Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a member of the BNP's Standing Committee and former Minister of State, urged party activists to avoid displaying arrogance. “Engage with the people and treat everyone well,” Tuku said, during a meeting with local BNP leaders and activists in Koyelgati village, Sirajganj Sadar Upazila, on Saturday. He emphasized, “Even after 16 years in power, Sheikh Hasina had to flee without having the lunch that was prepared for her. This demonstrates that arrogance leads to downfall.” BNP calls for unity against revival of Awami fascism Tuku also stated, “Tarique Rahman will return to the country at any time. On that day, millions will gather in Dhaka; no one will remain at home.” He called for the good members of the Awami League to be given a chance to participate in politics, asserting, “Those involved in oppression, torture, looting, corruption, irregularities, abduction, and murder will not be allowed to engage in politics. Their trial will take place on the soil of Bengal.” Among others, Sirajganj district BNP Vice President Najmul Hasan Talukder Rana, Joint Secretary Nur Kayem Sobuj, City BNP President Munshi Jahid Alam, Convener of the Swechhasebak Dal Abdullah Al Kayes, President of the Chhatra Dal Mirza Abdul Jabbar Babu, Secretary Muraduzzaman Murad, Union BNP General Secretary Nure Alam Munshi, and Vice President Anisur Rahman, were also present. Following the discussion, Tuku visited Shiyalkol Abdullah Al Mahmud Memorial High School and College, where he took part in a tree-planting initiative.

Water levels in the Jamuna River continue to rise in Sirajganj due to downhill torrents and heavy rainfall. As a result, several low-lying areas and crop fields along the banks of the Jamuna were submerged. Over the past 24 hours, the water level in the Jamuna has risen by 16cm - although currently flowing 1.22 meters below the danger level. According to the local Water Development Board, the steady rise in water levels is caused by the ongoing hill torrents and repeated rainfall. Crops such as transplanted aman paddy, black gram (kalai), and peanuts have already been affected. Additionally, early winter vegetables and chili fields have also been flooded. Flood in northeastern districts claims 10 lives, affects 2.38 lakh people: Ministry Residents along the Jamuna River are concerned about potential flooding due to the unusual water rise. However, Nazmul Hossain, the Sub-Divisional Engineer (Headquarters) of the local Water Development Board, said that although the water levels may continue to increase for another couple of days, there is no immediate threat of flooding.

Nine illegal brick kilns were shut down and fined Tk 47 lakh on Thursday in Sirajganj’s Raiganj and Tarash upazilas. These brick kilns did not have any clearance from the Department of Environment (DoE) but were operating illegally for a long time without following government regulations, said Abdul Ghafur, assistant director of the district environment department. Man jailed for life for killing wife in Sirajganj A mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Faizunnessa Akter conducted a drive in the district on Thursday and fined one brick kiln in Tarash and eight more in Raiganj upazila. The kilns were also demolished by the mobile court. 3 stabbed in Sirajganj for obstructing road construction work on their land Officials of the Department of Environment, along with Police and Ansar members were present during the operation. Meanwhile in Dhaka, the Department of Environment shut down four more illegal brick kilns as they were polluting air at Keraniganj in Dhaka. Is There Any Alternative to Brick Kilns? A total of Tk 64 lakhs in fines was also slapped on the four brick kilns in a mobile court drive run jointly by the head office and Dhaka office of the Department of Environment (DoE) on Thursday.

A Sirajganj court on Thursday sentenced a man to life in prison for killing his wife in 2008. The convict is Masud, 41, son of Surut Ali, of Arangail village in the upazila. 3 stabbed in Sirajganj for obstructing road construction work on their land Judge of Sirajganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 Begum Salma Khatun handed down the judgment this afternoon. The court also fined Masud Tk 1 lakh, in default, to serve one year more in jail, Mokter Hossain, the reader at the court, confirmed. Mother, daughter die in Sirajganj road crash According to the prosecution, on August 27, 2008 convict Masud strangled his wife Mukti, 19, to death for dowry. Following the murder, a case was filed at Tarash police station. Later, police pressed the chargesheet against Masud. Bodies of couple, their daughter recovered from Sirajganj flat After testifying witnesses and evidence the court pronounced the judgment, Mokter Hossain added.

The BNP has expelled its five local leaders for campaigning in favour of two independent candidates for Sirajganj-5 constituency in the 12th parliamentary elections. The punitive action was taken against the party leaders by issuing press releases, signed by BNP senior joint general secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday. Read: BNP’s leaflet distribution, mass contact extended till Thursday The suspended leaders are: Abdur Razzak Mandal, former general secretary of Belkuchi upazila unit BNP, Jahangir Alam, former general secretary of Chauhali upazila unit BNP, former vice-president Babul Sarkar and member Yunus Shikder and Enayetpur thana unit BNP convener Md Nurul Islam Master. According to the release, Razzak Mandol was suspended for participating in election campaign for independent candidate Abdul Latif Biswas's Eagle while four other leaders were expelled for doing electioneering in favor of independent candidate Major (retd) Abdullah Al Mamun’s Kanchi symbol.  

