The Election Commission (EC) is observing the Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporation elections today (June 21, 2023) from the EC auditorium in Dhaka. A temporary control room has been set up to monitor the elections in the two cities. Election Commissioners Brigadier General Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir and Rasheda Sultana have been observing the overall situation since 6 am this morning. Ensure next general election becomes free and fair: President Shahabuddin urges EC They are monitoring the polls situation through 23 digital display boards, and 368 CCTV cameras in 2,520 voting rooms. Voting in 345 polling centers is being monitored through the display boards with autorotation after every 10 seconds. No untoward incident has been reported from the polling stations till the filing of this report at 10 am. Voting in the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations is underway today. Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break. Sylhet City Corporation election: 132 out of 190 centers marked as risky In Sylhet, a total of 4,86,605 voters will exercise their franchise in the polls while 3,51,982 people including 30,157 new voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the Rajshahi city polls. Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, are contesting the polls in Sylhet while four mayoral contenders, including Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are contesting in Rajshahi. City corporation polls: Voting underway in Rajshahi, Sylhet

Voting in the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations is underway today (June 21, 2023). Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break. People were seen standing in long queues to cast their votes in a festive atmosphere since morning in both cities. Eight mayoral candidates, including Awami League-backed Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, are contesting the polls in Sylhet while four mayoral contenders, including Awami League-backed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, are contesting in Rajshahi. Security in Sylhet At least 2600 law enforcers have been deployed for the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) election to ensure foolproof security. Gazipur City Corporation election: Voting ends with no reports of violence Besides, 14 judicial magistrates and 42 executive magistrates in 42 wards are perform their duties to take instant action in case of violence, Forty-two mobile teams have been deployed in each general ward, with 24 striking teams in three general wards each, and six reserve striking teams at each thana. Alongside, RAB team, consisting of 22 members, and one platoon of BGB were set to patrol the wards. Besides, 272 candidates are contesting for 42 general councillor posts, and 87 are contesting for 14 reserved female seats. Khulna, Barishal city polls: Voting begins amid much enthusiasm, long queues of voters This year, a total of 4,86,605 voters will exercise their franchise at the polls. There are 190 polling stations and 1,364 polling booths. Besides, 132 centres out of 190 are deemed "vulnerable". The movement of motorbikes remains off the road from June 19 midnight until June 22 midnight. Movement of trucks, buses, microbuses, private cars and easy-bikes remains off from June 20 midnight until June 21 midnight for the Sylhet city election. Security in Rajshahi The local administration has taken five-tier security to ensure foolproof security. Alongside police, RAB, BGB and Ansar members are performing their duties to ensure a free and fair election for the people of Rajshahi, said Rajshhai Metropolitan Police Commissioner Anisur Rahman on Tuesday (June 20, 2023). Read more: Election Commission monitoring Rajshahi, Sylhet city polls through CCTV cameras Around 250 members of RAB and 10 platoons of BGB are patrolling in the city to check any kind of untoward incident. Apart from it, 3,514 police members and 935 Ansar members are also on duty. Returning officer Delwar Hossain, said there are 155 polling stations in 30 wards of the city. Of these, 148 are declared “vulnerable”. Besides, 3,614 election officers, 30 executive magistrates and ten judicial magistrates are on the field to ensure a peaceful environment during the election. A total of 1,560 close circuit cameras have been installed. A total of 3,51,982 people including 30,157 new voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the Rajshahi city polls. Peaceful voting underway; Law and order situation good: Zayeda

Severe heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Jashore and Chuadanga districts, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Saturday (June 3, 2023).“A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka and Barishal divisions and parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Chandpur, Noakhali and Feni districts and it may continue,” said a regular bulletin of Met office.Besides, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at one or two places over Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it said. Also read: Severe heatwave sweeping over Bangladesh The highest temperature was recorded at 40.5 degree Celsius in Rajshahi on Friday (June 2, 2023). Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.A trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area.Read more: Dhaka’s air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups Saturday morning

Mild heat wave may sweep parts of  Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and  Barishal  divisions in 24 hours from 9am on Monday (May 29, 2023), said Bangladesh Metrological Department . Besides, weather may remain mainly dry over the country, having chances of rain or thunder showers at one or two places in Khulna division. Read more: Dhaka air once again world’s most polluted this morning Day temperature may rise by (1-2)°C and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, said  a bulletin of BMD. The country’s highest temperature 36.6 degree Celsius  was recorded in Barishal’s Khpupara on Sunday while the lowest temperature was recorded on Monday at 22.0 degrees Celsius in Tetulia. Read more: Heat wave in Asia made 30 times more likely because of climate change, scientists say

Members of law enforcement agencies cordoned off the BNP’s Rajshahi office at Malopara in the city and restricted gathering of people and movement of vehicles around the area on Tuesday.  Police and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams were deployed in the area this morning.  They positioned themselves at the entrance of the BNP office, barring entry to anyone, while owners of nearby shops were compelled to keep their shutters down, resulting in cancellation of BNP’s scheduled march programme.  Also Read: Mirza Fakhrul, Rajshahi BNP leader sued for 'death threat against PM' Metropolitan Police issued a press release Monday night about the need of maintaining law and order in light of the forthcoming Rajshahi City Corporation Election.  The press release stated, "Given the circumstances, any unauthorized marches have the potential to disrupt the law and order situation in Rajshahi metropolitan. Thus, in order to ensure public safety and uphold law and order, a ban has been imposed on all types of march programs in Rajshahi Metropolitan on May 23 as per Section 30 of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Act, 1992."  Dicken, former office secretary of BNP in Rajshahi, said, "Our party office has been encircled by the police. No one is allowed to enter.” Also Read: Rajshahi BNP leader’s public ‘death threat’ against Sheikh Hasina: AL calls for countrywide rallies Under these circumstances, we have no opportunity to proceed with the planned march programme,” he added.  Suhrawardy, officer-in-charge (OC) of Boalia police station, said, “Due to a BNP leader's threat to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the march was not permitted in order to maintain law and order situation in Rajshahi.”    

