Nearly 100 shops were destroyed in a fire at Kaliakoir Bazar in Gazipur on Monday.

Eight firefighting units contained the fire after about 90 minutes.

Kaliakoir Fire Service Station Officer Kabirul Alam said the fire started around 5:30pm and spread rapidly.

“The shopkeepers could not remove much of their goods, so the damage is quite big,” he said.

It was immediately possible to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage.

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A committee was formed on Sunday to preserve the archaeological heritage and relics of historic Garhjaripa in Sreebardi upazila.

The place was the capital of Sherpur at the beginning of Muslim rule in the area. 

Muslim ruler Majlish Khan Humayun occupied Garhjaripa in 1491.

Numerous archeological relics of the area include Baraduari Mosque, Kalidaha Sagar, Chand Saudagar's Dinghy, and Jarip Shah's shrine.

As the archaeological heritage and relics of Garhjaripa are on the edge of ruin, the government has stepped forward to preserve them.

A committee was formed with Sreebardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) as its head. 

It will publish a booklet on the history of Garhjaripa and collect archeological relics from the locals, said UNO Nilufa Aktar.

"We will also recommend the Department of Archaeology to set up a museum at Garhjaripa."

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Six months have gone since cyclone Amphan walloped the coastal districts of the country. And winter is coming, too.

But hundreds of people are still living on the broken embankments.

Also, the lives of around 20,000 people of Shreula and Pratapnagar unions of Satkhira's Ashashuni upazila have now become dependent on tides.

Tidal water is still flowing through the broken embankments and entering their homes.

Many people are still staying in relief shelters, while some are living in makeshift houses on the embankments.

Super cyclone Amphan slammed Bangladesh's coast on May 20 with strong wind and heavy rains. It also caused a tidal surge which inflicted heavy damage to the embankments and flooded many areas.

Initial estimates by four ministries suggested that Amphan badly hit 26 districts and caused damage of Tk1,100 crore.

The cyclone left a trail of destruction in Satkhira where the devastating signs are still visible.

Amphan wreaked havoc on the coastal parts of Ashashuni and Shyamnagar upazilas of the district, leaving 1.5 lakh people marooned.

Several villages were swept away as embankments of 23 points in two upazilas got damaged. Many fish enclosures got washed away, too.

At least 20 embankments collapsed due to the impact of the cyclone, leading to saltwater inundation. The communication system in different areas still has not got back to normal.

Also, many people are passing an inhuman life due to a shortage of food and medical services.

However, the local administration of Ashashuni upazila has managed to repair 18 points of the embankments. But five points at Hazrakhali, Kurikaunia, Chakla, Harispur areas still remain broken.

So, tidal water is now flowing through the broken embankments and entering the homes of 20 villages in Sreula and Protapnagar unions.

Abu Hena, Shakil, chairman of Shreula Union Parishad, said: "Already six months have passed and no initiative has been taken to repair the embankment at Hazrakhali point. Many people are still living in relief shelters as tidal water still comes into their house."

Mahfuza Khatun, 70, a resident of Hazrakhali village, said: "I along with my family have been living on the embankment for the last six months. And winter is coming, but we have no warm clothes."

Nazrul Islam, 58, another resident of the village, said: "Like me, many people have lost everything in the cyclone.”

Jakir Hossain, chairman of Pratapnagar union, said: "Seventeen villages in my area still inundated. No step has been taken to repair the Kurikaunia, Chakla, Hariskhali points of the embankment."

Sudhangshu Kumar, executive engineer of Satkhira Water Development Board, said: "The repair work will start in December and we hope it will be done soon."

Two people were killed as a motorcycle crashed into a trolley in Jhenaidah's Harinakundu upazila on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Shakil Ahmed, 25, of Harinakundu upazila and Shafique Uddin, 30, of Sadar upazila.

Abdur Rahim, officer-in-charge of Harinakundu Police Station, said a motorcycle collided head-on with a tractor-trolley heading toward Harinakundu.

Losing control, the tractor-trolley overturned and landed on its roof, leaving the driver Shafique dead and motorcycle rider Shakil injured.

Later, Shakil was transported to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital. Then the doctors referred him to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital, but he died on the way, said police.

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A young man was found dead at a room of the Union Parishad office under Haripur union in Paba Upazila early Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Mofazzal Hosain, 30, son of Tofazzal hossain of Tanore upazila.

Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Damkura Police Station, said Mofazzal got married to a girl, daughter of Rafiqul Islam at Nalpukur village in the upazila, 10-12 days ago.

But after some days, the wife of Mofazzal returned to her parents' house following family feud.

Later, Mofazzal went to his in-law's house to bring back his wife on Friday. On Saturday, locals found Mofazzal drunk and roaming here and there.

They handed him over to the chairman of Haripur union, Bazle Rezbi Al Hasan Manzil and at the directives of the chairman, Mofazzal was asked to pass the night at a room of the Union parishad office.

The chairman is scheduled to sit with the two families for resolving the issue. 

A village police noticed that Mofazzal was hanging from the window of the office room and informed others early Sunday.

On information, police recovered the body around 11:45 am and sent it to local hospital morgue for autopsy.

UP chairman Manzil, said Mofazzal might have committed suicide inside the room.

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