Khulna
4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Khulna
Forest Department officials have detained four suspected deer poachers with traps from Sundarbans in Koyra upazila of Khulna.
The detainees were--Kohinur Islam, 27, Aminul Rahman, 28, Ahsan Dulal, 26, and Helal Gazi, 25, of Jorshing village of the upazila.
AZM Hasanur Rahman, Khulna Range Assistant Forest Conservator (ACF), said the four men were held from Murli Kuruli Khal area of Sundarbans around 7pm on Thursday.
Read: 2 forest officials injured in attack by deer hunters in Bagerhat
At that time, 500 deer traps and three boats were seized from their possession.
A case has been filed against the poachers in this regard, he said.
They were also produced before the court of Koyra Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate, the official added.
Sundarbans Day: Biodiversity under threat as salinity increases
'Sundarbans Day' will be observed on Monday as every year since 2002 with an appeal to save the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Virtual discussions have been organized in Bagerhat, Khulna, Pirojpur, Satkhira and Barguna due to covid situations like last year.
Rafiqul Islam Khokon, executive director of a private development agency 'Rupantor', said the day will be observed with the slogan 'Love the Sundarbans on the World Valentine's Day'.
This time alternative employment for the people dependent on the Sundarbans will be focused on in this event. There is human pressure on forests for livelihood. Local people adjacent to the forest should be involved in different activities to protect the forest, said Chief Forest Conservator Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury.
Also read: Tiger recovered from Sundarbans canal most likely died of natural causes
Sundarbans, a World Heritage site, hosts a complex network of tidal waterways. The forest presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes and many of its flora and fauna are unique to this region.
However, salinity in the Sundarbans is increasing due to climate change. Besides, the flow of water in the rivers and canals of the forest is decreasing gradually and several canals of the forest have been filled with silt.
Sundari trees are dying due to excessive salinity. Wildlife is also being affected by various diseases by consuming salt water. In the Sundarbans, wild animals are being hunted and people do fishing by spraying pesticides in rivers and canals which threaten the biodiversity of the Sundarbans.
According to various sources, there are 450 small and big rivers-canals in the Sundarbans. Due to lack of water flow, several small and big canal beds in the Sundarbans have been filled with silt. A variety of wild animals, including tigers and deer, leave the Sundarbans, cross canals, and enter the locality very often and lose their lives.
Muhammad Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Division, said over 20 canals in the area under the Sundarbans East Division have been filled with silt. Besides, a 30 km area of Bhola river from Jaymoni to Das Bharani, Kharma canal and Aruarber canal has been filled.
In this situation, various demands have been raised at different times to protect the Sundarbans, including celebrating 'Sundarbans Day' nationally. There is also a demand for the formation of a separate ministry for the Sundarbans.
Also read: Govt withdraws ban on tourist launch movement in Sundarbans
Executive Director of Sundarbans Academy Anwarul Qadir said that they have been demanding the formation of a separate ministry for the management of the Sundarbans to conserve the Sundarbans and improve the living standards of the people living near the forest. He is hopeful that if their demands are met, the fortunes of the forest and its people will improve.
Rafiqul Islam Khokon, executive director of 'Rupantor', said the first National Sundarbans Conference in Khulna ended on 14 February 2001 with the 'Sundarbans Declaration'.
Some 80 organizations including Rupantar, Khulna University, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) jointly organized that conference.
At the conference, it was decided to observe 'Sundarbans Day' on February 14, and asked the government to observe 'Sundarbans Day' nationally.
Since 2002, Sundarbans Academy, Sundarbans Division, various press clubs and various organizations have been observing 'Sundarbans Day' on 14th February in the districts adjoining the Sundarbans.
In the eighteenth century, the area of the Sundarbans was almost double that of today. In 1878, the Sundarbans was declared a protected forest. The Unesco Commission of the United Nations declared three Sundarbans sanctuaries as World Heritage Sites in 1997.
In 2017, the government expanded the sanctuary area in the Sundarbans. Out of the total forest area of 6,01,700 hectares, now the sanctuary area is 3,17,900 hectares. Earlier it was only 1,39,700 hectares.
It has 375 species of wild animals, the Royal Bengal Tiger and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile, the Indian python, and the gangetic dolphins.
Khulna: Rare surgery saves Indian worker's wrist
In a rare surgical feat, doctors at Khulna City Medical College and Hospital (KCMCH) successfully reattached the left wrist of an Indian worker of the Rampal power plant project.
On February 6, a nine-member team, led by Dr AYM Shahidullah, performed the eight-hour-long surgery on Munna Mahout. And within three days of the operation, movement started showing in his fingers, according to hospital authorities.
Read: Rooppur N-plant: 5 Russians die in 11 days, probe ordered
Munna, a crane operator at the Rampur power plant project, was working at the project site as usual on February 6. But while ferrying some goods, his crane veered off and its glass door shattered over his hand detaching his left wrist from the body completely.
His co-workers, however, wasted no time in preserving the detached wrist in an ice-filled polyethene bag as suggested by a local doctor and rushed him to KCMCH, an hour's journey. The hospital doctors soon swung into action and conducted the rare surgery.
