Jashore
Local AL leader killed in Jashore
A local Awami League leader was allegedly hacked to death by a group of assailants in Jashore on Monday evening.
The deceased was identified as Thandu Mia, 44, member of Patibila Union Parishad ward-4 and son of Sirajul Islam of Patibila village in Chougacha upazila.
Six more people sustained injuries in the attack. They have been identified as Mominur Rahman, 44, Abdul Hamid, 45, Wasim Sarkar, 32, Tito, 32, Abu Bakar Siddique, 40, and Mokbul Hossain, 35, from the same village.
Also read: Autorickshaw driver hacked dead in Ctg
According to Mokbul and other witnesses, all of them were sitting at a tea stall at Patibila Bazar around 7pm when some 10 people, including Tito, Ibrahim, Selim, Tota and Ashraf, attacked them with sharp weapons and sticks over an old enmity.
Locals rushed the injured to Chougacha Upazila Health Complex. Thandu, Mominur and Abdul were later shifted to Jashore General Hospital, where doctors pronounced Thandu’s death.
Saiful Alam, officer-in-charge of Chougacha police station, said, "Efforts are on to nab the accused."
Also read: Rohingya boatman hacked to death in Cox's Bazar
Tulip farming opens new opportunity for farmers in Tetulia, Jashore
Enterprising farmers in parts of Bangladesh are changing the landscape with colourful Tulip flowers.
Thanks to their entrepreneurship tropical Bangladesh has for the first time joined the cold countries and region like the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey and Kashmir (India) in growing the spring-blooming flowers.
In Bangladesh Tulips are being grown in Sariyaljot and Darjipara villages of Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh border and also in Godkhali of Jashore, famous as flower capital, during the winter.
The Tulips grow best in full sun in the North and partial shade in the South. Tulip bulbs, pointed end up, need to be planted in well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7, according to experts.
And this climate and soil can be found in Bangladesh too. And so Tulips have mesmerized the people of northern parts of Bangladesh this year.
Last year, in Gazipur, a local flower farmer Md Delowar Hossain cultivated Tulips for the first time in his garden -- 'Moumita Flowers'. But now, the dazzling display of Tulips has now enveloped the landscape of Northern parts of the country.
How Tulips bloom in lands of Tetulia & Jashore
Farmers in Sariyaljot and Darjipara villages of Tentulia said Tulip's buds come in just 18 days of nurture and start blooming in 20-21 days.
Agriculturists say this plant is a perennial and tuber species that belongs to the family Liliaceae. In the case of tulip flower cultivation, it is tolerant to 15 degrees Celsius during daytime and 10 degrees Celsius at night. The buds of this flower come within 18-20 days from the day of planting and last for 25-60 days.
A meeting with journalists was held on January 26 at Tetulia Mahananda Cottage on Eco-Social Development Organization's (ESDO) value chain pilot project to determine the feasibility of expanding tulip flower cultivation in the northern part of the country.
ESDO Senior Assistant Program Coordinator (APC) and Tulip Flower Cultivation Project Coordinator Md Ainul Haque discussed various aspects of the project.
He said the ESDO, a non-governmental development partner organization in collaboration with the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), under the Valuation Piloting Project to determine the feasibility of expanding tulip flower cultivation in the northern part of the country.
Around 40,000 bulbs brought from the Netherlands have been planted in three plots on 40 decimals of land of eight marginal farmers of Sharialjot and Darjipara villages of Tetulia union of Tetulia upazila.
Tulip flower bulbs (seeds) were officially planted on January 1 this year in the presence of ESDO Executive Director Dr Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman, Director (Administration) Selima Akhtar and other officials of the Department of Agriculture.
"Besides the bulbs, we provided the farmers with free chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, husks, shade nets and fencing nets. Besides, it has been developed by cultivating flowers in the hands of farmers," said Project Coordinator Md Ainul Haque.
Flower growers here said that they planted tulips here in winter although it is a spring flower abroad.
Twelve varieties of tulips of different species have been cultivated under this pilot project in Tetulia. Among them--Antarctica (White), Dutch Sunrise (Yellow), Purple Prince (Purple), Timeless (Red White Shade), Milksake (Light Pink), Barcelona (Dark Pink), Ad Rem (Orange), Lalibela (Red), the France (Red), Ripley (Orange), Denmark (Orange), Strong Gold (Yellow) and other species of tulips are in full bloom and new flowers are blooming in the gardens every day.
Meanwhile in Jashore's Godkhali, Tulips have been planted experimentally in only five decimals of land. About a month after sowing the bulbs, Tulips started blooming.
Many did not even imagine that foreign flowers would be cultivated in this region.
