Day: April 6, 2022

Three people including a woman and her son were killed and fifteen others injured when a bus crashed into a roadside tree on Dhaka-Aricha highway at Muljan in Sadar upazila of Manikganj district on Wednesday.

Two of the deceased were identified as Hasna Begum, 50, Hafizul Islam, 35, son of Hasna of Nischintapur village in Tangail district while the identity of another deceased could not be known immediately.

Abdur Rauf Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said the accident occurred around 2 pm when the Dhaka-bound ‘Village Line Paribahan’ bus hit the tree after its driver lost control over steering, leaving two people dead on the spot and 16 others injured.

One of the injured died on way to hospital and the rest were admitted to 250-bed Sadar Hospital.

On information, police seized the bus but its driver and helper managed to flee the scene.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Farmers in the haor areas of Sylhet, Netrakona and Sunamganj are living in fear that they may be deprived of their boro paddy’s harvest, as flash floods following incessant rainfall in India’s bordering hilly areas have largely inundated their fields.

Besides the affected farmers, the overt similarities with a similar chain of events in 2017 will have people worried across all sections of society. Back then, it prolonged a hike in the price of rice.

Policymakers will be hoping and praying there is no repeat of that, given the upward pressure on prices that is already a reality gripping the populace.

In Netrakona, the farmers of haor areas in Khaliajury upazila are busy harvesting their green and ripe paddy, fearing losses caused by onrush of water downstream.

Executive Engineer of Netrakona Water Development Board ML Soikat said “The water level of Dhanu River has risen 10 cm on Monday noon due to rainfall in India’s Cherrapunji. As a result, the Dhanu river was flowing 58 cm below the danger mark.”

Jashimuddin, upazila agriculture officer, said 370 acres of land in Kirtankhola, Laxmipur, Chunai, Baiddarchar, Katkailer Kanda, Taktar, Monijan, Lebria, Hemnagar, Gangabadar, Nayakhal, Bagani,Boilong and Dakatkhali haor area has been inundated, creating panic among the upazila’s boro farmers.

Many farmers are trying their best to harvest their boro paddy before it matures, in order to cut down on their losses.

Sujon Mia and Anwar Hossain, two farmers of Puranhati and Laxmipur villages in the upazila, said normally they would give it another 10-15 days to harvest the paddy, but they became

helpless and went for early harvest –in which case their immature paddy would be used as fodder.

On a positive note, Engineer Soikat said there is no report of damage along the 183-km embankment in the haor area, and they are trying to reinforce it by dumping bamboo and GO bags.

In Sunamganj, the residents of Shantiganj upazila have been spending sleepless nights to protect the Shaldia Haor flood protection embankment since a crack was discovered on the surface.

The water level of Surma has touched its danger level, and the water level of all the rivers including the Jadukata, Rokti, Boulai, Patlai, Naljur, Kalni, Chalti, Dharain and Chela, has increased due to the sudden onrush of hill water.

The crop lands in Tahirpur upazila in the district are the worst-affected, as the flood control embankment for the Tanguar haor collapsed.

Crop fields in Choto Kanlar Haor of Sadar upazila and Manuarkhola haor in Shalla upazila are also submerged for the same reasons as above.

On the other hand, 25,000 hectares of boro paddy are at risk of inundation as a crack developed on the protection embankment at Karchar Haor in Bishambharpur upazila on Tuesday morning.

Bishambharpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sadi Ur Rahim Zahid said they are trying their best to protect the crops.

Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Hossain said this year, a 530-km long levee has been built, and it is difficult for the Water Development Board to protect such a long embankment. As such, he sought help from all stakeholders in taking steps to protect the dam.

According to Sunamganj office of the Department of Agriculture Extension, some 222,805 (2 lakh 22 thousand 805) hectares of land have been brought under boro cultivation and they set a target to produce boro paddy worth Tk 3,200 crore.

In Sylhet, farmers of Companiganj upazila are a worried lot, as their paddy fields too lie submerged, following the sudden onrush of waters in the last two days.

