United News of Bangladesh

Handing over the newly built houses to flood victims, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the joint efforts have set an example of working together "honestly and perfectly" to deal with any disaster effectively. "This is a small project on construction of three hundred houses, but the example we have set of working together properly and honestly through this will motivate us," he said thanking the Bangladesh Army and others involved for completing the project on time and maintaining quality. Joining virtually from the Chief Adviser's Office, Prof Yunus handed over the houses (keys) to the flood victims of August-September last year. Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam, Bir Protik, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Principal Secretary Md Siraz Uddin Miah also spoke, among others, at the function at the CAO. Four beneficiaries from Feni, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cumilla districts joined the ceremony virtually and expressed their satisfaction at the ceremony moderated by Md Monirul Islam Patwary, Director of Ashrayan-2 Project. An initial allocation of Tk 50 crore had been allocated from the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund for the construction of the houses. Approximately Tk 24, 98, 95000 had been spent on the construction of 300 houses. Three months after Feni flood 1,718 families left with nothing, struggling for aid "We are pleased that the funds were utilized efficiently. Despite various challenges, the work was completed to a high standard. It's a wonderful job," Prof Yunus said, noting that the Bangladesh Army has completed the construction of the houses smoothly with great effort and efficiency. The Chief Adviser congratulated all those who have got houses. "The courage that the people of the country have given you by standing by your side will always be in your mind." Thanking everyone involved in the implementation of this project, Prof Yunus said, "I sincerely thank everyone who worked tirelessly in this work and provided a place for homeless families to rest, especially the local administration, members of the Armed Forces Division, LGED engineers and the officers of the shelter project." hoped that the Bangladesh Army would stand by the country’s people in any future disaster, too.the aftermath of the devastating flood that hit the country’s southeastern region in August-September last year, he said the people of the four districts were affected in the flood, while many lost their houses.The Chief Adviser said it was the government’s responsibility to stand by the flood-affected people, and that was why it took on the special housing construction project immediately after the flood. He said those who lost houses in the flood have now got their resorts where they would be able to live with their family members. Prof Yunus urged the beneficiaries to ensure education for their children so that they can be good human beings and good entrepreneurs. On behalf of the Chief Adviser, the deputy commissioners of the four districts handed over the keys of houses among the beneficiaries. A total of 110 houses were distributed among the beneficiaries in Feni, while 90 houses in Noakhali, 70 houses in Cumilla and 30 houses in Chattogram. Feni flooding: People struggling to stand on foot after flood

A task force seized 26 dredging machines after conducting an operation against illegal sand extraction in Feni River of Feni's Chhagalnaiya upazila on Tuesday.+ A media release sent from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)-4 Battalion in Feni said this. The drive was conducted in response to the District Commissioner’s call, targeting illegal sand extraction from the Feni River in Sonapur area under the upazila, it reads. Read: 3 dredging machines seized in Manikganj During the operation, 26 dredging machines and other equipment worth Tk 39 lakh were seized. These machines are currently in the custody of the Chhagalnaiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Subol Chakma who conducted the drive. Along with the BGB, the members from Bangladesh Army and police assisted. Mentionable, on December 1, 9, and 28, a total of 75 dredging machines and 19 lakh 60 thousand feet of sand worth over Tk 3.8 crore were seized.

Three people, including Baroiarhat municipality mayor of Chattogram's Mirsarai, sustained bullet injuries in an attack by miscreants near the Muhuri Project Friday morning. The injured are Baroiarhat Mayor and local Awami League leader Md Rezaul Karim Khokon, his assistant Ashok Sen and local Jubo League leader Sayeed Khan. Locals said there had been a dispute between two groups over the lifting of sand from the Feni River in the Muhuri Project area of Sonagazi upazila, Feni. A team led by Mayor Khokan was going to the project area in the morning to settle the dispute. A group of miscreants, "led by a local union parishad chairman," fired on the trawler Khokon and his associates were on in the river around 11am, leaving them critically injured, they said. Nur Hossain Mamun, officer-in-charge of Zorarganj Police Station of Mirsarai, said the injured were first taken to Mirsarai Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for better treatment. Read: Bullet injured Noakhali BCL leader dies at DMCH The mayor sustained multiple bullet wounds in the abdomen, waist and shoulder, he said, adding that they are looking into the matter. Our Feni correspondent added that there had been a long-running feud between the mayor and Fazilpur union parishad (UP) Chairman Mujibur Rahman of Feni Sadar upazila over the lifting of sand from the River Feni. Mujibur said he had no involvement in the attack as he had been in Dhaka for the last three days. "However, the locals told me that the mayor and his supporters got into a clash with them over the sand lifting." During a drive Tuesday, Sonagazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Manjurul Hoque seized two dredgers, used for lifting of sand, of the UP chairman from the Kalmichar area. Khaled Hossain Daiyan, officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Police Station, said on information they rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. He said they would take legal action if any written complaint is made. Dr Mahmuda Akter of Mirsarai Upazila Health Complex said the mayor was shifted to the CMCH due to his critical condition.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi Tuesday inaugurated 'Maitri Setu', a bridge built over the Feni river flowing between the two countries.

The bodies of three tourists, who went missing while swimming in Feni River on Saturday, were recovered from the river in Companiganj upazila of Noakhali on Sunday morning.