Satkhira
Man held with 2 firearms, ammunition in Satkhira
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a man along with two illegal firearms and ammunition from Satkhira border early Saturday.
The arrestee was identified as Md Badruzzaman, 34, son of Dabir Uddin of village Uttar Vadiali under Kalaroa police station in Satkhira district.
Sources at the BGB headquarters here on Saturday said based on secret information, a special patrol team of BGB) conducted anti-smuggling drives at Uttarar Vadiali, 500 yards inside Bangladesh territory from Satkhira border at around 00:45 am.
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During the drive, the patrol team recovered one foreign pistol , two rounds of bullet and one locally made pistol and detained Md Badruzzaman, said Public Relations Officer of the BGB headquarters Md Shariful Islam.
The seized arms and ammunition were handed over to the Kalaroa police station for legal action against the accused.
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Cop drowns in Satkhira pond
A police official drowned in a pond in Kalaroa Upazila of Satkhira district Sunday morning.
The deceased was identified as Rashedul Islam, 40, sub-inspector (SI) of Kalaroa police station.
SI Rashedul drowned in the pond of the police station while bathing around 10 am, said Kalaroa Fire Service and Civil Defense Station Officer Md Obaidullah.
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Later, the fire service divers rescued him and rushed him to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Nasir Uddin Mridha, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kalaroa police station, said SI Rashedul might have suffered a cardiac arrest while swimming in the pond.
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BCL leader expelled on allegation of abducting, torturing youth in Satkhira
Organizational Secretary of Tala upazila committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Satkhira has been expelled for kidnapping a male student and then torturing and harassing him by recording his nude video and demanding Tk 2 lakh as ransom.
Syed Akib, the accused BCL leader, was expelled on Tuesday over the incident, confirmed Ashiqur Rahman Ashiq, president of BCL Satkhira district committee.
Meanwhile, the complaint lodged by victim’s father Sheikh Azizur Rahman has been lodged as a case at Tala police station but none of the absconding accused had been held yet, said Abul Kalam, Officer-in-Charge of Tala police station.
On Sunday, Shoeb Aziz Tonmoy, 20, a university admission test examinee from Jatpur village in the Sadar upazila was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by some BCL men at Tala Government College.
Tonmoy’s father Azizur Rahman accused Syed Akib, 25, Organizational Secretary of Upazila BCL, Soumitra Chakraborty, 32, Organizational Secretary of Upazila Sramik League, and BCL members JR Sumon, 25, Joy, 24, and Nahid Hasan Utsho of being involved with the incident.
Azizur Rahman said around 1am, Nahid, who was an acquaintance of Tonmoy, asked him to come in front of Tala Government College and from there the alleged BCL members took him inside a room in the college.
“They had beaten him, shaved his head, and recorded a video of him after removing his clothes. At one point they called my wife and asked for Tk 2 lakh as ransom, claiming they kidnapped Tonmoy. She could hear Tonmoy’s cries over the phone call,” said Tonmoy’s father.
Around evening Tonmoy was rescued from the college and was taken to Tala Hospital.
READ: BCL members harassed, tortured youth after kidnap in Satkhira
“As I went to lodge a complaint at Tala police station, one of the accused’s father called me and threatened me not to do it,” said Azizur Rahman.
Tonmoy’ s father suspected the accused wanted to snatch the new motorcycle he bought for Tonmoy. There are also rumours of Aqib and Tonmoy being involved in a love triangle, with Tonmoy now dating a girl Aqib used to date.
“All his kidnappers were BCL activists and the room they took him to seemed like a torture cell in the Tala College student dormitory,” Tonmoy's father said.
BCL members harassed, tortured youth after kidnap in Satkhira
Members of Bangladeh Chhatra League allegedly kidnapped a male student in Satkhira on Sunday and tortured and harassed him by recording his nude video and demanded Tk 2 lakh as ransom.
The victim is Shoeb Aziz Tonmoy, 20, a university admission test examinee and son of Sheikh Azizur Rahman from Jatpur village in Tala sadar upazila.
Tonmoy’s father Azizur Rahman accused Syed Akib, 25, Organizational Secretary of Upazila BCL, Soumitra Chakraborty, 32, Organizational Secretary of Upazila Sramik League, and BCL members JR Sumon, 25, Joy, 24, and Nahid Hasan Utsho of being involved with the incident.
Azizur Rahman said around 1am, Nahid, who was an acquaintance of Tonmoy, asked him to come in front of Tala Government College over phone and as he went there the alleged BCL members took him inside a room in the college.
“They had beaten him, shaved his head, and recorded a video of him after removing his clothes. At one point they called my wife and asked for Tk 2 lakh as ransom, claiming they kidnapped Tonmoy. She could hear Tonmoy’s cry over the phone call,” said Tonmoy’s father.
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Around evening Tonmoy was rescued from the college and was taken to Tala Hospital.
“As I went to lodge a complaint at Tala police station, one of the accused’s father called me and threatened me not to do it,” said Azizur Rahman.
Tonmoy’ s father suspects the accused wanted to snatch the new motorcycle he bought for Tonmoy.
Meanwhile, Abul Kalam, Officer-in-Charge of Tala police station said, “All the alleged accused remained absconding since the incident. The complaint was not recorded as the victim’s father did not submit a copy of his Voter ID card with it but I have no information that they were threatened.”
