents will be on duty.
The election, scheduled for January 7, 2024, was announced by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on November 15, 2023. The nomination deadline was November 30, with scrutiny from December 1-4 and withdrawal by December 17.
Farmers expect bumper mustard yield in Khulna
Farmers and agriculture officials in Khulna district are expecting a bumper production of mustard as improved varieties of mustard were cultivated on a record amount of land this season.
Mustard cultivation is gaining more popularity among the farmers in the district as they got good yield as well as good price of the winter crop last year.
This season 289 hectares of land have been brought under mustard cultivation in nine upazilas and in the city.
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The flourishing mustard crops have transformed the landscape, with farmers envisioning higher yields as they witness the blooming flowers.
In addition to getting seeds and fertilizers as incentives, last year’s good yield motivated farmers to bring more land under mustard cultivation, said the officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension(DAE) who also hope that every mustard farmer will get more profit this year if the weather remains favourable.
According to DAE of Khulna district, mustard has been cultivated on 1,954 hectares of land in the district this season. Of these, mustard has been cultivated on 14 hectares in Daulatpur metropolitan area, 7 hectares in Labanchara, 305 hectares in Rupsha upazila, 250 hectares in Batiaghata upazila, 120 hectares in Dighalia upazila, 180 hectares in Phultala upazila, 420 hectares in Dumuria upazila, 160 hectares in Terokhada upazila, 28 hectares in Dacope upazila, 260 hectares in Paikgachha upazila and 210 hectares in Koyra upazila. Last year, mustard was cultivated on 1,665 hectares of land in the distict.
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Meanwhile, the DAE has provided 13,600 farmers with seeds and fertilizers for cultivation of 1,820 hectares of land in the district.
Each of the 50 farmers of Daulatpur metropolitan area, 50 farmers of Labanchara, 2,000 farmers of Rupsha upazila, 1,800 farmers of Batiaghata, 1,200 farmers of Dighalia, 1,400 farmers of Phultala, 2,300 farmers of Dumuria, 1,200 farmers of Terokhada, 300 farmers of Dacope, 1,800 farmers of Paikgachha and 1,500 farmers of Koyra was given one kg of seeds, 10 kg DAP fertilizer and 10 kg MOP fertilizer as incentives.
Mustard farmers Ansar Ali, Abdus Samad and Soluar Shahid of Gopalpur village in Paikgachha upazila said the mustard cultivated in their fields has been good and they were motivated by the Agriculture Office.
Paikgachha Upazila Agriculture Officer Ashim Kumar Das said, mustard cultivation was delayed due to delay in harvesting paddy. If farmers cultivate early varieties of paddy, they will be able to cultivate mustard on time after harvesting paddy, he added.
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Farmers are being encouraged to cultivate early varieties of paddy and mustard cultivation in the upazila has been good this year, he said.
Kazi Jahangir Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Khulna, said, farmers have been given incentives like last year to increase oil seed production. “Our field workers are constantly assisting the farmers with necessary advice. Hopefully, there will be a good yield and it will be helpful in meeting the demand of edible oil.”
Khulna Cancer hospital project sees slow progress
Despite the scheduled completion date having lapsed, the Khulna 100-bed full-fledged Cancer Hospital project is still far from completion, with only 21% of the work done over the past two years.
According to the Public Works Department, the cancer hospital was supposed to be completed in June this year, now a proposal has been sent to the ministry to extend the project duration till December 2024 as the work has not been completed within the stipulated time.
The Development Project Proforma (DPP) cost was Tk 175.72 crore and of these, Tk 82.36 crore was allocated for the construction of the 15-storey building with two basement floors.
Under the government’s ‘Establishment of 100-bed Full-fledged Cancer Centre in Government Medical College Hospital in Divisional City’ project’, there will be three—cancer, kidney and heart—units at the hospital.
"Free Cervical Cancer Screening to Prevent Cervical Cancer to Save Lives of At-Risk Population"
Under the project, the 15-storey specialized hospital for treatment of cancer, kidney and heart patients will be established on 23250.46 square feet of land behind the outdoor department of Khulna Medical College and Hospital.
