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Articles by Dulal Abdullah
Winter vegetables arrive in Rajshahi, but prices remain high
Early winter vegetables have started arriving in Rajshahi’s wholesale and retail markets, but high prices continue to put pressure on consumers. A visit to Saheb Bazar Mashtarpatti kitchen market on Sunday morning found a growing variety of winter vegetables, though many remained beyond the reach of ordinary buyers.
Interns suspend work stoppage at RMCH
Intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) have suspended their work stoppage and said they will resume duties this (Friday) morning. The decision was made on Thursday following a meeting with hospital director Brig Gen PKM Masud-ul-Islam, said hospital spokesperson Dr Sheikh Shamim Ahmed. “The interns held lengthy discussions with the hospital director over their demands. They have since suspended the work stoppage and will return to work on Friday morning,” he said.
Rang Bilash sugarcane emerges as profitable crop in Natore
With its distinctive colour, juicy stalks and growing demand as a chewing sugarcane, Rang Bilash is emerging as a promising cash crop in Natore, creating new income opportunities for farmers in the Chalan Beel region. Farmers in three upazilas of the district are increasingly cultivating the variety, encouraged by its good yield and lucrative returns. This year, Rang Bilash has been cultivated on 126 hectares of land in Natore, with an estimated production of 1,213 tonnes of sugarcane juice.
Shibir says youth detained over PM comment is not a member
Islami Chhatra Shibir has denied that Abu Bakar Siddique, 22, detained over a Facebook comment about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Rajshahi, is a member of the organization. Imran Nazir, president of the Rajshahi metropolitan unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, said: “There is an attempt to put the blame on Shibir whenever something happens.
Youth detained over Facebook comment about PM’s Ruet bus
A youth has been detained over a Facebook comment stating “only a sniper was missing” in reference to a Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) bus used by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during his visit to Rajshahi. Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Ishtiaq, commander of SRB-5, confirmed the detention on Thursday morning. “For now, I can only say that the individual has been detained,” he said. “He is currently in the custody of the police’s Detective Branch (DB).
Rajshahi divisional commissioner removed after video goes viral
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Yusuf Ali has been removed from his post after a video showing him attempting to embrace the prime minister went viral on social media. In a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday night, Yusuf Ali was reassigned to the ministry as an attached additional secretary.
Intern doctors at RMCH halt work over five-point demand
Intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital launched a 24-hour work stoppage at 8am on Wednesday, pressing for a five-point set of demands, including addressing shortages of medical supplies and improving security. The work stoppage has disrupted medical services at the hospital, causing hardship for patients, many of whom have travelled from distant areas, and their relatives.
Tk9.33cr drain project stalled for six months, commuters suffer in Chapainawabganj
Construction of a 2.1km drain in Shibganj municipality of Chapainawabganj has remained stalled for six months due to objections from local residents, leaving thousands of commuters, students and traders suffering. The Tk9.33 crore project, stretching from Academy Mor to Debinagar, has been held up, with rainwater accumulating in road potholes, disrupting traffic and business activities.
PM's Rajshahi temple visit canceled after delayed rally arrival
The planned visit to Rajshahi Dharmasabha temple and lunch at the Circuit House were dropped after he arrived late for the rally Rajshahi Dharmasabha, a 19th-century institution associated with the city’s first newspaper, Hindu Ranjika, and its first printing press, Tamoghna Yantralaya. Photo: Dhaka Tribune The prime minister's planned visit to Rajshahi Dharmasabha temple in Gangapara was canceled after he arrived late for a public rally at the historic Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi.
Rajshahi Dharmasabha preserves city's print history ahead of PM visit
Rajshahi's early newspaper publishing and printing history is drawing renewed attention ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's scheduled visit to the city's 19th-century Rajshahi Dharmasabha on Tuesday during Sharadiya Durga Puja. The historic institution is associated with the city's first newspaper and printing press. The Dharmasabha's history is inseparable from Hindu Ranjika, regarded as Rajshahi's first newspaper, and Tamoghna Yantralaya, recognized as the city's first printing press.
