United News of Bangladesh

In the quiet village of Buropara at Alamdanga upazila in Chuadanga, where the hum of engines mingles with the rustle of paddy fields, lives a man whose vision lies not in his eyes, but in his heart and hands. Zahurul Islam Mangal, a sexagenarian mechanic, cannot see the world around him, yet he perceives machines with uncanny precision. Blind since birth, Zahurul has mastered the intricate language of nuts, bolts and gears, guided solely by touch, instinct and faith. He knows by heart which wrench to pick, which bolt to tighten, and where the pulse of a machine falters. His fingers glide across metal surfaces, tracing faults invisible to others and with effortless grace, he brings life back to lifeless engines. For more than a decade, Zahurul has repaired everything from bicycles, vans and shallow engines to power trolleys and tube-wells — entirely on his own. His fascination began early, at the age of seven, when he watched and listened to a local mechanic, absorbing the rhythm of the craft. In 1984, he opened his first repair shop near Chuadanga Sadar Hospital. Later, he returned to his native village to expand his skills, taking on the challenge of shallow engines, power trolleys and a range of complex machines. Since 2004, his modest workshop in Buropara has been a lifeline for farmers and villagers alike. After six years of struggling to find a job, Zahid finds success in strawberry farming “Being able to work without sight is Allah’s blessing,” Zahurul said, his weathered hands moving skillfully over an engine. “I may not have eyes to see outside, but I see with the eyes of my heart. My hands tell me where a screw should go and which wrench to use.” During a recent visit, this UNB Correspondent watched Zahurul at work, diagnosing a farmer’s faulty shallow engine merely by turning its handle. Within minutes, the machine was running smoothly once again. Without resting, he hurried off to another home to repair a tube-well, his movements brisk and assured. “Even after 40 years of working with machines, I cannot fix a single nut,” said local farmer Taijal Sheikh with admiration. “But Zahurul bhai fixes machines without seeing. It’s a gift from Allah.” Another villager, Nazim Uddin, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Though blind, he can dismantle an entire engine and reassemble it perfectly. His work is flawless.” The young entrepreneur who brought orange farming to Naogaon

The western district of Chuadanga has been reeling from the escalating impacts of climate change, with farmers suffering losses worth ‘hundreds of crores of taka’ over the past five years. Prolonged droughts, devastating storms and extreme cold spells have battered agriculture, livestock and fisheries, leaving thousands of families struggling to survive. “Extreme heat is not just a seasonal inconvenience. Its impact is far reaching. As we see in Bangladesh that the rising temperature is affecting our health and productivity, and the country’s prosperity,” said Jean Pesme, The World Bank Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. Between April and June each year, temperatures now frequently soar between 36°C and 40°C, scorching farmlands and reducing yields. Winters, on the other hand, have become unusually harsh, with temperatures plunging to record lows, compounding the stress on crops and livestock. Worsening Climate Disasters Chuadanga’s agricultural sector has been particularly hard-hit by repeated bouts of drought, storms and irregular rainfall. Major crops such as Boro paddy, wheat, maize, winter vegetables, tobacco, onions, bananas, papaya, betel leaves and fruit orchards have suffered extensive damage, with many farmers unable to recover before the next calamity strikes. Disaster Preparedness: Govt to construct 90 three-storey cyclone shelters  in 12 districts Field surveys conducted by non-governmental organisations, including Wave Foundation and Riso, indicate that the scale of devastation may be far greater than official figures suggest. Their studies estimate that climate change is causing annual agricultural losses amounting to between Tk 200 crore and Tk 300 crore in the district. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has reported significant losses over the last five years, with 2022 emerging as the most catastrophic year.

The body of a Bangladeshi farmer, who was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) near the Jhajhadanga border in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga, was handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Tuesday, almost a week after the incident. The deceased was identified as Ibrahim Babu, 28, son of Md Nur Islam of Jhajhadanga village. The body was handed over around 8:45pm through a flag meeting between the two border forces at the Darshana border, said Major Asif, deputy commander of BGB’s 6th Battalion. BSF returns body of Bangladeshi after flag meet Company commanders from the 6th BGB Battalion’s Darshana unit and the 32nd BSF Battalion’s Gede unit were present during the flag meeting. Police from Krishnanagar Police Station in India’s Nadia district handed over the body to Darshana Police Station, said its officer-in-charge (OC) Md Shahid Titumir. “After completing legal formalities, the body was handed over to the victim’s family,” the OC added. On July 3, Ibrahim Babu had gone near border pillar no 79 in Jhajhadanga to collect grass for his cattle when BSF personnel opened fire on him. Eyewitnesses said he died on the spot.

Severe heat wave has gripped Pabna and Chuadanga districts, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Besides, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barishal and Chattogram divisions, parts of Rajshahi a Khulna divisions and Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram and Moulvibazar districts that may continue, said a Met office bulletin. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Country’s highest temperature was recoded in Chuadanga at 41.1 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga on Friday. Temperatures likely to rise across country Meanwhile, a thorough of low lies over West Bengal to North Bay across Southwestern part of Bangladesh.    

