Rangpur Riders solidified their dominance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with an 8-run win over Khulna Tigers in Sylhet on Monday, maintaining their flawless record in the tournament. A disciplined bowling effort by Rangpur and a surprising late collapse by Khulna secured the Riders’ seventh consecutive win in a match that reached a climax in the last overs. Rangpur batted first and posted 186 for 5, powered by Khushdil Shah’s unbeaten 73 off just 35 balls, featuring seven sixes. His 115-run stand with Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored 43 off 36, rescued the Riders after a slow start. Khulna bowlers Abu Hider and Hasan Mahmud took two wickets each but struggled to contain Rangpur’s middle-order fireworks. BPL: Clark shines as Chittagong Kings beat Sylhet Strikers by 30 runs In their chase, Khulna appeared on course for victory at 164 for 4, needing only 22 runs off the final 18 balls with six wickets in hand. However, Rangpur’s bowlers, led by Akif Javed, who took 3 for 29 runs, and Saifuddin, who bagged 2 for 28 runs, turned the tide with a great comeback. A series of quick wickets, including two run-outs, saw Khulna collapse, losing six batters for just 12 runs and finishing at 178 for 9. Shakib, Litton left out as Bangladesh announce Champions Trophy squad Khulna’s Mohammad Naim scored 58 off 41 balls, while skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with a 39 off 24. Despite their efforts, Khulna fell short, extending their losing streak to three matches after winning their opening two.

A project titled "Pashur Channel Maintenance Dredging" has begun at Mongla port to maintain navigability of  the channel. Approved during an ECNEC meeting last week, this project is estimated to cost Tk 1,538.19 crore. The project taken by the Mongla Port Authority follows the completion of dredging at the Outer Bar of the Pashur Channel, with ongoing work at the Inner Bar. Khulna farmers reap rewards from mustard cultivation, honey production Upon completion, ships with drafts of 9.5 to 10 meters will be able to dock directly at Mongla Port’s jetties. The initiative aims to sustain the port's channel depth and ensure its smooth operation, officials said. Overcoming Past Challenges Mongla Port faced severe navigability issues between 2002 and 2007 due to a lack of dredging in the Outer and Inner Bar channels. The port became nearly inoperative due to the constraints, with a sharp decline in ship arrivals. After completing a Tk 712 crore Outer Bar dredging project in 2020, the port now accommodates ships with 9-meter drafts. Naogaon farmers make a fortune on mustard and honey Later the port authority started dredging the Inner Bar, spanning 23 kilometers from Joymonirgol to the port jetties. Despite initial projections to complete the Tk 793.72 crore project by June 2022, delays increased costs to Tk 992 crore. New Maintenance Dredging Project The newly approved maintenance dredging project for Pashur Channel will be implemented from January 2025 to December 2029. Of the total project cost, Tk 1,384.37 crore will come from the government, with the remaining Tk 153.82 crore funded by Mongla Port Authority. Besides, the "Procurement of Supporting Vessels for Mongla Port (1st Revised)" project will now cost Tk 936.56 crore, up from Tk 767.25 crore, and is set to be completed by June 2025. Boosting Port Capacity Rear Admiral Shahin Rahman, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority, said there is no alternative of regular dredging to sustain the country’s second-largest seaport. HMPV in India: Lack of precautionary measures at Hili land port "The port has proven its growing significance by facilitating key national projects like Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Rampal Power Plant, and Metro Rail," he said. With ongoing and planned projects, Mongla Port aims to overcome navigability challenges, enhance its operational efficiency, and further contribute to the economic growth of Bangladesh’s southwestern region. "We are implementing a comprehensive master plan to transform Mongla Port into a modern and dynamic facility capable of handling future demands," he said.

A Khulna court on Monday sent eight members of Khulna Bar Association to jail in a case filed during the July uprising. Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sharif Hossain Haidar passed the order after rejecting their bail petitions. Appellate Division upholds HC's dismissal of 5 labour cases against Dr Yunus Those sent to jail are Al-Amin Ukil, former member of Khulna Metropolitan unit Jubo League, Tamal Kanti Ghosh, a Swechasebak League leader, Abdul Kuddus, Sohel Pervez, Sumonto Kumar Biswas, former Chhatra League leader Sheikh Shamim Ahmed and Saidur Rahman Tutul and Mehedi Hasan. Two arrested in connection with attack on Elephant Road businessman Emam Hossain, member of the Khulna Bar Association, filed a case against 28 people including former president of Khulna Bar Association and also the president of Sadar upazila unit AL Saiful Islam in connection with their alleged involvement in attacking students during the student-led movement in Khulna, said Advocate Nurul Hasan, a counsel of the plaintiff. Among the accused, 23 people secured bail for six weeks from the High Court. 3 muggers arrested from Dhaka’s Pallabi: DMP AL leader Saiful, General Secretary of Sadar upazila unit Awami League Tarik Mahmud, District unit AL general secretary Sujit Kumar Odhikari, Anisur Rahman Paplu and Advocate Jesmin Parvin Joly went into hiding.

