Manikganj
30-year-old imam 'ends life' at Manikganj mosque
A 30-year-old imam allegedly ended his life by hanging from the ceiling of his room at a mosque in Manikganj’s Singair upazila on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Md Ferdous Islam, the imam of Nayapara Jame Mosjid and son of Siddiqur Rahman of Barishal’s Muladi upazila. His body was recovered by the police around 10.30pm.
Ferdous left behind a purported suicide note. "No one is responsible for my death," read the note found in his room.
READ: 3 including SSC examinees killed in Manikganj road accidents
Local union parishad member Rezaul Karim said the imam even led devotees at Esha prayers in the mosque just before he killed himself around 9.30pm. "Locals spotted his body and informed police."
A headphone attached to his mobile phone was found near his body, he said.
Officer-in-charge of Singair police station Shafiqul Islam Mollah said, "It seems to be a case of suicide. But an autopsy can only confirm that. A case of unnatural death has been filed in this regard."
3 including SSC examinees killed in Manikganj road accidents
Three people including two SSC examinees were killed on Monday in separate road accidents in Manikganj.
The deceased were identified as Firoz Ahmed and Rayhan, two SSC examinee students of Nabarun High School, and Mahim, 25, son of Abdullah from Gorla Charkhand area in the Sadar upazila.
Firoz, Rayhan,and a friend were going to tution class around 8 am when their motorcycle collided with an autorickshaw coming from opposite side near Kalibari area on Hemayetpur-Manikganj regional road, said Abdur Rauf Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Manikganj sadar police station.
READ: 3 die in accident on Dhaka-Sylhet highway
“Firoz died on the spot while Rayhan succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhaka hospital. Their friend Shamim, another SSC examinee of the same school is currently admitted at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR)in Dhaka,” said the OC.
Meanwhile, Mahim died as his motorcycle was crushed under a bus named Selfie Paribahan near Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) gate area on Dhaka-Aricha highway around 10 am, said the OC.
UP member found dead in Manikganj
A 50-year-old union parishad member was found dead in Saturia upazila of Manikganj early Thursday morning, a day after he went missing.
The deceased was identified as Farhad Hossain, a member of ward-6 of Baraid union. Police suspect Farhad was suffocated to death.
Read:Student, teacher die as truck ploughs through Manikganj school
Locals spotted Farhad's body near a neighbour's house around 9am and alerted cops, said Md Ashraful Alam, officer-in-charge of Saturia police station. "A team soon went to the spot and took the body into custody."
Farhad had been missing since Wednesday afternoon. "However, the exact cause of his death will be determined after an autopsy," said the OC.
Young man stabbed dead in Manikganj
A 35-year-old man was stabbed to death by his rivals at Joymantap New Bus Stand in Singair upazila of Manikganj district.
The victim was identified as Md Julhash, son of Nawab Ali of Fakirpara village in the upazila.
Read: Teen autorickshaw driver stabbed in the city
Shafiqul Islam Mollah, officer-in-charge of Singair Police Station, said Julhash and Dulal, son of Mujibur of Beparipara village, had long been at loggerheads.
As a sequel to their long rivalry, the family members of Julhash assaulted Dulal on December 16 last year over the issue.
Later, Dulal’s father Mujibur lodged a complaint against nine people, including Julhash, and police arrested Julhash in this connection.
On January 12, Julhash was freed from jail after securing bail in the case.
Read: Clash between BNP factions: Ex-Jubo Dal leader stabbed in Pabna
When Julhash went to the bus stand area for having tea in the evening, 8-10 people, led by Dulal, swooped on him and stabbed Julhash indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured.
He was taken to Enam Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared dead in the night.
On information, police went to the spot and arrested Mujibur in this connection, said OC.
Covid: Students in Manikganj queue up for a shot in the arm
Senior students of Government Debendra College in Manikganj formed queues at a Covid jab centre in Sadar upazila on Saturday to get a shot in the arm.
