Gaibandha
Khalid inaugurates pilot launch service in Gaibandha
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated an experimental launch service from Balasighat in Gaibandha to Bahadurabadghat in Jamalpur on Saturday afternoon.If the pilot launch service becomes successful, ferries will be arranged for the transportation of goods and vehicles.The state minister said this while addressing a function at Balasi seaport on the occasion of the inauguration of the pilot launch service between Balasi and Bahadurabad.
Also read: Smoke in Barishal-bound launch creates panic among passengers The government has taken the initiative to dig 10,000 kilometers of waterways. In the meantime, 7,000 km of waterways have been excavated, said the junior minister.
Mistaken for robber, man beaten to death in Gaibandha
A man who went to meet his ex-wife in Gaibandha was allegedly lynched to death by an angry mob Thursday on suspicion of being a robber.
The deceased was identified as Sakhawat Hossain, son of Abdur Razzak of Gaibandha town.
Police said that local residents mistook Sakhawat as a robber and thrashed him to death when he went to Tari village in Kholahati of Sadar upazila to meet his former wife in the early hours of the day.
Read: Man beaten to death over land dispute in Sylhet
Masudur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Gaibandha Sadar Police Station, said, "His ex-wife Shiuli's husband Bayejid Islam came to know that Sakhawat had come to meet her secretly in Tari and alerted locals."
The residents thrashed the victim, suspecting him to be a robber, leaving him critically injured, said the OC.
Sakhawat was rushed to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital where he died of his injuries. "Shiuli and her husband have been detained in connection with the death," the OC added.
Drug trader sentenced to death in Gaibandha
A Gaibandha court on Sunday sentenced a man to death for selling drugs in 2019. The convict was Zahirul Islam, of Gobindaganj upazila of the district.
Read:3 ‘drug traders’ killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’ According to the prosecution, police arrested Zahirul along with 250 grams of heroin while selling drugs at Gobindaganj municipality bazar on June 2, 2019. A case was filed in this regard. After examining the records and witnesses, Gaibandha District and s Judge Dilip Kumar Bhoumik handed down the judgment.
New breed of sheep brings fresh hope to Jamunar Char
The main worries of sheep farmers are heat stress, drought and flooding.
Many lose their cattle, sheep, goat and poultry farms due to floods. Thinking ahead is crucial to cut costs, risks and concerns in future.
Also, climate change could present more challenges to cattle and sheep producers in the future, impacting production by hurting fertility or growth.
Read: Jashore vegetable farmers toil hard to catch the early winter consumers
There is no way to prepare for every situation that arises in a disaster.
However, advanced planning can help the producers minimise the loss of animal lives and the health problems associated with all disasters.
Studies suggest more research for drought-tolerant cattle, sheep, goat and poultry breeds.
The women of Gaibandha's disaster-prone Jamunar Char, for example, have learned to stand on their own two feet after raising disaster-ready sheep.
Read Gazipur farmers worried over shortage of goat vaccines
Improved breed, disaster tolerance, and high fertility rate of these animals are encouraging the women of the char to raise them in bigger numbers.
Saiduzzaman, chairman of Mollar Char, said: "Gaibandha has 165 chars across the rivers Teesta, Jamuna and Brahmaputra. At least 3 lakh people live here."
Shilpi Begum, a resident of one of the chars, said people of these areas depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood and survival.
"We are happy people even after braving all the disasters throughout the year. Selling cattle, goats, chickens, ducks, helps us overcome many dangers and hardships."
Read Unusual goat with two heads, eight legs born in Chattogram
"Although people would raise livestock here before, no one was involved in sheep farming. I started with one sheep and now own five. Selling these animals will help me weather the storm and also turn my wheel of fortune," the char dweller said.
6 killed in bus-auto collision in Gaibandha
At least six people were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and an auto-rickshaw on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha on Friday morning.
Officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj police station Mostafizur Rahman said that the accident occurred when the Rangpur-bound passenger bus of Hanif Paribahan hit the auto rickshaw coming from the opposite side near the Bakchar area of the highway.
The crash left three occupants of the auto dead on the spot.
Also read: Two sisters killed in Laxmipur road accident
"Five other passengers of the three-wheeler were rushed to the upazila health complex by the local fire service. Of them, three died of their injuries at the hospital," said the OC.
The identities of the casualties could not be known yet. "The bus has been seized but its driver and his assistant are absconding," he added.
Also read: 4 killed in Kurigram road accident
Gaibandha UP member killing: Prime accused held
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained the prime accused in the case over the killing of newly-elected UP member Abdur Rauf from Boda upazila in Panchagarh district on Sunday.
The detainee is Arif Mia.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-13 conducted a drive in the area and detained Arif from Panchagarh district.
