District
Water crisis adds to woes of Khulna residents amid extreme heat
Crisis of drinking water has turned acute in Khulna city amid the extreme heat, making its residents’ lives miserable.
The entire country has been reeling under severe to moderate heat wave since the first week of April and the shortage of drinking water has added to sufferings of Khuna city residents.
Not only in homes, people are also suffering at offices, business institutions, educational institutions and even government and private hospitals due to the scarcity of pure water.
Locals said shallow tubewells have become dysfunctional in most places of the city since the middle of this month and amount of water in deep tubewells has also decreased.
Water can be lifted properly only with the submersible pump in deep tubewells but everyone can’t afford, they said.
On the other hand, Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Kwasa) supplies water through pipeline, but it is not suitable for drinking, forcing residents to depend of tubewells.
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Experts say that underground water has been extracted in the city for a long time with unplanned deep and shallow tubewells, general pumps and submersible pumps.
The Asian Development Bank had advised not to extract more than 50 million liters of water from the ground per day but the water is being extracted much more, leading to depletion of ground water level.
In the last nine years, the water level in 14 wards of the city has gone down from 1.98 meters to 4.04 meters (13.25 feet), resulting in inoperative tubewells and pumps.
Kwasa conducts survey on the status of ground water level every year during summer. According to the survey, the groundwater level in wards 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the city has gone down from 1.98 meters to 4.04 meters compared to 2015.
Sheikhpara, Goborchaka, Boro Mirzapur, Chhota Mirzapur, Baitpara, Tutpara are among the worst hit areas of the city.
Earlier, there were two tubewells in Chhota Mirzapur area, two in Boro Mirzapur area, two in Baitpara area, one each in Deben Babu Road and TB Boundary Road but those have become inoperative .
Prof Dr Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, head of the Department of Environmental Science at Khulna University, said, “The duration of rainfall and number of water bodies in the city and adjoining areas have decreased. Besides, the amount of water that is being extracted from the ground is not being stored. As a result, the ground water level is depleting continuously, causing the water crisis.”
Kwasa Managing Director Engineer Md. Abdullah said, “It costs us Tk 11 to lift 1,000 litres of underground water and supply it. And the cost of supplying the water from the Madhumati River is Tk 17.50. However, we have not yet completely stopped extracting underground water to reduce costs. On the other hand, we charge Tk 9 for 1,000 liters of water from the customers.”
"If we treat more water of the Madhumati River, production cost will increase we have to give more subsidy. Moreover, we do not want to impose the burden of additional costs on the customers at the moment. That is why the extraction of water from the underground has not been stopped.”
Regarding the use of personal tubewells and submersible pumps, he said the number of WASA subscribers is about 41,800. But about 20 percent of the families have not yet received WASA water connections. They use tubewells and pumps to extract ground water.
Elephant found dead on Gazipur roadside, suspected to be captive
Slum dwellers and low-income people are the most affected by the water crisis.
Rafiqullah, a teacher of Nirala area, said, "It is not possible for many like me to buy water to drink and cook."
Reckless driving by teen driver takes 3 lives in Bagerhat
Three people were killed and another was injured as a truck driven by a teenage driver hit a three-wheeler on Khulna-Mongla highway in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat on Saturday morning.
The deceased were identified as Sayeed Morol, son of Razzak Morol of Jhanjhania area of Rampal upazila, Azad Morol, son of Ekhlas Morol of the same area and Mohammad Moni Mollik, son of Makbul Mollik of Gabbunia Kumlai village of the same upazila.
Easy-bike driver dies from heat stroke in Lalmonirhat
Mizanur Rahman Sheikh, officer-in-charge of Bagerhat's Katakhali highway police, said the Khulna-bound truck rammed the engineer-run three-wheeler from behind when it reached Rampal Chairman area, leaving one dead on the spot three injured.
Two of the injured victims died on the way to a hospital.
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After the accident, police seized the truck and arrested the truck driver, he added.
