Poet, philosopher, and political thinker Farhad Mazhar claimed on Saturday  that the current government is an elected one, and that the 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh is, in fact, Pakistan’s constitution. Speaking as the chief discussant at a seminar titled "The Role of Youth in Post-July Revolution Bangladesh" at the Jashore Shilpakala Academy on Saturday, Mazhar also came down hard on the BNP, ssaying: “Their fall began the moment they stopped listening to us.” He further declared, “Those who do not learn from history, whether today or tomorrow, will be lost.” Mazhar said, Dr. Yunus's leadership in the interim government was established through a popular uprising and was not merely the result of an election. “He was elected with blood,” Mazhar said, emphasizing the importance of the sacrifices made by individuals like Abu Sayeed of Begumj Rokeya University in Rangpur, and countless others. “Which is more important, votes or blood?” As a result, he claimed that the current government should be recognised as 'more than elected,' if possible. Mazhar did not hold back in his criticism of the 1972 constitution, saying it was never the people's constitution of Bangladesh. “The 1972 Constitution was Pakistan’s Constitution. It was created to hand Bangladesh over to Delhi,” he said. Mazhar said in 1971, Bangladesh did not have a revolution but instead gained independence. He accused Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of not fulfilling the people’s will in the post-independence period and criticised the absence of a Constituent Assembly vote, which he described as a key step towards forming a state. “For state formation, a Constituent Assembly vote is the recognised procedure,” he added. Therefore, he claimed, the 1972 Constitution was never truly the constitution of Bangladesh's people, as those who formulated it were elected to draft Pakistan’s constitution. It may be noted here that the constituent assembly that produced the 1972 constitution of Bangladesh, was formed comprising the winners in East Pakistan of the 1970 election in Pakistan - which was a constituent assembly election. Mazhar also reflected on the role of youth in shaping the future of the nation. “There is no such thing as reform. We couldn’t even make our own constitution,” he said. He warned that without a second phase of independence in which a state is formed, the country would fall behind by another 50 years. He agreed with students’ demand for a Constituent Assembly vote, calling it a rightful claim. “As long as we have breath, we will stay with these young ones,” Mazhar assured. He also emphasised the importance of raising public awareness, stating, “We will continue to awaken the people.” The seminar, organized by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Jashore, also saw speeches from Benzeen Khan, founder of Prachya Sangha Hashore, Khaled Saifullah, central member of the National Citizen Party, Mohammad Romel, Fahim Al Fattah, leader of the Jashore  Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and others.

A 59-year-old mentally challenged woman died after falling from the rooftop of a five-storey building in the city's Wari on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Monowara Begum, wife of the late Abdus Salam of Solai village in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur district, said Inspector Md. Faruk, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Outpost. 1.5-year-old dies after falling into water bucket in Jashore Family members said Monowara lived on the fifth floor of a building at 9 Chandramohan Basak Street under Wari police station. Around 1:30 pm, she suddenly fell from the roof and was seriously injured. Later, relatives rescued her and brought her to the emergency department of DMCH, where doctors declared her dead at 2:15 pm. BGB man dies in Benapole road accident while chasing ‘smugglers’ The body was kept in the hospital morgue for an autopsy, added the police official.

