Eight brick kilns were fined Tk 12 lakh during a joint operation on Wednesday.Kushtia district administration and the Department of Environment conducted the joint operation across Kushtia Sadar and Kumarkhali upazilas, targeting kilns operating without proper authorisation or compliance with environmental regulations.Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rifatul Islam and Senior Chemist Habibul Basar from the Kushtia Department of Environment led the operation. Illegal brick kilns fined Tk 1.24 crore, 11 shut down, 15 ordered closedDuring the operation, officials not only collected fines but also issued strict instructions to halt all activities at the brick kilns. The largest fines were imposed on NSR Bricks (Tk 3 lakh), AFNR Bricks (Tk 2.5 lakh), Five Star (Tk 2 lakh), and HNR Bricks (Tk 2 lakh) in Kushtia Sadar’s Lakshmipur and Horinarayanpur areas.Meanwhile, in Kumarkhali upazila, four other brick kilns were fined Tk 2.5 lakh collectively. Kumarkhali Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) SM Mikail Islam said that the penalties were determined under the Brick Manufacturing Act, taking into account the scale of the kilns’ operations. HC orders immediate action to halt illegal brick kilns in CHTRifatul Islam said that stricter legal action would be taken if the kilns resume their activities in violation of the law.

Law enforcement officers seized a firearm, ammunition and an explosive device during a raid on a residence in Kushtia's Mirpur Upazila late Saturday night. According to a media statement issued by the Kushtia Army Camp, the operation was carried out following a tip-off at the home of Nur A Bulbul, the general secretary of the BNP’s Malihad Union unit. During the raid, officers recovered a shooter gun, two rounds of ammunition, and a bomb from the rooftop of the property, the media release added. Jubo Dal activist hacked to death in Barguna But the BNP leader was not present there at the time of the search. The seized items were handed over to Mirpur Police Station, and a case was filed  in this regard. Further investigations are underway to determine the origin of the weapons and any potential connections to criminal activities.

Migratory birds, a hallmark of winter in the Padma Char region of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia, are facing a growing threat as unscrupulous hunters target them for sale in local markets, sparking concerns among environmentalists. Local activists and residents have reported that a variety of guest birds, including wild ducks, small and large cranes, sandpipers, green herons, ramghugus, nocturnal birds and kingfishers, have been arriving at the riverine char areas of Marichi, Philipnagar, Ramakrishnapur and Chilmari unions. However, hunters equipped with nets and indigenous tools are capturing these birds, often at night and selling them in local markets the following morning. When visiting the area, it was observed that hunters, often concealed in water, use large nets spread across the charlands to trap the birds. A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared that some hunters also consume the birds themselves. Dhaka enveloped in dense fog as winter deepens across Bangladesh Environmentalists have expressed alarm over the unchecked hunting. General Secretary SI Sohel of the Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Foundation and president of the Kushtia Bird Club condemned the practice as a serious threat to biodiversity. “Bird hunting is a punishable offense under the law. These migratory birds are a vital part of our ecosystem and must be protected. The Forest Department and local administration need to act decisively to stop this,” Sohel said. He also noted that with water levels in the Padma River receding, smaller fish and insects, such as puti and darkina, have become abundant, drawing birds to the area in search of food. In this issue, Daulatpur Upazila Forest Officer Abubakar Siddiq said, “We are aware of the situation and legal action will be taken against those responsible,” he assured. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Hai Siddiqui said that campaigns against illegal hunting are ongoing. However, he admitted that no specific awareness programs have yet been initiated to educate the local population about the importance of protecting these birds.

The interim government has appointed new deputy commissioners(DCs) in Kushtia and Narayanganj districts. The Public Administration Ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard on Monday. Kushtia deputy commissioner Toufiqur Rahman has been transferred and posted as deputy commissioner of Narayanganj district. Thakurgaon, Rangamati get new DCs Besides, Shamim Ara Rini, secretary of Gazipur City Corporation has been appointed as the deputy commissioner of Kushtia district.      

The body of a female police constable was found in her home in the Kamalapur area of Kushtia city on Wednesday evening. The deceased has been identified as Rubina Khatun, 28, a constable working in the General Record Office (GRO) of the Kushtia court. Kushtia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shihabur Rahman Shihab said that initial investigations suggest the incident may have been a suicide. "The cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report," he added. According to police, Rubina's body was discovered by colleagues after they failed to reach her by phone throughout the day. They alerted a neighbor, who, upon speaking with Rubina’s husband, learned that she had been unwell and had been keeping the door closed since morning. Floating body of a woman recovered from Buriganga River Later, after further attempts to contact her were unsuccessful, Rubina's colleagues arrived at the house and after forced entry, found her body hanging from a ceiling fan. Rubina Khatun was the daughter of Abdul Sheikh from Ramnagar village in Meherpur district. She was married to Alal Sheikh, 30, of Ratanpur village in the same district. The couple, along with their two children, lived in the Kamalapur area. On the day of the incident, the children were away at relatives' home and both Rubina and her husband were at home due to a holiday. Police have launched a thorough investigation into the matter while keeping all possible scenarios in mind and the body of the deceased has been sent to Kushtia General Hospital for post-mortem, the OC said.

