Lakshmipur: A court has sent 19 BNP leaders and activists to jail in the murder case of Jubo League leader Miraj Hossain Patwari in Raipur, Lakshmipur.
On Wednesday (October 25) afternoon, Lakshmipur District and Sessions Judge Dr. AKM Abul Kashem handed down the sentence.
When the accused applied for bail in the Lakshmipur District Judge's Court, keeping the case documents secret, the court rejected it and ordered them to be sent to prison. State lawyer PP Jasim Uddin confirmed the matter.
The state lawyer said that 19 leaders and activists, including Raipur Upazila Jubo Dal General Secretary Emran, Joint General Secretary Naju, BNP leader Bachchu, and others accused in the murder case, have been sent to jail. The remaining accused are absconding.
According to court sources, on the night of October 19, 2012, terrorists hacked local Jubo League leader Miraj Hossain Patwari to death in Keroa Union of Raipur Upazila of Lakshmipur. In this incident, the victim's mother Rani Begum filed a case with the police station accusing 40 people.
Later, the police investigated and filed a charge sheet in court against 39 people. On October 22, 2012, the accused were granted two-month bail by the High Court. On January 17, 2013, when they appeared in the lower court and sought bail again, the court ordered them to be sent to jail. On February 3 of the same year, they were granted another six-month bail by the High Court. Later, when they did not appear in court, the High Court rejected their bail on February 4, 2016. Later, when they appealed to the Supreme Court, the court upheld the same order.

 Lakshmipur: National Sanitation Month and Global Handwashing Day-2017 were celebrated in Lakshmipur with the slogan 'Clean Hands, Beautiful Future'. The district administration and the Public Health Engineering Department organized a rally and discussion meeting on Wednesday (October 25). In the morning, a rally started from the premises of Lakshmipur Adarsh Samad Government High School, circled the main roads and ended at the premises of Lakshmipur Collectorate School and College. Later, a discussion meeting was held in the conference room of the school. The discussion meeting was chaired by Zahir Sohel, Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department, and the chief guest was Deputy Commissioner Homayra Begum. Civil Surgeon Dr. Mostafa Khaled Ahmed, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sheikh Murshidul Islam, Deputy Director (DDLG) Mir Shawkat Hossain, Additional Superintendent of Police Anirban Chakma and Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Nuruzzaman were present as special guests. Also present at the event were District Children's Affairs Officer Abdullah Al Jabbar, Principal of Collectorate School and College Ranjit Kumar Pal, Ramganj Upazila Engineer Harun Or Rashid of the Public Health Engineering Department, Sadar Upazila Engineer Nasir Uddin, Ramgati and Kamalnagar Upazila Engineers Begum Monika and a large number of students from various educational institutions.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has ordered students to enter the exam hall half an hour before the start of the upcoming JSC and JDC exams to ensure a fair and cheating-free environment.

He made this statement at a meeting of the National Monitoring and Law and Order Committee, formed to ensure that the Junior School Certificate (JSC) and equivalent examinations are conducted in a fair, cheating-free and positive environment, held under the chairmanship of the Education Minister at the Secretariat on Tuesday (October 24).

The meeting discussed general issues including controlling the law and order situation, preventing the spread of rumors about passing the question papers, taking action against those who provide questions on Facebook, etc. In addition, the printing, distribution, storage of question papers and overall preparations for conducting the JSC and equivalent examinations were discussed.

It was informed in the meeting that mobile courts will be operational to ensure smooth conduct of the examination. Maximum action will be taken if any irregularities or question leaks occur in the examination. In addition, a control room related to the examination will be operational.

The Education Minister said in the meeting, this time all students will have to enter the examination hall half an hour before the start of the examination. The question papers will be opened after all the students enter the examination hall. He said that teachers or any person related to the examination will not be able to carry any mobile phone. Only the secretary of the examination center will be able to carry a regular phone for communication.

The Education Minister said that all concerned should keep a close watch to ensure that there are no irregularities, cheating or question paper leaks in this examination. He expressed hope that this time the examination will be held in a more disciplined and peaceful environment.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department Md. Sohrab Hossain, Secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Department Md. Alamgir, Additional Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department Chowdhury Mufad Ahmed, Director General of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education Dr. SM Wahiduzzaman, chairmen of various boards, representatives of the Police, RAB, CID and NSI, and representatives of the Ministries of Public Administration, Home Affairs, and Information.

This year's JSC and JDC exams will begin on November 1st and end on November 18th.

জর্ডানের রানি রানিয়া আল আবদুল্লাহ বলেছেন, শুধু মানবিক কারণে নয়, ন্যায় বিচারের স্বার্থে মিয়ানমার থেকে নির্যাতনের মুখে পালিয়ে আসা সংখ্যালঘু রোহিঙ্গাদের পাশে বিশ্ববাসীকে দাঁড়াতেই হবে। তিনি বলেন, বাংলাদেশ সরকার রোহিঙ্গাদের আশ্রয় দিয়ে সে মানবিকতা দেখিয়েছে এজন্য তাদের ধন্যবাদ জানায়।
একইসঙ্গে রোহিঙ্গা ইস্যুতে জর্ডান ভবিষ্যতে বাংলাদেশকে পাশে থাকবে বলেও জানান তিনি।

কক্সবাজারে কুতুপালং রোহিঙ্গা ক্যাম্প পরিদর্শন করে সাংবাদিকদের ব্রিফিংকালে এসব কথা বলেন জর্ডানের রানি। এসময় মিয়ানমারের রোহিঙ্গা নিধনকে গণহত্যা আখ্যায়িত করে জর্ডান সরকারের পক্ষ থেকে নিন্দা জানান তিনি।

সোমবার বেলা ১১টা ৫৫ মিনিটের দিকে সরাসরি উখিয়ার কুতুপালংয়ে পৌঁছে রোহিঙ্গা ক্যাম্প পরিদর্শন করেন জর্ডানের রানি রানিয়া আল আবদুল্লাহ। এসময় তিনি মিয়ানমার থেকে নির্যাতনের শিকার হয়ে পালিয়ে এসে আশ্রয় নেওয়া রোহিঙ্গা নারী, পুরুষ ও শিশুদের অবস্থা দেখেন। পরে কুতুপালং এ জাতিসংঘের যেসব সংস্থা রোহিঙ্গাদের সাহায্য করছে, তাদের সাথে বৈঠকে করেন। রানি রানিয়া আল আবদুল্লাহ ক্যাম্পে ইউএনএইচসিআরের পরিচালিত রোহিঙ্গা শিশুদের লার্নিং স্কুলও পরিদর্শন করেন। এছাড়া বিভিন্ন ত্রাণ বিতরণের কার্যক্রম পদিরর্শন করেন তিনি।

উল্লেখ্য, গত ২৫ আগস্ট মিয়ানমারের সর্বশেষ সহিংসতার শুরুর পর থেকে এখন পর্যন্ত ৫ লক্ষাধিক রোহিঙ্গা বাংলাদেশে পালিয়ে এসেছে।

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is visiting Dhaka, met with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

He sat in the meeting at the capital's Hotel Sonargaon at 8 pm on Sunday after meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban.

Apart from Khaleda Zia, 7 members including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were present at the meeting.

Earlier, Sushma had a courtesy call with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the evening. She is also scheduled to meet Opposition Leader Rowshan Ershad later in the night.

