Jashore
Mushroom farming: The story of a jobless youth becoming an entrepreneur in Jashore
Foysal Ahmed, a 26-year-old villager, was happy to share his success story in farming mushrooms and earn handsomely.
In the two years since the youth from a low-income family took to mushroom farming he earned Tk. 1.5 lakh in profit from an investment of Tk. 3 lakh.
“Mushroom is a profitable business and I’m earning well. From spawn to harvest, it needs only 25-30 days and that continues for three months,” said the youth From Darajhat village in Bagharpara upazila of Jashore district.
Read: Betel leaf cultivation is uplifting farmers in Jashore’s Abhaynagar
Foysal, an Imam of Chatiantala Dakhil Madrasha, was so determined to change his fate that he sold his mobile phone and a goat to collect capital for starting the cultivation in his own backyard.
He resorted to YouTube to know about the cultivation process. At first he made 1000 beds of mushrooms in 2020 and got a profit of Tk 20,000 which made him enthusiastic in continuing the business.
Mushrooms are edible fungus and eaten as vegetable.
4 detained over killing a transgender in Jashore
Jashore Detective Branch of police held four people, including two transgenders over killing another transgender person on Saturday.
The arrestees were identified as Shakil Parvej, 21, from Dogachia village in the Sadar upazila, Mehedi Hasan, 19, from Jhaudia village and Najma and Selim from transgender community, said DB police in a press briefing on Sunday.
A gun, magazine, five rounds of bullets, and sharp weapons were seized from the arrestees, said police.
Also read: Stabbing leaves transgender woman dead in Cumilla: Police
According to police, Selim and Najma planned to kill Abdul Kader alias Lovely, over a long running internal feud between them over creating dominance amid the transgender community and regarding monetary benefits.
On Saturday, around 8:30 am the four alleged killer obstructed Lovely’s path on a bridge at Halsha village and shot two bullets at her. After missing the aim they attacked her with sharp weapons and fled, said witnesses.
Later locals rescued Lovely and took her to Jashore General hospital, where the duy doctor announced her death.
Also read: Transgender, Bede communities in Savar hit hard by restrictions
Immediately after the incident DB police conducted a drive at different places in the upazila and arrested the four on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Lovely’s sister and Mofijul Islam, Sub-Inspector of DB police filed two separate cases over the incident at Kotwali police station.
Two die in hit-and-run accident in Jashore
Two men in their 50s died after being hit by a speeding bus while crossing the Jashore-Khulna Highway in the district's Abhaynagar upazila on Thursday night.
The deceased were identified as Subed Ali, 55, and Kubed Ali, 54, both residents of Paba upazila of Rajshahi.
The accident occurred around 8.45 pm on the Jashore-Khulna Highway near Prembag School in the upazila when the two men returning from picnic in the Sunderbans alighted from their vehicle and attempted to cross the busy highway.
READ: Mother, son killed in Pabna road accident
The bus of Rupsha Paribahan hit the duo and sped away, leaving the duo severely injured, eye-witnesses said. Both died of their injuries on the way to hospital.
Siddikur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Noapara Highway police station, said the bus was seized. "Efforts are on to arrest its driver and his assistant."
READ: Four of family killed in Cumilla road crash
Chronic waterlogging adds to Bhabdaha's pain in winter
Despite the onset of the dry season after the monsoon, fifty-two villages in Bhabdaha, a region in the south-west of the country straddling Khulna-Jashore that became known for its chronic waterlogging over two generations, remain submerged.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) have taken up irrigation projects to alleviate the waterlogging over this huge area recently. However, residents are skeptical about its success.
Sorrow of Bhabdaha
In 1961-62, a 21-vent sluice gate was built on the Hari River flowing through Dumuria and Fultala of Khulna district and Abhaynagar, Manirampur and Keshabpur upazilas of Jashore (then Jessore) district. Some distance away, another sluice gate of nine vents was set up.
At that time, the purpose of building sluice gates in this region was to protect the croplands of around 50 beels in the Bhabdaha area from flood waters and salinisation from incoming sea water.
But, only 20 years later, that sluice gate became the cause of the misery of the residents. The Hari River began to get filled up, and the sluice gates gradually became ineffective, over time coming to be known as the 'sorrow of Bhabdaha'.
Anamika Biswas, a housewife from Hatagachha village, said that there is water all around her house. They keep their cattle at home.
Although fish can be seen in the water around their house, they have no way to catch and eat it. However, influential people of the area are cultivating fish there in enclosures.
Irrigation pumps a 'loss project'
Talking to the locals, it was learned that irrigation activities are being carried out in a joint venture between BADC and BWDB to alleviate the permanent waterlogging of Bhabdaha. But despite investing lakhs of taka per month, the drainage of the irrigation pumps through the Bhabdaha sluice gate could not bring any benefits to the residents.