Munna is currently recuperating at the cardiac intensive care unit of the hospital.
Dr AYM Shahidullah, the head of the nine-member medical team, said, "Hopefully, he will recover completely."
Read: 'Will extend all support to police probing deaths of Russian staff at Rooppur N-plant'
An elated Munna said, “I did not expect I will get my hand back. Thanks to the doctors, I am able to move my fingers already.”
According to KCMCH authorities, the success in such a critical surgery is a first in Khulna and also rare in the country.
Electric rat trap kills farmer in Khulna
A farmer in Khulna's Koyra upazila was electrocuted to death Wednesday night by an electric rat trap installed in a rice field.
The deceased was identified as Khokon Morol, 45, son of Ismail Morol of the upazila.
Locals of village Gazinagar in Bagali union found the body in the rice field of Raja Badshah, son of Rafiqul Gazi, Thursday morning and informed the police.
Also read: Farmer stabbed over land dispute in Bagerhat
Rafiqul installed an electric rat trap to protect his rice field from the infestation of rats, they said.
Wednesday night, Khokon was electrocuted as he stepped on the live wire of the rat trap in the rice field while walking in the darkness, said Ibrahim Hossain, sub-inspector of Amadi Police Camp. "On information, police recovered the body."
The use of electric traps for rat control is not recommended as they are too risky to use and can cause the death of animals and people in rice fields.
Also read: Farmer shot dead in Chuadanga
BPL 2022: Soumya, Mushfiqur guide Khulna to fourth win
Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim guided Khulna Tigers to their fourth win in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) against Sylhet Sunrisers on Monday.
This match had some controversy as the Sylhet captain, Ravi Bopara, handed the leadership role right before the toss removing Mosaddek Hossain, was found altering the shape and state of the ball during the 9th over of the match, for which, they were handed a penalty of five runs.
In the last over, Sylhet needed 36 runs, and Alauddin Babu smashed Kamrul Islam Rabbi for three sixes off the first three balls to create the last hope for his team. But in the end, Sylhet only managed 20, and Khulna won by 15 runs.
With this win, Khulna marched ahead towards the play-offs while for Sylhet, advancing to the play-off became a distant dream with five defeats in seven matches they have played so far.
READ: IND vs WI ODI Series 2022: India triumph over West Indies in opening match
While batting first after losing the toss, Khulna posted 182 for three in 20 overs riding on the unbeaten stand of 136 by Soumya and Mushfiqur. In the fourth wicket stand, they came up with one of the best partnerships of the ongoing BPL.
Soumya scored 82 off 62 balls with four fours and four sixes while Mushfiqur hit 62 off 38 balls with six fours and two sixes.
BPL debutant Aks Swadhin and Sohag Gazi bagged one wicket each for Sylhet Sunrisers.
In reply, Sylhet opener Anamul Haque hit 47 off 33 balls with three fours and three sixes while Colin Ingram posted 37 off 28 balls with two sixes. And with three sixes in a row, Alauddin scored 25 off 7 balls for Sylhet, but that was not enough for them to avoid the fifth defeat of the season.
READ: BPL 2022: Barishal continue on winning-streak
Along with doing well with the bat, Soumya shone with the ball as well taking two for 27. Besides him, Thisara Perera, the Sri Lankan allrounder of Khulna also took two wickets for them.
Khulna will take on Minister Group Dhaka in their next match on February 9 while Sylhet will lock horns against Fortune Barishal on February 8.
Khulna fuel traders call indefinite strike from Feb 17
Fuel oil traders will go for an indefinite strike from February 17 in 15 districts of Khulna division to press home their six-point demand including 7% hike in commission on fuel sale.
General Secretary of the Tank-Lorry Owners Association Sheikh Farhad Hossain announced the decision on Saturday night.
READ: Tank-lorry owners to go on indefinite strike Jan 3
During the strike, fuel lifting from Padma, Jamuna and Meghna depots will remain suspended, he said.
Publishing the commission for agents in gazette form, Tk 5 lakh insurance for tank-lorry workers for any accident and establishment of rest houses for tank-lorry workers in different areas are also among their demands.
READ: Sylhet transport workers' indefinite strike withdrawn after one day
Man beaten dead ‘by in-laws’ in Khulna
A man was beaten to death allegedly by his brother-in-law and father-in-law at Miyapara Pipermor in Khulna city Saturday afternoon.
The deceased is Md Sabuj, 30, a resident of the area.
Sabuj’s father-in-law Siddique and brother-in-law Sagar beat him up severely after he had a quarrel with his wife.
They hit on his head and chest with bricks and then stabbed him with knives, said locals.
He was rescued and taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital by locals and where he died at night.
Sabuj used to live with his wife in a rented house in the area. His in-law’s house was near Tota Bridge in Labanchora area.
READ: Trucker stabbed dead in city
Khulna Sadar Police officer-in-charge (OC) Hasan Al-Mamun said it is being investigated whether Sabuj was beaten to death by them.
