Rangamati
Python released in Kaptai National Park
A 15-foot python was released in Kaptai National Park after being caught by local people when it entered the locality at Chandraghona in Kaptai upazila in Rangamati early Wednesday.
Taranmani Tanchangya, a resident of the area, spotted the python in the forest of the Sericulture Research Center area in Chandraghona Union and put it in a sack tactfully and informed the Forest Department.
Read: 12ft-long python rescued in Bagerhat
Later, Tanjilur Rahman, Kaptai Range Officer of Chittagong Hill Tracts Southern Forest Department, released the python in Kaptai National Park under the Forest Department.
He also said that the python weighing 20-25 kg is doing well.
Read: 18-feet long python captured in Bagerhat
Kaptai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muntasir Jahan and Assistant Forest Conservator (ACF) Ganga Prasad Chakma of Chittagong Hill Tracts Southern Forest Department were present.
This python might have entered the locality in search of food at night, said Tanjilur Rahman.
Fire guts 4 resorts, 3 eateries in Sajek Valley, no casualties
Four resorts and three eateries in Rangamati's Sajek Valley, one of the most popular tourist spots in Bangladesh, were gutted in a massive fire in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the inferno. All the tourists and the staff staying at the ill-fated resorts escaped unhurt, according to the officials.
Read: Fire guts valuables at Gazipur RMG factory
The fire broke out at Obokash Resort around 4.30am and soon spread to three other resorts and restaurants, said Mizanur Rahman, the deputy commissioner of Rangamati district.
Apart from Obokash, the fire destroyed Sajek Eco Valley Resort, Megh Chut Resort, Mantana Resort, Maruti Restaurant, and two other establishments.
Read: Mugda fire: 55-yr-old woman dies of burn injuries
On information, a fire tender from Dighinala Fire Service and Army personnel rushed to the spot but it took them over two hours to douse the flames.
However, what caused the fire could not be known immediately. "A probe has been ordered," the DC said.
JSS leader shot dead in Rangamati
A leader of the Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) was shot dead by assailants in Rangamati on Tuesday morning, police said.
The deceased was identified as Abiskar Chakma, a resident of the Sijok area of Sharoyatali union in Baghaichhari. He was a top leader of the JSS Santu Larma faction.
Read: UP Polls: 3 shot dead during clash in Thakurgaon
According to police, a group of armed men attacked Abiskar this morning in the Kijing Adam area of Sadar upazila and pumped bullets into his body, killing him on the spot.
"A police team have been sent to the spot," said additional police super of Rangamati (sadar circle) Taposh Ranjon Ghosh.
UP polls: Chairman candidate shot dead in Rangamati
An Awami League-backed chairman candidate of union parishad polls was shot dead by some miscreants at Agapara in Kaptai upazila early Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Nethoai Marma, 56, also president of Chitmaram union unit Awami League.
Mahmuda Begum, additional superintendent of Rangamati Police Station, said a group of miscreants numbering 10 to 12 attacked Nethoai and opened fire on him around 1 am, leaving him dead on the spot.
Read:Bandarban tragedy: Bodies of 2 children found, their mother still missing
Police suspected that he was killed centering the upcoming union parishad election.
Nethoai used to live at a government rest house along Chitmaram Bazar for security reason and the attack was carried when Nethoai returned to the rest house after submitting his nomination paper.
Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Chandraghona Police Station, said the body bore three bullets.
Police recovered the body and sent it to a local hospital morgue for autopsy.
A tense situation has been prevailing in the area following the incident.
Also read: Krishak League leader shot dead in Cox’s Bazar
No complaint was lodged with Chandraghona Police till the filling of this report on Sunday afternoon.
Aung Suisan Chowdhury, president of Kaptai upazila unit Awami League, condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
Tourist vehicle comes under attack in Rangamati: 2 injured
A tourist vehicle was attacked by miscreants on Rangamati-Bandarban road at Golachipa in Rajasthali upazila of Rangamati district on Saturday.
Quoting locals, officer-in-charge of Chandraghona Police Station, Mafzal Hossain Khan, said a group of miscreants ambushed the vehicle carrying 19 tourists while passing through the area around 7:30 pm.
Two tourists --Waisinu Marma and Mehaising Marma— suffered serious bullet wounds in the attack. They were taken to Chandraghona Hospital in Kaptai upazila.
Read:Bandarban tragedy: Bodies of 2 children found, their mother still missing
A tense situation is prevailing in the area following the incident.
Meanwhile, army personnel took the whole area under their control. Additional cops have also been deployed to avert further trouble.
However, the tourists, who escaped unhurt, were sent to Rajasthali Poati by another vehicle.
JSS member gunned down in Baghaichari
A member of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) was shot dead by assailants in Rangamati on Friday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Suresh Kanti Chakma alias Dinesh, a resident of Jarulchari village in Baghaichari. He was a member of JSS Santu Larma faction.
According to locals, a group of armed men went to Dinesh’s house in the Bangatali area of Baghaichari upazila and pumped bullets into his body, killing him on the spot.
Also read: PCJSS man shot dead in Rangamati
Officer-in-charge of Baghaichari police station Anwar Hossain Khan said that the victim's body was recovered from under a bed in Dinesh’s house, suggesting he ran for cover when the assailants had opened fire.
"We are trying to identify the assailants," he said.
Meanwhile, Tridip Chakma, a leader of the JSS Santu Larma group blamed the rival JSS MN Larma group for the murder.
