district
Cyclone 'Yaas': 1 killed, low-lying areas inundated in Bhola
A man was killed as a three branch fell on him during a storm triggered by cyclone Yaas in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola district on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Abu Taher (48), a farmer of the upazila.
Read:Cyclone Yaas makes landfall in eastern India
Bhola Deputy Commissioner Md. Tawfiq E-Lahi Chowdhury said cash Tk 20,000 has been provided to the family of the deceased.
The coastal island has been experiencing drizzle and strong wind since Wednesday morning due to Cyclone 'Yaas' that made a landfall in India’s Odisha.
According to Bhola meteorological office, wind is blowing at speed of 16 kilometer per hour and 15.4 mm of rainfall has been recorded in the last 24 hours.
About 50 low-lying areas including Monpura, Dhal Char of Charfason, Kukuri Mukri, Charnijam, Char Zahiruddin, Majher Char, Madanpur have been inundated as the Meghna River swelled on Tuesday night under the influence of Cyclone 'Yaas'.
Abdus Salam, chairman of Sagar Mohna Dhal Char Union, said 700/800 houses in his union were damaged. Numerous fish in ponds have been washed away.
Read:Cyclone Yaas: Low-lying districts flooded as water level rises
Besides, 17 spots on the embankment of the Water Development Board have been damaged due to tidal surge
Babul Akhter, supervising engineer of the Bhola Water Development Board, said the Meghna River was flowing 54 cm above the danger level last night. Repair work of the damaged embankment has already been started, he added.
Mother fish release eggs in Halda
Mother fish of different species released eggs in the Halda River, the only natural fish spawning center in South Asia.
The fishermen said they found eggs from Kagotia to Garduara Nayahat in the river after 12 pm on Tuesday.
The egg collectors said the mother fish started to release eggs due to favourable weather.
The authorities concerned said this year the target of collecting eggs may exceed all previous records as necessary measures were taken to protect mother fish.
Confirming the matter, Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said, “The egg collectors have collected 100-150 grams of eggs in each netting and they also have seen the movement of mother fish in the river.”
Read:Take up fish farming as livelihood, Prime Minister tells youths
However, the authorities concerned have taken steps to ensure the safe breeding of mother fish, he said.
Besides, steps have also been taken as none could catch the mother fish during the breeding period.
All the hatcheries have been prepared for making fish fry from the eggs.
Generally, mother fishes release their eggs during heavy rain in the Bengali month of Chaitra and Baishakh.
The indigenous fish species including Ruhi, Mrigel, Kato and Kalbaush started releasing eggs after heavy rain with thunderbolts started on Tuesday.
In 2018, 22,000 kgs of eggs were collected from the Halda River, while 10,000 kgs of eggs in 2019. In 2020, 25,000 eggs were collected from the river.
Bangladeshi injured in BSF firing along Lalmonirhat border
A Bangladeshi national was shot and wounded by the members of Indian Border Security Force(BSF) along Durgapur border in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat district early Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Milon Islam, son of Raza Mia of Chauratari area.
Read: Indian teen shot by BSF handed over by BGB
Quoting local people, BGB said, the BSF troops from Padna Camp opened fire on a group of Bangladeshi people numbering 4/5 when they reached near border pillar no 925, leaving Milon injured.
Later, he was taken to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital from where he was taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, said commanding officer of BGB-15 Battalion, Towhid.
A letter has been sent to BSF protesting the incident, he said.
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.
Cyclone Yaas: Satkhria authorities gear up to handle situation
Authorities in Satkhria district have taken all pre-emptive measures to prevent the loss of lives and property in view of the Cyclone ‘Yaas’ nearing Bangladesh. The cyclone is likely to make landfall on Wednesday.
At a recent emergency meeting, the local administration decided to use 1,500 schools, colleges and madrasas and dedicated 145 cyclone centres to rehabilitate people living in the coastal areas of the district. "Already these proposed shelters have been cleaned," said an official.
Read: Yaas intensifies into severe cyclonic storm
The forest department has also taken all necessary steps to ensure safe evacuation of fishermen, honey collectors and wood collectors from the Sundarbans, another official said.
The coastal areas of the district have been witnessing light showers since morning, giving people the much-needed respite from the scorching heat.
Meanwhile, there has been a rise in water level of rivers, from one to 1.5 feet, creating panic among local people.
SM Mostafa Kamal, deputy commissioner of Satkhira, said “We have taken all necessary preparations in view of the cyclone. Tk 2.15 crore and 83 metric tonnes of food grains have been allocated. Members of the Red Crescent have been kept on standby."
Read: Cyclone Yaas: Maritime ports in Bangladesh asked to hoist signal No 2
Besides, the risky embankments in the coastal areas are being repaired with the help of the Water Development Board.
According to the Satkhira Water Development Board, nearly 50 per cent portion of the 700km embankments in the district have been found to be either risky or vulnerable. "The repair work is underway," said an official.
