Doctors in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad have surgically removed 29 steel spoons, 19 toothbrushes, and several pens from the stomach of a man named Sachin. He had been admitted to a rehabilitation centre in Hapur to recover from drug addiction but soon developed a strange compulsion to swallow such objects.

According to family members and staff, Sachin often complained of inadequate food at the centre. Sometimes he survived on just a single biscuit a day. Out of desperation, he began swallowing spoons, toothbrushes, and even pens, eventually becoming addicted to the habit.

His condition deteriorated when he started experiencing severe abdominal pain. Doctors performed X-rays and CT scans, which revealed a large collection of foreign objects inside his stomach. Emergency surgery was carried out, saving his life.

Medical professionals noted that without timely intervention, the complications could have turned fatal. Sachin is currently under observation.

Educational institutions across Bangladesh will remain closed for 12 consecutive days during the upcoming Durga Puja festival. According to the latest circular from the Ministry of Education, schools and colleges will observe holidays from 28 September to 7 October.

Students will enjoy an extended break as the weekly holidays on 26 and 27 September fall just before the official vacation. In addition, 6 October, the day of Laxmi Puja, has been declared as an optional holiday for schools and colleges.

The holiday package also covers other religious occasions, including Fateha-i-Yaj Daham, Prabarana Purnima, and Sri Sri Laxmi Puja. However, universities, being autonomous, will set their own vacation schedules through their respective syndicates.

Meanwhile, office employees will enjoy a shorter holiday period. They will get three consecutive days off — beginning with the official holiday on 2 October for Bijoya Dashami, followed by the regular weekend holidays on 3 and 4 October.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has emphasized the need for a stable, constructive, and forward-looking partnership between the two neighbors, built on mutual respect and sensitivity. He said the relationship should not only be beneficial for both states but also ensure that people from both countries remain key stakeholders.

Speaking at the National Defence College (NDC) in Dhaka on Monday during the 2025 course program, Verma highlighted India’s diplomatic priorities — the “Neighborhood First” policy, the “Act East” approach, the “Ocean Policy,” and India’s broader Indo-Pacific vision.

He underlined India’s growing role in global cooperation, governance reforms, and safeguarding the interests of the Global South while pursuing inclusive, sustainable, and rapid national development.

Verma further noted that India and Bangladesh, as two of South Asia’s largest economies, are vital drivers of regional integration under the BIMSTEC framework. With its headquarters in Dhaka, BIMSTEC serves as a bridge for growth opportunities linking South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The envoy stressed that geographical proximity and mutual interdependence should be strengthened to transform rising economic capacities and aspirations into mutually beneficial opportunities for both nations.