Satkhira
AL election campaign office torched in Satkhira
Miscreants torched an election campaign office of Awami League at Nalta union in Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira disctrict early Thursday.
Police said the incident occurred around 3 am at Paschim Paikara of Ward 7 of Nalta Union.
Read:Kushtia pre-poll violence: 2 suffer bullet wounds among 6 injured
Abul Hossain Par, AL-backed chairman candidate in Nalta Union, alleged that workers and supporters of independent candidate Azizur Rahman set fire to the election office, photos of Bangabandhu and the Prime Minister at night.
He alleged that some accused in a sabotage case have come out of jail on bail and have been threatening the workers and supporters of AL on behalf of independent candidate Azizur Rahman.
However, Azizur Rahman, the current chairman of Nalta Union Parishad and an independent candidate, refuted the allegation saying that this heinous act was planned by AL-backed candidate’s supporters as a plot to harass his workers.
Azizur Rahman also alleged that AL activists have been threatening people not to vote for anyone except for ‘Boat’ symbol.
Read:Munshiganj election violence: 5 suffer bullet wounds
“They deliberately set fire to the photos of Bangabandhu and the Prime Minister and circulated that the election office had been set on fire,” added Azizur.
Golam Mostafa, Officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, said they visited the election office.
No case has been filed yet in this regard, the OC added.
Bangladesh’s first floating Mosque and the story of an Imam of Satkhira
Floating mosque! A symbol of novelty and nobility of civilization in the Muslim world. The first of this kind of mosque was heard in Saudi Arabia in 1985. Malaysia is considered the paradise of the floating mosque. This time a floating mosque has been built in Bangladesh. On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, the first floating mosque of Bangladesh, Noah (AS) was inaugurated in Protapnagar Union under Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira. Today's feature focuses on this mosque.
Background of the floating mosque in Satkhira
The Baitun Najad Jame Mosque, located in the Hawladar Bari area, has become detached from the mainland due to the breakage of the embankment at Bonyotola and the Kholpetua river erosion during Yaas and Amphan. As a result, the local Muslims weren't able to go to the mosque to perform the prayers together.
Meanwhile, the Imam of the mosque, Hafez Moinur Rahman, used to reach that detached place through swimming in order to call for prayers five times a day. Occasionally, it was convenient for him to cross the waterway if a boat was available by chance. But mostly he had to swim alone. Sometimes he had to pray four times solely. At times, when the mosque is inundated with river water, Imam used to spend the night on the roof of the mosque.
Read World's Largest Holy Quran to be Embellished in 200 Kg Gold
Imam Moinur Rahman has also lost his homestead in the flood and was going through indescribable hardship in life with his parents, wife, and two daughters. However, such hardships couldn’t affect the Imam’s brazen stamina and unyielding devotion to prayers.
A humanitarian foundation called, ‘Do Something’, recorded the footage of Imam’s swimming struggle from that waterlogged mosque in September 2021. The video footage spread out throughout social media within hours. Idris Ali, a lecturer at Satkhira College along with his student Saidul, and a volunteer of ‘Do Something’ took this benevolent initiative to show the world how a man’s pursuit of attending prayers can mount over earthly limitations.
Later Do-Something provided a boat to Imam in order to facilitate his regular transportation to the mosque. In addition to that BDT 5,000 in cash was given to Imam.
Read In Satkhira hamlet, no resting place for the dead
UP elections: Voting underway in 160 union parishads, 9 municipalities
Balloting at 160 union parishads spread across six districts began at 8am Monday and will continue till 4pm without any break.
In Bagerhat, voting is underway in 65 Union across nine upazilas in a peaceful environment. Voters gathered in the polling centers since morning to exercise their voting rights. However, out of 65 union parishads in the district, 39 candidates of Awami League have been elected as chairman unopposed.
According to the Bagerhat District Election Office, polling is going on in 65 out of 75 Unions of Bagerhat District. As many as 3,121 candidates are fighting in the elections. Of them, 98 are for the post of chairman, 768 for the post of member in the reserved ward and 2,255 for the post of member in the general ward.
The total number of voters in these unions is 9,45,188. Voters are casting their votes in 599 polling centers. Besides, electronic voting machines (EVM) have been deployed for four unions of Fakirhat, Rampal and Mongla upazilas.
Read:Bagerhat UP polls a microcosm for the nation
Bagerhat District Election Officer Faraji Benozir Ahmed said no untoward incident has been reported so far. Each polling center has five full-time policemen and 15 Ansar members and two PCs with a total of 22 members.
Similarly in Cox’s Bazar, voting started in the 1st phase of elections in Chakaria and Maheshkhali municipalities of Cox's Bazar and 14 union parishads of four upazilas.
Voters have alleged that the balloting is moving at a snail’s pace. After a visit at the Saborong High School polling center in Teknaf, the UNB correspondent found there is some truth behind the allegation.
Till 11am, 3 hours into voting, just 150 out of nearly 3,000 voters registered to vote at the centre had cast their vote. Both men and women were seen standing in long queues waiting impatiently to exercise their right to franchise.