Some 400 bighas of cropland are already under water in Companiganj, according to the upazila agriculture department. And the worst hit areas are Fuksha Haor, Bhai Kuri, Moter Kuri, Dewar Kar, Kapna Kuri, Daila Haor, Akhai Kuri, Kanglaghati and Daram Haor of the upazila's South Ranikhai Union.

Deputy assistant agriculture officer Pankaj said that although only 50 bighas of paddy land in Ichakals union is under water, the Patharchauli Haor protection dam is liable to be breached at any moment. "A disaster is waiting to happen," he told UNB.

Alamgir Alam, chairman of East Islampur union parishad, said that with the help of locals, a dam was built in Rauti Haor. However, the dam breached in strong currents, submerging paddy fields, Alamgir added.

Raihan Parvez Rony, upazila agriculture officer, said, If the flow of hill water continues, all the boro crops in the upazila will be damaged.

Boro has been cultivated across 5,850 hectares of land in the upazila this year, said the officer.

Fakhrul Ahmed, deputy assistant engineer of the Sylhet Water Development Board, said that an 8.561 km-long crop protection dam has been constructed at Haor area in Companiganj. And yet he adds: “Although the dam is strong enough, it will be difficult to protect the area’s crops in case of an overflow.

Upazila nirbahi officer Lusikanta Hajong said the low-lying areas were flooded by the sudden onrush of hill water. However, our crop protection dams are still in the safe zone. A list of affected farmers is being prepared.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Tuesday night arrested an accused in the sensational murder case of actor Sohel Chowdhury from the city’s Gulshan area.

Accused Ashish Roy Chowdhury alias Bottle Chowdhury had been absconding for years, law enforcers said.

He was arrested from a house near Gulshan’s Pink City around 11 pm, said RAB Headquarters assistant director media ASP Imran Khan.

RAB had been surrounding his residence since the evening, he added.

On December 19, 1998, actor Sohel Chowdhury was shot dead outside the now defunct Tramps Club, housed in Abedin Tower in Banani’s Road 17.

A murder case was filed in this regard at Gulshan police station followed by a complaint lodged by Sohel’s brother Towhidul Islam Chowdhury.

On July 30, 1999, Abul Kashem Bepari, additional police commissioner of Detective Branch submitted a charge sheet against nine people in this case.

On October 30, 2001, Dhaka’s third additional metropolitan session judge court framed charges against the nine accused. After two years of indictment, the case was transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2.

The same year, one of the accused appealed to the High Court.

Since 2003, the trial in the case remained suspended for 19 years.

Of the nine accused in the case, two including Ashish had remained absconding.

Actor Sohel Chowdhury murder: accused held after 24 years

Source: United News of Bangladesh

This year the Holy month of Ramadan has appeared in the summer season. Dehydration is a common issue during fasting as the body remains without food and water for 14 hours. You need to take the right food and drinks at suhoor to keep you going throughout the day. And, it is also important to choose the right drink for breaking off fast to fight dehydration and restore energy levels. Here are 10 healthy, refreshing iftar drinks with recipes to break Ramadan fasting.

10 Tasty and Nutritious Iftar Drinks Recipes to Try at Home

Rooh Afza Mojito

Roof Afza is a very common and familiar drink during Ramadan. It is seen in almost every household during iftar times. Most people like it although some people dislike it for its flavor. Of course, you will fall in love with this simple and easy recipe to keep you refreshed.

Ingredients

2 ½ tbsp of Roohafza, 10 mint leaves, one tbsp lemon juice, 1 cup plain soda, 1 cup crushed ice

How to prepare

First ice (crushed) and mint leaves. You need to mix them as long as you get the flavor of mint. Then add Roohafza and lemon juice. After that, add the filled soda and mix gently. Finally, garnish with a lemon slice and serve.

Syrup of Gur

This drink is more beneficial for your health, as it uses Gur instead of sugar. Syrup made with Gur is a perfect thirst killer drink you can try for iftar. This drink is locally known as Gurer Sherbet.

To prepare this drink you can use Sugarcane Molasses (Akher Gur) or Date Molasses (Khujer Gur). Jaggery can also be used instead of Gur or regular sugar. Jaggery is made from sugarcane. It is healthier than regular white sugar.

