A 70-year-old man and his 43-year-old son died after inhaling toxic gas in a septic tank at Udaykathi in Banaripara upazila of Barishal district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Abul Kalam Hawladar and his son Quamrul Islam. Also read : Barisal city polls: 7 mayoral candidates get symbols Quoting family members, Sub-inspector Osman Goni of Banaripara Police Station, said Abul Kalam built a new septic tank at his house. On Sunday, Quamrul was tasked to remove the water inside the septic tank. While removing water through a bucket, the bucket fell inside the tank. Quamrul then went in the septic tank to get the bucket and fell unconscious. Also read : Left Democratic Alliance's protest march followed by rally in Barisal Getting no response from Quamrul, Abul Kalam also went into the septic tank and fell unconscious. Later, local people recovered their bodies and took them to Swarupkathi Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared them dead.

BNP made the right decision by boycotting the election as the result was fixed behind the scene, said Jatiya Party's defeated candidate in Barisal City Corporation (BCC) election Engineer Iqbal Hossain Taposh on Tuesday. He termed the election as ‘farce’ and urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to resign because of the election fraud with people. Also Read: BCC polls: 19 BNP leaders expelled for life in Barishal “The government and the Election Commission have staged digital dramas with the people…BNP has taken the right decision by choosing to boycott the election. The election result was made backstage,” he said. He made these remarks at a press conference at the main election office of the plough symbol on Oxford Mission Road in Barishal city. Also Read: AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal City Corporation election He alleged that the administration, the presiding officers and the returning officers of the centers made various excuses and delayed in allowing his agents to enter the centers on time. Taposh condemned the attack on the mayoral candidate of the Islami Andolan and demanded speedy justice. Also Read: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results Chief Election conductor of Jatirya Party’s Plough symbol Professor Mohsin-ul-Islam Habul, District Jatiya Party member secretary Advocate MA Jalil, among others, were present at the press conference. Also Read: Barishal city polls: Woman says Islami Andolon supporter attacked her over recording video    

A student of DWF Nursing College apparently committed suicide by hanging herself in the dormitory of the nursing college on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Lamia Akter Saima, 22, a third-year student of the college and daughter of Shajahan Molla. Sudip Kumar Nath, a teacher at the college, said that Lamia did not go to the Sher-E Bangla Medical College and Hospital for her internship with her batchmates due to sickness. She was alone in her room. Other inmates of the hostel found Lamia hanging from the ceiling in her room at around 8 p.m. and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. “The reason behind the apparent suicide could not be known. We informed her family,” he said. SI Moinul of Sher-E Bangla Medical College and Hospital Police Camp said police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital morgue. A police case will be filed over the unusual death, he added.

The Left Democratic Alliance's Barisal district committee held a protest march and rally today calling for the overthrow of the government, establishment of democracy, right to vote, an end to gas and electricity price hikes, and lower pricing of daily essentials. Alliance leaders who spoke at the rally said that the current Awami League regime has strengthened their party's looters in the name of development. “They made their second abode in Canada, known as Begum Para. This government has increased the price of electricity 11 times in the last 14 years.   They will not be saved, no matter how much this illegitimate government talks about development,” said the speakers. Also Read: Revoke power price hike or face street protests: BNP to govt  The district coordinator of the Left Democratic Alliance, Professor Dulal Chandra Majumdar presided while the district president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Professor Mizanur Rahman, the district general secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League, Professor Nripendra Nath Barai, and the district member secretary of BASAD, Dr. Manisha Chakraborty, spoke among others. The program was held at 11am on Saturday in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city. A protest march was held in the city following the rally.  

