People and Culture
Jashore’s Iconic Manihar Cinema Struggles to Survive
Manihar, once Asia’s second-largest cinema hall and the pride of Jashore, is now struggling to survive. Once a hub for moviegoers year-round, the theater now sees audiences mostly during the two Eid festivals, leaving the rest of the year marked by losses.
Owner Ziaul Islam Mithu says the crisis stems from the shortage of Bangladeshi films and a halt in importing foreign movies, particularly from India. To keep the theater running, Manihar has been screening old Tollywood films like Jeet’s Abhiman multiple times, but audiences have dwindled. Since Eid-ul-Azha, no major Dhallywood releases have hit the screens, and the few available art films have failed to attract viewers.
The hall’s survival now depends largely on revenue from its adjoining shops, hotels, and community center. “In the past, we had two new releases every week. Now we barely get one film a month. Without quality local films or the option to import, cinema halls will inevitably shut down,” Mithu told reporters.
Hall owners have recently held discussions with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting about film import policies, but no concrete decision has yet been announced.
Established on December 8, 1983, with a seating capacity of 1,400, Manihar quickly gained fame for its modern design and interior decoration supervised by celebrated artist SM Sultan. Today, however, the historic theater faces an uncertain future.
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.