Rajshahi
Two baby sisters succumb to mysterious virus after ‘eating unwashed plums’
In a heart-wrenching incident in Rajshahi, two baby sisters passed away within four days of each other after contracting an unidentified virus, as reported by medical professionals.
The almost two-year-old younger sister, Muntaha Marisha, tragically died en route to the hospital last Wednesday, while her elder sister, four years and nine months old Muftaul Mashiya, passed away on Saturday afternoon during treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). The girls were the daughters of Manjur Rahman, a mathematics teacher at Rajshahi Cadet College, residing with his family in the college's quarters in Sarda.
Physicians at RMCH initially suspected a viral infection but awaited confirmation pending laboratory results from samples sent to Dhaka for analysis. The girls' parents, Manjur and Poly Khatun, have been placed in RMCH's isolation ward.
Read: Nipah Virus: Don’t Consume This If You Want to Be Safe
Dr. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, an ICU physician at RMCH, mentioned that there is a suspicion of the Nipah virus, although the girls' parents refuted this possibility.
He noted that the children had consumed unwashed plums, which could potentially be linked to the Nipah virus or another viral agent. The definitive cause of death awaits the results of the samples sent for testing.
Poly Khatun recounted the events leading to their illness, stating that their domestic help had given the girls unwashed plums from a tree on campus on the morning of February 13. The following day, Marisha developed a fever, exhibited repeated vomiting, and showed signs of severe dehydration. Despite being rushed to the Rajshahi Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Marisha died en route. Mashiya exhibited similar symptoms the next morning and, after initial treatment at the Upazila Health Complex and CMH, was transferred to RMCH, where she was admitted to the ICU.
Read: Nipah virus: Two patients from Manikganj die in Dhaka
Both sisters displayed black spots on their bodies before their deaths, a symptom noted by their mother.
RMCH physician Mostafa Kamal clarified that there have been no reported deaths from the Nipah virus in Rajshahi this year. However, he confirmed that a viral infection caused the sisters' deaths, emphasizing the rapid progression of their illness and the limited opportunity for treatment. The parents remain in hospital isolation as precautions continue.
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2 killed as train hits human hauler in Rajshahi
Two people were killed when a train hit an engine-run human hauler at a level crossing at Mohanpur in Paba upazila of Rajshahi district on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Mofazzal Hossain, 35, a driver of the human hauler and his helper Habibur Rahman Habib, 32 of the upazila.
Cargo vessel movement between India's Maya and Rajshahi's Sultanganj begins
Khairul Islam, in-charge of Rajshahi University Fire Service Station, said the accident occurred around 4 pm when the Dhaka-bound ‘Padma Express’ hit the firewood-laden human hauler, leaving two people dead on the spot.
Ansar member killed as hooligans punch him in Rajshahi
The firewood was taken to a brick kiln, he said.
On information, a team of Fire WService recovered the bodies and sent those to the local hospital morgue for autopsy.
Barendra Express train narrowly escapes accident; rail link with Rajshahi suspended
Secondary schools in Rajshahi closed due to cold; here are the details
All secondary-level schools in the northern district of Rajshahi have been declared closed for two days, starting from today (January 21, 2024), due to severe cold.
All primary-level schools are also closed today, according to an official notification signed by Dr Sharmin Ferdous Chowdhury, deputy director (acting) of secondary and higher secondary education in Rajshahi zone.
Local meteorological department yesterday predicted that the district would experience less than 10 degrees Celsius temperature for the next two days (January 21 and 22).
Following the forecast, education officers of the district held a meeting yesterday and took the decision to keep the primary and secondary schools closed.
Read more: UGC forcibly imposed GST system on us: JnU Teachers Association
Saidul Islam, primary education officer of the district, told UNB’s Rajshahi correspondent that academic activity at the primary schools will remain closed only for Sunday but the offices will remain open as usual.
“Observing Sunday’s weather, the next course of action will be decided,” he said.
The district witnessed a fall of four degree Celsius temperature within a span of two days. The local Met Office yesterday recorded 9.8 degrees Celsius temperature against 13.8 degree Celsius a day before.
