Thirteen arson attacks have been reported across Bangladesh from 6 am on Wednesday (November 08, 2023) till 9 am today (November 09, 2023) during the ongoing 48-hour blockade. Read: 21 arson incidents reported in 38 hrs till Monday evening: Fire Service Of these, five arson attacks were reported in Dhaka City Corporation areas, three in Gazipur, one in Khagrachhari, one in Bogura, two in Barishal and Barguna, and one in Noakhali, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense's media cell. A total of seven buses, four covered vans, and two trucks were burned during this period. Read: 7 incidents of arson occur Tuesday: Fire Service

Fear has gripped the residents of Betagi municipality of Barguna, as the main town protection embankment is under erosion threat due to the alleged negligence of the authorities concerned. The road constructed on the town protection embankment on the west side of the Launch Ghat has developed big cracks at several places, causing concern over the safety of the adjacent areas. It has left thousands of traders and residents living in fear, especially amid the threat of Cyclone Mocha over the Bay. The Indian Meteorological Department has recently issued a warning about the possible formation of a cyclonic storm called ‘Mocha’ in the southeast Bay of Bengal, which has caused uncertainty about the longevity of the protection dam. Also Read: Many embankments turn vulnerable in Khulna’s Koyra; Fear grips residents Local said the slow progress of the erosion control project has aggravated the situation. Previously, erosion by the Bishkhali river destroyed launch ghats, port, small factories, jute shops, houses, businesses, and public and private institutions, paddy fields, mosques, and madrashas. And now, the dam, upazila parishad complex, passenger camp at launch ghat, hundred years old traditional Kali temple, mosques, and the rest of the municipality are in danger. In 2017, a project was approved to protect the municipality and then secretary to the local government division Abdul Malek laid the foundation stone of the project.  The project was halted and the foundation stone is the only visible work of the project. Also Read: Cyclone Sitrang: Flood protection embankment is at risk in Bagerhat Last year, the Executive Committee of the National Ecomic Council (ECNEC) approved a project worth TK 404 crore to protect the municipality and other important areas from the erosion by the Bishkhali river. But Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has not yet started the project work. The delay in the project has caused anger and frustration among the local residents. The tender process for the protection project is ongoing, according to the WDB Barguna office. Also Read: Khulna: Embankment collapses again Abdur Rob, a labourer who lives on the banks of the river, expressed his fear for the upcoming monsoon season, saying “I don't know what the future holds for us. The way Bishkhali is eroding right now, I can’t imagine what will happen after the monsoon and cyclone ‘Mocha’”.  Md. Sohail Howladar, the owner of Jhalkathi Engineering Workshop, said that erosion has been increasing in the area adjacent to his shop for the past few months, with the crack in the paved road dangerously close to his establishment. He said that it is only a matter of time before his shop disappears into the river. Abdul Halim, owner of a sawmill in Kath Bazar, expressed his frustration at the lack of progress by authorities, saying that “Locals have to travel through many alternative routes. I have been hearing for a long time the work will start. But I don't see any progress.” Betagi Municipality Mayor ABM Golam Kabir said, “The Betagi protection dam project was halted but I hope it will start soon.” WDB’s Barguna district’s executive engineer Md. Rakib said he has inspected the condition of the dam. “The matter has been brought to the attention of higher authorities. Necessary measures will be taken for immediate repair of the dam, and the re-tendering process will be initiated soon,” he said.