Some 1,542 Class 12 students of the college are slated to get Covid jabs during the day as part of the government's ongoing drive to vaccinate school-goers of the 12-17 age group against Covid-19.
Read: Uber to provide 50,000 free rides for Covid vaccine seekers in Dhaka
Authorities of the local health department said that these students would get the first dose of a Covid vaccine at Health Training Center in Sadar upazila on Saturday.
The vaccination drive began around 9am in four booths -- male and female separate -- set up at the centre. Besides, 14,000 more Higher Secondary Certificate examinees will be vaccinated in phases in the district.
Dr Lutfur Rahman, the acting Civil Surgeon of the district, said that the Bangladesh government has set a target to vaccinate 50,000 students under the campaign.
In fact, the campaign to vaccinate the school students against Covid-19 began in Dhaka on November 1.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Education Minister Dipu Moni had jointly inaugurated the vaccination campaign at Motijheel Ideal School and College.
Read: France to donate 2mn doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh: FM
According to health authorities, so far, 6.23 lakh people have received the first dose in the district, while 3.42 lakh people in the district got both the doses of a Covid jab.
112 Manikganj students vaccinated under trial run
Some 112 students of four government schools in Manikganj were vaccinated on Thursday with Pfizer jabs as part of a test run of the government for vaccinating school students against Covid-19.
All the vaccinated students were of the 12-17 age group.
Sixty of the students were from Manikganj Government Boys High School, 32 from SK Government Girls High School, 10 from Zahid Maleque High School and another 10 from Bangabandhu High School.
Read: Trial run for school vaccination to begin Thursday with 100 Manikganj students
Although 120 students were supposed to be vaccinated on the day the health authorities decided not to vaccinate eight of them as they were suffering from various illnesses.
Inaugurating the trial run at 12 pm at Manikganj Colonel Malek Medical College, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said, “This vaccine (Pfizer) is safe and has been given to school kids in Europe and America as well.”
“We want our children to be safe, too. Soon, school children across the country will be brought under the vaccination drive,” he said.
Mobashbir Rahman Rafid, a 10th grader of Manikganj Government Boys High School, is the first child to receive Covid shot in Bangladesh.
“I was a little bit scared at first. But I felt no discomfort after receiving the vaccine. I’m over the moon to be the first child to be vaccinated,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taslima Akhter, another 10th grader of Zahid Maleque High School, was the first schoolgirl to be vaccinated in the country.
“Since school reopened, I have been suffering from a sense of fear to join classes because of Covid. Now I can attend classes without fear,” she said.
Read: Vaccination campaign for school students to begin within a week: DGHS chief
Principal of Colonel Malek Medical College and Hospital Dr Md Zakir Hossain said they are yet to receive any complaint from the vaccinated children.
On January 27, Prime Minister Hasina launched the Covid-19 vaccination programme at Kurmitola General Hospital through a videoconference.
The government rolled out a countrywide mass Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 7 vaccinating people aged 55 and above in the first phase.
On July 29, the government lowered the minimum age limit for taking Covid-19 jabs to 25 from 30 years in a bid to give a boost to the lagging vaccination rates in the country.
Trial run for school vaccination to begin Thursday with 100 Manikganj students
At least 100 students of two government schools in Manikganj will get Covid jabs on Thursday as part of the government's decision to conduct a test run for Covid-19 vaccination for school students.
Confirming the information, Md. Lutfar Rahman, the Civil Surgeon of the district said that the Health Minister Zahid Malek will inaugurate the program at Manikganj Colonel Malek Medical College at 12 noon on Thursday.
“Fifty students of Manikganj Government Boys High School and 50 students of SK Government Girls High School will be vaccinated with Pfizer during this time,”he added.
Read: Vaccination campaign for school students to begin within a week: DGHS chief
They will be monitored after inoculation and from next week more students will be brought under the vaccination campaign.
The district has already received 27,000 Pfizer vaccines for school goers .
Earlier on Tuesday, DGHS chief ABM Khurshid Alam informed that a new campaign to vaccinate school students aged 12 and above will start within a week.
