A Jahsore court on Wednesday sentenced former Awami League MP Shahin Chakladar to four years of jail in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) around 16 years back. Judge of Jashore Special and Session Judge Court SM Nurul Islam also fined him Tk 20, 000 and ordered to confiscate his properties worth Tk 38 lakh and 3685. The court issued a warrant for his arrest , said district unit of Awami League law affairs secretary Advocate Gazi Abdul Kadir who stood for the former lawmaker. On March 30 in 2008, the then deputy director of the ACC (Jashore office) Manjur Morshed filed a case against Shahin Chakladar, current general secretary of the district unit of Awami League, on charge of concealing information of properties worth Tk 38 lakh. The ACC found inconsistency between the tax file and submitted statement of properties. Read: Khaleda, Tarique acquitted in Zia Orphanage graft case In the statement of properties, the former MP mentioned that he had properties worth Tk 1 crore, 96 lakh and 21400, with a loan of Tk 1 crore, 91 lakh and 515. But the ACC found the actual value of his properties was Tk 56 lakh and 26,200 and he concealed information properties worth Tk 38 lakh and 383, 685. On January 5 in 2009, the ACC submitted chargesheet against him.

Flower farmers in Gadhkhali of Jashore’s Jhikargacha upazila, are having a busy season ahead of key events such as Valentine’s Day, International Mother Language Day, Independence Day, and the Bangla New Year. With these occasions and numerous governmental and non-governmental events in focus, the farmers are expecting to sell flowers worth over Tk 100 crore. The higher prices of flowers this year have prompted farmers to expand cultivation compared to last year. Known as the "flower capital" of Bangladesh, Gadhkhali sees flowers grown year-round, with the peak season running from December to April. In 2025, the region will have cultivated 11 types of flowers across 1,200 hectares of land. Around 4,000 to 5,000 families are involved in growing flowers, and the area is expected to produce flowers worth Tk 400 to Tk 500 crore annually. Sunamganj farmers struggling to cultivate Boro due to badly-planned road The highest demand for flowers typically occurs around significant events such as the English New Year, the Bangla New Year, Victory Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, International Mother Language Day, and Independence Day. Gadhkhali meets most of the country’s flower needs during these times, with farmers strategically planting for these high-demand periods.

Medical services at Chaugachha Upazila Health Complex in Jashore district have been hampering badly due to the lack of physicians as three physicians remained absent for several years, thanks to the negligence of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Sources said three doctors at the Chaugachha Upazila Health Complex in Jashore have been absent for the past 10 years, depriving patients from getting their desired medical services as the authorities refrain from appointing replacements due to the positions not being declared vacant. This situation has severely disrupted healthcare services, depriving the local population of necessary medical care. Medical Officer of the hospital Mridul Kanti has been absent from his work since 2014 without notifying authorities. ‘Relay Farming’ brings new hope to farmers in Khulna Similarly, Medical Officer Saima Nahid Shanta has been absent since 2021 and Medical Officer Golam Rasul has been away since 2019. Despite repeated notifications from the health complex administration, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has not taken any action against them, nor have their positions been vacated. The existing physicians are struggling a lot to provide medical treatment to the people due to the shortage of doctors. Prices of winter vegetables drop in Khulna, essentials continue to rise There are 16 physicians listed as active at the hospital out of 32 posts and among them three were absent for a long term while two of them were on deputation and two hold administrative positions, leaving only nine doctors to manage the daily operations of the hospital. Meanwhile, the existing doctors are also seeking transfers due to the excessive patient load. During a recent visit to the hospital, this correspondent found that a long queue of patients was seen at the outpatient department. Dredging proves no solution to the Khakdon RIver's navigability issues in Barguna Dr. Saidur Rahman Emon, an outpatient department physician, said, “Patient overcrowding is a daily occurrence here. The number of patients far exceeds the available doctors.” Dr. Ahsanul Mizan Rumi, the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said, “I recently joined this hospital and have already informed higher authorities about the three absent doctors. I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon.”

