Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Wednesday, August 09, 2023) declared another 12 districts and 123 upazilas free of homeless and landless people as 22,101 more families were provided with abodes under Ashrayan-2 project. She made the announcement and opened the distribution of the semi-pucca houses to the homeless and landless families through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban. With the 12 districts and 123 upazilas, a total of 21 districts and 334 upazilas throughout the country have so far become homeless and landless family-free ones. The keys of 22,101 houses and the ownership documents of a two-decimal of house lands were handed over to the families in different districts of the country. Some 115,000 people are being rehabilitated in the houses. The premier was connected virtually with the beneficiaries and local people of three places while distributing the houses to the landless and homeless families on the sixth occasion since Mujib Year. Read: Go all out for the victory of AL-nominated candidates in upcoming national election: PM Hasina asks party members The three places are Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan Project site in Terokhada Upazila under Khulna, Chakla Ashrayan-2 project site in Bera Upazila under Pabna, and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project site in Begumganj Upazila under Noakhali district. The 12 districts that earned the distinction of becoming free of landless and homeless families are Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur and Jhalakathi. The 123 upazilas include Gosairhat in Shariatpur district; Kuliarchar, Nikli, Hossainpur, Bajitpur, Mithamoin and Karimganj in Kishoreganj; Ghatail, Nagarpur, Mirzapur, Kalihati and Basail in Tangail; Shibaloy, Harirampur and Sadar in Manikganj; Sreenagar and Tongibari in Munshiganj; Goalanda in Rajbari; Sonargaon, Rupganj, Araihazar and Sadar in Narayanganj; Boalmari, Charbhadrasan, Bhanga and Sadar in Faridpur; Iswarganj, Haluaghat, Dhobaura, Gafargaon, Muktagacha and Sadar in Mymensingh; Sreebardi and Sadar in Sherpur; Islampur and Sarishabari in Jamalpur; Pekua, Ukhia and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar; Hathazari and Anwara in Chattogram; Matlab Dakkhin and Kachua in Chandpur; Begumganj, Sonaimuri, Chatkhil, Senbug and Sadar in Noakhali; Nangalkot, Barura, Homna, Titas, Meghna, Meghna and Burichang in Cumilla; Daganbhuiyan in Feni, Palashbari in Gaibandha; Badarganj in Rangpur; Bochaganj, Birganj, Chirirbandar, Parbatipur, Fulbari, Birampur, Hakimpur, Ghoraghat and Sadar in Dinajpur. Read: Mass people are our only masters, no one else: PM Hasina tells AL special meet The other upazilas are Pirganj, Ranisankail and Sadar in Thakurgaon; Domar and Jaldhaka in Nilphamari; Atrai, Badalgachi, Manda, Niamatpur, Porsha, Sapahar and Sadar in Naogaon; Tarash, Shahjadpur and Kamarkhanda in Sirajganj; Gabtoli, Adamdighi and Sadar in Bogura; Singra, Naldanga and Sadar in Natore; Chatmohar, Bera, Faridpur, Bhangura and Sujanagar in Pabna; Jhenaidah Sadar; Kaliganj and Sadar in Satkhira; Jashore Sadar in Jashore; Khoksha in Kushtia; Dighalia in Khulna; Kalia in Narail; Pirojpur Sadar in Pirojpur; Jhalakathi Sadar; Kalapara and Galachipa in Patuakhali; Patharghata, Betagi, Taltali in Barguna; Beanibazar, Companiganj,Golapganj, Gowainghat and Zakiganj in Sylhet; Sreemangal, Moulvibazar Sadar, Kulaura, Barlekha and Juri in Moulvibazar; Shayestaganj, Bahubal, Lakhai, Habiganj Sadar and Madhabpur in Habiganj; and Shalla and Dharmapasha in Sunamganj. PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the function. Earlier, the premier declared nine districts – Panchagarh, Magura, Madaripur, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Joypurhat, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Chuadanga – as landless and homeless people-free districts on two occasions. Read: PMO for increasing leather export to $5 billion within four years The premier has so far given houses to a total of 8,29,607 families under Ashrayan projects and other programmes. Some 4,148,035 people have been rehabilitated in the houses. Of them, 2,778,085 people (of 555,617 families) have rehabilitated only under the Ashrayan project, run by the Prime Minister's Office (since 1997 to July 2023).