PM distributes Tk12C incentives to 38,970 Rajshahi sugarcane farmers
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday distributed Tk12 crore in government incentives to 38,970 sugarcane farmers in Rajshahi during a rally at the historic Madrasa Ground. Tarique arrived at Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi at 3pm and went directly to the rally, reaching the venue around 3:30pm. Pressing a button on a laptop while seated on the stage, he launched the distribution of the funds.
14 killed, at least 30 injured in bus-truck collision in Natore
Fourteen people, including the drivers of both vehicles, were killed and at least 30 others were injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Baraigram upazila of Natore early Tuesday. The victims included women and children. The collision left both vehicles mangled. The accident occurred around 4:30am in the Sarkarpara area along the Natore-Pabna highway on Tuesday. Police suspect the bus collided with the truck while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
Teenager’s body recovered from pond near PM Tarique’s rally venue
Police recovered the semi-decomposed body of an 18-year-old, Rafsan bin Abdullah, from a pond in Rajshahi on Tuesday morning, about half a kilometre from the historic Madrasa Ground, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address a public rally. Rafsan had been missing since leaving home on Monday morning. His body was found floating in a pond south of the Shah Makhdum Institute Public Library around 9am on Tuesday.
Declining Padma flow threatens native fish, livelihoods of fishermen
Declining water flow and depth in the Padma River have reduced fish stocks, threatening native species and the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen in Rajshahi. Once abundant with hilsa, goonch catfish, and other native species, the river now has shrinking fish habitats, expanding sandbars, and deteriorating breeding grounds. Fishermen who once caught large quantities of fish are struggling to sustain their families.
Padma erosion reshapes Chapainawabganj, displaces thousands
Severe erosion along the Padma River is reshaping the landscape of Chapainawabganj, swallowing homes, schools, mosques and vast tracts of farmland. Thousands of families have lost their homesteads and land, leaving many displaced and struggling to find shelter, according to local representatives and residents.
Online gambling spreads, families pay the price
What begins with a few taps on a smartphone and the prospect of quick money is leaving some families in Rajshahi buried in debt, with land and valuables sold and relationships shattered. Online gambling is spreading from the city into rural areas, drawing students, youths and low-income earners with promises of bonuses and instant profits. But accounts from affected families show how small wagers can escalate into repeated betting to recover losses.
‘Shanti Nibas’ remains closed for three years in Rajshahi, Khulna
A ‘Shanti Nibas’ (old home), built by the government for abandoned and destitute elderly people in Rajshahi at a cost of nearly Tk 9 crore, has remained closed for three years. The Shanti Nibas in Baya area of Paba upazila was inaugurated three years ago with facilities to accommodate 25 elderly people, including healthcare, lift, recreation, exercise, prayer, and training facilities. But not a single elderly person has been admitted to the facility due to a lack of manpower recruitment.
Woman dies of dengue at RMCH
A 23-year-old woman has died of dengue at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), a day after a four-year-old child died of the disease at the same hospital. The deceased, Farzana Khatun, hailed from Phulhari area of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah. She died while undergoing treatment after developing dengue shock syndrome. RMCH spokesperson Dr Shamim Ahmed confirmed the matter around 11am on Tuesday. He said Farzana was admitted to the hospital at 7am on Sunday.
Floodwaters damage vegetables in Rajshahi char areas
Floodwaters from the Padma River have damaged vegetable crops across char areas of Paba upazila in Rajshahi, leaving farmers worried about recovering their investments. Just a few days ago, the charlands in Alimganj and Kasba of Haripur Union were lush with pointed gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, cauliflower, cabbage and tomato fields. But rising water from the Padma has submerged several plots.
Cracks appear soon after concrete work on Paba-Tanore Road
Cracks have appeared in newly concreted sections of a road being rehabilitated at a cost of Tk 14 crore in Paba and Tanore upazilas of Rajshahi, raising questions over the quality of the construction work. Some sections of the road have also subsided. Local residents alleged that the soil beneath the road was not properly compacted, rollers were not used adequately and, in some places, low-quality materials were used. They also alleged that the concrete was laid thinner than required.
