Khulna
16 shops gutted in Khulna market fire
At least 16 shops were gutted in a fire at Boro Bazar in Khulna Sadar upazila on Wednesday noon.
Locals said the fire broke out at a shop in the market near Bhairab bus stand around 1pm and it soon engulfed the adjoining shops.
On information, six fire tenders were pressed into service and it took them nearly an hour to douse the flames, said Md SalahUddin, divisional deputy director of Khulna fire service.
No casualties were reported as most shops were closed today due to Durga Puja holiday.
"The exact amount of losses and source of the fire could not be ascertained immediately," he said.
Khulna’s Rahima’s ‘abduction’: 4 granted bail
A Khulna court on Tuesday granted bail to four of the six accused in a case over alleged abduction of Khulna’s Rahima Begum.
Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Mahmuda Begum passed the order during a hearing on the bail pleas.
Read: Rahima’s statement on ‘disappearance’ misleading: PBI
Those granted bail are Mohammad Mohiuddin, assistant engineer of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), Golam Kibria, Md Jewel, and Rafiqul Islam Palash, said Public Prosecutor KM Iqbal Hossain.
The two other accused- Rahima’s second husband Belal Ghatak and Helal Sharif- are currently in jail, he said.
On August 27, Rahima went missing after she had left her home in the Banikpara area of Doulatpur at 10pm to bring water.
Her daughters found her sandals, scarf and water pot. A newer pair of sandals though, had gone missing and that fuelled speculation that she had left home on her own.
Read: Families of arrestees claim Rahima’s daughter Moriom behind mysterious disappearance
The family first filed a complaint with the police, based on which the law enforcement lodged a first information report (FIR) against some people over Rahima's disappearance.
On September 13, after Rahima remained missing for 17 days and police failed to find her, her younger daughter Aduri Akter appealed to a Khulna court to transfer the case to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).
The same day, police arrested six people in connection with the case and of them four were accused by the plaintiff in the case statement, said police.
On September 24, Rahima Begum was found alive in Faridpur's Boalmari after remaining missing for 29 days.
Man goes missing as bulkhead hits trawler in Rupsha River
A man has gone missing as a bulkhead vessel hit a trawler in the Rupsha River in Khulna.
The missing man was Mahtab Uddin, a worker of the trawler.
Monsur, sub-inspector (SI) of Rupsha Naval outpost, said the Hiron point-bound trawler capsized with seven passengers on board as a bulkhead vessel hit it near Rupsha railway bridge around 10pm on Sunday.
Mahtab went missing while the other passengers managed to swim ashore.
“A rescue operation is underway,” said SI Monsur.
Rahima’s statement on ‘disappearance’ misleading: PBI
Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has said that the statement given by Rahima Begum, who was found alive in Faridpur after remaining missing for 29 days, about her ‘disappearance’ to PBI and at the court is misleading.
However, they are verifying her statement given at the court, SP Syed Mushfiqur Rahman of PBI Khulna told UNB today.
So far, nothing has been found that proves Rahima’s statement to be true, said the PBI official. On Monday, the investigating officer visited the house of Quddus Mollah at Syedpur village in Faridpur, where Rahima had been staying since September 17.
“We got important information there,” SP Mushfiqur said.
Read: Families of arrestees claim Rahima’s daughter Moriom behind mysterious disappearance
Now the investigation officer will go to Bandarban for further investigation as Rahima went to Islampur in Bandarban Sadar upazila, as per her statement in court.
Besides, police suspect involvement of Belal Hawlader, Rahima’s second husband, in her disappearance.
“We are hopeful of getting information if we interrogate him. We have submitted plea to the court for his remand,” the officer added.
In her statement, Rahima said she found herself in Chattogram Hill Tracts area after being abducted on August 27. She took up work at a hotel in Bandarban.
The hotel owner later offered her a job in a local camp for which her birth certificate and NID card were needed, she said.
For collecting birth registration and NID card, she went to Quddus Molla’s house, her acquaintance, at Syedpur village of Boalmari upazila under Faridpur district.
Read:Rahima Begum handed over to family after recording statement
There, she reached out to Syedpur Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Haque on September 16 for birth certificate and NID, stating that she was born in that village and used to live in Bagerhat for livelihood.
However, the UP chairman refused to issue those out of suspicion, said the PBI officer.
“We are still investigating the case and action will be taken if Rahima Begum gave false statements about her disappearance,” the PBI official said.
On September 25, Rahima Begum, who remained “missing” for 29 days, was handed over to her family after her statement was recorded in the court.
Later, she was taken to her younger daughter Aduri Akter’s house in Khulna’s Boyra area, said plaintiff’s lawyer Afruzzaman Tutul.
In her statement, Rahima provided detailed information on being “abducted over land dispute”.
Read: I was abducted over land dispute: Rahima Begum
The night before, police rescued Rahima from Boalmari upazila of Faridpur.
