United News of Bangladesh

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Friday said Sylhet will become one of the strongest bases of the NCP in building a new Bangladesh. He made the remarks while addressing a street rally at the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar after leading a procession in the city as part of the party’s ongoing “July Campaign.” “Sylhet has always stood at the forefront of history — from the 1947 referendum to the Liberation War and the July uprising. But the people of Sylhet have long been deprived first by the British, then by Pakistan, and even during the Awami League era,” Nahid said. Paying tribute to the 17 Sylhet residents who were killed during the July uprising, including journalist ATM Turab, he said the NCP is committed to fulfilling the dreams of those martyrs through the creation of a just and inclusive Bangladesh. No progress on justice for killings, disappearances since uprising: NCP’s Akhter Nahid also highlighted the contribution of expatriates, especially the Sylheti community in London, to the national economy. “Our economy moves forward with the sweat of our brothers abroad. We are fighting for their voting rights and believe they should have a role in national policymaking,” he added. Calling for mass participation at the party’s upcoming rally in Dhaka on August 3, he said the “July Charter” and “July Declaration” would be formally announced from that platform. NCP's southern region coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said, “Our country has always been run by administrators, businessmen, or the military- never by the people. We want to build a people’s Bangladesh.” Attack on NCP leaders in Gopalganj carried out with intent to murder: Nahid Islam He claimed NCP has emerged as a clean political alternative, free from corruption and extortion. Earlier, the NCP brought out a procession from Chowhatta, which ended at the Shaheed Minar with a rally moderated by northern coordinator Sarjis Alam. Senior party leaders including Anik Roy, Ehteshamul Haque, Tasnim Jara, Nasir Uddin Patwari, Sadia Farzana Dina, Samanta Sharmin, and Golam Mortuza Selim were also present.

The northeastern district of Sylhet has experienced an earthquake, causing panic among residents on Friday morning. The earthquake, measuring 5 magnitude on the Richter Scale, occurred at 10:40am and its epiccentre was in neighbouring Myanmar, said Shah Md Sojib Hossain, assistant meteorologist at Sylhet Weather Department. Read: 5.3 magnitude earthquake jolts Telangana’s Mulugu in India However, no damages or casualties were reported. The tremor lasted a few seconds, prompting many people to leave their homes and business establishments and rush to the streets.  

The remains of Harris Chowdhury, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s political secretary and a freedom fighter, will be brought to Sylhet from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Sunday for a second burial, said his daughter Barrister Samira Tanzin Chowdhury. She informed that the body remains would be brought to Sylhet via air ambulance from the DMCH. His Namaz-e-Janaza and a prayer session will be held at the historic Shahi Eidgah ground in Sylhet at 2pm on that day, Samira said, adding that her father will be buried with state honours after Asr prayers in Shafiqul Haque Chowdhury Memorial Orphanage in Kanaighat upazila. The former BNP leader died on September 3 in 2021 but he was buried under the name Professor Mahmudur Rahman on the premises of Jamiah Khatamunnabiyyin Madrasa in Birulia of Savar due to alleged persecution and threats from the then ruling Awami League. Read: HC orders Harris Chowdhury’s burial with state honour Later, following a High Court order, the remains were exhumed from the graveyard while the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) collected DNA samples for verification and preserved it in the DMCH’s morgue. After DNA testing confirmed the identity of the remains as Harris Chowdhury, the HC ordered the body to be taken and buried as per the family’s wishes.