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Anti-Tobacco Groups Demand Significant Tax Hike on Tobacco Products in Upcoming Budget

Staff Correspondent, Bogra: Anti-tobacco advocates held a rally at Satmatha, Bogra, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, demanding a substantial increase in tobacco taxes and prices in the upcoming national budget. The event was jointly organized by Tabinaj (Anti-Tobacco Women’s Alliance) and Venture Foundation.During the rally, speakers highlighted that while the prices of essential commodities are rising, tobacco products remain disproportionately affordable, making them easily accessible to the general public and the youth. Venture Foundation Executive Director Fazilatunnesa Fauzia noted that 90 percent of cigarettes sold in Bangladesh belong to the low and medium tiers, contributing to rising addiction among young people. To combat this, the organizations proposed fixing the minimum price of a 10-stick pack of cigarettes at 100 taka for the low tier, 150 taka for the high tier, and 200 taka for the premium tier, along with a specific tax of 4 taka per pack.CAB President Lotifa Akter Banu pointed out that the health and environmental damage caused by tobacco in 2024 amounted to 87 thousand crore taka, which is more than double the revenue earned from the sector. Proponents argued that implementing the proposed tax structure would generate an additional 44 thousand crore taka in government revenue and prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in the long run.The rally saw participation from various social and cultural representatives, including BDS Executive Director Daulat Zaman, retired military personnel, educators, and students. The activists collectively urged the government to maintain the existing 67 percent supplementary duty while imposing the new specific taxes to safeguard public health and the national economy.

6 May 2026

Boro Paddy and Rice Procurement Launched in Bogra with 94,000 Tonne Target

Personal Correspondent: The internal Boro paddy and rice procurement drive for 2026 was officially inaugurated in Bogra on Tuesday morning amidst a festive atmosphere. Md. Rezaul Karim Badsha, Member of Parliament for the Bogra-6 constituency, attended as the chief guest and formally launched the proceedings by cutting a ribbon. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Acting District Collector Razia Sultana, while District Food Controller Kazi Saifuddin and Bogra Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Abdul Wajed were present as special guests.For the current season, the government has set a combined procurement target of over 94,000 metric tonnes from the twelve upazilas of the district. This includes 17,781 metric tonnes of paddy, 72,602 metric tonnes of parboiled rice, and 3,811 metric tonnes of atap rice. Data from the District Food Controller’s office indicates that Shibganj upazila leads the procurement list with a target of 2,019 tonnes, followed closely by Sherpur, Nandigram, and Kahalu, while the target for Bogra Sadar stands at 927 metric tonnes.The procurement will be conducted at government-fixed rates, with paddy priced at 32 BDT per kg, parboiled rice at 45 BDT per kg, and atap rice at 44 BDT per kg. The paddy collection drive is scheduled to run from May 7 through August 31, while rice collection from millers will begin on May 15. To ensure transparency and accountability, the authorities are implementing the "Krishoker App" for digital procurement alongside the traditional manual collection from farmers listed by the Department of Agricultural Extension. District administration and food department officials expressed high optimism regarding the success of this year's drive. They noted that during the 2025 Boro season, the district achieved 100 percent of its paddy procurement target and 95 percent of its parboiled rice goal. Officials believe that continued strict monitoring and the use of digital platforms will allow the district to maintain this successful trend and reach its full procurement potential for 2026.

5 May 2026

July Political Prisoners Alliance Unveils Bogura District Committee

Staff Correspondent, Bogura | April 29, 2026The central leadership of the July Political Prisoners Alliance has officially approved an ad hoc convening committee for its Bogura district unit. The move aims to uphold the spirit of the July Movement and bolster organizational presence at the grassroots level.The committee was announced on Monday, April 27, via a press statement signed by the organization's central executives.The newly formed committee features a mix of veteran activists and organizers:The approval letter was formally endorsed by Alliance Convener Mahin Patowary, Member Secretary Morshed Alam, Chief Organizer Arnab Hossain, and Organizing Secretary Kader Mazhar.In a joint statement, the central leaders expressed confidence that this committee would inject fresh momentum into the Bogura unit, ensuring the aspirations of the July movement remain a priority.While this partial committee establishes the core executive body, leaders noted that it also includes several assistant secretaries and organizers. A full-fledged committee is expected to be finalized shortly to initiate comprehensive activities across the entire district.

30 April 2026

Nationalization of South Salua Private Primary School Essential to Realize the Vision of “Education for All”

Farman Ullah, Mobile CorrespondentChildren are deprived of the light of education in the village of South Salua in Salua Union of Kuliarchar Upazila of Kishoreganj due to the lack of a government primary school. Although there are more than one government primary school in every village in every union of the upazila, South Salua is deprived of this facility.The village of South Salua is neglected in all aspects within the union. There is no paved road for the movement of the people in that village. The unpaved road that exists is also unfit for movement. In addition, thousands of children of the neglected South Salua are deprived of the light of education due to the lack of a government primary school.The British ruled Bangladesh for two hundred years, Pakistan for 24 years and independent Bangladesh for 54 years. Even after hundreds of years, the people of South Salua have not been lucky enough to have a government primary school. This can be called a cruel irony of fate for the people of this village. The people of South Salua did not get the basic rights that the country gained independence with the hope of getting. Education is one of the basic rights of the people. And the people of South Salua have been deprived of this one of the rights for hundreds of years.The young children of this village have to walk 1/2 kilometer from their homes to go to a school in another village. Due to this, the children lose interest in education. As a result, their education stops from the beginning.In 2002, an educational institution called South Salua Private Primary School was established on the initiative of South Salua UP member Md. Jamal Uddin (Syed Hossain) in collaboration with the non-governmental development organization "POPI". Since the end of the education project of "POPI", the school has remained only in name as South Salua Private Primary School. No initiative has been taken by the administration to nationalize the private primary school.The land donor of the said private primary school is Md. Abdur Rashid. He voluntarily donated his purchased land for the education of the children of the village.Abdullah Al Qayyum, founder of Salua Union Blood Donors Club, known as the peddler of humanity, said that the school is in a neglected state. He said that the teachers who are volunteering here are living inhuman lives. Due to the lack of government facilities, the parents of the students of this institution are also disappointed and have admitted their children to other schools. Many parents have stopped their children's education. Due to this, the village of South Salua has fallen far behind in terms of education.Although the school is not government, a dilapidated house is being used as a local and national election center.The residents of South Salua demand that the South Salua private primary school be nationalized and the children of this village be given education opportunities. They said that if the school is made government, our children will be able to play a leading role in the progress of the country and the nation by getting good education. Therefore, we strongly demand that the school be nationalized.To implement the slogan "Education for All", the South Salua private primary school should be nationalized.

1 June 2026

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