Faridpur
Southwestern districts cheer as Dhaka-Bhanga rail link via Padma Bridge opens Tuesday
The wait of the people of southwestern districts will come to an end as the much-desired Dhaka-Bhanga railway connectivity via Padma Bridge will be opened on Tuesday (October 10, 2023).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 82-kilometre railway track from Dhaka to Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila under “Padma Bridge Rail Link Construction Project”.
She is likely to go to Faridpur by train and will address a rally at 2 pm at Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium in Bhanga Upazila headquarters, according to project officials.
Project Director Brigadier General Syed Ahmed said already the trial runs of a passenger train and a freight train have been completed on the route successfully.
Project details
On October 14 last year, the prime minister opened the construction work on a rail link between Dhaka and Jashore under the ‘Padma Bridge Rail Link Construction Project.’
Read: Test run: Train reaches Faridpur’s Bhanga from Dhaka via Padma Bridge
The railway line is being constructed in three phases (plus a 3km link being built between Dhaka and Gandaria): 37km Gandaria-Mawa section, a 42km Mawa-Bhanga section, and an 87km Bhanga Junction-Jashore section. Some 43.2km of loops, siding and Y-connections bring the total track length to 215.2km.
The entire railway project from Dhaka-Jashore is scheduled to be completed by June, 2024.
There will be 20 stations from Dhaka to Jashore, of which 14 are new and 6 are already there. The previous stations are also being modernised. Once completed, trains will be able to run at a speed of 120 to 130 kilometres.
Read: Dhaka-Bhanga railway track via Padma bridge all set for trial run on Thursday
There will be no railway crossing anywhere on the Dhaka-Jashore railway line as underpasses are being constructed at each level crossing all the way from Dhaka to Jashore.
The distance from Dhaka to Bhanga is about 82 kilometres. The new railway line from Gandaria in Dhaka has been added to the Padma Bridge via Keraniganj.
Trains will be able to run from Kamalapur to Bhanga via Gandaria along the Dhaka-Narayanganj railway line.
Under the project, 100 modern passenger coaches have already been purchased. New trains will be introduced by decorating the rakes with them.
The Padma Bridge rail link project was approved on May 3, 2016. At that time, its construction cost was estimated to be around Tk 34,989 crore. When the project proposal was amended on May 22, 2018, the cost increased to Tk 39,247 crore. The cost may increase further, according to concerned authorities.
The Padma Bridge rail link project is being constructed with Chinese funding, on the basis of G2G (government to government). Chinese contractor China Railway Engineering Group (CREC) is working on the project. China's Exim Bank is providing a loan of $ 266.79 crore to implement the project.
Read: ICC World Cup Trophy travels to Padma Bridge
The rest of the cost is being managed by the government of Bangladesh.
What people think about the rail link
UNB Faridpur correspondent reports: The long-cherished dream of southwestern region's people including Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Narail will come into reality through the opening of the rail connectivity.
It will ensure safe journey of commuters from Dhaka to southwestern region at an affordable rate.
Talking to UNB, Abul Foyez Shah Newaz, a freedom fighter, said “Once country's independence was a dream to us, the train movement over the Padma Bridge was also a dream for the people of this region and the dream has come into reality with the sincere efforts of the government.”
Read: Padma bridge project cost increased further by Tk 1,117 cror
Padma Bridge rail link: Goods train reaches Mawa station in Faridpur on trial
A freight train of Bangladesh Railway successfully completed a test run from Faridpur’s Bhanga station crossing the Padma Bridge on Saturday (September 16, 2023).
The goods train left Bhanga station at 7:40 am and reached the Mawa Station via Padma Bridge and again returned to Bhanga Station, said Project director of Faridpur Rail Project, Brig: General Syed Ahmed.“ Five bogies carried 350 metric tonnes of stone during the trial run and the speed limit was 80 kilometers per hour,” he said.
Locals block Hili rail track demanding restoration of stopover of all trainsPresident of Faridpur Chamber of Commerce Nazrul Islam said people will be able to transport their goods using the train service at a low cost.Earlier, the test run of a passenger train from Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station to Faridpur’s Bhanga Station was successfully completed on September 7.
Test run: Train reaches Faridpur’s Bhanga from Dhaka via Padma BridgePrime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the rail link on October 10.
Microbus cylinder blast leaves 7 dead in Faridpur
Seven people were burned dead and another was injured after the gas cylinder of a microbus exploded on Dhaka-Khulna highway at Maligram in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Saturday (June 24, 2023).
