Bagerhat
Bagerhat: 7th-grader killed, classmate hurt as bike hits tree
A seventh-grader was killed and his classmate suffered injuries when their motorbike veered off the road and crashed into a tree in Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat Thursday, police said.
The deceased Labib Sheikh (13), a student of Haji Abdul Hamid Secondary School of Fakirhat, was from Batiaghata upazila. Labib's classmate Sadik, 13, was driving the motorbike.
Read:Uttara girder crash tragedy: Helper operating crane instead of operator Al Amin
Muhammad Alimuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Fakirhat Police Station, said the seventh-graders were returning to Fakirhat on the motorbike when the tragedy struck. "Sadik lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree on Bagerhat-Rupsha Puraton Road."
"The injured were rushed to Fakirhat Upazila Health Complex. Labib was later shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to injuries," Alimuzzaman said. "Sadik is out of danger now."
With Hilsa catch declining, Bagerhat fishermen stare at penury
The fishing community in Bagerhat is at its wit's end.
From fishermen to traders, all are worried that the reign of the Hilsa may soon be over due to their Indian counterparts who enter Bangladeshi waters to net at the confluence of two prominent rivers -- the Pashur and the Baleshwar -- in the Bay of Bengal.
This netting at the confluence is hampering the movement of the 'king of fish' that travels from the sea to the sweet river waters, according to Bagerhat fishermen.
Read Hilsa Ilisha: The National Fish and Silver Pride of Bangladesh
"Many of us just can't afford to venture into the sea for fishing and rely on the rivers for our livelihoods. But netting of the fecund fish at the conference of the two rivers by our Indian counterparts leaves us worried," a local fisherman said.
In fact, this has hit the entire supply chain -- there's not enough supply of the Hilsa in the wholesale markets of the district.
"For long, we have been demanding a ban on fishing at the conference of the rivers so that the 'king of fish' can move and breed freely in the many rivers of Bagerhat," he added.
READ: 2-month ban on hilsa fishing, selling begins Tuesday
Depression: Low-lying areas inundated in Bagerhat
Low-lying areas in the coastal district have been inundated due to the tidal surge triggered by a well-marked low over the Bay of Bengal.
Bhairab, Daratan, Pangucchi, Pashur and Baleshwar rivers are flowing above the normal level, inundating the low lying areas of the district.
Besides, people have been experiencing intermittent rainfall since Wednesday morning.
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra were advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No 3.
The local met office has recorded 20.2 mm of rainfalls in 24 hours till Wednesday morning in Bagerhat.
Meanwhile, different rivers in the Sundarbans was flowing above the normal flow and 500 fishermen, who went to the Bay for netting, took shelter in the Sundarbans, said the Forest Department.
Read: Depression over Northwest Bay weakens
Amresh Chandra Dhali, in-charge of Mongla Weather Observatory Centre, said the Bay depression has been weakened into a well-marked low and it is now lies over Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas of India. It is likely to mover North Westwards further.
Under its influence, the residents are likely to experience 2-4 feet tidal surge from the normal astronomical tide.
Mohamamd Belayet Hossain, Division forest Officer of Bagerhat East Zone, said 500 fishermen with their trawlers have taken shelter in the Sundarbans.
The rivers are flowing 50 cm above their normal flow, said Executive Engineer of Bagerhat Water Development Board Masum Billah.
Mongla Port witnesses first RMG export thanks to Padma Bridge
A foreign ship named Maersk Nesna left the Mongla Port in Bagerhat for Poland with Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) products for the first time after the launching of the Padma Bridge.
Maersk Nesna, a Panama-flagged ship, left the port around 11:30am on Thursday with 17 containers of 27 garment factories.
This is the first export shipment of readymade garments to any country from the Mongla Port.
Earlier, businesses used to export RMG products throughChattogram Port and air cargo. As communication distance from the capital Dhaka to Mongla Port has reduced after the opening of the Padma Bridge, traders now are choosing Mongla Port as an option for export.
Also read: Customs seizes two more large consignments of liquors from Chattogram port
According to Mongla Port Authority, the present distance from Mongla Port to Dhaka is 170 kilometres and Chattogram Port to Dhaka is 260 kilometres. Businesses are showing their interest to use Mongla Port for its short distance from Dhaka and easy and safe cargo handling.
Mongla Port will save time and money for the exporters, claimed the port authority.
In a statement on Thursday, the port authority said RMG products from 27 garment factories including Fakir Apparels, Windy Limited, KC Lingerie Limited, Artistic Design Limited, Knit Concern Limited, Knit Composite Limited, and Sharmin Apparels have been sent to Poland from No.8 jetty of the port.
The shipment included various RMG products including baby clothes, Jersey, Cardigan, T-shirt, and Trousers.
Calling it memorable day, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa hoped that export of RMG items through Mongla Port will increased in the future.
Also read: BGMEA seeks support of IMF to realize strategic vision of RMG industry
Bagerhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sheikh Liakat Hossain Liton said economic activities will increase through the Mongla Port thanks to the Padma Bridge.
Prime accused in Bagerhat gang rape case held
Police have arrested the prime accused in a case over the gang rape of a woman from Bagerhat district town.
The arrestee was Saiful Islam Tito, 26, son of Shamsul Hawladar of Boro Bashbaria village in Sadar upazila.
