Kurigram
Flash flood leaves 20,000 people marooned in Kurigram
Low-lying areas in six unions of Roumari upazila have been inundated by flash flood triggered by the recent rains and onrush of upstream water, rendering 20,000 people marooned.
Aman seedbeds and other paddy fields were submerged following the rise in water level of the Brahmmaputra and Jinjiram Rivers in India.
Also read: Rain damages 412 hectares of croplands in Kurigram: DAE
The flood-hit areas include Dharmapur, Chatkaraibari, Khetarchar, Gachbari, Italukanda, Kauniarchar, Kajaikata in Datbhanga union, Goytapara, Boalmari, Begularchar, Chatlakanda, Taluachar, Jhunkichar of Shoulmari union, Mandalpara, Natanpara, Chandarpara, Izlamari, Charaijalamari, Madartila, Char Isakuri, Boraibari, Chuliarchar, Jhaubari, Patadhoa Para, Bauar Gram, Dhublabari in Roumari union, Baishpara, Faluarchar, Baghmara, Baladmara of Bondaber union, Puraton Jadurchar, Kheuarchar, Namabakbanda, Dakkhin Algarchar, Char Lathial Danga, Pakhiura dhanarchar in Jadurchar union, Char Ghughumari, Khauria and Sukherbati in Char Shoulmari union.
Abu Syed of Madartila village said his the paddy fields went under water due to the recent flash flood. “I have to harvest immature paddy to avoid huge loss.”
Abdul Kaiyum, of Mandalpara village, said he brought one bigha of land under vegetable cultivation and now all vegetables went under water due to the heavy rainfall.
Also read: Over 200 houses damaged as nor’wester lashes Kurigram
Salim Uddin, a farmer of Isakuri village, said I have brought my three bighas of land under paddy cultivation after harvesting maize but all my dreams dashed due to the rains.
Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, Roumari Upazila Agriculture Officer, said the loseds caused by the rains might be little as many farmers have harvested their paddy from the field but vegetable crops land and Aman seedbed were badly damaged due to rains.
Azizur Rahman, Project Implementation Officer of Roumari Upazila, said they are observing the overall situation closely. “Necessary steps will be taken if flood situation worsens further.”
Woman 'ends life' in Kurigram
A woman in Kurigram allegedly committed suicide over a family feud on Saturday morning.
The deceased, Shahera Begum, 35, was the wife of Mohubor Ali of Hatiar Babur Char in the district's Ulipur upazila.
According to locals, Shahera hanged herself from the ceiling of the family house over the long-standing feud with her husband.
READ: Kurigram: 5 Indians freed after jail term for illegal entry
Imtiaz Kabir, officer-in-charge of Ulipur police station said legal action would be taken in the case after an investigation.
Kurigram: 5 Indians freed after jail term for illegal entry
Kurigram district jail authorities on Tuesday released five Indian nationals who had been jailed for illegally entering Bangladesh with drugs.
The five Indians are Alam Mia, son of Dudu Mia from Bengal's Cooch Behar district, Md Nuruzzaman, son of Surut Mia from Dhubri district in Assam, Selim Mia, son of Nur Islam from Mainkarchar, Jahangir Alam, son of Amirul Islam, and Maha Alam Sheikh, son of Sanowar Hossain, Md Ismail Hossain, Superintendent of Kurigram jail.
Also read: Bangladeshi man shot dead by Indian Khashias; BSF hands over body
However, two others -- Akbar Ali and Golzar Ali from Dhubri district -- will have to remain in prison as they didn't receive clearance from the Indian government though their jail term expired on February 1, 2022, he said.
“At 7am, the five Indians were released from the jail and taken to the Burimari land port. There they will be handed to Border Security Force,” said Kurigram jail superintendent Ismail Hossain.
The seven Indian citizens were arrested on charges of possession of drugs and illegal entry, he said.
Also read:Illegal Indian products worth Tk 30cr seized in 10 months at Benapole border
“Those who were released had to spend an extra six months in jail after serving their sentences, which is a serious violation of human rights," said advocate SM Ibrahim Lincoln, convener of Border Victim Rescue Legal Assistance Forum.
"There are many like them in jails of both the countries. The Indian and Bangladeshi governments should take initiatives to return the inmates immediately after the end of their jail terms,” he added.
2 held over killing mother, son in Kurigram
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Wednesday detained two people in connection with the killing of a woman and her five-month-old son in Rowmari upazila of Kurigram, said Rab officials.