A mild heatwave is sweeping through 19 districts of the country, the weather department said Friday. The heatwave spell may continue in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Kurigram, Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Natore, Tangail, Sylhet and Chuadanga districts. Read: Mild heatwave sweeps 27 districts The highest temperature today was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius in Rangpur's Sayedpur, while the minimum temperature was 24.6 degrees in Rajshahi's Badalgachhi. Sylhet Thursday witnessed its hottest day in July in 66 years, at 38.9 degrees Celsius. After receiving the highest rainfall in June in 64 years that triggered massive floods across the district, Sylhet is now reeling under an intense heat wave. "Such a high temperature was last recorded in the district in July 1956. Wednesday, the temperature was recorded at 37.3 degrees. And it was recorded at 36.3 degrees Tuesday," Sayeed Ahmad Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist with the Sylhet met office, said. However, a reprieve from the sweltering summer heat is on the way in parts of the country. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted showers in the eight divisions in the next 24 hours. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Chattogram division; at a few places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, it said. Moderately heavy showers are likely to occur at isolated places over the country. "At the end of the next 72 hours, rainfall activity is likely to increase over the country," said Md Monwar Hossain, a meteorologist with the BMD.

A mild heatwave is sweeping through 27 districts of the country, the weather department said Thursday. The heatwave spell may continue in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Kurigram, Panchagarh, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Natore, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Dhaka, Tangail, Rangamati, Cumilla, Chandpur, Feni and Chuadanga. The highest temperature today was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, while the minimum temperature was 25 degrees in Hatiya. However, a reprieve from the sweltering summer heat is on the way in parts of the country. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted showers in the eight divisions in the next 24 hours. Read: Mild heatwave sweeps 12 districts Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Chattogram division; at a few places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi division with moderately heavy falls at isolated places over the country, it said. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged, the BMD added.

A mild heatwave is sweeping through the districts of Rajshahi, Bogura, Sylhet, Dhaka, Tangail, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, and parts of Pabna, Naogaon, Moulvibazar, and Sirajganj. The heatwave spell may continue, the weather department said Wednesday. Read: Mild heatwave sweeps 8 districts The highest temperature today was recorded at 38.2 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, while the minimum temperature was 25 degrees in Sitakunda and Rangamati. However, a reprieve from the sweltering summer heat is on the way in parts of the country. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted showers in the eight divisions in the next 24 hours. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh and Rajshahi divisions with moderately heavy falls at isolated places over the country, it said. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged, the BMD added.

Six children drowned in Jashore, Chapainawabganj and Dinajpur districts on Monday. In Jashore, three children drowned in a pond at Srirampur village in Bagharpara upazila around 12:30 pm when they were taking bath. The deceased were identified as Toma,8, daughter of Harun Molla, Sumaiya, 8, daughter of Kamrul Islam, and Hosain,5, son of Syed Molla from Srirampur village. Firoz Uddin, officer-in-Charge of Bagharpara police station, said locals rescued the bodies and took to upazila health complex where doctors announced them dead on arrival. Also read: DU student drowns in dormitory pond In Chapainawabganj, two children drowned in a pond in Tikrampur Madhyapara area of the municipality at noon. The deceased were identified as Didar Ahmed,5, son of Delwar Hossain of the area and Tisha,4, daughter of Mohammad Hossain. Didar and Tisha slipped into the pond near their house around 12pm while playing beside it, said Mozaffar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chapainawabganj Sadar police station. Locals found the floating bodies of the two children and took them to Chapainawabganj Sadar hospital where doctors declared the duo dead, the OC added. In Dinajpur, A minor child drowned in a pond in Nawabganj upazila of the district in the morning. The deceased was Taslima, 2, daughter of Tara Mandal of Haripur Mandbachan village of Golapganj union. According to the locals, Taslima was playing near a pond adjacent to her house around 10am and fell into the pond. Also read: Cop drowns in Satkhira pond Family members rescued her and took her to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared her dead, said Ferdous Wahid, officer-in-charge, of Nawabganj police station.