Read:BNP senior leaders seek party’s pre-election roadmap
If the status quo continues, the voting scenario at the district might turn chaotic real soon, observed the correspondent.
According to the Cox's Bazar District Election Office, the number of voters in Maheshkhali municipality of the district is 19,484 and in Chakaria municipality 48,724. There are 59 booths in 10 polling stations in Maheshkhali and 139 booths in 16 polling stations in Chakaria municipality. Eight candidates are contesting for the post of mayor in 2 municipalities.
The total number of voters in 14 unions of Pekua, Kutubdia, Maheshkhali and Teknaf upazilas of the district is 3,11,234 people. There are 780 permanent and 113 temporary polling booths in 140 polling stations of four upazilas.
Meanwhile, 8 platoons of BGB with 4 platoons for each municipality and 24 platoons BGB for 14 unions have been deployed in Cox’s Bazar.
Read:By-election to Cumilla-7 on Oct 7
RAB, police, and Ansar members have also been deployed. Coastguards have been deployed for coastal areas. Besides, executive and judicial magistrates have been appointed in the constituencies, sources said.
In Satkhira, voter turnout has been a bit low in the morning due to heavy rainfall.
Polling is being held in 21 unions of Kalaroa and Tala upazilas at 195 centers in 189 wards. Electronic Voting machines are being used in one union of Kalaroa and 3 unions of Tala.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) decided to not take part in the polls this time around, which significantly took the excitement away from the UP polls. In early June, the commission decided to postpone elections to 167 union parishads in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Noakhali, Chattogram, and Cox's Bazar due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Police: 10 female Jamaat leaders held in Satkhira
Police have arrested 10 female leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh on Friday in Satkhira.
They were arrested from the house of Abdul Jalil in Bashtala upazila in Satkhira during a secret meeting.
The arrestees are Majeda Khatun (45), Firoza Begum (55), Morzina Khatun (50), Farida Khatun (45), Rizia Khatun (35), Rafiza Khatun (45), Beauty Khatun (45) of Alipur village of Sadar upazila. Khadija Parveen (40), China Parveen (35) of Sultanpur and Anwara Begum (58) of Bagerhat district.
Satkhira Sadar Police officer-in-charge Mohammad Delwar Hussain said that a raid was carried out on Friday morning over a tip-off. During the raid 33 jihadi books were also recovered.
A case has been filed against the arrestees at Satkhira police station, he said.
Man gets death penalty for killing 4 of a family
A court here on Tuesday sentenced a man to death in a case filed over killing his elder brother and three members of his family last year.
The convict is Raihanur Rahman, 36, son of Shahjahan of Khalisha village in Kalaroa upazila of the district.
Read:Bangladesh introduces death penalty for rape
Satkhira Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Mafizur Rahman handed down the verdict.
According to the prosecution, Raihanur was unemployed and used to depend on his elder brother Shahinur. Raihanur and Shahinur’s wife Sabina Khatun had been at loggerheads over the issue.
On October 14, 2020, Raihanur stabbed Shahinur Rahman, 40, Sabina Khatun, 30, their two children—Siam Hossain Mahi, 10 and Tasnim Sultana, 8, to death after tying up their hands and legs.
Read:Man gets death penalty for carrying heroin in Gaibandha
Moyna Khatun, mother-in-law of Shahinur, filed a case in this connection.
Later, a team of Criminal Investigation Department arrested Raihanur and three others in this connection.
Raihanur gave his confessional statements under section 164.
Several villages celebrate Eid in line with Saudi Arabia
In keeping with Saudi Arabia, residents of a number of villages in Satkhira, Barisal and Panchagarh are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha on Tuesday, the second largest festival of the Muslims.
Saudi Arabia and a number of countries across the world are celebrating the festival of sacrifice on Tuesday. But Bangladesh is scheduled to celebrate Eid on Wednesday.
In Satkhira, hundreds of people at seven places in the district, including Baukhola of Satkhira district, Upalor Islamkathi of Tala upazila, and Kashimari of Shyamnagar upazila have started the Eid celebrations.
Read: Five Eid jamaats to be held at National Mosque
The main congregation was held at Satkhira Sadar's Bhar-Khali market at 8am.
Imam Md Mahbubur Rahman conducted the congregation with a small number of Muslim devotees.
Imam Mahbubur said that all Muslims in the world should perform Eid prayers in line with Saudi Arabia. The devotees offered sacrifices of cattle after the prayers.
In Barisal, the holy Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated in advance in some villages of six upazilas of the district.
Around 10,000 devotees of Babuganj, Hijla, Mehendiganj, Muladi, Bakerganj, Sadar upazila and metropolis of Barisal offered Eid prayers in the congregations from 8 am to 10 am on Tuesday.
Amir Hossain Mithu, president of Haji Bari Jame Mosque in the Tajkathi area of the city, said they offered their Eid jamaat following the government's directives and maintaining all Covid-safety protocols.
Read:Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
Meanwhile, in Panchagarh, seven devotees of four families gathered for Eid congregation under police protection as a clash broke out over celebrating Eid a day ahead.
This year, the local authorities in consultation with public representatives and local dignitaries will take a decision whether Eid prayers would be held at mosques, Eidgahs or open fields considering the Covid situation in their respective areas.
