Mango yield in Rajshahi district, known as the capital of mango, have been affected due to the prevailing severe heat wave condition and lack of rains, causing anxiety among farmers and traders. The district and many other regions of the country have been experiencing intense heat wave for about a month, which has caused the water bodies and ponds in the Barind region to dry up, resulting in the early drop of mangoes and litchi pods. Local mango growers and traders said the amount of buds in the mango trees of the district was much less than the previous year.Crop lands have been dried up due to absence of rains which is affecting mango and litchi production as well, they said. Already 30 percent mango pods have been dropped, said the mango growers. Gazipur train derailment: Salvage operation still on 24 hours post-collision According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year, a total of 19,602 hectares of land have been brought under mango cultivation, which is 24 hectares more than the previous year. The DAE authorities set a target to produce 2,60,164 tonnes of mangoes this year. But it is feared that even half of the target won’t be achieved due to the high rate of mango dropping. Bagha and Charghat upazilas of Rajshahi district are top in mango production but this year farmers are worried over possible losses.Abdul Mannan, a mango grower of Bagha upazila, said “Mangoes are produced in large quantities in Bagha upazila. But this year, most of the trees lack mangoes, making the farmers and traders disappointed. About 30 percent of the mango pods have dropped due to drought. Mango traders are worried about getting back the production cost.” Fear of fruit failure grips mango growers in Chapainawabganj as heatwave Intensifies Dr Shafiqul Islam, chief scientific officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre, said, “The quantity of pods is good and if those sustain there is a possibility of good yield. But who can say about the heat wave? The current heat wave is causing problem not only for mangoes but also for litchi. To produce any crops, fruits and vegetables, water is needed. If there is a shortage of water, all of these will be affected.” Umme Salma, assistant director of Rajshahi DAE, said “Mangoes fall for different reasons, even rains cause fall of mango pods. This year small trees have enough mangoes while big ones have a little less. But dropping mango pods is normal. Farmers who failed to nurture the trees properly are witnessing more fall of mangoes.”

In a heart-wrenching incident in Rajshahi, two baby sisters passed away within four days of each other after contracting an unidentified virus, as reported by medical professionals. The almost two-year-old younger sister, Muntaha Marisha, tragically died en route to the hospital last Wednesday, while her elder sister, four years and nine months old Muftaul Mashiya, passed away on Saturday afternoon during treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). The girls were the daughters of Manjur Rahman, a mathematics teacher at Rajshahi Cadet College, residing with his family in the college's quarters in Sarda. Physicians at RMCH initially suspected a viral infection but awaited confirmation pending laboratory results from samples sent to Dhaka for analysis. The girls' parents, Manjur and Poly Khatun, have been placed in RMCH's isolation ward. Read: Nipah Virus: Don’t Consume This If You Want to Be Safe Dr. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, an ICU physician at RMCH, mentioned that there is a suspicion of the Nipah virus, although the girls' parents refuted this possibility.  He noted that the children had consumed unwashed plums, which could potentially be linked to the Nipah virus or another viral agent. The definitive cause of death awaits the results of the samples sent for testing. Poly Khatun recounted the events leading to their illness, stating that their domestic help had given the girls unwashed plums from a tree on campus on the morning of February 13. The following day, Marisha developed a fever, exhibited repeated vomiting, and showed signs of severe dehydration. Despite being rushed to the Rajshahi Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Marisha died en route. Mashiya exhibited similar symptoms the next morning and, after initial treatment at the Upazila Health Complex and CMH, was transferred to RMCH, where she was admitted to the ICU.  Read: Nipah virus: Two patients from Manikganj die in Dhaka Both sisters displayed black spots on their bodies before their deaths, a symptom noted by their mother. RMCH physician Mostafa Kamal clarified that there have been no reported deaths from the Nipah virus in Rajshahi this year. However, he confirmed that a viral infection caused the sisters' deaths, emphasizing the rapid progression of their illness and the limited opportunity for treatment. The parents remain in hospital isolation as precautions continue. Read more: Ancient viruses can help fight cancer, scientists say

