United News of Bangladesh

In the quiet corners of Bangladesh’s rich heritage, where artistry meets tradition, the ethereal beauty of Jamdani sarees continues to enchant generations. A delicate interplay of threads weaves not just fabric, but stories—of dedication, craftsmanship and an undying love for heritage. Among these silent storytellers stands Roni Patowary, a young artisan from Paschim Char Krishnapur, a remote village in the South Algi Durgapur union of Haimchar, Chandpur. With deft hands and an indomitable spirit, he breathes life into the centuries-old craft of Jamdani weaving, turning fine threads into dreams draped in elegance. A Journey Etched in Determination Roni’s tale is one of resilience, woven through the struggles of time. Two decades ago, hardship forced him to leave his beloved hometown in search of sustenance. The bustling looms of Narayanganj became his classroom, where he mastered the intricacies of Jamdani weaving—a skill passed down through generations, delicate yet demanding, poetic yet precise. Bumper tomato yields bring no joy to Sunamganj farmers Fate, however, had written a different pattern for him. The call of home proved stronger than the allure of distant opportunities, and Roni returned to his village with newfound expertise. His modest tin-roofed home transformed into a sanctuary of artistry, where every warp and weft sings a song of tradition. "It takes me three to four days to craft a single Jamdani saree by hand," Roni shares, his voice a blend of pride and patience. "Though I receive orders from various places, each piece requires meticulous attention. There are no shortcuts in this craft." His father, Billal Patowary, beams with quiet pride. "Roni’s return has not just brought prosperity to our home but has rekindled a dying tradition in our village," he says. His mother, Salma Begum, speaks of the delicate process, a dance between hands and loom. "The art requires threads, wooden frames, spools, and scissors. Every motion is deliberate, every design an act of love." From Threads to Treasures Though formal education eluded him due to financial constraints, Roni found wisdom in the rhythm of the loom. Each saree he weaves is a labour of love, its value dictated by the intricacy of design and the fineness of the yarn. "Jamdani saree prices  range from Tk 3,700 to Tk 8,000, but the masterpieces—custom designs with intricate details—can fetch Tk 4-5 lakh," Roni explains. The magic lies in the selection of threads. The higher the thread count, the smoother the fabric, creating a piece that whispers elegance with every fold. The design yarn, woven with precision, emerges in contrast against the texture yarn, lending clarity and depth to the motifs. Once completed, each saree is starched and wrapped in bamboo, preserving its crispness and sheen—a final touch before it adorns a woman with grace. Dreams Beyond the Loom Yet, Roni’s aspirations extend beyond personal success. He envisions a future where his craft becomes a source of livelihood for many, where the looms hum with the dreams of his fellow villagers. Naogaon to see bumper mango harvest worth Tk 3,500 cr this year "I hope for support from both government and private sectors to scale up this initiative," he shares with quiet determination. "With the right assistance, I can employ more hands, ensuring that our local economy thrives through this age-old craft." His vision has not gone unnoticed. Sardar Abdul Jalil, Chairman of South Algi Durgapur Union Parishad, affirms, "We deeply appreciate Roni’s initiative. We are committed to helping him expand his enterprise so that this industry flourishes." Haimchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Umme Salma Nazneen Trisha echoes this sentiment. "There are few industries in this region, so initiatives like Roni’s are invaluable. The upazila administration will provide the necessary support to help his business thrive." A Legacy Woven in Hope Roni Patowary’s journey is more than just a tale of artistic mastery—it is a testament to the resilience of Bangladesh’s cottage industries. His story reminds us that beyond every finely woven thread lies the spirit of a craftsman, the pulse of a culture, and the soul of a nation. As his loom continues to whisper stories of heritage, Roni stands as a beacon of inspiration, proving that dreams—when woven with passion and perseverance—can become an enduring legacy.

