Pabna
Pabna road accident leaves 2 dead
Two people were dead and two were injured in an accident involving a truck, a CNG run auto-rickshaw and a shallow engine on Ishwardi-Baneshwar road in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district this morning.
Read : President urges unity at reception by Pabna Development Foundation
The deceased were identified as Ahsan Molla, 65, of Bagha upazila in Rajshahi district and Abdul Malek, 30, son of Ala Mandal of Ishwardi upazila.
Read : President inaugurates construction of 500-bed Pabna Medical College Hospital
Quoting local, Arbindo Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police Station, said the accident occurred in the morning near Govt. Sara Marwari Model School and College when the truck, CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a shallow engine crashed into each other, leaving two passengers of the three wheeler dead on the spot and two injured.
Read : 2 die as bus crashes into an autorickshaw in Pabna
The injured were taken to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital.
Dev projects must not damage rivers and canals: PM Hasina asks officials
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (October 16, 2023) asked the officials concerned to make sure that developments projects don’t impede the free flow of water bodies, including rivers and canals.
“We have to ensure the uninterrupted flow of rivers. Keeping that in mind, we have to carry out our projects and development activities,” she said.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating various projects under the ministries of water resources and health.
She joined the programme from her official residence, Ganabhaban, through video link.
She said that in the name of development it is often seen that all water bodies are filled up.
“I think that this is very fulsome. All have to take step to save the water resources whenever any project is taken up or implemented,” she stressed.
Hasina also put importance on preserving water during the monsoon season.
She put emphasis on continuous capital dredging and maintenance dredging whichever is needed for the water bodies.
Read more: Bangladesh is a role model to least development countries: Shahab Uddin
The PM also said that the natural flow of the rivers, canals, beels (lake-like wetland) and other water bodies must not be hindered during implementation of any development project.
She asked the relevant authorities to ensure having at least one water reservoir in every development project.
Mentioning water as the biggest resource for the country, she said that all water bodies must have to be protected.
“The nature will flow by its own course, and we have to take steps to save our resources going with that flow,” she said.
Read more: Development should prioritise environmental protection over environmental damage: Dr Hossain Zillur
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and State Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zaheed Farooque also spoke at the programme.
First batch of uranium for RNPP reaches Rooppur amid tight security
The first consignment of uranium, the nuclear fuel for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, has arrived in Pabna’s Rooppur under special security arrangement.
Akbar Ali Munsi, superintendent of Pabna police, confirmed the development saying that the first consignment of the uranium was transported here around 1:15pm Friday.
First batch of uranium for RNPP heads to Rooppur amid tight security
He said the motorcade carrying the uranium broke down in Gazipur partly due to mechanical fault, but resumed the journey around 7am after it was fixed.
An additional number of law enforcement agencies were deployed on the Dhaka-Pabna Highway and check posts were also set up at important points as part of the security measures, the SP said, adding that vehicular movement on the highway was also kept suspended.
Akbar Ali said the authorities concerned were asked to keep vehicular movement suspended on the highway due to the security issue as the route frequently remains stuck with traffic gridlock.
He, however, said the vehicles plying on the highway were asked to operate through alternative Aricha-Kazirhat routes to avoid suffering.
First shipment of uranium for Rooppur nuclear power plant arrives in country
Earlier, the first batch of fresh uranium for the first unit of Rooppur nuclear power plant arrived at Dhaka airport on Thursday in a special air cargo from Russia.
According to official sources, Director General of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Aleksey Likhachev will hand over the fuel officially to the project authority in the Rooppur project on October 5.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to virtually join the function.
The fuel was produced at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP) in Russia, a subsidiary of Rosatom's fuel manufacturing company Tevel.
USD300 million compensation guarantee given to import fuel for Rooppur plant: Official
Rosatom as a Russian contractor has been engaged in building the 2400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) having two units with capacity 1200 MW each.
According to project officials, the government is expecting to commission the first unit of the RNPP in September next year and second unit in mid of 2025.
PD, 5 others sued over death of 2 workers at PUST,1 arrested
A case has been filed against six people including the Project Director (PD)in connection with the death of two labourers while working at Pabna University of Science and Technology(PUST).
