Today Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to inaugurate  25 development projects completed at a cost of Tk. 1317 crore in Rajshahi City and across the district. At the event she will also lay foundation stones of six new development projects in Rajshahi City and district to be constructed at a cost of Tk. 376 crore including new Tathya Bhaban Complex in the City. Recently completed development projects include: Flyover at Mohanpur Rail Crossing,  Rajshahi Police Headquarters Building, Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Office building, Sheikh Russel Shishu Park, two storey hostel with six storey foundation for Girl Students of Rajshahi Government Girls College, five storey academic building at Rajshahi Charghat Technical School and College, Multipurpose Bhaban at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Padma River Protection Dam at Charghat and Bagha Upazilas in Rajshahi, Land Reclamation and Increasing Navigation through Padma River Dredging at Charghat and Bagha Upazilas. After inaugurating the projects, the prime minister will address a public rally at Rajshahi Madrasa Ground to be arranged by the district Awami League in the afternoon. PM Hasina will begin the Rajshahi tour by attending the passing out parade of the probationary Assistant Police Supers of 38th BCS Police Cadre at Sardah Police Training Academy. A total of 97 ASPs from BCS Police Cadre 38th Batch are participating in the year-long training at the Sardah Police Academy.

The largest mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is being built adjacent to the C&B Crossing area in Rajshahi city.   Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) is constructing the country's largest mural at a cost of around Taka 5.02 crore as part of its Taka 2,993-crore project titled 'Integrated Urban Infrastructure Development in Rajshahi City'.   Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton accompanied by others concerned visited the site to see for himself its progress today (Saturday).   RCC Superintending Engineer and Project Director Nur Islam told BSS that height of the mural is 58 feet having a 50-feet height and 40-feet wide Bangabandhu photo in main part of the mural.   Terracotta works are being done on 700-feet space on both sides of the boundary wall. Gallery and landscaping will be well-decorated with super granite.   Upon completion of the construction works, the mural will be night vision with decorative electric bulbs.   Mayor Liton said the mural will inspire people to know about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib along with his life, works and laudable contribution and sacrifice to the country's independence. Source: BSS AH

A truck driver, who was beaten in Bhabaniganj Shibzait area of Bagmara upazila on Friday night for running the vehicle on two goats, died at a hospital early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Abu Taleb, 33, resident Jhalmolia area of Puthia upazila. Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Puthia Police Station, said when two goats were crushed under the truck when it was being driven by Abu Taleb  around 7:30pm and he tried to flee the scene. But the goat owner along with locals riding on 10-15 motorcycles chased the truck and managed to catch the driver in Basupara of Puthia upazila around 8:15pm. Later, they beat him mercilessly, leaving him critically injured. The injured was rushed to Puthia upazila health complex where he died around 3:30am. Police detained five local people in this connection. Source: UNB AH

Six people including two children were killed as a private car lost its control and crashed into a roadside tree at Godagari upazila in Rajshahi district. Two people were also injured in the accident which took place on Saturday afternoon. The deceased are, Asia Begum (35) wife of Ramzan Ali from Kellabaraipara in Godagari, Akkas Ali (40) son of late Fazlur Rahman from Munnafer Mor area in Rajshahi, private car driver Mahbubur Rahman (35) an unidentified woman (22) and two children. Officer in Charge of Godagari police station Khairul Islam told Rtv online that the passengers were going to Godagari to join a wedding party. On the way at Kazipur in Godagari the private car lost its control and crashed into a roadside tree. Three people died on the spot. More five people were rushed to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment. Later two children and one woman died there. Their identities are yet to be known. AH 

