Khulna
Brick kilns threaten environment & cause health hazards in south-western Bangladesh
The environment and the biodiversity in the south-western region of the country face damage and pollution due to illegal brick kilns built on the locality as well as along the river banks.
In addition, people in the region are at serious health risk from the smoke, gas and dust emitted from these brick kilns, according to experts.
Besides, the Rupsha River is shrinking; its direction is changing. Although these brick kilns are operated freely, the higher authorities are silent.
Read: HC asks govt to pull down 130 illegal brick kilns in CHT
However, these illegal kilns were not demolished even though fines were imposed through mobile courts from time to time.
According to the locals, they are suffering from variouscdiseases such as cold, cough and respiratory problem due to the toxic smoke of the brick kiln near their house. The yields from the trees and lands are also declining.
According to the list of the Department of Environment (DoE), there are 63 legal brickfields in Rupsha, 20 in Dumuria, five in Batiaghata, nine in Terkhada and three in Dighalia. There are allegations that the brick kilns are enlisted by the DoE even after being built in a densely populated area within 200 meters from the educational institutions.
Besides, UNB correspondent came to know that more than 50 brick kilns have been illegally built in Paikgacha, Fultala and Koira including those five upazilas. There are allegations that the local administration is not playing a significant role in demolishing those even after they have been removed from the list of the DoE.
Bricks are being burnt in 14 kilns including ARB Bricks, Jamuna Bricks, SKB Bricks at Paikgacha upazila. None of these are listed on the DoE list and are being operated in the densely populated areas and on agricultural lands. But, the upazila administration said seven kilns have licenses in this upazila. Meanwhile, six brick kiln owners in this upazila were fined Tk 2,40,000 this year.
There are several kilns including Fultala Super Bricks, JB Bricks, United Bricks, Prince Bricks, Ekota Bricks, Khanjahan Ali Bricks. Most of the brick kilns at Rupsha, Dumuria and Terkhada have been built on the bank of the river.
The ABM brick kiln is built in 500 meters of the densely populated area that includes Koira Upazila Health Complex and educational institutions.
On the other hand, according to Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) sources, 50 brick kilns have been built by occupying the two banks of Bhadra, Hari, Shailmari, Atai and Atharobeki rivers of Khulna. Of these, 18 kilns are in Rupsha upazila, 18 in Dumuria, 11 in Terkhada and three in Dighalia.
Locals alleged the kiln owners took possession of the river bank as well as the surrounding lands of the government. Bricks are being made at those kilns by cutting the soil of the sandbars of the area, forcing the river to change its direction.
Although the list of these illegal kilns has been compiled, the eviction process has come to a halt. Meanwhile, the High Court ordered the eviction of 14 brick kilns built on the bank of the Bhadra and Hari rivers in Dumuria upazila in 60 days.
Read: Raze all illegal brick kilns in Dhaka & adjoining districts in 15 days: HC
On December 14, a HC bench of Justice Justice Justice Md. Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md. Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Regarding the implementation of the court order, Dumuria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abdul Wadud said, "We have demarcated the governmental land of the river with red flags."
The kiln owners were also asked not to operate brick kilns within that area. Besides, a fine of Tk 3.5 lakh has been imposed on those four kilns this year.
Md. Maruf Billah, inspector of the DoE, said that the list of legal brick kilns has been published on the website. The work of conducting mobile courts is going on to demolish the illegal ones.
In this regard, Advocate Babul Hawlader, Coordinator of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Khulna, said that the residents, especially the children and the elderly people, here are suffering from respiratory and heart problems due to harmful smokes from the illegal brick kilns. Crops and plants are being destroyed due to the smoke.
The fish in the river are being destroyed. "Above all, air pollution has a negative impact on the entire ecosystem, including humans," he added.
Ashraful Alam, executive engineer of the BWDB in Khulna, said a list of illegal occupants had already been compiled and sent to the deputy commissioner's office. If they do not demolish the kilns themselves, eviction activities will be conducted with the help of the district administration.
"Action will be taken against all illegal occupants in phases. And, work will be done to evict the BIW occupants," the official warned.
Cop killed in Khulna road crash
A 36-year-old policeman was crushed under the wheels of a bus on Dhaka-Khulna highway in Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat district on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Illias Hossain, a constable of Fakirhat Model Police Station.
Read: 3 die in Dhaka road crashes
Chief Coordinator Inspector of Bagerhat SM Ashraful Alam said the Khulna-bound bus hit the motorbike of Illias and ran over him at Kakdanga intersection around 11am, leaving the cop dead on spot.
Later, his body was sent to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy, he said.
Legal will be taken in this regard, the official added.
