Magura
Magura court orders PBI probe into transport worker’s death, FIR against 5 cops
A court in Magura has ordered a PBI probe into the death of a transport worker in alleged police torture as well as the registration of an FIR against five cops.
Senior Judicial Magistrate (II) Sabyasachi Roy passed the order after the deceased's wife Jamuna Begum moved the court on Monday noon.
The court ordered that the plaintiff's complaint be treated as an FIR and asked the PBI to investigate the matter.
The accused in the case are Nakol police outpost in-charge sub-inspector Jamal, assistant sub-inspectors Siraj Molla, ASI Jasim and Bhaben, and police van driver Nazmul.
Read:1 killed, 15 injured as villagers clash in Magura
According to the case statement, the accused thrashed Abdus Salam, 45, a worker at the Wapda ticket counter in Sreepur upazila, in the wake of a false complaint from a person on Saturday.
When Salam fell unconscious, the cops rushed him to Nakol camp first and then to Magura Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
As the news of the death became public, the relatives of the deceased and workers in the Wapda bus stand area blocked the Magura-Faridpur Road for about an hour, accusing SI Jamal of torturing Salam.
Magura's police superintendent Zahirul Islam said that SI Jamal was suspended that day only.
"A three-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the matter. Besides, the family of the deceased filed a complaint at Sreepur police station," he said.
Panchagarh, Magura to become landless-homeless-free districts this week
The government is going to announce Panchagarh and Magura as the landless-homeless-free districts this week as all the landless families are being rehabilitated with modern abodes and lands there.
A total of 52 upazilas of different districts, including all the eight upazilas of Panchagarh and Magura, will also be announced as having no landless and homeless families as part of the government’s commitment made on the occasion of the Mujib Year to ensure shelter for all the homeless in the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will make this announcement on Thursday next during the distribution of 26,229 houses among the landless families across the country, said her principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus at a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.
Also read: Ashrayan-2: About 33, 000 homeless families get homes as PM's Eid gift
Kaikaus said a total of 19,780 landless families were rehabilitated in the 52 upazilas. “The number of landless-homeless families is zero in the entire Panchagarh and Magura. It is a huge achievement,” he said.
In this context, PMO senior secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah said if anyone is found as landless in the two districts and 52 upazilas, the person will immediately be given a house with land. The local administration has already been given an order in this regard, he said.
The 52 upazilas are Nawabganj in Dhaka; Madaripur Sadar; Damudya in Shariatpur; Katiadi in Kishoreganj; Gopalpur in Tangail; Ghior and Saturia in Manikganj; Kalukhali in Rajbari; Nagarkanda in Faridpur; Madan in Netrokona; Bhaluka, Nandail, Phulpur and Fulbaria in Mymensingh; Bakshiganj in Jamalpur; Patiya, Karnaphuli, Satkania and Lohagara in Chattogram; Raipur and Ramganj in Laxmipur; Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Fulgazi and Parshuram in Feni; Gobindaganj in Gaibandha; Atwari, Panchagarh Sadar, Debiganj, Tetulia and Boda in Panchagarh; Nawabganj in Dinajpur; Baliadangi in Thakurgaon; Dimla in Nilphamari; Raninagar in Naogaon; Panchbibi in Joypurhat; Mohonpur, Charghat and Bagha in Rajshahi; Nandigram and Dupchanchia in Bogura; Bagatipara in Natore; Ishwardi in Pabna; Shibganj in Chapainawabganj; Harinakundu in Jhenaidah; Tala in Satkhira; Magura Sadar, Sreepur, Mohammadpur and Shalikha in Magura; Kathalia in Jhalakathi and Dashmina in Patuakhali.
The principal secretary said some 67,800 houses are being provided among landless and homeless families in the third phase of Ashrayan-2, a project of the PMO.
Of these, 32,904 houses were handed over on April 26 last, 26,229 ones will be handed over on July 21 next and the construction of 8,667 other houses is still underway, he added.
Earlier, 117,329 semi-pucca houses along with two decimal lands were distributed among the homeless people in the country in the first two phases on January 23, 2021 and June 20, 2021 on the occasion of the Mujib Year marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Also read: PM’s Ashrayan Project: Homeless Hanufa, thousands more to get own homes on Tuesday
Some Tk 4,029 crore were allocated for Ashrayan houses in 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The government recovered some 5,512 acres of Khas lands to construct houses for homeless people throughout the country and approximate market value of these lands is Tk 2,967 crore.
