Bangladesh
A Farmer’s Last Refuge in a Legal Trap: ‘Suicide’ Under Debt Pressure Sparks Intense Stir in Chandina
A shadow of sorrow has fallen over Kamarkhola village in Chandina, Cumilla. This is the story of Mahbub Alam Rubel, a farmer by profession and the president of his local Krishi Dal ward unit. His life seemed to follow a straight path until a web of old debt and a lawsuit ensnared him.
On Saturday (June 28), Rubel, 41, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Allegations have surfaced that his ‘suicide’ was driven by relentless pressure from local BNP leader Gazi Hasan Mahmud Hanif.
The story begins further back—in 2001, Rubel separated from his brother, Mofiz. Then, in 2016, Mofiz and Hanif engaged in a financial transaction involving fish feed. When Mofiz couldn’t repay the money, he eventually left the village for a relative’s house in Barguna, where he tragically died of a heart attack on August 5, 2024.
But the narrative took a dark turn after Mofiz’s death. Hanif targeted Rubel to recover his outstanding debt and filed a lawsuit against him in court. Rubel’s wife, Rehena Begum, alleges that for the past 15 days, Hanif had been exerting such immense pressure that Rubel couldn’t even leave the house. A barrage of threats, fear of more lawsuits—even money for household groceries became scarce.
Under this unbearable pressure, Rubel seemingly sought his last refuge. On Saturday morning at around 9:30 AM, he consumed poison at his home. But his final words were preserved in a mobile phone recording. In it, Rubel spoke of Hanif’s ‘torture,’ even mentioning Hanif’s pressure to file false cases against Awami League members. He stated in the recording that he sought justice from various respectable individuals, including the Chandina Upazila BNP President, but found no remedy. He also mentioned someone named ‘Farid’ as the ‘mastermind’ behind these events. Rubel’s last plea was for the police to conduct a fair investigation into the incident.
Although the accused Hanif has denied the allegations against him, and the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandina Police Station stated that they have not yet received any formal complaint, this incident has cast a profound question mark over Kamarkhola village and indeed, all of Chandina. Is this tragic end for an innocent farmer merely the result of debt pressure, or does it hide a deeper political or social context? The full truth may only emerge after a thorough investigation.
Bangladesh’s Interim Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has reiterated that the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be held in February. He made the assurance on Wednesday (October 15) during an emergency meeting of the National Consensus Commission with political party representatives at the State Guest House Jamuna.
“This is not just talk — the election will be held in February, and it will be festive,” Dr. Yunus said during the meeting.
The meeting focused on the implementation process of the July Charter, a policy document developed through extensive dialogue among political parties.
Thanking party representatives, Dr. Yunus said, “The July Charter is the outcome of your long discussions. It has become part of history.” He announced that copies of the Charter would be distributed to all political parties and vowed to preserve and promote it while he remains in office.
The Chief Adviser urged political parties to apply the Charter’s principles in their political practice and daily governance.
Earlier, the Commission had distributed the final version of the July National Charter 2025 to all political parties, though recommendations on how to implement the proposed reforms are yet to be finalized.
Following the July 2025 mass uprising, the interim government was formed and established six separate reform commissions — on the constitution, electoral system, public administration, anti-corruption, police, and judiciary. The National Consensus Commission continues to consult political parties based on these commissions’ recommendations.
Crime and Justice
Woman Attempts Suicide by Setting Herself on Fire in Jhenaidah, Husband Also Burned
A woman in Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa upazila attempted suicide by setting herself on fire, leaving both her and her husband severely injured. The incident occurred around midnight on Tuesday (14 October) in Charbakhurbar village.
Police and local sources said the woman, identified as 24-year-old Mahima Khatun, poured kerosene on herself before setting it ablaze. Her husband, Ashik Mia—son of Alok Mia—sustained burns while trying to save her.
The couple was rescued by locals and taken to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex. Later, due to their critical condition, they were transferred to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Dr. Shahnewaz, Medical Officer at Shailkupa Health Complex, said, “Both the husband and wife suffered burns on about 50 percent of their bodies. Their condition is critical.”
At least one person was killed and ten others were injured when a passenger bus plunged into a roadside ditch in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Wednesday morning.
The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. at Purbo Sadordi area on the Faridpur-Barishal highway when a Dhaka-bound “Euro Line” bus lost control while attempting to overtake a “Shyamoli Paribahan” bus, police said.
The deceased was identified as Shamsunnahar Begum (41), wife of Nazrul Islam from Kachua village, Uzirpur upazila of Barishal.
Rescue teams from the fire service, highway police, and local residents rushed to the scene and took the injured to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
Bhanga Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Rokibuzzaman said that during an overtaking attempt, the Euro Line bus was hit by the Shyamoli Paribahan bus, causing it to veer off the road. “Both buses have been recovered, and the Shyamoli Paribahan bus has been seized,” the OC added.
Traffic on both sides of the highway remained halted for a while following the incident but later resumed normally.
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