The government signed an agreement with MBPL and SNBPL—two contractor firms on October 31, 2021.
Cancer unit will be established from Bagement-2 to 6th floor with Linear Accelerator, CT Stimulator, Chemotherapy and Brachytherapy while Kidney unit will be established on the 7th floor to 11th floor with kidney dialysis unit, kidney transplant OT, post-transplant and ICU.
Meanwhile, the heart unit will be set up on the 11th floor to 14th floor with CCU, ICU, Cardiac OT, and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Cath lab.
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Besides, a ramp, moving stairs, lift for Covid-19, Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), 300-KVA power sub-station, 1000-KVA generator, lift, and firefighting system will be constructed under the project.
Sheikh Daud Haider, owner of the contractor firm SN Builders Private Limited, said the construction work was delayed due to various complexities including land acquisition but the construction work of the project is now going on in full swing.
Sheikh Golam Kuddus, project manager of the contractor firm, said the work of two basements has been completed and now the work will end speedily,” he said.
Amit Kumar Biswas, executive engineer of Public Works Department-1, said “Already 21% work has been completed and currently the construction work of the building is going on in full swing.”
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In 2019, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved a project involving Tk 2,388.40 crore to set up a 100-bed full-fledged cancer centre in each government medical college hospital in every divisional city.
The Ecnec cleared a total of eight projects with an estimated cost of Tk8,968.08 crore.
Of the approved projects, five are new and the remaining three are revised ones.
Then the project tenure was set from October 2019 to September 2022.
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No trace of Khulna Chhatra Dal president in 48 hours since alleged detention
Khulna District Chhatra Dal President Abdul Mannan has remained misding 48 hours after he was picked up from his house allegedly by detective police, his family said on Friday.
On Wednesday afternoon, some people in plain clothes picked him up from his rented house in the Nirala residential area of the city, said his niece Munni Khatun.
Countrywide blockade: Long-route bus services from Khulna suspended
She said, “Eight men in plain clothes entered his rented house on Wednesday afternoon. They all had weapons. They picked up Mannan saying he would be released after questioning. We haven't been able to find him since then.”
Meanwhile, Manna’s family members and Chhatra Dal leaders went to different police stations and DB offices in Khulna to find the whereabouts of Mannan, said Gazi Shahidul Islam, organising secretary of Khulna District Chhatra Dal.
Khulna-Mongla rail line to be inaugurated on Nov 1
He said, “All those arrested before and after the blockade were sent to court within 7-8 hours. But the district Chhatra Dal president has not been sent to court even after 48 hours and that’s why we are concerned.”
Hasan Al Mamun, the officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station said there has been no arrest of anyone by the name of Abdul Mannan.
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Deputy Police Commissioner (DB) of Khulna, BM Nuruzzaman, also provided the same information.
Khulna-Mongla rail line to be inaugurated on Nov 1
The railway network of Bangladesh is set to see a major development next month, as the newly-constructed Khulna-Mongla track will be inaugurated on November 1.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially inaugurate this railway line virtually, Ahmed Hossain Masum, chief engineer of the project, told media.
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Before the official opening, a trial train will go from Khulna’s Phultala to Mongla this afternoon, he added.
Some final works will be completed soon, said the chief engineer.
Rafiqul Haque, assistant engineer of the project said, local people living on both sides of the rail line were informed on Sunday about the trial train movement today (October 30, 2023).
Read: Chinese-built railway opens via Bangladesh's Padma Bridge
The project was approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 21, 2010. Work began in November, 2016.
BNP says 25 leaders and activists arrested in Khulna in 48 hours
BNP says 25 leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies have been arrested from different parts of Khulna district in 48 hours till this morning, ahead of BNP’s October 28 grand rally.
Ehteshamul Haque Shaon, member of Khulna’s BNP media cell, said so far police have arrested 25 leaders and activists centering the grand rally.
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Contacted, Saidur Rahman, superintendent of district police, said police are arresting those who were wanted in different criminal cases and they were “not arrested centering BNP’s grand rally.”
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On October 18, BNP announced a grand rally in Dhaka on October 28 as part of the party’s final phase of programme under their ongoing movement against the government.
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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at a rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.