United News of Bangladesh

Beyond the hum-drum of hectic cities, Bangladesh is home to several wildlife sanctuaries that conserve endangered species, maintain ecological balance, and offer natural habitats for wildlife and migratory birds. The Habiganj district, located in the northeastern part of Bangladesh, is blessed with natural greenery, featuring lush forests, tea gardens, hills, and wildlife. Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1982 in Habiganj and was enlarged in 1996. Besides abounding in many rare plants and animal species, its scenic landscapes provide fresh air, biodiversity, and a peaceful environment for visitors and locals. Here is a detailed travel guide to Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary.  Location The Rema–Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Chunarughat Upazila of Habiganj District in the Sylhet Division. It lies next to India's Tripura border and close to Srimangal in the Moulvibazar district. Approximately 130 km northeast of Dhaka, the city, lies the wildlife reserve. It includes the Kalenga, Rema, Chanbari, and Rashidpur portions of the Habiganj District's Kalenga Forest Range. Significance The Rema–Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest and wildlife reserve in Bangladesh. It is a dry and evergreen forest, and after the Sundarbans, it is the largest natural forest in Bangladesh. It is also the country’s second-largest wildlife sanctuary and one of the richest areas in terms of biodiversity. The sanctuary covers an area of 1,795.54 hectares. Among the few natural forests in Bangladesh that have survived in relatively good condition, Rema–Kalenga is one of the most notable. Read more: International Air Flights with Connecting Flights: Beginner’s Guide for Transfer-transit Passengers Among Bangladesh's natural forests, this sanctuary is still in good condition. However, the refuge is threatened by deforestation and careless tree theft. Flora The sanctuary is home to 638 species of plants, trees, and vines. Some of the most notable among them include Awal, Teak, Kakra, Neur, Hargaza, Gandharoi, Haritaki, Bohera, Jamun, Fig, Jackfruit, Champa Jackfruit, Kau, Kadam, Rata, Chikrashi, Chapalish, Neem, Bonmala, etc.

Gas supply to the national grid resumed on Monday morning from Well No. 3 of the Rashidpur gas field in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj, following renovation work. Surman Bikash Das, deputy general manager of Rashidpur Gas Field, said around 8 million cubic feet of gas will be supplied daily from the well. Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex) began the renovation of the decades-old well on July 12, completing the work at a cost of approximately Tk 73 crore. Titas cuts off 2,370 illegal gas connections in 3 cities Following this, a new gas layer was discovered on September 5. Officials estimate the newly accessed layer could yield about 25.55 billion cubic feet of gas over the next 10 years. Condensate will also be extracted as a by-product. Currently, an average of 62 million cubic feet of gas is being supplied daily to the national grid from 7 of the 11 wells in the Rashidpur gas field.    

A man in Habiganj’s Chunarughat upazila poisoned his two young daughters before taking his own life, reportedly due to marital discord. The tragic incident occurred early Friday in Atikpur village under Ranigao union. The deceased were identified as Abdur Rouf (35) and his daughters, Khadija Akter (5) and Ayesha Akter (3). 13 policemen of Companiganj Police Station closed over irregularities Assistant Superintendent of Police (Madhabpur-Chunarughat Circle) AKM Salimul Haque, citing locals, said that Rouf had long-standing conflicts with his wife and was also burdened with debt. On Thursday night, he had an argument with his wife, following which she left their home with their youngest (third) child. Later, Rouf fed poison to his two daughters before consuming it himself, he added. Sensing the incident, neighbours rushed the three to Chunarughat Upazila Health Complex, where doctors pronounced the children dead. Rouf, in critical condition, was transferred to Habiganj Sadar Modern Hospital, where he succumbed around 10:30 am on Friday. Rouf’s younger brother, Sohag Mia, said they were sleeping in a nearby room when they heard screams. “We rushed in and found my nieces and brother unconscious from poisoning. We took them to the hospital, but doctors declared the children dead,” he added. He also mentioned that Rouf and his wife had frequent arguments over various issues. Dr Safayatul Islam, a medical officer at Habiganj Sadar 250-bed Hospital, said that Rouf was brought to the hospital around 1 am, while his daughters were already dead. Despite efforts, Rouf passed away on Friday morning.

A man allegedly stabbed to death his 15-year-old daughter on Wednesday at  Ghanashyampur village in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj after ‘failing to keep her away mobile phone addiction’. Inspector Nur Mohammad of Kashimnagar Police Outpost said on information, they arrived at the scene and detained Abdus Rashid [victim’s father] and his wife Saheda Begum. One killed in road crash in Khulna According to victim's mother Saheda Begum and uncle Farash Uddin, the deceased, Ranu Begum, was often seen talking on mobile phone. Despite repeated attempts her parents failed to stop her mobile phone use. Abdus Rashid returned home around 2:30pm today and found his daughter talking on the phone. Jubo Dal activist dies in Rajshahi road accident After telling her to stop, Ranu continued the conversation, which enraged her father, they said. At one stage, he attacked her with a sharp weapon in the yard of their house and stabbed her, leaving her dead, they said. The victim's body was sent to the Habiganj morgue for post-mortem, said Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun.

Two female workers of a garment factory died and three others injured after a truck collided with a battery-run autorickshaw in Habiganj on Saturday. The accident happened around 8:00 am at the Dargah Gate area of the highway, said Mahmudul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shaistaganj Highway Police. 2 college students die in Meherpur road accident The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed, he said. One female worker died on the spot. After the injured were rescued and taken to the hospital, another worker died. Motorcyclist killed in road accident in Sirajganj The deceased worked at the Pioneer Denim Factory of Badsha Group. Meanwhile, following the accident, the agitated factory workers blocked the road. Later, police went to the scene and calmed the situation.