Read: WHO okays vaccination of those below 18 in Bangladesh: Health Minister
“The inoculation drive for school children between the ages of 12 and 17 will start this week,” said the DG of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) while talking to reporters following an event at the health department.
He said 21 centres have been selected at the district and city corporation levels across the country for this purpose.
“The Pfizer vaccine will be used for children,” he said, adding, “School authorities will provide us with the lists of their students. We’ll pass that onto the Surokkha app server afterwards.”
Schoolgirl dies with Covid symtomps in Manikganj
An eighth-grader, who had been suffering from suspected Covid symptoms of fever, sore throat and shortness of breath, died in Manikganj Sadar, her family and school said on Thursday.
Identified as Rodela she died on Wednesday evening on way to Dhaka’s Kurmitola General Hospital.
She was a student of Surendra Kumar (SK) Govt Girls’ High School where she had a brilliant academic record of standing first in the class. She also excelled in dance, music and debates and won several prizes in school competitions.
Read: School reopening in Bangladesh: Children at greater risk in delta hit areas
Rodela’s relatives said she had been suffering from fever and sore throat since her first day of school on September 15. She was undergoing treatment under a local doctor who prescribed medicine for sore throat.
She was rushed to Munnu Medical College and Hospital in Manikganj on Wednesday afternoon after she complained of shortness of breath. She was being brought to Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka as her condition deteriorated, but unfortunately could not make it.
Meanwhile, another student of class X of the same school has tested positive for covid-19.
The two incidents have sparked concern among the guardians.
The teachers, however, said they are taking classes following all health protocols.
On September 15, when the student was confirmed positive, all the 56 students of class X were tested for Covid and their reports came out negative.
Still, as a precaution the class was closed for a week.
Read: Students in Bangladesh burst into joy as schools, colleges reopen
Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj Md Abdul Latif said that the administration is closely monitoring every educational institution of the area.
“If one more student gets infected, action will be taken as per the situation,” he added.
2 killed by lightning strike in Manikganj
Two people were killed when a thunderbolt struck them at Shibpur Kalindi Chak in Singair upazila of Manikganj district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Shahin Mia, 42, and Rubel Hossain, 40, of the upazila.
Sheikh Mohammad Abu Hanif, officer-in-charge of Singair Police Station, said Shahin and Rubel died on the spot when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while cutting grass on their field, leaving them dead on the spot.
Also read: Lightning strikes kill four in Dhaka amid rain
Lightning strike in Bangladesh
Lightning strike has turned out to be one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh claiming over 200 lives every year due to the loss of natural defence and lack of precautionary measures.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. At least 216 people die every year on average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other natural calamities.
Also read: Lightning strikes to kill 3 in Chapainawabganj
Experts said about 70 percent of the total lightning strikes usually occur between April and June, and advised everyone to move with caution during this time.
Computer hardware worth Tk 8.19 lakh stolen from Manikganj DYD
Computer hardware worth Tk 8.19 lakh has been stolen from the computer lab and trainer's room at Manikganj district Department of Youth Development (DYD).
Processors and RAMs of 39 computers were stolen Friday night from the fourth floor of the company's district office in Ghior upazila.
Alka Prabha Dey, deputy director of Manikganj DYD, said Friday and Saturday were public holidays. “Sunday, I came to the office and found that 39 computer processors and RAMs had been stolen from two rooms.”
Also read: Valuables stolen from 9 rooms of IU female hall
CCTV footage showed two young men entering the room around 2.30 am on Saturday and leaving with the stolen hardware at 4.30 am, he added
DYD deputy director lodged a complaint with Ghior police station in this regard.
Additional Superintendent of Police Tania Sultana of Shibalaya Circle visited the spot.
Also read: Goods worth ‘Tk10 crore' stolen from Sylhet call center
Ghior Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Mohammad Riaz Uddin Ahmed Biplob said there was no night guard or watchman in the office. A helper cum guard was there that night, but he could not say anything about it as he was asleep.
Legal action will be taken after investigation, he said.