However, upazila president of MN Larma group, Gyanjib Chakma dismissed the allegations, saying, “There is no member of our group in the Bangatali area.”
Also read: One killed in Rangamati PCJSS infighting
The crime was a fallout of an internal rivalry in the Santu Larma group, he claimed.
"Some people are trying to create panic in the hill area in view of the upcoming Union Parishad election," said the JSS leader.
"Police have beefed up patrolling in the area to avert any untoward situation," said OC Anwar Hossain.
Visit Kaptai Lake, Rangamati: The Largest Artificial Lake in South Asia
Do you want to see the mountains and waterfalls? Or do you have the wish to float over blue water? The outdoor enthusiasts often fall into dilemmas to choose between these two desires. Kaptai Lake in Rangamati can save you from this situation. Here you will instantly mingle with the winding mountain roads, waterfalls, and the alliance of water-green. Let's go into details about this largest in volume artificial lake in South Asia with an area of up to 11,000 sq-km.
Historical background of Kaptai Lake
From 1956 to 1962, the then government of Pakistan constructed the Kaptai Dam on the Karnafuli River for a hydroelectric power plant with US funding. As a result, 54,000 acres of agricultural land in the Rangamati district was flooded and this Kaptai Lake was created.
In addition, 606 sq-km of unclassified forests and 75 sq-km of government-protected forests were drowned. A total of one lakh people from about 18,000 families were displaced.
The dam is 670.6 meters long and 54.7 meters high and has a 745 feet long spillway with 16 water gates attached to it. This spillway can discharge 5 lakh 25 thousand cusec feet of water per second.
The specialty of Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
The tourism industry of the Rangamati district has developed around Kaptai Lake. There is a famous 335-feet long hanging bridge over this lake. You have to buy a ticket for BDT 30 for getting on the bridge. The entire lake is surrounded by high and low hills and creepy winding paths. With this fear in mind, when you see the clouds surrounding the mountains are playing as a reflection in a huge pond, your travel-thirsty mind will want to stay there like a bird or an aquatic duck.
Read: Visit Kaptai Lake for a breather
The lake can be traveled by renting a trawler. On the way, you can enjoy the angelic beauty of the Shuvlong waterfall, coming down from a hill about 140 feet high. Besides these, a Buddhist temple and the new Chakma palace stand on the shores of the lake. The old Chakma palace sank into the lake during the construction of the Kaptai Dam.
Here mother nature presents a wonderful combination of various flora and fauna in the overhead mountains as well as diverse species of fish and endless biodiversity living inside the deep waters of the lake. The livelihood of the water-centered people, the environment around the lake including the variety of birds, the hanging bridge, the small islands, etc will fascinate you every moment. Despite being an artificial lake, nature has poured all its beauty into Kaptai Lake.
When to visit Kaptai Lake in Rangamati
You can have a journey to Kaptai Lake all year round. But in the rainy season, the beauty of waterfalls along the lake is at its peak.
Rangamati: 'Shootout between armed groups' leaves farmer dead
A 70-year-old farmer was "shot dead" Monday in Rangamati's Kaptai "during a turf battle between two local armed groups."
The deceased, Thoai Angprugri Marma, was from Kukimara Marma Para of Kaptai upazila.
"Gunshots were heard near ward 3 of Wagga union in Kukimara at 5pm. The farmer was returning from work, taking the Baraichari-Ghagra road at this time. But no one could confirm who was involved in the shootout," Union Parishad member Angsapru Marma said.
READ: 4 UPDF members arrested in Rangamati
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Kaptai Circle) Raushan Ara Rob said the cause of the farmer's death can be determined after an investigation.
Officer-in-Charge of Kaptai Police Station Md Nasir Uddin said the body had been recovered from the spot and kept in police custody. "A case will be filed over the incident."
READ: 3 die as truck falls into river in Rangamati
Cop commits suicide in Rangamati
A police constable apparently committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree at Maniknagar in Sadar upazila on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Joy Dey, son of Ranjit Dey of Chattogram district.
Also read: 4 girls attempt suicide at Social Services Dept-run rehab centre
Quoting other police members, Mir Modasser Hossain, superintendent of Rangmati police, said Joy was attracted to a girl and used to quarrel with her over phone.
Joy took his own life by hanging himself from a tree at the Arshinagar Police camp as the girl refused his proposal, Modasser said.
Also read: Woman poisons daughter, commits suicide in Jashore
An unnatural death case will be filed in this connection.
Fishing ban in Kaptai Lake to continue till Aug 31
The local administration has extended the ongoing ban on fishing in Kaptai Lake till August 31.
Commander of the Bangladesh Navy and marketing manager of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC), Touhidul Islam, said that the ban on netting, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake has been extended by 10 days.
READ: Patuakhali: 18 held for violating fishing ban
Earlier, the BFDC had extended the ban on fishing twice. The latest decision has been taken to increase the safe breading of fish and water level in the lake, said Touhidul.
According to the new decision, fishermen can catch fish from September 1.
On April 26, the local administration imposed a three-month ban on netting, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake with effect from May 1.
READ: 22-day Hilsa fishing ban: 5,533 jailed, Tk243 crore net seized
The ban was imposed to ensure natural breeding of carp fish. The ban was subsequently extended.
Every year, the government imposes a three-month ban on fishing, marketing and transportation of fish from Kaptai Lake aiming to ensure the natural breeding of fish.