United News of Bangladesh

Forest officials detained an alleged poacher who hunted deer in the Sundarbans as part of ongoing drives against illegal wildlife hunting. The arrestee Ariful Islam Dulal, a resident of Patharghata in Barguna, was caught red-handed along with 300 deer traps during a raid in Shukpara canal area under Bagerhat’s Sarankhola Range of Sundarbans East Division on on Monday, said Divisional Forest Officer Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury. Officials also seized knives, saws, rope, and other hunting equipment from the spot. Dulal was sent to jail through a court on Tuesday. Govt to formulate concrete action plan to protect Sundarbans: Rizwana According to the Forest Department, in the last two months, 34 people including three deer poachers were arrested, while 42 kg of venison, three deer heads, and thousands of traps were recovered from the Sundarbans. The department also seized 53 boats, three tons of fishing nets, 400 spears, and other illegal fishing equipment during the drives. A total of 42 cases have been filed so far, implicating 76 people.

Amid a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections across the country, all upazila-level health complexes in Bagerhat district have run out of rapid antigen test kits, leaving local hospitals unable to conduct coronavirus tests. As a result, patients showing symptoms such as fever, cough and body aches are being referred to Bagerhat District Hospital or Khulna Medical College Hospital for testing, sources said. Despite repeated requests sent to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) for testing kits, none had arrived at the upazila health complexes as of Thursday, the sources added.  Meanwhile, the 250-bed Bagerhat General Hospital has received only 150 antigen rapid test kits, which doctors say are insufficient given the current demand. Health experts are urging people to strictly follow health safety guidelines to curb the spread of the virus. The shortage of testing kits comes at a time when public concern is mounting over a new wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths being reported from various parts of the country, with locals expressing anxiety over the inability to access testing services. During a visit to Bagerhat General Hospital on Thursday afternoon, this correspondent found crowded corridors, packed outpatient areas, and a lack of social distancing. People of all ages—men and women—were seen jostling for space inside the hospital premises, with little to no adherence to Covid safety protocols. Several patients reported experiencing persistent fever, headache, cough, and body pain, prompting them to seek medical attention. Doctors provided prescriptions based on symptoms, but testing was not possible in the absence of kits. Patients said they had approached their local health complexes for Covid-19 tests after developing symptoms but were turned away due to the unavailability of test kits. In most cases, doctors resorted to symptom-based treatment. Dr Moni Shankar Paik, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Kachua Upazila Health Complex, told UNB that an average of 40 to 50 fever patients visit the complex daily.   "But we are unable to conduct Covid tests due to a lack of kits. We are referring suspected cases to Bagerhat District Hospital," he said. The physician also said his hospital requested 1,000 antigen rapid test kits from the DGHS, but none had been received as of Thursday. Dr Md Shaheen, Health and Family Planning Officer at Mongla Upazila Health Complex, said a patient showing Covid symptoms came to the hospital on Thursday. "We suspect it could be a Covid case, but without testing kits, we couldn't confirm. The patient was referred to Khulna Medical College Hospital for testing and was treated based on symptoms," he added. Two days earlier, another suspected Covid patient was also turned away due to the kit shortage. No vaccine for new Covid sub-variants, 3.2 million old doses in stock Dr Shaheen confirmed that Mongla Health Complex had submitted a requisition for 1,000 antigen test kits to the DGHS on June 10, but no kits had arrived by Thursday afternoon.   Dr Asim Kumar Samaddar, Superintendent of Sadar hospital, said 150 antigen test kits were delivered to the hospital on June 16. However, none of them had been used as of Thursday, due to the need for selective testing amid limited supply. “We are conducting tests only for those with strong indications of Covid infection. For RT-PCR testing, we are sending patients to Khulna Medical College Hospital, Satkhira Medical College Hospital, or Jessore University of Science and Technology,” he said. Dr Samaddar warned that the new Covid variant appears to be more dangerous and has a higher mortality rate. “The elderly and children are particularly at risk. Everyone must remain alert and follow health safety guidelines,” he advised. The hospital has allocated 20 beds for potential Covid patients, and if more kits are supplied, testing will be expanded as needed, he added. Dr ASM Mahbubul Alam, Civil Surgeon of Bagerhat, said that none of the nine upazila health complexes in the district currently have antigen rapid test kits. “We have sent requests to the health directorate from every upazila. Currently, only the district hospital has 150 kits,” he said. Khulna medical prepares 40 beds for COVID patients “Due to the limited number of kits, we are instructing doctors to screen patients carefully before conducting tests,” Dr Alam added. According to data from the district health department, Bagerhat tested 32,714 samples for Covid-19 up to June 2023. Of these, 8,022 were confirmed positive. So far, 144 people have died from Covid in the district, while 7,878 have recovered.