Two people were killed when a train hit an engine-run human hauler at a level crossing at Mohanpur in Paba upazila of Rajshahi district on Monday. The deceased were identified as Mofazzal Hossain, 35, a driver of the human hauler and his helper Habibur Rahman Habib, 32 of the upazila. Cargo vessel movement between India's Maya and Rajshahi's Sultanganj begins Khairul Islam, in-charge of Rajshahi University Fire Service Station, said the accident occurred around 4 pm when the Dhaka-bound ‘Padma Express’ hit the firewood-laden human hauler, leaving two people dead on the spot. Ansar member killed as hooligans punch him in Rajshahi The firewood was taken to a brick kiln, he said. On information, a team of Fire WService recovered the bodies and sent those to the local hospital morgue for autopsy. Barendra Express train narrowly escapes accident; rail link with Rajshahi suspended

All secondary-level schools in the northern district of Rajshahi have been declared closed for two days, starting from today (January 21, 2024), due to severe cold. All primary-level schools are also closed today, according to an official notification signed by Dr Sharmin Ferdous Chowdhury, deputy director (acting) of secondary and higher secondary education in Rajshahi zone. Local meteorological department yesterday predicted that the district would experience less than 10 degrees Celsius temperature for the next two days (January 21 and 22). Following the forecast, education officers of the district held a meeting yesterday and took the decision to keep the primary and secondary schools closed. Read more: UGC forcibly imposed GST system on us: JnU Teachers Association Saidul Islam, primary education officer of the district, told UNB’s Rajshahi correspondent that academic activity at the primary schools will remain closed only for Sunday but the offices will remain open as usual. “Observing Sunday’s weather, the next course of action will be decided,” he said. The district witnessed a fall of four degree Celsius temperature within a span of two days. The local Met Office yesterday recorded 9.8 degrees Celsius temperature against 13.8 degree Celsius a day before. Dense fog blankets the whole district while wind has been blowing. As a result, a severe cold is being felt. Rajib Khan, observer at Rajshahi Meteorological Observatory, said the minimum temperature in Rajshahi dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius on January 13. The second lowest temperature of the season was recorded at 9.8 degrees Celsius at 7:30 am yesterday. Read more: Educational institutions shut in Kurigram due to cold wave On Friday, the minimum temperature was recorded at 13.8 degrees Celsius, he said. The temperature also decreased yesterday after dense fog had descended, he said, forecasting that such weather may persist throughout January. On January 16, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued a circular saying that the education authorities in any district can close down schools in case the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. According to the circular, “A cold wave is sweeping different parts of the country and as a result the educational activities are being seriously hampered. The regional deputy directors in consultation with the district education officers can keep the educational institutions under secondary level closed if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius in any district.” Read more: Mild cold wave sweeps 3 northern districts: Met Office

The Awami League won a comfortable two-thirds majority for a fourth election in a row on Sunday (January 07, 2024), in 299 out of 300 constituencies, and a strong showing by independent candidates as predicted. Ruling party candidates won in 222 seats in Sunday’s election, while independent candidates — most of them belonging to AL — won 62 seats. Read more: Election 2024: List of winners from Barishal division Here’s the list of candidates from Rajshahi division who won in the National Election 2024:  

Awami League nominated candidate for Rajshahi-6 (Bagha-Charghat) Shahriar Alam has been elected for the 4th time in the 12th parliamentary elections held on Sunday. JSD's Inu defeated by 19,161 votes Shahriar Alam, also the state minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry, bagged 1,01,599 votes while his nearest rival Rayhan who was an independent candidate secured 74,278 votes. Hasina wins Gopalganj-3 The voting in the 12th parliamentary election began at 8:00 am and concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies. BNP holds protest rally rejecting polls in Kishoreganj

The Detective Branch (DB) of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police has recovered 10 hand bombs from a polling center near a primary school(a polling centre) Friday night. Police arrested BNP supporter Sujan Islam Touhid in this connection. 4 polling centres set on fire in Rajshahi Witnesses and police said BNP and its associate bodies brought out a torchlight procession in the city on Friday evening in support of the 48-hour hartal protesting the January-7 election. Two hand bombs were detonated when the procession was passing Uposahar Primary School. Rajshahi-4 constituency: 4 female supporters of independent candidate say they were attacked by ‘boat’ supporters Police arrested BNP supporter Sujan Islam Touhid and recovered the hand bombs form near the school based on information gleaned from him, said ADC of the Detective Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Md. Ruhul Amin. Rajshahi-4: 15 injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's procession

