Kurigram
35-yr-old killed trying to settle dispute in Kurigram
A 35-year-old man who tried to help mediate a simmering dispute between two families over a love affair was allegedly stabbed to death in Kurigram Sadar upazila.
The deceased was identified as Bakul Mia, son of Abdus Sattar, a resident of the Dharla housing project in Panchgachhi union.
Around 9pm on Thursday in the Dharla housing project area, an argument between the two families over the affair between their son and daughter, respectively, turned violent.
READ: Youth stabbed dead over trifling matter in Kurigram
Bakul rushed to the spot and was stabbed as he intervened. A seriously injured Bakul died on the way to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, police said.
Officer-in-charge of Kurigram Sadar Police Station Khan Mohammad Shahriar said "the attacker has not yet been identified". "Efforts are on to identify and nab him."
READ: Commuter train services resume on Kurigram-Ramna railway
Youth stabbed dead over trifling matter in Kurigram
A youth was stabbed to death over a trifling matter at Harijan Palli near the old railway station in Kurigram town on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Rahul Bashphor, 18, son of Pradeep Bashphor of Kacharibazar area in Gaibandha.
Read: Teenager stabbed dead in N’ganj
Quoting locals, Kurigram Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Khan Shahriar, said the wedding party of Roni Bashphor, son of Swapan Bashphor of Kacharipara area of Gaibandha district, and Antra Rani (18) Bashphor, daughter of Sumon Harijan was going on at Harijan Palli.
The bride and the bridegroom sides locked into an altercation around 8:30 am.
At one stage of altercation, Rahul Bashphor was hacked by one of the men of the bride party, leaving him critically injured.
Read: Woman dies after being stabbed, set on fire ‘by son’ in Laxmipur
Later, he was rushed to Kurigram General Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
At least 4 people were injured during the clash, he said.
No case has been filed yet in this regard, the OC added.
Suspended train service resumes in Kurigram
Commuter train services on Chilmari Ramna Bazar-Rangpur and Kaunia-Ramna Bazar routes in Kurigram district resumed on Tuesday, two years after suspension of the operation.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain inaugurated the ‘Chilmari Commuter train’ at Ramna Bazar Station amid cheers from the locals.
Read: Commuter train services resume on Kurigram-Ramna railway
The train communication on the route was suspended on March 8, 2020, citing Covid-19 pandemic, shortage of drivers, manpower and station master.
The resumption of the service came as a great relief for the locals who endured communication difficulties for past two years.
The government introduced train communication from Chattogram to Chilmari on August 2, 1968 and there were eight stations in the 43-km railway in Kurigram. Four trains were in operation since then.
Read:Teen wearing headphones killed by speeding train in Kurigram
In 2002, the railway authorities suspended the operation of three trains and since then one train from Parbatipur-Ramna route was active.
Khalidunnesa, divisional traffic superintendent of Bangladesh Railway, Lalmonirhat, said hoped that resumption of the operation will reduce commuters’ sufferings.
At least 40 houses damaged in nor’wester in Kurigram
A nor’wester wrought havoc in large parts of Kurigram on Friday afternoon, damaging at least 40 houses.
The impact of the storm was severely felt in Nageshwari, Phulbari and Bhurungamari upazilas of Kurigram, officials said.
Tin sheds of many houses in the affected areas were carried aloft in the whirlwind, according to the officials.
Abdur Rashid, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Kurigram, said the farmers of the district feared a major loss.
Also read: Nor’wester destroys 250 houses in Bhola
“Anyway, efforts are on to ascertain the extent of the damage,” said Ayub Ali Sarkar, chairman of Jatrapur union in Sadar upazila of the district.
Built over 3 years ago a bridge in Kurigram remains unused for lack of approach roads
Villagers cheered when their long-cherished bridge at Sitaijhar in Sadar upazila of the district was built over three years ago.
But their joys soon proved short-lived.
The bridge, built at a cost of over Tk.31 lakh, was abandoned shortly after its construction for lack of approach roads on both sides, villagers complained.
Read: Thakurgaon people wait for bridge for years amid mounting sufferings
Hundreds of people in the three unions of Sadar upazila have expressed their dissatisfaction as there is no one to pay any heed to their problems.
Local administration constructed the bridge with the financial assistance of the Relief and Rehabilitation Centre over three years back.
Soon after the bridge came, floods washed away the approach roads on both sides of it.
During a recent visit to the bridge, this UNB Correspondent learned that the 18-feet long bridge was constructed in FY 2018-19 to ease road communication for the people three unions—Mogolbasha, Panchgacchi and Begumganj unions—in Sadar upazila.
But before the bridge could be opened to public use after construction in 2018 it became useless.
Mild cold wave sweeps Panchagarh, Kurigram districts
A mild cold wave is sweeping Panchagarh and Kurigram districts and it may continue, said Bangladesh Metrological Department.