Few Basil seeds, a few drops of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt can be applied to make it more healthy and tastier.

This sherbet controls your blood sugar and keeps your body cool. Besides, it boosts immunity and prevents joint pain.

Ingredients

Basil Seeds – 1 tbsp, Jaggery/ Gur – as per requirement, Water- 500 ml, Lemon Juice – 1 pcs, Ice Cubes – as needed.

How to prepare

First, take water in a pot or glass and soak basil seeds for about 5- 7 minutes. Then, take another jug and add Jaggery/Gur and water. Mix them well so that jaggery/ Gur completely dissolves in water. After that, mix soaked basil seeds, a pinch of salt, and lemon and mix them well. Finally, the syrup of Gur is ready to serve.

Syrup of Gur

This drink is more beneficial for your health, as it uses Gur instead of sugar. Syrup made with Gur is a perfect thirst killer drink you can try for iftar. This drink is locally known as Gurer Sherbet.

To prepare this drink you can use Sugarcane Molasses (Akher Gur) or Date Molasses (Khujer Gur). Jaggery can also be used instead of Gur or regular sugar. Jaggery is made from sugarcane. It is healthier than regular white sugar.

Few Basil seeds, a few drops of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt can be applied to make it more healthy and tastier.

This sherbet controls your blood sugar and keeps your body cool. Besides, it boosts immunity and prevents joint pain.

Ingredients

Basil Seeds – 1 tbsp, Jaggery/ Gur – as per requirement, Water- 500 ml, Lemon Juice – 1 pcs, Ice Cubes – as needed.

How to prepare

First, take water in a pot or glass and soak basil seeds for about 5- 7 minutes. Then, take another jug and add Jaggery/Gur and water. Mix them well so that jaggery/ Gur completely dissolves in water. After that, mix soaked basil seeds, a pinch of salt, and lemon and mix them well. Finally, the syrup of Gur is ready to serve.

Raw Mango Sherbet

Though ripe mangoes are yet to be available on the market, you can keep Raw Mango Sherbet in your Iftar food list. Raw mangoes are both nutritious and tasty. This cooling drink will keep your body hydrated. We wish it will be your perfect choice for iftar during Ramadan.

Ingredients

Raw Mango – 2 pcs (cubes), Sugar Syrup – 1 tbsp, Water – 200 ml, Black Salt – 1/2 tsp, Cumin Powder – 1/4 tsp, Ice Cubes – as needed.

How to prepare

First, take all the ingredients in a juice mixture and crush it well for about one minute. Then add ice cubes and serve.

Apple Cider Mojito

If you want to lose weight in Ramadan, this is perfect for you. Apple cider vinegar is very popular for its useful substances which have the ability to kill harmful bacteria and also aid to lose weight.

Ingredients

Four oz apple cider, Half tbsp lemon juice, 3 cubes of ice, mint sprigs.

How to make

First, take 4 oz apple cider in a glass and add other ingredients. Then, mix them well. Now, it is ready to serve.

Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate juice is a really appetizing drink that provides many health benefits. It is a blood purifier. It is enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, and potassium. It reduces bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol in our bodies. This drink is beneficial for those who have low-blood pressure.

Ingredients

Pomegranate – 1 pcs, Sugar Syrup – 1 tbsp, Ice Cubes (optional).

How to make

First, take all the ingredients into a grinder and blend for 1 minute. Now, this tasty and healthy juice is ready to drink.

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Nowadays children also fast with us regularly and you can prepare this smoothie as a great reward and incentive for them.

Ingredients

1 cup frozen strawberries, ¾ cup plain yogurt, ½ cup of milk, 2 ounces cream cheese, one tbsp vanilla extract, 1 ½ tbsp honey, whipped cream ( optional)

How to prepare

First, put all the ingredients in a blender. Then, blend them until it becomes smooth. Garnish with whipped cream before serving.