Farmers in the coastal region of Barguna are rejoicing over their successful yield of salt-tolerant Bri varieties rice.  At Amratala village, located in Kalmegha Union of Patharghata Upazila, where growing crops is typically challenging, local farmers have reported good yields of Bri 67, 74, and 97 rice varieties.  Talking to UNB, local farmers, who hope to harvest 23-24 maunds of paddy per bigha, have expressed their satisfaction with the results. Badal Howladar, a local farmer, expressed his satisfaction with the results, saying that the Bri rice varieties have done very well in the salinity-hit area. Also Read: Bangladeshi scientists unveil full genome sequence of salinity, flood-tolerant rice The farmers said they cultivated the rice varieties for the first time during the  Boro season in 2022-23as per the recommendation of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).  The farmers have been growing the rice under the supervision of the Irrigation and Water Management Department of the BRRI. To showcase the successful cultivation of salinity-tolerant Bri Dhan 67, Bri Dhan 74, and Bri Dhan 97 rice varieties, the BRRI organized a farmers' field day and harvesting exhibition on the fallow land in Amratala village recvently.  Director General of the BRRI Dr. Md. Shahjahan Kabir and its senior scientific officer Dr Devjit Roy , among others, visited the filed. Also Read: How salinity taking toll on coastal people in Satkhira  Dr. Md. Shahjahan Kabir said the institute has developed many high-yielding and salinity-tolerant rice varieties, including Bri 67 and Bri 97.  These varieties can withstand high salinity levels and have a lifespan of 140-145 days, he said.  Kabir added that the successful cultivation of these rice varieties in coastal salinity-hit areas like Barguna district through improved water management could play a vital role in the country's food security.     

A 55-year-old man killed himself after failing to repay loans from various NGOs in Sadar upazila of Barguna on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as farmer Dulal Matubbor, of the upazila. The police recovered his body hanging from a tree with a rope in Badarkhali village of Badarkhali union this morning, said Ali Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Barguna Sadar police station. Dulal might have committed suicide due to family feud following his failure to repay the loans from   NGOs, associations and locals, said Joint convener of Badarkhali Union Jubo League Md Al Amin. Read more: 2 farmers’ suicide for irrigation water: Agriculture secy vows strict action The OC said, “It is being investigated whether it is murder or suicide. Legal action will be taken following the investigation.” The body has been kept in Barguna Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy, he added.

Although a year has passed since the Barguna launch fire tragedy, families still mourn their missing loved ones.   A devastating fire broke out at Barguna-bound launch ‘MV-Avijan-10’ on December 24 last year. The launch, with 800 passengers on board, was heading towards Barguna and the fire broke out on Sugandha river in Jhalakathi.   Forty-nine people died in the tragedy while the exact numbers of passengers traveling on the launch and the missing passengers are yet to be known. One hundred people were injured in the incident.    Many did not get any compensation for what they lost during the fire. Besides, families of missing passengers say no financial assistance has been provided to them.   After the fire, the local administration of Barguna district handed over 25 bodies to their relatives while 23 people were buried in a mass graveyard in the district.   Khalil, along with his wife and three children, was heading towards Barguna by the launch. Khalil and his wife managed to survive but they still mourn their three missing children.   Meanwhile, Golam Mahbub’s offspring and elderly mother are inconsolable after losing him and his brother during the launch fire.   Criminal Investigation Department (CID) collected samples of 51 people for identifying the 23 unclaimed bodies that were buried in Potkakhali mass graveyard in the Sadar upazila of Barguna district. Sixteen eople have been identified through DNA test.   A case with Barguna Chief Judicial Magistrate Court against the owner of MV Avijan-10, Hamjalal Sheikh, and 24 others in connection with the deadly fire on the launch has been lodged, said Shahidul Islam Milon, inspector (Investigation) of Barguna police station.  

A teenage motorcyclist and his two pillion riders were killed as their bike hit a roadside tree at Betagi in Barguna early Friday, police said. The deceased were identified as bike rider Yeasin Arafat, 13, Rabbi Mridha, 14, and Siam, 13, all residents of Mokamia union. Read more: 2 cousins killed in Bagerhat road crash The accident occurred around 12:30 am when their motorcycle hit a road side tree on Barguna-Betagi highway after losing control over speed, leaving the trio dead on the spot, said Md Jihad, sub-inspector (SI) of Betagi police station. The bodies were sent to Barguna Sadar hospital morgue for autopsies, said the SI. Read more: Motorcyclist killed in Rajshahi road crash A case was filed at the police station in this regard, he added.

