Bhola
Nor’wester lashes across the country; 1 killed
A fisherman was killed at Ulipur Upazila in Kurigram as a nor'wester lashed across the country on Friday night into early hours of Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Momir Uddin, 42.
Police and local sources said a tree crushed Momir near Shyampur Kumar Para area as he was returning from Bazar amid the storm.
Hearing his cries locals rescued him and rushed to Upazila Health Complex, where the doctor announced him dead.
Also read: 12 killed in Gaibandha, Faridpur as nor’wester lashes country
Ulipur police station’s Officer-in-Charge confirmed the incident.
Nor'wester also caused immense damage in several districts of the country including Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Bhola.
In Panchagarh, nor'wester hit with heavy rain and wind around 9pm on Friday.
Moreover, hailstorm was seen in some places of the district.
Also read: Nor’wester destroys 250 houses in Bhola
The Meteorological office recorded 47 Km per hour velocity of the wind during the storm which caused a long power cut in the district.
Many houses and crops were destroyed during this time.
Ferry services were suspended for a long time at Ilisha Ferry Ghat in Bhola due to the storm.
Many vehicles were stranded on both sides of the ghat due to this.
Also read: Nor’wester sweeps Joypurhat; 4 killed
On the other hand, a partial part of a boat carrying passengers sank at Dhal Char Union under Charfashion Upazila because of the storm.
However, no casualties were reported.
Child marriage rate still over 80% in Bhola
Although the overall rate of child marriage has dropped in the country, the number in the Bhola district is still alarming.
The national child marriage rate for children under the age of 15 is 15.5% but it is 19% in Bhola.
Also, the national rate of marriage of children under 18 is 51.4%, but it is 80.3% in the district.
COAST Foundation Joint Director Iqbal Uddin Saturday came up with the findings at the webinar "Causes, Impact and Ways to Prevent Child Marriage."
Also read: 13,886 child marriages in 7 months during Covid-19 outbreak: MJF
The COAST study notes that "insecurity" among parents is one of the major causes of child marriage as 41.7% of those surveyed identified insecurity as the main cause of child marriage.
Other factors included protection of family honour (41%), lack of awareness (44.9%), and poverty (50.9%). The study found that 67.3% of girls get married after passing eighth grade.
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry Chairman Meher Afroz Chumki said despite many initiatives of the government, there is still a problem of attitude towards girls in society.
Also read: 10 million additional girls at risk of child marriage: Unicef
Shireen Huq, member of Naripookho, said: "Not only punishment but also cultural change and social movement are needed to prevent child marriage. Integrated sex education can play an important role in preventing child marriage."
Manusher Jono Foundation (MJF) Executive Director Shaheen Anam said, "To prevent child marriage and its negative impact, it is crucial to bring the girls back, who have dropped out, to school."
Also read: Bangladesh has the highest prevalence of child marriage in S Asia: UNICEF
SM Latif said a study found that 33% of parents find child marriage acceptable. "This situation must change. The primary reasons for child marriage vary widely in different areas. So solving the problem will require division-based programs."
AL’s candidates, rebels mostly dominate 3rd phase municipal polls
Candidates of the ruling Awami League have been unofficially elected from majority of the municipalities that went to polls on Saturday in the third phase, according to partial results.
Schoolgirl ‘gang raped’ in Bhola, suspect detained
A 10th grader was allegedly gang-raped by two men in Bhola’s Borhanuddin upazila on Wednesday.
Hilsa ban: 5 injured in attack during drive in Bhola
Five people, including an officer of local Fisheries and Livestock Department, were injured in an attack by fishermen at Ilisha Bongerchar in Bhola early Wednesday during a drive to protect mother hilsa.
3 held for gang-rape in Bhola
Police on Friday arrested three youths for the gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl in Monpura, Bhola.
Ferry, launch ghats damaged in Bhola; long tailback on both sides
The Elisha Ferry and Launch terminals in Bhola were submerged and the pontoons got heavily damaged due to all day long rains accompanied by gusty wind on Wednesday, causing great sufferings to locals and commuters.
3 held in case of girl jumping into river to escape sexual attack
A teenage girl jumped off a Dhaka-bound launch to save herself from sexual harassment allegedly by a number of the staffers on board.
Bhola district judge recovers from Covid-19
ABM Mahmudul Haque, Judge of Bhola District and Sessions Court, made full recovery from Covid-19 and returned home on Wednesday.
Mother held for ‘killing’ toddler in Bhola
Police arrested a woman on Friday for allegedly killing her two-year-old daughter.
“My family has been struggling with extreme financial crisis and Marium was sick and screaming all the time. So I decided to kill her,” Rubina Begum, the mother, told police.