Export stopped: Kushtia betel leaf farmers upset



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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The betel leaf growers of Kushtia district are upset as exports have been stopped for a long time and they have not been able to get good prices in the local market. In addition, there has been an outbreak of bacterial rot in betel leaves. As a result, the betel leaf growers of Kushtia have lost their way. Many people are breaking the betel cage. As a result, betel cultivation has started declining day by day.

It is learned that in February 2014, the EU imposed a temporary ban on the export of betel from Bangladesh due to the presence of harmful Salmonella bacteria in betel. Gradually, the ban was extended to 2020.

The EU then imposes certain conditions on betel leaf exports. Notable conditions are that the betel must be free of Salmonella bacteria, good agricultural practice (GAP) from production to shipment (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GEPP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) must be followed. Will be But due to the outbreak pandemic, the export of betel is still stopped.

The Kushtia-Jhenaidah regional highway is divided into different parts of the week. The largest market in Kushtia Sadar Upazila is at Bittipara Bazar on Sundays and Thursdays. Apart from Kushtia, farmers from other districts including Chuadanga and Jhenaidah also come and tied betel leaves and arranged trade bags in these markets.

Even two years ago, traders from far and wide of the country used to go to the market and give money to the farmers as a betel leaf (one piece per 80 pieces). But since the outbreak of corona in the country, Bangladesh's betel market in the Middle East and Europe has been shut down. Similarly, due to the corona, the demand for betel in the country has been declining at a huge rate.

Asmat Ali, a betel leaf grower in Juniadah area of Bheramara, said the price of betel in the market is constantly declining. Earlier, a betel leaf bundle was sold at Tk. 150 to Tk. 200 depending on the type, but now it has gone down to Tk. 50 to Tk. 70-80. The cost of production is increasing every year due to the increase in the price of betel cultivation equipment.

In this situation, I can't even raise the production cost, let alone profit. Extremely frustrated by the ongoing losses, many betel growers are breaking long-standing drinking waste. Betel growers say that if betel can be exported abroad as before, they may see a profit again.

According to the District Agriculture Extension Department, betel cultivation in the district has declined this year as compared to last year. In the financial year 2020-21, betel was cultivated in 2,095 hectares of land in the district. And this year betel has been cultivated in 2,054 hectares of land in the district.

Betel is cultivated more or less in all the six upazilas of Kushtia. However, the highest production of betel is in Bheramara upazila. Next in Sadar upazila. This time betel has been planted in 718 hectares of land in Bheramara Upazila and 605 hectares of land in Sadar Upazila.

Sushant Kumar Pramanik, deputy director of the Kushtia Agricultural Extension Department, admitted that the price of betel in the Kushtia market is a bit lower at present. He said, "There is a huge demand for Kushtia district betel leaf in the whole country including the capital Dhaka and Chattogram due to the good quality." The raw goods market fluctuates constantly. That is why we should not be disappointed. '

He demanded that betel leaf cultivation be profitable and urged the farmers not to be discouraged.

   

Rebel used to deal in drugs under the guise of a musician



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Enamul Kabir Rebel has been caught dealing drugs under the guise of a musician.

Police arrested this musician from Rampura area of the capital on Friday (April 26) night with crystal meth (ice) worth crores of takas.

Additional Deputy Police Commissioner of DMP Khilgaon Zone Rashedul Islam in a press conference at noon on Saturday (April 27) said that Enamul Kabir is a musician of 'Uchcharan' band. He used to deal in drugs under the guise of musician.

He said, Rebel used to work in the team of drug dealer MD. Ripon alias Leetu alias Bhaijaan. According to the information given by him (Rebel), Badda area. Litu's residence was raided. Although Litu was not found in the raid, various evidences including drugs were seized from his house.

This police officer said that Rebel and his driver Ami used to cooperate in Litu's drug trade. Rebel had been assisting Litu in his drug trade for over five years.

He also said that Rebel met Litu from an event. Later a friendly relationship developed between them.

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Work is going on the advice of Chief Heat Officer: Mayor Atiq



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam said, as per the suggestion of Chief Heat Officer (CHO) Bushra Afrin, work is going on to combat the heat.

She is a single person, he said, advising the chief heat officer. She will not implement the works. She gives advice, but the work is actually done by all of us. It is on his advice that we are doing these things to give relief to the people.

On Saturday (April 27), he said these things while inspecting DNCC's water spray (sprinkling water) program to prevent air pollution and keep the city cool during intense heat in Agargaon.

