Khulna
4 policemen held for possessing drugs in Khulna
Four policemen have been arrested by Detective Branch (DB) police from two separate places in Khulna Sadar upazila, officials said on Sunday.
DB police inspector Tapan Singh said cases were filed against the four under the Narcotics Control Act at Sonadanga and Daulatpur police stations.
Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur police station, said that two policemen- Ashikur Rahman and Gias Uddin were suspended after their arrest.
DB police recovered 40 Yaba pills from them near Daulatpur Rehana filling station around 7 pm on Friday when went there for selling the drugs, he said.
READ: Man held with 2 firearms, ammunition in Satkhira
On Saturday, DB's SI Bidhanan Chandra Roy filed a case against the duo, he added.
Meanwhile, two other policemen were arrested from Islamia College Road of Sonadanga on the same charge.
However, Nahid Mridha, officer-in-charge of Sonadanga police station, didn’t provide detail information about them.
Makeshift cattle markets gaining momentum in Khulna
A festive mood looks across Khulna city centring the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festivals of the Muslim community which is expected to be held on July 10, as cattle farmers started to display their animals at markets.
Sources said the concerned authorities have already begun to set up makeshift markets for displaying animals in different areas of Khulna. However, sale of cattle at makeshift markets Jhoragate and Fulbarigate Balurmath, two largest makeshift markets, will begin from July 03.
On the other hand, sale and buy at some outside areas of Khulna namely Satkhira, Tala, Atharomile, Chuknagar, Shahpur, Jiyala, Anduli have already started.
Talking to buyers and sellers, this correspondent found that demand by customers for local cows in small and medium size is so high.
Customers are reluctant to buy large cows, bringing allegations against the farmers that they have been farming foreign-species cows by feeding medicine for bagging much profit within a short time; he said referring to the customers.
Contacted, several cattle farmers of Andulia Shahapur of Dumuria zone, they said the demand for local sacrificial animals increased several times in the last few years due to the halt in import of Indian animals through borders.
Besides, the government has taken several initiatives and given opportunities to the cattle farmers in a bid to increase production of animals at root-level, they said.
The farmers informed that many people are getting involved in cattle farming especially for sacrificial animals due to high demand for local cattle.
READ: Over 4,400 Eid cattle markets will be set up across the country:Home Minister
Farmer Rabiul Islam told the UNB that buyers from different parts of Khulna started visiting his farm ahead of the eid every day.
He, however, observed that the buyers are levelling a lower price compared to the market value. The price of cattle-feed is so high compared to any previous time.
Seller Abdur Rahim hailing from Andulia area said that he brought three cows in medium size while buyers were pricing low compared to the market.
He said they invested a good amount of money for rearing cattle as price of cattle-feed including hay and others.
“Our labour will go in vain if we don’t get a reasonable price by selling the cattle”, he said.
On the other hand, buyer Hafizul Islam said that it will be tough for him to buy a cow alone as the market value of the sacrificial animals is so high compared to the last year.
He claimed that a seller is asking Tk 140,000 for a cow of the size that was sold at Tk 1 lakh last year.
Traders charge high price compared to the market as they display cattle as middleman after buying from villages, he alleged.
Kalo Manik: The big bull that's ready to charge this Eid!
Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, Kalo Manik is hogging the limelight in Khulna's Rostompur village.
Kalo Manik isn't any other ordinary bull, technically a steer, a neutered male popular for its meat -- the 7ft tall cattle weighs around 32 maund.
Read:Cattle farmers worry over spread of lumpy skin disease
Prabir Mazumdar, its owner, said that he reared the bull in his dairy in Rostompur village of Dumuria upazila's Atalia union along with three more cattle.
Prabir, a former expat worker, started his dairy some five years ago after returning to Bangladesh from abroad.
“For the last two years, I have been rearing Kalo Manik. He eats around 10kg of food daily, which includes wheat bran, rice bran, maze, dried hay and raw grass," he said.
Read: Sher Khan may trigger bull run in Kushtia cattle market
Everyday locals throng Prabir’s dairy to catch a glimpse of the big bull. Enamul Gazi, a local, said, "I was curious to see the bull with my own eyes.”
Dr Mahmuda Sultana, upazila livestock officer said, “Enough sacrificial animals are available in the upazila. However, farmers are a bit worried about getting good prices.”
3 cops hurt in bid to free arrestee in Khulna
Three cops were injured after a group of miscreants allegedly attacked a police team and vandalised their vehicle in a bid to free an arrestee in Khulna.
The miscreants attacked the police team around 11.30pm on Monday in the Purba Baniakhamar area of the city during a raid, said Hasan Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station.
The injured cops have been identified as inspector (investigation) Shahriar Hasan, sub-inspector Rakibul Islam Rakib and constable Mahabub Islam from Khan Jahan Ali police station.
Also read: Highways to calm Padma bridge traffic in Khulna
Inspector Shahriar said they arrested a man named Khairul, 30, from Pother Bazar Check Post with 500 gm gunpowder around 4.30pm on Monday.
"Around 9pm, we arrested two more people, named Ismail Hossain and Ibrahim Hossain, following a raid in the Bara Masjid Mor area after Khayrul named them during interrogation," he said.
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On their way back, Khairul’s father Mohammad with some people attacked the police vehicle. "They tried to free Khairul but failed," said inspector Shahriar Hasan.
Steps will be taken against the attackers, said OC Hasan.
Padma Bridge to transform Bagerhat’s tourism industry
The much-awaited Padma Bridge finally opened to traffic on Sunday. With this, the tourism industry of the country’s southwest region is expected to undergo massive transformation.
Thousands will get jobs, a new economic corridor will be opened for the region’s people. New establishments will grow centering Khulna, Bagerhat and Kuakata and the number of tourists will increase. Income from the tourism sector will also shot up manifold, according to officials and tour operators.
