Rajshahi
2 farmers arrested for load shedding protest in Rajshahi
Police have arrested two farmers for protesting against load shedding in Rajshahi on Thursday night.
The arrestees are Saleh al Sara,26, of Bangpur village in Kalma union of Tanore upazila and Mohammad Abdullah, 24, of Divyasthal village.
Also read: 2 farmers’ suicide in Rajshahi: Krishak League leader held
Sources said, some farmers of Kalma Union of Tanore Upazila went to Debipur Palli Bidyut office around 8:30 pm on Thursday demanding uninterrupted power supply.
On information, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control after detaining two farmers, said Station Kamruzzaman Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tanore Police Station.
Later, the detainees were shown arrested under section 151.
Police also seized 6 motorcycles from the spot, Mia added.
DGM Tanore Rural Electricity Office, Juhurul Islam said that load shedding is going on almost all over the country. There is no irrigation crisis in Tanore. There is a shortage of electricity in comparison to the demand. So, “We are bound to cut power supply for a certain time”.
The arrestees were sent to jail on Friday morning, the OC added.
Earlier on March 24, Rabi Marandi, 32, a Santal community member of Nimghatu village in Godagari upazila, and his cousin Abhinath, 30, consumed poison for allegedly not getting irrigation water for their land.
Also read:Another farmer dies in Rajshahi after suicide bid ‘for irrigation water’
Abhinath died around 9pm on March 24 while Rabi died two days later at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH).
2 farmers’ suicide in Rajshahi: Krishak League leader held
Police arrested a local Krishak League leader from Chabbishnagar in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi district in connection with the death of two farmers who allegedly ended their lives for not getting irrigation water for their land.
The arrestee was Shakhawat Hossain, 30, president of no 5 ward unit Krishak League leader and deep tubewell operator of Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities (BMDA) .
Iftekhar Alam, Additional Superintendent of police, said a team of police led by officer-in-charge of Godagari Police Station Quamrul Islam conducted a drive in the area around 1 am and arrested him.
On March 24, Rabi Marandi, 32, a Santal community member of Nimghatu village in Godagari upazila, and his cousin Abhinath, 30, consumed poison in front of Shakhawat Hossain.
READ: Farmers’ suicide ‘for irrigation water’: Human chain demands justice
They took the decision out of anger "as Shakhawat was not giving them a serial number for a long time to get irrigation water supplied to their fields in Iswarpur", according to their family.
Abhinath died around 9pm after reaching home on March 24 while Rabi died two days later at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH).
Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH, confirmed both the brothers died from consumption of poison.
The Agriculture Ministry has formed a four-member panel to probe the deaths of two farmers.
Rajshahi streets get a colourful facelift
Known for its clean and green environs, Rajshahi city has now been beautified with aesthetic street lights.
Pedestrians are enjoying the eye-catching street lights of various designs on different roads.
The city shines with those lights as soon as the sun sets in the West.
Rajshahi City Corporation has already upgraded the important roads of the city to four lanes. Different colorful and aesthetic street lights are being installed in phases to enhance the beauty of the roads.
These lights are being installed from the city's Kalpana Cinema Hall to Talaimari at a cost of Tk 127.49 crore as part of the road development and widening project, said Mahafuz Mishu, public relations officer of the city corporation.
A total of 130 modern eye-catching poles are being installed on the road island. Each pole has 13 lights. Besides, there are 180 garden lights on the south side of the road, Mishu added.
Another farmer dies in Rajshahi after suicide bid ‘for irrigation water’
Another indigenous farmer who attempted suicide along with his cousin brother allegedly for not getting irrigation water for their land died on Friday a day after his brother’s death.
The deceased was Rabi Marandi, 32, a Santal community member of Nimghatu village in the upazila.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Rabi with his brother Abhinath Marandi, 30, took poison in front of Shakhawat Hossain , driver of a deep tube well operated under Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).
They took the decision out of anger as Shakhawat was not giving them a serial number for a long time to get irrigation water supplied to their field in Iswarpur while their seedlings were drying out, alleged the family.
Also read: Farmer, pregnant wife stabbed ‘by Jubo League leader’ in Narail
Abhinath Marandi died around 9 pm after reaching home on Thursday while Rabi died at 8pm on Friday while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), said Brigadier General Shamim Yazdani, director of RMCH.
Both the brothers died for swallowing poison, he told UNB on Saturday.
Meanwhile on Friday night, Abhinath’s wife Rozina Hemrom lodged a complaint against Shakhawat for provoking suicide at Godagari police station, said Kamrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Godagari police station.
Also read: Unsold surplus production, post-harvest losses for potato farmers amount to Tk25-35 billion
OC Kamrul said Shakhawat has remained absconding since filing of the complaint.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Shakhawat denied the allegation of not giving water supply to Rabi and Abhinath’s field when the UNB correspondent contacted him.
25 injured in clash between factions at AL conference in Rajshahi
At least 25 people including police members were injured during a clash between two factions of Awami League during the party’s tri-annual conference at Bagha upazila in Rajshahi on Monday.Some of the injured are MSA Reza, press secretary of an AL leader, Abdur Kuddus Sarkar, president of AL municipal faction, Shahriar Hossain, Sirajul Islam, Saifur Islam, Murad Hossain, Liton Bhiyan, Golam Hossain, Sujon Ali, Tyab Ali, Sub-Insector of Bagha police station, Sajdar Rahman, Assistant Sub-Inspector, and police members Shahjahan Ali, Tajul Islam, Motiur Rahman and Moni Hossain.