Flower grower Ismail Hossain said the dazzling tulips of different colours have started blooming in his garden from the second week of January.
The costs & potentials of Tulip farming
Due to low temperature in winter in Panchagarh district, there is huge potential for cultivation of tulips.
Mukta Begum, Anwara Begum, Sumi Akter, Ayesha Begum, Hosneara Begum, Monowara Begum, Morsheda Begum and Sajeda Begum, all female members of ESDO and farmers of Sharialjot and Darjipara villages of Tentulia, have proved that possibility.
They said the total cost of bulbs or seedlings, shed nets, fencing nets, chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, pesticides and labor costs is around Tk 30 to 32 lakh. The bulbs or seeds from the Netherlands were bought at Tk 61.80 per flower for the cultivation, said ESDO Senior Assistant Program Coordinator.
If 40,000 tulip flowers can be sold at the rate of Tk 100, the farmers will earn Tk 8 lakh in just two months from 40 decimals of land.
At other times of the year, locals and exotic flowers can be cultivated in these lands. They have also created a small amusement park in the flower garden and introduced entrance fees for tourists and flower lovers. In this way, they can earn extra money without selling flowers, said the female flower growers.
Success in planting and growing tulips in Panchagarh as the Himalayan daughter or winter-prone region has raised the possibility of exporting tulips to meet the local demand in the future. They said they will cultivate tulips on about five decimals of land next year if they make a financial profit by selling flowers.
They also said that in the beginning they had unknown fears and anxieties but they succeeded in cultivating flowers by using their labour and talent on the advice of ESDO and Agriculture Department.
Teenager's body found hanging at Jashore Juvenile Centre
A teenager's body was found hanging at Jashore Juvenile Correction Centre in Jashore district on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Zahurul Islam, 16, son of Zilan Mandal of Ataikula in Pabna district.
Quoting witnesses, police said the inmates of the centre found Zahurul hanging from the ceiling fan of a room and informed its higher authorities.
Later, he was taken to Jashore General Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
Deputy Director of Jashore Social Welfare Department, Asit Saha, said the authorities had arranged a badminton tournament at the centre on the occasion of Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day.
All the children were in the field.
READ: Indian student found dead in Jashore dormitory
“Zahurul might have killed himself by hanging from the ceiling fan in the absence of other children. The actual reason will be known after the postmortem,” he said.
A case was filed in this connection, said Tajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
READ: Newly-elected UP member gunned down in Jashore
In August, 2020, three children were beaten to death in the centre while a few children committed suicide here in different times, which raised question about the management of the Centre.
Out for morning walk, man hit by train in Jashore
A 55-year-old man who was out on a morning walk died after being hit by a speeding train at a level crossing in Jashore city on Friday morning.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Hakim, a watch shop owner and son of Abdur Rashid from the Railgate Pashchim Para area of the city.
READ: 3 die as train hits car in Dinajpur
Abdul's brother Rafiqul Islam said that the victim was a member of an organisation -- Bhorer Shathi -- and used to go for morning walks with other members daily.
"On his way back home around 8am, Abdul stumbled on the railway track at the level crossing on Mujib Road and was hit by the Benapole-bound train," Rafiqul said.
READ: Elderly woman crushed under train in Chuadanga
He succumbed to his injuries on the way to the Jashore General Hospital. "He was already dead when locals brought him here," said Shahinur Rahman, a hospital doctor.
Two arrested with 3 gecko lizards in Jashore
Two men were arrested with three illegally caught gecko lizards at Manirampur upazila in Jashore while selling them on Saturday night.
The arrestees were identified as Bishwajit Mondal from Manoharnagar village and Abdul Khaleque from Dakkhin Joynagar village in Bhola, said District Detective Branch (DB) of police.
Acting on a tip off about Rezaul Islam in Biprokona village in the upazila and a gecko (takshak) selling group BD police conducted a drive at his house around 10pm.
Also read: Three held with 5 geckos in Bogura
Rezaul managed to run away but Bishwajit and Khaleque were detained from the spot, Police rescued the geckos from a bag with them and recovered Tk 30,000 from Khaleque , said DB police.
Sub-Inspector of DB, Rajesh Kumar Dash filed a case at Manirampur police station in this regard on Sunday, said Mahbubur Rahman , inspector of Manirampur police station.
A group in the area has been deceiving people saying geckos are used for making medicines to treat cancers, he said.
Also read: Second fishing cat in 8 months captured on Chandpur farm
1 killed, 2 injured in Jashore road accident
A man was killed and two others injured in a road crash in Sharsha of Jashore as a car hit a tree while trying to overtake a truck.