The deceased included three women, two men and two children but their identities could not be known yet.
A fire broke out in the microbus as its gas cylinder went off around 11 am, leaving five people dead on the spot and three others injured, said Tayumul Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhanga Highway Police.
Read more: Couple who suffered burns in fire from ‘gas line leak’ in Dhaka's Tejgaon dies
Two passengers succumbed to their injuries at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical College (BSMMC) Hospital, said Md Shahjahan, superintendent of the district police.
Injured microbus driver Mridul Malo, a resident of Sadar upazila, has been undergoing treatment at BSMMC hospital.
Read more: Wari fire death toll rises to 2
The bodies were kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, he said, adding that the deceased hailed from Boalmari upazila of the district.
Deputy Commissioner Kamrul Ahsan Talukder said they have already formed a five-member probe committee to look into the matter and asked to submit its report within next two days.
He said Tk 20,000 was given for burial to the families of each deceased and Tk 10,000 for treatment of the injured driver.
Read more: https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/man-injured-in-narayanganj-tv-blast-dies/117252
Man killed in lynch-mob attack in Faridpur
A man was beaten to death by a mob suspecting him to be a child abductor in Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila on Sunday night.
The identity of the deceased could not be known yet.
Quoting locals, police said when the man was trying to pick up a child named Ritaz Meer, son of Khairul Meer of Nazirpur area, local people caught him and beat him mercilessly around 8 pm.
He was later sent to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital where the duty doctor declared him dead.
ASP (Bhanga circle) Md. Helal Uddin Bhuiyan said legal proceedings are underway.
Sand lifting poses threats of river erosion in Faridpur
Illegal sand lifting from the Gorai river in Faridpur has continued for the past two months – posing erosion risks and displacement of those living by the river.
Shah Asaduzzaman Tapan, chairman of Dumain Union Parishad under Madhukhali upazila, has been allegedly lifting sand at Dumain ghat, while a company named MNZ Bricks is said to be extracting soil out of a recently formed char close to Kheyaghat in Rayzadpur.
On a recent visit to Dumain ghat and the char where local farmers cultivate vegetables, UNB’s Faridpur correspondent saw dredger machines and piles of sand on the bank of the river in both places.
A dredger machine driver at Dumain ghat said they extract 8,000 to 10,000 square foot of sand per day.
Also read: Illegal sand lifting endangers vast track of farmland
Youth lynched in Faridpur for suspected theft
A young man was beaten to death in a lynch-mob attack on suspicion of being a thief at Khaminarbad union of Bhanga Upazila in Faridpur district early Monday.
The deceased was identified as Samad Sardar, 40, son of late Natu Sardar, a resident of Dangarpar village of Bhanga Upazila.
Local said a group of villagers caught Samad at night suspecting him to be a thief after seeing him roaming suspiciously in the village since afternoon.
Read more: Mob lynches two robbers to death in Cumilla
On the other hand, the deceased’s family claimed that Samad, a sweetmeat vendor, was coming back home from Dhaka while a group of people picked him up and beat him mercilessly, leaving him dead on the spot.
Ziarul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Bhanga Police Station, said police sent the body to Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police sue 114 BNP men in Faridpur
A case was filed on Thursday accusing up to 114 BNP leaders and activists involving clashes with ruling Awami League supporters during their mass sit-in-programme in the district on Wednesday.
Raihan Kabir Nayeem, a sub-inspector of the Kotwali police station, filed the case naming 24 individuals and 70 to 80 unidentified individuals in this connection.
Read more: BNP’s mass sit-in programme foiled in Faridpur
The accused included Faridpur Metropolitan BNP Convener and President of the sit-in programme FM Kaium Jangi, district BNP’s Member Secretary AK Kibria Swapon and its Joint Convener Jilfiqar Hossain Jewel, among others.
Police, however, arrested 13 BNP men and another unidentified man, and sent them to jail after court proceedings on Thursday.
Expressing concern over the case filed against them, local BNP’s Convener Syed Modarrechh Ali said their supporters resisted the attackers of Awami and Juba League while they were holding the programme.
He alleged that police had also fired bullets on them. “Police arrested our sons (party men), beat them and lodged a case against us in a way that the behaviour of the police is a barrier to democracy,” he said.
