Nearly nine hundred houses of the pourashava and various unions have been destroyed by the sudden gale in nor'wester in Bandarban's Lama. Those concerned said that there has been a loss of more than Tk. 5 crore.

On Friday (May 03) talking to the officials of the administration, this information is known.

Two days after the norwester, most of the victims are still living under open sky. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin and Superintendent of Police Saikat Shaheen came to Lama today to see the victims. At that time, the Bandarban district administration distributed rice and clothes among the families affected by the norwester. These relief items were distributed in the Linejhiri area of Lama Pourashava at 5:30 pm on Friday.

Resident Engineer of Lama Electricity Department Sajjad Siddique said that in the early morning of May 01, the electricity department suffered extensive damage. 17 poles of 11 KV transmissions and 1 pole of 33 KV transmissions were broken, disrupting the normal operation of electricity transmission.

Electricity connection was restored to Lama Hospital and city areas by opening the main line on Friday. The most affected line was Chagalkhaiya, Lama Alikadam transmission line of 11 KV, about one and a half kilometers of power cable was broken and Alikadam connection could not be established. The officials and employees of the electricity department are working day and night simultaneously to restore the power lines. He said that electricity supply to Lama and Alikdam will be normal in two days.

Lama Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Monirul Islam said that information has been received that more than 900 houses have been damaged in five unions including Lama Pourashava. In this incident, members of the Red Crescent along with the mayor of Lama Pourashava and the locals have cut and cleared the branches of fallen trees on the road. Allotted food grains and some rations have been distributed immediately from the district administration. He said that the amount of damage may be more than Tk. 5 crore.

Lama Mayor Md. Zahirul Islam (Absar) said that there was a huge damage in Lama upazila during the cyclone last Wednesday night. Urban areas suffered the most damage. Only in the municipal area, one hundred and twenty houses were completely destroyed and three hundred houses were partially damaged. The amount of damage in the municipal area will be two and a half to three crore takas. Immediate rice and financial allocations have been received from the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the victims.

Lama upazila nirbahi officer Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury said that in Lama municipality, seven unions suffered extensive damage in the cyclone last Wednesday night. Six hundred to seven hundred houses were completely and partially damaged.

Adequate amount of relief allocation has been received from Bandarban Deputy Commissioner. Relief is being distributed among the victims on Thursday and Friday along with the chairman of seven unions of the upazila and the mayor of the pourashava. He said it would take time to estimate the total financial loss. 

Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) forum has elected President for the next two years - Prothom Alo Special Representative Md. Anwar Hossain and the General Secretary elected - Tauhidul Islam, Senior Reporter of Dainik Amader Somoy.

They were elected at the first annual general meeting of RRR held at a restaurant in the capital on Friday (03 May).

Other members of the Executive Committee are – Vice-President Partha Sarathi Das (Protidiner Sangbad), Joint Secretary Shipan Habib (Dainik Jugantar), Finance Secretary Shaheen Akhter (New Age), Organizational Secretary Tuhin Shubhra Adhikari (The Daily Star), Office, Publicity & Publication Secretary Taufiqul Islam (The Daily Sun), Training and Research Secretary Tarek Sikder (Boishakhi TV), Executive Member Munima Sultana (The Financial Express), Rajeev Ahmad (Dainik Samakal) and Ibrahim Mahmood Akash (Dainik Janakantha).

Apart from this, a cell of five members was formed for research and publication. The other members of the cell headed by Shamim Rahman (Bonik Barta) are Sajib Ghosh (Dainik Kaler Kantha), Al Amin Sajal (Independent TV), Taufiqul Islam (The Daily Sun) and Tarek Sikder (Boishakhi TV).

A committee of three members conducted the election.

Before the election, Finance Secretary Shaheen Akhtar and Outgoing Executive Committee General Secretary Tawhidul Islam presented their report, which was approved by voice vote. Almost all members of the organization were present in the event.

Established in March last year, Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) forum is a Dhaka-based platform of professional and working journalists who report on road, railway, communication infrastructure and transport related sectors in reputed national dailies, television channels, radio stations and online. 

Three persons including Abgomti Station Master of Joydebpur Railway Junction have been suspended in connection with the head-on collision between Tangail commuter train and an oil-carrying train in Kazipara area of Joydebpur Railway Junction in Gazipur.

Hanif Ali, Station Master of Joydebpur Railway Junction confirmed this.

According to railway sources, on Friday (May 3) at 10:45 am, an oil train collided with a Tangail commuter train in Chota Deora Kazibari area of outer signal of Joydevpur railway junction.

After this incident, Abgomti Station Master of Joydevpur Railway Junction Hashem, pointman Saddam Hussain and Mostafizur Rahman were placed under suspension.

Meanwhile, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Abul Fateh Mohammad Shafiqul Islam along with members of the fire service and law enforcement agencies of various departments visited the spot immediately after the incident. Later, a three-member inquiry committee was formed to look into the matter. Later, two more inquiry committees were formed by the railway authorities.

Hanif Ali, Station Master of Joydevpur railway station, said that after 3 hours of the accident, train traffic was normalized through another track. The rescue team is working to rescue two carriages due to the accident. 

The coaches affected by the accident are being removed from the railway line 12 hours after the collision between an oil tanker and a passenger train in Chhota Deora Kazi Bari area of Gazipur.

It is said that the work of removing the carriages started from 11:30 pm on Friday (April 03).

Joydevpur Railway Station Master Hanif Ali said, the work of removing carriages from the line started from 11:30 pm. Before this, the connections of the train engine and the compartment were disconnected from four in the afternoon.

It is to be noted that on Friday (03 May) at 10:45 am, an oil - train collided with a Tangail commuter train in Chota Deora Kazibari area of the outer signal of Joydebpur railway junction.