Faridpur
Sufficient sacrificial animals available in Faridpur despite pandemic
Although many districts are bracing for a shortage of sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country, Faridpur is an exception.
Livestock farmers are now busy nurturing cattle in more than 5,000 cattle farms in nine upazilas of the district ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of Muslims when over one crore cattle are sacrificed across the country.
Officials at district Livestock Department said more than 50,000 sacrificial animals are ready in the district for the Eid-ul-Azha.
They are expecting to supply those to other districts after fulfilling local demand, they said.
The farmers of the district told UNB that there is no need to bring sacrificial animals from the other side of the border keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation, as they are confident that the homegrown cattle would be enough to meet the demand.
They also demanded the authorities concerned take steps to halt smuggling of cattle from India to ensure fair prices for local farmers.
READ: Khulna braces for shortage of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice, is likely to be celebrated across the country in late July for the second consecutive year under the shadow of a surging Covid-19 pandemic.
Keeping the status quo in mind, relevant authorities have taken steps to shift the major part of animal sales online.
Faridpur District Animal Resources Officer. Nurullah Md. Ahsan said,"We have taken initiative to sell sacrificial animals online in every upazila of the district this year. Farmers are posting pictures of their cattle on dedicated facebook pages and online spaces alongside their weight and value.”
He said at least 48,349 cattle if not more have been prepared for sale in the coming Eid despite the district having a demand of only 36,000.
Syed Zahurul Alam, owner of Syed Shah Ali Baghdadi, a large farm in Gerda area of Faridpur Sadar Upazila, said his farm has 60 large and medium-sized cows. He said that he has bought improved breeds of young cows and made them bigger for the sacrificial market.
READ: 27,000 sacrificial animals sold online ahead of Eid
He also added that they did not use any harmful chemicals for fattening their cattle this year.
“Many have been employed in my farm,” the proud owner said.
Abrar Nowsher, owner of Tahera Agro in the same area, said 50 large cows have been prepared for the sacrificial market on his farm.
"We have raised the animals through proper care throughout the year and hopefully we will get a good price," he said.
Residents fret as Faridpur runs out of Covid jabs
A total of 18,700 people in Faridpur, who have taken their first Covid-19 shot, are now worried about getting their second dose on time as uncertainty looms over the import of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India amid a shortage in that country.
However, local administration sources claimed said that the second dose of the vaccine will be given to those waiting for the same, as scheduled.
Advocate Shipra Goswami, president of Faridpur Sacheton Nagarik Committee, said, “The government is trying its best to import Covishield from the Serum Institute of India but health authorities should stick to a plan to administer the same."
Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr Siddiqur Rahman said that some 63,663 people have taken the first dose of Covishield to date. "On the other hand, 44,934 people have already got their second dose in the district. So, the remaining 18,730 people are yet to get their second shot," he told UNB.
READ: Dhaka calls for tech transfer & IPR waiver to produce Covid jabs
“We ran out of Covishield three days back, but have continued to administer the Covid vaccine by sourcing the same from neighbouring districts. Now, we have zero stock of the vaccine,” said Dr Siddiqur.
He also said that the government is trying to best to procure the vaccine doses "and we hope to resume inoculation soon".
Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar said, "The government is sincere in its efforts to get the jabs for its people. Already the Covid-19 vaccine from China has arrived and those from other countries will also come soon. All the residents will get the jab as per the government’s policy."
The administration of the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has remained suspended in Bangladesh since April 26.
Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca shots, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to a shortage of the vaccine amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India.
However, recently two other vaccines, Russia's Sputnik V and China's Sinopharm, got approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for emergency use in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses acquired from India's Serum Institute.
Deals signed for the construction of Faridpur-Magura rail line
Bangladesh Railway Sunday signed contracts with two Sino-Bangla joint-venture companies for the construction of a rail line from Faridpur's Madhukhali to Magura town.
The project will build a 19.90 km main line at the cost of Tk1,202.49 crore.
Project Director Ashadul Haque and contracting organisation representatives Liu Xue Bing and Tang signed the agreements in the capital.
When the project is completed, Magura, a southwestern district, will come under the railway network. It will also connect the southwestern part of the country with Dhaka city through the Padma bridge.
Speaking at the programme, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said, "The right kind of development cannot take place in a country that does not have an integrated communication system."
"The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, construction of a separate railway bridge across the River Jamuna, construction of a new railway line from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar and rail link at Mongla Port are among the many projects that are underway now."
ICU at BSMMCH hamstrung by lack of staff, equipment
More than 20 lac people live in nine upazilas of Faridpur district. The 517-bed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital (BSMMCH) located in the district headquarter acts as the major treatment hub for these people, as well as the people of some nearby districts.