Dense fog blankets the whole district while wind has been blowing. As a result, a severe cold is being felt.
Rajib Khan, observer at Rajshahi Meteorological Observatory, said the minimum temperature in Rajshahi dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius on January 13. The second lowest temperature of the season was recorded at 9.8 degrees Celsius at 7:30 am yesterday.
Read more: Educational institutions shut in Kurigram due to cold wave
On Friday, the minimum temperature was recorded at 13.8 degrees Celsius, he said.
The temperature also decreased yesterday after dense fog had descended, he said, forecasting that such weather may persist throughout January.
On January 16, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued a circular saying that the education authorities in any district can close down schools in case the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius.
According to the circular, “A cold wave is sweeping different parts of the country and as a result the educational activities are being seriously hampered. The regional deputy directors in consultation with the district education officers can keep the educational institutions under secondary level closed if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius in any district.”
Read more: Mild cold wave sweeps 3 northern districts: Met Office
Election 2024: List of winners from Rajshahi 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 Barishal division
Here’s the list of candidates from Rajshahi division who won in the National Election 2024:
Shahriar Alam wins Rajshahi-6
Awami League nominated candidate for Rajshahi-6 (Bagha-Charghat) Shahriar Alam has been elected for the 4th time in the 12th parliamentary elections held on Sunday.
JSD's Inu defeated by 19,161 votes
Shahriar Alam, also the state minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry, bagged 1,01,599 votes while his nearest rival Rayhan who was an independent candidate secured 74,278 votes.
Hasina wins Gopalganj-3
The voting in the 12th parliamentary election began at 8:00 am and concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
BNP holds protest rally rejecting polls in Kishoreganj
10 hand bombs recovered from polling centre in Rajshahi
The Detective Branch (DB) of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police has recovered 10 hand bombs from a polling center near a primary school(a polling centre) Friday night.
Police arrested BNP supporter Sujan Islam Touhid in this connection.
4 polling centres set on fire in Rajshahi
Witnesses and police said BNP and its associate bodies brought out a torchlight procession in the city on Friday evening in support of the 48-hour hartal protesting the January-7 election.
Two hand bombs were detonated when the procession was passing Uposahar Primary School.
Rajshahi-4 constituency: 4 female supporters of independent candidate say they were attacked by ‘boat’ supporters
Police arrested BNP supporter Sujan Islam Touhid and recovered the hand bombs form near the school based on information gleaned from him, said ADC of the Detective Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Md. Ruhul Amin.
Rajshahi-4: 15 injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's procession
Rajshahi-4 constituency: 4 female supporters of independent candidate say they were attacked by ‘boat’ supporters
Five supporters, including four women, of an independent candidate were injured in an attack allegedly by supporters of the Awami League candidate while campaigning in Rajshahi-4 constituency-4 (Bagmara upazila) yesterday.
The injured were identified as Shafinur Nahar, vice-president of Hamirkutsa union unit of Awami League; Ishrat Jahan Beauty, forest and environment affairs secretary of Jogipara union Mohila League; Papia Jahan and Sharmin Akhter, nieces of independent candidate Enamul Haque MP; and CNG-run autorickshaw driver Shahjahan Ali.
Of them, Shafinur, Beauty and Shahjahan were hospitalised at Bagmar Upazila Health Complex while the rest were released after providing first aid.
The victims said they went to Sakhopara village under Hamirkutsa union by two CNG-run autorickshaws to campaign for the independent candidate Enamul yesterday afternoon.
The union Awami League’s organizing secretary Khorshed Alam, who is a supporter of the Awami League candidate Abul Kalam Azad, barred them from handing out publicity handbills among voters, they said.
At one stage, their groups got locked into an altercation which led to an attack on them, leaving five people including the four women injured, they said.
Later, locals rescued them and sent them to the Upazila Health Complex.
Independent candidate Enamul alleged that supporters of the “boat” candidate are constantly attacking and beating his supporters campaigning for the “scissors” (his electoral symbol).
Demanding justice for his supporters, he said no civilised person can attack women and these attacks are having an impact on the election.