On August 27, Rahima went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in the Banikpara area of Doulatpara upazila in Khulna around 10pm. Her children found her sandals, scarf and the pitcher she was carrying from the spot.
Six people Rahima accused over her abduction in the statement were also accused in a case filed over her going missing, following a complaint received from her children.
Reported “missing”, Khulna’s Rahima was staying in Faridpur since Sept 17: Police
Khulna’s Rahima Begum, found in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila 29 days after disappearance, had been staying there since September 17, police say.
Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Deputy Commissioner (North) Molla Jahangir Hossain shared the information at a press briefing in Khulna’s Doulatpur police station around 2:30 am today.
However, Rahima is not answering any of the police’s questions about why she left home and stayed in Faridpur. She has not spoken since she was brought under police custody, said Molla Jahangir.
Read: 'Missing' Rahima Begum of Khulna found alive in Faridpur: Police
Based on intelligence team’s information, a team of KMP conducted a drive at the house of Quddus Molla in Syedpur village, under Faridpur’s Boalmari Upazila, and found Rahima unharmed on Saturday night.
Rahima Begum was brought to Daulatpur police station around 2 am.
Police also detained three people, including two women, from the house for questioning.
Quddus’ relatives told police that Rahima had been staying in the house since September 17.
In this regard, Rahima’s son Sadi said, “Since my mother was rescued alive, she will be able to shed light on the disappearance.”
“If someone from my family is involved in the incident, administration will take action against them,” he added.
Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) will further investigate this matter, said Molla Jahangir.
On August 27, Rahima went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in Banikpara area of Khulna’s Doulatpara upazila around 10pm. Her family found her sandals, scarf and the pitcher she was carrying from the spot.
The family first filed a complaint with the police, based on which an FIR was lodged by the cops against some people.
On September 13, after Rahima remained missing for 17 days and police failed to find her, her younger daughter Aduri Akter appealed to the Khulna court to transfer the case to the PBI, said Rahima’s elder daughter Moriom Mannan.
The same day the court ordered police to hand over the case to the PBI.
Read: Missing Khulna woman found dead in Mymensingh, family suspects
So far, six people have been arrested in this case. They are Rahima’s second husband Belal Howladar, Mohiuddin, Palash, Jewel, Helal Sharif, and assistant engineer at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Golam Kibria.
As the case was investigated by the PBI, a remand appeal made by the police to interrogate Rahima’s husband Belal remains pending for hearing, said police.
Rahima's family resorted to putting up “missing” posters in Khulna city in the hope they will get their mother back.
Finally on Thursday night, Rahima’s daughter Moriom Mannan wrote in a Facebook post that they had found their mother’s body in Mymensingh. However, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Khulna's Daulatpur police station and Mymensingh police couldn’t confirm the matter.
Missing Khulna woman found dead in Mymensingh, family suspects
Rahima Begum, 52, of Khulna, who has been missing since August 27, has been found dead in Mymensingh, family members suspect.
“I suspect my mother's body has been found,” this is what Moriom Mannan, Rahima’s daughter, wrote in a Facebook post today.
Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Khulna's Daulatpur police station and Mymensingh police couldn’t confirm the matter.
Read: PBI to take over case of missing Khulna woman
PBI is investigating the case filed over the woman's disappearance.
Khulna Superintendent of Police, Syed Mushfiqur Rahman, said the investigating officer of the case spoke to Moriom.
Moriom told them that her mother's body was recovered from Phulpur area of Mymensingh.
Mymensingh Police said the body of a woman was recovered from Phulpur on September 10 and was buried, said the officer.
Read: Khulna woman remains missing for 18 days, 6 held
Police couldn’t identify the body recovered in Mymensingh, he said.
Moriom Mannan told the investigating officer she identified her mother's body by scrutinizing a photograph of the clothes the corpse was wearing.
Phulpur police station has collected the DNA samples of the recovered body.
The investigating officer asked Moriom to go to Phulpur police station on Saturday. There her DNA sample will be collected and matched with the DNA of the recovered body.
Read Mitu murder: PBI submits chargesheet against ex-SP Babul, 6 others
“If the DNA matches it can be confirmed,” SP Mushfiqur.
On August 27, Rahima Begum went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water, near her home in Banikpara area of Doulatpur upazila in Khulna around 10pm. Her children found her sandals, scarf and the pitcher she was carrying from the spot.
The family first filed a complaint with the police, based on which an FIR was lodged by the cops against some people.
Read Fugitive PBI inspector suspended over Khulna college girl's rape
On September 13, after Rahima remained missing for 17 days and police failed to find her, her younger daughter Aduri Akter appealed to the Khulna court to transfer the case to PBI, said Rahima’s elder daughter Moriom Mannan.