One of the accused, Hossain, has been arrested, said Kripa Shindhu Bala, officer-in-charge of Pabna sadar police station on Friday.
Also read : Man beaten to death by mob in Pabna suspecting thief
The accused are manager of the contractor company Nazirul Haque, Harunur Rashid, Project Director Lt.Col(retd) GM Azizur Rahman, manager of another contractor company Mizanur Rahman, site engineer Sujauddoula, and site engineer Hossain.
The OC said the case was registered after the victim’s family logged a complaint over negligence.
Police said three workers were seriously injured after from the 12th floor of under-construction Sheikh Russel Hall on the campus on Friday.
Also read : 2 workers die after falling off under-construction building in Pabna University
They were rescued and taken to Pabna General Hospital where doctors declared one of them dead. As the condition of two other victims was critical they were referred to Rajshahi General Hospital. One of them died on the way to Rajshahi. The condition of the other injured is also critical.
The deceased were Tuhin, son of Anisur Rahman of Char Masudebpur Baganpara area of Chapainawabganj and Asadul Ali, son of late Mujibur Rahman of Ramna village Ghanti Getagari area.
Also read : 2 children in Pabna dead as pile of sand ‘illegally lifted from river’ collapses on them
With the two, a total of 15 workers have died so far during the construction of several buildings on the campus allegedly due to negligence of contractor farm.
Dr. Kamal Hossen, proctor of the university, blamed the contractor company for the death of the workers.
Lightning strike kills 3 in Pabna
Three people died after being struck by lightning in different areas of Pabna district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Enamul Haq, 18, son of Abdul Majid; Moniruzzaman, 40; and Rafiqul Islam, 42.
According to Liakat Hossain, chairman of the Ekdanta Union Parishad of Atgharia, Enamul was cutting grass in the field at 3 pm when he died due to lightning during heavy rain.
Read more: Lightning strikes kill two in C’nawabganj
Aminul Islam Amin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Aminpur Police Station, said the rain began in the afternoon as farmer Moniruzzaman was working in a field near his house. Later, on his way home in the rain, he was struck by lightning and died.
According to Sujanagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Hannan, Rafiq was also working in the field when he was struck by lightning during the rain around 3 pm. He died on the spot.
Pabna erupts in joy at Shahabuddin Chuppu's nomination for president
People from all walks of life brought out a joyous procession in Pabna district town at ruling party Awami League's nomination of Md Shahabuddin Chuppu, a proud son of the soil, as the 22nd president of Bangladesh.
The nomination leaves only the formality of the retired judge being declared as president on February 19th, the date set for the presidential election, with no other candidates in the fray.
District unit Awami League organised the procession in the morning from the Awami League office which ended at the same place after parading different important places.
They also distributed sweets among the local people including rickshawpullers, van pullers and shopkeepers.
Also read: Profile of Md Shahabuddin
Rezaul Rahim Lal, President of the district unit Awami League, said: “It’s a great day for Pabna residents.”
He also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for providing a party ticket to Shahabuddin as the next president of the country.
Md Shahabuddin was born in Pabna in 1949 and was one of the first members of Pabna district Chhatra League, Awami League’s student wing. He would eventually become the unit’s president.
In 1971, he was the convenor of the Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad in Pabna, and took part in the Liberation War.
Read More: Md Shahabuddin set to become next President of Bangladesh
He became the president of the Pabna district Jubo League in 1974.
He was imprisoned for three years following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 1975. He was later appointed as the Law Ministry’s coordinator in the Bangabandhu assassination case.
In 1982, he joined the BCS (Judicial) Department, and in 1995, he was elected General Secretary of the Judicial Service Association.
He served as the chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigated murders, rapes, thefts, and other crimes by BNP-Jamaat alliance’s activists and leaders following the 2001 general election.
Read More: ‘Everything is Allah’s will’: Md Shahabuddin, set to become next President of Bangladesh
Pabna rickshaw-puller murder: Jubo League activist put on 3-day remand
A Pabna court on Thursday placed a Jubo League activist on a three-day remand in a case filed over killing a rickshaw-puller in the district’s Ishwardi upazila.