A man was killed and three others were injured in a head-on collision between a  bus and a battery-run easy bike (three-wheeler) on the Bagerhat-Pirojpur regional highway in Morrelganj upazila on Saturday morning. The deceased was Siam Gazi, 20, son of Mojibur Gazi from Teligathi village in Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat district. The injured were Siam’s father Mojibur Gazi, 50, their neighbour Rashid Khan, 75, and easy bike driver Bappi, 30. Over 600 killed in road accidents across Bangladesh in March Sub-inspector Md Tomez Uddin of Mahishpura Police Outpost in Morrelganj said Siam, his father, and a neighbour were heading to Pirojpur in the easy bike. As the vehicle reached Ballyadangga area of Bolbhodrpur it collided with the  bus coming from the opposite direction, he said. Siam was declared dead after being taken to a hospital while the others were admitted to the 250-bed Bagerhat District Hospital for treatment, the SI added.

A group led by a local BNP leader reportedly attacked police in Kachua upazila’s Gajalia Bridge area on Tuesday night in an attempt to snatch an arrested suspect, leaving four police officers injured. A joint operation by police and army personnel later detained 17 individuals involved in the attack. A case has been filed in the police station naming 27 people and 100 to 150 unidentified people as accused in the incident. On Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Kachua Police Station Rakib filed the case as the plaintiff. Previously arrested, suspect Ekhlas Sheikh (35) was wanted in connection with cases of extortion and assault. According to the police, he is an active BNP worker. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kachua Police Station Md Rashedul Alam said that a police team, led by Sub-Inspector Ahmed Kabir, conducted a raid in the Gajalia Bridge area at around 11pm on Tuesday. UP chairman accused of setting fire to victim's house after attempted rape case in Patuakhali During the operation, they arrested Ekhlas Sheikh, an accused in extortion and assault cases. At that moment, a group of 100-150 individuals, led by Gajalia union BNP President Shikdar Zakir Hossain Tutul and General Secretary Sheikh Delwar Hossain, attacked the police to free the suspect, said SI Ahmed Kabir, who was injured in the attack. The other injured policemen are Kachua Police Station Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Rakib Mollah and constables Md Zahidur Rahman and Ranjan Biswas. They sustained injuries in the attack and received primary medical treatment at Kachua Upazila Health Complex, the OC added. Bagerhat Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md Shamim Hossain said out of the 27 named accused in the case, 17 people have been arrested and sent to the district jail through the Bagerhat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in the afternoon.

Transformer thefts in Bagerhat have been rising sharply, causing widespread power outages and leaving thousands of customers without electricity. Over the last three and a half months, 22 transformers have been stolen from various areas, with most thefts occurring in Karapara union of Bagerhat Sadar upazila. The financial loss from these thefts is estimated at around Tk 20 lakh. The thefts have caused serious disruptions to electricity supply, affecting more than 4,000 customers. According to Bagerhat Palli Bidyut Samity, three transformers were stolen in October, five in November, ten in December, and four as of January 20 this year. The most recent theft occurred on January 20, when a transformer was stolen from Darirsulpur village in Bagerhat Sadar upazila. Each stolen transformer, which costs between Tk 42,000 and 60,000, had an active power connection when it was stolen. The transformers range in size from 5 kVA to 50 kVA. Locals expressed concern about the thefts, saying they suffer both financially and from prolonged power outages. After the first theft, they are required to pay the additional cost of replacing the transformer. If the transformer is stolen again, they must pay the full price. Only after the payment is made, the new transformer is installed, they said. Read: Massive winter storm brings rolling blackouts, power outages Sushanta Roy, general manager (GM) of Bagerhat Palli Bidyut Samity, said that thieves are able to climb electricity poles, remove the covers of transformers, and steal valuable copper wiring, leaving behind the transformer box and other components. “Despite multiple police reports, none of the stolen transformers have been recovered,” he added. He also mentioned that on December 29, a group of thieves attempted to steal a transformer in the Srighat area of Bagerhat Sadar upazila but fled, leaving behind their battery-run easy bike. On information, they went to the village, recovered the easy bike, and handed it over to the police station. He believes that by tracing the easy bike, police can arrest the members of the thief gang. The general manager urged police and the public to remain vigilant to help prevent further thefts. Md. Rokonuzzaman Khan, President of Bagerhat Palli Bidyut Samity, expressed concerns about the frequent reports of transformer thefts from various areas. He highlighted that consumers are financially affected and suffer when transformers are stolen, despite paying their bills regularly. He questioned why they should bear the cost of stolen transformers. Read more: No more IPP in power sector with govt guarantee to buy electricity: Adviser