The arrested driver is Safayet Hossain, 19, a resident of Chowgacha area of Jashore district.
Man detained with 90,000 Dirham at Ctg airport
Security and customs officials have detained a man carrying undeclared currency of approximately 90,000 Dirham (Tk 27 lakh) at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram this Friday.
The man, identified as Kaisar Hamid from Boalkhali upazila, was apprehended while attempting to board an Air Arabia flight bound for Sharjah.
According to Taslim Ahmed, Director of Chattogram Airport, a tip-off led a joint team from the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Customs Intelligence to intercept Hamid at the airport. Upon inspection, they discovered the Dirham concealed on his person.
Man held with 28 gold bars at Shah Amanat Airport
The confiscated currency has since been deposited at the customs house of the airport.
Authorities have filed a case against Hamid at Patenga Police Station under the Money Laundering Act, highlighting the ongoing efforts to clamp down on financial crimes at national borders.
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1 killed, 5 injured in knife fight over football match in Brahmanbaria
A man was killed and five others were injured in a knife attack during a football match in Brahmanbaria's Sadar upazila .
The deceased, Yakub, 30, was a resident of Narshingshar village.
This incident occurred at the field of Narsinghsar High School on Friday evening.
According to locals and police sources, in the final match of the football tournament, the team from the west side of Narsinghsar defeated the team from the north side, becoming the champions.
After the match, members of the west side team celebrated by bursting firecrackers. At that time, some members of the north side team got into an altercation with them, which escalated into a knife fight.
Six people including Yakub, Juel, Kamal, Arman, were injured in the knife attack. When they were taken to the district hospital, the duty doctor declared Yakub dead.
Mohammad Aslam Hossain, duty officer at Sadar Police Station, said that upon receiving the news of the murder, police were dispatched to the area.
An operation is underway to arrest those involved in the incident. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area, he added.
Son kills mother for 'refusing to marry him off'
A woman was killed by her son with a knife in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur district on Friday.
The victim Ranu Begum, 55, was the wife of Atar Khan of Isapur village of Paikpara South Union of the Upazila.
Atar Khan said for the past few days, his youngest son Rasel was threatening them with consequences if they don't get him married.
"Recently, he has beaten me too," Atar said.
"Around 2:49pm, my son Rasel called me over my phone saying someone slaughtered his mother at home. Then, I understood that it was no one but my son who killed my wife," Atar said.
"I went home immediately after cutting the phone and found my wife Ranu Begum's body lying on the bed," he added.
Later, hearing his screaming, locals came and informed the police.
Faridganj police officer-in-charge (OC) Saidul Islam said they recovered the body from the spot.
An operation is underway to arrest the victim's son, he said, adding that a case is under process in this regard.
Easy-bike driver dies from heat stroke in Lalmonirhat
An easy-bike driver is said to have died from heatstroke on Friday as the country continues to reel in the throes of a suffocating heat wave hitting record high temperatures, from which there is seemingly no respite.
The incident happened in Kaliganj of Lalmonirhat on Friday afternoon.
The deceased Rasedul Islam was the son of Badar Uddin of Bichandai area of Dauabari union of Hatibandha upazila.
Locals said that Rasedul Islam suddenly fell into the ground after having his lunch at a hotel in Chamtarhat. They believed that Rashedul died from heat stroke due to intense heat.
Confirming the death, Jahangir Alam Biplob, chairman of Madati Union Parishad said the exact cause of his death could not be ascertained, although it initially appeared to be heat stroke.
Imtiaz Kabir, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj police station, said that he is yet to know the matter.
Meanwhile, people across the country are experiencing the blistering heat as a very severe heat wave is sweeping over the parts of the country.
Chuadanga witnesses season’s highest temperature at 42.7°C
Amid the boiling heat in different parts of the country, Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of this season at 42.7 degrees Celsius on Friday.