Star Fruit Juice

Star fruit juice will provide you with all the coolness because it is an amazing sweet and sour beverage. Star Fruit or Carambola is locally known as Kamranga. It is one of the best tropical fruits with excellent health benefits. However, if you have kidney problems try to avoid this drink.

Ingredients

Star Fruit – 1 pcs, Sugar Syrup – 1 tbsp, Water – 200 ml, Ice Cubes – as needed.

How to prepare

First, put all the ingredients in a blender. Then, blend them until they mix well. Serve with ice cubes.

Muskmelon Juice

Musk Melon juice, a refreshing drink will give you full relaxation once you drink it. Muskmelon is locally known as Bangi. This drink provides you with the energy you need during Ramadan fasting.

Ingredients

Muskmelon – 1 pc, Sugar Syrup – 1 tbsp, Water – 200 ml, Ice Cubes- as needed

How to prepare

First, peel off the musk melon and remove the seeds. Then cut it into small cubes. Add melon, sugar syrup & water. Grind it for about 1 minute. Delicious melon juice is ready. Serve it with ice cubes.

Lemon Mint Juice

Lemon Mint Drink or lemonade is a very refreshing, tasty drink and is a favorite for Ramadan iftar. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin-C. After daylong fasting during Ramadan, this refreshing drink will replenish the necessity of vitamin C in the body.

Ingredients

Lemon Juice – 1 tbsp, Sugar Syrup- 1 tbsp, Salt- 1/2 tsp, Mint Leaves – 1 – pcs, Water – 200 ml, Ice Cubes – as needed

How to prepare

First, put all the ingredients in a blender. Then, blend them until they mix well. Serve with ice cubes.

Bottom Line

So far we have discussed 10 Iftar drink recipes to break fast during Ramadan. However, you can also try these refreshing summer drinks at other times of the year. You can modify these recipes depending on the availability of the ingredients in your kitchen. Apply the sweet ingredients as per your taste or health condition.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh logged 36 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,51,903.

As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained static at 29,123 as no death was reported during the period.

The daily positivity rate slightly increased to 0.61 per cent from Tuesday’s 0.52 per cent after testing 5,959 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

On Tuesday, the number of infections was lower as 35 new cases were reported with no death.

Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.

The recovery rate rose to 96.63 per cent with the recovery of 785 more patients during the 24-hour period.

In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.

Among the 85 deaths during the period, 44 were unvaccinated patients, 11 were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 28 with the second dose and two with the third dose.

The country reported first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.

On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.

Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The overall number of Covid cases has surged past 493 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.

According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 493,604,859 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,158,583 Wednesday morning.

The US has recorded 80,208,810 cases so far and 982,576 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.

The prevalence of Covid-19 in the UK has reached record levels, with about one in 13 people estimated to be infected with the virus in the past week, according to the latest figures from Britain’s official statistics agency, reports AP.

Some 4.9 million people were estimated to have the coronavirus in the week ending March 26, up from 4.3 million recorded in the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said Friday.The latest surge is driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant BA.2, which is the dominant variant across the UK.

India’s Covid-19 tally rose to 43,029,839 on Tuesday, as 795 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data.

Besides, 58 deaths were recorded since Monday morning, taking the Covid death toll in the country to 521,416.

Meanwhile, Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January last year, registered 30,042,272 infections as of Wednesday, while its Covid death toll rose to 660,786.

Covid Situation in Bangladesh

Bangladesh logged 35 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,51,867.

As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,123 as no death was reported during the period.

The daily positivity rate dropped to 0.52 per cent, the lowest since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020, after testing 6,836 samples during the period.

On Monday, the number of infections was higher as 61 new cases were reported with one death, taking the positivity rate to 0.78 per cent.

Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The recovery rate rose to 96.59 per cent with the recovery of 899 more patients during the 24-hour period.

Earlier on March 27, Bangladesh logged its lowest daily positivity rate at 0.54 per cent reporting 43 cases with zero death.

The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.

On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.

Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Evercare Hospital in the capital this (Wednesday) afternoon for health check-ups.