Several families from the Harijan community in Purba Bazar, Matlab Dakkhin upazila of Chandpur, are living under the open sky after a devastating fire destroyed their homes on 27 February. The fire, which originated from a battery shop in the evening, quickly spread to nearby areas, engulfing 10 shops and five houses in Harijan Polli. Many affected families have been left without shelter, struggling to survive with limited resources. "We ran out of our homes to save our lives, but we couldn't take anything with us. Our house burned down, and we have lost everything," said Shankar, one of the fire victims. 12 years of murder: Taqi Mancha vows to fight for justice "We have been spending nights under the open sky for over a week, unable to sleep due to worries and mosquito bites." The fire has left the victims in dire conditions, with many seeking refuge in temples and churches. Although some managed to save a few belongings, most lost their possessions, including furniture, cash, and gold ornaments. In response, the local business association, Matlab Bazar Bonik O Jonokalyan Samiti, has stepped in to provide food assistance to affected families. "Our association and local residents have immediately extended support to those affected," said Md Mujibur Rahman, senior vice-president of the association. General Secretary Faisal Sarkar said these were all low-income families. Now, they have no place to stay and are forced to live on the streets. Matlab Dakkhin Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amjad Hossain said that financial aid and housing support would be provided to all affected families. "We will ensure assistance so that they can return to a normal life as soon as possible," he said. Besides, efforts are underway to support shop owners who suffered losses in the fire, said the UNO.

The body of an unidentified man, aged around 45, was recovered from the Meghna River near Chandpur Launch Ghat on Friday morning. River Police recovered the body around 9 am from the east-northeast side of the launch terminal after being alerted by locals, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Billal Azad. The deceased was wearing black pants and a white sky-blue printed full-sleeved shirt. He had light brown skin, was approximately five feet six inches tall, and had partial black hair on both sides with baldness, according to police. Woman shot dead, UP chairman’s house vandalised in Narsingdi Chandpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) AKM S Iqbal said a general diary (GD) has been filed regarding the incident. The body has been sent to Chandpur Government General Hospital for an autopsy, and efforts are underway to ascertain the man's identity. "If the identity remains unknown, the body will be handed over to Anjuman Mufidul Islam for burial," the OC added.

The ferry services between Chandpur’s Horinia Ghat and Shariatpur’s Alur Bazar Ghat resumed after 10 hours of suspension due to the thick fog in the Meghna River. Faisal Alam Chowdhury, manager of Horinia Ferry Ghat at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said the ferry services resumed around 10 am after the fog cleared.    Earlier at 12am, the BIWTC was forced to suspend the ferry services between the ghats to ward off any unwanted incident amid the poor visibility. Fog-hit ferry services resume on Aricha-Kazirhat, Paturia-Daulatpur routes The suspension caused a good number of light, medium, and heavy cargo vehicles stuck on both sides of the ferry ghat. People didn’t come out of their homes unless emergency as the thick fog blanked the district headquarters and surroundings. Fog disrupts ferry services on two key waterways Ali Azgar, supervisor of launch operators at Chandpur Ghat, said that the launch schedule from Chandpur to Dhaka collapsed due to poor visibility. Three scheduled launches from Chandpur Ghat to Dhaka could not leave at 6am, 7am, and 8am, according to the staff members of those launches. Moreover, launches coming from Dhaka to Chandpur were also delayed, with several passenger launches, including Sonar Tari, Meghna Rani, and Hasan Imam, still stuck in the river due to the dense fog. Fog-disrupted ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat route resume after 6 hrs They are moving very slowly, and it will take several more hours to reach the Chandpur Ghat, according to the launch supervisors. Shah Mohammad Shoaib, meteorologist of Chandpur's weather office, said that they recorded on Thursday a temperature of 15.6°C, a six degree Celsius fall compared to Wednesday.