But Covid-19 patients are not getting proper services in the ICU unit of the hospital, due to shortage of necessary medical equipment and inadequate number of doctors, even though the authorities claim that they are giving their best efforts.
The hospital is expected to have 24 doctors across two shifts for the 16-bed ICU unit but there are 9 doctors only. Besides, only ten out of 16 ICU beds have monitors running and ventilators work for eight, complained the hospital authority.
Read 'Sadaqa can be Islamic response to pandemic'
Juthika Biswas, a nurse at the ICU ward, said, "The most vulnerable coronavirus infected-patients are treated in this ward. It is hard to cope up with the small number of staff we have, we are still trying our level best.”
The number of patients in Covid unit is increasing day by day. Due to the poor number of doctors and the lack of necessary equipment their treatment is being hampered.
According to the Faridpur Civil Surgeon's Office, in the second wave of Covid-19 the total number of infected people in the district has been 9568 of which 137 patients have died.
Read Birdem shuts ICU after detecting coronavirus patients
Despite all the odds, the staff of BSMMCH corona ward have been serving the patients at the risk of their own lives.
BSMMCH ICU ward in-charge Dr. Ananta Kumar Biswas, referring to various problems at the hospital, said the pressure of Covid-19 positive patients in the ICU ward is very high compared to the number of doctors. Where 24 doctors are needed, there are only 9. The situation is the same in other wards as well.
"In this situation if we’re provided with doctors, high flow nasal canals, monitors and ventilators, we can deal with any situation," he claimed.
Read DGHS urges holidaymakers to return to Dhaka after 14 days
BSMMCH Director Dr. Saiful Islam said, "I have sent a letter to the ministry asking for more doctors and equipment for the large number of patients during this pandemic."
Lalmonirhat villages celebrate Eid following Saudi Arabia
In line with the festive day in Saudi Arabia, residents of three unions in Lalmonirhat's Kaliganj upazila offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Thursday.
Every year, Muslims living in the villages of Tusbhandar, Sundrahabi, Kakina, Chaparhat, Chandrapur, Aminganj and Munsipara in Kaliganj observe Ramadan and Eid a day before, in accordance with Saudi Arabia.
Read:Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as Shawwal moon not sighted
The main Eid congregation was held at Munsipara Jame Mosque in Tusbhandar union of the upazila around 9.30 am on Thursday.
Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Mannan said local worshipers offered Eid prayers at nearby mosques adhering to all Covid safety protocols under the strict vigil of police and the administration.
Eid-ul-Fitr is also being celebrated at 11 villages in Laxmipur in line with the festive day in Saudi Arabia, home to the world's most holy Muslim sites.
The villages are Noagaon, Joypura, Bigha, Hotatia, Sharshoi, Kanchanpur and Kalapur of Raipur upazila and Bashikpur of the district.
Among several places, the Eid congregations were held at Madania Kasemia Madrasa in Ramganj Upazila at 8am.
Residents of these villages have been celebrating all religious festivals, including Eid, for the past 40 years in line with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
In Faridpur also, residents of 13 villages in Boalmari offered Eid prayers in the morning. Residents of a few villages in Satkhira also observed Eid-ul-Fitr by offering prayers in accordance with Saudi Arabia.
Read:Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia on Thursday
Bangladesh will, however, officially celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday evening. The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated amid a global pandemic after a month of fasting.
The Religious Affairs Ministry has urged devotees to offer Eid prayers at the nearest mosques instead of Eidgah and open spaces, maintaining all health protocols.
Recognition as Birangona brings roof over Maya Rani’s head
Maya Rani Saha, a 70-year-old woman in Faridpur, will get her own home built with the help of the district administration, following her recognition as a Birangona.
On Saturday noon, construction work of a house for childless and homeless Maya Rani was inaugurated by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Masum Reza.
Elated Maya Rani thanked him said, “This recognition at my old age has given me more strength to live.”
Helpless, age stricken Maya Rani is a resident of Shobharampur in the extended municipality of Faridur.
During the war 16-year-old Maya Rani was assaulted by Pakistani army and their associates. Yet until now she didn’t receive any recognition.
Child denied bangles, ribbons for Eid ‘kills self’
A 8-year-old child in Faridpur has reportedly taken her own life on Thursday after her poor parents failed to buy her bangles and ribbons ahead of the Eid.
Bithi’s body was recovered around noon from Gohailpara of Bagat union in the district’s Madhukhali upazila.
Her father Samir Sheikh works as a household labourer and her mother is a jute mill worker.
Also read: For an Eid dress only
Bithi has been demanding red bangles and hair ribbons for Eid but her mother told her to wait until the mill pays her wage.