10 Covid patients die in one day at RMCH
Ten coronavirus patients died at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) since Monday morning.
Deputy Director of RMCH Dr Saiful Ferdous said four of the patients died in ICU, three in Ward-16, two in Ward-22 and one in Ward-29.
“Most of them are from Chapainawabganj,” the doctor said.
Dr Ferdous said the number of infections in some parts of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj increased at an alarming rate.
The hospital is struggling to accommodate the rising number of patients.
Currently, 168 Covid patients are being treated at RMCH.
Read: BAF chopper medevacs RMCH doctor to Dhaka
Strict lockdown in Chapainawabganj
The district administration put northwestern Chapainawabganj under a strict seven-day lockdown after a surge in Covid-19 cases.
The measure came after the district, which shares border with West Bengal, reported an alarming 55 percent positivity rate out of tested samples, Deputy Commissioner Monjurul Hafeez told the media Monday.
He described the situation as “severe” and suspected that the Indian variant might be responsible for the surge.
“The Indian variant may have spread in the district despite ensuring a 14-day institutional quarantine for all India returnees.”
Meanwhile, the government is easing the countrywide lockdown. Restrictions on public transportations have been lifted since Monday. Launches, trains, and inter-district buses have also started operating.
2 masons found dead in Chattogram
Two masons were found dead at West Boroia Godarpool in Anwara upazila of Chatograme district on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Ilias, 40, son of Asi Mia and Abul Kashem, 38, son of Adil Ahmed of Bottoli union of the upazila.
Local people spotted the bodies in the area and informed police in the morning.
Read: Man killed over land dispute in Chattogram
On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to local hospital morgue for autopsy, said SM Didarul Alam Shikdar, officer-in-charge of Anwara Police Station.
According to their family sources, they were returning home after finishing work at Gohira village in Raipur union of the upazila on Sunday night.
However, it is still not clear how they died. Police are investigating the deaths.
Two Indian returnees tested positive for Covid in Kushtia
Two Bangladeshi nationals, including a 12-year-old boy, who returned home from India through Darshana land port in Chadanga district have been tested positive for Covid-19.
Kushtia Civil Surgeon Dr HM Anwarul Islam, said a total of 36 Bangladeshi nationals returned home on Saturday.
Upon their arrival, health authorities collected samples from them and sent those to the PCR laboratory of Kushtia Medical College and Hospital on Sunday.
Read:17 India returnees test positive for Covid-19
The results of the two returnees –one aged about 39 and another 12-- came out Covid positive on Sunday night. They were sent to Kushtia General Hospital isolation centre.
Of the total returnees, 27 people have been kept at Bir Pratik Taramon Bibi Institutional quarantine centre and the rest at a hotel in the district town.
According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries of the world.
17 India returnees test positive for Covid-19
Seventeen Bangladeshis, who returned home from India through Benapole land port from April 26 to May 22, have tested positive for Covid-19.
Some 3,444 Bangladeshis have returned home from India from April 26 to May 22 after obtaining a 'no-objection certificate' from the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh.
Earlier, the government closed border with India keeping only movement of cargoes uninterrupted amid worsening Covid situation in India.
Read: 3,350 Bangladeshis return through Benapole since Apr 26; 17 test Covid positive
Many Bangladeshi citizens are returning home through the Benapole land port with special permission.
Of them, 17 returnees tested positive for Covid-19.
Dr Utpala Roy, Medical officer of Benapole Immigration, said on Saturday 94 Bangladeshis returned home from India and they have been kept at Jashore Gazir Darga Madrasha and other different quarantine centres for 14-day mandatory quarantine.
If they test negative for Covid-19 they will be released later, he said.
Read: 206 India returnees put in 14-day quarantine in Cumilla
However, those who have tested positive have been kept at the red zone of Corona Unit.
According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world.
The Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh only through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry.
206 India returnees put in 14-day quarantine in Cumilla
A total of 206 Bangladeshis, who returned from India through the Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria district, have been sent to Cumilla to stay in 14-day institutional quarantine, said officials.
Local administration sources said the Bangladeshi nationals returned home through Akhaura Land Port in the last five days and all of them have been kept at the eight quarantine centres in Cumilla as all the isolation centres in Brahmanbaria are full.
Read: 3 India returnees test positive for Covid in Magura
However, no one tested positive for Covid-19, Mohammad Abu Syed, Cumilla Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) told UNB on Saturday.
The returnees hail from Cumilla, Feni, Chandpur, Noakhali and Brahmanbaria districts.
Four executive magistrates and health officials are there to ensure the health protocols, said the UNO.
As India has been experiencing a new strain of Covid-19, the government has imposed restrictions along the border areas of Bangladesh.
Read:36 India returnees sent to Cumilla for institutional quarantine
According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world.
The Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh only through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry.