Chattogram
First case of black fungus reported in Chattogram
A 60-year-old woman has been diagnosed with black fungus at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). This is the first case of the rare fungal infection in the district.
"The victim -- Ferdousi Begum, of Patiya upazila -- recently recovered from Covid-19. She has been undergoing treatment for mucormycosis (black fungus) at the hospital for the last 3-4 days," said Dr Suzat Pal, head of CMCH's medicine department.
Read:Black fungus detected in patient at DMCH
“Our suspicion came true after a biopsy report confirmed that the woman has black fungus," he added.
According to family sources, Ferdousi tested positive for Covid on July 3. After undergoing treatment for 10-12 days, she tested negative on July 15. But she had to admitted to CMCH again, following post-Covid complications.
Ferdousi’s husband died of Covid-19 a few days back.
Read: Bangladesh reports two ‘black fungus’ cases, one suspected death
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said, “The black fungus patient will be referred to Birdem General Hospital in Dhaka soon."
On May 25, the first cases of black fungus in Bangladesh were detected in two Covid-recovered patients at Birdem General Hospital.
“The government will take necessary steps if there is a rise in the number of patients with black fungus rise in the country. Black fungus is contagious," the Civil Surgeon said.
Read: Steps underway to tackle black fungus: Health Minister
Black fungus, a rare infection, has a mortality rate of 50% "with some only saved by removing an eye". The fungus affects many areas of the body including the eyes, nose, face, and even the brain in severe cases.
However, in recent months, India, where states have been told to declare the disease as an epidemic, reportedly saw many black fungus cases affecting recovered and recovering Covid-19 patients.
400-plus people evacuated in Chattogram amid fears of landslides
More than 400 people living in the hills of Chattogram city have been shifted as steady rain threatens to unleash more landslides.
The landslide concern caused the district administration Wednesday to immediately relocate the families living in the hills of Lalkhan Bazar, Motijharna, Batali Hill, Akbar Shah, Hill-1, Hill-2 and Bayezid Link Road in the wake of heavy monsoon rain for the last few days.
"They have been moved to four shelters of the city – Al Hera Madrasa, Raufabad Rashidia Madrasa, Firoz Shah Primary School and Lalkhan Bazar Primary School – in the night. Meals and first aid were arranged for them," Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman told UNB.
Read: 5 of a family killed in Cox’s Bazar landslide
"Also, 25 risky establishments were evicted during a drive," he added.
Maritime ports asked to hoist cautionary signal 3
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary number three as a low pressure area has been formed over the North Bay and adjoining areas.
“Under its influence, deep convection is taking place and steep pressure gradient lies over the North Bay and adjoining areas,” said a Met office bulletin.
Read: Cautionary signal 3 for Bangladesh maritime ports
Squally weather may affect the maritime ports, North Bay and adjoining coastal areas, it said.
All boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
From a cowshed to a dairy farm: story of a homemaker becoming an entrepreneur
Monwara Begum’s five-year journey from being a homemaker to a successful entrepreneur began with three cows.
Her dream journey began in 2016 when she convinced her husband to buy the cows to get milk to meet the family’s requirements.
Read: Over 90 lakh cattle sacrificed this year on Eid-ul-Azha: Livestock Ministry
A small cowshed was made for the cattle at her Sreepur village in Boalkhali upazila of the district.
Five years down the line, that cowshed has been replaced by a bigger “Pure Dairy Farm” of 31 cows.
“Five years ago we bought the three milch cows just to meet the milk requirement of our family,” said Monwara. “Then I started selling the surplus milk to neighbours.”
Read Dumuria farmers dump paddy, switch over to vegetable farming
Chattogram records highest single-day Covid deaths at 15
Chattogram on Tuesday morning recorded as many as 15 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, the highest single-day fatality figure to date.
Besides, 925 people were tested positive for coronavirus during this period, officials said.
Read:Delta variant in children: Chattogram reveals troubling data
The new cases were detected after testing 2,537 samples, according to the district’s Civil Surgeon's Office.
With the new numbers, the district’s death toll reached 856 on Tuesday.
Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said, “This scenario indicates a worsening Covid-19 situation for Chattogram district if we don’t deem it as concerning now.”
Read: Chattogram hospital to admit only Covid patients
Among the fresh cases, 553 are from the municipal area and the remaining from upazilas.
According to the Civil Surgeon's Office, the samples have been sent for testing to 11 laboratories n Chattogram and one to Cox’s Bazar Medical College and Hospital’s laboratory.
Should a hospital come at the cost of ruining lungs of Chattogram?
Residents of Chattogram, the country's most important urban centre next to the capital, have voiced their displeasure over plans to build a 500-bed hospital as well as a medical college over six acres of land in a historic corner of the city, that is also cherished for its greenery.
The CRB area, that takes its name from the Central Railway Building - built by the British colonial administration in 1872 as the headquarters of the Assam-Bengal Railway - is a scenic, hilly quarter of the Port City known for its Shireesh trees (Albizia Lebeck) Surrounded by centuries-old trees, hills, hills and valleys, this area is home to a variety of species of birds and animals.
Chattogram residents celebrate the Bengali New Year on April 14 every year on an open stage called "Shireeshtala" at CRB area. CRB also hosts the famed "Boli Khela", an annual freehand wrestling challenge that draws competitors from far and wide.
Read Rotary Governor Faruqui set to open plantation of 1 million saplings
Besides, ordinary citizens of all ages and backgrounds gather in the area every day to catch the fresh air.
