DHAKA: Newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Khondokar Misbah Ul Azim, was officially decorated with the rank badge of Vice Admiral on Thursday morning.​Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and outgoing Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M. Nazmul Hasan adorned the new naval chief with the rank badge during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Armed Forces Division, Dhaka Cantonment.​During the event, the Prime Minister congratulated Vice Admiral Azim on his new assignment and wished him success in his tenure. In turn, the newly appointed naval chief expressed his profound gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of Bangladesh Navy.​The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Defense Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M. Shamsul Islam, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Quartermaster General of the Army Lieutenant General Md. Shahinur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Mir Musfiqur Rahman, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Tariq, and Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atiqur Rahman Rumon.​A Distinguished Military Career​Vice Admiral Khondokar Misbah Ul Azim joined the Bangladesh Navy on January 1, 1987, and was commissioned into the Executive Branch in 1989. He completed his initial training with distinction from the Royal Malaysian Navy. Alongside receiving advanced education and military training both at home and abroad, he earned a PhD degree in Maritime Governance.​Spanning nearly four decades, his illustrious career includes successfully holding numerous vital command, staff, and instructional appointments within the Bangladesh Navy. He served as Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Commander Dhaka Naval Area, Commander Submarine, and Commandant of the Bangladesh Naval Academy. Furthermore, he held pivotal roles at Naval Headquarters as Director of Naval Operations and Director of Naval Planning, alongside commanding various warships and naval bases.​Vice Admiral Azim also contributed significantly to international peace by serving in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Sultanate of Oman, where he played a crucial role in strengthening bilateral ties and safeguarding the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis.​In recognition of his nearly 40 years of exemplary service and outstanding contributions, he has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Navy Medal (NBP), Naval Efficiency Medal (NPP), and the National Integrity Award.

Staff Correspondent, Bogura:The upcoming Board of Directors election for the "Bogura Chamber of Commerce & Industry"—one of the country’s most prestigious and historic commercial organizations—is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The upcoming polls have generated a vibrant and festive atmosphere throughout the local business community. Prominent among the contenders is Sumon Singh, a dynamic, dedicated, and highly successful entrepreneur who is running for the position of Director under the "Butterfly" (Projapoti) symbol.​Tremendous enthusiasm and support have already been observed among general voters and fellow traders in favor of Singh. Driven by a vision to foster comprehensive development in trade and commerce across Bogura—often referred to as the commercial capital of Northern Bangladesh—Singh has been conducting relentless, round-the-clock grassroots campaigns. His core pledges include safeguarding the rights of general traders and establishing a modern, business-friendly ecosystem.​Inquiries reveal that Suman Singh is a well-established industrialist with a highly diversified business portfolio in Bogura. He serves as the proprietor and head of several major commercial and industrial enterprises, including Suman Flour Mills Limited, Tirupati Balaji Imports, M/S Sohagi Enterprise, M/S Ma Bhabani Enterprise, M/S Ratan Traders, and M/S Ruma Enterprise. Due to his consistent presence and support for the local business community through times of prosperity and crisis alike, this corporate leader has garnered widespread popularity among the electorate.​During recent election rallies, supporters and independent traders emphasized that there is no alternative to qualified, youthful leadership like Sumon Singh to propel Bogura’s trade and industry to the next level and fortify mutual unity. Rallying behind the campaign slogan, "In favor of development and prosperity, cast your vote for the Butterfly symbol," the general members and voters of the Chamber have united to ensure a landslide victory for Singh.​Elaborating on his candidacy and future roadmap, Sumon Singh stated, "I aspire to work dedicatedly toward realizing the long-standing expectations and securing the rights of Bogura's business community. If elected, my utmost efforts will be directed toward protecting the interests of general traders and transforming Bogura into a modern, investment-friendly commercial hub. I humbly seek the valuable votes, blessings, and support of all esteemed voters for the 'Butterfly' symbol in the upcoming election on July 5."​General voters of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce & Industry widely believe that Sumon Singh, running with the 'Butterfly' symbol, has emerged as a heavyweight candidate in the central spotlight and is currently leading the race to victory.

Naogaon Correspondent:The District Detective Branch (DB) of Naogaon Police arrested a suspected drug trafficker along with 180 pieces of banned Tapentadol tablets during an anti-drug drive.According to police sources, under the directives of Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarikul Islam, a special team of the District Detective Branch conducted an anti-drug operation in the Manda Thana area yesterday (April 12). Activating on a tip-off at around 5:30 PM, the DB team learned that an individual was loitering near Bikash Chandra's auto-mechanic shop at the Kusumba intersection under Manda Thana, allegedly to sell drugs.Upon receiving the information, the operational team rushed to the spot. Noticing the suspicious movement of a man, the officers detained him for questioning and subsequently conducted a body search.During the search, conducted in the presence of local witnesses, the team recovered a total of 180 pieces of Tapentadol tablets (packed in 18 strips, 10 pieces per strip) wrapped in a polythene bag from the possession of the accused, identified as Mamunur Rashid (43). The arrested accused is the son of the late Moslem Uddin, hailing from Chak Bholai village under Manda Thana.Meanwhile, a case has been filed against the accused at Manda Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act. The police department confirmed that such anti-drug crackdowns will continue to maintain law and order.