Read: Driver, helper held over death of 10-year-old girl in city road crash
Earlier, on Friday night, Abdur Rauf, a newly elected member of Laxmipur union parishad, was killed by a youth in Gobindapur village of Gaibandha Sadar upazila.
Police claimed to have arrested a man, identified as Rezaul, in connection with the murder.
Touhidul Islam, superintendent of Gaibandha Police, said “A compliant was lodged with Sadar Police on Saturday and the attacker might have killed him over previous enmity.”
Read: Youth held with 2,350 yaba pills in city
Local people on Saturday blocked Gaibandha-Sundarganj road at Laxmipur Bazar in Sadar upazila demanding exemplary punishment of the killer.
UP member killing sparks protests in Gaibandha
Local people on Saturday blocked Gaibandha-Sundarganj road at Laxmipur Bazar in Sadar upazila demanding exemplary punishment of killer of newly-elected member of Laxmipur union parishad Abdur Rauf Master.
They took to the streets in the morning and staged demonstrations protesting the killing of Abdur Rauf .
Read: RUB protest: Student on hunger strike tries to kill self in public
They also placed logs on the road and set a tyre afire around 10 am, halting traffic movement for about four and a half hours.
Earlier, on Friday night, Abdur Rauf, a newly elected member of Laxmipur union parishad, was killed by a youth in Gobindapur village of Sadar upazila.
Police claimed to have arrested a man, identified as Rezaul, in connection with the murder.
Touhidul Islam, superintendent of Gaibandha Police, said “A compliant was lodged with Sadar Police on Saturday and the attacker might have killed him over previous enmity.”
Read: UK carrier strike group sails to Bangladesh
IBBL opens 375th branch
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) inaugurated its 375th branch, Palashbari, at Kalibari Bazar Road in Gaibandha Monday.
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and CEO of the bank, inaugurated the branch as chief guest.
READ: IBBL Rajshahi holds clients' get-together
Muhammad Qaisar Ali, additional managing director, Miftah Uddin, executive vice-president, AKM Moksed Chowdhury Bidyut, chairman of Palashbari upazila, Md Kamruzzaman, upazila nirbahi officer, and Md Golam Sarwar Biplob, Palashbari municipality mayor, addressed the programme as a special guest.
Md Mahboob Alam, senior executive vice-president of the bank, presided over the function while Md Abdus Sobhan, head of Bogura Zone, delivered the welcome speech.
Rabiul Hossain Pata, president of Palashbari Press Club, Md Al Amin, proprietor of Al-Amin Traders, Dholi Rani, woman entrepreneur, Tajneen Sultana, proprietor of Famous Fashion House, and Nirmal Chandra, businessman, spoke at the event on behalf of the clients.
Mir Rahmat Ullah, head of Rangpur Zone, Khaled Mahmud Raihan, senior vice-president, and AM Shahidul Amran, assistant vice-president, were also present.
READ: IBBL Shari'ah Supervisory Committee meeting held
Monirul Moula said, "Islami Bank is now providing modern technology-based services to the clients through 375 branches, 200 sub-branches and 2600 agent banking outlets."
He directed the IBBL officials to spread internet banking, CellFin app and other technology-based services, according to a media statement.
Cooling their way to solvency: Gaibandha villages earn their keep with hand fans
The residents of two villages in Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha district have found their way to economic solvency making colourful, embroidered hand fans that are very popular among villagers near and far in the hot summer months.
The people of the two villages, Araji Sandiapur and Khamaripara, have learned how to overcome poverty by making hand fans.
A united effort of the villagers helps them enjoy the freedom of financial stability.
Read: Gaibandha women turn problem into profit -
They have successfully become self-reliant and meet the expenses of their households, children's studies and other expenses with the money they get from selling the hand fans.
Three bikers killed in Gaibandha crash
Three men were killed when a speeding bus hit their bike on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Gaibandha district on Friday night, police said.
The deceased were identified as Mahbur Hossain, Bhuttu Mia and Abdul Karim, all residents of Kalugari village in the district's Gobindaganj upazila.
READ: 2 army personnel killed in Sirajganj road crash
The accident occurred around 9.30pm on the high-speed corridor at Balua Taltola in Gobindaganj when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and hit the bike.
The impact of the crash was such that the three bikers died on the spot. The bodies have been sent to the local hospital morgue for post-mortem, police said.
Road Accidents in Bangladesh
At least 2,329 people, including 291 women and 381 children, were killed and 4,361 others injured in 2,159 road accidents across the country in the first half of this year, according to a report published in July.
It says the road accidents took place on various highways, national, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and June 30 across the country.
READ: Barguna road crash kills two Chinese and their Bangladeshi interpreter
Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF), a platform of journalists, prepared the report based on news carried by 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies.