Sylhet
Power cuts plague Sylhet: Frustration growing among residents and businesses
In Sylhet city, frequent power outages are affecting the daily lives of its residents and the local economy. The city has experienced severe load shedding in recent days, impacting traders and disrupting the water supply managed by the city corporation.
Experts attribute the problem to a significant shortfall in power supply. The Sylhet region faces a gap, with demand ranging from 140-160 MW against a supply deficit of 40-60 MW.
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The Sylhet Power Development Board's records reveal stark disparities: on April 2, demand hit 141 MW against a mere supply of 56 MW; April 3 saw demand at 120-130 MW with only 66 MW supplied; and on April 4, the supply was just 69 MW against a demand of 135 MW.
As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, traders, in anticipation of the festive rush, have decorated their establishments, only to rely on generators amidst the frequent outages. The disruptions have also inconvenienced residents during crucial times like Sehri and Iftar.
Zakir Ahmed, a local trader from Golapganj, voiced the community's distress, stating, “General people and businesses are the worst sufferers, and we fear the power cut problems will only worsen with the summer heat.”
Echoing the sentiment, Airin Sultana Nipa, a housewife from Lala Dighirpar, shared her struggles, “The power goes out before dawn, causing water shortages at critical moments like Iftar and Sehri. It's disheartening to face such challenges.”
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Jarjisur Rahman Rony, an assistant engineer at the Sylhet Power Development Board, shed light on the dilemma, “We're distributing what little electricity we have. The issue isn't with the infrastructure but stems from broader economic challenges affecting power generation, such as the dollar and coal crisis, forcing us into load shedding.”
More gas likely to be found in Sylhet’s Kailashtila field: Nasrul
Bangladesh's State Minister for Power, Energy, and Minerals Resources Nasrul Hamid hoped that 1.6 TCF (trillion cubic feet) more gas will be found at the Kailashtila gas field in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet.
It will be confirmed once the drilling is completed within the next four months, he said.
The state minister made the remarks after visiting the Kailashtila well No 8 on Saturday (February 17, 2024).
Nasrul said the Kailashtila field previously had 3 TCF reserves and more gas reserve will be found once the current search wells are drilled.
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“We are waiting for you to take initiative. The ministry does not undertake any project. We want everyone to show their capability. Sylhet gas field has moved forward, taking on more projects. We want others to come forward as well, ” he told officials.
Mizanur Rahman, managing director of Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, said seven wells were drilled in Kailashtila earlier, and gas was found in every well.
“It is expected to find more than 1 TCF of gas after digging at 3500 meters of the well,” he said.
The drilling of the Kailashtila-8 well started on January 11 this year. The work is expected to be completed in 120 days. State-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) is digging the well.
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Besides, there is an existing transmission only one and a half kilometers away and a usable process plant at a distance of two and a half kilometers. Although gas is surplus in many areas, including Bhola, and Zakiganj, it cannot be used as there is no transmission.
Six cops injured in road accident during vehicle check in Sylhet
During a routine vehicle inspection on the Sylhet-Sunamganj road at Temukhi, Sylhet district, six policemen sustained injuries when a bus hit them early Thursday (February 15, 2024) morning. The incident occurred as the officers were operating a check-post established to enhance road safety measures.
The injured officers include Azbahar Ali Sheikh, Additional DIG and Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police; Kawsar Dastagir, Additional Deputy Commissioner; Zahurul Islam, Assistant Commissioner of Airport Police Station; SM Nunu Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Airport Police Station; Rezul Karim, Assistant Sub-Inspector; and driver Nayek Habibur Rahman.
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According to Zakir Hossain, Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, the accident happened around 6 am when a 'Real Coach' bus from Sunamganj, while undergoing checks, struck the policemen, causing various degrees of injuries.
The victims received immediate medical attention at a local hospital, with Azbahar Ali Sheikh being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further treatment.
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Following the incident, police detained the bus supervisor and impounded the vehicle. However, the bus driver managed to escape from the scene. Authorities are currently investigating the accident and have initiated efforts to apprehend the fleeing driver.
Stone import through land ports in Sylhet resumes after 23 days
The import of stone through the land ports in Sylhet divisions which remained suspended since January 7 protesting hike in customs duty resumed on Wednesday.
Md Atik Hossain, president of Sylhet District Stone Importer Group, said the importers halted import of stone from India on January 7 protesting the hike in duty on import of limestone and stone.
