SYLHET, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) - Two-day long Hason Festival-2025 began today here in the district in remembrance of renowned Bengali mystic poet, philosopher and songwriter Hason Raja.  The festival was inaugurated at the Central Shahid Minar in Chowhatta here through flying pigeon. Hason Raja Lokosahitya and Cultural Parishad hosted the festival with the assistance of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Despite being an influential zamindar, Hason Raja led himself to self-purification through mystical practice, said the speaker at a discussion, adding that his creation and songs contains deep spirituality, mystery of human life and deep affection to human and humanity also. Hason Raja's philosophy is very much relevant till now. His sense of life and mystical philosophy should to be upheld at the every stage of the society especially to the young generation, they added.  This festival will remain a milestone in the publicity of the folk heritage, they mentioned. With Hason Raja Loksahitya and Cultural Parishad central committee president Dr Mohammad Zahirul Islam Achinpuri in the chair, the festival also was addressed, among others, by former Principal of Madhan Mohon College Colonel (retd) M Ataur Rahman Pir, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy secretary Zakir Hossen, Sylhet City BNP acting president Rezaul Hasan, noted journalist Aftab Chowdhury, Hason Raja Loksahitya and Cultural Parishad chief adviser Dewan Shahbaj Raja Chowdhury and Sylhet city BNP publicity secretary Belayet Hossen Mohon. The Hason festival will be celebrated nationally from next year, said Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy secretary Zakir Hossen at the festival.

CHATTOGRAM, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) - City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain today stressed on adopting a healthy lifestyle to check liver disease saying that such issue has now become a global crisis. Liver disease has become a silent but significant issue in the world as approximately two million people worldwide succumb to liver disease annually accounting for four percent of all deaths, he said. In Bangladesh the situation is particularly alarming, he said putting emphasis on raising mass awareness to this end. The Mayor made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the 19th Annual International Conference on Liver Diseases organized by the Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Bangladesh (ASLDB) at the Radisson Blu, Chattogram Bay View today. The Mayor highlighted that around eight million people in Bangladesh are affected by chronic hepatitis B and C viruses. Additionally, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly spreading in epidemic proportions, impacting approximately one-third of the population in the country. “These statistics are not just numbers. They are exerting significant pressure on national productivity, health systems, and the economy...Liver disease has already been identified as the eighth leading cause of death in Bangladesh,” the city Mayor added. The event was attended by ASLBD President Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam, General Secretary Dr. Abdullah Al Mahmud, Principal of Chattogram Medical College Professor Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, as well as other medical college teachers, liver disease specialists, researchers, and doctors from various parts of the country.