It’s called a canal. But during the monsoon Gowali canal swells like a rivulet with a strong current. For the villagers the only way to cross it is offered by a Shako, a makeshift bridge made of bamboo poles. “Children and old people fear for their lives while crossing the canal by the Sakho,” said 65-year-old Bashar Ali of Ramdhana Shekhargaon Paschimpara area under Alangkari Union of Sylhet’s Bishwanath upazila. A good number of locals cross the canal by this single Sakho every day to go to work and conduct usual business, he said. Read: Mymensingh to get a modern bridge over Brahmaputra There are still some people who would cross the canal on rafts rather than risk their life by using the Sakho, according to locals. Cattle are made to swim through the canal. The people of this area have been suffering for over 30 years for the absence of a bridge over Gowali canal. Locals gathered to voice their frustration when this correspondent visited the area recenty. Read The terrible road preventing an area's residents from getting married They escorted the reporter to the canal over which the 45-feet long and 5-feet wide Sakho has been built recently. It stands between Shekhargaon Pashim Para and Alankari Primary School road. Thick mud was spotted on both ends of the Sakho which makes movement even more difficult. Though a majority of the local people blamed the administration and people’s representatives of the area for not building a proper bridge, some pointed to local rivalry as the cause. Read: Padma Bridge: Installation of all roadway slabs completed Local Union Parishad chairman Nazmul Islam Ruhel claimed that government allotted funds twice to build a bridge. But the funds returned unused due to objection by some villagers who feared it may take over their land. Others, however, disagreed with the chairman. They said politicians make promises to build the bridge only when election comes. Post-election they forget their promises. Ruling parties have changed, MPs came and went by but the bamboo bridge remained the same, they said. Read Wooden bridge over River Chawai, the only resort for 10,000 people, breaks down The villagers have to often repair Sakho with their own money to avoid accidents. Besides, the bamboos need to be changed twice a year for which locals pay money and work voluntarily.   Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sumon Chandra Das said the administration is aware of the people’s sufferings for lack of the bridge. Necessary steps would be taken, he said. Read  Solar posts will soon light up hilly roads in Moulvibazar, says minister

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two groups of people over a cricket match in Bishwanath Upazila of Sylhet. The clash took place between residents of villagers on Tuesday (March 23rd) afternoon. According to eyewitnesses, the semi-final match of the Union Cricket League, organized by the Khazanchi Union Cricket Association, was played on Tuesday afternoon between the teams of Gomragul in Ward 5 and Tabalpur in Ward 8.   After the break, local UP chairman Talukder Gias Uddin and some other guests left the venue.  Whether this acted as the trigger is unclear, but within minutes an on-field clash ensued between two opposing players. People of both the villages in the spectator gallery entered the field and got involved in the argument.  Also read: 1 dead, at least 5 shot in Noakhali as Quader Mirza’s supporters, rival AL activists clash Meanwhile as the clash continued, several furnitures in the stage and of the adjacent Agriculture Bank were looted and vandalised. Upon receiving the news, police rushed to the spot and tried to remove the people from both the villages to bring the situation under control. The people of Tabalpur village got angry and started throwing brickbats at the police.  At that time, the people of Tabalpur village were chased by the police.  However, no casualties were reported.  Currently the situation is calm and police are on the scene. Also read: Over 50 injured in Faridpur AL factional clash According to sources, there has been tension between the two sides for about a month over the semifinal match between Gomragul and Tabalpur villages.  At one stage, the matter was settled in the presence of dignitaries of the area and the organizing committee of the game organized the  match. Many in the area commented that since the game was being played between the players of the two villages from the east, it would have been possible to avoid this unfortunate incident if the game had been organized by informing the police before the game. Also read: 2 AL factions clash in Rajshahi over mayoral polls; 1 hurt, shops vandalized In this regard, Khazanchi Union Parishad Chairman Talukder Gias Uddin said, "Today's game was held on the basis of everyone's opinion after the previous dispute between the two villages over the game was settled in the presence of dignitaries of the area.  I came to the Union Parishad Complex to have tea with the guests in the middle of the game and when I returned to the field after saying goodbye to the guests, I saw not cricket but rather huge clash between the two sides. Bishwanath Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shamim Musa said the situation came under control when police personnel were sent to the spot immediately after receiving the news. Currently the situation is calm.  However, police members are still stationed in the area.

A suspected robber and an alleged terrorist were killed in separate gunfights in Bishwanath and Golapganj upazilas early Saturday.

Police arrested a Kabiraj (a quack) on charge of raping a teenage girl for 18 months in the pretext of treating her in Bishwanath upazila.