The district administration has announced the schedule for the collection of mangoes by variety in Chuadanga for this season. The decision was taken at a meeting on ‘Mango Collection and Market Management’ held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room on Tuesday afternoon. According to the schedule, the seasonal mango collection activities will start from May 15 with the collection of Gutti and Bombay varieties of mangoes. After that, Himsagar will be allowed to be collected from May 22, Langra from May 28, Bari-4 varieties of mangoes from May 28, Amrapali from June 5 and Fazli mango from June 15. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahirul Islam said that no one will be allowed to collect mangoes before the specified time and use of any harmful chemicals on mangoes is completely prohibited. A Sweet Legacy: Traditional molasses-making flourishes in Jhenaidah village "Strict legal action will be taken against anyone who violates this instruction," he added. He also said that the district administration, agriculture department and law enforcement agencies will be jointly on the field to ensure safe and healthy mango marketing. In addition, market monitoring and supervision activities will be strengthened at every level.

A Chuadanga tribunal on Wednesday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for violating her 15-year-old daughter in 2008. The convict was identified as Altaf Hossain, 46 of Datinakhali village in Satkhira district. Chuadanga Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Syed Habibul Islam handed down the punishment. The court also fined him Tk 2 lakh. According to the prosecution, Altaf used to live at his in-law’s house at Chitla Hudapara village in Alamdanga upazila after his marriage. Policeman among 3 detained with Yaba pills in Cox’s Bazar On February 16, 2024, the daughter of Altaf got married and after some days, the girl got pregnant. On December 5, 2023, the girl came to her parent’s house on December 5, 2023. Getting the girl alone, Altaf  raped her  several times during her stay in the house after issuing death threat. On March 7, 2024, Altaf’s wife filed a case with Alamdanga Police Station. Police submitted chargesheet against him on December 11, 2024.

A youth was killed and five others were injured in a collision between a motorcycle and an easy bike at Munnamor in Chuadanga Pouro area on Wednesday night.  The deceased was identified as Bipul, 18, son of Aytal Biswas from Buropara village in Sarojganj under Chuadanga Sadar upazila.  Chuadanga Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khaledur Rahman said that three youths were heading toward Chuadanga town from Sarojganj on a motorcycle for shopping when they collided with an easy bike coming from the opposite direction , leaving six people injured.  The injured were rushed to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where Bipul succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.  2 killed, 21 injured in Bogura road accident Of the five injured, two were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital while the remaining three are receiving treatment at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital.  Dr Sohrab Hossain of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital’s emergency department said that one person died shortly after the accident while three of the injured were in serious condition.  The body will be handed over to the family after the legal process is completed, said the OC.

Police on Saturday arrested a man in connection with the killing of a fishing cat in Dhanyaghora village in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga. The arrestee is Md Alamgir Hossain ,30. Police are trying to arrest two other suspects - Mintu and Saiful Islam, said Darsana Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Shahid Titumir. A video that went viral on social media platform Facebook showed three young men mercilessly beating  the wild animal with spears. One more arrested over rape of Patuakhali girl According to local sources, three young men from the village brutally killed the fishing cat near Manikdoya Road in Kurulgachhi Union around 5:30pm on Thursday. The killing and the viral video sparked outrage among locals. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tithi Mitra said, "The killing of wildlife is a serious offense. Strict legal action will be taken against such acts of cruelty." Upazila Forest Officer Mizanur Rahman said legal action will be taken against them under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

A speeding tractor crashed into a motorbike in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga district, leaving two youths dead, said police on Sunday morning. The deceased were identified as Nahid Hossain, 19, and Sweet, 25, both hailing from Puratan Bastabpur area of the upazila. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Damurhuda police station Humayun Kabir said Nahid and Sweet were returning by the bike to Puratan Bastabpur from Ragunathpur after finishing some personal work on Saturday night. Read: ASI killed in Mymensingh road accident At 11:30pm, the speeding tractor coming from the opposite direction rammed into the bike carrying the pair in front of a madrasha in the Bastabpur area, leaving them dead on the spot, said the OC. The bodies were taken to the police station and would be handed over to the families upon completion of legal procedures, added the police official.

Within a day, the temperature in the southwestern district of Chuadanga has dropped by 5.1 degree Celsius, standing at 10.4 degree Celsius. The sudden cold left low-income people, children and elderly ones in severe trouble. The district recorded temperature at 10.4 degree Celsius with 64 percent humidity at 9am on Friday, according to the local weather observatory office. The temperature on Thursday morning was 15.7 degree Celsius. Mild cold wave sweeps Chuadanga, intensifying winter conditions Jaminur Rahman, acting officer at Chuadanga’s first-class weather observatory, said the cold spell may persist until February 11 after which temperatures are likely to rise again. Earlier on January 31 and February 2, the district recorded 19 degree Celsius at 9am, resulting in relatively warmer daytime conditions. However, the current drop has caused suffering of outdoor workers and low-income people.