The same day the court ordered the police to hand over the case to PBI, but the cops are yet to comply with the order, she told UNB.
When asked, Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Doulatpur police station, said, “We have received the order and the case document will be handed over when PBI asks for it.”
Read Munia Murder Case: PBI probe report submission deferred again to Dec 8
So far, six people have been arrested in this case. They are Rahima’s second husband Belal Howladar, Mohiuddin, Palash, Jewel, Helal Sharif, and assistant engineer at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Golam Kibria.
As the case was investigated by PBI, a remand appeal made by the police to interrogate Rahima’s husband Belal remains pending for hearing, said the OC.
Rahima’s daughter Moriom, in a Facebook post, said that they have been putting up 'missing' posters in Khulna city in the hope they will get their mother back.
Read PBI nabs fugitive accused in 7 cases
Hit by bus, 2 motorcyclists killed in Khulna
Two motorcyclists were killed in the city on Khulna-Satkhira highway as a bus hit their vehicle on Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as Hafiz Md Shariful Islam, 23, from Morelganj upazila in Bagerhat and Md Belal Hossain,24 , from Rajbandh area.
The accident occurred around 7:30 am in front of Pragati School as the recklessly-driven Khulna-bound bus hit the motorcycle, leaving Shariful and Belal dead on the spot, said witnesses.
Another witness said the bus hit the motorcycle while giving side to a Satkhira-bound truck and immediately fled the spot.
According to locals, Shariful was a local madrasa teacher and Belal was a muezzin (official for prayer calls) of a mosque.
Locals blocked Khulna-Satkhira road for an hour protesting the accident and later left the road when police appeared there, said Md emdadul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Harintana police station.
The bodies have been sent for autopsy and efforts are on to detain the bus driver, said the OC.
Khulna records 146 mm rainfall in 24 hrs, highest in 6 yrs
Khulna on Thursday recorded its highest rainfall in six years, after the district received 146 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till morning, according to the local weather office.
The district recorded the highest rainfall in six years triggered by the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal in 24 hours till 6am on Thursday, said Md Amirul Azad, assistant meteorologist of Khulna Meteorological Office.
Read: Bangladesh: Showers to continue, no respite in sight
The low-lying areas of the district, including Nirala, Mujgunni, Boyra and Prantika, went under water following incessant rains, causing immense sufferings to the SSC examinees. The exams began this morning.
Khulna woman remains missing for 18 days, 6 held
Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested six people in connection with the disappearance of a 55-year-old woman in Khulna on August 27.
Rahima Khatun went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in the Banikpara area of Doulatpara upazila in Khulna around 10pm on that day.
Rahima’s second husband Belal Howladar was taken into police custody on Monday night for interrogation and later was shown arrested in a case filed on a complaint filed by her children, said Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Doulatpur police station.
Earlier five others -- Mohiuddin, Palash, Jewel, Helal Sharif and assistant engineer at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Golam Kibria -- were arrested in this case.
Also read: 7 young men missing from Cumilla since Aug 23
Of them, four were accused by the plaintiff in the case statement, said the OC.
OC Nazrul said that Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcing agencies were also investigating the matter along with police.
“On August 27, Rahima’s cell phone was active in the Jogipole area after 10 pm but it was switched off before it could be tracked,” said the OC.
Rahima’s daughter Mariyam Hannan, in a Facebook post, said on Monday that her mother "has been missing for the last 17 days" though the administration claimed they are working to find her.
Also read: Body of missing youth recovered from river in Chuadanga
“Every moment my mother’s face comes to my mind whether I go to sleep or eat. She must be hoping her children will find her soon,” she wrote.
Mother-son duo dies after eating pufferfish in Khulna
A mother-son duo who ate poisonous puffer fish, locally called "potka fish", died in Khulna's Batiaghata upazila on Monday evening.
Pufferfish is considered a delicacy but can be fatal because of its toxicity, if not cooked properly.
The deceased were identified as Pori Begum, 60, and her son, Jahangir, 36, residents of Mathabhanga village in Batiaghata upazila.
Police said the poor family caught the fish from the Rupsha river and consumed it after cooking.
Also read: Kinder chocolates linked to salmonella poisoning in 11 countries: WHO
As they fell sick, neighbours took them to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where Pari Begum was announced dead on arrival. Jahangir died later during treatment.
Jahangir’s cousin Saidul, 35, who also consumed the fish is currently being treated for poisoning at the hospital, said duty doctor Bidhan.
Officer-in-charge of Labanchora police station, Md Enamul Haque, said the family was probably unaware of the toxicity of the fish.
The rate of poisoning due to pufferfish consumption is high in the rainy season in Bangladesh as this is the time when they get ready for breeding.
Also read: 3 of a restaurant held as 30 suffer food poisoning
In Bangladesh, two species of pufferfish are found in freshwater environment and at least 20 species in rivers.