Sabuj’s family has not yet filed any complaint yet, he said.
READ: Teenage girl found dead at police station in Rangpur
Khulna man sentenced in absentia to life for raping, killing minor
A court in Khulna on Friday sentenced a man in absentia to life in jail for raping a minor domestic help on the pretext of marriage and killing her in 2010.
Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 Judge Mahmuda Khatun handed down the punishment to Sheikh Khurshid Alam alias Rubel after holding him guilty of the crimes. The judge also imposed a fine of Tk 80,000 on the convict.
According to the prosecution, the minor girl started working as a domestic help in the house of Abdul Kuddus in the Arambagh area of Sonadanga upazila.
READ: Covid-19: Khulna shops and malls to shut by 8pm
Abdul’s son Rubel established sexual intimacy with the minor promising to marry her later. When the girl got pregnant, Rubel made her abort the baby with help of his sister-in-law, the court was told.
Following the abortion, the girl started putting pressure on Rubel to marry her. To get rid of her, Rubel set her on fire on June 16, 2010, following an argument and then left the house.
Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed her to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
However, the girl managed to give a dying declaration that was used by the police to implicate Rubel in the case, Tipu Lal Dash, sub-inspector at Sonadanga police station, told UNB.
READ: UNB's Khulna correspondent rewarded for performance
On October 4, 2010, the police submitted a chargesheet in the court against four people in the case, including Rubel.
The court, however, acquitted the other three accused in the case for lack of evidence.
3 deer poachers held in Khulna
Forest Department officials detained three poachers along with deer traps, boat and other on Monday morning at Markirkhal area in Koyra upazila of Khulna district.
The detainees are Mizanur Rahman, 45, Moidul Sarder, 42 and Rahim Gazi 35, residents of Fakirabad Village in Paikgachha Upazila of the district.
Read: 2 smugglers held with 18 deer hides in Bagerhat
AZM Hasanur Rahman, Khulna Range Assistant Forest Conservator (ACF)said tipped off, Naliyan Station Officer Mohammad Ismail Hossain and Hadda Forest Patrol Outpost OC Mohammad Anwar Hossain conducted a drive around 7am.
The detainees were produced before the court of Koyra Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate.
A case was filed in this connection.
Will the much-awaited Khanjahan Ali Airport in Khulna ever see the light of the day?
The opening of the much-anticipated Padma Multipurpose Bridge in June this year will spur a series of development projects, including Khulna-Mongla railway line and the economic zones in the region.
Hundreds of crores of taka are being invested around these projects. If the projects are implemented, the scenario of the southern region will be changed.
However, the prospect of an early implementation of Khanjahan Ali Airport in Khulna remains bleak.
The people of the district are unlikely to get the benefits of having an airport soon as the work of under-construction Khan Jahan Ali Airport is going on at a very slow pace.
READ: Parliamentary body visits Cox’s Bazar Airport project
Although land has been acquired for the airport several times, no one can say when the main work will start.
In 2015, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the airport project, with an estimated cost of about Tk 544.75 crore.
The construction work of the airport was first planned to be completed by June 2018. But unfortunately, the main work of the airport has not started yet.
Wishing anonymity, an official of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) said the reason behind the delay is uncertainty about the source of finance.
Firstly, it was planned that the airport would be built on the basis of public-private partnership (PPP). As it did not happen, it was later decided to implement the project through the revenue sector. But it is not being implemented for unknown reasons.
When contacted, Tushar Rajbangshi, the supervising engineer of Khanjahan Ali Airport construction project, said, "I am a field engineer, doing whatever work comes to me." Now I am overseeing the work of the boundary wall. "I can't say anything about why the main construction work is yet to begin," he said.
READ: Dhaka airport's 3rd terminal to 'boost' trade
Land acquisition was completed in June 2020. Since then, no significant progress in the project work was made. There is currently no project manager for this site, he added '.
Actually, the need for an airport in Khulna has been under discussion since the sixties. During the Pakistan period in 1961, a site was selected for the construction of an airport at Mashiali in Fultala, 16 km from the main city of Khulna.
In 1968, the decision was reversed and land was acquired at Teligati area of Bill Dakatia. The decision was cancelled again and a land was selected in Katakhali of Fakirahat upazila of Bagerhat district in the eighties.
At last, the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia laid the foundation stone of Rampal Khanjahan Ali Airport in Bagerhat acquiring 96 acres of land in 1996. Initially, various works including filling of soil for completion of stallport were also completed.
In 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the construction of the airport as a full-fledged one named ‘Khan Jahan Ali Airport’. Following the announcement, another 536 acres of land was acquired with an estimated cost of about Tk 544 crore. According to the project, it was to be completed by 2018 in a joint venture of domestic and foreign. But in reality, nothing happened except hanging a signboard at the airport site and the border wall.
Khulna city mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq, a former MP from Rampal-Mongla constituency, said "We hope that Khan Jahan Ali Airport will be an international standard airport." This airport is a priority project of the prime minister.
The government is trying to implement the project in public-private partnership (PPP). Otherwise, it will be built with local funds like Padma Bridge, he added.