Khulna Awami League leader and former councillor of Khulna City Corporation Ward-4 Golam Rabbani Tipu was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday. The incident happened around 8:30 pm in front of the Seagull hotel. Cox’s Bazar Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Md. Ilyas Khan, said, “We have launched an investigation and are working to identify the culprits.” A second Bangladeshi youth shot dead by 'Indian Khasias' along Sylhet border Witnesses said, hearing a gunshot, followed by the sight of Tipu collapsing to the ground, locals rushed him to the Cox’s Bazar District Hospital, where doctors confirmed his death upon arrival. Tipu sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head, said Dr. SM Shoaib of the hospital. Chhatra Dal activist shot dead in Narsingdi No additional individuals were with Tipu at the time of the attack, and police are continuing their search for the murderers.

Khulna district has witnessed a surge of 24, 860 voters compared to the past year, totaling 2,058,293 voters, according to a draft voter list published by the Election Commission (EC). The EC made it public on January 2 this year, showing 1,033,447 male and 1,024,827 female voters respectively. Moreover, the list includes 19 transgender voters in the district, consisting of nine upazilas and seven police stations. The draft voter list shows the highest 3, 081 voters increased in Dumuria upazila, totaling 2, 76, 395 voters. In Sadar police station, the number of voters went up by 2,253 to reach 186,326. In Koyra upazila, there has been a slight increase in male voters compared to female voters, with a total of 2,192 new voters, standing at 182,973 in total. Sonadanga police station sees an increase of 1, 714 voters, totaling 139,140 voters; Khalishpur police station, where voter numbers have grown by 1,563, reaching 129,885; and Phultala, where an increase of 1,575 voters brings the total to 122,117. Read: Some 1.8 million new voters added to draft voter list: EC Voter numbers in Paikgacha, Batiaghata, Dakop, Rupsa, Terokhada, and Dighalia have also seen steady increases, with some areas such as Paikgacha registering a rise of 2,191 voters, bringing the total voter count to 234,062. In Daulatpur, 1,193 new voters have been added, raising the total voters to 87,527. Sources at the district election office said that after the central publication of the draft list, the field offices of the EC made the updated lists. Following this, people can file claims, objections, or requests for corrections at the concerned upazilas by January 17 and their applications will be resolved by January 30. The final voter list will be published on March 2. According to district election officials, the process for finalising the voter list will continue until March 2. The Commission is also considering collecting citizen data for voter list updates through door-to-door visits starting January 20, although a final decision on this plan is yet to be made. The last year’s previous voter list had a total of 2,033,433 voters in Khulna, including 1,019,364 male, 1,014,052 female voters, and 17 third-gender ones. Read more: Final voter list to be published on Mar 2: EC Khulna District Election Officer Farazi Benjire Ahmed told UNB that the draft voter list has already been published and the process of collecting citizen data for voter list updates will begin on January 20.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has sought a list of magistrates who were in charge in Khulna during the mass protests by students and the public in July-August. Following the imposition of curfew on July 20, magistrates worked alongside Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the army. The tribunal has urged authorities to submit detailed reports on the actions and directives issued by these magistrates. Last week, the tribunal sent an official letter to the Khulna deputy commissioner seeking the list. According to sources at  the DC office a report will soon be sent to the tribunal after reviewing the request. Top listed criminal Azim among five arrested from Dhaka: KMP Khulna District Magistrate Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed receiving an official letter from the International Crimes Tribunal. He said that the matter is currently under process to reach a final decision. The anti-quota protests began on June 5 and later escalated into a mass uprising. Initially, the deputy commissioner did not give much attention to the movement. However, after a High Court ruling, students took to the streets, and police intervention began. The tribunal's letter specifically highlighted events following the curfew imposed on July 19, including police activities, alleged abuse, threats from political groups like Jubo League and the now-banned Chhatra League, and clashes between protesters and law enforcement. It has called for detailed accounts of the deputy commissioner’s role during this period. During the protests, Khondkar Yasir Arefin served as the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Khulna. On the first day of the curfew, he issued seven directives, including safeguarding public lives and property, protecting government assets, and maintaining peace and order by deploying magistrates in nine sub-districts. ACC starts investigation against its former commissioner Jahurul Haque According to district records, the magistrates in charge in Khulna metropolitan and surrounding areas from July 19 to August 5 included Navid Sarwar, Rubayet Ahmed, Md. Muntasir Hasan Khan, Md. Anwar Sadat, Jubayer Jahangir (Dacope), Iftekharul Islam Shamim (Paikgachha), Asadur Rahman (Batiaghata), Papia Sultana (Phultala), Arafat Hossain (Dumuria), Sumaiya Sultana Annie (Terokhada), BM Tariq Uz Zaman (Koyra), Khan Masum Billah (Digholia), and Kohinur Zaman (Rupsha). Many of these magistrates have since been transferred to other locations. Sources added that two days before the curfew, the then district magistrate informed the relevant ministry that there was no significant damage in Khulna. He also requested increased police deployment in key areas such as Shibbari, Sat Rasta, Zero Point, Gallamari, Khulna University premises, and major roads. On August 4, the district magistrate requested the Khulna sector commander of BGB to deploy forces to maintain public safety and order. On the same day, an appeal was made to the principal staff officer for deploying the armed forces in the area.