Journalist leaders have given a 3-day ultimatum to restore the declaration of vernacular daily Jai Jai Din, without which publication remains suspended.The demand was raised by the outlet's journalists, during a human chain protest in front of the National Press Club on Saturday following the cancellation of the newspaper’s declaration. Protests erupt as ‘JaiJai Din’ declaration revokedThe journalists condemned the move, claiming the government cannot close a media outlet under the influence of a special group without notice, as allegedly happened at Jai Jai Din. They called it a violation of democracy and freedom of expression and expressed concerns about the timing, which jeopardised the livelihoods of hundreds of journalists ahead of Ramadan and Eid.Khurshid Alam, general secretary of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), said that the struggle for press freedom had been ongoing for years, and despite 'the end of fascism', journalists still face uncertainty.He condemned the paper's editor since birth, Shafik Rehman, for cancelling the newspaper’s declaration in coordination with a specific industrial group, despite a High Court order. “On behalf of all journalists, I demand the declaration be restored promptly,” Khurshid Alam said.He added that while the Yunus government came to power through a popular uprising, one of its first acts was shutting down media outlets. He warned the government not to provoke protests, reminding them that no government has succeeded by opposing journalists.Shawkat Hossain Badal, Joint News Editor of Jai Jai Din, said journalists should be working, not protesting to protect their rights and livelihoods. The protest also recalled an incident in 2007 when Shafik Rehman fled the country without paying journalists’ dues, which were later settled by HRC Group Chairman Sayeed Hossain Chowdhury.Rehman returned to Bangladesh in December 2024, allegedly using a group to seize control of Jai Jai Din’s office and launch a new daily, Jai Jai Din Protidin, aiming to shut down the original publication. Journalist leaders claimed this conspiracy was supported by a leading industrial group. Commercial artists' elected reps take office, request job protectionThe protest saw speeches from other journalists, including Gazi Anwar, Razu Ahmed, and Fakhrul Islam, and was attended by a large number of activists and journalists.

Speakers at an artists' association event called upon the government to take effective measures to protect commercial artists in the face of increasing digitization taking over their line of work. They also expressed concerns over the challenges artists are facing, citing a lack of patronage and adequate training, which is threatening the sustainability of their work. They came up with the remarks during the installation meeting of the newly elected office bearers of the Bangladesh Commercial Artist Association (BCA) for the 2024-2026 term, followed by a reception of eminent personalities and an iftar gathering on Friday, says a press release on Saturday afternoon. The event was held at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium, with BCA President Md Mizanur Rahman presiding over the session. Aiyub Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the National Press Club, attended as the chief guest, while Md Rashed, proprietor of Century Art Publicity, delivered the keynote address. Former Dhaka Reporters Unity President Rafiqul Islam Azad was a special guest at the function. Other speakers included BCA General Secretary Abul Khair Mohammed Ahmad Ullah, Senior Vice-President Kamal Hossain Khan, Vice-President Tosaddek Hossain Moinul, Joint General Secretary Md Miraj Hossain, and Organizing Secretary Abdul Kuddus.

NCP leader Sarjis Alam addressed concerns over his use of a helicopter to attend Achiya's Janaza in Magura, as well as questions about why he did not visit her in the ICU before her passing.  In a Facebook post on Saturday, he clarified, “When I heard that Achiya was no more, I rushed to the CMH. Upon learning that there were vacant seats on the helicopter allocated for family by the army and RAB, I expressed my wish to attend her funeral in Magura. After the funeral, I returned to Dhaka.”  He also explained why he had not visited Achiya in the ICU, writing, “I went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. When I learned that she was in the ICU, I did not enter because there is a risk of infection from visitors. Instead, I gathered information from outside and left without posting any pictures.”  Sarjis also said when Achiya was later transferred to CMH in a critical condition, he visited the hospital in the evening with members of his party. But since ICU visits were strictly prohibited, he stayed outside, spoke with the on-duty doctor, and received updates before returning home. He refrained from posting about this on social media but continued to check on Achiya’s condition through student representatives from his party.  Responding to criticisms regarding his public presence during the case, Sarjis said, “Let’s talk straight about this ‘footage’ issue. A brutal crime was committed against my sister Achiya. From my position, I immediately informed the police administration and urged swift action to arrest the culprit.”  He added, “The High Court later announced that rape trials must be completed within 180 days. I personally shared my opinion with an important official, suggesting that even 180 days is too long. The trial should be concluded within one to two months—otherwise, public attention fades, and the punishment loses its deterrent effect. However, I did not post about this on Facebook.”  Sarjis injured in car accident in Dhaka University area He criticises the media and the public for selectively judging incidents based on social media activity. “People assume that whatever is posted online is the full picture. If nothing is shared, they think nothing has been done. It’s as if the focus is only on ‘footage.’ If something is posted, people call it ‘attention-seeking,’ but if nothing is shared, they claim nothing happened. When will this double standard be replaced with a single, consistent standard?”  He also accused certain media outlets of misrepresenting his activities. “The funeral was at 7pm. We arrived at 5:30pm and waited in a room for an hour and a half. At one point, I briefly checked my phone notifications. At that exact moment, someone took a picture and Kaler Kantho, like many other times, published it on their online poster, showing their unprofessionalism. They also made it look like we were just sitting there staring at our phones the whole time. They could have used a normal picture of us sitting there at any other time if they wanted to. But they didn't do that in the hope of getting more reactions." He questioned the ethics of such reporting, saying, “If you sit somewhere for 90 minutes, wouldn’t you check your phone at least once? Yet, the media portrayed it as if we did nothing else.”  Sarjis concluded by urging critics to focus on real actions rather than online narratives. It’s easy to analyse from behind a screen. But those whom you criticise—despite constraints and limitations—are the ones actually on the ground, taking action. Before making another online judgment, I request that you also set an example for us to follow. We are eager to learn from your good work. Take care, he wrote.

