United News of Bangladesh

A lighter vessel carrying 18,500 bags of Shah Cement sank in the Meghna River on Thursday morning. The vessel, MV Chandtara-8, sank after it collided with another vessel near the Dokanghar area of Chandpur Sadar Upazila, said Syed Mushfiqur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Chandpur region of the River Police. MV Chandtara-8 was anchored when strong river currents caused it to drag anchor and collide with another ship, MV Zaman. The collision resulted in a rupture in the engine room floor of MV Chandtara-8, causing water to rush in. The ship’s master attempted to steer it toward the riverbank, but it ultimately sank with its full cargo of cement. No casualties were reported and all crew members are safe, sources said. SP Syed Mushfiqur Rahman attributed the accident to “the mistake and incompetence” of the ship’s master, noting that the vessel was attempting to launch towards Noapara in Jessore despite the strong current. The two vessels collided during this attempt, causing the hull breach. Abdul Quader, a boatman from the Ibrahimpur area, said he helped eight individuals, including the ship’s master Mamun, bringing them safely ashore. The survivors later went to Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station to file a General Diary (GD), he added. Billal Al Azad, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Sadar River Police, said the vessel was en route from Munshiganj to Noapara in Jessore when the incident occurred. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chandpur Deputy Director Bashir Ahmed said that a marking team rushed to the site. The sunken ship has since been located and marked. Approximately 10 feet of water now covers the ship’s superstructure, though it remains outside the main navigational channel, he added.    

Two children drowned while bathing in the Padma River in Lalpur upazila of Natore district on Thursday afternoon. The deceased were Farid, 12, son of Saiful Islam of Naowapara village under Lalpur upazila, and Rabbani, 12, son Rabin of Tirshal upazila in Mymensingh district. Locals said Al Amin Hossain, teacher of Naowapara Jamia Hafezia Madrasa in Bilmadia union of the upazila, took some students to the river to have the bath around 12pm. Suddenly, the duo went missing in the river while bathing, they said. On information, divers from Natore Fire Station rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies after three hours of salvation operation, said station master AKM Latiful Bari. Officer-in-charge of Lalpur Police Station Rafiqul Islam said they informed the River Police to take legal action.  

Three people were killed and seven others injured as two buses collided on Dhaka-Khulna highway at Kanaipur Bazar in Faridpur district on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Atier Sheikh, son of Sahir Uddin Sheikh of Chuadanga district, Ranjir Chandra Das, son of Shyamchandra Das of Barguna district and Suborna Begum, wife of Abdul Majid of Rangpur district. Salauddin, officer-in-charge of Karimpur Highway Police camp, said the accident occurred around 12:30 pm when the Dhaka-bound bus of Royel Express collided with a DD Paribahan bus while heading towards Magura, leaving ten people injured. The injured were taken to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared three of them dead.  

Two workers died apparently after inhaling toxic gas from a septic tank at a house in Bera Upazila of Pabna district on Thursday. The deceased were Sajibul Islam, 25, son of Abul Kalam and Mostakin, 30, son of Abdul Gafur of Hatigara of Bera municipality area. Waliur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bera Model Police Station, said the septic tank was constructed in the house of Taher Uddin 10/12 days ago. On Thursday morning, when workers were opening the bamboo mould of the septic tank used during the construction of the roof four workers fell unconscious. Hearing screams, local people rushed in and took them to Bera Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared two of them dead. Rabiul Islam and Samrat Sheikh were taken to Pabna General Hospital. Doctors said lack of oxygen inside the septic tank might be the reason behind the death.  

Joint forces in an overnight drive on Thursday recovered 12,000 cubic feet of looted stones from Sada Pathor in Sylhet amid public outcry over rampant looting of stones from the popular tourist spot . Besides, several trucks involved in transporting the looted stones were seized during the operation. The joint forces started the drive in Sylhet city and Bholaganj in Companiganj upazila Wednesday midnight to recover the looted stones, said Companiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Azizunnahar. A six-member team of joint forces conducted raids in different areas and recovered the stones. A drive will be conducted again on Thursday under the supervision of an executive magistrate. UP chairman held over stone theft from Sada Pathor in Sylhet The crackdown will continue until all looted stones are recovered. Earlier on Wednesday, the government took the decision to conduct a joint operation to recover the looted stones taken from  Sada Pathor tourist site. A number of checkpoints were also set-up on Sylhet-Bholaganj road, near Osmani International Airport and in front of Sylhet Club where several trucks were intercepted with stones. The unprecedented looting of stones from the protected tourist site has triggered outrage and concerns among people and environmental activists. On Wednesday evening, the local administration held an emergency meeting and outlined several decisions to restore and protect Sada Pathor. Earlier, the local administration formed a three-member inquiry committee on Tuesday to look into the matter. The committee is scheduled to submit its report by Sunday (August 17). Besides, an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) team also launched its own investigation and visited the Sada Pathor site on Wednesday.      

