Magura
Chitra erosion threatens mass grave of 1971 in Magura
A mass grave where eight freedom fighters were buried in 1971 at Hajrahati village in Magura’s Shalikha upazila is currently under threat of erosion by the Chitra river.
On December 7, 1971, eight freedom fighters who had returned home after receiving training in India were apprehended by Razakars, who collaborated with the Pakistani occupation forces during the War of Liberation in 1971 and killed mercilessly on the bank of the Chitra river. Later, locals buried the bodies of the freedom fighters at the place of their murder.
The eight freedom fighters were Jodunath Guha, Panchanan Pal, Haripad Das, Nityandon Vadra, Monoranjan Dutta, Narugopal Ray, Suresh Kar and an unidentified man.
After entering Bangladesh crossing the Indian border in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenidah district, these freedom fighters fought bravely against the Pakistani military. They were caught and killed during the final stage of the Liberation War while.
“I still search for my brother Jodunath on the bank of the Chitra river. I go to the mass grave with his picture and cry out for my brother,” said Chobi Rani Adhikari, sister of one of the slain freedom fighters.
Chobi added that although it has been 51 years since the country became independent, the mass grave beside the Chitra river hasn’t been maintained properly.
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“During monsoon, water from the river enters the grave. The grave will be washed away by the river someday if no measures are taken,” Chobi added.
Ratan Kumar Das, a local who was 13 during the Liberation War, said some seven to eight freedom fighters were going to Faridpur via Hajrahati during the final days of the war when they were apprehended and killed by Razakars of the area.
“Although we’ve requested the upazila administration time and again, no step has been taken by them to preserve the mass grave. Some officials of the administration have visited the grave multiple times and that’s all,” Ratan said.
SM Abdur Rahman, Joint Convener of Muktijoddha Sangsad’s district unit and a Deputy Commander during the Liberation War, said that family members of the slain freedom fighters gather at the grave every year and arrange events to commemorate their sacrifice.
“Bangladesh has been liberated through the sacrifice of the freedom fighters. It’s our duty to respect them. That’s why immediate steps are necessary to protect Hajrahati Mass Grave from ruin,” said Rahman.
Independent candidate lands in jail ahead of Magura Zilla Parishad polls
A Magura court has sent an independent chairman candidate of the Zilla Parishad elections and his brother, himself a Union Parishad chairman, to jail after they appeared before it with a bail petition.
District Sessions Jude Kamrul Hasan rejected the bail petition after the hearing in this regard was held Tuesday, said Sajedur Rahman Sangram, the public prosecutor.
Independent chairman candidate in the upcoming Zilla Parishad election Shariat Ullah Rajon, and his brother Kutubullah Hossain Kuti, chairman of Shrikol UP, both landed in prison.
Rajon’s opponents in the election for the chairman post include the ruling Awami League’s candidate Pankaj Kumar Kundu, who is currently general secretary of AL’s district unit, and Jahid Mia, a former Chhatra League leader in Shripur upazila.
The case for which the brothers ended up in jail dates back to August, when Shrikol UP member Chand Ali Sardar and three of his brothers were injured in an attack by unidentified miscreants at the time in Chhangachha village.
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Later, a case was filed accusing Rajon and his brother Kuti in this connection, but they managed to obtain six week’ anticipatory bail from the High Court on August 31.
That six-week period ended today, which is why they were appearing before the lower court with the bail petition.
Advocate Shafikuzzaman and two other lawyers standing for the two brothers refused to comment on the court’s decision today.
Madrasa teacher sued for raping minor girl in Magura
A madrasa teacher was sued in a case filed over the rape of a third-grader in Shalikha upazila of the district on Saturday.The accused is Israel Mollah, 55, an assistant teacher of Bahar Bag Abediya Dakhil Madrasa of Magura Sadar Upazila.A case was filed at Shalikha police in this regard following a complaint lodge by the victim's mother Faziron Begum, said Bisharul Islam, officer-in-charge of the police station.According to the case statement, the 8-year-old victim went to Israel's house to bring fish kept in his fridge on Friday noon.
Read: 5 get death sentence for raping teenage girl in KhulnaTaking advantage of an empty house, Israel took the girl to his room and raped her.
Later, the victim’s mother filed a complaint over the matter, added the statement.