Off-season mangoes keep Kansat market alive
Although the mango season is officially over, the bustling Kansat mango market in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, remains active, with late-season and year-round varieties still drawing growers and buyers. Growers are bringing Ashwina, BARI-4, Gaurmati, Katimon, Banana Mango and Khirsapat varieties to the market every day, keeping trading activities lively at the country’s largest mango market.
RCC steps up dengue prevention efforts, urges public cooperation
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has intensified its dengue prevention activities, urging residents to work alongside the city authorities to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites and keep their surroundings clean. The call came at an exchange meeting on dengue prevention, cleanliness drives and public awareness held at the City Hall meeting room of Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday.
Ten rescued after boat capsizes in Padma, including 20-day-old baby
A 20-day-old baby was among 12 people swept into the Padma River after a boat capsized in Chapainawabganj on Saturday, with 10 Bangladeshis later rescued by India's Border Security Force (BSF) and one person still missing. The boat capsized around 5:30pm while travelling from Bakherali to Johurpur Belpara in Chapainawabganj Sadar as the river became rough. The baby, Tanisha, was travelling in her mother Tania Khatun's arms when the boat sank and all 12 people on board fell into the water.
Rajshahi takes dengue fight to the grassroots
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Yusuf Ali on Saturday called for turning dengue prevention and cleanliness activities into a social movement by encouraging people to keep their own surroundings clean. “We must not remain dependent only on cleaners for maintaining cleanliness; rather, we need to develop the habit of cleaning our own spaces ourselves,” he said.
Padma erosion washes away three schools in Bagha, 20,000 people stranded
Erosion by the Padma River has washed away three government primary schools in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi, forcing the authorities concerned to relocate school materials and suspend classes. The affected schools are Palashi Fatepur, Atarpara and Chaumadia government primary schools in Chakrajapur union.
Untreated medical waste poses public health risk in Rajshahi
Hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers in Rajshahi lack effective systems to treat liquid medical waste, with untreated effluent being discharged into city drains and raising serious concerns over public health and environmental pollution. According to the Rajshahi Civil Surgeon’s Office, 216 hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers operate in the district.
Mass fish deaths in Barnai River raise pollution concerns
Hundreds of dead fish have washed up on the Barnai River in northern region of the country, raising fears of severe water pollution and prompting residents to avoid contact with the water. The river, which flows from Naldanga in Natore to Taherpur in ion was preventing him from fishing. “I haven’t been able to go into the river to catch fish for several days. The water smells ver bad, and it causes itching when it touches the body,” he said.
Rain brings relief to Aman farmers in Rajshahi
Recent rainfall has revived Aman paddy fields across Rajshahi, easing farmers’ concerns over prolonged dry weather and rising irrigation costs during the crop’s crucial flowering and grain-filling stages. The Rajshahi Meteorological Office recorded 99.4 millimetres of rain, the highest this season, after several days of dry weather. The rainfall has restored moisture in the fields and reduced farmers’ dependence on irrigation, raising hopes of a better harvest.
Bus services on Rajshahi-Natore route suspended
Bus services on the Rajshahi-Natore route have been suspended since 6am on Friday following a dispute between transport workers in the two districts, leaving passengers stranded at bus terminals. The suspension was still in effect as of 10:30am, according to reports. Buses from Rajshahi that travel through Natore to various destinations, including Dhaka and districts in the Rangpur division, were affected by the suspension. Passengers were seen waiting at the Rajshahi bus terminal.
Dengue cases rise alarmingly in Rajshahi region
Dengue cases have risen alarmingly across the Rajshahi region, with 1,874 patients receiving treatment at hospitals in the division last month. Of them, 1,339 were treated at hospitals in the eight districts, while 535 received treatment at three medical college hospitals. Two patients died during the period.