People are experiencing the blistering heat as a very severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Chuadanga and Jashore and severe heat wave is sweeping over rest part of the Khulna division and the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Manikgonj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur and Nilphamari.
Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of Chuadanga Weather Observatory Centre, said they recorded 42.7 Degrees Celsius this afternoon.
The situation may persist for a few more days, he added.
The people of the district, especially the low-income people are in dire straits due to the continuous intense heat.
Working people were seen resting under trees and in shady places hoping for some relief.
Imran Sheikh, a resident of Courtpayara in Chuadanga, said: “We can’t do anything due to the sweltering heat. In the afternoon, the sky turns gloomy and people expect rain but in the morning the extreme heat makes their life miserable.”
Shahjalal, a tea vendor said: “The selling is low due to the hot temperature. People are passing their time sitting and lying on the benches.”
Meanwhile, the number of patients suffering from various heat-related diseases is increasing at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital due to severe heat waves. More than 250 patients are admitted at different wards including diarrhea and children's ward of Sadar Hospital.
Dr Waliar Rahman, health and family planning officer for Chuadanga Sadar upazila, advised the residents to stay indoors because of the risk of heatstroke.
He emphasised the importance of staying hydrated and consuming fruits as much as possible.
According to BMD’s weather bulletin on Friday morning, a very Severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Chuadanga and Jashore and severe heat wave is sweeping over rest part of the Khulna division and the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Manikgonj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur and Nilphamari.
Besides, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Barishal division and the districts of Dhaka, Madaripur, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Bagura, Naogaon, Sirajgonj, Rangpur, Kurigram, Panchagarh, Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Feni & Bandarban and it may continue.
Cuet students set fire to bus protesting closure
Students protesting against the indefinite closure of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) set fire to another bus of Shah Amanat Paribahan, which was kept inside the campus, on Thursday afternoon.
The students became agitated after the university was closed and they were instructed to vacate the dormitories. Despite the instructions, the students did not leave the dormitories.
Rangunia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Chandan Kumar Chakraborty said that the angry students set fire to another bus. Police are present on the spot to control the situation.
In an attempt to exert pressure to fulfill their demands, the students have been creating a fearful situation in the campus and CUET area by blocking Kaptai Road for the fourth consecutive day, setting fire to buses, vandalising property, locking the academic building and the vice-chancellor's residence, and setting fire to the campus.
When some teachers tried to calm them down, the students allegedly misbehaved with them. The protesting students called a press conference and made various allegations, including the disconnection of electricity and water supply in the dormitories. They sought the help of the prime minister and announced that they would not leave the Cuet campus and would continue the agitation until their 10-point demands were met.
Meanwhile, additional police have been deployed on Cuet campus in the wake of the tense situation . Police from Raozan and Rangunia police stations are in position inside and outside the campus.
Since the death of two students in a bus accident on Monday, April 22, the agitated students have been blocking Kaptai Road, vandalising vehicles, setting fire to property and protesting for the last four days. The administration and the university authorities have repeatedly tried to stop the agitation but failed.
On Thursday afternoon, the 151st emergency meeting of the Academic Council decided to close Cuet’s academic activities and all academic activities (including examinations) at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of the university and instructed the students to vacate the dormitories.
19 dengue patients hospitalized in 24hrs
No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Thursday evening, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
11 dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
However, 19 patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS.
Of them, five were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest were outside the capital.
A total of 116 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
34 dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
So far, 2,103 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024.
Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.
1 more dengue patient dies; 23 hospitalised in 24hrs
The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year.
Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.
Farmer dies from electrocution in Meherpur
A farmer died due from electrocution at Debipur village in Gangni upazila of Meherpur on Thursday.
The deceased was Abdul Hannan,75, of Debipur village.
Local UP member Hirok Ahmed confirmed the matter and said that Abdul Hannan died on the spot while turning on his irrigation pump near his house.
Later, the locals recovered his body.
Shariful Islam, Sub-Inspector of Bamandi police camp, said that after receiving the news they visited the spot.