Chandpur
Largest congregation on Juma'atul Wida held at Hajiganj amid pandemic
The century-old 'Boro Masjid' in Hajiganj of Chandpur has earned a reputation of holding one of the largest congregations on Juma'atul Wida, the last Jumma (Friday) prayer of Ramadan, over the years.
This year was no different despite the risk of Covid-19 outbreak.
Around 1 lac people gathered at the mosque ignoring the scorching sun and wearing masks.
Although devotees were supposed to join prayers maintaining social distancing, by 11 am the first two floors of the huge mosque was filled to the brim by Muslim devotees.
Not only the mosque but also the surrounding Ahmadia Alia Madrasa grounds and buildings, Jamia Ahmadiyya Qawmi Madrasa Bhaban, Hajiganj Tower, Rajnigandha Market, Hajiganj Plaza, Business Prime Bank Bhaban and the former municipality building was completely occupied by the worshippers within 12:30 pm.
Also read: Juma’atul Wida observed
By 1 pm, the wave of Muslim devotees spread till the Cumilla-Chandpur regional highway which even halted the movement of transportation during the period.
At the end of the prayers, Imam and Khatib Alhaj Mufti Abdur Rauf offered special prayers for the welfare of the country and sought a world free of Covid -19.
During the munajat, the sky and air became muffled by the sound of worshippers saying 'Amin' after the imam.
Regarding the preparations for the Jamaat of Juma'atul Wida, Shakil Ahmed, the Motawalli (Acting) of the Hajiganj Historical Grand Mosque, said, "Due to the epidemic, special measures have been taken to perform Juma'atul Wida prayers this time as compared to other years. We have tried our best to serve the worshipers.
He further said that the police force of Hajiganj police station, various social organizations and local organizations have provided us with adequate support for the peaceful and orderly conduct of prayers. I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to them and look forward to their continued support in the future.
Juma'atul Wida or the last Friday prayers in congregation in Ramadan, is meant for saying farewell to the glorious month of fasting.
Missing expatriate found dead in Chandpur corn field
Police on Tuesday recovered the decomposed body of an expatriate who went missing two weeks ago.
Police had been called in after a body was found in a corn field in Chandpur’s Rampur union by a farmer.
The deceased Osman Gani Munshi (30), son of late Rustam Ali Munshi of Kamranga village under Rampur union, was missing for nearly a fortnight.
Additional superintendent of Chandpur Police Snigdha Sarkar confirmed the body was of the missing expatriate.
Farmer Sukumar Chandra said, “When I went to the field around 5 pm, I got a bad smell and called my nephew. With him I entered the corn field and found the corpse."
Malaysian expatriate Osman Gani was a mason and a raw material trader by profession.
His four-month-pregnant wife, Salma, said: "My husband went out for work as usual but did not return two weeks ago."
According to the police, on April 12, Osman went to his aunt's house in Devpur Bepari Bari from where he went missing.
OC Abdur Rashid told UNB the body was sent to Chandpur Hospital morgue for autopsy.
ASI Snigdha Sarkar said whether he was killed or not can be ascertained by analyzing the evidence collected by PBI and CID.
Chandpur General Hospital to get oxygen plant
All necessary initiatives have been taken to install a dedicated medical oxygen generation plant at Chandpur General Hospital to meet the increasing demand for life-saving gas amid Covid-19 surge across the district.
The plant, funded by UNICEF, will have the capacity to supply 20 lakh millilitre of oxygen. The project will be implemented by Spectra International, under the direct supervision of the Health Ministry.
Read Indian capital gasps for oxygen - United News of Bangladesh
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni is also providing her assistance and guidance implementing the project, hospital Supervisor Dr Md Habib Ul Karim told UNB.
"At present, we have to bring oxygen cylinders from Cumilla as per the demand. Access time and money is spent in the process. This plant will meet the current demand in the district as well as will keep a reserve for 5/6 months,” said the hospital super.
UNICEF in association with Spectra International will install oxygen plants in 25 districts across the country, he added.
Read Liquid oxygen import from India suspended at Benapole
Chandpur: Restaurant, party host fined Tk 1 lakh for violating Covid norms
A mobile court in Chandpur has imposed fines of Tk one lakh on a restaurant and the organiser of a post-wedding party at the venue for violating Covid prevention protocols.
Executive magistrate Mohammad Ujjal Hossain on Friday fined Rasuighar Chinese Restaurant and Party Centre in Chandpur district town and Abdul Latif of Faridganj upazila Tk 50,000 each for not adhering to government's Covid guidelines.
Ujjal Hossain said the local administration has issued guidelines to contain the spread of coronavirus as the country has been of late seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases as well as deaths.
Also read: Restaurant business bleeds as Coronavirus cases surge
Besides, the mobile court also fined nine people Tk 1,900 for ignoring Covid health guidelines across the district town on the same day.
Govt strengthens protective steps
The daily surge prompted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on March 29 to prevent the transmission of the virus.
On the same day, the Health Ministry proposed strict measures like partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rates.
Read Safe Lifestyle in COVID-19 Lockdown: Do's, Don'ts, and Precautions
Other recommendations made by the ministry include closure of amusement centres and picnic spots, ban on religious gatherings, limiting wedding ceremonies, strengthening quarantine systems, limiting passengers in public transport, and limiting attendance in offices.
It also suggested strong enforcement of the ‘no mask, no service’ policy, increasing the number of mobile courts and slapping fines on health guideline violators.
Authorities in various districts have shut down amusement centres and are urging people to wear masks. But a large number of people are still reluctant to follow Covid protocols, putting themselves as well as others around them at risk.
Read Covid surge: Mobile courts to ensure mask use soon
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh on Friday recorded more than 6,800 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, as the government ramps up efforts to contain the transmission of the virus.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 624,594 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read 25 fined in city for not wearing mask
Vaccination drive
The government launched a countrywide vaccination campaign on February 7 with doses received from the Serum Institute of India.
Bangladesh inked an agreement with Serum in December last year for acquiring 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Serum is supposed to supply the doses between January and June this year – 5 million each month.
Read Mobile court demolishes six illegal brick kilns in Magura
38-yr-old held for raping former sister-in-law in Chandpur village
A 38-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping his former sister-in-law at his home in Ragdoil village of Kachua in Chandpur on the pretext of marriage.
AL’s candidates, rebels mostly dominate 3rd phase municipal polls
Candidates of the ruling Awami League have been unofficially elected from majority of the municipalities that went to polls on Saturday in the third phase, according to partial results.
4 arrested for ‘gang rape’ of underage girl in Chandpur
Four men have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a hearing-impaired teen in Chandpur’s Faridganj.
Dipu Moni distributes 10,000 blankets in Chandpur
Thousands of blankets allocated by Education Minister Dipu Moni for the cold-hit poor people of Chandpur Sadar and Haimchar were distributed on Friday.
Sexual assault: Chandpur fourth-grader becomes pregnant, rapist arrested
A fourth-grader in Chandpur Sadar upazila's Laxmipur model union has become pregnant after allegedly being raped again and again.
12 fishermen jailed for violating hilsa fishing ban
Twelve fishermen were jailed for various terms in Chandpur on Tuesday for catching hilsa flouting the ongoing fishing ban.