The innovative ‘Relay Farming Method’ has breathed new life into 40 hectares of previously abandoned land in Dighalia upazila of Khulna, offering fresh opportunities for local farmers. This year, 30 bighas of land in Brakkagati Block have been cultivated with mustard under the relay farming technique. Previously, these lands lay idle. Relay farming involves sowing a new crop just before harvesting the current one, enabling farmers to grow two or more crops annually. The method, which requires minimal investment and time, is gaining popularity in the region due to its high profitability, according to local authorities. Using this approach, mustard can be planted without ploughing the land. Farmers can earn an estimated profit of Tk 70,000 to Tk 80,000 per hectare, with the crop ready for harvest in 70 to 75 days, as per the Upazila Agriculture Office. Prices of winter vegetables drop in Khulna, essentials continue to rise The window between the Aman and Boro paddy seasons offers farmers an ideal opportunity to cultivate mustard and other crops, turning previously fallow lands into sources of economic benefit. Dighalia Upazila Agriculture Officer Kishore Ahmed said that mustard has been cultivated on 120 hectares in total this season, 40 hectares of which are under the ‘Relay Farming’ method. “Farmers were encouraged to plant mustard after harvesting short-duration Aman paddy varieties, which mature in 75 to 87 days,” Ahmed explained. He said, “This year, we distributed free BIN-9 mustard seeds to farmers 10 days before their Aman paddy harvest. Within 10 days of sowing, the mustard begins to germinate, allowing farmers to harvest it within two and a half months. Afterwards, they can proceed with Boro cultivation.” Ahmed said that the method enables farmers to grow three crops a year instead of two, with plans to extend the cultivation area to over 100 hectares in future seasons. Bean cultivation transforms farmers' fortunes as it gains momentum in Lalmonirhat Ajay Chandra Das, a farmer from Brakkagati Block, shared his success with the new method: “Previously, our land remained fallow during this season. On the advice of agricultural officers, I planted mustard on my 0.25-acre plot. The crop is thriving, and we expect to harvest it in 20 to 25 days.” Similarly, Bijoy Chandra Das, another farmer in the block, said: “This is my first time cultivating mustard. Earlier, we only planted Aman and Boro paddy. The free seeds from the Agriculture Office have resulted in a flourishing crop, and we are hopeful for a good yield.” Kamrul Islam, Assistant Agricultural Officer of Dighalia Union, emphasised the economic potential of relay farming, “This method allows farmers to grow an additional crop between the Aman and Boro seasons. In Brakkagati Block alone, 45 farmers have cultivated mustard on five hectares. With proper irrigation and fertilisation, they can harvest their crops before the Boro season begins in late January.” With its promising outcomes and increased interest among farmers, relay farming is set to transform agricultural practices in the region, bringing greater economic benefits to the community.

The July Shaheed Smriti Foundation has provided financial assistance of Tk 2.9 crore among 58 families of martyrs from the anti-discrimination student movement in Khulna division; each family received a cheque for Tk 5 lakh. The event was held at the Khulna Shilpakala Academy on Friday. Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, CEO of July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, delivered the welcome speech and July Shaheed Smriti Foundation General Secretary Sarjis Alam participated in distribution of cheques.  Speaking at the event, Sarjis Alam criticized the interim government saying, “One of the failures of the current interim government is that the murderers of the students and public have not yet been brought to justice.” Other speakers emphasized the enduring impact of the student movement, which played a pivotal role in shaping a fairer Bangladesh. They warned against attempts to distort the uprising’s history and called for transparency and accountability in all sectors to eradicate inequality.   Bangladesh named The Economist’s country of the year The ceremony was attended by family members of the martyrs and injured, officials from government departments, foundation members and media representatives. Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarkar, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Zulfikar Ali Haider, Additional Range DIG Md Hasanuzzaman, Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Islam, Superintendent of Police T M Mosharraf Hossain, Central Coordinator of July Shaheed Smriti Foundation Md. Tariqul Islam, Ashrafa Khatun and Md Wahiduzzaman also spoke at the event.