Lakshmipur: The government-imposed 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing will end at midnight on Sunday (October 22). Once the breeding season ends, there will be no more obstacles for fishermen to fish in the Meghna River in Lakshmipur, like in other parts of the country. About 60,000 fishermen from Lakshmipur will go fishing in the river again.
The fishermen have already made a lot of preparations. They have been fixing various fishing equipment including nets and boats in their free time. If the weather is favorable, the fishermen will go fishing in the river after midnight.
From October 1 to October 22, it was the full breeding season for Hilsa. During these 22 days, the government banned fishing for all species of fish, including Hilsa, in the Meghna River in Lakshmipur. Due to the ban, fishing was stopped in the 100-kilometer Meghna River area from Ramgati in Lakshmipur to Shatanal in Chandpur. During this time, fishing, transportation, storage, marketing and sale of fish were prohibited. Hundreds of fishermen were jailed and fined in different parts of the country for violating this law. Millions of meters of current nets were destroyed by burning.
From field visits and various reliable sources, it is known that awareness among fishermen has increased. Compared to previous years, mother hilsa has been able to release fry without any problems during the current hilsa breeding season. Fishermen did not go into the river. The administration, Coast Guard and Fisheries Department were much more active.
It was found that the government was supposed to provide VGF assistance to fishermen for refraining from fishing during the prohibited time. But even after the stipulated time, 60,000 fishermen of Lakshmipur did not receive it. During this time, the fishermen have been living on loans and debts, but still did not go fishing in the river.
Talking to local fishermen, it is known that fishing in the Meghna River is their only profession. Since they could not catch fish in the river, they had to spend their time idle. Their family spent these 22 days in hardship. They had to take money from the moneylenders. They bought rice and pulses from the markets and markets with the rest.
Regarding the ban, fishermen said, "Even if I had the opportunity, I did not go into the river. In the last few years, I have found a lot of hilsa in the river without eggs. I have also paid off past debts."
Roijal Mia, a fisherman from Char Kalkini village, said, "If the government had supported us with rice and pulses during the operation, no one would have taken the risk of going hunting in the river."
The ban is ending. They also said that they have already repaired their boats, repaired their torn nets, and are preparing for a new fishing venture.
According to the Lakshmipur District Fisheries Office, the breeding season for Hilsa is 22 days, including the four days before the full moon of the month of Ashwin, the day of the full moon, and the 17 days after. During this time, mother Hilsa come in droves from the sea and lay eggs in the Meghna of Lakshmipur. A large Hilsa can lay up to 2.3 million eggs. In order to produce more Hilsa, a ban has been imposed on fishing for all species of fish, including Hilsa, so that the mother Hilsa can lay eggs without hindrance.
Lakshmipur District Fisheries Officer SM Mohib Ullah said that the scheduled time for the Hilsa breeding season will end on October 22 at 12 midnight. After that, there will be no restriction on fishing. 14 fishermen have been jailed and two have been fined for violating the law during the breeding season.
The fisheries official also said that the government will provide VGF assistance to 37,326 fishermen very soon.

Dhaka: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discussed the Rohingya crisis with her.

The UN Secretary-General telephoned the Prime Minister at around 9:30 pm on Saturday (October 21).

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Antonio Guterres spoke to the Prime Minister on the phone for about 20 minutes. They discussed the Rohingya crisis.

At this time, the Prime Minister requested the UN Secretary-General to pressure Myanmar from the UN to take the Rohingyas back from Bangladesh to their homeland and ensure their safe resettlement.

The Prime Minister sought the UN Secretary-General's cooperation in implementing the five proposals made at the 72nd session of the UN last month to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The Prime Minister also thanked the UN Secretary-General for the call and requested his continued involvement and cooperation in the Rohingya crisis.

At the time, the Prime Minister mentioned Bangladesh's bilateral efforts with Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The Prime Minister told the UN Secretary-General that you are quite aware that the root of this problem lies in Myanmar and that its solution can also be found in Myanmar.

The Prime Minister said that the Bangladesh Foreign Minister will visit New York to inform the UN Secretary-General about the latest situation and reality of the Rohingya crisis.

He said, "I am sending the Bangladesh Home Minister to Myanmar to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis."

At the time, the UN Secretary-General expressed concern about the influx of millions of Rohingya into Bangladesh. He also praised the people and government of Bangladesh for sheltering and serving the Rohingya.

The Prime Minister urged the UN Secretary-General to play a role in bringing the UN Security Council and the world community to support the resolution of the Rohingya crisis.

The Prime Minister said that about 1 million Rohingyas, including 600,000 who arrived recently, have taken refuge in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has sheltered these Rohingya refugees considering humanitarian aspects.