At least 10 supporters of the strong independent candidate for Sirajganj-3 were injured in an alleged attack by supporters of the AL-backed candidate for the constituency on Friday. The incident took place on Friday (December 29) afternoon in Kundail market of Tarash upazila. Badiuzzaman, sub-inspector (SI) of Tarash police station said that while independent candidate Sakhawat Hossain was campaigning on Friday afternoon and reaching out to voters, supporters of AL candidate Dr Abdul Aziz MP, came up from behind and started throwing punches and slaps.  Police managed to move Sakhawat to safety, before detaining an activist for 'boat' named Munzil Talukdar, Badiuzzaman added. Independent candidate (with electoral symbol eagle) Sakhawat Hossain said: "I was peacefully electioneering. At least 10 of my supporters including Ayub Ali and Hasan were injured in the attack by AL-nominated candidate's supporters." Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tarash police station Nazrul Islam said that they visited the site after the incident. He said that legal action will be taken if a case is filed in this incident.

Police recovered the hanging body of a woman from Dattabari Madhyapara village in  Sirajganj sadar upazila on Friday. The deceased was Farzana Khatun,18, wife of Md Ratan of the village. Read : Woman’s hanging body found in Khulna Md Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sirajganj sadar police station said locals found the body hanging from the ceiling at her house and informed the police. Police recovered the body from the spot and sent it to Sirajganj Bangamata SheikhFajilatunnesa Mujib General Hospital morgue for post mortem. Read : Mother, minor daughter found hanging in Mymensingh house The reason of her death will be known once the post mortem report is received, he added. A case was  filed in this regard. Swapna Begum, mother of the deceased, said her daughter got married to Ratan, a weaver by profession, two years ago. Read : Woman’s hanging body recovered, ex-husband arrested in Magura “Everything was fine. Torture of Farzana started when sister-in-law came home from Dhaka. Farzana used to say that she was threatened with death,” she said. She claimed that her daughter was killed and hanged.

Two brothers and a sister were killed and two others were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and an ambulance on Dhaka-Bagura Highway in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj on Monday evening, said police. Mashiur Rahman, 40, his brother Abdul Baten, 38, and their sister Ranu Akter, 22, were offspring of Manik Uddin of Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh district. Identities of the injured could not be known immediately. SM Badrul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway police station, said the accident occurred around 6pm when the Bagura-bound bus from Dhaka collided with the capital-bound ambulance carrying patients from Panchagarh on the highway in Ghurka area, leaving trio dead on the spot and two others including the ambulance driver injured. Read more: 5 killed in Sirajganj road crash The injured were rushed to the nearby Upazila Health Complex where they are undergoing treatment, he said. The bodies were fetched to the police station and will be handed over to their family after legal procedure, the OC added.

If the highway renovation work in Sirajganj is not completed soon, there are chances of massive traffic jam, and homebound Eid holiday makers would have to endure extreme difficulties. As construction work on the highway continues, district police have identified 14 high-risk areas. Proposals have been submitted to the authorities concerned for the renovation of 20 bridges spanning about 51 km of the Chandaikona highway from the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul. There is risk of severe traffic congestion at the 14 high-risk points. Every year before Eid, all the vehicles carrying homebound commuters pass through the Bangabandhu Bridge-West Highway. As a result, there is extra pressure on this highway. Read More: Advance sale of train tickets for Eid travellers starts Friday It is expected that the roads on this route will be repaired by the second week of this month. Bus and truck drivers, in particular, say that if the work on the highway is completed, there will be relief during Eid journey. People of 16 districts of north Bangladesh use this highway to go home from Dhaka during Eid. Every day, 16,000 to 20,000 vehicles use this highway, and during Eid, 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles ply it. Work is underway to widen and repair the four-lane highway – connecting the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge. It has already caused traffic congestion and slow movement on the highway. Besides, the north lane of the newly constructed Nalka Bridge has been opened, but the Dhaka-facing lane has been closed. Traffic is moving through the risky old bridge. The contractor, Akhter JV Project’s Manager Ekhlas Uddin said that discussions have already been held with the Sirajganj Superintendent of Police. Read More: Special train service on Joyedbpur-Panchagarh route for RMG workers for Eid: BR On the highway, potholes will be repaired soon. New four-lane roads have been opened in different parts of the highway. Officials of the local Roads and Highways Department said the renovation work on the risky points on the highway has been supervised. Badrul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station, said two rounds of discussions were held among the district police, officials of SASEC-2, and officials of the contractor company. They have assured to complete the repair work soon. On the occasion of Eid, 10 mobile teams and 16 picket teams will work on the highway. In addition, mikes and digital sign will be installed. Sirajganj Traffic Inspector (Administration) Salekuzzaman Khan said they spoke to the district police regarding ensuring smooth flow of traffic before Eid. There will be 15 to 18 mobile teams on the highway. Work has already started to ease the traffic congestion. Senior police officials mentioned that arrangements have been made to make the Eid journey of the homebound people uninterrupted. Read More: Eid journey: Nat’l Committee demands bike ban on highways for 9 days

  Two people were killed and three others injured in a road crash on Sirajganj-Kazipur road at Chilgachha intersection in Sadar upazila of Sirajganj district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Anwar Hossain, 42, son of Aynul Haque and Fazlul Haque, 30, son of Lal Chan of the upazila. The accident occurred in the afternoon when a battery-run auto-rickshaw hit a motorbike and a human hauler coming from opposite direction, leaving one dead on the spot and four others injured, said Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station. Also read: Patient among 6 dead as ambulance crashes into truck in Shariatpur The injured were taken to Sirajganj 250-bed Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib General Hospital where the doctors declared one dead. A case was filed in this connection.