Two people, including a three-wheeler trolley driver, were killed and four others injured as the vehicle carrying them overturned in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat early Thursday. The deceased were named as driver Didar Mollah, 30, son of Jafar Mollah of Khulna’s Dacope upazila and day labour Rokan Uddin, 60, son of Wazed Ali Sheikh of Sonaitala village under Mongla upazila. The injured are Wahed Mollick, Ayub Sardar, Milon Mallick, and Tajmir Sheikh. Wahed was undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College and Hospital and the trio at Mongla Upazila Health Complex. Read: 35-year-old dies in Jhenaidah road accident Mongla police station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Anisur Rahman said the six day labours were returning to their village home in Mongla from Khulna after harvesting paddy there. Their vehicle veered off after losing control and hit a roadside pile of stones in Chapra area around 2am, leaving the two dead on the spot and four others injured, he said, The injured were undergoing treatment, the OC said, adding that the trolley was seized.

A case has been filed in connection with the attack on a convoy of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement’s March for Unity in Bagerhat’s Mollahat upazila. Hridoy Gharami, a representative of the movement, lodged a complaint on Thursday, naming 74 individuals and 45 to 50 unidentified others as accused. Among the accused, Kalu Farazi, a transport worker in the Madrasaghat area, has been identified as the prime suspect, said Mollahat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shafiqul Islam. Five individuals—Mostaq Munshi (45), Abdur Rahman, Ujjwal Sarkar, Sabbir, and Hanif—have been arrested in connection with the case and were sent to the Bagerhat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Police have launched a raid to arrest the remaining suspects, the OC added. The incident occurred around 11:30 am on Tuesday when a dispute broke out between the convoy of students and the staff of a bus in the Madrasaghat area over giving way. Students motorcade comes under attack in Bagerhat; 20 injured Following this, the students’ vehicles were attacked, with stones and bricks thrown at them. Several students were physically assaulted, leaving at least 20 injured. The clash caused the Khulna-Dhaka highway to remain blocked for nearly two hours as the confrontation escalated into a chaotic scene.

A total of 64 Indian fishermen, who were imprisoned in Bagerhat district jail for illegally fishing in Bangladeshi waters, have been released. The fishermen were handed over to the Coast Guard and police officials on Thursday. According to Bagerhat District Jail Superintendent Shankar Kumar Majumder, 48 of the fishermen were arrested on October 17, 2024 while the remaining were arrested on November 20, 2024 for fishing illegally in Bangladeshi territory. They were handed over to the Mongla police station, and cases were filed against them under the Marine Fisheries Act. Bangladesh, India to exchange detained fishermen Sunday: Foreign Adviser On December 30 last year, Bagerhat Senior Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Kamrul Azad discharged the 64 fishermen from the case, leading to their release order from the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 31. Following the directive, the fishermen were released from the district jail today. A Coast Guard official from Mongla Zone said that the fishermen were transferred to the Coast Guard base in Mongla under tight security. They will be handed over to the Indian authorities tomorrow as per the arrangements.