Four people died and two were injured in a gas line explosion at the Akij Venture Limited factory in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district on Tuesday morning.  The deceased were identified as engineer Md. Riaz Uddin, and Mizan Gazi and Mahfuz, both residents of Chandpur. The identity of the fourth victim has not yet been confirmed. Teenager hit by bus dies in Sylhet; road blocked in protest According to Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bahubal Police Station, Zahidul Islam, the factory's engineer and workers were conducting maintenance on the gas line. Two workers died on the spot, while four others were critically injured. Two of the injured succumbed to their injuries en route to Sylhet for treatment. The gas is supplied to the site by Jalalabad Gas Company and regulated through an installed system, said the OC.  Protest of 7 murder: Strike disrupts operations at Baghabari Port Reports indicate that the regulator had been malfunctioning for several days, he added. 

Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate for Habiganj-2 (Baniachong and Ajmiriganj upazilas) Shankar Pal withdrew from the race on Monday, citing the lack of a conducive environment for the election. He came up with the announcement while talking to reporters at his constituency in the morning. “There is a lack of a fair environment for the election. There is the influence of the muscle power of the ruling party (Awami League). It is difficult to protect the lives of ownself and supporters in the way clashes are going on in different parts of the country.  So I refrained from campaigning in Baniachong-Ajmiriganj,” he said. Shankar informed that he has already asked his fellows to cast vote for any of their chosen candidates except him. He said he is not the kind of person to seek votes by printing Awami League-backed posters on JaPa's nomination. Asking to know the position of his party, he said votes can’t be sought from the common people with the support of Awami League. Criticising the top leaders of his party, Shankar alleged that his agents were harassed in many ways and police took them away from the shops without any reason during the last election. He claimed that he is yet to receive an answer in this regard and threw a question asking where is the guarantee that it won’t happen in this election? In a recent view exchange meeting with Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman, he said, “I am not a candidate for election.  I want to see how fair and neutral you (EC) are doing in the election. If there is a fair election, I will contest the next election.” Mentionable, nine more candidates including current MP Advocate Abdul Mujid Khan as independent candidate and Awami League-nominated candidate Maizuddin Sharif are contesting from the seat in the January 7 election. As the official last date for withdrawal through the EC has already passed, Shankar would still appear on the ballot with the JaPa electoral symbol on January 7.   

A three-member probe committee has been formed over the death of Golam Rabbani, an accused in a theft case, who died at Baniachong Police Station in Habiganj on Tuesday. Habiganj Additional Superintendent of Police (admin and finance) Hasibul Islam will lead the probe committee. The other two members of the committee are Additional Superintendent of Police (Baniachong circle) Palash Ranjan Dey and Court Police Inspector, Md Kamrul Islam. Theft case accused found dead in Habiganj police custody Superintendent of Police, Md Akhter Hossain on Thursday, ordered the committee to submit the investigation report by December 29. Rabbani, 26, was a resident of the Nandipara area of Baniachong Sadar upazila. Baniachong Police Station Officer-in-Charge Delwar Hossain said he was arrested on charges of stealing an autorickshaw on Tuesday afternoon. Habiganj DC transferred to Agriculture Ministry He was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside a room around 7:30 pm, said the OC. Later, he was taken to the Baniachong Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor declared him dead after an examination. OC Delwar Hossain said, an unnatural death case has been filed in the incident. There are seven to eight theft cases against Rabbani. National polls: EC orders withdrawal of Habiganj DC, 3 police officials Meanwhile, Rabbani’s body was handed over to his family after an autopsy at Habiganj morgue on Wednesday afternoon. Later, he was buried at the family graveyard after Namaz-e-Janaza at Bibir Mokam Jame Mosque in Nandipara area of Baniachong Sadar after Magrib prayers.

Train connectivity between Sylhet and the rest of the country has been suspended due to the derailment of two bogies of an oil-laden train in Habiganj. 2 Habiganj journalists released from police custody after 4 hours The incident occurred at Rautgaon area of Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district at around 8pm on Wednesday. Police assault journalists covering BNP procession in Habiganj Shayestaganj  Railway Junction Master Abul Khayer Chowdhury and Shaistaganj Police Outpost In-Charge SI Mir Sabbir Ali confirmed the information. Ambassador Iwama Kiminori visits project site of Japanese grant in Habiganj They said that a relief train is being brought from Akhaura to rescue the derailed bogies. Tight security measures have been taken at the spot.

A Habiganj tribunal on Thursday convicted five people and sentenced them to death for killing a pregnant woman in 2016. Read : Rab arrest death row convict in Habiganj The convicts are: Russel Mia, 25; his elder brother Kawsar Mia, 32; their mother, Tahera Begum, 50; their sisters Hasna Begum, 20, and Rozy Begum, 27. All of them are from Sadekpur village under Chunarughat upazila. Among them, Kawsar was tried in absentia. Read : 2 murdered, 25 wounded over land dispute in Habiganj Habiganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Zahidul Islam handed down the punishment. According to the prosecution, Tahera Khatun alias Ayesha, the seven months pregnant wife of Russel Mia, was beaten to death by her husband and her in-laws over Tk one lakh dowry on September 15, 2016. Read : 2 killed in lightning strike in Habiganj Abdus Sattar, Ayesha's father, filed a case with Chunarughat Police Station.