Three fake rights activists jailed in Magura
A Magura court has sentenced three people to one-and-a-half years of rigorous imprisonment for collecting money from a pharmacy owner in the guise of human rights activists.
The court of district senior judicial magistrate handed down the punishment to Kalpana Roy, Hasina Begum and Uttam Kumar Biswas, all residents of Shalikha upazila of Magura, on Thursday.
The court also imposed a fine of Tk 1,000 on each of them. The convicts will have to serve two more months in prison in case of their failure to pay the fine.
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According to the case statement, on December 12, 2017, the convicts introduced themselves as human rights activists to a pharmacy owner in Singra Bazar and took money from him.
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The pharmacy owner, however, became suspicious and informed the police who subsequently arrested the trio. Later, a case was lodged at the Shekhor police station in this connection.
7 hurt in AL factional clash in Magura; over 50 houses vandalised
At least seven people sustained injuries in a clash between two factions of the ruling Awami League (AL) in Sreepur upazila of Magura district on Monday morning.
The identities of the injured could not be known immediately.
On Sunday night, some miscreants burnt down two houses and vandalised more than fifty houses in Khoddarhua village of Srikol Union, said Shukdev Roy, officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station.
Locals said Upazila Joint General Secretary Kazi Tariqul Islam and Organizational Secretary of Upazila Awami League Mostasim Billah Sangram had long been at loggerheads in the area. Both the groups blamed each other over the incident.
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As a sequel to the enmity, supporters of Tariqul and Sangram locked into an altercation on Monday morning.
The altercation turned violent when both the groups attacked each other with lethal weapons, leaving 7 people injured, added the OC.
Police have so far arrested 15 people in this connection, the officer said.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said the OC adding that a case was filed with Sreepur police in connection with the violence.
"Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to ward off further trouble," he added.
15 injured as rival groups clash in Magura
At least 15 people have been injured in a clash between two rival groups in Baharbag village of Magura Sadar upazila, police said on Friday.
Twelve of the injured have been identified as former union parishad chairman Liakat Munshi, Salim Sardar, Tuhin, Badsha Mia, Anwar Hossain, Kajol, Imran, Mizan, Harun, Indris, Rauf, and Nayeb.
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According to the police, the clash on Thursday was the fallout of a long-standing rivalry between the two groups -- one led by Saimuddin Chunnu and another by Saddam of Baharbag village.
On Thursday morning, supporters of Chunnu allegedly attacked Aminur, a follower of Saddam. As he news spread, supporters of Saddam attacked Chunnu's men to take revenge, leaving a total of 15 people from both sides wounded.
Also read: Teen hacked to death after clash over football game in Magura
The injured were admitted to Magura District Hospital. Two of them were later shifted to Faridpur hospital for better treatment, police said.
"The condition of one of the injured is critical," said Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station. "A case has been filed in this connection."
3 sued over Magura schoolgirl ‘gang-rape’
A case was filed in connection with the ‘gang-rape’ of a schoolgirl in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura on Tuesday.
The rape survivor’s father lodged a complaint with Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal accusing three people after failing to lodge the complaint at the police station on Monday.
The accused are Gholam Rabbani,42, son of Imarat Molla of Kalukhandi village and his associates Ashad,35 and Alamgir, 27 of the same village.
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Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Pronoy Kumar Das directed Mohammadpur police to record the case after taking the complaint into cognisance.
According to the statement, Gholam Rabbani used to pressurize the victim for developing a love affair with him.
As she continuously refused, the accused picked up the girl on Sunday night at gunpoint and took her to a brick kiln where they raped her in turns.
When asked about the refusal to register the complaint, Ashraful Islam, officer-in-charge (Investigation) of Mohammadpur Police Station, said he is not aware of it.
"We have already started an investigation after receiving the court order,” added the OC.
Teen hacked to death after clash over football game in Magura
A 14-year-old boy was hacked to death on Saturday following a clash over a football game.
The incident occurred at Mohammadpur upazila in Magura.
The deceased was identified as Hasib Munshi, son of Shaykeh Munshi and a student of class nine at a madrasa at Jhama village in the upazila, said Ahraful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur police station.
Also read: BCL leader hacked to death in Cox's Bazar
An hour-long armed clash broke out between two groups over playing football at Char Jhama Primary School playground and previous rivalry which injured several people, said the OC.