Lilium, a winter-flowering plant native to colder regions, is captivating people with its vibrant colors and sweet fragrance. While this flower is commonly found in foreign gardens, it is proving to be adaptable to Bangladesh’s climate. In fact, Lilium flowers bloom here in half the time it takes in its native colder regions, marking a new agricultural opportunity in the country. In Garfa village of Bagerhat's Mollahat upazila, Lilium cultivation has been successfully initiated by young entrepreneur and engineer Faisal Ahmed. After experimenting with the cultivation of Lilium flowers in his own nursery, Faisal has succeeded in growing the flowers, and now aims to contribute to the country’s agricultural economy by expanding the cultivation of Lilium. Inspired by the flower’s beauty, local residents have begun to dream of growing Lilium commercially. The Department of Agriculture also sees potential in spreading Lilium cultivation across Bangladesh. Farmers in Kishoreganj busy preparing seedbeds for Boro cultivation Faisal Ahmed shared that he has a keen interest in learning about new ventures, which led him to discover Lilium flowers through YouTube and social media. Drawn to the flower’s appeal, fragrance, and commercial demand, Faisal decided to embark on the journey of cultivating Lilium in Bangladesh. To begin, he contacted "Lal Teer," a seed production company, to obtain Lilium bulbs from the Netherlands. With their support, he received 200 bulbs of two Lilium varieties, which he planted in his nursery for experimental cultivation. According to Faisal, while Lilium is traditionally grown in colder climates with temperatures of around 2-3°C, he managed to grow the flowers in his nursery under temperatures ranging from 33-35°C. Surprisingly, the flowers bloomed in just 33 days—much faster than the usual 65-70 days. Some plants even produced up to seven flowers each. These flowers, with their pale yellow hues, need to be harvested in their bud stage, and they can remain fresh for up to a month in a vase, filling the air with their fragrance. Faisal noted that there is a strong demand for Lilium flowers in Bangladesh’s flower markets. In Dhaka, each flower sells for Tk 300-350 at retail. The sight of foreign Lilium flowers in Faisal’s nursery has sparked interest among local farmers, many of whom are now eager to start cultivating Lilium themselves. Faisal also expressed his desire to create more entrepreneurs in the area through this venture. Md. Mehedi Hasan, a nursery owner from Udaypur village, was deeply impressed by Faisal’s foreign Lilium flowers. He noted that the fragrance and visual appeal of these flowers were unlike anything he had seen before. Inspired by the Lilium flowers, he is now preparing to cultivate them in his own nursery, having already set aside five katha land for the venture. Nayeem Chowdhury, a student from Mollahat upazila, who visited Faisal’s nursery to see the flowers, expressed his amazement. "I have never seen such beautiful flowers before. They are truly captivating," he said, adding that he now plans to try his hand at Lilium cultivation in the future. ‘Bou-Jamai Mela’ celebrates rural tradition in Lalmonirhat Md. Zunnun Rahman, Regional Manager of "Lal Teer Seed Limited" in the Khulna Division, explained that the company imports Lilium bulbs from the Netherlands. They provided free bulbs to 15 entrepreneurs for experimental cultivation and helped establish demonstration plots in 11 districts. Faisal Ahmed received 200 bulbs for Lilium cultivation in Bagerhat and was provided with technical support to ensure the success of his venture.

The administration in Kachua upazila of Bagerhat has imposed Section 144 to avert potential clashes, as two separate events were scheduled to be held at nearby venues in the Goalmath area on Tuesday. The restriction, effective from 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, was enforced following an order issued on Monday night by Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) KM Abu Noushad.  The order prohibits all public gatherings, meetings and the carrying of firearms within one-kilometer radius of the venues, including the Goalmath Rashik Lal Secondary School and the Majeda Begum Agricultural Technology College grounds. However, emergency services and law enforcement personnel are exempt from the restriction.  According to local sources, a reception for MAH Selim, former MP of Bagerhat-2 constituency and ex-president of the district BNP, was planned at the Majeda Begum Agricultural Technology College grounds on Tuesday afternoon. Four arrested for vandalising Hindu properties in Sunamganj Simultaneously, Kachua upazila BNP had announced a public rally at the nearby Rashik Lal Secondary School grounds.  With tensions reportedly escalating between supporters of both events, the administration took the preventive step to ensure public safety and order.  “Both venues are located in close proximity and there was a risk of unwanted incidents. Considering the circumstances, Section 144 has been imposed as a precautionary measure,” said UNO KM Abu Noushad.