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

At least 25 people were injured in clashes between the supporters of rival candidates ahead of the union parishad (UP) polls in Netrokona. The incidents took place Wednesday and Thursday in Dakshin Bishiura, Lokkhiganj unions of Netrokona Sadar upazila and Singdha and Raipur unions of Barhatta upazila, according to police. Complaints and counter-complaints were lodged at Netrokona Model Police Station in this connection. The law enforcers visited the spots Thursday. Also read: 1 killed, dozens wounded in Faridpur UP polls violence According to local sources, Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique, Awami League candidate for the Dokkhin Bishiura union parishad election and also ruling party president of the area, got his party's "boat" symbol. Rebel candidate Abul Kalam, the former chairman of the union, got the "motorcycle" symbol. After receiving the symbols, the supporters of the two candidates started electioneering. As they came across each other at the Dokkhin Bishiura Bazaar, a fight broke out between them, resulting in the injury of 15 people. At that time, chairs, tables, furniture, photo frames with pictures of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were shattered and posters of ruling party candidates were torn down. Md Bachchu Mia, a supporter of Abu Bakar, said, "Supporters of rebel candidate [Kalam] carried out the attack and vandalised the office furniture and damaged photos of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. " Also read: UP polls: Chairman candidate shot dead in Rangamati However, Kalam said: "None of my supporters did that. Supporters of the Awami League candidate planned the incident themselves. The people of the area are well aware of this." On the same day, SM Shafiqul Quader Suja, district BNP leader and current chairman, received the "eyeglass" symbol, for the Lokkhiganj union parishad election at 8:30pm. When his supporters went out to persuade people to vote for him in the election, Awami League candidate Azharul Haque Tuhin's men attacked them at the union's Sultangati Bazaar, leaving five injured. During electioneering of Atiqur Rahman Raju, Awami League's rebel candidate from Barhatta's Raipur union and incumbent chairman, Thursday morning, supporters of Ali Akbar Talukder, the candidate for "boat" symbol, vandalised their rival's autorickshaws and mics. The residence of BNP electoral candidate Sujan Chowdhury was vandalised and looted Wednesday night in Snigdha of Barhatta. The attackers took away Tk3.70 lakh and injured five people. The BNP leader claimed that the Awami League candidate's men attacked his house. Akbar Ali Munsi, Netrokona's superintendent of police, said: "There have been some isolated incidents [of violence and vandalism] in different parts of the district ahead of the polls. Police already visited the spots. Action will be taken upon completion of investigations into the incidents." Netrokona Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mohammad Abdur Rahman said, "We are holding talks with the electoral candidates to prevent violence during and in the aftermath of the elections. However, some unwanted incidents already occurred."

Huawei Technologies Bangladesh has stepped forward with relief materials to support the flood-hit people of Netrokona's Khaliajuri upazila. A relief distribution event was arranged in the district in this connection Saturday. Many districts of Bangladesh are going through a difficult phase as flash floods have affected people around the country, marooning thousands of people and putting their livelihood in jeopardy. Read Seeds for the Future winners visit Huawei Bangladesh headquarters So, Huawei distributed relief items among the needy and flood-affected people in the Netrokona district Saturday. Around 2,000 families received essential items such as rice, red lentils, potatoes, oral saline, sugar, flour and others. Huawei Bangladesh CEO Zhang Zhengjun said: "This relief programme is our holistic approach 'In Bangladesh, For Bangladesh – Here for you' towards the betterment of lives in the flood-affected areas, and this includes our efforts to make people's lives better." Read Huawei holds campus recruitment event at IUT Netrokona Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Abdur Rahman said, "I would like to thank Huawei for standing beside the flood-affected people of Khaliajuri Upazila. Apart from the government's efforts, contributions from the organisations who have extended their help for the people living in these remote areas have given them a respite from the adversaries caused by the pandemic and the flood." Khaliajuri Upazila Nirbhahi Officer AHM Ariful Islam said, "For the last three years, Huawei has been distributing relief among flood-affected people of this region. This is a haor area and suffers from inundation most of the time of the year. Against such a backdrop, I think at least 15,000-16,000 people have come under the relief programme. I hope such an initiative will be extended and Huawei will select remote areas like Khaliajuri in future." Read Akij sets up rooftop solar plant with Huawei's technology

Unable to get the Covid-19 vaccine, a 32-year-old man allegedly thrashed the storekeeper of Atpara Upazila Health Complex in Netrokona on Tuesday. Nurul Amin, the son of Gias Uddin Ahmed of Mobarakpur village in Atpara upazila, has been arrested, police said on Wednesday. Read: Khulna man gets 2 doses of vaccine in one minute Upazila Health Complex sources said that the vaccination drive began at the centre on Tuesday morning but it ran out of Covid jabs by noon.  When Mirza Ataur Rahman Jewel, the storekeeper of the hospital, came out and announced the same to people who were in the queue to get the jab, Nurul got agitated and attacked him. On information, police rushed to the spot and arrested Nurul. Read: Mission Inoculation: Military chopper takes jabs to remote Rangamati hills Md Zafar Iqbal, officer-in-charge of Atpara Police Station, said a case was filed against Nurul in this regard. "He will be produced in a court on Wednesday," he said.

Police have arrested a member of Hefazat-e-Islam's dissolved central committee leader Maulana Abdul Qaium from Netrokona in a case over violence dating back to 2013. He was arrested from a madrasa in Netrokona’s  Kendua upazila on Wednesday, confirmed district Detective Branch (DB) OC Khandaker Saker Ahmed. Abdul Qaium was the director general of the Malni Jamia Hussainiya Madrasa in Netrokona. Also read: Intelligence agencies to identify Hefazat financers: Minister OC Khandaker Saker Ahmed said Maulana Abdul Qaium was the accused in the case filed in connection with the 2013 Hefazat violence in Narayanganj's Sonargaon. A court arrest warrant was pending against him in that case for a long time, he added. Many Hefazat leaders have been arrested in the country recently following the vandalism and arson attacks carried out by its activists across the country protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marking the celebration of golden jubilee of the country’s independence last month. Also read: Hefazat central committee dissolved Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said, "As per our investigation, Hefazat-e-Islam carried out violence with an aim to repeat the incident of Shapla Chattar it unleashed in 2013."