“A mild cold wave is sweeping Panchagarh and Kurigram districts, it may continue and spread over the remaining part of Rangpur division and some parts of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions,” according to a regular bulletin of Met office.
Read: Brace for a colder Sunday!
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during midnight to morning.
Night temperature may fall by (1-2)°C over the country and day temperature may rise by (1-2)°Cover the country.
Read: Mild cold wave besieges Bangladesh
The lowest temperature of the country was recorded at 8.9 degrees Celsius at Tetulia in Panchagarh on Sunday.
Kurigram sets an example in reducing child marriage: Speakers
Kurigram can be a role model for other districts in bringing down child marriage rate but more coordinated efforts are required from all level of stakeholders, said discussants at a round table discussion on Saturday.
The round table titled “Child Marriage Free Kurigram, A Journey Towards A Dream” was organised at the conference room of Kurigram Deputy Commissioner in Kurigram.
The round table was organised by international development organisation Plan International Bangladesh and its local partner RDRS Bangladesh under the project “Building Better Future for Girls (BBFG)” with the support of Sweden Embassy in Bangladesh.
Also read: Child marriage was an epidemic within the pandemic in Bangladesh
Addressing the discussion as the Chief Guest, the Deputy Commissioner Md. Rezaul Karim said Kurigram’s District Action Plan implementation is an example for other districts of the country to reduce the curse of child marriage.
“To bring the child marriage rate to zero, we all are working together, and are committed to continue the effort in future. We have identified all the relevant stakeholders, engage them with the implementation process which is a big initiative. This made us able to reach to the community level. We are working to bring a positive change in the society through engaging different stakeholders, activating different committees, forming youth forums, strengthening cultural activities.”
Also read: Child marriage rates soar in Cox's Bazar in the shadow of pandemic
Housewife killed in Kurigram, husband on the run
A housewife was hacked to death allegedly by her husband at her father’s house in Paikerchhara village in Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram early Tuesday.
The victim was identified as Shahida Begum, 40, daughter of Shahjahan Ali and wife of Abu Bakar Siddiqui,44, of the same village.
According to Shahida’s family, Shahida came to her father’s house a few days back with her youngest daughter following a prolonged feud with her husband.
Also read: Housewife stabbed to death by husband in city
On Monday night, Abu Bakar, a wood trader, also came to meet Shahida, a mother of three, said Mahir Uddin, Shahida’s uncle.
At the dead of night, he said, they heard Shahida’s screams and they found her dead on her bed when they reached there.
Shahida’s daughter and mother also suffered injuries during the incident, said Mahir Uddin.
Paikerchara union member (ward-1) Abu Md Bajlur Rahman said the injured were taken to a local hospital.
Also read: Housewife murdered, family destroyed by wrath of loan shark
Shahida’s body, bearing the marks of sharp injuries in her neck, was recovered around 4 am, said Ataur Rahman, a sub-inspector of Bhurungamari Police Station.
Abu Bakar went into hiding right after the incident.
Kurigram poultry farms stare at closure due to higher cost of production
Is the heyday for Kurigram poultry farmers coming to an end?
Many of the farmers think so. A lucrative business since 2005 is now losing money. The farmers blame abnormal hike in the prices of poultry feeds, layer chickens and vaccines for their woes apart from the middle men. The Covid-19 pandemic has also hurt the farming.
Consider the tale of Md Dollar, the owner of Dhorola Poultry Farm in Kuti village.
He started his business with 1000 brown layer chickens in 2005 with an investment Tk 5 lakh.
Read: Businesses must take the lead on gearing up for post-LDC era
“The business was quite good until 2015/16. That’s why I expanded my business. Currently, I have 20,000 layers in my farm,” he said.
He now regrets the expansion as the business has started going down with prices of feeds and other inputs going up.
“I have to pay Tk 700 more per sack of seeds. The price soared from Tk. 1600 per sack to Tk. 2300,” he said adding that the prices of vaccines also increased.
“Due to the price hike, I am losing Tk 10,000-15,000 per month”, Dollar said.
Teacher gets life in jail for raping minor student in Kurigram
A court in Kurigram has sentenced a 30-year-old private teacher to life in jail for raping a minor student in 2013.
Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Omlan Kusum Zisnu also imposed a fine of Tk 1 lakh on Abdus Sabur after convicting him of the heinous crime.
Read: Writ seeks cancellation of Evidence Act provisions on rape victims’ character
Abdus Sabur, son of Abdun Noor, a resident of Panrul village of Dilpur upazila, raped the fifth grader on May 19 in 2013 after taking her to a bamboo bush. The girl used to take tuitions from Abdus.
The convict had also threatened the girl of dire consequences if she revealed her ordeal to anyone.
Read: Housewife ‘gang-raped’ in Bhola’s Monpura: Police
However, the girl narrated her ordeal to her parents, who lodged a complaint at the Dilpur police station on May 20, 2013, following which an FIR for rape was filed against the teacher.
After eight years, the judge handed down the punishment to the accused.