The deceased was identified as Ripon Hossain, 30, a passenger of the car and resident of Sharanpur village under Jhikargachha upazila.
The accident occurred at Jamtala on the Navaran-Satkhira highway in the upazila on Friday morning.
READ: Bogura road crash leaves 5 dead
Navaran Highway Police sub-inspector Amirul Islam said a private car heading towards Satkhira lost control while overtaking a truck and hit a tree by the road. Three people were seriously injured.
Locals rescued the injured and took them to Jessore General Hospital. Ripon Hossain died on the way to the hospital, he said.
READ: 2 bus drivers held over Moghbazar road crash
Jashore may wipe away Bangladesh's onion tears this year
Onion growers in Jashore are busy rearing their fields these days, hoping to make a killing with a record harvest this year.
An essential part of the diets of millions of Bangladeshis, rich and poor, the kitchen staple adds flavour and texture to every meal. Besides, the pungent bulb is a rich source of key daily nutrients.
Every year, Bangladesh witnesses onion crises. In October 2020, for instance, the country saw a record hike in onion prices after neighbouring India banned its export.
However, this year, Jashore could come to the rescue of the country.
Last year, the district produced some 20,440 metric tonnes of onion. And this year, the district authorities have set a higher target by planning to bring 1,910 hectares of land under onion cultivation.
Also read; Importers fear losses as Indian onions flood Bangladesh markets
"We are giving extra attention to our fields. We expect a bumper output this year, and in turn, a windfall profit," a farmer told UNB. "Winter is the best time to cultivate onion."
In fact, the department of agriculture Extension (DAE) has also set a production target of 21,831 metric tonnes by bringing 1,910 hectares under onion cultivation in the eight upazilas of the district.
According to officials, 330 hectares of land would be brought under onion cultivation in Marimpur upazila, 150 hectares in Sadar, 210 hectares in Sharsha and 540 hectares in Jikhorgachha upazila.
Woman's decomposed body found in Jashore school's septic tank
The decomposed body of a woman was found in the septic tank of a government secondary school in Jashore Sadar upazila Thursday morning.
The deceased was identified as Fahima Begum, 35, daughter of Anshar Ali of Sat Pakhiya village in Tala upazila of Satkhira district.
Read: Indian student found dead in Jashore dormitory
Narendrapur police camp in-charge Supravat Mandal said the woman's brother identified the deceased as Fahima, a female brick kiln worker.
Shariful Islam, the woman's brother, said, "Fahima and her husband Jahangir Hossain worked as daily wagers at Dafadar brick kiln in Narendrapur. Fahima was physically and mentally abused by Jahangir."
Last month, when asked about his sister, Jahangir didn't respond properly. "So, I suspect he killed my sister and dumped the body in the septic tank."
Read: Newly-elected UP member gunned down in Jashore
Shiv Pad Biswas, headmaster of Narendrapur Secondary School, where the body was found, said that they opened the septic tank after foul smell was emanating and informed cops who fished it out.
Kotwali police station officer-in-charge Tajul Islam said the body was sent to the Jashore General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
Indian student found dead in Jashore dormitory
A 21-year-old Indian student of Jashore Ad-din Sakina Medical College and Hospital, was found hanging in the washroom of a dormitory of the medical college on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Sheema Johra, daughter of Golam Sarwar of Jammu-Kashmir in India.
Read:Man, woman’s hanging body recovered from Gazipur
Principle of Ad-din Sakina Medical College and Hospital Prof. Dr. Kamal Uddin, said being informed by the a cleaner of the dormitory college authorities broke open the door of the washroom and found Sheema hanging from the ceiling.
They took her to Jashore General Hospital where doctors declared her dead.
Read: CU student’s hanging body recovered
Dr Ahmed Tareq Shams of emergency department of the hospital said the girl was brought dead to the hospital.
The reason behind the death could not be known immediately.
Newly-elected UP member gunned down in Jashore
A recently elected member of Shundoli Union Parishad in Jashore was shot dead by some unidentified miscreants on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Uttam Kumar Sarkar, son of Oshantu Sarkar of Harishpur village in the Sundoli upazila. On December 26, Uttam was elected member of ward-1 of the Sundoli UP. The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on the road adjacent to Harishpur Government Primary School. According to witnesses, some miscreants attacked Uttam while heading toward his home from Sundoli Bazar. They shot him on chest and fled from the spot as the locals came hearing the sound, they said.
READ: Young man gunned down in Bandarban
Uttam died on the spot, said Md Shamim, officer-in-charge of Abhaynagar police station. The body has been sent to Jashore Medical College for autopsy, he said.