Khulna
Fence to be erected in parts of Sundarbans to tackle human-tiger conflicts
The Forest Department of Bangladesh will install nylon fence at critical locations in the Sundarbans and provide awareness training, aiming to resolve tiger-human conflicts, and increase the tiger population in the world’s largest mangrove forest.
These initiatives are part of a special project of the Forest Department named 'Sundarbans Tiger Conservation Project'.The implementation of the project, with a budget of Tk 35.90 crores, began in April 2022 scheduled for completion in March 202, according to the project director’s office.
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Under this project, various activities were planned including a survey of the tigers and prey animals in the Sundarbans, the construction of high dunes and watchtowers, research on canine distemper virus in tigers, and awareness training for VTRT and CPG members, it said.
To prevent tigers from entering nearby localities from the Sundarbans, nylon fence will be erected in 4 to 5 km critical locations initially. If this proves successful, 60 km area will be brought under fencing.
The Forest Department expressed hopes that the successful implementation of this project will resolve tiger-human conflicts, reduce human-induced tiger killings, and increase the tiger population.
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The primary focus of the project is the survey of tigers and prey animals. So far, camera trapping surveys have been completed for tigers, prey animals, and canals in the Khulna and Satkhira ranges under Sundarbans West Forest Division.
The survey in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges under East Forest Division is set to commence in November, with the report expected to be published in July 2024.
Abu Nasser Mohsin Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer of Sundarbans West Forest Division and Project Director of the Sundarban Tiger Conservation Project, said camera trapping work for the tiger survey in Satkhira and Khulna ranges has been successfully completed.
All officers and employees of the Sundarbans East and West Forest Divisions will undergo training to enhance their tiger conservation skills.
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“Training sessions for CPG and VTRT members will start soon. Additionally, several activities are planned for tiger conservation and increasing their numbers,” he said.
“All project activities will be documented on video, and these recordings will be used to create documentary films. These films will later prove valuable to officials and volunteers dedicated to Sundarbans and tiger conservation,” he added.
According to the project plan, 12 high dunes will be constructed inside the Sundarbans to offer shelter to tigers during floods, storms, and high tides. A tower will also be installed in the Dhansagar area of the Sarankhola range tiger sanctuary to monitor fires. From this tower, forest guards and volunteers will be able to swiftly manage fires in the Sundarbans in that region.
As part of the project, research will be conducted on the canine distemper virus. Tiger feces will be collected from the Sundarbans, and domestic researchers will study the virus infection in the tigers' teeth through these fecal samples.
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On the other hand, 340 members of the Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) and 184 members of the Community Patrol Group (CPG) will receive training to resolve human-tiger conflicts in the Sundarbans.
Additionally, two tigers that often enter the locality will be fitted with satellite trackers. Forest officers will provide apps to CPG and VTRT members for tracking tigers' movements, allowing them to monitor tiger activity on their mobile phones. Consequently, if a tiger approaches the locality, they will be able to quickly guide it back to the Sundarbans.
Furthermore, for the project's implementation, various equipment such as drone cameras, satellite trackers, nylon fences, GPS devices, tranquilizing agents for tiger sedation, cameras, VTRT equipment, and various auxiliary materials, including clothing and training materials for CPG members, will be procured.
Read more: Save Sundarbans, save Bangladesh: Environmentalists call for protecting largest mangrove forest
Erosion threat grips farmers in Khulna’s Rupsha; 525 hectares of cropland likely to be washed away
Over 500 farmers of several villages in Rupsa upazila under Khulna district are living amid fear of losing their cropland as no initiative has been taken in the last three years to construct the broken Shreerampur embankment to protect their land.
Farmers said there is around 525 hectares of croplands in Shreerampur char and over 500 farmers cultivate vegetables, rice and fruits on the fertile land three times a year.
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But three years ago about 1.5 km of the embankment from Shreerampur Palpara to Idris Jamaddar’s brick kiln collapsed due to erosion by the Rupsha River, leaving the cropland under threat.
Local MP Abdus Salam Murshedi took an initiative to solve the problem but no visible progress was made in the construction of embankment due to some complexities that created resentment among the local people.
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AHM Kamal, a farmer of the upazila who has land in Sreerampur char, said “We have been cultivating this land for generations. After meeting the region’s demand the rest of the crops are exported. We are in a great anxiety because of the river erosion which started three years ago. We are always afraid that the river water would enter the cropland and damage our crops. So I urge Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and local MP Abdus Salam Murshedi to save the farmers of the area by constructing an embankment as soon as possible.”