The detainees were Zakir Hossain alias Jafial, 28, and brother-in-law of the woman Chan Mia, 43, of Okrakanda village of the upazila.
RAB-14 Jamalpur Company Commander Squadron Leader Ashiq Uzzaman said they detained Zakir Hossain after conducting a drive in Bakshiganj of Jamalpur on Tuesday afternoon.
Based on Zakir's information, they detained Chan Mia from Boalmari village at Shaulmari union in Rowmari upazila.
READ: Mother, son found dead beside pond in Kurigram
Montaser Billah, officer-in-charge (OC) of Rowmari police station, said the two detainees were handed over to police.
On May 21, police recovered the throat-slit bodies of Hafsa Akter Haresa, 20, wife of Saheb Ali and their five-month-old son Habib from Natun Bandar village in Rowmari upazila of Kurigram.
Later, Hafsa's father lodged a complaint with Rowmari police station.
Rain damages 412 hectares of croplands in Kurigram: DAE
Due to untimely pre-monsoon showers crops in some 412 hectares of land were damaged in Kurigram according to the Department of Agricultural Extension.
Due to incessant rain in the last two months 265 hectares of Boro paddy, 95 hectares of Jute, 20 hectares of peanut, 12 hectares of vegetables,10 hectares of sesame,, five hectares of quinoa, and five hectares of radhuni horse (spice) were ruined.
“ As the sun did not come out, 30 maund of paddy I harvested started to rot. The wholesalers are not ready to buy these paddies even at tk 600 per maund,” said Suman, a well-off farmer from Shialkanda village in Nageshwari upazila.
Also read: Croplands inundated in Faridpur as major rivers swell
Agriculturist Abdur Rashid, Deputy Director of DAE said, “We have got the primary estimation of the damages which shows 60 per cent of the crops got damaged. But we can estimate the amount of loss later.”
He said so far 84 percent of Boro crops in the district have been collected. “The farmers are struggling a bit due to lack of sun otherwise the production met the expectations.”
Md Abdur Sabur, assistant director of Rajarhat weather observatory center said “Due to climate change and easterly wind pressure this year 990 mm of rainfall has been recorded already in April and May this year in the district.”
Also read: Sunamganj farmers fear crops loss as floodwater enters haors
He said, “The rain showers will persist till June . Already 512 mm of rainfall has been recorded until Monday in this month. Due to excessive rains croplands of low-lying areas in the district are being inundated.”
College student accuses former lover of rape with promise of marriage in Kurigram
A college student in Fulbari upazila in Kurigram has accused her former lover of raping her multiple times with promises of marriage after he got married with another woman.
Police rescued the girl on Saturday from in front of the alleged rapist's house upon receiving a call in this regard on Emergency call service number 999.
The girl went on a hunger strike in front of the accused Mamun Sarker’s house, said Fazlur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Fulbari police station.
Also read: 3 arrested in Ctg over gang rape of girl who escaped from Cumilla
According to the girl’s statement, she got aquainted with Mamun while studying in a local college. Mamun later instigated an affair with her and on April 25 raped her several times at her sister’s house.
Soon after the locals learned about their affair Mamun married another woman.
The girl said, “He raped me by promising marriage. If I don’t get justice I’ll commit suicide.”
Also read: 2 held over strangling a girl to death during rape attempt in Joypurhat
A case has been filed at Fulbari police station following the girl’s complaint under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, said OC Fazlur Rahman.
“The girl has been sent to Kurigram for medical test to confirm she was raped,” said the OC.
Schoolboy dies from electrocution in Kurigram
A 12-year-old schoolboy died from electrocution while cutting a branch of a tree at Gorosthanpara in Kurigram municipality on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Pushanto, a class IV student of a local primary school and son of Porosh of the area.
Also read: Construction worker dies from electrocution in city
Pushanto came in touch with an electric wire while cutting a branch of a tree and got electrocuted, said Khan Mohammad Shahrier, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
Later, he was taken to Kurigram General Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Also read: Farmer dies from electrocution in Jhenaidah
70-80 houses in Kurigram threatened by untimely Teesta erosion
About 70-80 houses at Gharialdanga union in Rajarhat upazila are under threat as untimely erosion by the Teesta River has taken a serious turn due to rise in water level in the last few days.
Six houses have already gone into the gorge of the Teesta River.