The sale of winter clothes has increased at shops and different markets in Jashore town as cold has tightened its hold in the region for  the last few days. According to the Bangladesh Metrological Department , the temperature in Jashore dropped to 12.6°C on Wednesday, compared to a daytime high of 27.8°C and the same trend continued  from Friday to Tuesday. As the cold becomes more biting, people have been flocking to winter clothes shops. Dhaka 3rd most polluted city in the world this morning Makeshift stalls on Mujib Road, the Zila Parishad’s second-hand clothing market, and the Collectorate market are buzzing with buyers. Mujib Road footpath stalls and the Zila Parishad’s old clothes market saw a significant rush on Friday and Saturday. Shoppers were seen selecting sweaters, hoodies, caps, jackets, trousers and full-sleeve shirts for themselves and their families. Visiting the makeshift shops the UNB correspondent found sweaters priced between Tk 250 and Tk 300, hoodies from Tk 250 to Tk 400, caps and shirts from Tk 150 to Tk 350, jackets from Tk 300 to Tk 700, trousers  from Tk 100 to Tk 300, and full-sleeve shirts ranging from Tk 60 to Tk 100. Arif Hossain, a vendor at Mujib Road footpath , said, “Hoodies, trousers and full-sleeve shirts for children are selling well. The increased cold has boosted sales.” Another vendor, Siam, said they have displayed a variety of items to attract buyers. Harun Gazi, a trader at the Zila Parishad market, said there is high demand for children’s sweaters, jackets, and hoodies but  sale of  clothing for adults remained relatively low. Mild cold wave sweeps Chuadanga, intensifying winter conditions Sayera Khatun, a shopper at the market, said, “It’s getting colder. I came to buy winter clothes for my daughter and got her a sweater and a cap.” Another shopper, Shamsher Ali, shared, “I bought winter clothes for my young grandchildren.” Poppy Khatun and Asma Begum said  prices of new clothes seemed higher than last year although second-hand clothing remained affordable. BMD predicts cooler nights ahead Arman Hossain, another vendor, expects sales to increase further as the cold will intensify in the coming weeks. “With Poush approaching, colder weather is likely, and business will pick up even more. Sales are already better than last year.”

A 15-year-old madrasa student died after a train hit him at Jhikargacha upazila of Jashore on Thursday. The accident happened at the Kaoria Rail Gate area of the upazila, said Jhikargachha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Bablur Rahman Khan. Man dies as cargo vessel sinks in Kishoreganj’s Itna The deceased Wasir was the son of Mizanur Rahman of Kaoria village in Jhikargachha. He was a class nine student at Beziatola Madrasa. Wasir was severely injured by the Benapole-bound train while crossing the Kaoria Rail Gate on his way to attend a madrasa exam, said his family. Body of missing child found in Feni, 3 arrested Later, locals rushed him to Jashore General Hospital, where the duty doctor declared him dead. Legal action would be taken following an investigation, said the OC.

An Awami League activist was hammered to death allegedly by unidentified miscreants in Jashore Sadar upazila on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Saiful Islam Sagar, 35, son of Delwar Hossain of Balidanga village under the same upazila and he was involved with local politics of the Awami League. Kotwali Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Abdur Razzak said Sagar walked out of jail around 10 to 12 days ago in an arms case. Read: Jubo League leader beaten dead in N’ganj’s Sonargaon Miscreants attacked him with hammers on a bridge adjacent to Balia Bhekutia Bazar on Monday evening, he said. Critically injured Sagar succumbed to his injuries on way to Dhaka from Jashore General Hospital, the OC said, adding that they were trying to identify the accused involved with the murder. Sagar was accused in five cases including killing, arms, robbery and drugs, the OC informed. Read more: Man beaten dead over cutting tree in Chandpur  

Two teachers died possibly from ‘heat stroke’ in Chattogram and Jashore districts on Sunday (April 28, 2024) morning when sever heat wave is scorching the country. In Chattogram, madasha teacher Maulana Md. Mostak Ahmed Kutubi Alkaderi, 55, fell unconscious while going to his workplacefrom his home in the Mohra area of Chandgaon. Kutubi Alkaderi, son of late Khalilur Rahman of Kutubdia Lemshikhali in Cox's Bazar district and father of  two sons and one daughter, used to work at Khitapchar Azizia Mabudia Alim Madrasha in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram. Woman, 2 children electrocuted in Barishal Witnesses said when the madrasha teacher boarded the ferry at Kalurghat around 9am suddenly he collapsed. Later, he was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared him dead. In Jashore, Ahsan Habib, an assistant teacher of Ahmedabad High School, died from apparent heat stroke on Sunday in sadar upazila. AZM Parvez Masud, headmaster of the school, said Habib fell sick around 9 am when he went to school after working in a field. Two children drown in Rajshahi pond   Later, he was taken to Jashore General Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead. The body was kept at Jashore General Hospital morgue for autopsy, said Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Jashore Kotwali Police Station. The reason behind the death will be known after autopsy, he said.