Police recovered the bodies of two elderly men from the Dakatia River in two separate locations in Chandpur on Wednesday. One of the deceased was identified as Sirajul Islam Gazi, 72, son of the late Ashraf Ali Gazi of Bagadi village of Chandpur Sadar Upazila. The other man's identity remains unknown, but he is estimated to be 55 years old, said AKSM Iqbal, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station. Police and Coast Guard personnel recovered Sirajul’s body from the Dakatia River in the Icholi area of Chandpur around noon. Probe launched after 2 patients die following alleged wrong treatment in Kishoreganj "The body appears to be 7–8 days old and has injuries, including stab marks on the back of the head and a severed leg vein. We are investigating the matter,” said the OC. According to local UP member Mosharraf Hossain, Sirajul had returned to Bangladesh after living abroad for many years and had been residing at home. Relatives said Sirajul went missing about a week ago while travelling to the town from his home. His disappearance was reported in newspapers and circulated on social media. Meanwhile, In the Shahrasti area of Chandpur, around 3 pm, local resident Abdul Khaleque discovered a man's body floating in the river while fishing and informed the police. 35-year-old dies in Jhenaidah road accident "The body has no injury marks but appears bloated and partially decomposed, suggesting it had been in the water for about ten days," said Abdul Bashar, OC of Shahrasti Police Station. A PBI team reached the spot and started an investigation, he said. The body was sent to the Chandpur General Hospital morgue for an autopsy, he added.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has revealed that arrestee Irfan murdered the seven people onboard fertiliser-laden vessel in the Meghna River out of anger after being deprived of wages for long and misconduct with him by the vessel’s master Golam Kibira. Major Sakib Hossain, deputy commandant of the RAB-11 in Cumilla, disclosed this at a press briefing in Cumilla on Wednesday. He said Irfan, son of Jagodish Mandol of Bagerhat’s Fakirhat upazila, used to work as a helping-hand of the vessel’s staff. The RAB official said they recovered a hand glove, two empty packets of sleeping pills, seven mobile phones of the deceased, a blood-stained jeans pant from the procession of Akash Mondal alias Ifran who was arrested from Bagerhat’s Chitalmari upazila. Major Sakib informed that the vessel’s master Kibria didn’t pay wages to Irfan for the past eight months and used to misbehave with him, causing anger to the accused. From this point, the accused hit upon a plan to kill the master and bought three packets of sleeping pills from a Pabna Bazar when the vessel anchored there, the RAB officer said. The accused made the master and others senseless by feeding the sleeping pills after mixing with meals, he said. Read: Killings on vessel: Families demand investigation, justice First, he murdered the master with a Chinese axe wearing hand gloves and later the six others when they witnessed the matter, Major Sakib said. After killing all, the accused took the vessel near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila from the Meghna River and anchored it there, he said, adding that later Irfan fled the scene by a trawler. On the other hand, the vessel’s owner Mahabub Morshed filed a murder case accusing some unidentified people with the relevant police station, said Haimchar police station’s officer-in-charge Md Mohiuddin Suman on Wednesday. On Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the vessel. Later, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. Read more: Chandpur tragedy: RAB arrests an accused from Bagerhat The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday. The Ministry of Industries on Tuesday formed a four member probe body headed by an additional secretary and asked to submit a report within five working days. Family members of the victims claimed that the killings were planned and demanded justice. They made the demand while receiving the bodies from Chandpur Sadar Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Golam Kibria ,55, captain of the vessel hailinh from Faridpur, his nephew Sheikh Sabuj,35, a sailor, Aminul Munshi, 40, helmsman from Narail district, Majedul,16, a sailor from Magura Sajibul Islam ,26, sailor from Magura, Salahuddin,40, an engineer from Narail and Kazi Rana 24, its cook from Munshiganj.

Police recovered the body of a 25-year-old man on Thursday, four days after he disappeared from a fish project in Ghogra Beel of Sachar Union at Kachua Upazila in Chandpur. Kachua Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) M Abdul Halim said police discovered the body with its legs tied to an irrigation machine. Raihan, an employee of the project, was detained for questioning, said the OC. 15-year-old student dies as train hits him in Jashore The deceased, Atiq Majumdar, was the son of former UP member Abdul Matin Majumdar from Bajurikhola village. Atiq disappeared on Monday afternoon while heading home after completing work on a fish project in Dakshin Beel near his house. Later, Abdul Matin Majumdar filed a missing person’s diary at Kachua Police Station on Wednesday. Abdul Matin said that Atiq had informed him around 5 pm on Monday via mobile phone that he was on his way home. Shortly after, Atiq's phone was found switched off. Body of missing child found in Feni, 3 arrested “I believe someone planned my son’s murder, tied his feet to the water machine, and threw his body into the project,” he alleged. Legal proceedings would continue based on the autopsy report, said the OC.  