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A meeting was held with the leaders of the importers’ association led by Enamul Haque, commissioner of Customs Excise and VAT Sylhet Commissionerate, on Tuesday where the importers decided to resume import of stone from Wednesday after a fruitful discussion to reduce duty, he said.
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However, the import of stone through Sutarkandi land port in Beanibazar upazila will resume from Thursday.
The Sylhet Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, following directives from the NBR, issued a letter on January 4, confirming the hike in customs duty on import of boulders, stone chips, and limestone from India. The new tariffs have been in effect since January 8 affecting all land ports and customs stations in the Sylhet region, including Tamabil.
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Foreign Minister Momen wins Sylhet-1 constituency
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has been elected MP from Sylhet-1 constituency for the second consecutive term in the 12th parliamentary election held on January 07.
He was elected by a margin of more than 1,00,000 votes.
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AK Abdul Momen got 1, 15, 546 votes with boat symbol where his nearest rival Faizul Haque got 2,193 votes.
Abdul Momen has described the just-held national election as "very transparent, free and fair without any intervention" and thanked the Election Commission for taking tight measures.
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"There was no fake vote, no violence. This is a very free, fair, transparent and credible election," he told reporters on Sunday evening.
Despite threats from the BNP, Momen said that people came out from homes and cast their votes.
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"It is people's success. We don't take credit out of this," he said.
Momen also thanked the law enforcement agencies for their "independent, free and standard" procedures.
Groups shouting ‘anti-election slogans’ blast cocktails in front of 2 Sylhet polling stations
Groups shouting anti-election slogans exploded crude bombs to create panic among voters in front of two polling stations in Pathantula area of Sylhet-1 constituency as the 12th National Parliamentary Election is underway.
Moreover, they set fire to tyres to halt vehicular movement of law enforcers and others on Sylhet-Sunamganj regional road around 11 am.
Police and locals said more than 100 people wearing masks and helmets tried to enter Pathantula Dipakkhik High School and Pathantula Government Primary School with sticks around 11 am.
They were shouting slogans “Illegal vote of illegal government, won’t accept it” at the time.
Being informed, police rushed to the spot and used sound grenades to bring the situation under control, forcing the groups to flee.
Md Azbahar Ali Sheikh, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), said a group was trying to enter voting centres to foil the balloting.
Later, they fled the scene after being chased by police, he added.
3 vehicles set on fire in Chattogram, Chandpur, Sylhet
A pick-up van, a truck and a bus were set on fire in Chattogram, Sylhet and Chandpur districts early Saturday ahead 48-hour hartal enforced by BNP and some other opposition parties to press their demand for boycotting the 7 January election.
In Chattogram, miscreants set fire to a pick-up van at on Dhaka-Chittgagong highway at Dhalipara in Sitakunda upazila early Saturday.
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Abdul Hakim, officer-in-charge of Kumira Highway Police, said 8-10 miscreants forced the pick-up van driver to halt it around 5:30 am. Later they set in on fire by hurling crude bomb and fled the scene.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire.
In Chandpur, A bus helper suffered burn injuries as a fire broke out at a stationary bus on Chandpur-Cumilla highway at Chandpur Bus Station around 5:30 am.
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Sheikh Mahsin Alam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Model Police Station, said a fire broke out in ‘Ananda Paribahan’ bus.
On information, police rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire.
Khokon Mia, 60, a helper of the bus, who was asleep inside the bus, sustained burn injuries.
He was taken to the Sadar hospital.
Police suspected that the fire might have originated from mosquito coil.
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In Sylhet, arsonists set a truck on fire on Sylhet-Dhaka highway at Lalabazar in Dakkhin Surma upazila early Saturday.Miscreants set the truck on fire beside Lalabazar Armed Police Battalion office around 1:45 am, said Md Jabed, duty officer of Dakkhin Surma Police Station.
Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 says election rally attacked by AL candidate's campaigners
Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 constituency Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury’s election rally came under attack, allegedly from campaigners of the AL-nominated candidate, on Tuesday.
Dr. Ehteshamul alleged that the attackers were activists of Awami League candidate and the incumbent MP, Habibur Rahman Habib.
During the election rally in the Nayabazar area of Fenchuganj upazila, some people vandalized the rally venue.