The flower growers and traders of Jashore’s Jhikargaccha upazila, one of the largest flower markets of Bangladesh, expect to sell flowers worth Tk 70 crore in the month of February as flower is a must-have in the celebration Pahela Falgun, Valentines’ Day and observance of Amar Ekushey. Flower growers are passing a busy day in nurturing their flowers ahead of the three events in the country. They also hope that that they will be able to sell flowers worth Tk 100 crore ahead of Pahela Falgun and Valentines’ Day on February 14, International Mother Language Day on February 21, Bangabandhu’s Birth Anniversary on March 17, Independence Day on March 26 Pahela Baishakh on April 14. Gadkhali and Panisara areas of Jhikargachha upazila have taken a colorful look with flowers everywhere where the farmers are nurturing their flowers to catch the markets. Read: Best Valentine's Day Destinations: 10 Stunning Resorts Around Dhaka   Different species of flowers including rose, jarbera, gladiolus, tube-rose, marigold, lilium, gypsy, chandramallika are cultivated in Jashore. Pervez, a flower grower of Syedpara in the upazila, said he brought five bighas of land under marigold cultivation and two bighas under tube-rose cultivation. “Now I am spending busy time nurturing my flowers as I have to catch the flower markets. I also used vitamins and pesticides in my flower garden to keep these free from pest attack,” he said. Qurban Ali, another flower grower of Panisara village, said “I have brought over two bighas of land under rose cultivation. The demand for roses increased on Valentine's Day. There are new buds on the rose plants now. I am spraying vitamins so that they are not damaged. The price of flowers will increase before Valentine's Day, I hope.” Already one stick of rose is being sold at Tk 25-30 per piece at retail level, he said. At retail level, Jerbera is being sold at Tk 8-10 per piece, rose at Tk 15-16 per piece, gladiolus at Tk 15-17 per piece, tube-rose at Tk 12, 1000 pieces merigold at Tk 200-250, gypsy Tk 10 per piece, 100 pieces chandramallika at Tk 500, china rose at Tk 25-26 per piece, but the price of flowers will increase three times ahead of the festivals, he said. Read more: A festival of flowers in Chattogram

Muslim devotees who attended the first phase of three-day Biswa Ijtema from neighbouring India have started returning home through Benapole land port in Jashore on Monday (February 05, 2024) morning. Sources at the port’s immigration office said that a huge number of devotees came to Bangladesh from several states of India to participate the Ijtema that ended on Sunday with Akheri Munajat on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi. Read: Two Ijtema attendees die in Tongi road accident The Indian devotees were seen standing in queues of Benapole’s Immigration customs to return home in the early morning. Benapole Immigration police station’s Officer-in-Charge (investigation) Shafiq Ahmed said there are additional officers so that the devotees face no hassles during departure from Bangladesh. Read more: Two Ijtema attendees die in Tongi road accident

A member of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) who sustained injuries after being shot by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Dhannokhola border under Benapole upazila of Jashore early Monday (January 22, 2024), succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in India, BGB said today (January 23, 2024). The deceased, Raisuddin, 35, was posted at the BGB-49 Battalion in Jashore, said a media release signed by Lt Col Md Jamil, commander of the 49 Battalion. According to the release, a patrol team of the paramilitary force challenged a gang of cattle smugglers when they were intruding into Bangladesh from India, adjacent to Jhelepara post area under the Benapole upazila, around 5:30 am on Monday. Read more: BGB distributes warm clothes among destitute people in St Martin's Island At one stage of the chase, the smugglers went back inside Indian territory, it reads, adding that BGB personnel Raisuddin got separated from the patrol team amid dense fog. Though initially he was not found, later it was known through several sources that he was injured in BSF firing and was undergoing treatment in an Indian hospital. Shortly after the incident, a bilateral flag meeting on commander-level was held between the BGB and the BSF, according to the release. He died while undergoing treatment in the hospital, it was confirmed. The BGB demanded proper investigation into the incident and sent a protest note to their Indian counterparts, the press release reads. Process is underway to bring the BGB personnel’s body back home soon, it added. Read more: BGB's seized contraband in Dec 2023 worth over Tk 266 crore