The 'Haier Service Platform Digital Transformation Global Commendation Summit’ was held in Qingdao, China,  recently, with the theme "wise-hearted service, warm you and me." The event marked the global expansion of Haier’s domestic digital service experience, promoting the globalization of home appliance services and establishing unified service standards through its digital platform. Haier connects global resources and introduces the "Three Unifications" mechanism—unified service standards, unified training systems, and unified assessment mechanisms—to ensure that global users receive the same high standard of home appliance services. Haier Smart Home’s global service network now spans over 200 countries and regions, with more than 14,000 service centers and over 120,000 engineers, offering efficient, transparent, and professional services. This summit signifies a further breakthrough in Haier’s global home appliance service, proving that Haier not only produces high-quality products but also earns the trust of global users through exceptional service. During the summit, Haier announced several awards to recognize outstanding overseas service contributions, including the “Global Leading Word-of-Mouth Award” for service partners and the “Global Technical Excellence Star Award” for engineers. Haier launches new 4K Google TV, opens new outlet in Dhaka’s Bashabo The Haier Bangladesh service team attended the summit, where Sirajul Islam (Senior Engineer, Haier Bangladesh Ltd.) was honored with the “Global Technical Excellence Star” award for his dedication to customer support and his embodiment of the ‘Sincere Forever’ philosophy. Islam shared a touching story demonstrating Haier’s commitment to its service philosophy during a crisis. In mid-2024, Bangladesh faced its most severe social crisis in nearly 40 years—mobile networks were disrupted, shops were closed, and transportation was halted. Despite these challenges, the Haier Bangladesh service team remained committed to serving customers. Mr. Islam was among those who insisted on providing services based on customer needs. His story deeply moved the audience and inspired engineers worldwide to uphold the "Sincere Forever" philosophy. Moreover, this case sharing strengthened Haier HQ’s confidence in further supporting the development of Haier Bangladesh’s service operations. Haier continues to advance service localization and digital transformation. In Bangladesh, Haier has implemented the "Three Triple" service strategy: "Triple Satisfactions" for end-users (Customer Satisfaction, Sales Partner Satisfaction, Service Partner Satisfaction); "Triple Fast" for service partners (Fast Appointment, Fast Service, Fast Payment); "Triple High" for engineers (High Capability, High Efficiency, High Attractiveness). Haier Bangladesh has significantly improved the professional capabilities of its service team through various initiatives, including expanding dedicated service networks in rural areas, launching the Customer Service Hotline (16678), Toll-Free Number (08000-016678), Engineer Mobile.

Karamot Ullah Biplob, secretary general of the South Asian Climate Change Journalists Forum, has been awarded the prestigious Golden Residency Visa by the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first Bangladeshi journalist to receive this honour. The UAE Media Council recognized Biplob in the "Expert Journalist" category, citing his significant contributions to journalism, particularly his reporting on migrant worker issues and climate change. This distinction grants him long-term residency and access to various benefits, including education, healthcare, business opportunities, and government event invitations. "This recognition underscores the UAE government's commitment to fostering humanitarian journalism," said a spokesperson for the Media Council. Biplob expressed his gratitude, emphasizing his pride in his Bangladeshi heritage. "My homeland, Bangladesh, remains my heart and soul. This recognition acknowledges the value of journalism and its impact," he said. The Golden Visa, designed to attract and retain exceptional talent, has previously been awarded to prominent figures, including Bollywood stars Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sanjay Dutt, as well as tennis player Sania Mirza. Journalist organizations have extended their congratulations to Biplob on this achievement.  