Heavy rain paralyses life in Rajshahi
Heavy rain triggered severe waterlogging in several parts of Rajshahi city and Chapainawabganj town causing widespread suffering for residents and disrupting normal movement. The Rajshahi Weather Office recorded 99.4 millimetres of rainfall on Wednesday morning, the highest rainfall recorded in the city this season.
Aromatic rice prices double in Rajshahi, consumers count the cost
The price of aromatic rice has nearly doubled in Rajshahi over the past six months, with wholesale prices now reaching Tk200 per kilogram, putting the traditionally popular rice beyond the reach of many consumers. Farmers and traders say they have never seen such a sharp rise in aromatic rice prices. Rice that sold for around Tk100 per kg six months ago now costs Tk180-200 in wholesale markets, while retail prices are even higher.
Early winter vegetables bring hope for Rajshahi farmers
Farmers in Rajshahi’s Paba upazila are busy cultivating early varieties of winter vegetables, hoping to bring their produce to market before the regular winter season and secure higher prices. Among them is Mosharraf Hossain of Ashgram village, who has cultivated cauliflower and cabbage on 32 bighas of land this season. He has already sold vegetables from 7.5 bighas and made a profit of around Tk1.5 lakh per bigha.
Rajshahi land office assistant suspended over bribery video
A mutation and certificate assistant at the Tanore Upazila Land Office in Rajshahi has been temporarily suspended after a video allegedly showing him taking a bribe went viral on social media. Imrul Kashem Emon was suspended through an order signed by Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam on Wednesday, August 27.
Saudi fire victim returns home after eight years, buried in Rajshahi
Shyamal Uddin Majhi, who was killed in a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was buried beside his parents at his family graveyard in Bagmara, Rajshahi, at 11am on Friday. His body reached his home in Dangapara village of Marugram under Jhikra Union of Bagmara upazila at around 3am on Friday. The bodies of Shyamal and 9 other Bangladeshis arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at around 4pm on Thursday.
Potatoes rotting in storage amid erratic power supply
Frequent load shedding is raising the risk of potato spoilage in Rajshahi’s cold storages, while operators are being forced to run generators at an additional cost of Tk8,000–10,000 per hour. Cold storage owners said they are currently running generators for one to two hours a day to maintain the required temperature when electricity goes out. According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Rajshahi has 39 cold storages, 37 of which are operational.
589 headteacher posts vacant in Rajshahi primary schools
More than half of Rajshahi’s government primary schools are operating without permanent headteachers, leaving assistant teachers to shoulder much of the administrative workload. Of the district’s 1,057 government primary schools, 589 have vacant headteacher posts, according to data from the District Primary Education Office up to June. Only 468 of the 1,057 sanctioned headteacher posts are currently filled, meaning more than 56% of the schools are operating without permanent headteachers.
Land dispute stalls Pagla River bridge, 400,000 people suffer
Construction of the 172.30-metre Bir Muktijoddha Dr Moin Uddin Ahmed Montu Bridge over the Pagla River in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj has remained stalled for around five months due to land acquisition dispute, causing severe hardship to nearly 400,000 people in three unions. The Tk29.99 crore bridge is being constructed by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Important Bridges on Rural Roads (Second Phase) project.
Dengue cases rise in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj
Dengue cases are rising in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, with health officials expressing concern over the increasing prevalence of Aedes mosquitoes and growing pressure on hospitals. In Rajshahi, the breeding density of Aedes mosquitoes has doubled in just two months, while the number of dengue patients at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital has also increased. Meanwhile, new dengue patients are being admitted to Chapainawabganj District Hospital almost every day.
Rajshahi residents suffer as flyover projects move at a snail’s pace
Construction work of four flyovers in Rajshahi city has been progressing at a slow pace, with none completed even after the project deadline expired in June this year. The prolonged construction has caused inconvenience to residents, while roads around the project sites have been left riddled with potholes, mud and stagnant rainwater. Residents complain that slow progress, poor coordination and inadequate supervision have turned the development projects into a source of public suffering.