Prices of hilsa have shot up again in Chandpur markets as a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing is set to begin at midnight on Saturday, to ensure safe spawning in the freshwaters of the Padma and Meghna rivers. The ban has sparked a rush at Chandpur’s Boro Station fish ghat, one of the country’s largest fish landing centers, where buyers have been scrambling to purchase the priced fish before the restriction takes effect. The government ban, aimed at protecting hilsa during its spawning season, will remain in place until November 3. Traders said hilsa weighing 1 to 1.2 kilograms is being sold for Tk2,800- 3,000 per kilogram, an all-time high. The price of smaller hilsa, weighing 500 to 900 grams, ranges from Tk 1,200 - 2,000 per kilogram. 479 MT hilsa exported to India through Benapole “Prices were lower just a week ago. Now, even though I want to buy, I can’t because the prices have gone up by Tk500 - 700 per kilogram, said Solaiman, a buyer from Ashikati area. At the fish landing centre, local fishermen were seen bringing in fresh hilsa, some from nearby areas, while others arrive by truck from Noakhali.  Omar Faruq, manager of the Kalu Bhuiyan fish shop, said “The upcoming 22-day ban is the reason. The number of retail buyers far outnumbers the fish supply here.”  With the ban approaching, some tourists have also flocked to the  landing centre, turning their fish-buying trip into a family outing, Faruq adding the market has been busy from morning till night, and on Fridays, many tourists were spotted buying hilsa and having it fried at nearby restaurants. 479 MT hilsa exported to India through Benapole Veteran fish traders like Nurul Islam and Mostafa Khan said they haven’t seen prices this high in over 50 years. In the city’s busiest markets, including Biponibagh and Palbazar, the story is the same.  Chandpur District Fisheries Officer Golam Mehedi Hasan explained the practice of imposing the ban. "Hilsa migrate from the sea to freshwater during this time to spawn. The 22-day ban covers a 70-kilometer stretch from Shatnol in Matlab Uttar Upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar Upazila." All fishing, transporting, selling, and stocking of hilsa in this area will be prohibited durning the ban. Despite increased production—reaching 571,342 tonnes in the fiscal year 2022-23, up from 566,593 tonnes the previous year—the demand for hilsa remains high in Bangladesh, keeping prices elevated in the local market. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh exported 664.86 tonnes of hilsa to India, generating $7.71 million, according to the Department of Fisheries. The previous year saw exports of 1,376.42 tonnes of hilsa, worth $13.68 million. Read more: 10 Tasty Ilish Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen

Heavy and torrential rains since Friday morning have inundated the main roads and lanes in Chandpur town, causing suffering to commuters and disrupting normal life. Locals the waterlogging was created due to faulty drainage, making it almost impossible to move. Roads are devoid of vehicles, and people are largely staying indoors unless absolutely necessary. Incessant rains throw life out of gear in Dhaka Vikas Ghosh, a vendor selling fermented milk drink near Court Station are, expressed his frustration, saying, "I have been here since 6 am with my drinks, but by 9 am, I haven't sold anything. There are no people around."

With Eid-ul-Azha set to be celebrated on June 17, the cattle markets in Chandpur district are buzzing with traders and sellers, eagerly preparing for the festive occasion. The excitement is palpable as the district comes alive with the sights and sounds of bustling cattle markets. Despite a reported shortage of 20,000 cattle, the District Livestock Department assures that the supply will meet the demand. According to Dr. Jotirmoy Bhoumik, the district livestock officer, most of the demand for sacrificial animals has been fulfilled from local farms. A total of 61,489 sacrificial animals have been prepared across 3,269 cattle farms in the district, supplemented by cattle arriving from other parts of the country. SC upholds HC order disallowing cattle market at Aftabnagar Amidst this lively backdrop, two bulls have stolen the spotlight. In Nathora village, in Hajiganj upazila, "Sultan," a majestic black bull weighing 800 kg, has become the talk of the town. Reared by Ali Ahmed, a local school teacher, Sultan has drawn crowds from far and wide. Ali is asking for Tk 8 lakh for this impressive specimen. Equally captivating is "Raza," a black and white bull weighing 1,000 kg, from Rari Kandi village in North Matlab upazila. Owner Elias Dewan, a businessman, has nurtured Raza with a natural diet for several years. "It is impossible to bring Raza to the cattle market; no one can control him. I've been on guard all night. He was born on the farm about two and a half years ago from a Friesian breed cow," Elias shared. The daily feeding routine includes paddy husk, grass, pulse, maize flour, rice, oil cake, raw banana, carrot, apple, and other fruits, costing Tk 800 per day. Elias is also asking for Tk 8 lakh for Raza, who enjoys the comfort of two electric fans and twice-daily baths. In Faridganj upazila, "Zayed Khan," another massive bull weighing 25-30 maunds, has been raised by Amir Hossain. Priced at Tk 15 lakh, Zayed Khan has been a four-year labor of love for Amir, who, like Elias, prefers to keep his prized bull away from the crowded markets. No cattle market at Aftabnagar this year as HC stays leasing process