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Md Jahangir Hosen Mukul, a member of Khulna district Awami League, said, “ this dam has a great significance in the life of the farmers of this area. If the embankment collapses due to erosion, thousands of people will be affected .Croplands will be destroyed and there will be shortage of food. So I think it is very important to construct this embankment.
Khulna fuel traders start indefinite strike with 3-point demand
An indefinite strike called by fuel traders in Khulna is underway since this morning (September 03, 2023) to realise their three-point demand including hiking commission on fuel sales.
Moving fuel from Padma, Jamuna and Meghna oil depots has remained suspended since 8 am.
Bangladesh Tank-Lorry Owners’ Association, Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, Khulna Divisional Tank-Lorry Workers’ Union and Padma, Meghna and Jamuna Tank-Lorry Workers’ Welfare Association are observing the strike.
Their demands include raising commission on fuel sales to at least 7.5 percent, setting the tank-lorry economic life to 50 years, and issuing a gazette notification mentioning fuel traders as commission agents as per previous pledges.
Read: Khulna fuel traders threaten strike from Sept 3 if demands not met
As news of the strike surfaced earlier, a huge number of motorbikes and private vehicles were seen forming queues at fuel pumps in Khulna on Saturday night.
Claiming their demands as logical, Md Muraduzzaman, a leader of petrol pump owners’ association, said they were forced to start the strike from Sunday morning as their demands were not met by August 31.
The strike will end when their three-point demand is met, he said.
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Patients underserved as KMCH overwhelmed with bed shortage, inadequate manpower
Patients at Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) have been struggling to receive proper treatment due to overcrowding and manpower shortage.
The authorities of KMCH have been scrambling to provide treatment due to bed shortage as the number of patients is three times higher than the capacity of the 500-bed hospital.
Besides, physicians at the outdoor department of the hospital are also having a difficult time with 1500 patients on average every day seeking medical treatment.
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Deputy director of KMCH, Dr Niaz Mustafi Chwodhury, said a record number of patients are thronging at the hospital as the authorities have expanded healthcare services after opening new departments.
“Though we are struggling a lot to provide medical services to the record number of patients, we are trying our best,” he said.
Clash with medicine traders: KMCH students boycott classes
During a recent visit to the hospital, this UNB correspondent found that the floors, veranda, and staircases near the entrance of the hospital building are overcrowded with patients. Many were receiving treatment, resting on mats on the floor, close to the bathroom and staircases due to shortage of beds.
Jahangir Alam, who came to the hospital with his father from Rupsha upazila, said, “I brought my father with respiratory problems. He has been receiving treatment on the floor of the veranda for the past seven days. My father is suffering a lot due to the heat as there is no fan in the veranda.”
The staff of the hospital are also responding slowly as they are unable to cope with the overwhelming number of patients.
According to hospital sources, 81 posts under 31 wards of 16 departments at KMCH have remained vacant for a long period — forcing staff to deal with patients with inadequate manpower.
KMCH intern doctors call for work abstention over clash between students and medicine traders
Woman’s hanging body found in Khulna
A 22-year-old woman was found hanging at her residence at Ramnagar village in Rupsa upazila of Khulna district on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Shanta Begum, 22, wife of Sohag Talukdar of Ramnagar village.
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Quoting locals, police said the woman might have killed herself following a family feud.
Officer-in-Charge of Rupsa Police Station Md Shahin said the body was sent to KhulnaMedical College Hospital for autopsy.
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Shanta’s mother Salma Begum filed a case of unnatural death, he said.
Onion prices soar in Khulna market after India slaps duty on export
Onion prices have gone up in Khulna market just after the India's imposition of 40 percent duty on its export which came into effect from Sunday (August 20).
The prices of onion have increased by Tk 10-15 per kg in the local market just in a day.
On Sunday, Indian onions were being sold at Tk 65-70 per kg, while local onions at Tk 90 per kg. But on Saturday, per kg of Indian and local variety onions were sold at Tk 55-60 and Tk 75 per kg respectively.
Read: India imposes 40% duty on onion exports effective today
Sujan and Kawsar, traders of Mylapota Sandhya Bazar in the town, said that there is no shortage of onion in the market.
However, they are paying Tk 10-15 more for buying per kg of onion. As a result, onions have to be sold at a higher price, they added.