He said that the attackers would not have dared if the administration had taken a tough stance.
Additional Superintendent of Police in Rajshahi, Rafiqul Islam, confirmed the matter saying that the injured were rescued after police went to the spot upon receiving information.
Three of the injured were sent to the hospital, he said, adding that legal action will be taken once complaints are lodged in this connection.
Mahi’s election camp torched: UP chairman among 5 sued
A case was filed against five supporters of AL-backed candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury including an UP chairman for setting fire to an election camp of Dhallywood actress Mahiya Mahi on Sunday night.
Belal Uddin Sohel, chairman of Godagari's Deopara Union Parishad and treasurer of Upazila Jubo League, has been made the main accused in the case.
Also read: Actress Mahi gets 'truck' as electoral symbol for independent run in Rajshahi-1
The other accused are - Md. Rizwan, Ratan Ali, Salman Feroz Faisal and Mamunur Rashid alias Babu.
Besides, four or five unidentified people have been accused in the case.
Mahi's cousin Zahidul Islam lodged a complaint at Godagari police station on Sunday night.
Earlier, an election camp of Mahi was burnt in Bhagail village of Deopara union late on Sunday night.
Denying the allegation, UP Chairman Belal Uddin Sohel said they themselves burnt their election camps and blamed us. “They are doing this to create chaos”, he added.
Also read: 12th JS Election: Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Godagari police station Abdul Matin said they have started the investigation.
“Action will be taken if the accused are found guilty”, he added.
Dhallywood’s popular actress Mahiya Mahi is contesting the 12th parliamentary elections as an independent candidate with electoral symbol truck.
Awami League nominated candidate for this constituency is three times MP Omar Faruk Chowdhury.
Rajshahi-4: 15 injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's procession
At least 15 supporters of the independent candidate for Rajshahi-4 were injured in an alleged attack by supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate for the constituency on Sunday afternoon.
The incident took place in Madiraganj bazar of Bagmara upazila.
Eyewitnesses said that the independent candidate, and incumbent MP Enamul Haque brought out an election procession this afternoon.
Read: Sirajganj-3: Ten injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's campaign
When the procession reached Madariganj bazar, supporters of the AL candidate Abul Kalam Azad attacked the independent candidate's campaign, leaving 15 of his supporters injured. The injured were treated at a local hospital.
Bagmara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Arvind Sarker said additional police forces and BGB were deployed there to avoid any untoward situation.
The situation is now under control, he said.
Police arrested two people in connection in this regard.
Read: Faridpur-4: Zafarullah seeks cancellation of Nixon’s candidacy for giving money to voters
Meanwhile, Enamul Haque MP, the independent candidate (with electoral symbol Kachi) held a protest rally after the incident, where he condemned and protested the barbaric attack on his supporters.
Enamul is one of 71 sitting MPs elected from the AL in 2018, who were denied the 'boat' symbol of the party this time.
Election Commission monitoring Rajshahi, Sylhet city polls through CCTV cameras
The Election Commission (EC) is observing the Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporation elections today (June 21, 2023) from the EC auditorium in Dhaka.
A temporary control room has been set up to monitor the elections in the two cities.
Election Commissioners Brigadier General Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir and Rasheda Sultana have been observing the overall situation since 6 am this morning.
Ensure next general election becomes free and fair: President Shahabuddin urges EC
They are monitoring the polls situation through 23 digital display boards, and 368 CCTV cameras in 2,520 voting rooms.
Voting in 345 polling centers is being monitored through the display boards with autorotation after every 10 seconds.
No untoward incident has been reported from the polling stations till the filing of this report at 10 am.
Voting in the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations is underway today.
Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.
Sylhet City Corporation election: 132 out of 190 centers marked as risky
In Sylhet, a total of 4,86,605 voters will exercise their franchise in the polls while 3,51,982 people including 30,157 new voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the Rajshahi city polls.
Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, are contesting the polls in Sylhet while four mayoral contenders, including Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are contesting in Rajshahi.
City corporation polls: Voting underway in Rajshahi, Sylhet