The girl, apparently upset with the refusal, chose to take her life, said her family.
“I promised to get her everything by Eid day. But who knew she wouldn’t wait!” said her mother Asma Begum.
Madhukhali Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Rathindranath Tarafdar said the body was handed over to the family without an autopsy.
Farmers in Faridpur relying on Fatema's dhan for good yield
Cultivation of the rice variety 'Fatema' has started in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur through a young man named Riazul Islam.
While talking to the UNB correspondent, he said that he hoped to achieve bumper yield after cultivating this special variety of paddy on 75 percent of his land.
Read Prioritising high-yielding paddy for haor areas: Minister
While visiting the site, it was observed that the rice has already started to ripen. Harvesting of paddy will also start soon.
Riazul said, ”I first came to know about this variety of rice from a Youtube video. I have collected the seeds of Fatema paddy from Labuyat’s mother after waiting for six months.”
Also read: Govt to buy 11.50 lakh mts Boro rice
It is to be noted that ‘Labuyat’s mother’, the woman from whom Riazul collected the seeds of this variety of paddy is none other than Fatema herself.
Faridpur violence: 48-yr-old accused dies in police custody
A 48-year-old man arrested in connection with the April 5 violence in Saltha upazila of Faridpur, died in police custody on Saturday morning.
The deceased was identified as Abul Hossain Molla, 48.
While the district police claimed that Adul died of a stroke, his family members attributed his death to torture by cops.
Faridpur Sadar Hospital’s in-charge Dr Tofazzal Hossain said, "Police brought the body of Abul Hossain to the medical facility around 6am. The cause of his death can be confirmed only after an autopsy."
Also read: 1 dead, 20 injured in Faridpur violence: Police Super
Faridpur police superintendent Md. Alimujjaman said, “Abul Hossain was found lying on the bathroom floor around 5.30am. We suspect he died of a stroke."
A four-member probe panel has been formed to investigate the death, he said. "The committee has been asked to submit a report within 24 hours."
Abul's daughter Taniya Aktar, however, claimed that his father was innocent. "He wasn’t involved in any village politics. We demand a free and fair investigation and justice for my father's death."
Abul Hossain was arrested on April 16 for his alleged involvement in the violent clashes with police on April 5.
On April 28, the court of Faridpur judicial magistrate Faruk Hossain allowed a police plea to take Abul in their custody for five days for interrogation.
Also read: 8 held, 4k booked over Faridpur violence
On April 5, rumours of killing and arrests triggered the clashes between police and locals in Saltha on the first day of lockdown. The violence saw thousands of people vandalising and torching government establishments.
Few offices and houses of government officials were set on fire by locals during the mayhem that continued from 8 pm to 11 pm that night.
The violence left a young man dead and 20 people, including eight policemen, injured.
Mamunul controversy: Jharna's father now in police custody
Waliyar Rahman, father of Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque's "second wife" Jannat e Jharna, has been taken into police custody for interrogation.
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police left for Dhaka from Faridpur's Alfadanga Police Station with Waliyar on Sunday at around 11:30am.
Waliyar is a freedom fighter and was the president of ward 4 of Gopalpur Union Awami League in Alfadanga upazila. On 21 April, he was suspended from his post.
Also read: AL leaders receiving death threats for showcausing Mamunul's 'father in law'
Alfadanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Wahiduzzaman said, "Waliyar was not detained or arrested, DB police will talk to him for the sake of an investigation."
Waliyar's wife Shirin Begum said the OC and other policemen came at night and took him away, but they did not say why.
Earlier, local Awami League leaders alleged that they had received death threats for issuing a showcause notice to Waliyar.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Mamunul's '2nd wife' goes missing; GD filed
Monayem Khan, Faridpur's Alfadanga upazila Gopalpur union Awami League president, filed a general diary (GD) with the police station in this regard.
According to the GD, Monayem received death threats from three different phone numbers on April 13 evening, for issuing the showcause notice.
Md Farid Uddin, general secretary of the same Awami League unit, also reportedly received death threats the same evening from a number where the caller identified himself as Mamunul.
On April 12, the local Awami League issued a showcause notice to freedom fighter Waliyar. The notice was sent to him through a letter signed by Monayem and Farid over his alleged link with Hefazat.
Also Read: Woman who was with Hefazat leader Mamunul is not his wife
Waliyar never informed the party leaders about his family's involvement with Hefazat; so, it is a risk that the organisational work plan of Awami League may be leaked through him, the letter said.
A satisfactory reply within the seven working days was also sought in the notice, but Waliyar did not respond to it.
On April 3, Mamunul Haque was found along with a woman, at a resort in Narayanganj's Sonargaon, whom he claimed to be his "second wife."