READ: Heavy rains lead to horrific waterlogging in parts of Chattogram
This initiative was implemented at the beginning of this year to grow crops in the adjoining beel areas and reduce the suffering of marooned people. However, the locals have compared this method to 'throwing stones in the sea'.
Earlier, the government undertook a project in 2012 at a cost of Tk 68 crore to alleviate the waterlogging in Bhabdaha. But that project did not work. A couple of years ago, the Water Development Board submitted a project proposal at a cost of Tk 800 crore, which is currently in the Planning Commission. Besides, an allocation of Tk 43 crore has been sought for drainage of water through irrigation pumps at present.
Abdullah Al Rashid, BADC's Jashore Region Supervising Engineer (Irrigation Department), said BADC provided 20 pumps of 30 hp (horsepower) to BWDB to grow crops and reduce human suffering in the region. A sub-engineer along with eight workers of BADC maintains it there round the clock. But BWDB was not aware of the leakage and did not take any action.
Tauhidul Islam, executive engineer of BWDB of Jashore, said that although 20 pumps were obtained from BADC, it was less than the demand. Therefore, DPP has been submitted to the ministry for allocation of Tk 43 crore for larger pumps.
"Besides, a project has been lying in the department concerned for allocation of around Tk 800 crore two years ago. That too was not approved," he added.
Satya Biswas, a resident of Beel Kedaria in Bhabdaha area, said that waterlogging occurred in Bhabdaha in the 1980's. "Today, even after 40 years, this waterlogging is expanding day by day. Only the influential people are benefited through these projects as they are looting government allocations," he said.
No alternative to dredging the Hari
The water in the beels cannot go anywhere because the river bed has filled up with silt. As a result, the water of these beels cannot recede properly causing immense suffering to the people.
In this regard, Narayan Chandra Chand, Member of Parliament for Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Fultala), that covers the region, questioned the feasibility of the irrigation project undertaken by Water Development Board and BADC. He said there is no alternative to dredging the Hari River anymore, including its tributaries, to alleviate the waterlogging of Bhabdaha.
READ: Dhaka can’t take a break from waterlogging; intense rains drown many roads
The water of Bhabdaha flows through Hari River to the Bhadra, Ghangrail rivers and falls into Shipsa River before merging into the sea. So the embankment of the canal in Bhabdaha has to be removed and the Hari River needs to be dredged - that is the only option left that could work, the MP insists.
Why the dates of Jashore are in danger
In Jashore's Khajura area, dozens of date palm trees sway gently in the winter wind.
A fearless Faisal prepares to scale few such trees with extension buckets to bring down the fruit of his labour -- date sap that's taken fresh or processed into jaggery, a winter delicacy in Bangladesh.
But this date palm climber, who does his job with deceptive ease using only a rope-like harness looped around his feet, does not want his children to learn his rare skills.
Read: Rebased GDP now official in national accounting
"Already many date farmers have sold their trees due to scarcity of climbers. We want our children to study and bag a decent job," says Faisal. "Of course, some did sell their trees to fight poverty."
Also, with the number of trees declining in the district, another climber Sadiq Hossain says the dictum -- Jashorer josh, khejurer rosh" (Jashore's pride is its date syrup) -- may soon become a proverb of the past.
"Two decades ago, this area was dotted with date trees. Over these 20 years, the situation has changed. Date palm syrup is increasingly becoming scarce," he claims.
Read Delicious Winter Pithas in Bangladesh: Where Savory, and Innovation Meets Tradition
Jashore pre-polls violence: Injured man dies at DMCH
A man, who was hacked during pre-election violence in Jashore’s Sharsha upazila on Tuesday, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Mostafizur Rahman Dhabak, 42, son of Khatib Dhabak of Bagachara union of the upazila and a supporter of rebel chairman candidate AH Khaleq.
AH Khaleq Dhabak alleged that on that night, supporters of chairman candidate Ilias Kabir Bakul (boat symbol) hacked Mostafizur Rahman with sharp weapons and he was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital(DMCH) with serious injuries.
According to locals, supporters of candidate Ilias Kabir Bakul attacked rebel candidate AH Khaleq Dhabak’s procession when it reached near Baitul Mamun Jame Mosque in the area, leaving Mostafizur and two injured .
Later they were admitted to DMCH for advanced treatment.
Also read: Post poll violence: Injured van puller dies in Barishal hospital
As the death news spread, supporters of rebel chairman candidate AH Khaleq gathered at Bagachara Bazar on Saturday morning and burned tires, halting traffic movement.
The rebel candidate’s supporters also vandalized the election office AL candidate.
Later police brought the situation under control.
Also read: UP polls violence: Injured Madaripur man dies in Dhaka
Officer-in-Charge of Sharsha Police Station Badrul Alam said a tense situation has been prevailing at Bagachra following Mustafizur’s death and additional police have been deployed to avoid trouble.