Rajshahi Royals emerged as the champion of Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) beating Khulna Tigers by 21 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday. Mushfiqur Rahim-led Khulna Tigers won the toss and sent Rajshahi Royals to bat first who posted 170 for four in 20 overs. In reply, Khulna only managed to score 149 for eight in 20 overs. Khulna needed 60 runs in the last five overs but they scored only 38. They did not have a good start losing openers - Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz - within 12 runs. Shanto was sent back thanks to a spectacular catch by Liton Das at the point area off Mohammad Irfan in the first over of the innings. In the next over, Abu Jayed Rahi scalped the wicket of Mehidy Hasan. He was caught at long off as Shoaib Malik took a regulation catch. But to recover the initial damage, Shamsur Rahman and Rilee Rossouw added 74 runs in the third wicket stand. Rilee fell as the third wicket scoring 37 off 26 balls with one four and one six. But Shamsur was firm at the other end of the wicket. He scored 52 off 43 with four fours and two sixes. Shamsur and Rilee departed in a span of 16 runs, which pushed Khulna Tigers to the cliff’s edge. The onus was on Mushfiqur Rahim but the captain failed miserably. Mushfiqur posted 21 off 15 balls with two fours and one six before falling prey to Andre Russell. Robbie Frylinck was the last hope of the Tigers, but he too disappointed. He scored 12 off 15 balls with one four. Mohammad Irfan, Andre Russell and Kamrul Islam Rabbi took two wickets each conceding 18, 32, and 29 runs respectively for the Royals while Abu Jayed Rahi and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each. Earlier, Khulna Tigers won the toss and sent Rajshahi Royals to bat first. Despite a good start, Royals lost Afif Hossain (10) in the third over. He fell prey to a short ball by Mohammad Amir. Afif skied the ball and Miraz sprinted from his position to take a wonderful catch at short third-man area. In the second wicket stand, Liton Das and Irfan Shukkur posted 49 runs. But Liton fell for 25 off 28 with one four and one six. However, Irfan hit 52 of 35 deliveries with six fours and two sixes. Along the way, he became the only uncapped Bangladeshi player to hit a fifty in BPL final. Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik came to bat at number four and scored nine only. After losing four for 99, Royals added 71 in the last 34 balls. Afghanistan batsman Mohammad Nawaz remained unbeaten for 41 off 20 balls with six fours and two sixes while Andre Russell also remained unbeaten for 27 off 16 with three sixes. Mohammad Amir of Pakistan took two wickets conceding 35 runs in four overs while Robbie Frylinck and Shohidul Islam took one wicket each. Source: UNB AH

An Indian fisherman who entered Bangladesh illegally in Charghat upazila under Rajshahi on Thursday was sent to jail on Friday as two cases were filed against him for trespassing and catching hilsa.   The fisherman was identified as Pranab Mondol, a citizen of Sahebnagar Chhirachar in Jalangi area of Murshidabad district of India.   Samit Kumar Kundu, officer-in-charge of Charghat Police Station, said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Charghat Border Outpost (BOP) Habildar Humayun Kabir filed two cases against Pranab for entering Bangladesh territory and catching hilsa illegally.   BGB handed over Pranab to Charghat Police Station on Thursday night and was sent to the court around 11am on Friday from where he was taken to Rajshahi Central Jail.   On Thursday, BGB said its members were forced to fire back in self-defence after being attacked by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Rajshahi border that led to the death of a BSF man.   In a press release, the BGB said the BSF members intruded into Bangladesh territory and tried to snatch an Indian fisherman detained while illegally fishing in the Padma River.   “BSF members first opened fire while fleeing from Bangladesh territory towards India in the morning,” the release said.   The incident took place 650 yards inside Bangladesh territory in Shahariaghat Balughat of the river under Charghat upazila in Rajshahi, said the BGB press release. Source: UNB AH

Indian officials claimed that members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have killed one Border Security Force (BSF) member in an incident of firing. The incident of firing took place at the estuary of Padma river near Balu Ghat border area under Charghat upazila in Rajshahi on Thursday. BSF claimed that one member of their border force was killed and another was injured in the firing. But no formal speech was delivered on behalf of BGB about the claim of BSF. Rajshahi district BGB Commanding Officer Lt. Colonel Ferdous Mahmud told BBC Bangla that BGB found no evidence of killing a BSF member. According to the local sources, three Indian fishermen were fishing hilsa using current net in the Padma after crossing the border. At that time BGB members detained one of them and the rest two fled. Later, when BSF members came and tried to snatch away the fisherman, the incident of exchange of fire occurred. Indian news media Zee News said, name of the killed BSF jawan is Bijay Vanu Singh. He was the inhabitant of Chamaroli village under Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh. Name of the injured jawan is Rajbeer Singh. He is undergoing treatment at Murshidabad Medical College Hospital. AH    

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Monday set Tuesday to pronounce judgment in crimes against humanity case against an alleged Razakar Md Abdus Samad alias Firoz Khan from Rajshahi. Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of the three member panel of the ICT-1, set the date through a short order Monday morning. The tribunal on July 8, kept the verdict on CAV (curia advisory vault, meaning the court awaits judgment) as both the prosecution and defense concluded their arguments in the case on that day. The first tribunal on September 9, 2018, framed four charges of crimes against humanity against Khan and the trial was initiated through placing of opening statement on October 10. A total of 15 prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, testified against the accused, but the defense failed to produce any witness to vouch for Khan’s innocence. Source: BSS AH