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500 illegal brick kilns to be demolished: Environment Minister
Rtv news
24 Jan 2024, 16:57
Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury has announced that 500 out of the 1,000 illegal brick kilns surrounding Dhaka will be dismantled as part of the upcoming 100-day programme to combat air pollution.
He made this statement during a press conference after a courtesy meeting with French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupui at his office in the Secretariat on Wednesday (January 24) afternoon.
Also present during the meeting were Guillaume Audrein de Kerdrel, First Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in Dhaka, Economic Adviser Julien Deur, AfD Country Director in Bangladesh Cecilia Cortes, and others.
Minister Chowdhury emphasised the importance of identifying pollution sources before taking action.
He expressed the intention to issue alerts when air quality poses health risks, advising the public to stay indoors for non-essential tasks and follow WHO recommendations on wearing masks.
Minister Chowdhury outlined the government's commitment to addressing various contributors to pollution, including cement-sand transportation and construction work in Dhaka.
He stressed the need for collective cooperation and announced that the 100-day program details would be revealed the following day (Thursday).
When asked about the number of illegal brick kilns and the progress of demolitions, the minister referred to court estimates of approximately 2,000 illegal brick kilns.
He explained the focus on identifying permanent chimneys around Dhaka and set a target to dismantle an average of three to four brick kilns per day, with the goal of crushing 500 brick kilns over 100 working days.
Regarding discussions with France, the minister highlighted climate and environment as crucial aspects of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and France.
He deeply mentioned the interest of the French President in a climate adaptation agreement between the two countries, and the ongoing discussions focused on identifying priorities for that agreement.
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6 Killed, 2 Injured as Train Hits Auto-rickshaw in Cumilla
Six autorickshaw passengers were killed and two others injured after a train hit them at a rail crossing in Burichang Upazila of Cumilla.
The incident took place at the Kalikapur rail crossing at 10 am on Tuesday (November 26).
Burichang Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azizul Haque confirmed the matter.
He said that the Subarna Express train, which left Chattogram at 10 am, hit the autorickshaw while passing an unprotected rail crossing in the Kalikapur area of Burichang upazila. The autorickshaw was twisted. The train carried the autorickshaw at least half a kilometer away. The bodies of the victims were mutilated in the accident.
The deceased were identified as Rafiz Mia, Lutfa Begum, Safarjan, Shanu Begum, Hossein Ara, a resident of the Ashrayan project in Khodaitoli village, and the autorickshaw driver Saju.
Meanwhile, Laksham Railway Police Station Sub-Inspector Mustafa Kamal arrived at the spot after receiving news of the accident.
He said this railway crossing is unsafe. There is no rail gate here. The accident mainly occurred due to the mistake of the autorickshaw driver. We reached the spot and found the body of one person. The rest of the bodies were taken away by their relatives.
Panchagarh Records 12°C This Morning
The temperature in Panchagarh, the country's northernmost district, has dropped to 12 degrees. Tetulia Meteorological Observatory office recorded the district's temperature at 12°C at 6 am.
This information was provided by Russell Shah, Officer-in-Charge of the Tetulia Meteorological Observatory of Panchagarh on Thursday (November 28) morning.
He said that although the minimum temperature of the season was recorded within 13°C for the last three days, the temperature dropped further to 12.2°C at 6 am today. Now the temperature will continue to drop further as the day goes on.
Meanwhile, since morning, it can be seen that the cold is felt in various places even though the sun's rays are breaking through the fog. However, stone workers, daily wage laborers, tea workers, and other working people were seen going to their respective jobs, ignoring the cold.
Some local farmers said that winter has set in. When I go to pick leaves and cauliflower, coriander leaves, gourds, and gourds in the morning, I feel the icy coldness of the dew on the leaves. It makes my hands numb.
Lawyer Alif Murder in Chattogram: Case Filed Against 31
On Tuesday, November 26, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed during a clash in Chattogram surrounding demands for the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Sanatani Jagaran Jote. A case has been filed naming 31 individuals and including 10-15 unidentified persons as accused.
On Saturday, November 30, Jamal Uddin, the father of the deceased, filed the case at the Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram.
The named accused include residents of the Kotwali Bundel Road Sevak Colony area: Chandan, Aman Das, Shri Shubho Kanti Das, Bunja, Ranob, Bidhan, Bikash, Romit, Rumit Das, Nayan Das, Gagan Das, Bishal Das, Omkar Das, Bishal, Rajkapur, Lala, Samir, Sohel Das, Shiv Kumar, Biglal, Parash, Shri Ganesh, Om Das, Poppy, Ajay, Devi Charan, Dev, Joy, Durlabh Das, and Rajib Bhattacharya.
Additionally, another case was filed by Alif’s elder brother, Khan Alam, against 115 named individuals and 400-500 unidentified people for attacking lawyers and vandalizing the court premises during the incident.
The cases were confirmed by Kazi Md. Tarek Aziz, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police.
Earlier, on November 25, police arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a spokesperson for the Sanatani Jagaran Jote and ISKCON leader, at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport. He was later presented in a Chattogram court on November 26, where his bail was denied, and he was ordered to be sent to jail.
As he was being transported to prison, followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das blocked the prison van. A clash ensued between law enforcement, lawyers, and the followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das. During the incident, young lawyer Saiful Islam Alif lost his life.