Besides, the government procured 191.79 acres of lands at cost of Tk 134 crore for construction of houses under the Ashrayan-2 project. And 8,462 landless families have so far been rehabilitated on the procured lands.
Kaikaus said the government will continue implementing the Ashraya-2 project despite the global economic crisis as the house scheme is contributing to make the rural economy vibrant amid the crisis.
He said there are only 22,000 floating people across the country according to the recent population census.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan and PMO Director General (Admin) Mohd. Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui were present at the briefing.
Youth held with 10 gold bars in Magura
A youth has been detained with 10 gold bars in Magura, anti-narcotics cops said on Thursday.
The detainee has been identified as Sakib Hossain, 22, of Sharsha upazila of Jashore.
Read: 6 held with gold bars worth Tk 13.58 cr in Jashore
Acting on a tip-off that drugs were being transported to Jashore from Chattogram, a team of the Narcotics Control Department detained the youth with the gold bars from a bus of ‘Eagle Paribahan’ at Parnanduali bus terminal on Wednesday afternoon.
During primary questioning, Sakib admitted that he was carrying the gold bars from Dhaka to Jashore, said Magura Narcotics Control Department inspector Kabir Ahmed.
Sakib was later handed over to Magura Sadar police station. “A case has been filed in this regard,” said the official.
6 bitten by foxes in Magura
At least six people have been bitten by foxes in Charjhama and Armajhi villages of Magura in the last two days, officials said on Tuesday.
According to Mohammadpur Upazila Health Complex, two men named Khokon Mia, 50, from Charjhama village, and Farid Molla, 65, from Armajhi village, were treated for fox bites on Tuesday.
Read: Magura onion farmers in tears as prices plummet
A day before, four more were treated for the same reason, said health authorities.
According to the injured, a skulk attacked them as they were working in the field.
Dr Moksedul Momenin, upazila health and family planning officer, said, “All the six have been advised to take vaccines.”
Road accidents kill 4, injure 7 in five districts
At least four people including two students were killed and seven others were injured in separate road accidents in Thakurgaon, Narail, Magura, Chattogram and Khulna districts on Saturday.
In Thakurgaon, a 13-year old schoolgirl was killed and two others were hurt in a motorcycle accident at Goalkari on Baliadangi-Lahiri road in Baliadangi upazila.
The deceased was identified as Munni Akter, a sixth grader of Baliadangi Government Girl’s High School and dauther of Sadekul Islam, said Khayrul Anam, Officer-in-Charge of Baliadangi police station.
The accident occurred in the morning when the Baliadangi-bound motorcycle hit Munni from behind when she was passing the area, leaving her dead and the two riders injured. The injured were admitted to Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital.
Also read: Van driver killed in Kushtia road accident
In, Narail , a sand-laden trolley truck ran over a 17-year old student on his way to madrasah on Khararia-Nawapara road in Kalia upazila, said Sheikh Tasmim Alam, OC of Kalia police station.
The deceased was identified as Asif Mina, a student of class eight of Khararia Rahima Habib Dakhil Madrasah and son of Hiru Mina.
OC Tasmim Alam said the vehicle has been seized and legal action will be taken in this regard.
Meanwhile, in Magura an unidentified youth was killed being hit by a trolley truck in front of Jashpur schoolin Mohammadpur upazila, said Ikram Hossain, OC of Mohammadpur police station.
A case was filed in this regard and the body was sent for an autopsy, he said.
Also read: Road accidents claim 7 lives in 3 districts
In Chattogram, a motorcyclist died being hit by a truck on Mariner’s Road in Fishery Ghat area in the city at noon.
The deceased was identified as Tripti Dhar,34, son Chandra Sutradhar from Cumilla.
Truck driver named Alamgir was arrested and the vehicle has been seized, said Zahidul Kabir, OC of Kotwali police station.
Besides, five people were injured at East Jhiler Danga in Dumuria upazila of Khulna as two trucks collided head on at 11:30 am, said Md Shihab Molla, Sub-Inspector of Dumuria police station.
