Sushanta Ghosh

The simple skill of turning naturally available materials into utilitarian products has been passed down since ancient civilisations, but still awaits the right initiatives in Bangladesh for all potential to be utilised.

The horror and the deaths had turned it into hell on earth in 1971.

The lone RT-PCR machine of Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College has remained out of order for five days, suspending coronavirus test at the medical institution.

Almost all the CCTV cameras installed in Barishal city’s roads have gone out of order. This means the city streets now lie unsupervised and vulnerable, said residents, fearing a spike in crime.

When Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (VISTA) started a dredging operation to remove silt from Barishal River Port around October 16, they expected it to be over by now. However, more than a month later, not even half of the works could be completed.

Three days into the death of senior ASP Anisul Karim allegedly due to beating by staffers of Mind Aid Psychiatry and De-Addiction Hospital in the capital’s Adabor, four of its shareholders are still on the run.

At Babuganj upazila’s Mirganj river, a three-storey ship was spotted anchored at the dock during a recent visit by this correspondent. What seemed like a passenger vessel at first glance turned out to be a floating medical facility that treats some 90-150 patients a day.

The 22-day ban on hilsa catching was a success, officials of Department of Fisheries (DoF) claimed after the ban period’s end yesterday.

Several potholes that have developed on the pontoon at Barishal river port is putting the thousands of passengers rushing across it every day at risk of accidents.

A tense situation is prevailing at Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) in Barishal industrial area for the last one month ever since some industrialists and industries were allegedly attacked by miscreants, demanding extortion.

Egg-laying season has already arrived for the mother hilsa in Barishal region and to ensure their safety, the authorities concerned have taken necessary steps to prevent netting. According to the fisheries department, things are going smooth so far, with the mother fish laying more eggs than expected in rivers of the southern region.

Like every other South Asian, Gurudas Banerjee, alias Shyamal, was expected to take up the helm of the family once he finished his studies at Barishal’s Uzirpur upazila.

Sugarcane cultivation is becoming increasingly popular in Barishal division due to favourable growing conditions in the region, according to officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension.

Some with bags in hand, others hands bare -- Barishal city dwellers were rushing to Port Road hilsa wholesale market on Tuesday midnight.

Following less than ample returns during this year’s guava season, farmers in the Barishal, Jhalakathi and Pirojpur districts wanted to make up their losses through hog plum cultivation.

Over half the hilsa eggs laid are likely to hatch this year due to favourable environment, researchers and officials said.

Idol artisans in Barishal are not getting expected price ahead of Durga Puja amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Over 60 per cent of the dockyards in Barishal division have been running for years with complete disregard to environment protection laws, not only damaging whole ecosystems and livelihoods but also depriving the government of revenue.

The investigation officer (IO) of three cases filed against a man on charges of killing his wife allegedly changed the autopsy report, in collusion with his in-laws, to make it look like he poisoned her to death and then submitted the charge sheets to the court.

The slope of Choupasha Bridge over a branch of the river Kalijira is yet to be repaired even one year after it got damaged following an accident in Barishal.