Amanur Aman

Fall armyworm (FAW) has affected maize crop on 40 hectares of land in Chuadanga, much to the worry of farmers in the south-western district famous for cultivation of the winter crop.

After soaring prices of onions, consumers now have to deal with rice prices creeping up over the last few weeks.

“Bring back my son alive.” This is all Rokeya Khatun could say as her relatives tried to console her in her home on Kushtia town’s PTTI Road.

Construction of the multipurpose complex in front of the Shilaidaha Kuthibari in Kushtia, where Rabindranath Tagore lived a part of life, is going on in full swing.

There are six level crossings in Chuadanga town through which trains pass 34 times a day, contributing to intense traffic jam, which is eating up almost five hours of townspeople every day.

A Kabadi match held between two teams, comprising five male players each, has made a day blissful for the people of Mirpur upazila as those having one wife were in a team and those having two wives in another team.

Moyen Uddin was overjoyed after being able to sell his Boro paddy at a government procurement installation at a fair price, thanks to the proac-tive initiative from the Kushtia district commissioner.

Although paddy farmers are poised to get a bigger harvest this year, low prices have sapped their joy in the 10 south-western districts of the country. The amount of paddy the government plans to buy directly from farmers would not help them much as well, they said while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.

After last year's catastrophic flood, farmers in vast chars (sandy land mass in a river) of Padma in Rajbari are now hoping to make up for the loss by growing tomato this year.

A “smart school” in Pirpur village of Chuadanga has created quite a buzz within two months of being transformed.

“I am requesting all leaders and activists of the BNP and its front organisations and alliance partners not to stay at home or go to work. Also, don't sit at any tea stall or any crowded place near the streets and campaign after evening until further instruction.”

Stepping into Chuadanga on Sunday afternoon, the first thing that stood out was the absence of “sheaf of paddy”, the electoral symbol of the BNP.

The three-day death anniversary programme in memory of mystic poet Lalon Shah ended with speakers emphasising the need to look back to Lalon's philosophy, especially the humanitarian aspect, through more research.

Now it is afternoon. There's sunshine and everything is glowing. The beauty of nature shines in every nook and cranny in the entire area, except a nearby railway station lying in an uncared state for years. Where once flowers and leaves were swaying in the wind, there is now the kingdom of weed and grass.

Local administration in Kumarkhali upazila has set up a park for birds along the Gorai river embankment in Baruria area.

The 0.720-km-long flood protection groyne built along the Gorai river is under threat of being damaged when the rainy season comes as sand is being illegally lifted from the river bed.

A lot of farmers in six south-western districts have switched to maize farming this year from wheat due to fear of wheat blast disease, which caused huge loss for them in previous years.

Traditional Baul musical instrument makers in Kushtia have called for financial support to expand their businesses.

“I come to Lalon shrine to hear the Baul songs which gives a divine purity in my mind and soul,” said Robiul Islam, sitting right at the

You will hardly find any family in Meherpur that does not rear a goose in the homestead because rearing geese has become a tradition for them.