district
2 crocodiles with satellite transmitter released in river in Sundarbans
Aiming to know the life cycle of crocodile, the Forest Department released two crocodiles with satellite transmitters in the Bhadra River of the Sundarbans on Wednesday night.
‘Juliet’ and ‘Madhu’— two 3-meter long female crocodiles which were collected from Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre in the Sundarbans and Jashore, were released in the river after placing satellite transmitter at night, said Muhammad Nurul Karim, Divisional Forest Officer of Sundarbans East Zone.
Climate change makes a decline in forest density in Sundarbans’ water bodies: Study
Both the crocodiles are 35-year-old.
In Asia, Bangladesh is the first country which has released two crocodiles in the river attaching satellite transmitter to learn about their movement, food habits, home range and abode, said Nurul Karim.
Everything about the two crocodiles will be known through the satellite and the information will be analysed through apps, he said.
Fishermen return to crab collection in Sundarbans after a 2-month ban
The experimental test will continue for one year, he added.
The crocodiles were released with the finance of German based GIZ and technical assistance of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Nurul Karim also said satellite transmitter will also be attached to the body of a male crocodile and released soon.
Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre, said so far a total of 207 crocodiles have been released from the centre and currently there are 111 crocodiles at the breeding centres.
Hijacked Bangladeshi cargo vessel likely to reach Somali’s coast by Thursday: BMMOA
Bangladeshi cargo vessel MV Abdullah which was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates will reach the Somali’s coast by Thursday afternoon.
The pirates may take the vessel to the Somalia coast around 2 pm (Bangladesh time), said Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officer’s Association(BMMOA) quoting International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
Now the vessel is around 20 nautical miles off the Somalian coast and it will reach the coast within two hours, he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Officer of MV Abdullah Captain Atique Ullah Khan through a whatsapp audio message said, “The pirates allowed them to take Sehri and all the 23 crew members are safe and sound,”
The cell phone sets of all crew members were seized on Tuesday, he said in the audio message.
The message reads—“All of the crew members were taken to the bridge of the vessel and no one was physically assaulted yet. As we all co-operated, the pirates behaved well to us.”
On Tuesday, pirates took control of the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, around noon.
MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group.
Govt determined to bring back crew held hostage by Somali pirates: State Minister Khalid
Amid worries and uncertainty over the fate of the crew, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the government has already communicated with relevant international bodies in an effort to rescue hijacked ship MV Abdullah and the sailors safely.
The Piracy Reporting Center in Kuala Lumpur, Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), New Delhi, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the Singapore office under the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia have already been informed regarding the matter, he said.
Held hostage by Somali pirates: Sailor Joy’s family demands urgent steps to free all crew members of MV Abdullah
Besides, the situation of the Bangladesh ship has also been reported to the ships of the UK, the USA, India and China operating in that area, he said.
The waters off Somalia saw a peak in piracy in 2011 when the U.N. said more than 160 attacks were recorded, reports AP.
The incidents declined drastically afterward, largely due to the presence of American and allied navies in international waters.
Please pray, says hijacked ship Abdullah's chief engineer to his family
"Our ship has been attacked. The ship is being hijacked and taken to the coast of Somalia. We are all being held in a room. We have not been beaten. By the grace of Allah, we are doing well, so far, please pray!"
These were the words of ASM Saiduzzaman, chief engineer of the hijacked MV Abdullah ship in the Indian Ocean, to his wife Mehreen Safrin Zaman by phone on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday morning, a recorded voice message came to Mehreen's phone again. In that message, a voice is heard saying, "Sir is fine. Sir is sleeping after eating Sehri. If you have any messages, send an SMS to this number."
Mehreen, worried about her husband, said, "The work of the ship is very risky. Sometimes when he goes deep into the sea, there is no contact with him for 15-20 days. I used to worry then. I would only get in touch with him when he came back within the network. But this time the matter is very worrying. They have fallen into the hands of pirates. I see in the news that if they don't get the ransom, they will kill them one by one.”
“I am spending my time in extreme anxiety in this situation. I can't go anywhere for help with my one-year-old daughter and ailing in-laws. Our appeal to the government and the shipping company authorities is to somehow rescue my husband from the pirates."
On Wednesday afternoon, the correspondent went to the house of Engineer Saiduzzaman in the RG Naogaon area of Naogaon city and spoke to his wife, father Abdul Qaiyum and mother Kahinur Begum.
Qaiyum, former principal of Sapahar Government College in Nawabganj and former president of Nawabganj District Press Club, said that he received a call from his son's number yesterday (Tuesday) at 3:30 pm.
“He called and said that their ship had been attacked by pirates. The ship is being taken to the coast of Somalia. After that, he sent a voice SMS from another number last night and this morning. He said in the voice SMS that he is doing well. The pirates did not beat him. They are all being held in a room. They are not being given much water to drink as there is a shortage of food and water on the ship."
Qaiyum expressed his anger and said, "The ship was attacked by pirates due to the negligence of the shipping company. They carry crores of taka worth of goods, but they do not employ any armed guards on that ship. If there were (armed) coast guards, the pirates would not have been able to attack so easily. This is not the first time that a ship of this company has been attacked by pirates."
