Sirajganj
100-metre stretch of Sirajganj town protection dam washed away
One hundred metres of Sirajganj city’s protective dam collapsed into the Jamuna River Tuesday, near the old Jailkhana Ghat area.
The dam started giving away in the morning which raised panic among the locals.
After that additional police members were deployed at the spot.
Also read: Crops on 12,000ha damaged as norwester lashes Sirajganj
Sub Divisional engineer of local Water Development Board, Md Nasir Uddin said due to heavy rain, increased water level of Jamuna River created whirlpools under the barrier dam.
Heavy rain from the morning added to the condition causeing the massive collapse in the damn, he said
Dumping geobags and CC blocks have proved ineffective in mitigating the breakage.
Also read: Untimely river erosion causes panic in Sirajganj
ANgry locals blamed the Water Development Board’s negligence for the condition of the dam.
However, WDB officials pointed out the extreme current of the river and soil erosion for this incident, claiming routine surveys had been conducted by them.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Dr Faruque Ahmed asked for all-out measures to prevent any massive collapse after visiting the area.
999 call: 2 arrested after woman raped on truck
Police on Tuesday night arrested two people for allegedly raping a handicapped woman on a truck in Sirajganj’s Koddermor area.
The arrestees were truck driver Sohel Rana, 32, son of Mansur Ali of Bogra and the helper Mohammad Abdul Wahab Sheikh, 28, son of Mohammad Zahurul Sheikh of Shibganj upazila.
Police were able to arrest them and rescue the rape victim with a quick response to a 999 call report.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Bangabandhu Bridge West Police Station Mosaddek Ali said the 20-year-old mentally handicapped woman from Shimla village of Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila went missing on Sunday night. On Tuesday, people in Gazipur’s Chandra found her and requested a freight truck to drop her off at Chandaikona along with two other passengers.
“Reaching Tangail’s Elenga area, the driver and helper ask the two passengers to go for a tea break, citing mechanical glitch in the engine. But the passengers returned suspecting the odd and found the woman being raped,” he said.
READ: Rape case against 4 children: suspension order of 7 police stayed
The truck driver and helper managed to escape with the woman in the truck.
The passengers immediately reported the incident calling 999.
Police at Bangabandhu Bridge West failed to stop the speeding truck and reached the barricade at the Kaddarmor area where the truck was eventually stopped.
The handicapped woman was rescued from the truck cabin and the truck was seized.
The OC said that the woman tried to provide hints through gestures of what happened.
A case was filed in this regard.
6 killed by lightning strikes in Sirajganj, Cumilla
Six people have been killed as lightning struck them in separate places in Sirajganj and Cumilla districts.
In Sirajganj, four people including two women were killed in lightning strikes in Shahzadpur and Ullapra upazilas on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Nazmul, 15, son of Azam Bepari and Hashem Ali, 25, son of Azgarh Ali of Dugli village, Shakera Khatun, 60 of Chithulia village in Shahzadpur upazila and Mohona Khatun, 17, daughter of Mosharraf Hossai of Ullapara upazila.
Read:Lightning strikes kill 10 across country, including 6 in Jamalpur
Shahid Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Shahzadpur Police Station, said Shakera Khatun died when a thunderbolt struck her while working in the yard in the evening.
Nazmul and Hashem Ali also met the tragic death as thunderbolt struck them amid rain.
Besides, a streak of thunderbolt struck Mohana while she was working near her house at West Krishtapur village in Ullapara.
In Cumilla, two fishermen were killed and two others injured in a lightning strike while fishing in the Kanthalia river at Jagannathkandi in Homna upazila on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Md Alamgir, son of Afaz Uddin alias Afal Mia and Titu Chandra Das, son of Nepal Chandra Das.
Injured Amulya Chandra Das and Nepal Chandra Das were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex. Then Amulya Chandra Das was sent to Dhaka as his condition deteriorated.
No 1 Mathabhanga Union Parishad Chairman Nazirul Haque Bhuiyan confirmed the matter.
Read: Lightning strikes kill 3, including child, in Chapainawabganj
Lightning strikes claim hundreds of lives in Bangladesh every year. The deaths mostly occur in the warmer period of the year from April to June, as hailstorms occur most frequently during this time.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in a guideline says lightning usually continues for 30-45 minutes and urged people to stay indoors or take cover during the period.
Crops on 12,000ha damaged as norwester lashes Sirajganj
Farmers in Sirajganj are apprehending massive losses after a norwester hit the district on Wednesday night and damaged crops on about 12,000 hectares.
“We’re fearing a huge loss for the seasonal crops,” said Abu Hanif, the deputy director of the district’s Department of Agricultural Extension.
Also read: 12 killed in Gaibandha, Faridpur as nor’wester lashes country
Farmers are frustrated seeing their ripe Boro paddy lying flat on the ground after storm and rain. There isn’t much left to harvest, they said.
