Dipankar Roy

Animal rights groups demand sterilisation, vaccination; some locals cite attacks

On the saline fringes of Bangladesh’s southwest coast, where seawater intrusion and freshwater scarcity have long dictated the fate of crops, a quiet agricultural revolution is ripening.

On a Sunday afternoon at Shibbari intersection in Khulna, rows of bowls filled with rice, lentils, vegetables, and eggs were arranged on a table.

The Khulna district, once renowned for its thriving jute cultivation, was home to government-owned jute mills that formed the backbone of its economy.

Despite recent data indicating a rise in the value of shrimp exports, industry insiders say the sector has yet to experience a meaningful revival, as shipment volumes have not shown significant growth.

A lack of adequate sluice gates and poor maintenance of existing ones are causing widespread waterlogging in Khulna’s Batiaghata upazila, significantly affecting Aman paddy cultivation -- the region’s only major crop.

The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) is struggling to function due to a chronic shortage of engineers and technical staff.

Erosion caused by the Kazi Bacha River has put the main road connecting Dacope and Batiaghata upazilas in Khulna at serious risk. At least five major points along the road have already been severely damaged,

Once a proud landowner and hardworking farmer in Daldaha village of Bagethat’s Rampal upazila, Sunil Kumar Mondal now lives on the edge of survival, clinging to the memory of a life that once revolved around his fields and harvests.

As the morning mist lifts over the vast expanse of the Sundarbans, the rhythmic splash of oars fills the air. Small wooden boats, mostly paddled by women, glide through narrow canals and creeks of the mangrove forest.

The bodies of three people who were killed in last week’s violence centring a political rally in Gopalganj were exhumed yesterday for post-mortem examinations, five days after burial.

Ramzan Munshi, 35, was not involved in politics. He spent his days pulling a rented rickshaw and lived alone in a small room in the yard of his family’s home in Gopalganj town.

The cases have been filed with Gopalganj Sadar, Kashiani, and Kotalipara police stations

The Jashore-Khulna highway, a vital artery for the country’s southwestern trade routes, is now in a state of disrepair. Serving as the main corridor connecting Benapole along with Noapara river port, Mongla sea port, and Bhomra land port, the highway has become nearly impassable due to recent monsoon rains and unfinished work.

Five years on: Jute mill revival uneven, workers face deepening poverty

The shrimp industry, known as Bangladesh’s “white gold”, significantly boosts foreign exchange earnings and supports thousands of marginalised farmers, especially in the Khulna region.

The suspension of academic activities at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) entered its 133rd day today, following violent clashes involving students and teachers on February 18.

The 2.37-kilometre Sheikh Abu Naser Bypass Road in Khulna city, stretching from Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital to the City Bypass intersection, has been in a state of utter disrepair for over 15 years.

Staff unpaid as VC post remains vacant for over four months

The first heavy downpour of this monsoon since Monday has left most areas of Khulna city under knee-deep water, while adjoining low-lying areas were submerged under waist-high water -- exposing the inefficacy of the Tk 823 crore drainage improvement project of Khulna City Corporation (KCC).