Saleh Ahmed, member secretary of Ehteshamul's Fenchuganj upazila election steering committee, alleged that Ghilachora Union Parishad Chairman Saiful Islam Mona and his associates attacked their rally in the evening.
Dr Ehteshamul said, “General voters, including my campaigners, have become scared after the attack. Jealous of my popularity, my rival candidate's activists have started violent attacks. They are openly threatening my supporters.”
After the incident, he filed a complaint with the returning officer, the deputy commissioner of Sylhet, and assistant returning officer (Fenchuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer).
Habibur Rahman Habib, the AL candidate for the constituency, said, “These are false allegations. I heard about it. None of my supporters can do that. Besides, I have told my campaigners that no one should behave unfairly during the election campaign. They made these allegations to grab attention.”
Despite HC order Sylhet-2 independent candidate yet to get symbol
Despite a High Court (HC) order to allocate an electoral symbol to an independent candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency on Sunday, no symbol is yet to be provided to him ahead of the upcoming parliamentary national elections scheduled for January 7.
Muhibur Rahman, who is also Biswanath municipality mayor, staged a sit-in programme at the district returning officer's office demanding allocation of symbol on Thursday. His supporters accompanied him during the protest.
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At this moment, staff of the returning officer’s office and the demonstrating people got locked into an altercation there.
Later, they left the office upon intervention of the police.
Earlier, the independent candidate alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has been doing this to keep him away from the election to facilitate the Awami League-nominated candidate Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury.
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He said they would continue the legal battle until he gets back the symbol as he is yet to conduct a campaign without it.
However, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and also Returning Officer Sheikh Russell expressed reluctance to make any comment on this issue.
Without stepping down from the mayoral post, the candidate submitted his nomination paper to the returning officer.
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But, his nomination was declared invalid by the returning officer during a scrutiny. The EC also cancelled it during an appeal hearing later.
Finally, the candidate moved to the HC while the court ordered the authorities concerned to allow him to join the election race with a symbol.
BNP-Jamaat acting on directives from London: PM says in Sylhet
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Awami League, today vehemently criticized BNP-Jamaat for inciting a wave of terrorist and militant activities against citizens of the country. This campaign, she asserts, aims to disrupt the upcoming national election scheduled for January 7, 2024.
She accused the BNP-Jamaat of acting on directives from London, asserting that the people of Bangladesh would not tolerate such crimes.
Asserting the constitutional right of citizens to vote, Sheikh Hasina declared that no one should obstruct or harm others for exercising their voting rights. Her comments came during interaction with reporters following her visit to Hazrat Shahjalal’s shrine in Sylhet.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Bangladesh rejects all forms of militant and terrorist acts. She expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh would eventually reject those responsible for such actions.
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Addressing the recent arson attacks on trains, she issued a stern warning to the perpetrators, emphasizing that such criminal acts would be met with decisive action. Sheikh Hasina criticized the BNP-Jamaat clique’s attempts to derail the election and prevent voter participation but noted the public's overwhelming support for the electoral process.
“People are not responding to BNP’s strikes. What will they gain through such destructive activities? Rather, people will hate them ultimately,” she said.
Highlighting her party’s past successes, she recounted the Awami League’s election victories in 2009, 2014, and 2018, attributing them to the party’s commitment to meeting the people’s basic needs.
“Rest of the needs will be fulfilled Inshallah, if in the January 7 election people of Bangladesh cast their votes for the ‘boat’ symbol, and if we can from the government again. We will ensure a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. And no one will be without an address, home, and land,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina also touched on her government’s goal of bringing happiness to the impoverished, in line with the vision of the Father of the Nation, and mentioned the country’s recent elevation to developing nation status.
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Regarding BNP’s decision to abstain from the election, she questioned the necessity of resorting to violent tactics like arson attacks, which she labeled as “terrorist and militant activities.” She condemned the BNP-Jamaat alliance’s history of violence, including recent attacks on civilians, police, and journalists.
Emphasizing the democratic process within the Awami League, she stated that the party allows all members to participate in elections, leaving the choice of MPs to the electorate.
She emotionally condemned the tragic deaths of a mother and child in yesterday’s arson attack on a train in Dhaka, questioning the morality of such violence. “There is nothing more painful... How can a human being do this to another?”
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She reiterated her stance against fear tactics used to disrupt elections, referring to similar unsuccessful attempts in 2013 and 2014.