“Madam [Khaleda] is scheduled to go to Evercare Hospital around 3pm today (Wednesday) for health check-ups as per the advice of her medical board,” Sayrul Kabir Khan, the BNP chief’s media wing member, told UNB.

Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung and eye problems.

She was last admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 13 last year where she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

On February 1, she returned home after an 81-day stay in the hospital as she was suffering from internal bleeding caused by the liver cirrhosis problem.

Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A couple was killed at Lalkhan Bazar in Chattogram as a truck hit their motorbike on Wednesday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Md Idbal Uddin, 47, and his wife Sokhina Fatemi, 35.

They were residents of Patharghata area of the city.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali police station Jahedul Kabir said the truck rammed the motorbike around 5 pm on Akhtaruzzaman Flyover, leaving them dead on the spot.

Police have seized the truck, he said.

Their bodies have been taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue, he added.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Three people including two women received burn injuries in a fire that broke out in a building in the capital’s Mirpur area on Wednesday.

The identitties of the injured couldn’t be known immediately.

The fire broke out in a building at Mirpur-1 around 5pm, said Md Shahjahan Shikdar, Deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

On information, eight firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the fire around 6:20pm, he added.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A newly wed woman allegedly ended her life in Paikgachha upazila of Khulna in the early hours of Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Akhi, wife of Shihab Gazi from the Old Gudam Ghar area of the upazila.

Akhi’s husband claimed that his wife took the extreme step as he didn’t allow her to visit her parents. “An altercation had ensued between us, following which Akhi took her own life,” he added.

Her body was found hanging from the ceiling of the house in the early hours.

On information, police recovered the body and sent it to the morgue of Khulna Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy, said Md Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Paikgachha police station.

A case of unnatural death has been filed in this regard, he added.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Fifty-year-old Nasima Khatun (not real name) saw heavy eyes laden with disappointment when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The fear of the deadly disease hung heavy on the sensitive soul of Nasima who used to live in Bashaboo area of the city.

She is a mother of three children- a daughter and two sons. Her husband is a private job holder. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer bringing in her the consciousness that everything is so temporary. She underwent on an operation at a private clinic and later she went to India for better treatment.

Now, she is taking chemotherapy after every four months. In fact, the full family faces a lot of problems and suffers financial loss due to the cancer treatment.

Fifty-three-year-old Rafiza Akther (not real name) was diagnosed with breast cancer four years back. At first, she undertook treatment at a clinic. But, later, her family suggested her to go to India and she went to Chennai in India. The doctors carried out an operation on her breast (left).

Hundreds of women like Nasima and Rafiza are suffering from cervical and breast cancers in the country.

In Bangladesh breast and cervical cancers are the commonest cancers, and it needs to focus on women’s breast and cervical cancers.

According to statistic, about 14,000 women died due to the two cancers.

The government has taken a plan to increase the allocation of the running project to protect the women. The initiative has been taken under ‘Electronic Data Tracking with Population-based Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Programme (EPCBCSP). At present, a proposal to extend the periphery and activities of the project has been sent to the planning commission for its second revision.

An official of the Planning Commission has told that currently the project is going on. The cervical and breast cancers have been increased alarmingly and the time frame of the project has been increased to protect the women from the two cancers, he added.

As per the statistic, about 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in every year. Of them, 6,582 died. On the other hand, about 14,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer while about 7,000 died of them.

Experts said it is very much crucial to form the EPCBCSP by the government as the women at the root-level would get the scope of screening of the two deadly cancers.

Concerned said the main cost of the project which is being implemented by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) was Taka 49.50 crore. Later in the first amendment, the cost has been increased to Taka 56.78 crore and in the second amendment to taka 198.95 crore.

Project concerned of BSMMU said the cost and time have been increased due to implementation of all aspects of the project. The time of implementation of the ongoing project was fixed by June, 2022. Now the new time has been fixed and it is June, 2024.

BSMMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed said many women are at risks and die due to these cancers. But, increasing awareness is one of the pioneer primary treatments in protecting cancer, he added.

He said different programmes will be taken across the country to create awareness at root levels. Researches will be carried out in the BSMMU to find out ways of cure from the diseases, he added.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)