People in Jhenaidah district are demonstrating the power of unity in their efforts to co-create their city. Award-winning architect couple Khondakar Hasibul Kabir and Suhailey Farzana, who are based in Jhenaidah, are motivating local communities to get engaged. Both the current and former mayors of the district town are also supporting them. Through consistent community participation and appropriation, extensive involvement of women, marginalised groups, and a local workforce, the seemingly simple undertaking of cleaning up the access to the Nabaganga river in Jhenaidah led to a thoughtful and minimal landscaping project with local materials and construction techniques. Thus, came about the transformation of a derelict informal dump site into an attractive and accessible multifunctional space that is valued by Jhenaidah’s diverse communities. The project managed to reverse the ecological degradation of the river and its banks and health hazards. Future phases focus on public use of the river area with walkways, gardens, cultural facilities and environmental efforts to enhance biodiversity in the river. Read: Bangladesh has a bright future if it chooses right development path: Dan Negrea The Urban River Spaces project in Jhenaidah, created by the local architect couple was the winner of 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. “I will be helping you in your future plan for Jhenaidah. Rivers are the best resources for any city and it is a blessing for us that we have a river in the city,” said Jhenaidah Municipality Mayor Md. Quayum Shahrear Zahedee Hizawl.

The death toll from the boat capsize in the Nabaganga River in Narail rose to four with the recovery of two bodies Sunday noon. Two people drowned and five others went missing after their boat capsized in the river off the coast of Kalia upazila on Friday night. The bodies of Labu, 32, son of Tuku Chowkidar of Babupur village, and Khanze Sheikh, 55, son of Matiar Sheikh of Jokar Char village, were recovered today. Fire service divers fished out the bodies from the Nabaganga River in Kalia upazila, said Sheikh Tasmeem Alam, office-in-charge (OC) of Kalia police station. Also Read: Mother, son drown as boat capsizes in Narail “The bodies were handed over to the Naval Police. They will take necessary legal steps,” said OC Tasmeem. Efforts are on to find the others who went missing after the accident, he added. The boat with 17 people on board capsized around 8:30 pm while heading towards Bahirdanga from Baghbari of Kalia municipality. Ten of them managed to swim to ashore.  

A rare fishing cat, locally known as ‘mechho bagh’, was trapped and captured at Shialjuri village of Sadar upazila on Sunday night.

The frail Nabaganga River flowing through the district was barely recognisable only a few days back when it was covered with water hyacinths and other floating materials. Many had feared that the river would be lost.