Chattogram Division earned a comfortable innings and 73-run victory against Barishal Division in the four-day National Cricket League (NCL) that concluded on the 3rd day at the BKSP ground -3 in Savar on Tuesday.  Replying to Barishal Division first innings total 236 runs, Chattogram Division resumed the first innings with overnight total 364 for 4 featuring a century by Mahmudul Hasan Joy and piled up a huge total of 443 runs for all in 126.1 overs. Apart from Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s polished 121 runs and captain Mominul Haque’s 81 runs on Monday, two night watch batters Shahadat Hossain (63) scored 75 runs off 150 balls hitting seven fours and one six while Irfan Sukkur (23) added 31 runs off 94 balls with three boundaries. READ: Strike to continue as transporters’ meeting with minister ends ‘inconclusively’   Monir Hossain claimed four wickets for 129 runs, Sohag Gazi and Ruyel Miah took two wickets each conceding 93 and 112 runs respectively. In reply, Barisal Division opened the 2nd innings and were bundled out for 134 runs in 35 overs to suffer an innings defeat on the 3rd day of the four-day affairs. National coloured Shohag Gazi (25), captain Mosaddek Hossain (24) and Fazle Mahmud (21) were the notable scorers for Barishal in the 2nd innings. Nayeem Hasan bowled most economically to grab four wickets for 10 runs in his five-over spell, Mehedi Hasan claimed  three wickets for 21 runs while Mehedi Hasan Rana took two for 44 runs. Later, Mahmudual Hasan Joy, who made century for Chattogram Division, was adjudged player of the match. In the day’s other league matches, Dhaka Division (123, 234/8) were leading by 92 runs against hosts Sylhet Division (265) and Rajshahi Division (232 and 241/4) were leading 75 runs against Dhaka Metro (398) on the 3rd day of the league. READ: NCL: Dhaka Metro trail by 326 against Ctg Division after day 2      In the another match, Rangpur Division (222 and 53/1) needed 195 runs to win against Khulna Division (257 and 212) on the 4th and final day (Wednesday)   

In keeping with Saudi Arabia, residents of a number of villages in Satkhira, Barisal and Panchagarh are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha on Tuesday, the second largest festival of the Muslims. Saudi Arabia and a number of countries across the world are celebrating the festival of sacrifice on Tuesday. But Bangladesh is scheduled to celebrate Eid on Wednesday. In Satkhira, hundreds of people at seven places in the district, including Baukhola of Satkhira district, Upalor Islamkathi of Tala upazila, and Kashimari of Shyamnagar upazila have started the Eid celebrations. Read: Five Eid jamaats to be held at National Mosque The main congregation was held at Satkhira Sadar's Bhar-Khali market at 8am. Imam Md Mahbubur Rahman conducted the congregation with a small number of Muslim devotees. Imam Mahbubur said that all Muslims in the world should perform Eid prayers in line with Saudi Arabia. The devotees offered sacrifices of cattle after the prayers. In Barisal, the holy Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated in advance in some villages of six upazilas of the district. Around 10,000 devotees of Babuganj, Hijla, Mehendiganj, Muladi, Bakerganj, Sadar upazila and metropolis of Barisal offered Eid prayers in the congregations from 8 am to 10 am on Tuesday. Amir Hossain Mithu, president of Haji Bari Jame Mosque in the Tajkathi area of the city, said they offered their Eid jamaat following the government's directives and maintaining all Covid-safety protocols. Read:Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha Meanwhile, in Panchagarh, seven devotees of four families gathered for Eid congregation under police protection as a clash broke out over celebrating Eid a day ahead. This year, the local authorities in consultation with public representatives and local dignitaries will take a decision whether Eid prayers would be held at mosques, Eidgahs or open fields considering the Covid situation in their respective areas. The Religious Affairs Ministry issued some guidelines on offering  Eid-ul-Azha prayers. As per the guidelines, no carpets will be allowed at mosques that will be disinfected before prayers. The devotees have been asked to bring prayer mats from home. Soaps, hand sanitizers and water should be made available at the place where people make Wadu or at the entrances of mosques or Eidgahs. Read:Gazipur gridlocked amid pandemic as hundreds head home for Eid Devotees should maintain social distance following health guidelines. Children, the elderly, disabled people and those involved in taking care of patients will not be allowed to attend Eid prayers. All have to abide by the directives of the Health Service Division, local administration and law enforcement agencies. The Religious Affairs Ministry have already urged Imams and managing committees of mosques to ensure proper implementation of the directives.