Saiduzzaman has been working as a marine engineer for 20 years on ships of various domestic and foreign companies.
On Tuesday at 1:30 pm Bangladesh time, Somali pirates boarded and took control of the ship en route from Maputo port in Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates. The ship is carrying 58,000 tonnes of coal. All 23 sailors on board are Bangladeshis. The ship is owned by SR Shipping Limited, an associate company of Chattogram’s Kabir Group, popularly known as KSRM.
“He apologised to us all, then the line went dead,” Dil Afroza describes the last phone call of son Taufiqul
Anxious family of Towfiqul Islam, second engineer on the MV Abdullah who is among the Bangladeshi sailors taken hostage by pirates in the Indian Ocean, has demanded immediate government action to secure the release of all hostages.
“He apologised to us all. Then the line went dead, the pirates took his phone. I haven't spoken to him since,” Dil Afroza described the last frantic phone call of her son Taufiqul.
“I can't reach him, don't know how he is. All of them need to be rescued, as soon as possible,” she said in a trembling voice.
Taufiqul’s wife, Zubaida Noman said, he's been at sea since 2008, but never faced anything like this.
“He called on Tuesday evening and we got to know this. The government needs to act now, and bring everyone back. I just want him home safe,” she said.
Taufiqul, who hails Khulna, is the youngest of three brothers.
Taufiqul's young children, 7-year-old Tasfia Tahasina and 5-year-old Ahmed Mufasi have been inconsolable since hearing the news.
Earlier on Tuesday, the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, was attacked around noon.
MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates.
Held hostage by Somali pirates: Sailor Joy’s family demands urgent steps to free all crew members of MV Abdullah
The family of Joy Mahmud, Ordinary Seaman, who is among 23 crew members of a Bangladeshi cargo vessel, MV Abdullah – hijacked by a group of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday (March 12, 2024) – is counting every moment in anxiety.
Joy, hailing from Salinagar village in Bagatipara upazila of Natore district, informed of his fate to his cousin Maruf over the phone after the Somali pirates took them as hostages.
Maruf said Joy asked him not to inform his parents about the incident but they came to know about it through public representatives and media.
Ziaur Rahman and Abida Begum, Joy’s parents, have not slept since hearing about the captivity of their only son.
They want the government and the ship authorities to take immediate action to rescue everyone on board, including their son.
Prime accused, 4 cohorts arrested over terrorist Ramzan killing in Jashore
Joy joined the ship as Ordinary Seaman on November 29 last year.
Among the 23 crew members, 11 hailed from Chattogram alone, two are from Noakhali and one each from Natore, Naogaon, Feni, Faridpur, Lakshmipur, Barishal, Netrakona, Sirajganj, Tangail and Khulna.
Earlier on Tuesday, the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, was attacked around noon.
MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates, said KSRM’s media adviser Mizanul Islam.
Muslims in 40 Chandpur villages start Ramadan fasting in accord with Saudi Arabia
The crew members are: Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atikullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Tarequl Islam, Deck Cadet Sabbir Hossain, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Officer Toufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokon Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, electrician Ibrahim Khalil, seaman Md Anwarul Haque, seaman Md Asifur Rahman, seaman Sazzad Hossain, seaman Joy Mahmud, seaman Nazmul Haque, seaman Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed.
KSRM owns 23 ships – all operating on international routes. In 2010, one of the ships, ‘MV Zahan Moni’, was hijacked and was later released by Somali pirates after providing ransom.
Bangladeshi vessel hijacked by Somali pirates: 11 among 23 crew members from Ctg
Eleven out of the 23 crew members of a Bangladeshi cargo vessel, MV Abdullah, that was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, are residents of Chattogram.
Earlier on Tuesday, the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, was attacked around noon.
MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates, said KSRM’s media adviser Mizanul Islam.
Bangladesh cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in Indian Ocean
The crew members are: Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atikullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Tarequl Islam, Deck Cadet Sabbir Hossain, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Officer Toufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokon Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, electrician Ibrahim Khalil, seaman Md Anwarul Haque, seaman Md Asifur Rahman, seaman Sazzad Hossain, seaman Joy Mahmud, seaman Nazmul Haque, seaman Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed.
KSRM owns 23 ships – all operating on international routes.
In 2010, one of the ships, ‘MV Zahan Moni’, was hijacked and was later released by Somali pirates after providing ransom.
Read more: 11 crew swim ashore as water enters coal-laden cargo vessel in Pashur River
Ban traveling abroad and state honours for wilful defaulters: Bangladesh Bank
Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday said that those found to be wilful defaulters will be banned from traveling abroad.
“No new trade license can be taken and would not be eligible for any kind of state awards or honours,” said an instruction of the central bank.
Banking Regulations and Policy Department (BRPD) issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday and sent it to the top executive of all the banks for identification and finalization of willful defaulters and measures to be taken against them.
The circular stated that any defaulting borrower person, institution, or company repays the loan, advance, investment interest, or profit charged from any bank or financial institution in favor of himself, his family member, interested person, institution, or company despite his ability. Otherwise, he will be considered as a willful defaulter.