READ: Youth stabbed on eve of wedding in Shariatpur: Accused injured in mob beating
Of them Saiful Islam, and Sirajul Islam were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital while others at the upazila health complex.The incident occurred around 11am at Shahdowla Government College premises in the upazila.According to witnesses, after the guests took their seats on the stage supporters of Akkas Ali, former municipal mayor and member of district AL started giving slogans chanting his name in front of the stage.After that, supporters of Ashraful islam Babul, general secretary of upazila committee of AL and Akkas Ali locked in an armed clash forcing all to leave the programme.Sazzad Hossain, officer-in Charge of Bagha police station, said police members were forced to use tear gas as the two groups became violent at the program.The program resumed after police took control of the situation, said the OC.Meanwhile,former municipal mayor Akkas Ali claimed that at least 15 of his supporters were injured during the clash.
Experts eye record mango production in Rajshahi this year
A record production of mango is likely in Rajshahi district due to favourable weather condition.
This year Rajshahi district might break all its previous records of mango production, said Abdullah Hil Kafi, Additional Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Department.
As additional 572 hectares of land was brought under mango cultivation this year, Fruit Research Centre in Rajshahi under the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) is expecting a record-breaking output.
Read: Mango wonder: 200 varieties in a single tree in Chapainawabganj
Mango trees are in full bloom making Rajshahi farmers also hopeful of bumper yield this year.
In the 2020-21 season, there were mango orchards on 17,943 hectares of land in the district that yielded about 2.17 lakh MTs of mangoes and Tk 86.85 crore mangoes were sold.
In the 2019-20 season, 17686 hectares of land mangos orchards yielded about 1.80 lakh MTs of mangoes and Tk 71.81 crore mangoes were sold.
According to the Agricultural Extension Department, in the current (2021-22) season, mangoes have been cultivated on 18,515 hectares of land.
“This year mango production target was set at 15.85 MTs per hectare. We are expecting a record breaking yield of mangoes in Rajshahi district because of the increased cultivation,” said Dr Abdul Alim, Chief Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station in Rajshahi.
He said, “The weather so far this season is favorable for mango cultivation as soil retained enough water due to sufficient rain in the last monsoon. The trees got enough nutrition as many farmers cultivated mangoes beside vegetable farming lands.”
Read: Rajshahi 'to own' Fazli mangoes
“Though the mango buds are less than the previous year, we are expecting a record breaking yield because of the increased cultivation,” he added.
Abul Hossain, a mango farmer from the Charghat area having a total of 2.68 hectares of mango orchard said, “Last year, the mango production was good but due to Covid-19 induced lockdown the farmers did not get good profit. But this year ripe mangoes will reach the market immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr which might bring a good profit for us,” he said.
Rajshahi: Two friends drown while bathing in Padma
Two friends drowned while taking a bath in the Padma river in Rajshahi on Friday, police said.
The deceased were identified as Nirab, 15, son of Sarik Ali of Borokuthi area, and Shahin, 16, son of Sayed Ali of the same area. Nirab was a student of Loknath School while Shahin studied in Education Board Model School. They were both in Class VIII.
Boalia Police officer-in-charge Mazharul Islam said that a group of 8-10 boys were taking a bath in the river near the Barakuthi area around 11am.
READ: Twin sisters drown in Goalanda pond
"Suddenly one of them, Sajeed, started drowning in the water. Nirab and Shahin jumped into the river to save him but unfortunately they drowned. However, Sajeed managed to swim ashore," he said.
Fire service members rushed Nirab and Shahin to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. "The bodies will be handed over to the family after the legal process," the OC said.
Worker dies, 4 hurt as wall collapses in Rajshahi
A worker was killed and four others were injuries as a wall collapsed on them on Saturday at Chotobangram Bimanchattar area in Rajshahi city.
The deceased was identified as Riazul.
Injured Enamul Haque,35, Dilip,43,Kazem Ali,27, and Monjurul Alam, 35, were rescued from under the debris and admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).
A wall collapsed as the workers were working to install a Reinforced Concrete Column(RCC), said Rajib, one of the workers.
Also read: Worker dies as wall collapses in city
He said, “Nine workers were working when the wall collapsed. We don’t know what happened to four others.”
Emran Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Chandrima police station said the five workers were rescued from the site of an under-construction house of one Entaj Ali.
As they were taken to RMCH doctors announced Riazul dead.
Also read: Wall collapses at DU hall canteen; 2 injured
Didarul, Assistant Director of fire service, said three rescue teams have managed to rescue five workers.
“We will conduct search and rescue operation for few hours more,” he said.
Cop found dead next to his bike in Rajshahi
A 40-year-old police officer was found dead next to his bike off a busy road in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi in the early hours of Saturday.
The body of Nur Islam, a sub-inspector with Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station, was found off Godagari-Amanura Road in the Bhutpukur area of the upazila at 12.30am.
Police suspect the officer, who was originally from Abhaynagar upazila of Jessore, died in a road accident as his bike was found lying next to him.
READ: Fire guts 40 auto-rickshaws in Rajshahi
Godagari police recovered the body after they were alerted by passersby and sent it to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) morgue for an autopsy.
Godagari police station officer-in-charge Kamrul Islam said, "It is believed that Nur died of head injuries after his bike crashed into a tree at a high speed."
READ: BGB nabs smuggler with 7 gold bars in Rajshahi
However, the autopsy report can only ascertain the exact cause of his death.
BGB nabs smuggler with 7 gold bars in Rajshahi
Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) detained a smuggler with seven gold bars in Rajshahi on Thursday.
The detainee has been identified as Muktar Hossain, 40, son of late Sanaullah of Chapainawabganj district.
Read: 2 held with gold bars worth Tk 2.5 cr at Benapole
Godagari BGB Company Commander Subedar Ainuddin said that tipped off, they detained the accused from Bhagabantpur Kheya ghat in Godagari upazila at 7.30am with seven gold bars, weighing 116 grams.
"Legal processes are underway against the detainee," said the BGB official.