United News of Bangladesh

A blaze swept through a cloth market in the Borobazar area of Netrokona town on Friday night, causing extensive damage.  Around a quarter past midnight, 8 Fire Service units, assisted by local residents, were working to bring the blaze under control, but it had not been contained at the time of reporting. The Netrokona Fire Service told UNB they received the first call reporting the fire at 9.27pm on Friday night.  Several shops and properties had already been damaged, with the extent of the losses yet to be assessed. Borobazar is a major commercial hub and central marketplace located in the heart of Netrokona town. The Netrokona Fire Service Department was working intensively to contain the blaze and expected to bring it under control soon, said the district administration. The district administration urged people not to panic and asked them to keep the roads clear to facilitate firefighting and emergency operations.

A 55-year-old woman was hacked to death by a youth at her home in Katli area of Netrokona town on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Monowara Begum, wife of Abu Chan Mia. Police said Abu Chan Mia, 60, and their son Munna Mia, 25, sustained serious injuries when they tried to save her. Locals detained the alleged attacker, Abdur Rashid, 28, a rickshaw puller from the same area, and handed him over to police. Victim's daughter, Liza Moni, said she found her father and brother critically injured after returning home and saw that Rashid had attacked them with a sharp weapon. "When I screamed for help, local people rushed in and rescued my father and brother. Later, my mother's body was found under a bed inside the house," she said. She also said that the accused was known to the family and frequently borrowed money from them. Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Sajal Kumar Sarkar on Tuesday said that the area was experiencing a power outage at the time of the attack. Quoting local residents, the police official said the attacker first hacked Monowara Begum to death. “When her son Munna tried to intervene, he was also attacked and seriously injured. Abu Chan Mia was similarly wounded while attempting to save his wife and son,” he said. The injured father and son were initially taken to Netrokona Sadar Hospital. As Munna's condition deteriorated, he was later referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Police recovered the body and sent it to Netrokona Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has launched a shadow investigation into the incident.

Four polling centres were set on fire in Sadar and Purbadhala upazilas of Netrakona district early Tuesday. Mamun Sarkar, Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, said miscreants set fire to three polling centres (government primary schools) in sadar upazila at night around 3:30 am. The schools include--Parla Government Primary School, Bamonmoha Government Primary School and Sridharpur Government Primary School. Being informed by local people, police rushed to the spots and brought the fire under control. In another incident, miscreants also set fire to Hironpur Government Primary School in Purbadhala upazila in the dead of night, said Officer-in-Charge of Purbadhala Police Station Didarul Islam. Police are investigating the incidents, he said.

Police have arrested a 21-year-old youth for beating his uncle to death over a family dispute in Kendua upazila of Netrokona. The arrestee is Mazaharul Islam, a resident of Porabari village in Nowpara union of the upazila. His uncle, Kanchan Miah, 65, was also a resident of the same village. Md. Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kendua Police Station, said on Tuesday that Mazharul Islam was arrested in a special operation while working next to Dream Holiday Park in Panchdona Chaitabat, Narsingdi on Monday. Citing the case, the OC said that Mazharul and his wife frequently quarreled with Mazharul's mother, Majeda Begum. On the morning of February 4, the day of the incident, another argument broke out. Following the altercation, Majeda informed her brother, Kanchan Miah, about the situation. Expat’s wife tortured in B’baria over 'family feud': 2 held Upon hearing the news, Kanchan visited his sister’s house that afternoon. An argument ensued between Kanchan and his nephew and niece-in-law over the ongoing dispute. During the argument, Mazharul and his wife beat Kanchan leaving him severely injured. Locals rushed to the spot and took Kanchan to the Kendua Upazila Health Complex, and later to Mymensingh Medical College (MMEC) Hospital. Kanchan Miah succumbed to his injuries around 5 pm that day. Later, Kanchan’s son Manik Mia filed a murder case with the Kendua Police Station. Mazharul and his wife went into hiding following the incident. However, with the help of information technology, Mazharul’s whereabouts were tracked, and he was subsequently arrested. On Tuesday afternoon, Mazharul was brought before the Netrokona Judicial Court, where the judge ordered him to be sent to jail.

Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) predicted that the flood situation in low-lying areas of Netrokona districts may improve in 24 hours. FFWC, in its regular bulletin, said Brahmaputra River remains unchanged but Jamuna river water is in a rising trend, which may continue in 24 hours starting from 9 am on Thursday (July 06, 2023). Read: Rise in Teesta water may cause short-term flood in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari in 24 hours: FFWC warns Water in the Ganga-Padma Rivers is in a rising trend, which may continue in 72hours, it reads. Besides, major rivers in the northeastern region of the country are in a falling trend except Khowai, Monu and Dhalai, which may continue in 48 hours, the bulletin said. Read more: Better flood management: China offers assistance for dredging rivers in Bangladesh

A 32-year-old man has been  trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kalmakanda border of Netrokona. The deceased was identified as Nurul Islam, a resident of Kalmakanda upazila. Read more: Farmer killed in wild elephant attack in Sherpur A herd of wild elephants from Betgara of India entered the country Monday midnight and started destroying farmers' crops, said Abdul Ahad Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kalmakanda police station. Nurul was attacked by an elephant when the villagers chased it. Read more: Two trampled to death by elephants in Bandarban Later, he was rushed to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. A case was filed at the police station in this regard, the OC added.

Fish and fish spawns from 26,417 waterbodies and farms worth Tk 11.57 crore have been washed away by the recent flood in Netrokona. Most of the fish farmers had taken loans from banks, which have become a burden now. The flood ruined their dreams as they have lost everything they had invested in fish farming.  Md Rokonuzzaman Khan Khokon, owner of Nipa Agro Fisheries, said that he had cultivated various species of fish in 100 decimals of land. “All of the fish were ready for sale. I had hoped that I would get Tk 30 lakh by selling these fish. But sudden flooding has destroyed my hope completely.” “I had taken Tk 12 lakh as loan from a bank. I have no idea how I’ll repay my debt,” Khokon said. Md Arifur Rahman and Mukhlesur Rahman, two other fish farm owners, said that they cultivated fish worth Tk two crore in 34 acres of land.  They too had taken a loan of Tk 1.9 crore from a bank. But all of their fish have been washed away by flood. READ: Flood waters receding again in Sylhet but food, water crises persist “I had taken Tk 11 lakh as loan from Bangladesh Krishi Bank. I had also taken money from some of my acquaintances. I had invested Tk 30 lakh in fish farming. But all of my dreams were ruined. I’ll have to spend the rest of my life in repaying my debts,” said Md Ilyas Talukder, another fish farmer from Netrokona’s Baushi union. According to Mohammad Shahjahan Kabir, Fisheries Officer of Netrokona district, a total of 15,826 fish farmers and fish farm owners have been affected due to severe flooding.   “Around 3,500 hectares of area used as fish farms have been affected by the flood. Farmers incurred losses of Tk 11.57 crore,” said Shahjahan.

The Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) recently donated food and medicine for the flood-hit people of Netrokona. Md Anisul Haque, IBBL executive vice president and head of the Mymensingh zone, handed over the food items to the Netrokona Deputy Commissioner's Office. READ: IBBL signs MoU with BRB Hospital District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Aftab Ahmed received the food items. IBBL also handed over food items to the deputy commissioner's offices in Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Bogura, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Sirajganj for the flood-hit people, according to a media statement issued Thursday.

A 32-year-old woman drowned as a boat sank in floodwater at Jurail village in Kendua upazila of Netrokona district on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Julekha Begum, wife of Hares Mia of the village. Also read:Man injured while receiving flood relief dies in Sylhet Mir Mahbubur Rahman, inspector of Kendua police station, said Julekha, her 7-year-old daughter Tanjina,  sister-in-law Nazmunnahar and two others were going to Jurail Haor by a small boat Tuesday morning. At one stage, Tanjina fell into water from the boat. Julekha managed to save her daughter but she drowned in floodwater. Also read: Flood situation worsens in Kurigram, over 2 lakh affected

Police have recovered the charred body of a cattle trader  from Netrokona’s Kalmakanda. The deceased was identified as Mujibur Rahman, 50, of Terotopa village. READ: Man’s charred body found in Jashore The body was recovered by the pond near his house at Terotopa village in Rangchati union of the upazila on Wednesday morning. Kalmakanda police officer in charge Abdul Ahad Khan said that the locals noticed a fire near the pond, about 200 yards away from Mujibur's house, around 11:30 pm on Tuesday. They found  Mujibur's body with hands and legs. He was believed to have murdered before the body was set on fire. Ataur Rahman, elder brother of the deceased said that they had no clue about the murder. The body was later sent to Netrokona Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. READ: Woman’s charred body found in Narayanganj The officer-in-charge of Kalmakanda police station said that it is initially believed that the miscreants had killed Mujibur and fled after setting his body on fire. An investigation into the incident has begun but no arrests have been made yet, the OC said