All the injured were truck drivers and their assistants, he said. They were taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital by locals.
Of them driver Babu’s condition is critical, said the SI.
20 injured in Magura clash
At least 20 people have been injured in a clash between two groups over mango plucking in Joka village of Magura's Sreepur upazila, police said on Friday.
Of the injured, 17 have been admitted to Magura Sadar and Dariapur Hospital.
Also read:2 shot in clash between BCL, LDP in Cumilla; LDP Secretary General held
What started as a mere altercation between Sezan,14, son of Shahid Molla, and Akher Sheikh, 35, over the teen plucking a mango from a tree on public land soon turned into a violent clash between two groups.
Injured Sezan and his uncle Hashem Molla told UNB that Akher and his associates vandalised their houses and attacked 10 of their family members with sharp weapons.
Of the injured, Shaheb Molla, 37, Chanchal Molla, 30, Mofiz Molla, 29, Arif Molla, 33, Shahid Molla, 25, Shohag, 45, Ariful Molla, 25, and Mala Begum have been admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital.
Akher Sheikh, on the other hand, alleged that the other group members attacked them and ten of his men sustained injuries in the clash.
Also read: Man killed in clash over delivering sermon after Jumma: 3 arrested
Pritam Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Sreepur police station, said "We have not yet received any complaint in this regard. Will take action after a complaint is lodged."
2 held over raping 3rd grader in Magura
Two people were arrested over raping a female student of class III in Salikha upazila of Magura district.
The arrestees were Imdadul Haque, neighbour of the rape survivor and Rezaul Munshi, a local matabbar (an influential person).
The arrestees were produced before court on Saturday, said Tarakanath Biswash, Officer-in-Charge of Salikha police station.
A case has been filed in this regard following a complaint lodged by the girl’s mother, said the OC.
On April 20, Imdadul Haque allegedly called the girl into his house when his wife went out and raped her.
READ: Three youths accused of raping 5-year-old boy in Cox’s Bazar
Later he destroyed the evidence of the crime and threatened the girl’s family not to file any case in this regard with the help of Rezaul Munshi.
The accused were arrested after the girl’s mother managed to file a complaint at Salikha police station against them on May 5, said OC Tarakanath Biswash.
Truck helper killed in Magura road crash, 2 injured
A truck helper was killed and two others were injured as their truck crashed into a tree in Shalikha upazila of Magura.
The deceased was identified as Mehedi Hasan, 24, of Khulna district.
Also read: Two killed in Sylhet road crash
The accident occurred when the Jashore-bound oil-laden truck coming from Dhaka hit a roadside tree after its drier lost control over the steering at Hajambari of the upazila Sunday afternoon, leaving Mehedi dead on spot.
Driver Zahidul Islam and another helper Emon were injured.
Also read: Cop killed in Khulna road crash
Police admitted the injured to Magura Sadar Hospital, said Tarak Nath Biswas, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shalikha police station.
A case was filed in this regard, he added.
Woman found dead in Magura
A 45-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slit in Vaina village of Magura district town on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Fatema Begum, the second wife of Wahiduzzaman Anu Munshi of the village.
Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station, said that neighbours were the first to spot Fatema's throat-slit body in the afternoon in the family house.
Also Read: Woman's throat-slit body found in Laxmipur; One held
On information, police went to the spot and took the body into custody. Cops suspect she was killed over a family feud.
A case has been lodged at Magura police station in this regard.
The body has been sent for an autopsy, said the OC, adding that "a probe is on".
Magura onion farmers in tears as prices plummet
Strange as it may seem, but a bumper harvest has left many onion farmers in Magura in tears. Forget profit, they are struggling to recover even their production cost this year.
Falling prices of the kitchen staple across Bangladesh are forcing these poor farmers to go for distress sales in the absence of any warehousing option that helps prevent a price collapse in case of a bumper yield.
An essential part of the diets of millions of Bangladeshis, rich and poor, onions add flavour and texture to every meal. Besides, the pungent bulb is a rich source of key daily nutrients.
Also read: Kushtia onion farmers struggle with production cost amid falling price
Every year, Bangladesh witnesses onion crises. However, this year, farmers in Magura are facing a problem of plenty -- basically more supplies and less demand.