Jashore vegetable farmers toil hard to catch the early winter consumers
Vegetable growers in Jashore district are working overtime to hit the winter market early and get a good price and add an extra flavour to Bengali cuisine.
The crop fields in Churamonkati, Satmile, Barinagar, Hoibatpur, Kashimpur, Bandabila, Lebotala, Nongorpur and Isali union of Sadar upazila, the hub of vegetable farming in the district, are emerging green with winter delicacies like cauliflower, cabbage, beans, radish, bottle gourds and a variety of spinach.
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According to official sources 60 per cent of the country's total vegetable harvest comes from Jashore. After meeting the local demand the vegetables are supplied to other parts of the country.
Although the farmers have blamed unseasonal rain for the delay in early winter vegetable cultivation and its soaring prices, some farmers have already succeeded in taking their produced items in the local market aiming to earn more money.
Read Agricultural Loans in Bangladesh: Banks Offering Loans to Farmers and Farms
According to the District Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), as the Robi season started in mid-October, the vegetable growers in the district have already brought their land under cultivation which will continue until mid-March.
Already the authorities concerned have set a target of bringing 16,730 hectares of land under vegetable cultivation. Of these, winter vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, bean, radish, red spinach and green spinach have been cultivated in some 4,135 hectares of land of the district.
Read Seaweed farming can transform Bangladesh’s blue economy: Experts
During a tour of the areas this UNB correspondent found that the farmers are passing a busy time in cultivating vegetables in Satmile, Churamonkati, Barinagar, Hoibatpur, Kashimpur, Bandabila, Lebotala, Nongorpur and Isali union of Sadar upazila.
Kamal Hossain, a vegetable grower of Bagdanga village in Churamankati in Sadar upazila, said “All kinds of winter vegetables are grown here. As during the peak season, the price of vegetables drops. I have brought my 2.5 bighas of land under cauliflower and cabbage cultivation early to get a higher price.”
Read IFAD, govt start distributing HVG inputs, processing equipment to smallholder farmers
“I hope I can harvest the winter vegetables before the month of Agrahayana,” he said.
3 missing sisters fled Dhaka home for the love of father, Rab found them
Three teenage sisters missing from their Dhaka home was on Friday traced safe in their father’s house in Jashore, Rab said.
The three sisters Rokeya (18), Zainab Ara (18) and Khadija Ara (17) went to Jashore on Thursday to see their ailing father, they told Rapid Action Battalion which found them.
While Rokeya passed SSC last year, her two younger sisters are this year’s SSC examinees.
Read: Police launch a search after three sisters go missing from their city home
The girls, living with their maternal aunt Sajia Nawrin at Adabar in Dhaka, left the house on Thursday morning without informing her, she said in a general diary she filed with Adabar police.
Rab-2 joined the hunt for the girls and traced their location at their father’s ancestral home in Jashore.
Rab arranged a video contact between the girls and their aunt ensuring that they are safe.
The girls’ mother died of cancer in 2013 and since then they have been living legally with their aunt.
Conjoined twins die hours after birth in Jashore
A baby boy with two heads died hours after being born at a private hospital in Jashore on Thursday.
The baby -- actually conjoined twin brothers who shared a single body, two arms and two legs -- was delivered by Caesarean on Thursday afternoon.
Both the mother, Muslima Akter, a resident of Natopara village in Jhenaidah upazila, and the baby were later shifted to Jashore General Hospital. However, the baby passed away within a couple of hours.
Also read: Conjoined twins die 3 hrs after birth in Faridpur
Faisal Ahmed a doctor at the children's ward of Jashore General Hospital, said the baby was brought to the district's premier medical facility around 7pm on Thursday.
“As his condition deteriorated further, we referred him to a Dhaka hospital. But the baby breathed his last around 9pm before he could be shifted to the capital," he said.
The baby’s grandmother, Sabina Begum, said that in the ninth month of Muslima's pregnancy, doctors at the private hospital told them that she was expecting twins after seeing her ultrasonography report.
Also read: Woman gives birth to conjoined twins in Jashore
6 war crimes suspects held in Jashore
Police have arrested six people from Bagherpara upazila in Jashore for their suspected involvement in the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
The arrestees are Abul Hossain Biswas, Hossain Ali, Abu Bakkar, Lutfar Rahman, Khoibar Rahman and Nur Islam, of Bagherpara upazila.
Read:2 war crimes suspects held in Jashore -
Later, they were handed over to the International Crimes Tribunal, said Bagharpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Firoz Uddin said on Tuesday.
On Sunday, a team led by DB OC Rupon Sarkar and Bagharpara Police Station OC Firoz Uddin arrested the six war crimes suspects from different parts of the upazila.
On Saturday, Jashore district police received the arrest warrant.
A case was filed against the six in 2017. After an investigation, the tribunal issued an warrant for their arrest on October 21 this year.