Four people suffering from fever, cough and breathing complications died in Netrakona, Khulna, Chandpur and Narail on Saturday night and Sunday.   In Netrakona, 45-year-old man died around 10pm at his residence in the municipality area in Mohanganj upazila of Netrakona district on Saturday night.     Dr Subir Sarkar, resident medical officer of Mohanganj Upazila Health Complex, said he appeared at the hospital with the health complications on Thursday.   Noticing symptoms like that of coronavirus, doctors collected samples from him and suggested him staying in isolation.   In Khulna, Khadiza, 65, a resident of Tutpara in the city who had been suffering with fever and cold died at Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) early Sunday.    Dr Shoilendra Biswas, a spokesperson of KMCH, said the woman got admitted to the hospital around 9 pm on Saturday and later she was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital following deterioration of her condition where she breathed her last around 4 am.

At least five people, including a child, suffering from cold, fever, cough and respiratory problems died in Faridpur, Khulna, Brahmanbaria, Laxmipur, and Bhola between Friday night and Saturday morning.     In Khulna, a six-month-old baby suffering from cold, fever, cough and pneumonia died at the Isolation Unit of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) in the morning.   KMCH Corona Unit Doctor Shailendranath Biswas said the baby died around 1am. His samples have been collected for coronavirus test.   The baby from the city’s Khalispur was hospitalised around 3pm and later transferred to the Isolation Unit, he added.   In Brahmanbaria, a woman suffering from fever, cold and breathing problem died at the district town in the morning.   The deceased was identified as Muna Begum, 35, wife of Bashir Ahmed.   She had been suffering from fever from March 31. After she was taken to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital, doctors referred her to Dhaka.   But Muna did not agree to go Dhaka and was undergoing treatment at home, said Bashir. She died around 7am, he said adding that doctors have collected her samples for testing.   In Laxmipur, a 55-year-old man suffering from fever died at Charfolkon Jajira of Kamalnagar upazila on Friday night.   Civil Surgeon Abdul Gaffar said four houses were put under lockdown after the man died around 11:30pm.   His sample has been sent to Chattogram for coronavirus test, he added.   In Faridpur, a day labourer suffering from fever died in Madhukhali upazila.   The deceased was identified as Abdus Salam Mondol, 48, a resident of Khajura of Jashore.   Aminur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Madhukhali Police Station, said Salam was coming to the hospital but the van driver left him on the way fearing coronavirus infection.   He was later taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital (FMCH) on Friday night but he was already dead, said Dr Md Jewel of the emergency ward.   They have collected samples of the deceased and sent to IEDCR for testing, the doctor added.     In Bhola, a man with fever and breathing problems died at Charumed in Lalmohan upazila on Friday night.   After the death of Abul Kalam, 50, two villages were locked down, said Dr Mohsin Khan, resident medical officer of Lalmohan Health Complex.   He said the wife of Kalam’s elder son, who is a garment worker, returned from Dhaka seven days ago.   Kalam had been suffering from fever, diarrhoea and breathing complications for the last five days, the RMO said, adding that he was taken to the upazila health complex on Friday noon as his condition deteriorated.   He was later referred to Sadar Hospital but he died before he could be taken there.   However, Kalam was buried without informing the administration and hospital authorities.   Kalam’s samples that were collected before his death at Lalmohan Health Complex will be sent to Barishal on Saturday for test, said the RMO.   Current coronavirus situation   Coronavirus, first reported in China in December last year, has infected more than 1.7 million around the world.   The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus crisis a pandemic on March 11.   Until Saturday, the virus has killed more than 100,000 people. Currently, 1,221,285 people are being treated with 49,835 in serious or critical condition.   Bangladesh on Saturday reported three more deaths from coronavirus and 58 new cases.   The country has so far confirmed 482 cases and 30 deaths.   Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Dhaka’s Mirpur, Basabo and Narayangaj have so far been the most infected regions of the country.

Seven people, including a man and his daughter, were killed and 21 others injured in road accidents in Manikganj, Rajshahi, Bogura, Satkhira and Dhaka districts on Tuesday.

At least 15 people were killed in road and train accidents in Gopalganj, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Kurigram and Sylhet districts and the capital on Monday night and Tuesday.

At least 8 people were killed in road accidents in Magura, Chandpur, Sirajganj and Gazipur districts on Wednesday.