The Teesta River flows over three upazilas of Kurigram district.
Also read: Relentless Garai erosion leaves many homeless in Jhenaidah
Water Development Board officials are trying to prevent the erosion in only five kilometers area while about 40 kms of the left bank of the river is under erosion threat, said locals.
Erosion is now going on in many places of the remaining 35 kms areas of the river banks, they said.
Farmers in Kurigram go for early harvest of Boro
Farmers in the sandbar areas of Kurigram have started harvesting Boro paddy before the season as the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla and Brahmaputra rivers have been increasing due to continuous rains and downpours over the last few days.
Farmers in the sandbars on around 16 rivers’ basin were seen harvesting paddy on Friday morning before it matures to minimise their losses.
But the water level in the rivers was still far below the danger level.
Also read:Flash floods in Boro-producing areas bodes ill for days ahead
Many farmers said that their dream of harvesting Boro paddy as expected was being dashed due to heavy rains. They are also worried about getting paddy straw due to the sudden rise in river water.
According to the Kurigram Agriculture Extension Department, Boro has been planted on 1,200 hectares of land on the sandbars of the river. However, in a few days, the farmers will be able to harvest this paddy.
Kurigram witnesses significant decline in child marriage
One of the two categories of child marriage has declined significantly in Kurigram, one of the country's poorest districts, over the last five years. The other has also decreased, but not to the desired extent.
In 2017, the rate of child marriage for under-15s was 17 percent, and for under-18s was 65 percent in the northern district. It means the number of girls under the age of 15 getting married was 17 percent, and the number of girls under 18 getting married was 65 percent.
Now the rate has come down to 6 percent for under-15s, and 51 percent for under-18s, said Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram district on Saturday at Sheikh Russel Auditorium in Kurigram.
The findings were disclosed at the district level exit workshop organized by the Building Better Future for Girls (BBFG). The Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram presided over the workshop.
District action plan to prevent child and early forced marriage can be a powerful tool to make Bangladesh free of child marriage by 2041, he added.
Kurigram can be a role model for other districts in bringing down child marriage rate but a long- term action plan and more coordinated efforts are required to achieve the goal, said discussants during the project's closing workshop.
READ: Growing per capita income contributed to reduce child marriage: Planning Minister
Deputy Director of the Local Government department, Zilufa Sultana, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Rajarhat Upazila Nura Tasnim, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Fulbari Upazila Sumon Das, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kurigram Sadar Upazila Rasedul Hasan, Additional Superintendent of Police Sushant Chandra Roy, Director - Girls Rights Hub of Plan International Bangladesh Kashfia Firoz, and Nazrul Ghani, Head of Administration and General Service were present as special guests.
The Deputy Commissioner said that everyone in Kurigram now knows that child marriage is a crime. But they have to be more conscious and monitor the situation from their own place. “We must say No to child marriage”.
The BBFG project has been supporting the Kurigram district administration in implementing the district action plan to reduce the rate of child marriage under 15 years to zero, and to reduce the rate of child marriage under 18 years to one-third of what it was.
Under the leadership of Kurigram district administration, child marriage prevention committee, local government, Kazi, Matchmaker, Imam and Priests are working together. As a result, the district’s rate of child marriage has been reduced, he added.
Kashfia Feroz, director of Girls Rights Hub of Plan International Bangladesh said: "Despite the pandemic, the rate of child marriage in Kurigram under the age of 15 has come down to 6 percent from 17 percent. This is a great achievement for us. I urge everyone to hold on to the BBFG project’s success so that we can declare Kurigram a child marriage free district.”
As per the government's declaration, and following the guidelines of the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) at the Prime Minister’s Office, 3 upazilas, 73 union parishads and 3 municipalities of Kurigram district have already been primarily declared as "child marriage-free" through the BBFG project.
The Building Better Future for Girls (BBFG) project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, has been implemented across the Kurigram district since 2017 with the support of Plan International Bangladesh and local partner RDRS Bangladesh. The project will end by March 31, 2022.
READ: Kurigram sets an example in reducing child marriage: Speakers
The BBFG project has taken various initiatives to stop child marriage including formation of youth forum in all unions of Kurigram, selection of champion fathers, strengthening and formation of child marriage prevention committee and developing action plan to stop child marriage at district, upazila and union and ward levels, and providing training to over 6000 kazis, imams, matchmakers and priests involved in the process to execute marriage.