WaterAid Bangladesh on Thursday organised a national-level workshop titled 'Addressing resilience losses of climate-induced migrants in Southwest Bangladesh affected by COVID-19 pandemic', for sharing the learnings from a project to ensure its replication at governmental and other levels. The workshop was part of the project which aims to address the socio-economic vulnerability and exclusion of the climate-induced migrants, which has been further compounded by COVID-19, living in urban slums in Khulna and Satkhira. It was held at Lakeshore Heights, Dhaka. The event united leading voices in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and climate change sector to showcase the overall project, including its interventions, learnings and prospects for replication. This involves providing a comprehensive overview of what the project aimed to achieve, the key deliverables that were produced, the results and how the work can be carried forward. The learning-sharing workshop created a unique platform to connect relevant stakeholders catering to climate-induced migrants, allowing them to share their experiences, insights, and challenges. Old, polluting buses in Dhaka to be scrapped to combat air pollution: Rizwana It aimed to highlight the project’s contributions in addressing the plights of climate migrants clustered on the urban fringe, highly exposed and vulnerable to floods and waterlogged soil. As the project nears its end, ICDDR,B has conducted an endline evaluation to portray empirical evidence and learning from the field. Programme Lead-Universal Access Babul Bala’s presentation on the project’s rationale, visual representation of interventions, challenges and learnings,after  ICDDR,B shared graphical representations, statistics, comparison with baseline evaluation and recommendations that they have accumulated from the field. WaterAid Bangladesh adopts a bottom-up approach to zoom in on the real-life accounts of beneficiaries and engaging relevant authority to help foster institutional ownership in order to implement this project. Two beneficiaries- Rupali Begum (Shastho Surokkha Station and Grant Support recipient) and Jannatul Ferdous Irani (IGA Training and Material support) shared their back stories, current living standards and how they experience financial freedom and empowerment while Salim Sarower, Assistant Engineer-Satkhira Municipality, emphasized on misuse of water in daily activities. Parvez Mollah, Assistant Director-Department of Youth Development, expressed his willingness to support the youth in rural areas to deter migration to urban areas. Timely information more vital than food during disasters: Experts The chief guest of the workshop, Professor Emeritus Dr Ainun Nishat, Member, Advisory Committee of Climate Bridge Fund (ACCF), emphasised forgoing callousness of COVID-19 vaccination dosage, installation of Pond Sand Filters (PSF) and the importance of Rainwater Harvesting in high salinity regions. He stated, "Just like the heatwave we experienced this year, there can also be cold waves that we could anticipate. This is climate change, and its unpredictability, due to the lack of patterns, makes it even more challenging. To support people's livelihoods, we must focus on addressing these uncertainties.” Special guest Dr Md Golam Rabbani, Head of Secretariat, CBF, BRAC, appreciated the triangulation modality of the workshop and described it as “first-hand example of a multi-sectoral approach”. Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh Hasin Jahan warranted the need to weigh in on their failures and stated, "We often avoid failures, but it is important to reflect on our work and identify them, so we have something to improve on in the future. My key takeaway from this project is how we can scale up our learning in behaviour change more effectively. While resources are limited, we must allocate them wisely to ensure we prioritise WASH as an integral part of climate funds.” The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Nabolok Parishad’s Executive Director, Kazi Rajeeb Iqbal.

Fire swept through three clothing stores in Khulna’s Khalishpur area on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 1:00 am opposite the Power House intersection on the Khulna BIDC Road, according to officials on Wednesday. Monirul Islam, the owner of the Jyoti Fashion, one of the affected stores, said he closed the shop at 10 pm and went home. At around 2 am, he came to know through the mobile phone of the security guard that there was a fire in his shop. Fire breaks out at spinning mill in Narayanganj Later, he rushed to the spot and saw locals trying to douse the fire. At that time, they informed the fire service by calling 999. Three fire service units arrived and brought the fire under control within half an hour. Khalishpur Fire Service Senior Station Officer Abdul Malek said the damage caused by the fire was Tk 15-16 lakh. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, he added.