In response to a question about the appointment and salary allowance of Chief Hit Officer Bushra Afrin, he said, "I see that many people are talking about her for the past few days. She is getting salary from city corporation, actually it is not correct. She does not get a single taka from the city corporation. She doesn't even have any seat in the city corporation. But she has no chair.

Heat officers have been appointed by an organization based in the United States (Adrienne Arshot-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center (Arshot-Rock). They have appointed 7 chief heat officers around the world and all seven are women.

Earlier, at 11:30, the mayor Md. Atiqul Islam said at Syed Mahboob Morshed avenue Agargaon while visiting the special van kept for supply of clean drinking water and drank the water himself. Later, when artificial rain began to fall through the spray cannon, he joined the excited children and teenagers and shared the joy with them.

Later, the mayor talked to the journalists. Atiqul Islam said, two spray cannons that provide artificial rain will sprinkle water on the main road. As they are quite large, they cannot enter the street. Ten browsers will work to sprinkle water on the street. Through these the roads will be wet and kept cool. I have also directed the concerned department to arrange artificial rain like spray cannons in the parks of DNCC. In the next one week artificial rain will be arranged in the parks.

He said, on the advice of Chief Heat Officer (CHO) Bushra Afrin, we have taken the initiative of sprinkling water on roads and providing free drinking water to 54 wards of DNCC to relieve the people in the ongoing intense heat. Three special vans (with 500 liter water tanks) have been brought down in each ward to provide water to the pedestrians. The vans will move around the ward with clean drinking water. These vans are made in small size to fit into the alleys of the city. Pedestrians and working people should be able to drink water.

Calling the city dwellers, the mayor said, I have three appeals to the city dwellers in the current situation. 1, I request the shopkeepers, traders and owners association leaders of DNCC area to arrange a drum for drinking water in front of every shop, shopping mall, market. Everyone can drink water. 2, we planted 80 thousand trees last year. This year I will plant another 1 lakh 20 thousand trees. I request the people of the city to take care of these trees. The city corporation is taking care, besides the city residents will take care of the trees in front of their houses, in front of the shops. 3. This year, we started activities before dengue spread. Aedes mosquito season is starting. Everyone should keep their homes, offices, educational institutions and surroundings clean so that Aedes larvae do not grow.

DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan, 28 Ward Councilor Md. Forkan Hossain, reserved councilor Hamida Akhter (Mita) and others were present.

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Passenger bus caught fire in Banani



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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A fire broke out in a passenger bus in front of the Banani Navy headquarters in the capital. In this incident, two units of Kurmitola fire station are working to control the fire.

Rashed bin Khalid, the duty officer of the fire service, confirmed this information to Barta24.com on Saturday (April 27).

Rashed Bin Khalid told Barta24.com that there was a fire incident in a passenger bus in front of Banani Navy Headquarters in the capital. The fire incident took place at 4:20 pm. In this incident, two units of Kurmitola fire station are working to control the fire.

He also said that nothing can be said about the origin of the fire or casualties.

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The plan of BNP to come to power by enslaving foreign masters: Quader



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, BNP's predicament is how to come to power by enslaving foreign masters.

He made this comment in response to questions from reporters after paying tribute to Sher-e- Bangla AK Fazlul Haque's mausoleum at the historical Shaheed Suhrawardy Udyan at 8 am on Saturday (April 27).

Obaidul Quader said, BNP is enslaved to get power, to stay in power. They do not consider public support as a key issue. Slavery to foreign masters leads to power. Their dilemma is still how to go to power by enslaving foreign masters.

Mentioning that he does not consider BNP as a democratic party, he said, there is no precedent for establishing democracy in their history. They have killed democracy, turned it into a farce. They never obeyed the democratic rules even within the party. They talk big, when they do the party council? Where did they party council? 7-8 years ago there was a meeting at the Le Meridien Central Committee. Jambu Jam style Committee of 501 people. Those who do not have democracy at home cannot establish democracy in the country.

Obaidul Quader said, national leader Sher-e- Bangla was one of the people who took politics to common people in this country. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inspired the common people with the mantra of freedom. The farmers of rural Bengal will never forget Shere-e- Bangla. He will forever be remembered among them. He protected usurer moneylenders from tyranny by setting up State and Debt Arbitration(Rin Shalishi Boeard) Board. He is still remembered for that.

Commenting on today's pledge to fulfill their dreams, he said, today our pledge is to form Bangabandhu, Suhrawardy, Maulana Bhasani, Sher-e- Bangla AK Fazlul Haq non-sectarian Bangladesh. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we are fighting to build a humane and non-communal Bangladesh. That is the dream of Sher-e- Bangla AK Fazlul Haque and that is our pledge today.

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