Sushanta Ghosh

The mercury dropped below 10 degrees Celsius in Barisal division and Chuadanga district yesterday, but all the primary and secondary schools there were open despite a government directive.

One will see a charming scene in many households if they visit the Tiakhali area of Barishal city’s Ward 26, where women engage in the art of weaving mats from dried southern cattail leaves, locally known as “hogla pata”.

At least 74 polling centres out of 827 in the Barishal district are in remote, isolated areas

Zidan, a seven-year-old pneumonia patient, has been lying on the floors of Bhola General Hospital for the last five days.

Investigation into drug cases in Barishal have so far failed to yield any information regarding the masterminds of narcotics trade and smuggling.

Yaba pills are now being smuggled through Kuakata sea routes after law enforcers have increased their vigilance in Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar, primary entry points for the drug from Myanmar into Bangladesh.

Entire Barishal division is now facing an emergency situation amid dengue outbreak.

River canals in the southern region of Bangladesh are packed with vendors that have seemingly built their dreams around the production of hog plums, locally known as ‘amra’.

While fishing out hilsa from the sweet river waters have become a rather rare scene, several fishing boats, loaded with the Bengali delicacy, are returning from the sea to several ghats in Barishal.

With the guava season now in full swing, farmers and traders in southern Bangladesh are busy harvesting and selling the fruit from various orchards in the region.

The traffic on the road was quite light and the bus was moving at a speed of 40 to 50mph. It was meant to be a regular morning ride from Bhandaria to Barishal.

The massive fire that broke out in the Sagar Nandini-2 oil tanker in Jhalakathi’s Sugandha river on Monday evening was doused yesterday morning after an 11-hour-long frantic effort.

Incumbent Barishal Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah is losing all his grip over the city after a new mayor was elected last week.

Voter turnout was as low as 36 percent in neighbourhoods known as strongholds of incumbent Barishal Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah in Monday’s polls to the Barishal City Corporation, according to centre-wise voting results.

Ruling Awami League activists allegedly assaulted Islami Andolan Bangladesh mayor nominee Mufti Syed Faizul Karim and some of his supporters, and police BGB men used batons to disperse his followers during yesterday’s Barishal City Corporation election.

Election campaign in Barishal City Corporation ended yesterday with Awami League mayor nominee Abul Khair Abdullah promising to complete the unfinished development initiatives.

Barishal is currently immersed in a state of tension and unease as the scheduled city corporation election, set to take place on June 12, draws near. The atmosphere in the city has become increasingly volatile, prompting concerns among both residents and authorities about safety and security.

With only two days until Barishal city goes to polls, the division in the ruling Awami League is still the talk of the town.

The Election Commission started installing CCTV cameras at each polling station and secret ballot booth in preparation for the upcoming Barishal City Corporation elections.

As BNP, a party with a substantial voter base, is not participating in the upcoming Barishal City Corporation election, a pertinent question arises surrounding which candidate will get the support of the BNP loyalists.