Noise pollution reaches alarming levels in Rajshahi
Noise pollution in Rajshahi city has reached an alarming level, with recent measurements showing average peak noise levels above 100 decibels at two major locations, raising fresh concerns about public health, traffic management and urban environment. A survey conducted at Railgate and Laxmipur intersection on Saturday showed average peak noise levels of 101.5 and 102.6 decibels respectively.
‘Mini Switzerland’ in Rajshahi emerges as new tourist attraction
A newly emerged sandbar in the Padma River is attracting growing numbers of visitors after photos and videos on social media branded the scenic spot as Rajshahi’s "Mini Switzerland". Located in Char Khidirpur area of Paba upazila, the sandbar is locally known as Middle Char. Its white sand, green fields, grazing cattle, Kash flowers and vast stretches of the Padma have turned it into an emerging destination for nature lovers and day-trippers.
Jute prices fall sharply in Rajshahi despite good harvest
Jute farmers in Rajshahi are facing a sharp fall in prices despite a good harvest this season, with the price of the fibre dropping by Tk 800–1,000 per maund in just two weeks. At the Naohata jute market in Paba upazila on Thursday, jute that fetched Tk 4,000–4,500 per maund two weeks earlier was being sold for Tk 3,200–3,500. The sudden decline has left farmers worried about recovering their production costs and making a reasonable profit.
Fertilizer sales irregularities grip Rajshahi, farmers protest
Farmers across the Rajshahi region are struggling to buy subsidised fertiliser at government-fixed prices, amid allegations of hoarding, diversion and an organised syndicate involving dealers and unauthorised retailers. The crisis comes as Aman planting is underway, raising concerns among farmers that delays in getting fertiliser could affect crop yields. Farmers allege that some dealers sell fertiliser allocation orders to black-market traders even before receiving supplies.
Mango market buzzes in Chapainawabganj as season nears end
Mango trading has gained momentum in Chapainawabganj as the season approaches its end, with large numbers of buyers and sellers gathering at major markets across the district. At Kansat, the district’s largest mango market, trading of late-season and year-round varieties—including Ashwina, BARI-4, BARI-8, Gaurmati, Banana and Katimon—is continuing in full swing.
Land minister: Govt to stand by families of July martyrs, injured
Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu on Wednesday said the government will continue to stand by the families of the July mass uprising martyrs and the injured, ensuring their treatment, welfare and long-term rehabilitation. "The government is committed to upholding the sacrifices of the martyrs and the spirit of the student-people's movement against fascism," he told journalists after placing wreaths at the July Memorial Monument at C&B Intersections.
Inside Salahuddin Ammar’s Rise at Rajshahi University
From forcing deans to resign and confronting university authorities to repeated allegations of violence, intimidation and administrative interference, Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar has remained at the centre of one controversy after another. A fresh attempted murder case has now raised broader questions over whether repeated institutional inaction emboldened one of the country’s most controversial student leaders.
Bumper harvest, fair prices lift Rajshahi jute growers
After years of low returns and rising production costs, jute farmers in Rajshahi are finally seeing a turnaround as strong prices and a bumper harvest breathe new life into the country's traditional ‘golden fibre.’ Freshly harvested jute is selling for Tk4,000-4,500 per maund, up sharply from Tk3,000-3,500 at the start of last season, allowing growers to recover costs comfortably and earn healthy profits.
Govt primary school enrolment falls in Rajshahi
Enrolment in government primary schools across Rajshahi division has declined over the past 12 years despite population growth, while private kindergartens and madrasas have continued to attract more students, according to official data. Figures from the Divisional Deputy Director's Office of Primary Education show that student enrolment in government primary schools dropped from 1,320,975 in 2014 to 1,183,992 in 2026, a decline of 136,983.
Land minister: Government gives highest priority to health, education sectors
Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu on Friday said the government has attached the highest priority to the health and education sectors and will continue extending all-out support for the development of healthcare services across the country. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a three-day congenital heart disease screening and treatment programme for children aged between three and 18 at the Rajshahi National Heart Foundation.
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