Five supporters, including four women, of an independent candidate were injured in an attack allegedly by supporters of the Awami League candidate while campaigning in Rajshahi-4 constituency-4 (Bagmara upazila) yesterday. The injured were identified as Shafinur Nahar, vice-president of Hamirkutsa union unit of Awami League; Ishrat Jahan Beauty, forest and environment affairs secretary of Jogipara union Mohila League; Papia Jahan and Sharmin Akhter, nieces of independent candidate Enamul Haque MP; and CNG-run autorickshaw driver Shahjahan Ali. Of them, Shafinur, Beauty and Shahjahan were hospitalised at Bagmar Upazila Health Complex while the rest were released after providing first aid. The victims said they went to Sakhopara village under Hamirkutsa union by two CNG-run autorickshaws to campaign for the independent candidate Enamul yesterday afternoon. The union Awami League’s organizing secretary Khorshed Alam, who is a supporter of the Awami League candidate Abul Kalam Azad, barred them from handing out publicity handbills among voters, they said. At one stage, their groups got locked into an altercation which led to an attack on them, leaving five people including the four women injured, they said. Later, locals rescued them and sent them to the Upazila Health Complex. Independent candidate Enamul alleged that supporters of the “boat” candidate are constantly attacking and beating his supporters campaigning for the “scissors” (his electoral symbol). Demanding justice for his supporters, he said no civilised person can attack women and these attacks are having an impact on the election. He said that the attackers would not have dared if the administration had taken a tough stance. Additional Superintendent of Police in Rajshahi, Rafiqul Islam, confirmed the matter saying that the injured were rescued after police went to the spot upon receiving information.  Three of the injured were sent to the hospital, he said, adding that legal action will be taken once complaints are lodged in this connection.

A case was filed against five supporters of AL-backed candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury including an UP chairman for setting fire to an election camp of Dhallywood actress Mahiya Mahi on Sunday night. Belal Uddin Sohel, chairman of Godagari's Deopara Union Parishad and treasurer of Upazila Jubo League, has been made the main accused in the case. Also read: Actress Mahi gets 'truck' as electoral symbol for independent run in Rajshahi-1 The other accused are - Md. Rizwan, Ratan Ali, Salman Feroz Faisal and Mamunur Rashid alias Babu. Besides, four or five unidentified people have been accused in the case. Mahi's cousin Zahidul Islam lodged a complaint at Godagari police station on Sunday night. Earlier, an election camp of Mahi was burnt in Bhagail village of Deopara union late on Sunday night. Denying the allegation, UP Chairman Belal Uddin Sohel said they themselves burnt their election camps and blamed us. “They are doing this to create chaos”, he added. Also read: 12th JS Election: Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2 Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Godagari police station Abdul Matin said they have started the investigation. “Action will be taken if the accused are found guilty”, he added. Dhallywood’s popular actress Mahiya Mahi is contesting the 12th parliamentary elections as an independent candidate with electoral symbol truck. Awami League nominated candidate for this constituency is three times MP Omar Faruk Chowdhury.

At least 15 supporters of the independent candidate for Rajshahi-4 were injured in an alleged attack by supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate for the constituency on Sunday afternoon. The incident took place in Madiraganj bazar of Bagmara upazila. Eyewitnesses said that the independent candidate, and incumbent MP Enamul Haque brought out an election procession this afternoon. Read: Sirajganj-3: Ten injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's campaign   When the procession reached Madariganj bazar, supporters of the AL candidate Abul Kalam Azad attacked the independent candidate's campaign, leaving 15 of his supporters injured. The injured were treated at a local hospital. Bagmara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Arvind Sarker said additional police forces and BGB were deployed there to avoid any untoward situation. The situation is now under control, he said. Police arrested two people in connection in this regard. Read: Faridpur-4: Zafarullah seeks cancellation of Nixon’s candidacy for giving money to voters Meanwhile, Enamul Haque MP, the independent candidate (with electoral symbol Kachi) held a protest rally after the incident, where he condemned and protested the barbaric attack on his supporters. Enamul is one of 71 sitting MPs elected from the AL in 2018, who were denied the 'boat' symbol of the party this time.