The Prime Minister informed the UN Secretary-General at that time that international and local NGOs, including the UN, should be given full access to work in the Cox's Bazar area.

Lakshmipur: Three shepherds have gone missing after a tidal surge swept away 600 buffaloes and 100 cows from the char in Kamalgaon, Lakshmipur. The strong tidal surge swept away 600 buffaloes and 100 cows from the char. The fort used to keep the cows and buffaloes was destroyed. Dead cows and buffalo calves were seen floating in the river.

On Friday (October 20), at around 3 am, herdsmen and cows and buffaloes were swept away from Feroz Bagha's buffalo fort in the Kankrar Char, which was flooded by the Meghna River in Char Kalkini Union of the upazila. Three herdsmen went missing.

The missing shepherds are Abdur Zaher (50), son of the deceased Mohammad Hossain of Patarirhat Union, Hannan (35), son of Kalu Palowan of Char Falkon village, and Md. Bahar (25), son of Dulal of the same village.

General Secretary of Kamalnagar Buffalo Farm Owners Association, Assistant Professor of Hazirhat Coastal Degree College Md. Mahbubur Rahman Swapan, confirmed the missing of three shepherds and 700 cows and buffaloes.

It is learned that 200 buffaloes of Md. Firoz Bagha of Patarirhat Union, 100 buffaloes of Shafiqul Islam of Falkon Union, and 20 cows were washed away in the tidal wave. 100 buffaloes of Anwarul Islam of the same village, 100 buffaloes of Nur Nabi Bagha, 50 buffaloes of Dulal Batan, 35 cows of Jasim, 25 buffaloes of Shah Alam, 3 cows of Salah Uddin, 30 buffaloes and 5 cows of Ala Uddin, 20 buffaloes and 5 cows of Jamal Uddin, and 5 cows of Jamal Uddin were washed away in the tidal wave. Since then, the cows and buffaloes have been missing.

Md. Firoz Bagha, the owner of the affected buffalo and the one who set up the fort in the char, said, "10 owners have built a fort worth 7 lakh taka in the char that has been awakened and are raising about 1,000 buffaloes and more than 200 cows." The fort was destroyed by the storm late on Friday night. During this time, 3 shepherds and about 700 cows and buffaloes were washed away. Since then, the 3 shepherds have been missing. The cows and buffaloes that were washed away have not been found either.

Residents of Patarirhat, Falkon and Kalkini unions on the banks of the Meghna River said that several dead buffalo calves and cows were seen floating away with the tide.

Kamalnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Akul Chandra Biswas said that no one has reported this matter to the police station yet.

লক্ষ্মীপুর : নিন্মচাপের প্রভাবে অতিবৃষ্টি ও তীব্র জোয়ারে রামগতি ও কমলনগরের অন্তত ২০ গ্রাম প্লাবিত হয়েছে। ডুবে গেছে উপকূলীয় রাস্তাঘাট। পানি বন্ধি হয়ে পড়েছে ৪ হাজার পরিবার। ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে প্রায় ৬ শতাধিক কাঁচা ঘর, আশ্রয়কেন্দ্রে আশ্রয় নিয়েছে ২ শতাধিক পরিবার। তীব্র জোয়ারে মেঘনা জেগে উঠা চর আবদুল্লাহ থেকে ১৫০টি মহিষ নিখোঁজ হয়। ভেসে গেছে মাছের ঘের ও উপড়ে পড়েছে গাছপাল। এদিকে মেঘনা নদীর ভাঙন ভয়াবহ রূপ নিয়েছে। কমলনগর মেঘনা নদীর তীর রক্ষা বাঁধ পড়েছে মারাতœক হুমকির মুখে। ভাঙনের শিকার হয়েছে অন্তত ৫০টি পরিবার।

বৃহস্পতিবার রাত থেকে শুরু হয়ে শনিবার (২১ অক্টোবর) বিকাল পর্যন্ত টানা তিন দিনের বৃষ্টিতে লক্ষ্মীপুরের উপকূলে এমন পরিস্থিতি সৃষ্টি হয়েছে।

