Why it matters: At a time when people are overwhelmed by insomnia and the pressures of professional life, Zinia Chatterjee from Mumbai has won 9.6 lakh rupees by demonstrating the skill of sleeping in an organized manner. This unique ‘Sleep Internship’ competition, organized by the popular Indian sleep solutions brand ‘Wakefit’, has brought the importance of sleep back into the spotlight.

The big picture: From over two lakh applicants across India, 10 finalists were selected through a rigorous screening process. In this 60-day competition, participants had to go through not only sleep routines but also complex stages like creative weekly challenges and tracking sleep performance.

Between the lines: The competition was not limited to just sleeping; it included quirky intellectual and creative tasks such as ‘Sleep Cinema’, ‘Sleep Bingo’, and ‘Undercover Sleep Mission’. In the grand finale, participants’ observational skills and ability to create a sleep environment were tested through the ‘Memory Foam Challenge’ and ‘Sleep Auction’, where Zinia Chatterjee proved her excellence.

What’s next: Following the unprecedented success of this competition, Wakefit authorities have already started pre-registration for their sixth season. Initiated in 2019, this venture has attracted over 10 lakh applicants to date and rewarded 65 interns, becoming a major platform for raising awareness about sleep quality in the future.

The bottom line: By winning 9.6 lakh rupees and a sponsored vacation package, Zinia Chatterjee has proven that disciplined sleep in modern life can be an important component not only for health but also for career and success. This victory is being considered a unique example of generating interest and awareness about sleep hygiene among the general public.

Rajshahi, December 11:

A tense, round-the-clock rescue operation is underway in Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi to save two-year-old Sajid, who fell into a 40-foot deep abandoned borehole. The child accidentally slipped into the open pit while walking behind his mother near their home in Koyeler Hat Madhyapara on Wednesday (December 10) around 1:00 PM.

As of Thursday morning, Sajid remains trapped in the dark, cold, and suffocating pit, with no sight of him. The rescue efforts have surpassed 20 hours.

The mother, Runa Begum, recounted the moment of the accident: Sajid was holding her hand as they walked in a field next to their home to collect hay. The borewell was hidden under a layer of hay, making it invisible. Sajid fell instantly upon stepping on the spot.

“My son called out ‘Maa, Maa’ three or four times, and then… silence,” said the grief-stricken mother, who has spent the night waiting by the pit, frequently losing consciousness due to shock and distress. She added that Sajid had a high fever and is now suffering in the intense cold underground.

The Fire Service was alerted after local attempts failed. Five units were deployed, but the initial phase was delayed due to the unavailability of a high-powered excavator in the entire Tanore Upazila. Eventually, two smaller excavators were brought from the adjacent Mohanpur Upazila around 8:00 PM to begin digging parallel to the borewell.

By 6:00 AM on Thursday, the Fire Service had dug a 40-foot deep parallel pit. Workers then started digging a connecting tunnel towards the main borewell where Sajid is trapped. Although tunneling has been underway for over an hour and a half, the child has not yet been reached.

Local residents confirmed that the pit was dug about a year ago by the landowner, Kochhir Uddin, for a semi-deep tube well but was left open after failing to find water, leading to the tragedy.

Didarul Islam, Assistant Director of the Rajshahi Fire Service Station, stated that the rescue work is ongoing, focusing on the careful tunneling to reach the child.

Two individuals, including the truck driver, were killed, and three others were seriously injured in a tragic road accident on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge Highway. The incident occurred late Tuesday night (December 9) around 10:00 PM in the Kandila Bypass area of Tangail Sadar Upazila when a truck collided violently with the back of a covered van.

The deceased have been identified as Sohel, the truck driver from Sherpur district, and Aminur Rahman, a poultry businessman from Mirzapur, Tangail.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Kamrul Hasan of Elenga Highway Police confirmed the accident. The truck, loaded with poultry and traveling from Jamalpur towards Dhaka, lost control and crashed into the rear of a covered van moving ahead of it. The impact was severe enough to instantly kill the driver and the businessman.

The three critically injured individuals were rescued and rushed to the Tangail General Hospital. SI Hasan stated that initial investigation suggests the crash was caused by high speed or driver inattention during the night. Legal procedures are underway before the bodies are handed over to their families.