Special Content
“An artist can win hearts of listeners only by becoming one with the emotion and philosophy of that song” — Urvi Som
Oorbee Shom is a renowned Nazrul Sangeet and classical music artist and teacher. As a former student of Government Music College, she completed her B. Music and M. Music in Nazrul Sangeet from the same institution, securing first class in M. Music. She is currently teaching at Government Music College.
Contractual reshuffle in public administration: a strong signal to administration
The government has brought major changes in the top management of public administration. Contractual senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md Ehsanul Haque has been removed and made a member of the Planning Commission. In his place, contractual secretary of the Health Services Division Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury has been transferred and posted as secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration. At the same time, three officers of the administration have been promoted to the rank of secretary and given charge of three important ministries.
Heat of Bhadra, a hint of winter in Ashwin
It is a Bhadra afternoon. Outside the window, the sun is scorching the courtyard. The wind is blowing, yet there is no coolness in it. Sweat gathers on the forehead, neck and back. Even under the fan, the air feels hot. To make matters worse, frequent power cuts bring the fan to a halt, and the four walls of the room quickly turn into a heated box. Outside, people wait for the rain; indoors, they wait for relief. Both seem to be taking their time. Adding to the oppressive humidity this year is another uncomfortable message from the global weather system—the El Niño is strengthening.
One child reported missing every 20 minutes; None knows how many return
Various sources indicate that the rate of children going missing in Bangladesh is rising at an alarming pace. According to data held by the Police Headquarters, 15,917 cases were filed as general diaries (GDs) at police stations across the country over the seven months from January to July this year, following reports of children going missing. That amounts to an average of 2,274 GDs a month and more than 75 a day. In other words, a report of a missing child was filed at a police station every 20 to 21 minutes.
The night of the four murders: What happened in the dark?
The Daspara village in Rangpur appears unusually silent even after four members of the same family were murdered. Four people were killed inside a house in the densely populated neighbourhood, yet residents of neighbouring houses say they knew nothing and heard no screams. The victims were Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty, their daughter Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, and son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam.
Nine years of Rohingya crisis: Repatriation still remains a distant dream
Nine years ago this month, nearly 1.2 million Rohingya fled Rakhine State to Bangladesh to escape brutal military crackdowns in Myanmar. When they crossed the border, they believed they were seeking temporary shelter and would soon find an opportunity to return to their homeland. But nine years on, that wait remains unending. What was meant to be a temporary refuge has, over time, turned into a seemingly permanent exile.
Why Mugdha, Siddhartha on suspicion list, what police say
Rangpur Metropolitan DB Police has revealed why Mugdha Das and Siddhartha Chandra Das came into the police’s list of suspicion in the murder of Ganapati Chakrabarti and three members of his family in Kamalkachna Machuapara (Daspara) area of Rangpur metropolis. Alongside, several detailed pieces of information from before and after the arrest have come up citing locals.
Death descends from Kailash: The curse of ice in a warming world
Kailash—the divine land of mythology. Where Lord Shiva resides in the pristine whiteness of snow, where the silence of the mountains has been understood by generations as a language of sanctity. But this time, from near that very Kailash, a different current descended—not just water, but a torrent of ice, rock, mud and death. In an instant, the familiar landscape of the Himalayas was transformed. Green mountains were buried under grey debris, rivers turned into raging torrents, and those on pilgrimage paths encountered the messengers of death.
Different statements by dom, doctor on rape signs on bodies of Ganapati Chakravarty’s wife, daughter
Bablu Kumar Biswas, assistant professor of the Forensic Medicine Department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, has said that there are no signs of rape on the bodies of the deceased mother and daughter of retired teacher Ganapati Chakravarty of Machuapara in Rangpur city. On the other hand, a mortuary worker (dom) has told Views Bangladesh that the mother and daughter may have been raped before the murder.
RU inquiry committee yet to submit report after 16 months
A 16-member fact-finding committee was formed at Rajshahi University (RU) to investigate allegations of corruption and irregularities in infrastructure construction, maintenance and development projects since 2009, irregularities in recruitment and promotions, and torture and harassment during the July 2024 uprising. However, even after 16 months of the committee's formation, the investigation report has not been submitted. This has raised questions among teachers and students regarding the committee's activities and the publication of its report.