People and Culture
Comrade Moni Singh’s 124th Birth Anniversary Celebrated in Durgapur with Grand Events
Netrokona Correspondent:
The 124th birth anniversary of legendary communist leader, freedom fighter, and founding president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Comrade Moni Singh, was celebrated today, Monday (July 28), with various day-long programs in Durgapur, Netrokona. Comrade Moni Singh was a revered figure in the anti-British struggle, a key leader of the Tonk movement, and an advisor to the wartime Provisional Government during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
The festivities, organized by the Comrade Moni Singh Fair Celebration Committee, commenced with the hoisting of national and party flags at the Comrade Moni Singh Memorial Museum premises in Durgapur municipality. The event was formally inaugurated by Comrade Dr. Dibyalok Singh, a prominent member of the CPB Central Committee, a renowned physician, social worker, and convener of the fair celebration committee.
Following the inauguration, a solemn ceremony saw freedom fighters and representatives from various political, social, and civil society organizations lay wreaths at the portrait of Comrade Moni Singh, paying their respects to the visionary leader. A vibrant celebratory procession then wound its way through the main streets of the town, drawing attention to the significance of the occasion.
In the afternoon, a thoughtful discussion meeting was held focusing on the profound life and extensive work of Comrade Moni Singh. Chaired by Comrade Dr. Dibyalok Singh, the session was skillfully moderated by Rupan Kumar Sarkar, General Secretary of the CPB Upazila Committee. Speakers included Ajay Saha, Joint Convener of the Fair Celebration Committee; Alkas Uddin Mir, President of the Upazila CPB; Morshed Alam, General Secretary of the District Farmers’ Association; Shamshul Alam Khan, President of Upazila Udichi; Bireswar Chakraborty, a representative of civil society; Shafiul Alam Swapan, a cultural personality; Taslima Begum, a women’s leader; Jahangir Alam Ripon, a teacher; and Nirantar Banowari, President of the District Indigenous Union.
The speakers unanimously highlighted Comrade Moni Singh’s unwavering dedication to the oppressed and deprived throughout his life. They emphasized his relentless struggle for the rights of working people and his continuous fight to establish an exploitation-free society. Describing him as a “beacon of our ideals,” they asserted that his exemplary life and work would continue to guide future generations.
The day concluded with a captivating cultural program presented by the Upazila Shilpakala Academy and Udichi in the evening. This was followed by an award distribution ceremony for the winners of various competitions held as part of Comrade Moni Singh’s birth anniversary celebrations, adding a celebratory note to the commemorative events.
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.
People and Culture
Two Die and Three Injured in Late-Night Collision on Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge Highway.
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.
People and Culture
Unidentified Man Killed After Being Run Over by Train at Navaran Station in Jessore.
An unidentified man was killed after being run over by a moving train at Navaran Railway Station in Sharsha Upazila, Jessore. The fatal accident occurred around 2:30 pm on Friday (December 5). Railway Police have recovered the body and are working to confirm the victim’s identity.
Local sources suggest the man died on the spot after falling beneath the running train near the Navaran station area. Police are currently treating the incident as a probable accident caused by carelessness.
Mizanur Rahman, In-Charge of the Jessore unit of the Railway Police, confirmed the details, stating that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances under which the man fell under the train.
The body of the deceased has been taken into the custody of the Jessore Railway Police.