The expected transformation will be brought about by the Padma Bridge.
Also read: Shariatpur fish traders see huge prospects as Padma Bridge opens
Road accidents kill 4, injure 7 in five districts
At least four people including two students were killed and seven others were injured in separate road accidents in Thakurgaon, Narail, Magura, Chattogram and Khulna districts on Saturday.
In Thakurgaon, a 13-year old schoolgirl was killed and two others were hurt in a motorcycle accident at Goalkari on Baliadangi-Lahiri road in Baliadangi upazila.
The deceased was identified as Munni Akter, a sixth grader of Baliadangi Government Girl’s High School and dauther of Sadekul Islam, said Khayrul Anam, Officer-in-Charge of Baliadangi police station.
The accident occurred in the morning when the Baliadangi-bound motorcycle hit Munni from behind when she was passing the area, leaving her dead and the two riders injured. The injured were admitted to Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital.
Also read: Van driver killed in Kushtia road accident
In, Narail , a sand-laden trolley truck ran over a 17-year old student on his way to madrasah on Khararia-Nawapara road in Kalia upazila, said Sheikh Tasmim Alam, OC of Kalia police station.
The deceased was identified as Asif Mina, a student of class eight of Khararia Rahima Habib Dakhil Madrasah and son of Hiru Mina.
OC Tasmim Alam said the vehicle has been seized and legal action will be taken in this regard.
Meanwhile, in Magura an unidentified youth was killed being hit by a trolley truck in front of Jashpur schoolin Mohammadpur upazila, said Ikram Hossain, OC of Mohammadpur police station.
A case was filed in this regard and the body was sent for an autopsy, he said.
Also read: Road accidents claim 7 lives in 3 districts
In Chattogram, a motorcyclist died being hit by a truck on Mariner’s Road in Fishery Ghat area in the city at noon.
The deceased was identified as Tripti Dhar,34, son Chandra Sutradhar from Cumilla.
Truck driver named Alamgir was arrested and the vehicle has been seized, said Zahidul Kabir, OC of Kotwali police station.
Besides, five people were injured at East Jhiler Danga in Dumuria upazila of Khulna as two trucks collided head on at 11:30 am, said Md Shihab Molla, Sub-Inspector of Dumuria police station.
All the injured were truck drivers and their assistants, he said. They were taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital by locals.
Of them driver Babu’s condition is critical, said the SI.
24-year-old student 'ends life' in Khulna
A 24-year-old student of a private university allegedly committed suicide in his rented accommodation in the Sonadanga area of Khulna city on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Promise Nager, a student of the journalism and mass communication department of Northern University and son of Jotirmoy Nager of Pirojpur district.
Also read:25-year-old found dead at Khulna rehab centre
Getting no response from Promise for a long time, other occupants of the house looked through the window of his room only to find him hanging from the ceiling fan around 6.30pm, said Nahid Hasan Mridha, officer-in-charge of Sonadanga Model Police Station.
Later, they informed the landlord. Promise was rushed to Khulna Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Also read: Construction worker crushed under falling shaft of crane in Khulna
"A probe is on," the OC said.
Schoolboy’s death sparks protest in Khulna
Local people on Tuesday set a bus on fire and put up a barricade on Bamia Sardarbari intersection protesting the death of a schoolboy in a road accident in Koyra upazila of Khulna district, said police.
Quoting local people, sub-inspector of Koyra Police station Babon Das said a 14-year-old schoolboy, identified as Ramjan Ali, a class VIII student and son of Kinu Ali Sardar of the upazila, was killed when the Paikgachcha-bound bus knocked down him while he was returning home from school by a bicycle around 2:30 pm.
READ: 25-year-old found dead at Khulna rehab centre
Angered by the accident, local people put up a barricade on Bamia Sardarbari intersection and set the bus on fire.
Later, local people cleared the road after police intervention.
UP chairman hacked in Khulna
A union parishad (UP) chairman has been hacked allegedly by some miscreants over establishing dominance in Dighalia upazila in Khulna, police said on Monday.
The injured was identified as Zakir Gazi, chairman of Barakpur Union Parishad of the upazila.
Also read:Suspended PBI official sent to jail over Khulna college girl’s rape
Some miscreants hacked Zakir Gazi indiscriminately around 9pm on Sunday after stopping his motorbike in front of Royaliyarchar Primary School and fled the scene, leaving him seriously injured, said Md Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dighalia police station.
Later, he was rushed to Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) and then to Khulna City Medical College and Hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment, he added.
Also read: Construction worker crushed under falling shaft of crane in Khulna
According to locals, there had been an enmity between a local group and UP chairman Zakir Gazi over establishing dominance in the area.
The OC said no case has been filed in this regard.
Suspended PBI official sent to jail over Khulna college girl’s rape
A tribunal here on Wednesday sent a suspended official of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to jail in a case for raping a 20-year-old college student in Khulna.
The suspended PIB official is inspector Manjur Hasan Masud.
Also read: College student raped by PBI official in Khulna
Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 Judge Mst Dilruba Sultana passed the order turning down the bail plea when Masud surrendered before the court.
Earlier, accused Masud was granted bail for 14 days by the High Court on May 26 in the case.
On May 25, he was suspended from his post.
According to the case, the victim was raped allegedly by a PBI official at Mirzapur Road in Khulna city on May 15 promising her to solve the problem when she went to police station following a cyber-issue.
Also read:Fugitive PBI inspector suspended over Khulna college girl's rape
The victim immediately lodged an FIR at the Khulna Sadar police station, said Hasan Al Mamun, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khulna Sadar police station.
A case was filed after a medical examination at the One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) of Khulna Medical College Hospital.