Child drowns in Khulna
A one and a half year old child drowned in a well at Tanjpur in Fultala upazila in Khulna on Wednesday .
The deceased was identified as Jararul Islam, son of Ramzan Ali of Tajpur Garuhat area.
The incident occurred near their house at around 3 pm on Wednesday, said ASI Babul Das of Fultana police station.
Read: Rajshahi: Two friends drown while bathing in Padma
According to family sources, mother of Jaharul was busy with household chores and he was playing at the courtyard.
When his mother did not see him at the courtyard after some time she started searching the child and later his body was found in the well near their house.
The child was rushed to Fultala Upazila Health Complex but doctors declared him dead.
Khulna: 10 suspected militants remanded in police custody for 5 days
A local court in Khulna on Tuesday remanded 10 suspected militants in police custody for five days.
Though investigators sought a week's remand, chief metropolitan magistrate gave the police five days for the custodial interrogation of the accused.
The accused are Anwar Kabir Milon alias Middat Hossain, Sohail Rana, Aminul, Kamrul Islam, Rifat Rahman, Abdur Rauf, Md Sheikh Farid, Abdul Alim, Md Rafiqul Islam and Talha Islam.
Read: Court accepts charges against expelled Jubo League leader Samrat
Earlier on March 18, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) raided an under-construction house belonging to a person named Alam Sheikh off BIDC Road in Khulna’s Khalishpur and arrested them, said Nimai Chandra, the investigating officer in the case.
Later, the 10 were booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act, he added.
Khulna gang rape: 2 more accused held
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Tuesday arrested two more accused in the case over the gang rape of a woman in Khulna city.
Rab-6 Director Lt. Col. Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed said they arrested Sumon and Alamin Mollik, residents of Shiromoni area of Khulna, from Chitalmari in Bagerhat.
Read: Four tie up man in Khulna, rape wife
With these, five people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
On March 18, four men forcibly dragged a couple to a garage near the Tetultala railway crossing in Khanjahan Ali area of Khulna city around 10:30pm, where they tied up the husband with a rope and took turns to rape the 27-year-old woman.
Based on the woman's complaint, an FIR for gang-rape was lodged against the four men -- identified as Kamrul, Jibon, Sumon and Alamin -- at Khanjahan Ali police station on Saturday morning.
Police arrested Kamrul, the owner of the garage, on Saturday night.
Read: RAB detains 11 suspected militants in Khulna
On Monday, Sagar and Shakil were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident.
Based on their information, police arrested Sumon and Alamin today.
However, the prime accused Jibon is still on the run. “Efforts are on to arrest him,” said the official.
Elderly man falls into septic tank in Khulna, dies
A 66-year-old man died on Monday evening after allegedly falling into a septic tank in the Chandkhali Bazar area of Paikgacha upazila in Khulna.
The deceased was identified as Kamrul Islam, a cleaning staff of the meat market in Chandkhali Bazar.
Also read: Two die in Chuadanga after inhaling toxic gas inside septic tank
According to locals, around 6pm, Kamrul was heading towards the waste dump near the market when he fell into the septic tank through a hole left by its broken lid.
Kamrul drowned in the tank before he could be rescued, said Jafor, an assistant sub-inspector of Paikgacha police station. "A case of unnatural death has been filed in this regard."
Also read: Woman's decomposed body found in Jashore school's septic tank
Four tie up man in Khulna, rape wife
Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rape in 2020. On Friday night, another woman was allegedly violated by four men in front of her helpless husband.
The alleged crime occurred around 10.30 pm near the Tetultala railway crossing in the Khanjahan Ali locality of Khulna city, when the couple was passing through the area.
The four forcibly dragged the couple to a garage, where they tied up the man with a rope and took turns to rape the 27-year-old woman. Her ordeal continued for nearly an hour -- all this while, her helpless husband watched in horror, according to police.
READ: Gang rape victim rescued after 999 call
Based on the woman's complaint, an FIR for gang-rape was lodged against the four men -- identified as Quamrul, Jibon, Summon and Ala -- at Khanjahan Ali police station on Saturday morning.
"The woman is recuperating at the one-stop crisis centre of Khulna Medical College and Hospital," said Prabir Kumar Biswas, officer-in-charge. "Efforts are on to nab the perpetrators of the heinous crime."
Bangladesh's rape epidemic
There has been no let up in the number of sexual crimes against women despite the introduction of stricter laws in Bangladesh in November 2020.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped in 2020 alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below.
Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported in 2020 and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data.
However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape.
In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali.
In November, 2020, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country.
READ: Teenager gang-raped in N'ganj
But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.