Mild heat wave is sweeping over Khulna, Rajshahi divisions and Dhaka, Madaripur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Moulvibazar, Chandpur, Feni and Patuakhali districts and it may spread, according to Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD). Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country having chances rain or thunder showers at one or two places over Sylhet division, said a BMD bulletin. Besides, day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country. A low pressure area is likely to be formed over Southeast Bay, it added.  

The Rajshahi district administration on Wednesday set May 4 (Thursday) to begin mango harvesting and marketing with the Guti variety this year. The date for harvesting Gopalbhog has been fixed from May 15, Ranipasand and Laxmanbhog or Lakhna from May 20; Khirsapati or Himsagar from May 25; Lengra from June 6; Amrapali from June 10, Fazli from June 15, Ashwina and Ashwina-4 varieties from July 10 and Ilamati from August 20. On the other hand, varieties of Katiman and Bari-11 can be harvested round the year. A meeting headed by Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed was held in this regard at the DC office on Wednesday. The district administration released a brochure ‘Mango Calendar’ citing the harvesting time so that safe, chemical free and ripened mangos can be ensured in the markets.   DC Shamim Ahmed said they fix dates every year to ensure ripened and safe mangos in the market. “This year the date was also fixed on the basis of opinions from all the authorities concerned. Moreover, a certificate will have to be taken from Upazila Agricultural Officer to harvest and display mangos on the market once those are ripened earlier before the schedule,” he said. Red more: No fixed schedule for mango plucking this year in C’nawabganj Mojdar Hossain, deputy director of the district’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), urged the mango growers to harvest in line with the calendar. He also said that this year 1,050 more hectares of land were brought under the mango cultivation compared with last year’s 18, 528 hectares of land. The DAE officer hoped that 2, 58,450 tonnes of mango will be produced once the target is achieved. Additional DC (Development and Human Management) Anisul Islam and Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Saleh Md Ashraful Alam, among others, were present at the meeting.  

Rajshahi police has received the postmortem report of Naogaon land office employee Sultana Jasmine who died in RAB custody . The forensic department of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) handed over the report to police on Sunday afternoon.  Rafiqul Alam, a spokesperson of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) said, "I am aware of it." But I can't reveal what's in the report." Also Read: Custodial death of Sultana: HC raises questions about RAB’s jurisdiction No one will discuss this sensitive matter until the report is submitted to the High Court, said the officials concerned. On March 25, following Jasmin's death, a three-member medical board performed the autopsy at RMCH's morgue.  Also Read: ‘Strong possibility head injury led to brain haemorrhage, no sign of high blood pressure’: RMCH director on Jasmine Sultana’s death The report was handed over to the police within office hours, said Kofil Uddin, the board's chairman and also the director of the hospital's forensic department. “I cannot disclose to the media what  caused the  death,” he said.  Subhash Chandra Barman, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Rajpara police station and the investigating officer of the case, did not want to comment on the report either.  Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge (OC) of the city's Rajpara police station, said he did not inquire about the report.  “Everyone will know once it’s submitted before the court,” he said.  The High Court sought the police report and postmortem report on March 27. The court also sought details about RAB personnel who arrested and interrogated Sultana. The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the orders after taking newspaper reports into cognizance regarding the issue. Union land office employee Sultana was detained by RAB members  from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city on March 22 morning and died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on March 24. However, the elite force denied the allegation of torture. They claimed that the victim was arrested for interrogation as there was an accusation of fraudulence against her.  

Two days after the clash between Rajshahi University students and locals, situation on the campus has become normal -- with classes and exams resuming today.  Bus services have also resumed on the Rajshahi-Dhaka highway in front of the main gate of the university. Rajshahi University Proctor Prof Ashabul Haque said, "Situation on the campus has become normal. Students have returned to classes and are sitting for exams. The demands of the students have already been accepted." Meanwhile, Professor Farid Uddin Khan, of the Department of Economics, staged a sit-in program at Zoha Chattar of the university from 10 am to 11 am today, protesting the attack on students. Around a hundred students expressed solidarity with Prof Farid Uddin Khan. Professor Farid said, "Due to the negligence of the university administration, locals and the police attacked on the campus. When the police attacked, the students were behind the Binodpur gate of the university. The police entered and attacked them." "Many students are still injured and admitted at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. There is no question of conducting exams in this situation. I am holding this peaceful program by boycotting classes, in solidarity with students," he said. Meanwhile, a case has been filed against 200 to 300 people with the Railway Police Station, for blocking the railway line and destroying government property, said Abdul Karim, station superintendent of Rajshahi Railway Station.

Police filed a case against 250-300 unidentified people in connection with Saturday’s clash between Rajshahi University (RU) students and local people. Sub-inspector of Motihar Police Station Amanat Ullah filed the case last night. Confirming the development, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Rafiqul Alam, said that police have filed a case with Motihar Police station against unnamed people. Read more: Those who set fire on rail line are outsiders: RU VC The authorities of Rajshahi University yesterday afternoon filed a case against more than 500 unnamed people in connection with Saturday’s clash. Following this case, police have arrested a businessman named Taslim Ali alias Peter (45). Moreover, the university authorities formed a 5-member probe committee to investigate into the incident. Pro Vice-chancellor Prof Humayun Kabir is leading the committee.