অতিবৃষ্টি, ঝড় ও তীব্র জোয়ারে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত গ্রাম ইউনিয়নগুলো হলো-রামগতি উপজেলার চর আলেকজান্ডার, চর আলগী, চর আবদুল্লাহ, চর রমিজ, বড়খেরী, চর গাজী। কমলনগর উপজেলার চর ফলকন, সাহেবেরহাট, চর কালকিনি, পাটারিরহাট, চর মার্টিন, চর লরেন্স, হাজিরহাট, চর কাদিরা ও তোরাবগঞ্জ ইউনিয়। এসব ইউনিয়নের মেঘনা পাড়ের প্রায় ৩০ গ্রাম প্লাবিত হয়েছে।

রামগতি উপজেলা চেয়ারম্যান ও উপজেলা আওয়ামী লীগের সাধারণ সম্পাদক অধ্যাপক আবদুল ওয়াহেদ জানান, অতিবৃষ্টি, ঝড় ও তীব্র জোয়ারে রামগতির উপকূলে ব্যাপক ক্ষতি হয়েছে। উপজেলার চর আলগী, চর আবদুল্লাহ, চর রমিজ, বেড় খেরী ও চর গাজী ইউনিয়নের প্রায় ৬শ’ কাঁচা ঘর-বাড়ির ক্ষতি হয়েছে। বসত ঘরের উপর গাছ চাপা পড়ে সুরাইয়া বেগম নামের এক নারী আহত হয়েছেন। চর আলগী ও রড়খেরী ইউনিয়নে প্রায় দুই শতাধিক পরিবার দুইটি আশ্রয় কেন্দ্রে আশ্রয় নিয়েছে। চর আবদুল্লাহ থেকে তীব্র জোয়ারের প্রায় ১৫০টি মহিষ ভেসে গেছে। এর মধ্যে ১১টি মহিষ উদ্ধার করে বড় খেরী ইউনিয়ন পরিষদের চেয়াম্যানের জিম্মায় রাখা হয়। মাছ চাষিদের প্রায় শতাধিক মাছের ঘের জোয়ারে ভেসে গেছে। বেশ কিছু গাছ পালা উপড়ে পয়েছে। ডুবে গেছে ফসলের মাঠ ও সবজি খেত।

এদিকে,কমলনগরের ফলকন, কালকিনি, পাটারিরহাট ও সাহেবেরহাট ইউনিয়নে নদী ভাঙন ভয়াবহ রূপ নিয়েছে। গত দুই দিনের ভাঙনে ৫০ পরিবার নিঃস্ব হয়েছে। বিলীন হয়েছে ফসলি জমি ও রাস্তাঘাট। মারাতœক হুমকির মুখে পড়েছে নদী তীর রক্ষা বাঁধ। আতঙ্কিত হয়ে পড়ছে কমলনগরবাসী। এ উপজেলাতেও জোয়ার ও বৃষ্টির পানিতে দুই  হাজার পরিবার পানি বন্ধি হয়ে পড়েছে।

কমলনগরে চরফলকন ইউনয়িন পরিষদের (ইউপি) চেয়ারম্যান হাজী হারুনুর রশিদ, সাহেবেরহাট ইউনিয়ন পরিষদের (ইউপি) চেয়ারম্যান আবুল খায়ের, কালকিনি ইউনিয়ন পরিষদের (ইউপি) চেয়ারম্যান সাইফ উল্লাহ ও পাটারিরহাট ইউনিয়ন পরিষদের (ইউপি) চেয়ারম্যান ও উপজেলা আওয়ামী লীগের সাধারণ সম্পাদক অ্যাডভোকেট নুরুল আমিন রাজু বলেন, অতিবৃষ্টি ও জোয়ারের পানিতে ৪টি ইউনিয়নের সব কয়টি গ্রাম প্লাবিত হয়েছে। এতে পানি বন্ধি হয়েছে শত শত পরিবার।