On Wednesday, the mass sit-in programme of BNP and like-minded opposition parties was foiled as a group of youths wearing helmets attacked their protest event at Ambika Maidan of Faridpur district town.
Read more: BNP, like-minded parties start mass sit-in protest
Witnesses said a group of around 50 unidentified people wearing helmets attacked the leaders and activists of the BNP and other opposition parties when they gathered there to hold their programme.
They hurled crude bombs and threw brick chips at the BNP men, triggering a chase and counter-chase between them.
Palli Kabi Jasimuddin’s 120th birth anniversary today
The 120th birth anniversary of famous poet and litterateur Jasimuddin, widely revered as the “Polli Kobi” is being observed on Sunday.
The poet was born on this day in 1903 at his maternal uncle’s house in Tambulkhana village in Faridpur district.
UNB Faridpur correspondent reports: As part of the celebration, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Kamrul Ahsan Talukdar, Superintendent of district Police Md Shahjahan and freedom fighter commander Abul Foyez Shanewaz among others paid floral tributes to the poet’s graveyard at Ambikapur.
Later, people from all walks of life and members of different cultural and social organisations paid their respect to the poet.
Read more: Palli Kabi Jasimuddin’s 116th birth anniversary being observed in Faridpur
A discussion meeting and a doa mahfil were held at the yard of the poet’s house with Additional DC Taslima Ali in the chair. DC Kamrul addressed the event as the chief guest.
Different aspects of the poet’s life and creations were discussed at the programme.
Two of his legendary works, ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ (Field of the Embroidered Quilt) and ‘Sojan Badiar Ghat’ (Gypsy Wharf) are considered two masterpieces in Bengali literature and has been globally translated.
Being a versatile writer, Jasimuddin is also respectfully remembered for his numerous other creative works including poems, ballads, songs, dramas, novels, stories, memoirs, travelogues and more.
As an esteemed lyricist, Jasimuddin penned many popular Bengali songs including “Amar sonar moyna pakhi,” “Prano shokhi re,” “Amay eto raate,” “Nishithe jaiyo fulobone,” “Amar haar kala korlam re,” “Amay bhaisaili re,” and others.
For his remarkable literary works, Jasimuddin was awarded the President's Award for Pride of Performance in 1958, DLitt. by Rabindra Bharati University, India in 1969, Ekushey Padak in 1976 and Independence Day Award (posthumously) in 1978.
In January 2018, Bangla Academy announced Jasimuddin Literary Award, a biennial award to be given for lifetime contribution to Bangla literature.
Read more: 46th death anniversary of Polli Kobi Jasimuddin being observed
Faridpur woman earning Tk 1 lakh per month from vermicompost
Once Tania Parvin, and her four-member family, had to struggle to make ends meet. One day she saw a video on YouTube on how to make vermicompost at home, and her journey to economic emancipation started.
With the help of the local Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), she began her production with a three-ring slab in 2017 after receiving training. Gradually her production expanded.
“Twelve to 15 tons of fertilizer is produced from my 36 units every month. I had only 12 units in the beginning. The retail price per kg is Tk 15 and the wholesale price is TK12,” she said.
Read more: Jute sticks: A new source of income for Faridpur farmers
She now earns Tk 100,000 per month by producing the organic fertilizer.
Tania is now selling this fertilizer in various parts of the country. She said, the demand for this fertilizer is increasing by the day.
Not enough fuel allocation means no ambulance service at Faridpur General Hospital for 45 days
Biman Dutta, a resident of Faridpur town, was at a loss when he needed to shift his father-in-law from Faridpur General Hospital to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and Hospital (BSMMCH) in the district due to critical condition.
As there was no ambulance service at the hospital for over 45 days due to “fuel crisis”, he had to hire a private ambulance that cost him twice as much.
Many patients from Faridpur town and adjacent upazilas are facing the same problem due to ambulance shortage as critical patients need to be transferred to BSMMCH and Dhaka for advanced treatment.
Read more: Inmates at overcrowded Faridpur jail suffer in absence of medical facilities
The hospital authorities are saying this problem has been caused by lack of fuel being allocated.
They said they have sent numerous letters to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Ministry of Health seeking funds but are yet to get any response.
“Lack of fuel allocation is to blame for patients’ suffering. We owe the local petrol station around TK 3.5 lakh for fuel. We had to halt our ambulance service from November 1, 2022,” said Ganesh Kumar Agarwala, resident medical officer of the hospital.