British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has described the contribution of people of Sylhet to the economy of the United Kingdom as "very valuable”. The people of Sylhet played a significant role in strengthening ties between the two nations, Cooke said while speaking at an Iftar event in Sylhet. FAO, Bangladesh to work together to accelerate food security The Iftar gathering was held at the Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort on Wednesday evening, organised by the British High Commission. The event was attended by a range of distinguished individuals from various sectors and professions. "Sylhet is instrumental in the growing and ever-stronger relationship between our countries," Cooke said, highlighting the importance of the Sylheti community in the UK. She went on to describe Bangladesh as a long-standing friend and partner of the United Kingdom, with the bond between the two growing stronger each day thanks to the people of Sylhet. Reflecting on the student protests that took place last year, Cooke expressed respect for the courage and peaceful demonstrations of the students. "We honour the students' bravery and peaceful protest. In this context, we are confident that the current interim government will contribute to improving law and order, governance, and fostering national unity.” The British high commissioner also shared her hopes for a prosperous democratic future for Bangladesh, while emphasising the UK’s ongoing support. CA’s press wing slams propaganda against Bangladesh by Indian media She also said the British government had provided Tk 7.5 crore in aid for those affected by the devastating floods in Sylhet last year, alongside support for 50,000 vulnerable individuals. Additionally, she added that the UK had funded initiatives to help Bangladesh mitigate risks associated with climate change. The high commissioner concluded by stressing the importance of further strengthening the relationship between the United Kingdom and Sylhet, noting the potential for even closer collaboration between the two.

Two people were killed and four others injured in a collision between a  CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a bus at Balaura in Sadar upazila of Sylhet district on Friday night. The deceased were identified as Rubel Ahmed, 18, son of late Jamir Ali and Salek, 20, son of Abdul Bari of Kasarpur village. Md Harunur Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jalalabad Police Station, said the accident occurred around 10 pm when the bus of ‘Mamun Paribahan’ from Sunamganj collided with a  CNG-run auto-rickshaw, leaving six people injured. BNP leader killed in Chuadanga factional clash Later, they were taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared two of them dead. The condition of the auto-rickshaw driver was stated to be critical. The bodies were kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

A moderate earthquake was felt in parts of Bangladesh on Wednesday morning, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The tremor measuring 5.6 Richter scale was felt at 11:36 pm, it said. 6.1 magnitude earthquake jolts Nepal's Kathmandu The Epicentre of the earthquake was 449 km North-East from BMD Seismic Centre, Agargaon, Dhaka. However, no causalities were reported.

Dhaka Capitals secured a narrow six-run win against Sylhet Strikers in a high-scoring match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday. It was Dhaka’s second win in nine matches, and Sylhet suffered the sixth defeat in eight matches so far. These are at the bottom of the points table with only four points each.  Dhaka batted first and posted 196 for six wickets in 20 overs, with Litton Das hitting 70 off 48 balls. The right-handed batter hit four fours and as many as sixes.  Khan masterminds Pakistan's emphatic 127-run win against West Indies in 1st test Thisara Perera added a quickfire 37 off 17 balls, including three sixes, to provide a late boost. For the Strikers, Tipu Sultan bagged two wickets for 26 runs, while Samiullah Shinwari took two for 27 runs. In reply, Sylhet fell just short, finishing at 190 for 7 despite a notable effort of 68 off 44 balls from Rony Talukdar. At one point, Strikers were going close with 127 runs for four wickets in 16 overs. But Dhaka’s bowler kept their plan well in the difficult times.  Barishal clinch fifth win defeating Chittagong by six wickets Perera bagged two wickets for 31 runs with the important wicket of Rony, and Mustafizur Rahman scalped two wickets for 46 runs.  At the end, Ajker Ali hit 28 off 13 balls while Ariful Haque scored 29 off 13 balls to keep Sylhet alive in the contest, but losing wickets at the crucial moments cost them the match.  In the last over, the Strikers needed 26 runs off six balls. Mustafizur conceded 16 and bagged two wickets to defend it. 

Zakir Hasan’s 27-ball 58 led Sylhet Strikers to a three-wicket win over Dhaka Capitals in their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match on Friday in Sylhet. Litton Das of Dhaka hit 73 off 43 balls, and Munim Shahriar scored 52, but they were overshadowed by Zakir’s 58. Dhaka posted a competitive total of 193 for six, batting first. Sabbir Rahman’s quickfire 23 off 10 balls and Thisara Perera’s 18 off nine provided the late surge. BPL Football: Mohammedan take on Rahmatganj Friday in top of table clash Rahkeem Cornwall took three wickets for Sylhet conceding 27 runs. In reply, Sylhet stumbled early, losing Rahkeem Cornwall for a duck in the first ball of the innings. George Munsey (11 off 8) and Aaron Jones (14 off 8) fell cheaply, leaving Sylhet at 42 for 3 in the fourth over Zakir Hasan then steadied the chase, with seven fours and three sixes during his innings. His dismissal in the 10th over, with Sylhet at 109 for 5, shifted the momentum briefly.  But Rony Talukdar, 30 off 20, and Jaker Ali, 24 off 17, kept Sylhet in the hunt before captain Ariful Haque took charge. Ariful’s unbeaten 28 off 15 balls, including four boundaries and a six, ensured Sylhet’s victory in the penultimate over. Farmanullah, and Shubham Ranjane took two wickets each for Dhaka. It was the maiden win for Sylhet in the season, while Dhaka continue to suffer, conceding sixth defeat in six matches they played so far.//  