Panchagarh Records Season's Lowest 10.4°C as Winter Intensifies
The cold of winter has intensified across the northern districts, with temperatures dropping to 10.4°C in Panchagarh, the country's northernmost region.
At the same time, the surrounding areas of the district are covered in a blanket of fog from late night to morning. The people of the district have started shivering in the intense cold.
The Tetulia Meteorological Office recorded the season's lowest temperature of 10.4°C at 6 am on Saturday (November 30). The lowest temperature on Friday was 11.3°C.
Jitendra Nath, an assistant officer at Tetulia Meteorological Observatory, confirmed the matter to the media.
Meanwhile, winter-related diseases have increased. Especially children and the elderly are being affected by various winter-related diseases including colds, coughs, asthma, and pneumonia. Treatment is underway at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital and Tetulia 50-bedded Hospital and other health centers.
Jitendra Nath said, "The temperature was recorded at 10.4°C at 6 am on Saturday, down from 11.4°C on Friday. During the Paush and Magh months, temperatures here tend to drop significantly. We expect the mercury to fall further as winter progresses."
Attack on Asaduzzaman Noor in Hospital
Former minister and former MP from Nilphamari-2 (Sadar) constituency Asaduzzaman Noor was attacked at the capital's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
The attack took place on the hospital premises around noon on Saturday (November 30).
Eyewitnesses said that Asaduzzaman Noor was brought to the hospital for treatment at noon. At that time, some students injured in the July-August movement attacked him. Later, the students were taken to the room of the hospital director, Brigadier General Rezaur Rahman. There, the director took their mobile phones.
However, although the director was called for comment on the matter, his statement could not be obtained.
Earlier, Asaduzzaman Noor was arrested from the capital on the night of September 15. He was later sent to jail.
Noor has represented the Awami League in parliament since 2001. In the last 12th National Parliament election, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Nilphamari-2 constituency. In addition, after the Awami League's landslide victory in the 10th National Parliament election held on January 5, 2013, he took over as the Minister of Cultural Affairs on January 13, 2014 and served until January 7, 2019.
In addition to politics, Asaduzzaman Noor has acted in more than 110 television films and serials. His notable works on television include Eishob Dinratri (1985), Ayomoy (1988), Kothao Keu Nei (1990), Aaj Robibar (1999) and Somudro Bilas Private Limited (1999). Among them, he made a special place in the hearts of the audience by playing the character of 'Baker Bhai' in the serial 'Kothao Keu Nei'.
The number of his plays broadcast on radio is more than 50. Along with plays, he has also acted in films. The notable films he acted in are Shongkhonil Karagar (1992) and Aguner Poroshmoni (1994).
Asaduzzaman Noor received the Independence Award in 2018 for his contribution to culture. He has served as the president of the Bangladesh Recitation Coordination Council for a long time.
Areas Where Gas Supply to be Unavailable for 10 Hours on Sunday
Gas supply will be unavailable in various areas of the capital on Sunday (December 1) for urgent repair work on gas pipelines. Titas Gas authorities announced this information in a message on Saturday (November 30).
The message stated that gas supply to all categories of existing customers in Uttar Khan, Dakshin Khan, Fayedabad, and Ashkona areas will be stopped for a total of 10 hours on Sunday (December 1) from 10 am to 8 pm.
In addition, low gas pressure may prevail in the surrounding areas.
Severe Drinking Water Crisis in Bagerhat, Public Suffering Intensifies
Due to climate change, the salinity of seawater continues to increase. Every dry season, Bagerhat, a coastal district bordering the Bay of Bengal and Sundarbans, faces an acute crisis of safe drinking water. Government measures to tackle the issue fall far short of the demand, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents struggling for potable water.
A field survey reveals that seven out of Bagerhat's nine sub-districts, excluding Fakirhat and Mollahat, are grappling with severe drinking water shortages. Shallow tube wells in these areas yield highly saline or arsenic-contaminated water, rendering them unusable. Previously, people relied on these tube wells, but their installation has now been discontinued by the government.
Locals are forced to depend on pond water, with thousands in some villages relying on a single pond. Consumption of this water, often drawn from unhygienic conditions, has led to waterborne diseases in certain areas. Many ponds dry up early in the dry season due to prolonged lack of rainfall and years of neglect.
To address this, the government initiated the excavation of ponds under the jurisdiction of the district council, excavating 155 government ponds across the nine sub-districts. Solar-powered water filters were also installed at some pond sites.
However, these efforts largely failed. After excavation, influential locals began using the ponds for fish farming, introducing fish feed that made the water unsuitable for consumption. Moreover, many solar-powered filters became non-functional, with some failing to produce a single drop of water due to poor-quality equipment installed by contractors.
As a result, the drinking water crisis has worsened. Shipra Rani, a resident of Dakra village in Rampal, lamented, "We are facing an acute shortage of drinking water. A supply line was installed here, but the water is saline. Even so, we have to wait for hours to get a single pitcher of water."
Jayanta Mallik, Executive Engineer of the Bagerhat Public Health Engineering Department, acknowledged the crisis and stated, "The government has taken various initiatives, and some projects are still ongoing to address the drinking water shortage."