Renowned writer and educationist Jatin Sarker passed away at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. He was 90. Jatin, the Independence Award-winner, breathed his last at around 2:45 pm at the hospital, said assistant director of Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital (Admin) Dr Main Uddin. He had been suffering from different old age complications including polyarthritis. A few months ago, he underwent surgery for multiple health issues. After partial recovery, he had been living at his home in Netrokona. In June, he suffered a fall while bringing a newspaper from the veranda outside his bedroom, resulting in a right femoral neck fracture. Later, he was initially admitted to a hospital in Dhaka and later transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on August 8, where he had been in intensive care. Born on August 18, 1936, in Chandpara village of Kendua upazila in Netrokona, Jatin was the eldest son of Gyanendra Chandra Sarker and Bimala Bala Sarker couple. He is survived by his son and daughter and host of relatives to mourn his death. Jatin, a former professor in the Bangla Department at Nasirabad College in Mymensingh, was deeply engaged in literary pursuits, leftist politics and progressive movements throughout his life. He served two terms as the President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi. He received the Independence Award in 2010, the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2007 and the Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award in 2005 for his book "Pakistaner Janmo-Mrityu Darshan". His awards also include the Dr. Enamul Haque Gold Medal, the Khalekdad Chowdhury Literary Award and the Moniruddin Yusuf Literary Award. After retiring in 2002 from over four decades of teaching, he returned to his ancestral home in Netrokona with his wife, Kanon Sarker, driven by a deep connection to his roots. Sheikh Bahar Majumder, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Mymensingh District unit, said Jatin’s body will be kept at the Udichi office in Mymensingh city at 4 pm today for paying last respects. Later, the body will be taken to his hometown in Netrokona for the final rites.

The student-led protests demanding  reforms in Bangladesh’s health sector continued on Wednesday, with demonstrators blocking the Dhaka-Barishal highway for the sixth straight day. Protesters blocked Dhaka-Barishal highway near Nothullabad bus terminal and Sadar Road in Barishal city  to press home their three-point demand including end of syndicate and irregularities in the health sector of the country. The blockade began around 12 noon on Wednesday, causing disruption to traffic although police have been rerouting vehicles via alternative roads to minimise inconvenience. Besides, the protesters created an emergency lane to ensure the smooth movement of emergency vehicles. Meanwhile, several students began an indefinite hunger strike at the main gate from 11 am on Monday demanding reforms at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Earlier on Tuesday, Mohiuddin Rony, former organiser of Barishal unit, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, announced indefinite ‘Barishal Blockade’ to press for better health services at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital. Rony said they have been staging protests for over two weeks demanding an end to mismanagement, patient harassment and syndicate control in public hospitals across the country. “On Sunday, we issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding that the health adviser personally visit Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital in Barishal, investigate the irregularities and provide a clear assurance on our three-point demand,” he said. “But the deadline has passed, and the adviser did not come. That’s why we have announced a continuous blockade in Barishal to press home our demands,” he said. The cries of the residents of Barishal have yet to reach the ministry and authorities remain indifferent, he said. Irregularities in health sector: Road blockade underway, hunger strike begins in Barishal He also threatened to intensify the movement further if corruption, negligence and harassment of patients at the hospital continue. During the blockade, police diverted vehicles from Kuakata via C&B Road’s Chowmatha to Nabgram Road and Kashipur Chowmatha. This alternative route added about 10 kilometers but helped avoid prolonged traffic jams. Vehicles from Dhaka to Kuakata are also taking this route. Zakir Hossain Sikder, officer-in-charge (OC) of Barishal Airport Police Station, said that the students have blocked the highway and Sadar Road today to meet their demands. However, the law and order situation remains normal.

Local administration has imposed section 144 in Rajapur upazila headquarters and surrounding areas of Jhalakathi district as local units of BNP and Jubo Dal called rally at the same time and venue. The emergency restriction will remain in force until 12 am on Wednesday from 10 pm on Tuesday, said Rahul Chandra, Rajapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). All kinds of gatherings, meetings, rallies, processions and protests have been restricted in the designated area its adjacent areas during the period. A BNP faction organised a rally at 3 pm on Wednesdayon Rajapur Upazila Parishad Market premises marking the first anniversary of July Uprising while the local unit Jubo Dal also called rally at the same venue.  Tension escalated in the area over erecting podium and motorcycle showdown by activists of both groups.  

The rising water level of the Padma River fueled by upstream floodwaters and monsoon rains, has flooded the low-lying areas in Chapainawabganj, leaving 8,500 families stranded in six unions in Sadar and Shibganj upazilas. According to the Water Development Board, the water level has risen 3 centimeters in the past 24 hours till morning and was flowing 32 centimeters below the danger level at 9am on Wednesday. Although still below the danger evel the gradual rise has already inundated homes, roads, and cropland, severely affecting thousands of residents. A total of 1,000 families in Narayanpur and Alatuli unions of Sadar upazila have been waterlogged, said Nurul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sadar Upazila. Vast swathes of rural Bangladesh face flash flood risk Rice and water purification tablets are being distributed among the most affected people in these areas, he added. Meanwhile, 7,500 families in Panka, Ujirpur, Durlavpur, and parts of Manaksha union of Shibganj upazila have been affected.  Water has entered numerous households and classes in 12 educational institutions have been suspended. Relief items including rice, dry food, cash, tin sheets, and purification tablet  have already been provided to around 500 families, said Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi  Officer Azahar Ali. The Department of Agricultural Extension said that around 700 hectares of cropland including paddy, corn, and various vegetables have been submerged in the affected areas of Sadar and Shibganj. Ahsan Habib, executive engineer of the Chapainawabganj Water Development Board, said that although the water level continues to rise slowly the rate of increase has begun to decline. If this trend continues, it is expected that no new areas will be flooded, he added.