Illegal coal furnaces leave Khulna gasping for breath & answers
The family's ordeal began a couple of years ago when their son suddenly developed a nagging cough.
Over the next few months after the clock struck 11am daily, Jamila Khatun and her husband knew what was coming -- so they would close her windows and wait for the inescapable.
Soon, the family home in the Shinger Char area of Aichgati union in Khulna's Rupsha upazila would be filled with a pungent smell. And her son would start coughing.
It was only after she got in touch with a local doctor that she came to know about the source of her son's persistent cough -- exposure to smoke from several illegal coal furnaces in the area.
"My son starts coughing soon after these illegal coal furnaces start emitting smoke from their chimneys. Every month, I spend Tk 1,000 on doctor visits and medicines," Jamila told UNB.
Jamila's family is not alone. Several people in the upazila have similar tales to narrate.
READ: Matarbari coal-fired power project gets costlier
Despite regular government drives against illegal coal furnaces in the upazila, nothing concrete has materialised to date -- toxic fumes from these units continue to pollute the environment.
"Apart from breathing difficulties, many children have developed skin problems," said another parent. "Local authorities should take some concrete steps to shut these illegal furnaces once and for all."
"It's high time they took strict action against the polluters," said Anjira Khatun, another resident.
The illegal coal furnace owners, on the other hand, say they are continuing with the family business to meet their both ends meet.
"We know our business is not legal, but we are helpless. Moreover, there's a good demand for coal across Bangladesh," said Jamal Khan, one such owner.
READ: Why quitting coal is so hard
Khulna's district environment inspector Maruf Billah said that their drive against the illegal coal furnaces would continue.
When contacted, Rupsha's acting upazila nirbahi officer Sajjad Hossain, said, "Immediate legal action will be taken against these illegal coal furnace owners."
PGCB signs deals with Chinese JVs on 11 power grid substations in Khulna
Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd. (PGCB) has signed a number of contracts with two Chinese joint venture companies to construct 11 grid substations in Khulna region.
According to the PGCB, the grid sub-stations will enhance the capacity of high voltage power transmission in the greater Khulna region.
The PGCB signed a contract for two joint ventures with China National Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC) and Shanghai Electric Company (SEC) to set up a new indoor GIS Grid sub-station of 400/230/132 kV at Karer Hat area and upgrade the existing 230/33 kV grid sub-station at Mirsarai in Chattagram to a 400/230 kV grid sub-station.
PGCB company secretary Md Jahangir Azad and CNTIC deputy general manager Zhang Kun signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides.
READ: PGCB moves to transmit power from Payra, Rampal to Dhaka
The two projects will cost Tk 736 crore.
As per the contract, the contractor will complete the job of the projects within next 30 months and hand them over to the PGCB.
Earlier on Sunday, another agreement was signed with the joint venture of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and China National Electric Engineering Company Limited (CNEEC) at the PGCB headquarters.
Under the agreement, a 230/132/33 kV GIS grid substation at Rupsha and four grid substations with 132/33 KV capacity at Meherpur, Maheshpur, Fultala and Monirampur will be constructed.
The capacity of the existing grid sub-stations at Satkhira, Kaliganj (Jessore) and Kushtia will be expanded to 132 kV Bay and Bagerhat sub-station to 132 kV GIS Bay.
The work will cost about Tk 492 crore.
READ: PGCB inks Tk 597cr deal with China firm to set up 4 grid substations
PGCB Company Secretary Md. Jahangir Azad and CNEEC Deputy General Manager Ge Wenbo signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides.
According to the agreement, the joint venture contractor will complete the job and hand over the substations to PGCB within the next 24 months.
The signing ceremony was attended by PGCB Executive Director (P&D) Mohammad Yaqub Elahi Chowdhury, project directors and other senior officials from both the parties were present on the occasion.
Woman held for killing twin daughters in Khulna
A 28-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday morning, a day after her twin daughters were found dead in a pond in Kushla village of Khulna.
Kanij Fatema, wife of Masum Billah of Matarchar village in Khulna's Mollarhat upazila, was nabbed from her parents house in Terokhada upazila.
She now faces murder charges in the death of her two children, police said.
Enamul Haque, a sub-inspector at Terokhada Police Station, said the couple got married four years back. But when Fatema got pregnant, Masum sent her to her father's house.
Two months ago, the couple was blessed with the twin daughters but Fatema continued to live with her parents. On Friday morning, local people found the bodies of the infants floating in the pond.
Read: Man arrested for chopping wife’s wrist in Narayanganj for dowry
During interrogation, police said, Fatema admitted to suffocating her two daughters to death on Thursday night as they had been crying. "Later she had dumped the bodies in the pond," Enamul said.