Sushanta Ghosh

Even 53 years after Bangladesh’s independence, the chilling memories of the Wapda massacre continue to haunt Jagannath Dey, an artist by profession.

For the last five years 19-year-old Sumona (pseudonym) has been living at the Training and Rehabilitation Centre for Socially Disadvantaged Women in Barishal.

At first glance it looks like a happy gathering of women and girls spanning ages from 15 to 50 years. We are greeted by this group of 30 and they welcome us with a song and dance routine.

The nation will observe International Mother Language Day tomorrow. Educational institutions across the country will hold special programmes with students laying wreaths at Shaheed Minars to pay respect to the heroes who died for our mother tongue, Bangla, in 1952.

Agricultural land along the Arial Kha river is scarred by huge holes, 8-12 feet deep, from illegal topsoil extraction for brick kilns. This not only destroys the land’s fertility and reduces crop yields, but also weakens riverbanks, making them vulnerable to erosion. Despite farmers’ protests, authorities are yet to take action, leaving many losing their arable lands.

After sustaining burn injuries from an acid attack by unidentified culprits due to a money-related dispute, Riaz Howlader, his wife Khadija and 18-month-old daughter Jannat went to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital to be admitted to its burn unit.

While visiting Hemayet Uddin Road in Barishal city you will notice an enthusiastic crowd waiting in front of a small tin-shed shop.

Kitchen markets across Barishal division have recently been flooded with jatka (hilsa fry of length less than 10 inches).

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.