KM Azizul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bagerhat Model Police Station, on Tuesday said Tito was arrested from the district town on Monday night.
Read: Three held over gang rape of schoolgirl in Chattogram
However, police are trying to arrest the four other accused in the case.
Earlier, a 24-year-old divorced woman was reportedly raped by five men at Boro Bashbaria village in Sadar upazila.
The crime took place in the dead of night at a betel-nut orchard as the criminals took her there when the woman, a mother of a four-year-old child, came out from her home in response to the nature, said Additional Superintendent of police Mahmud Hasan.
She is now undergoing treatment at Bagerhat District Hospital.
The woman lodged a complaint with Bagerhat Model Police Station and police registered a case.
Child marriage: Bagerhat parents, kazi get 6-month imprisonment
Parents of two minors and a kazi – legally empowered to register Muslim marriages and divorces – were sentenced to six months imprisonment for their involvement in child marriages in Bagerhat.
Musabberul Islam, Bagerhat Sadar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and executive magistrate, conducted the mobile court Friday night at a kazi office in Nagerbazar.
Read: Three to die for raping girl in Feni
The mobile court handed down the punishment to Ataul Bari, a kazi, Kabir Sardar, father of a minor girl from the village Fatepur of Sadar upazila, and Sajib Howladar, father of a minor boy from the Gobardia area.
Two children drown in Bagerhat
Two minor children drowned in a pond near their home in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat on Friday, police said.
The children were identified as Md Jim, 5, son of Delwar Sheikh, and his cousin Brishti, 4, daughter of Lavlu Sheikh, of Telikhali village.
Read: 8 drown in 5 districts during Eid holidays
They fell into the pond near their house at around 11 am while playing, said Md Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mongla police station.
Later, local people found the children floating in water and rushed them to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared them dead, the OC added.
“A case has been filed,” he added.
Eid-ul-Azha: Sales at Bagerhat cattle markets gather pace
With a day remaining for Eid-ul-Azha, sales of sacrificial animals at Bagerhat cattle markets gained momentum on Friday.
Buyers, traders and middlemen from different parts of the country and neighboring districts are thronging different cattle markets of the district.
The Betaga cattle market at Fakirhat upazila has been crowded since Friday morning as thousands of cows of different sizes of domestic and foreign breeds have been brought to the market. Cattles will be sold at this market till late at night.
However, buyers alleged that the price of cattle is on average much higher than last year.
Visiting the playground of Foylahat Kamal Uddin Secondary School in Rampal upazila on Thursday afternoon, this UNB correspondent found cows were being unloaded from trucks and pickups at the makeshift market.
Khulna’s Niamul Islam, who brought two of the famous Holstein breed cows at Foylahat for sale, said he has set up a cattle farm at his home for the last three years. He fixed the price of the iconic Holstein Friesian cow, also popular locally as 'Australian Cow', weighing 14 maunds, at Tk 5.20 lakh. However, the buyers have offered Tk 4.50 lakh.
Meanwhile, Russell Gazi, a would-be buyer from Rampal upazila, said the price is very high this year. “We are struggling to buy a cow within my budget.”
Cattle traders and farmers said increased price of fodder p has made them fix their cattle’s price at a higher rate.
Read: DSCC Control Room to oversee waste disposal on Qurbani Eid
“Our labour will go in vain if we don’t get a reasonable price by selling the cattle,” they added.
Gazi Akhtaruzzaman, the lessee of Faylahat, said that six to seven thousand cows have been brought to the market for sale. There are also a few thousand goats. Farmers and traders from different districts including Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and Jashore have brought their cows to the market.
CCTV cameras have been installed in the market for the convenience of both buyers and sellers. Besides, the rent is being collected in accordance with the government rules, he added.
Bagerhat District Livestock Officer Lutfar Rahman said 50,000 cows and 70,000 goats are ready to be sold in the district this year ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Azizur Rahman said eighteen haats (makeshift cattle markets) were set up in Bagerhat. Also machines have been set up to detect counterfeit notes at the cattle market.
Padma Bridge to transform Bagerhat’s tourism industry
The much-awaited Padma Bridge finally opened to traffic on Sunday. With this, the tourism industry of the country’s southwest region is expected to undergo massive transformation.
Thousands will get jobs, a new economic corridor will be opened for the region’s people. New establishments will grow centering Khulna, Bagerhat and Kuakata and the number of tourists will increase. Income from the tourism sector will also shot up manifold, according to officials and tour operators.
The expected transformation will be brought about by the Padma Bridge.
Also read: Shariatpur fish traders see huge prospects as Padma Bridge opens
Padma Bridge to transform Bagerhat into a new economic hub
The much-cherished Padma Bridge will bring massive changes to the economy of Bagerhat, the southern district of historic sites, world heritage and white gold.
The overall economy of the district is based on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and the Mongla Port. After the inauguration of the dream bridge, a revolutionary change will happen in the economic scenario of Bagerhat, said the stakeholders.
Farmers of the district can now send their produced vegetables all over the country using the Padma Bridge. Exporting of shrimps and activities of the Mongla Port will also be boosted.
Also read: Padma Bridge: How the nation’s dream turns into reality
People from the district said Padma Bridge will contribute to the economy of Bagerhat besides playing a crucial role in the national economy and contribute more to the country’s GDP.