After the initial clash died down, some opponents found Hasib alone near the playground and hacked him with sharp weapons, said the police quoting locals.
He was taken to Faridpur Boalmari Hospital around 8pm but the doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Also read: Mother, son hacked dead in N’ganj
“Efforts are on to arrest the accused and additional police have been deployed in the area,” said OC Ashraful Islam.
Hasib’s brother Amanat Munshi said, “Hasib had no involvement with any of the clashing groups. We demand justice for our innocent brother’s death.”
Hanging body of KMP’s ADC, bullet-hit body of constable found in Magura
Police on Thursday recovered the bodies of an additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Khulna Metropolitan Police and a constable from separate places in Magura.
The deceased were identified as additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of KMP Laboni Akhter, 30, and Constable Mahmudul Hasan, 23.
KMP’s Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) SM Fazlul Haque said Laboni Akhter was found hanging from the ceiling with a scarf at her grandparent's house in Sarangodia village in Sreepur upazila in the morning.
Fazlul Haque said Laboni was on leave. “It cannot be said right now whether it is suicide or not.”
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Mahmudul Hasan’s body was recovered from the roof of Magura Police Lines Barrack in the morning.
He shot himself in the head with a firearm issued in his name around 7:30 am, said Magura Additional Superintendent of Police Kamrul Hasan.
Hailing from Kushtia, Mahmudul was posted in Magura one and a half months ago, said Additional SP Kamrul Hasan.
The bodies were sent to Magura Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.
No one without land and home in Panchagarh and Magura districts, declares PM Hasina
Panchagarh and Magura were on Thursday officially declared as the country’s first two districts having no landless and homeless people in a landmark achievement under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s home-to-everyone Ashrayan project. The premier made the announcement while distributing of 26,229 houses among the landless families across the country joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
“We are very much happy that all upazilas of the two districts are now fully free from landless and homeless people,” she said. “This success has been achieved due to our initiative.” Apart from these, 43 other upazilas of the country’s different districts also got the same status. “This is a big achievement. I hope that all districts and upazilas of Bangladesh will one day be free from landless and homeless people,” Hasina said. “Every person in the country will have a house and an address.” In northern Panchagarh, the government found 4,850 landless-and-homeless people and constructed abodes for all of them, said Md Jahirul Islam, the district’s deputy commissioner. In western Magura district houses have been built for 678 families, official sources said. Both the districts are agro-based. Bangladesh has a total of 64 districts.
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A total of 52 upazilas of different districts, including all the nine upazilas of Panchagarh and Magura, was also announced as having no landless and homeless families as part of the government’s commitment made on the occasion of the Mujib Year to ensure shelter for all the homeless in the country. A total of 19,780 landless families were rehabilitated in these 52 upazilas, officials involved with the project said. They said if anyone is found landless in the two districts and 52 upazilas, the person will immediately be given a house with land. The local administration has already been given an order in this regard. The 52 upazilas are Nawabganj in Dhaka; Madaripur Sadar; Damudya in Shariatpur; Katiadi in Kishoreganj; Gopalpur in Tangail; Ghior and Saturia in Manikganj; Kalukhali in Rajbari; Nagarkanda in Faridpur; Madan in Netrokona; Bhaluka, Nandail, Phulpur and Fulbaria in Mymensingh; Bakshiganj in Jamalpur; Patiya, Karnaphuli, Satkania and Lohagara in Chattogram; Raipur and Ramganj in Laxmipur; Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Fulgazi and Parshuram in Feni; Gobindaganj in Gaibandha; Atwari, Panchagarh Sadar, Debiganj, Tetulia and Boda in Panchagarh; Nawabganj in Dinajpur; Baliadangi in Thakurgaon; Dimla in Nilphamari; Raninagar in Naogaon; Panchbibi in Joypurhat; Mohonpur, Charghat and Bagha in Rajshahi; Nandigram and Dupchanchia in Bogura; Bagatipara in Natore; Ishwardi in Pabna; Shibganj in Chapainawabganj; Harinakundu in Jhenaidah; Tala in Satkhira; Magura Sadar, Sreepur, Mohammadpur and Shalikha in Magura; Kathalia in Jhalakathi and Dashmina in Patuakhali.