It's not as if Chatdgaiyas are spoilt for choice when it comes to medical facilities in the city. The trading hub's moneyed residents routinely have to visit Dhaka to avail the services available at large, private hospitals. This demand for private healthcare has now been noticed. Earlier this year, Evercare Hospitals opened a 470-bed facility in the Ananna R/A of Chattogram. Evercare have also taken over the old Apollo Hospital in Dhaka from the STS Group.
Read Rampal Maitree power project “to be commissioned in Dec”
Recently it emerged that Bangladesh Railway, which owns much of the land in the CRB area, struck a deal in March 2020 with United Enterprise and Company (owners of United Hospital in Dhaka) to build a 500-bed hospital and 100-seat medical college on six acres of land in CRB.
20 Rohingyas who fled Bhasanchar arrested in Chattogram
Twenty Rohingyas who had fled Bhasanchar in Noakhali were arrested in Jorarganj area of Mirsarai upazila in Chattogram on Saturday .
Among the arrestees, 11 were children, five women and four men.
The arrestees are Md Abdur Rahman, 27, Setara Begum, 20, Md Sabbir 26, Sanchita begum, Rajiya Begum, 23, Nurul Karim, 20, Salma Khatun, 50, Jamal Hossain, 24, Nur Kayda, 25, Rumana, 6, Nur Fatema, 3, Md Ayaz,8, Jannat Ara, 4, Kismat Ara Begum, 2, Mariam, 8, Abul Kashem,7, Md Ayat, 4, Setara, 5, Jannat Ara,1, and Osman Gani aged eight months.
Also read: 31 Rohingyas held in Chattogram
Officer-in-Charge of Jorarganj police station Helal Uddin said tipped off, police arrested the Rohingyas and produced them before a court after filing a case.
Investigation is going on to find out who had helped them to flee, said the OC.
Meanwhile, locals said they informed police when a boat carrying a group of Rohingyas reached the coast adjacent to Mirsarai Economic Zone area.
Also read: Seven Rohingyas held along Benapole border
The Rohingyas were travelling towards Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Teknaf, they said.
Driver of cattle-laden truck shot dead in Chattogram
The driver of a cattle-laden truck was shot dead by robbers on Fauzdarhat-Bayezid Link Road at Salimpur Union in Sitakunda upazila early Friday.
The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahman, 35, son of Mohammad Bashir Miah of Chanda village in Chaugachha upazila of Jashore district.
Read: Cattle trader refuses to pay protection money, shot dead in Feni
Police said the truck carrying 12 cows was heading towards Bibir Hat in Chattogram from Magura.
Four to five robbers from a small pickup van asked the truck driver to stop the vehicle on Bridge No. 4 in Bayezid Link Road area of Fauzdarhat.
As Abdur Rahman did not stop the truck, the robbers opened fire on him,leaving him dead on the spot.
Read: 2 cattle traders killed in Gaibandha road crash
The robbers fled the scene when travellers of the truck started shouting.
In-charge of Fauzdarhat police outpost Md Shafiqul Islam said the body was sent to CMCH morgue for an autopsy.
Youth fined Tk 20,000 for stalking CU students in Chattogram
A mobile court on Wednesday imposed a fine of Tk 20,000 on a 21-year-old youth for stalking two female students of Chittagong University in the Borodighirpar area of Hathazari upazila.
Assistant Commissioner (land) Sharif Ullah, an executive magistrate, said the female students of CU have been frequenting the area for the past three years for private tuition purposes.
Read:3 arrested over mason's mysterious death in Chattogram
"Some youths of the area have been teasing them on the students on their way to tuition classes for the past couple of months," he said.
On Wednesday too, Rakib, son of Mohammad Emran, along with his friends, stalked the girls as usual. "One of them resisted and an argument broke out between her and the stalkers, prompting her to call police," Sharif said.
Read: Woman stabbed dead in Chattogram
Later, the mobile court, slapped a fine of Tk 20,000 on Rakib.
According to local people, Rakib studies in a college abroad but is currently in his home country of Bangladesh owing to the Covid-induced lockdown.
3 arrested over mason's mysterious death in Chattogram
Three persons have been arrested in connection with the death of a 45-year-old mason, whose body was found hanging in the office of a union council member in Chattogram on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Nurul Alam, son of late Sharaf Ali of the Karnafuli area in the district's Charpatharghata union.
Read: Chattogram hospital to admit only Covid patients
Police said on Wednesday they had made the arrests after an FIR was filed in the case at the local police station on a complaint of torture and murder by the deceased's family members.
The arrestees have been identified as UP member Asiya Khatun, 48, Korban Ali, 26 and Mohammad Parvez, 23.
Sources told UNB that Nurul had taken an advance of Tk 15,000 from Korban for the construction of his shop in the locality. A few days later, Nurul took another Tk15000 from Korban, following which a dispute broke out between the two and construction work was stopped for some days.
Read:Woman stabbed dead in Chattogram
Mohammad Nazrul, son of the deceased, said, "The accused had called my father on Tuesday morning. We thought he went to the shop construction site. But later in the afternoon, I saw the police and local people in front of the office of Asiya."
"If my father had committed suicide, they would have informed us. But they reported the death to the police to sort it out. It is clear that they had planned my father's murder," he added.
However, Mohammad Dulal Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Karnafuli Police Station, said that the exact cause of death would be ascertained only after an autopsy.
Read:6 of family hurt in Chattogram as cylinder leak causes fire
"We have arrested the three on the basis of Nazrul's complaint. The accused told us that they had locked up Nurul in the female upazila council member's office and went out for lunch. When they returned they saw his body hanging from the ceiling," the OC said.
The body has been sent to the morgue of Chittagong Medical College and Hospital for autopsy, the police officer said.