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.

Naseeruddin Patwari, Chief Coordinator of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), has firmly declared, “Insha’Allah, we will go to parliament and form the government. There is no doubt about it.” He further stated, “Bangladesh has seen a bullet revolution, and a ballot revolution will happen next. No power can stop it. We will be victorious.”

He made these remarks on Saturday (June 28) at a discussion meeting and award ceremony organized in the capital on the occasion of International SME Day.

Naseeruddin Patwari issued a warning, stating that any party-affiliated SME-related institutions attempting to operate in the future will be stopped. He demanded that those who have looted the SME sector and the stock market in the last 15 years must be brought to justice.

Accusing previous governments of allowing specific party members to “become rich overnight,” Naseeruddin Patwari said, “We will work for everyone, rising above party lines. Bangladesh must not be harmed over our blood.” He also pledged to stop the culture of earning money through extortion and hooliganism.

Reminding the government that organizing elections is its duty, as is its responsibility towards the younger generation, Naseeruddin Patwari stated, “The government cannot simply sit comfortably and make grand statements without working. Fascism must be judged through judicial processes.”

At the same event, Sarjis Alam, Chief Coordinator of NCP’s Northern Region, said that a small number of people control 90% of the country’s businesses and have built an empire. He alleged that businessmen have joined hands with political parties through money, and everything from tenders is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. Sarjis Alam urged small business owners to unite, stating that media mafias and bank mafias are creating obstacles for them.

In a startling wake-up call on Saturday morning, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck various regions of Bangladesh, causing panic among residents and leading to a brief exodus to the streets in the capital city of Dhaka.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake originated at 9:35 am local time, with its epicenter located 8 kilometers east-north-west of Ramganj in Lakshmipur. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported a slightly higher magnitude, measuring the tremor at 5.6 on the Richter scale, as confirmed by on-duty official Robiul Haque.

The effects of the earthquake were not confined to a specific region, as reports came in of tremors being felt in various parts of the country, including Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chuadanga, Noakhali, and Kushtia.

In the capital city, Dhaka, the seismic event prompted residents to evacuate buildings and gather on the streets, fearing the possibility of aftershocks. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic and confusion as people hurriedly left their homes and offices to seek open spaces.

As of now, no casualties have been reported, and authorities are working to assess the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake. Emergency response teams are on standby, ready to provide assistance if needed.

The occurrence of earthquakes is not uncommon in this region, given its location on the seismically active Ring of Fire. Bangladesh has experienced earthquakes in the past, and efforts are continually made to raise awareness about preparedness and safety measures.