Owners called for a two-day strike in Barguna from Friday, demanding that three-wheelers be banned from the highways. Barguna Bus Owners Association General Secretary Md Sagir Hossain confirmed the matter to UNB on Thursday night. “If the administration does not ban the illegal plying of three wheelers on the highways even after this two-day strike, we will go for an indefinite strike,” Sagir Hossain said. Read more: Barishal transport strike ahead of BNP rally hits commuters hard Barguna Deputy Commissioner (DC) Habibur Rahman said it was decided to ban the movement of three-wheelers and auto-rickshaws on the highway in the district law and order meeting. “However, the number of police force required to stop three-wheelers on such a big highway is not available to the district police. So it cannot be stopped,” he added. Meanwhile, Barguna District BNP Member Secretary Advocate Tarikuzzaman Titu said the government is adopting various tactics to obstruct people from joining the rally in Barishal. “They will not succeed and Barishal will turn into a human sea on Saturday.” In Barishal, microbus, launch, speedboats, bus owners and three-wheeler owners will keep their transports off streets till Saturday evening, the day of BNP rally in the district. A similar strike was also enforced ahead of BNP’s divisional rallies in Rangpur and Khulna, but thousands of party leaders, activists and supporters participated in the rallies overcoming the obstacles. As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The organisers said the rallies are meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Read more: Goods transport strike in Sylhet continues for 2nd straight day The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen. The rally in Barishal will be the 5th one by the BNP at the divisional level as four others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna and Rangpur.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Muharram Ali, who allegedly charged baton on the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) during an infighting in Barguna, has been withdrawn from his duties. ASP Muharram Ali was attached to Barishal Range DIG office, said Barishal range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SM Aktaruzzaman on Tuesday. “This decision has been taken  for fair investigation,” he added. The DIG said the allegation against police in the incident will be investigated. Read: 20 injured in Barguna BCL infighting during Mourning Day programme; 2 held On Monday, at least 20 people were injured in the  infighting between two factions of the BCL Barguna unit during a National Mourning Day discussion. The groups got into a scuffle following a heated argument during the discussion. At one stage, they started hurling brick chips at each other and vandalised a police vehicle, SM Tariqul Islam, additional superintendent of Barguna police, said. "Later police had to use batons to bring the situation under control." "Two BCL activists were arrested from the spot, and several of them suffered injuries," Tariqul added.

A case has been filed at Betagi police station in Barguna following the murder of a UP member who was locked in his house and burnt to death in the early hours of Tuesday.Manowara Begum, the mother of the victim Farooq Ahmed Shamim, filed a murder case at Betagi police station, accusing unknown persons on Saturday afternoon, Betagi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) M Shah Alam Howladar, said.On Tuesday night, some miscreants locked the door of the bedroom of UP member Farooq of Ward No. 2 at Mayar Ghun Bazar of Sarishamuri Union of Betagi upazila.In this fire, UP member Farooq, his wife Suchi Akter,25 and their two sons Mainul Khan,5, and Samiul Khan,2, sustained burn injuries. Farooq Ahmed received 75 percent burn injuries, added the OC.They were admitted to the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Read: Woman burnt to death by ex-husband in PatuakhaliLater, UP member was shifted to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka as his condition deteriorated.Farooq Ahmed died while undergoing treatment at the hospital on Thursday afternoon.

The bodies of two people, including a National Security Intelligence (NSI) officer, were found at Shuvo Sandhya sea beach in Barguna's Taltali upazila five hours after they had gone missing, police said. The deceased were Mostafa Quader, 55, NSI field officer at Taltali, and his niece Nur Akter Jui, 17, Lutfur Rahman, NSI joint director at Barguna, said. Mostafa, his niece, wife, and two sons went to the beach at around 12pm Wednesday. As Mostafa and his family went swimming they got caught up in a strong current and were pulled out to sea. Read: Missing youth from Kuakata sea beach found in India Only the NSI field officer's wife Selina Shikder (35), sons Abdul Karim (16) and Mahathir Mohammad (9) were able to make it back to shore. On information, police, coast guard, fire service and locals launched a rescue operation. During the search, locals found the missing bodies at around 5pm and handed them over to police, the NSI joint-director said.