Besides, by providing fraud, deception, or false information or using it in any sector other than the purpose for which it was taken or showing the secured assets of another bank as collateral for new loans without permission, he will be considered as a willful defaulter.
Weak banks could merge with good ones by Dec, or central bank to decide their fate
The BB will list these willful defaulters to the relevant agencies for a ban on foreign travel, a ban on trade license issues, and a ban on company registration with the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).
Simultaneously, the list of vehicles, land, houses, flats, etc. of the willful defaulters will also be sent to the registration authorities. So that the concerned organization can take action against them.
Also, any willful defaulter shall not be eligible for state awards or honors.
BB introduces counter-trade arrangements for trading without foreign exchange
Burimari Express Train starts operation Tuesday
‘Burimari Express’ train of Dhaka Lalmonirhat route started its operation from Burimari Rail Station in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district on Tuesday.
Following the starting of the ‘Burimari Express’ train, the people of Lalmonirhat can connect with Dhaka at low cost.
Motahar Hossain MP of Lalmonirhat-1 constituency inaugurated the operation officially at noon.
‘Burimari Express’ to be inaugurated by PM on Dec 1
Advocate Matier Rahman of Lalmonirhat-3 constituency, former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed MMP of Lalmonirhat-2 constituency were present as special guests.
With the operation of the train, people can travel to India, Bhutan and Nepal.
It will also help to boost economic development alongside financial social development.
Man dies trying to get on moving train in Dinajpur
The train will make a stopover at 11 station while heading towards Dhaka and will make stopover in 12 stations while returning to Lalmonirhat.
Drinking water crisis grips Ctg city residents on 1st day of Ramadan
The residents in Chattogram port city are facing acute water crisis on the first day of Ramadan on Tuesday due to fall in water production by the Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Cwasa ).
Talking to UNB, some residents of Chawkbazar, Kathalgonj, Bakoli, Halishahar, Patenga, Kattoli, Agrabad, Dewan Bazar and Muradpur area, said they have been facing water crisis for the last few days and situation turned worse as they did not get a drop of water during Sehri last night.
They failed to buy bottled water from shops as those remained closed.
Marjina Akter, a resident of Bahaddarhat, uploaded a post on her Facebook writing “There has been no water in the house since last night. I bought bottled water for Sehri, but I don't know how to take a bath. Every year we hear that Wasa has new projects, but when the dry season comes, nothing is seen. The issue water crisis during Ramadan should have been taken into consideration in advance. But WASA is taking water bills every month.”
According to Wasa, the quantity of water treatment has come down due to the rise of saline water in the water sources. This has led to the water crisis across the city.
Since the month of February, Wasa has been getting salt ranging from 40 to 2100 mm per liter of water. The crisis has been created mainly due to the receding of water in Kaptai Lake and the construction of a number of dams on the canals of Halda, Wasa.
Maksud Alam, Chief Engineer of Chattogram Wasa, said, “We have taken a decision to supply water through rationing. Initiatives are being taken to reopen 45 deep tubewells to increase water production.”
Besides, water production and supply are being disrupted due to load shedding, he said.
He said the maximum water level in Kaptai Lake is 109 feet under normal condition but now the water level has come down to 83 feet.
Only one of the five units of Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant has been kept operational due to the fall in the water level in the lake, he said.
CWasa collects water from the Halda River for Sheikh Russel and Mohra Water Treatment Plant at Madunaghat and from the Karnaphuli River for Karnaphuli Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plant 1 and 2 located at Rangunia.
But now the water level in the two rivers has decreased, he said.
Prof Dr Jahangir Alam, Chairman of Wasa Governing Board, said salinity level will increase further in future.
A 'reverse osmosis system' can be installed in the river where water is collected for the treatment plant to remove salinity. Then there will be no salt in the water supplied to customers, he said.
Chattogram Wasa is currently producing 45 crore liters of water daily---14 crore litres of water from Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plant-1 while 9 crore liters from Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plant-2, 9 crore liters from Mohra Water Treatment Plant, 9 crore liters from Sheikh Russel Water Treatment Plant and 4 crore liters from deep tube-well.
At present, CWasa has 78,542 residential connections and 7,767 commercial connections.
Missing man found dead in septic tank in Gaibandha; 3 arrested
A 38-year-old man, who remained missing since Saturday, was found dead in a septic tank at Raghunathpur in Sadar upazila of Gaibandha district on Monday night.
The deceased was identified as Shariful Islam Pavel, son of Abdus Samad Akondo, president of Ballamjhar union unit Awami League.
Pavel left home on Saturday and did not return home.
A general diary was lodged in this connection, said Masud Rana, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
On Monday, odor was coming out from the septic tank of the house of Sirajul Islam and later police recovered the body of Pavel from the septic tank.
Police arrested three people including two women from the house.
Zulfiker Rahman, chairman of Ballamjhar Union, said Shila, daughter of Shahin and Raihan, son of Haque Mia eloped and married through registration six months ago.
During settlement, the family members of the couple sign a deal with Pavel after exchanging money. Since then, Pavel had an enmity with them over the issue.