The lid of a manhole right in the middle of a thoroughfare in Shantinagar in the capital is left open to drain out rainwater. The street went under ankle-deep water after yesterday's rain. Photo: Palash Khan
A bamboo is placed into another open manhole on Nazimuddin Road to warn people of the danger. The dirt pulled out of the hole was kept nearby, making the lives of the pedestrians more difficult. Photo: Shaheen Mollah
Women wait on a boat for casting votes outside Shreenathpur Government Primary School polling centre in East Gauripur Union in Sylhet during the election yesterday. The women, who also took their children to the centre, had to go there on boats as most of their union was inundated by flood waters. Photo: Star
Children raising their schoolbags wade through knee-deep water to school at Paroirchawk of Dakshin Surma, about 15km from Sylhet city, as heavy rain and rush of water from the hills inundated the area. Photo: Sheikh Nasir
Random commercial sand extraction going on in the Bangshi River on the outskirts of the capital on Wednesday. Sand and silt on the riverbeds of the country are considered natural resources like oil and gas by the law of the land. But almost never it is seen to have that kind of scrutiny when sand is extracted from the rivers by usually influential people tied to all major political parties and the ministries and related government divisions and departments. Of course the rumour has it that money plays a big role in the racket. Such unscrupulous sand extractions are a major reason for land erosions by rivers that leave thousands homeless every year, let alone other destructions it brings to the marine ecology, and the natural flow of rivers. But money reigns supreme. Years of media campaign against the practice is yet to see any result.
Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan in a discussion with Bangladesh Army Chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq at the VIP lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital yesterday. The minister arrived on a three-day visit to strengthen defence cooperation.Photo: ISPR