The accused is Anwar Uddin, 42, a member of Ishwardi municipality Jubo League and also brother of ward councilor and local Awami League leader Kamal Uddin.
Read more: Rickshaw-puller shot dead over “trivial matter” in Pabna
Earlier in the day, police arrested another accused Ibrahim Hossain, 26, from Kushtia while Anwar was arrested on Wednesday noon from Armbaria area of Ishwardi.
After the arrest, Anwar was produced before the court and was put on a three-day remand, Arobindo Sarkar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ishwardi Police Station.
Read more: AL activist shot dead in broad daylight at Pabna tea stall
On January 4, rickshaw-puller Mamun Hossain, 26, was shot dead and two others were injured as Anwar opened fire following an altercation in Ishwardi.
Ward Councilor Kamal Uddin and his nephew Hriday Hossain were arrested on January 6 from Shailpara area of the town.
Body recovered from pond in Pabna’s Ishwardi
Police on Wednesday recovered the body of a man from a pond after he went missing for five days in Pabna’s Ishwardi.
The deceased was identified as Sumon Ali, 30.
According to police, locals found Sumon’s body floating in a pond in the Paschim Para area and informed police. Later, police recovered the body. No injury mark was found on the body.
Read more: Woman found dead in Chattogram water tank
The body was sent to the Pabna General Hospital for autopsy, said Arbind Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi police station.
Rickshaw-puller shot dead over “trivial matter” in Pabna
A rickshaw-puller was shot dead, allegedly by a local Jubo League activist, in Pabna’s Ishwardi over a trivial incident around 9pm last night.
The deceased was identified as Mamun Hossain, 26, son of Manik Hossain of Piarkhali area of Ishwardi town.
The accused are: Anwar Uddin, a member of Ishwardi Municipality Jubo League and also ward councillor, local Awami League leader Kamal Uddin’s brother; Hridoy Hossain, president of Ward No. 1 unit of Chhatra League, and Ibrahim, a Chhatra League activist.
Parvez, an eye witness said, “We stopped a speeding three-wheeler and asked its driver why he was rushing. While stopping the vehicle, a human-hauler hit it from behind and its glasses were broken. Following the incident, the human-hauler driver tried to take away the three-wheeler driver’s license. Some of us tried to stop the altercation; rickshaw-puller Mamun was in the group. At one stage of the argument, the human-hauler driver angrily left the spot.”
“Sometime later, Anwar along with a few people, including Hridoy and Ibrahim, came to the spot and asked me why we stopped the human-hauler driver. At the time, people nearby came forward and tried to stop them. At one stage of the altercation, Anwar took out a pistol and opened fire, leaving Mamun Hossain and Rocky Hossain injured. They also stabbed another person named Suman,” Parvez also said.
Locals rescued them and took them to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex, where a doctor declared Mamun dead. The injured were shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as their condition was critical.
Arbind Sarker, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police station, said they visited the spot after the incident. Additional police have also been deployed in the area. Process is underway for filing a case.
Jubo League leader killed in clash over disputed land in Pabna
A Jubo League leader was hacked to death and five others were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over occupying a piece of disputed land in Pabna’s Chatmohar upazila on Friday.
Anisur Rahman Anis was vice-president of Parswodanga Union Jubo League, and son of late Akbar Ali of Prabhakar Para village in the upazila. Anis was 50.
Locals rushed him to the upazila health complex, but the doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The injured are Jakirul Sarker, Badrul Islam, Aslam Hossain, Nahid Hossain, and Monsur Rahman. Jakirul, admitted at Pabna General Hospital, is said to be in critical condition.
Locals said there was a longstanding dispute between Anis and one Aynal Haque over ownership of the land in question.
On Friday morning, Anis started building a fence around it. The barbaric clash was triggered as when Aynal and his men tried to stop the fence from being put up. The injured come from both sides.
Jalal Uddin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chatmohar Police Station, said that three people were detained immediately for interrogation.
Due process to file a case in connection with the incident is being followed, the OC added.