DHAKA, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS) - BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas today said former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was forcibly removed from her residence with only a single saree, denied proper medical treatment and pushed to the brink of death. He added Khaleda Zia was not permitted to travel abroad for advanced medical care. Mirza Abbas made the remarks while speaking at a doa mahfil organized by the Diploma Engineering Association of Bangladesh at the Diploma Engineering Institute auditorium in the capital. The program was held to seek eternal peace for the departed soul of Begum Khaleda Zia. Recalling her words, Mirza Abbas said that Khaleda Zia had once stated she had no place outside the country and wished to die in her homeland, adding that "Almighty Allah has accepted her wish." BNP leaders and activists from various levels, diploma engineers, and invited guests attended the prayer meeting.

DINAJPUR, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) -  A youth grower in Dinajpur’s Nawabganj upazila has achieved self-reliance by selling date palm juice, turning a traditional practice into a profitable business. Faruk Hossain, 34, a date palm farmer from Taikhur village, has been collecting and selling date juice for the past 8–10 years during the cold (winter) season, from Kartik to Falgun. Over the years, he has become a skilled date palm cultivator and is now widely recognized in the area for his work. Before winter begins, many local date palm tree owners contact Faruk to collect juice from their trees. He starts preparations in Ashwin month, working 8–10 hours daily to ensure a smooth collection process. Currently, he manages 67 trees, leased from various families in his village, and collects an average of 125–140 liters of juice each day. Every day, around 280 to 300 customers visit him to drink the juice or take bottles home. Faruk works with 8–10 assistants who brave the cold to collect sap from dawn to dusk. Each afternoon, they cut a hole at the top of the trees, attach an earthen pot or plastic bottle, and collect sap that drips through tubes overnight. The juice is either sold raw or processed into patali and red jaggery.   Raw juice currently sells for Taka 50 per liter, while jaggery is priced at Taka 320–350 per kilogram. Faruk earns an average of Taka 4,500–5,000 daily, with total income for the season reaching Taka 4–4.5 lakh. Local farmers, including Saiful and Jabed Ali from Shalkhuria village, praised the high demand for date juice and jaggery, noting that collectors often have little time to rest due to the workload. Customers, such as Shariful Islam and Moen Uddin, emphasized the superior taste of fresh juice and homemade jaggery, especially in winter pitha.   Md. Jahidul Islam, Agriculture Officer of Nawabganj Upazila, highlighted the nutritional and cultural value of date juice and stressed the importance of hygiene in its collection and storage. “If production increases, it will positively impact the rural economy,” he said. Md. Afzal Hossain, Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), commended farmers like Faruk for sustaining this traditional practice while earning a livelihood. “Many will benefit and prosper by engaging in this profession,” he added.