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled Indian goods worth over Tk 94 lakh along the borders in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. The frontier force also seized a pickup van and a microbus during the drives which continued from 12 am on Tuesday to early Wednesday. However, no one could be detained in this connection, said a media release sent from the BGB-48 Battalion on Wednesday morning. Being tipped-off, several teams of the BGB conducted drives along Banglabazar, Panthumai, Sreepur, and Sonalichela areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts and recovered the smuggled items. Read: BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 147.84 cr in Dec The suspected smugglers left the vehicles abandoned after hearing the drives of the BGB. The recovery includes Indian sugar, oranges, betel nut, liquor and others, the media release says. The drives against smuggling will continue and security has been beefed up along borders, added the release.

Police recovered the body of a 22-year-old woman from her home in Kanaighat of Sylhet on Sunday. The victim, identified as Fatima Begum alias Phoolan, was the wife of Faisal Ahmed of Bayampur Lakshmipur village in the municipality. The deceased’s husband and in-laws reportedly fled the house with their two-year-old daughter shortly after the incident, according to police. Kanaighat Police Station SI Durga Kumar Dev said that they recovered the body after receiving the news and found no family members present at the home. The body was brought to the police station and an accidental death case was filed. However, relatives of the deceased are disputing the suicide claim, alleging that Fatima was murdered by her husband and in-laws. Fatima's father, Faruk Ahmed, said that he received a call from Fatima's sister-in-law, Masuma Begum, on Saturday afternoon, informing him that his daughter had hanged herself. When Faruk arrived at his daughter’s home with his family, they found that Faisal Ahmed, his parents and their granddaughter were no longer there. Neighbours confirmed that the family members had fled the scene after the incident came to light. The body has been sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Morgue for autopsy. It will be known whether it was murder or suicide after the autopsy report comes, added the OC.

A bus hit and killed a 14-year-old boy when he was attempting to retrieve a football from the road in Sylhet’s Jaintapur area on Sunday. Jaintapur Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahidul Islam Munna said that a group of boys had been playing football by the road and the ball accidentally rolled onto the road. The victim, Abir Ahmed Babu, went to fetch the ball but was struck by a bus traveling towards Sylhet. He was severely injured and rushed to the local health complex, where doctors declared him dead.  Following the accident, enraged students and locals took to the streets, blocking the Jaintapur-Sylhet highway in protest. The blockade, which lasted for over three and a half hours, led to severe traffic disruption, with no vehicles able to pass during that period.  To de-escalate tensions, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Jaintapur, Arnab Dutta, along with police and administrative officials, held a meeting with local teachers and residents. Bus runs over school headmaster in Gazipur Following the talks, the protesters agreed to lift the blockade after assurances that the bus driver would be arrested and legal action taken and the victim’s body would be handed over to the family without an autopsy.  Acting Headmaster Monzurul Hasan Mahmud of Ganipur Kamalganj School and College said that Abir was run over by a speeding bus. He also mentioned that when the incident sparked outrage among the students, police resorted to baton charging, which led to the road blockade by the protesters.  The OC said, “The bus involved in the accident is currently in the custody of the students and efforts are underway to arrest the driver.” In response to the protesters’ demands, the victim’s body was handed over to the family without conducting an autopsy, he added.

The remains of Harris Chowdhury, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s political secretary and a freedom fighter, was laid to eternal rest at Shafiqul Haque Chowdhury Memorial Orphanage in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet on Sunday. The remains of Harris were brought to Sylhet from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) by an ambulance and kept in front of Sylhet Circuit House in the morning. Later, the body was taken to Shahi Eidgah Maidan in the city around 2 pm where a munajat was offered for the eternal peace of the departed soul. Barrister Samira Tanzin Chowdhury, daughter of Harris, sought dua for her father from all. It was not possible to bring the remains of her father to Sylhet during the tenure of the Awami League government and after conducting the DNA test, the remains were brought to Sylhet following the directives of the interim government, she said. Remains of freedom fighter Harris Chowdhury to be buried in Sylhet on Sunday: Daughter BNP leaders and activists including BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury, assistant organising secretary of Sylhet unit BNP Miftah Siddiquee, acting president of city unit BNP Rezaul Hasan and district unit BNP general secretary Advocate Emran Ahmed Chowdhury were present. The former BNP leader died on September 3 in 2021 but 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. 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.

The body of an unidentified man was recovered from a waterbody near South Sarighat in Sarighat Bazar of Jaintiapur Upazila in Sylhet on Saturday.  Jaintiapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Bashar Mohammad Badruzzaman said  the identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained. Floating body of a woman recovered from Buriganga River Acting on information from locals, police retrieved the body around 12pm on Saturday. Police are working to  know the identity, he said.