The Religious Affairs Ministry issued some guidelines on offering Eid-ul-Azha prayers.
As per the guidelines, no carpets will be allowed at mosques that will be disinfected before prayers. The devotees have been asked to bring prayer mats from home.
Soaps, hand sanitizers and water should be made available at the place where people make Wadu or at the entrances of mosques or Eidgahs.
Read:Gazipur gridlocked amid pandemic as hundreds head home for Eid
Devotees should maintain social distance following health guidelines. Children, the elderly, disabled people and those involved in taking care of patients will not be allowed to attend Eid prayers.
All have to abide by the directives of the Health Service Division, local administration and law enforcement agencies.
The Religious Affairs Ministry have already urged Imams and managing committees of mosques to ensure proper implementation of the directives.
Cop shunted out over death of Satkhira man
Assistant sub-inspector Subhash Sen who allegedly held back a biker carrying an oxygen cylinder for his dying father for two hours on Thursday, has been sent to the Satkhira police lines.
A three-member probe committee has also been formed by the police, officials said on Friday, in the wake of the death of Oliul Islam's father who had symptoms of Covid.
According to Oliul, he bought the oxygen cylinder from a local trader in the town for his ailing father who was recuperating at home.
On his way back home, ASI Subhash of Itagachha police outpost stopped Oliul’s bike around 11am and asked for documents which he forgot to bring in a hurry.
READ: Satkhira man dies as policeman pulls son over with oxygen cylinder
"The ASI demanded Tk1,000 as fine from me for being out amid the lockdown. I was pulled over for two hours as I neither had the money nor documents, even after explaining my situation. Later, the ASI settled for Tk200 as a local interfered. But my father had already died," Oliul said.
However, ASI Shubhash said, "I stopped Oliul as he was driving his motorcycle at a breakneck speed and had no documents. But I did not hold him back for too long when I came to know that his father urgently needed oxygen."
He was asked to return with the vehicle documents later, said the ASI.
Satkhira Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Delwar Hossain said, “We are probing the allegations. ASI Subhash has been relieved from his post and sent to the police lines."
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Oxygen crisis: Probe committee gets more time to investigate deaths at Satkhira hospital
A probe committee formed to investigate Thursday's incident at Satkhira Medical College that saw 7 Covid patients die allegedly due to a crisis in the hospital's central oxygen supply, has been granted more time to submit the report on Sunday.
Dr Kazi Arif Ahmed, head of the hospital’s medicine department and leader of the probe committee, said, as Friday and Saturday were government holidays, the committee has asked to extend the deadline for a week from earlier ordered three days to conduct the investigation properly.
On Thursday evening, a sudden decrease in the central oxygen flow of the hospital allegedly caused the deaths of seven patients.
Also read: Covid-19: Lockdown in Satkhira extended by a week
However, the hospital authority admitted only four deaths.
Meanwhile, two probe committees have been formed to investigate the incident, one by the hospital authority led by Dr Kazi Arif Ahmed and another by the divisional health office director Dr Rasheda Sultana.
Administrator of the hospital Dr Qudrat-E-Khuda said the probe committee has been granted a week more to submit the report, so now both the committees have seven days for investigating.
Also read: Lockdown: People continue to defy health guidelines in Satkhira
The committee from the divisional office already visited the hospital Sunday and started their probe, he said.
Dr Kazi Arif Ahmed said,"We have collected written statements of the administrator, principal and 22 health officials present at the hospital that day.”
“The actual cause of deaths will be confirmed after completing the overall investigation,” he said.
Khulna gasps for breath
Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths over the past few weeks, Khulna division is now clamouring for oxygen -- a component key in saving the lives of critical patients.
While few hospitals in Khulna division have already run out of the life-saving gas, many other medical facilities are operating on the edge due to an acute shortage of oxygen.
In the past week, seven breathless Covid-19 patients have died at Satkhira Medical College Hospital in Satkhira district due to the unavailability of oxygen. A probe has been ordered into the deaths on June 30.
Also read: Dire situation at Jhenaidah as infections soar, Covid unit overrun, oxygen to run out in 3 days
In Khulna district, the largest specialised government hospital is overwhelmed by a sudden surge in Covid cases -- it has not only stopped corona testing but is also scrambling for beds and oxygen.
3 killed in Satkhira road crash
Three youths were killed in an accident on the Satkhira-Kaliganj road at Parulia area of Debhata upazila.
The incident occurred at around 10 pm on Tuesday.
Also read: Two workers killed in Gulshan road crash
The deceased were identified as Mamun Hossain, 17, son of Jahangir Hossain of Alipur union, Ashraful Islam, 25, son of Taslima Khatun and Sajib, 19, son of Mofizul Islam of the same union.
Debhata Police Station OC Biplob Kumar Saha said the three youths were on their way to Satkhira on a motorcycle. Their motorcycle hit an electricity pole while giving passage to a freight truck near the Parulia High School area.
Also read: Narsingdi road crash leaves five dead
Three of them died on the spot, the OC said.
Their bodies were recovered and sent to Satkhira Sadar Hospital morgue.