The norwester also damaged maize, jute and vegetable plantations.
Also read: Nor’wester destroys 250 houses in Bhola
More than 200 houses in the district were damaged and many trees were uprooted, cutting off power supply for about nine hours.
Hanif said they have sent a report on the damage to the ministry concerned.
Also read: Nor’wester sweeps Joypurhat; 4 killed
But it is unclear if any step has been taken to address the losses of the farmers.
Untimely river erosion causes panic in Sirajganj
Untimely river erosion, far in advance of the monsoon season, has increased the suffering of local residents in the south bank of the Jamuna river, in Enayetpur upazila of Sirajganj.
Many houses in the area have been washed away by the river. The victims of this demolition are now living a dreadful life. River erosion is a common scenario in this area.
Read Dhaleshwari erosion takes serious turn in Keraniganj
Around 20,000 houses have been washed away by the river so far, leaving many families stranded.
Local representatives including MPs and ministers have visited the site at least five times in the last four years to see the plight. Every time, they have given various promises to the affected people which includes building a permanent protection dam.
Also read: Riverbank erosion displacees await rehabilitation
A project worth Tk 600 crore for building a dam that stretches across 6.5 km was submitted to the relevant ministry almost 4 years ago. But no updates on the project have been received ever since.
State Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zahid Faruk has visited the site recently and promised to approve the project as soon as possible.
However, the recent river erosion, so advanced of the monsoon season, instilled a sense of fear among the local residents. They have set up bamboo fences to prevent erosion on their own initiative.
Also read: River rage: Unabated erosion gives villagers sleepless nights
The erosion stretched from Brahman village to Hat Pachil area of the upazila.
Nasir Uddin, the sub-divisional engineer of the local water development board, said a letter has been sent to the higher authorities to take necessary steps in preventing untimely erosion.
Besides, the project for construction of a permanent dam has not been approved yet, he added.
Read Padma erosion threatens Daulatdia Ferry Terminal
Lockdown: Sirajganj dairy farmers in trouble again
The dairy farmers of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj district have run into trouble again as the ongoing lockdown has choked the sales of milk they produce.
Shahjadpur upazila produces some 20.50 lakh litres of milk a day, but now thousands of litres of milk are wasted due to drop in its sales and lack of storage facilities, the farmers alleged.
As the demand for milk in the open market is declining due to the closure of sweetshops, tea stalls and lack of people at haats and bazaars, farmers are counting huge losses.
Visiting different areas of the upazila, the UNB correspondent found many of the farmers staging protests by dumping milk on the streets. Many farmers were also seen roaming at local markets to sell off cows as no option is left for them.
Also read: Jashore dairy farmers count losses as demand falls
According to Sirajganj District Livestock office, a milk-processing factory was set up in 1983 in Sirajganj by Milk Vita, a cooperative state-owned enterprise. And then the upazila saw the mushrooming of cattle farms within years.
AL factional clashes keep flaring: 1 killed in Sirajganj
At least 1 person was killed and 5 others suffered injuries as two factions within Awami League clashed over party election in Sirajganj’s Enayetpur on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as AL activist Abdul Jalil (38), son of Abu Sayed of Ajgara village. Among the 5 injured 3 were admitted to local hospitals and clinics.
Also read: 1 dead, at least 5 shot in Noakhali as Quader Mirza’s supporters, rival AL activists clash
On Wednesday, two opponent groups of Sadia Chandpur Union Awami League of Enayetpur in the tri-annual assembly clashed vandalizing and exploding cocktails when Jalil was stabbed dead.
Jalil died on the spot, confirmed Enayetpur Police Station OC Ataur Rahman.
Also read: Over 50 injured in Faridpur AL factional clash
The tri-annual conference of Awami League was held at the local Betil School and College ground. After the vote count there were chases, cocktail explosions, motorcycle vandalism and clashes between the supporters of the two groups, he added.
Rushing to the spot, police brought the situation under control and recovered the dead body.
Also read: 2 AL factions clash in Rajshahi over mayoral polls; 1 hurt, shops vandalized
Additional police have been deployed in the area.
Enayetpur AL acting General Secretary Azgar Ali said the opposition supported clashed from the prediction of not winning the election. Apart from Jalil another activist’s leg was severed.
4 more arrested in Sirajganj councilor-elect murder case
Police have arrested four more suspects in the Sirajganj councilor-elect Tariqul Islam Khan murder case, including the brother of the main suspect who still manages to evade the law enforcers.
Sirajganj Municipal Poll: Tariqul was killed for winning, arrested suspect confirms
Police arrested a suspect Friday from Dhaka’s Jatrabari for the murder of BNP-backed Sirajganj councilor Tariqul Islam Khan just minutes after his victory in the recently concluded phase-II municipal elections.
Child marriage bid foiled in Sirajganj
A seventh grader from Sirajganj’s Belkuchi upazila was saved from early marriage at the intervention of the local administration on Thursday night.