Acting editor of Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman on Thursday filed a case against 66 people including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, ex-IGP Mohammad Javed Patwary on charge of attacking him on a court premises in Kushtia around six years back. Kushtia Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mahfuzur Haque Chowdhury said 46 people including leaders and activists of Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechhasebak League were named in the case and 15 to 20 were unnamed. Replying to a question, Mahmudur Rahman, who filed the case in person, said he demanded justice. Read: AL's Abul Hasanat Abdullah among 14 sued in murder case in Barishal According to the case statement, Mahmudur Rahman came under attack by the accused when he was coming out of the Kushtia court after securing bail in a defamation case on July 22, 2018. Later, he returned to Dhaka by an ambulance. In 2018, then district unit of Chhatra League president Yeasir Arafat Tushar filed a case against Mahmdur Rahman bringing allegation of making derogatory remarks about Tulip Siddiq, granddaughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and niece of Sheikh Hasina.

Journalist Brishty Khatun, a victim of the restaurant building fire on Bailey Road in the capital, has been buried beside her uncle’s grave  at the family graveyard in Kushtia. The ambulance carrying the body of Brishty reached her village home at Banagram Paschimpara of Ward No. 7 of Betbaria Union in Khoksa Upazila at 8:20 pm on Monday (March 11, 2024).  At that time, mourning relatives and villagers flocked to see her body. Fire at kitchen market in Dhaka’s Uttara doused Around 10 pm, it was announced through loudspeaker of a local mosque that her namaz-e-janaza will be held in the courtyard of her house. Hundreds of people of the village and nearby villages attended the janaza. A close relative of Brishty named Rabiul Islam conducted the namaz-e-janaza. After the namaz-e-janaza, Brishty was buried beside the grave of his uncle Mubarak Sheikh in the presence of administrative officials.       Brishty, also known as Ovisruti Shastri to her colleagues at The Report Live, was among the 46 people who lost their lives in the deadly fire on February 29 night. Bailey Road Tragedy: Brishty Khatun's body handed over to her family Due to identity complications, the body of journalist Ovisruti Shastri alias Brishty Khatun was handed over her father Sabuj Sheikh from the morgue of Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute on Monday afternoon, 11 days after the DNA test report of Brishty and her parents came.

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia launched an e-payment service for the students of the university with a view to simplifying transactions for them. Read: 5 injured in BCL factional clash at Islamic University IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam inaugurated the e-payment service at an e-payment application launching ceremony as chief guest, a press release issued by IU information, publication and public relations office deputy director Rajibul Islam on Saturday (November 25, 2023). The service will allow the students to pay all sorts of fees, including admission, examination, and residential hall fees, online without having to go to the bank. Read: Islamic University and Edith Cowan University to undertake joint academic, research activities  Through the e-payment service software of Agrani Bank, students will be able to pay money through bKash, Nagad, and Rocket using their ID. This service will be available to all students from the 2017-18 academic session of the university. The online banking service will be a convenient and efficient way for students to pay their fees, IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan said that the e-payment service would save students time and hassle. Read: Islamic University officials continue work abstention for 2nd day  It would also help to reduce the number of people visiting banks. The service was expected to be well-received by students, he added.

A leader of Swechasebak League was shot in an attack by miscreants over establishing supremacy in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia district on Wednesday night. The victim was identified as Sanjay Kumar Pramanik, 35, president of Bheramara upazila unit of Swechasebak League and son of Dulal Chandra Pramanik. Quoting witnesses, Zahurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bheramara Police Station, said a group of miscreants opened fire on Sanjay and his followers when he was returning home from the party office around 11 pm, leaving him injured. Student injured in knife attack in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Two supporters of Sanjay—Belal Hossain and Shyamol Sardar—were also injured in the attack. They were taken to Bheramara Upazila Health Complex from where the doctors referred Sanjay to Kushtia General Hospital due to deterioration of his condition. Belal, who was also injured in the attack, said that Mustafizur Rahman Shobhon, sports affairs secretary of district unit Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s (Jasad) Jubo Jote led 40-50 people in carrying out the attack on them. BCL attacks on Nurul Hoque Nur at DU; 20 hurt However, no complaint has been lodged yet and action will be taken after getting complaints from the victim, said OC. Attacks on sit-ins: BNP’s protest rally begins at Suhrawardy Udyan

Miscreants hacked a farmer to death at Nawada Khadimpur village in Kushtia's Mirpur upazila early Monday. The deceased was identified as Rabiul Islam Rabi,48, son of late Muktar Biswas of Gangpara area of the village. Ismail Hossain, elder brother of the deceased, said that his brother was sleeping in his house at night. Also Read: Fruit seller hacked to death by miscreants in Chuadanga The miscreants entered the house around 12:30 am and stabbed him multiple times, leaving him seriously injured, he said. Relatives rescued him and admitted to Kushtia General Hospital. He died around 6:30 am on the way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment. Also Read: Man hacked to death by son in Sylhet  Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur Police Station Rafiqul Islam said that some people are being interrogated in connection with the murder. The body was sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for post-mortem, he added. Also Read: Village police hacked dead in Narail