Tonmoy said, “All his kidnappers were BCL activists and the room they took him to what seemed like a torture cell in the Tala College student dormitory with belt, sticks and arms.”
However, Sheik Humayun Kabir, incumbent principal of Tala College said he has no idea about such an incident neither about BCL men having any torture cell inside the college.
Ashiqur Rahman Ashiq, President of Satkhria District BCL unit said, “If evidence of any BCL members being involved in the incident is found, organizational actions will be taken against them. But no one yet informed us about such an incident.”
Md Mostafizur Rahman, Superintendent of Satkhira police said the matter is under investigation none of the perpetrators will be spared.
Former UP member killed in Satkhira road crash
A person was killed in a crash on Satkhira-Jessore road in front of Shishu Hospital in Sathira on Wednesday morning.
The deceased was identified as former UP member Habibur Rahman alias Chhota Khokon, 30, resident of Kasempur village under the Sadar upazila.
READ: 2 killed in Narail road crash
According to locals, Chhota Khokon was returning home from morning walk when he was hit by a three-wheeler carrying woods. Seriously injured Chhota Khokon was taken to the Sadar hospital where the doctor on duty declared him dead.
READ: Health official killed in Faridpur road crash
Officer-in-charge of Satkhira Sadar Police Station OC Mohammad Golam Kabir said that the body has been sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy and the three-wheeler has been seized.
2 including journo arrested in DSA case in Satkhira
Two people, including a journalist, have been arrested under the Digital Security Act for posting alleged provocative statements against the government and police on Facebook in Patkelghata of Satkhira, police said on Friday.
The arrestees have been identified as Patkelghata Press Club President Jahurul Haque, 45, a correspondent of Daily Bhorer Paata and Abdur Rahman, a resident of Patkelghata Palli Bidyut Samiti area.
Read: Journalists sued under DSA need not to be arrested instantly: Law Minister
Babul Akhter, officer-in-charge (OC) of Satkhira DB Police, said police arrested the duo from the Patkelghata area on Thursday night following a case that was filed against three people under the Digital Security Act for allegedly writing provocative statements against the police and the government on Facebook.
DB Sub-Inspector (SI) Arifur Rahman, who is the plaintiff in the case, said he filed a case under the Digital Security Act against three people at the Satkhira Sadar Police Station on Thursday evening on various charges including sending anonymous application to senior police officials against the subordinates as well as writing provocative and offensive remarks on Facebook against the recently departed Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Humayun Kabir of Tala Circle.
Read:Kushtia journo held under DSA for defamatory post against PM
The process of sending the arrestees to jail through the court was underway, said Golam Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Satkhira Sadar Police Station.
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.
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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.
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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.
Bangamata Football: Ansar & VDP crush Satkhira 12-0
Bangladesh Ansar & VDP earned an emphatic 12-0 goals victory over Satkhira District in the Bangamata National Women’s Football Championship at the Shaheed Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi on Sunday.
Sadia made a hattrick scoring four goals in the 13th, 23rd, 57th and 77th minutes respectively, Munni, Shirin and Sumi netted two goals each while Munmun and Rozina scored one each for the winners, which dominated the first half by 6-0 goals.
Read:Bangamata Football: Rangamati clinch Group A title beating Cox’s Bazar 2-0 in final
In the day’s other match at the same venue, Rangpur District beat Narayanganj District by 2-0 goals.
After a barren first, Rekha put Rangpur ahead in the 62nd minute while Nasreen confirmed the winners victory adding one more goal in the 64th minute .
Post UP-polls violence: 6 including winner and loser arrested in Satkhira
Police have arrested six people including the elected and the defeated candidates of the 5th phase of UP election at Khajra union in Satkhira over post-poll violence.
The arrestees were identified as newly-elected chairman Shahnewaj Dalim and his rival Wahidul Islam, formar chairman Ruhul Quddus along with villagers Golam Mostafa, Mostakin Molla and Golam Rabbi.
Read:Post UP-polls violence: 10 injured in Khajra union in Satkhira
Police said they made the arrest on Friday dawn after a drive at Godaipur and Khajra of the district.
On Thursday, post-poll violence involving supporters of the victorious and defeated candidates left at least 10 people injured, four of them by bullets, at Khajra union in Satkhira.
Golam Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ashashuni police station, said police reportedly fired shots to disperse the rival groups.
Additional police personnel were deployed in the area, the OC said.
Read: Man dies in police custody in Satkhira; ASI, constable suspended
Earlier, Shahnewaz Dalim filed a case against 16 people including his rival Wahidul Islam. On the other hand, Wahidul Islam's chief election agent Ruhul Quddus filed a case against 15 people, including newly elected chairman Shahnewaz Dalim, said OC Golam Kabir.
The arrestees were sent to jail through Satkhira court on Friday noon, the OC added.
One to die for killing wife over dowry in Satkhira
A Satkhira court on Sunday sentenced a man to death for killing his wife over dowry in 2010.
Satkhira Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge MD Azam handed down the verdict to Kartik Kumar Ghosh, 40.
Rajendrapur in Tala upazila of the district.
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The court also acquitted five others as allegations brought against them could not be proved.
According to the prosecution, Kartik beat his wife Shipra Ghosh for dowry on May 13, 2010.
Namita Ghosh, mother of Shipra later filed a murder case with Patkelghata Police Station against Kartik and five others.
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After investigation police charged the six with the murder.