On August 19, the Revenue Department of the Indian Finance Ministry imposed a 40 percent duty on onion export to check price hike.
Read: Indian onions start arriving through land ports as import resumes
Importers said earlier they paid no tax for importing onions from India. Due to the 40 percent duty, an extra Tk 15-19 per kg will have to be counted.
An Indian gazette notification signed by Amreeta Titus, deputy secretary of the Revenue Department under the Finance Ministry, said the duty will remain effective till December 31 this year.
Indian exporters said onion prices are soaring in the country and the government has imposed the duty to discourage exports.
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Buyers said that the prices of onion have increased compared to the last few days. Onions may be stockpiled by unscrupulous traders on the pretext of import duty that may cause further rise in prices, they feared.
Ibrahim Hossain, deputy director of the Khulna divisional office of the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, said that they are monitoring the market.
Medical admission question leak: Doctor arrested in Khulna
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police have arrested a doctor, in connection with his suspected involvement in the medical college admission question leak, from Khulna district on Friday (August 18, 2023).
The arrestee was identified as Dr Yunus Khan Tarim, owner of Three Doctors Coaching Centre in Khulna.
Hasan Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said a team of CID arrested Dr Tarim and took him to Dhaka for further interrogation in the afternoon.
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According to CID, Dr Tarim has been involved in leaking medical college admission test questions for 16 years. He has earned substantial wealth from selling question papers to students of the coaching centre, at Tk 35-40 lakh each, they said.
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So far, CID have arrested 12 members of a “question paper leaking racket”. Among the arrestees are seven physicians including Dr Tarim.
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Newly elected Barishal, Khulna and Gazipur city mayors take oath
Newly elected mayors of three city corporations — Abul Khair Abdullah of Barishal, Talukder Abdul Khaleque of Khulna and Jayeda Khatun of Gazipur — took oath this morning.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath at a ceremony held in Shapla Hall of her office.
Later, 157 newly elected councillors of general wards and female councillors of the reserved seats of the three city corporations also took oath at the same venue.
AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal City Corporation election
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered the councillors’ oaths.
Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim conducted the oath-taking ceremony.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee was present on the occasion.
AL-backed mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque wins Khulna City polls
On June 12, Awami League mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won the Barishal City Corporation election with 87,807 votes. His nearest rival Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim bagged 33,828 votes.
Awami League mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election with 1,54,825 votes. His nearest rival Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Abdul Awal got 60,064 votes in the polls held on June 12.
AL not embarrassed by results of Gazipur city election: Agri Minister Razzaque
On May 25, independent candidate Jayeda Khatun won the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls with 238,934 votes, defeating her nearest rival Awami League-nominated candidate Azmat Ullah Khan who bagged 222,737 votes.
BMD predicts rain in Dhaka, other divisions
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rain or thundershowers in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, over 24 hours — starting from 9 am today (June 26, 2023).
"Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind are likely to occur at most places over Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over southern part of the country," the Met Office said.
The highest, 67 mm, rainfall was recorded in Barishal district in the country in 24 hours till 6 am on Monday.
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The country may witness more rain over the next 72 hours, BMD also said.
Meanwhile, the low-pressure area over northwest Bay and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts in India now lies over north Odisha and adjoining area.
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Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over the country, the weather forecast added.
The country’s highest temperature, 36.1 degree Celsius, was recorded in Rangpur on Monday.
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Class 7 student dies of heat stroke, 5 fall sick in Khulna
A school student of class 7 died and five other students fell sick from heat stroke on Tuesday (June 13, 2023) in different schools under Dumuria and Rupsa upazilas of Khulna district.
The deceased was identified as Surjit Basak, son of Anupati Basak, a class 7 student at Kalibari Secondary School.
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According to family sources, Surjit went to school on Tuesday morning. But on the way, he fell sick in the sweltering heat.
He was taken to Dumuria Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.
Dumuria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sheikh Koni Mia confirmed the death of Surjit Basak due to "cardiac arrest."
Read: Worker run over by truck in Chuadanga
Meanwhile, five students of Kajdia Secondary Girls School in Rupsa upazila fell sick from excessive heat due to load shedding during an examination. They were taken to the Upazila Health Complex.
Chand Sultana, the head teacher of the school, said, "Due to load shedding and intense heat, the students started feeling sick and lost consciousness in the exam hall. They were immediately taken to the Upazila Health Complex.”
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