Barishal division logged 891 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Monday morning, the highest single-day spike in the division this year. Among the 891 fresh Covid cases in the division, 409 cases have been identified in Barishal district alone. Read: Barisal logs 13 new Covid deaths Besides, 12 more Covid-related deaths have been recorded at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH)  during the period. According to SBMCH authorities, 46 more patients were admitted to the hospital in 24 hours till Monday morning. Moreover, 294 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at the corona unit of  SBMCH. Read: Covid nightmare in Barisal division: Record caseload of 710 reported Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said 387 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far. Some 26,778 Covid cases have been identified in the division to date.

Barishal division on Saturday recorded 13 new Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours. Of them, nine died at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) and one each in Barguna, Barishal and Jhalakati districts, health officials said. Besides, 156 people have tested positive for Covid in the division in the past 24 hours, pushing up the total caseload to 25,287, the officials said. Divisional Health Director Dr Basudev Kumar Das said that 377 patients have died of Covid-19 in the division so far. And some 16,750 people have recovered from the deadly virus to date. READ: Bus services suspended in Barisal over union issues According to SBMCH authorities, 35 more patients have been admitted to the hospital in the past 24 hours. The total caseload in Barishal district currently stands at 10,788. In Patuakhali, the figure is 3,137. The two districts have logged 104 and 10 cases, respectively, in the past 24 hours. In Bhola, some 2,525 people have been found infected with Covid to date, including 38 in 24 hours. Pirojpur district, on the other hand, has logged 3,468 cases, Barguna 2,156 and Jhalakati 3,213 cases to date. READ: Barisal division logs 19 new Covid deaths

Commuters had a harrowing time on Friday as inter-district and intra-district bus services from two depots in Barisal were suspended over workers' union issues. Two different bus owners' associations announced the suspension of bus services with effect from 10am on Friday, demanding the arrest of a union leader and his men. Read: Suspension of long-haul bus services makes people’s journeys arduous According to the bus workers, two unions have been recently formed in Barisal. Since the formation, there have been several fights between members of the two groups. On Thursday again, a clash broke out between the workers of a union led by Sultan Mahmud and Sahidul Islam Titu and the members of the group led by Parimal Chandra Das and Shahriar Babu in front of the ticket counter on the ground floor of the terminal building at 10.30am.  Several members of both the groups were injured in the clash. Immediately after that, bus services were suspended for four hours. Later, the police filed a case against nine people, including Sultan Mahmud, in connection with the clash. The services resumed soon after the police assured action against the accused. Read:Bus services resume in Bangladesh cities However, bus services were suspended again on all routes from Barisal Central Bus Terminal Nathullabad and Rupatali Terminal from this morning. Kawsar Hossain Shipon, general secretary of the Rupatali Mini Bus Malik Samiti, said, "Sultan Mahmud and his men attacked our people on Thursday. Despite an ultimatum, police have not been able to arrest the accused, prompting us to suspend bus services on 17 routes from Rupatali." Kishore Kumar Dey, joint general secretary of Barisal District Bus Owners Group, said bus services on 14 routes, including Dhaka, have been suspended. "The services will remain suspended until Sultan Mahmud and his men are arrested." Read: Commuters suffer as bus services remain halted for 2nd day in Rajshahi Meanwhile, agitated workers blocked the Dhaka-Barisal highway in front of the Nathullabad bus terminal. Nurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said, "We are trying to resolve the issue as soon as possible by talking to the bus owners and the union leaders."

A fire broke out at the Bangla department of Barisal University on Wednesday night, officials said on Thursday. Read:Rupganj factory fire: Owner sent to jail, his 2 sons granted bail The blaze started in the teachers' room of the department on the ground floor of the academic building. Security guards brought the fire under control within a couple of hours, the officials said. Exam papers of students have been destroyed in the fire, the officials said, adding that an electrical short-circuit could be the reason behind the blaze. Read: Factory Fire: HC says compensation to be decided after identification of bodies University Proctor Dr Subrata Kumar Das said, "The security guards informed me about the fire around 11.30 pm. The local fire service was also informed. However, it was possible to control the blaze through our own firefighting system before help arrived."