Young doctors on Saturday demanded that the price of each cigarette stick be set at a minimum of BDT 9 to make it unaffordable for children, adolescents, and young people. Medical students from various colleges across the country stated that if their demand is implemented, it will not only reduce smoking but also generate 43% more revenue compared to the last fiscal year. The demand was raised at a workshop titled “Young Physicians Leading the Fight Against Tobacco: Safeguarding Public”, organized by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. Representatives from the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh highlighted that tobacco products remain cheap compared to essential commodities in Bangladesh. As a result, children, adolescents, and young people can easily become addicted to this harmful substance. To address this, effective taxation and price hikes on tobacco products are necessary. The workshop further emphasized that the current four-tier cigarette pricing system (low, medium, high, and premium) is ineffective in implementing tobacco tax and price measures properly. To counter this, young doctors proposed merging the low and medium tiers in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year budget and setting the retail price of a 10-stick cigarette pack at TK 90. Anti-tobacco group wants strong law to reduce exposure to passive smoking They argued that this measure would discourage young people from smoking. Additionally, they urged that the minimum price of a bidi stick be raised to BDT 1. If implemented, this proposal could not only reduce smoking but also generate an additional BDT 20,000 crore in revenue and potentially prevent the premature deaths of over 1.7 million people, including approximately 900,000 young individuals in the long run. At the workshop, Abdul Motalib Shanto, President of Sandhani’s Central Committee, stated, "As doctors, we must raise awareness about the harms of tobacco among the public using social media platforms to launch strong campaigns against tobacco products. The price of tobacco products must be significantly increased to keep them out of reach of children and young people." The workshop was attended by medical students from various colleges across the country. They stressed that doctors must take an active role in reducing tobacco consumption in Bangladesh by educating patients about its harmful effects. They also called for amendments to existing tobacco control laws and higher taxes and price increases on tobacco products to curb their use. Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Epidemiology & Research Department at the National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute; Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, Advisor to the Tobacco Control Program and Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka; Naimul Azam Khan, Consultant for the Tobacco Control Program; Dr. Aruna Sarkar, Coordinator; and Abu Jafor, Communications Officer were present at the event.

A collision occurred between two trains at Rajshahi Station due to a signal point error. The incident happened around 1:45 pm on Saturday near the station’s wash pit, involving the Padma Express and the Banglabandha Express, said Rajshahi Railway Station Master Abul Kalam Azad. Bangladesh Railway to run special trains for Ijtema attendees Currently, train services on one track have been suspended. Azad Banglabandha Express was moving from the wash pit towards the station, while the Padma Express was travelling from the station towards the wash pit. Due to a signal point fault, the Banglabandha Express derailed after colliding with the Padma Express, causing damage to several coaches of both trains. Trains roll back to tracks after running staff calls off strike No casualties were reported as there were no passengers on board, he added. The station master added that since the train had fallen onto the Padma Express line, the Dhaka-bound Padma Express will remain closed until a relief train arrives.

Gas supply will remain suspended for 6 hours in different areas in the northern part of the capital on Sunday. Gas supply will remain off for all kinds of consumers from 8 am to 2 pm (six hours) in the adjacent areas from Kamarpara Bridge to Balaka Bhaban on Sunday for the relocation of existing gas pipelines to facilitate the construction works of the MRT Line-1 under Dhaka Mass Transport Company Limited, said Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC. Gas supply to remain off for 10 hrs in parts of Dhaka Thursday Consumers in the adjacent areas, including all sectors in Uttara, Uttarkhan, and Dakkhin Khan, may experience low pressure in gas supply, said the Titas Gas authority, regretting the temporary inconvenience to its customers. Top business leaders urge BERC to reject proposal on raising gas price