Mintu Deshwara

Cassava cultivation catching on in hilly areas

Cassava, known as shimul alu in Bangladesh, is a root vegetable widely consumed in many countries across the globe for its dietary benefits, which include healthy carbohydrates and vitamin C.

1w ago

Khowai: a river or dumpster?

Abdus Salek, a 62-year-old resident of Habiganj town’s Khowai Mukh area, used to spend his childhood fishing in the Khowai river. However, he no longer visits its banks as it has now turned into a dumping ground for household and commercial waste.

2w ago

Finding joy, unity amid struggle

In the heart of the green Fulchhara tea garden, the air was filled with a riot of colours and joy as thousands of tea workers gathered to celebrate the Fagua festival yesterday. It was a rare moment of respite from their otherwise arduous and monotonous lives.

2w ago

Speed limit 20km, only on paper

All trains running through the Lawachara National Park in Moulvibazar have been instructed to run at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour to ensure the safety of the wildlife in the area.

4w ago

Tea workers demand Tk 30,000 in arrears, get Tk 11,000 instead

The tea workers demanded Tk 30,000 in arrears for 20 months in line with the hiked wages that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked tea garden owners to pay in August last year

4w ago

Below this institute lies a torture cell

The year was 1971. Odoitto Sen Odhikary was just a tenth-grader preparing for his board exams.

A new hope for Manipuri script

Moulvibazar district has one of the largest Manipuri communities in the country. While everyone in the community can speak Manipuri, the language’s script and alphabet were at risk of extinction.

Habiganj’s lifeline ceasing to exist

There was a time when the Jujnal river used to be the lifeline of Habiganj. Boats used to ply the river with goods and passengers, facilitating agriculture, trade and communication simultaneously.

World Leprosy Day: Tea workers worst-affected

Tea garden workers in the country’s northeastern region are at high risk of developing leprosy due to their unhygienic living conditions, malnutrition and lack of awareness.

Tea garden at cost of trees, animals and hills

A tea estate in Habiganj has completely cleared their leased land by setting it ablaze and cutting down the trees, much to the dismay of environmentalists and wildlife activists.

People suffer as LGED, WDB trade blame

A total of six bridges built on Fanai river, flowing through the southern part of Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila, have either collapsed or partially broken down allegedly due to unplanned dredging of the river.

Removal of Topsoil: Traders ruining Habiganj cropland

Cutting, selling and using topsoil from cropland for different purposes is going on unabated at many places in Habiganj’s Nabiganj upazila, defying laws.

Tea estate ignites wildfire, kills scores of animals

Hatimara Tea Garden took lease of a land near Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary in Habiganj’s Chunarughat upazila some years ago. The place was a safe habitat for wildlife and hosted century-old trees... up until January 19, 2023.

Destroying bird habitat for a tea garden

The state-owned National Tea Company took the lease of Moulvibazar’s Kurma Chonkhul area a long time ago. The place, surrounded by trees and bushes, serves as the sole breeding ground for the rare Golden Headed Cisticola, locally known as “Munia” in Bangladesh, and many other endangered species.

Protecting 3 Moulvibazar upazilas from flood: Tk 996cr project in limbo

In 2021, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved a mega project worth Tk 996.30 crore in 2021 to permanently free three upazilas of Moulvibazar from flood.

Row over payment mode stalls water-supply project

On June 30, the Directorate of Public Health Engineering finished building a water-supply centre in Habiganj at a cost of Tk 9.29 crore.

Three-wheeler stand on Shaheed Minar premises!

Some 48 years ago, a Shaheed Minar was built at Shamsernagar area in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila commemorating those who lost their lives during the Language Movement in 1952.

No Christmas for them

Lobbing Sumer (40) is the head of a six-member family at Doluchhara punjee in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila. During the last 13 years serving as the Khasi punjee (indigenous village) chief, he had to manage the expenses of seven cases filed by the forest department against the members of their community.

Black-marketing of TCB goods in Moulvibazar

Some TCB dealers in Moulvibazar are selling daily essentials in black markets, depriving low-income groups from buying the commodities in fair prices.

Blood that was spilled after the war

By December 20, the war was well and truly over. After nine long months of blood, sweat and tears, the freedom fighters snatched the victory flag. This was their time to return home, meet their beloved ones, and rest on their own pillows.

‘Probinanggon’ offering respite to senior citizens

Jamilur Rahman (69), a resident of Girzapara under Moulvibazar municipality, had just retired a few years ago from his profession as a college professor. After working for years on end, when he retired, loneliness had gotten the best of him.

First factory in Srihatta economic zone starts journey

Srihatta Economic Zone has become active as a door and window manufacturing company started production in the special area in Moulvibazar’s Sherpur.

Srihatta economic zone starts production

Srihatta Economic Zone has become active as a door and window manufacturing company started production in the special area in Moulvibazar’s Sherpur.

Will things ever turn for the better for Harijans?

Harijans deserve to be treated equally and with dignity.

Can Horibol pursue his dreams?

“I didn’t think I could come this far,” said a beaming Horibol Bonarjee, a student of Moulvibazar Government High School, who passed this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams.

Can Horibol pursue his dreams?

“I didn't think I could come this far,” said a beaming Horibol Bonarjee, a student of Moulvibazar Government High School, who passed this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC).

Cattle market on rail track!

Ignoring risks of accidents, a cattle market sits two days a week on the rail line in the southern part of Shamsernagar station in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila.

‘Struggle for right to vote starts now’

The BNP’s only aim is to end the regime, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told yesterday’s rally in Sylhet city.

Sylhet city virtually stops

People in general suffered on the roads in Sylhet due to the transport strike allegedly centring yesterday’s BNP rally.

Bird poaching: a difficult puzzle to solve

Seeing migratory birds fly in the winter skies can captivate any individual -- be it the seasoned birdwatcher or an unassuming passer-by.

Plots remain vacant due to high price of land

The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) industrial estate in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar has all the required facilities but remains vacant as plot prices are considerably high, according to various entrepreneurs.

A festival of harmony

Love was in the air at the Manipuri villages of Madhabpur and Adampur in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila as Rash Mela, the biggest religious celebration of the community, concluded with due fervor and festivities yesterday.

Celebrating love, togetherness

Monipuri villages in Madhabpur and Adampur of Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila have taken a festive look as their major religious festival, Rash Mela, is right around the corner.

The hills keep vanishing

In Moulvibazar’s Barlekha upazila, the hills keep disappearing, and everyone knows why. With nothing to do, residents are watching their surroundings fall apart with each passing day.

Killing Old Khowai, slowly but surely

Due to encroachment and waste dumping, the Old Khowai river, flowing through Habiganj, has been turned into a narrow canal.

The poor suffer, as usual

Hundreds of people from lower-income backgrounds in the haor and tea garden areas in Moulvibazar depend on the Rajnagar Upazila Health Complex for affordable medical treatment.

Patrokhola in Moulvibazar : A cemetery for all

If one visits Patrokhola Tea Garden in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila, one will come across a serene cemetery.

Here, women run the show

Since the Duga Puja celebrations started on October 1, hundreds of people, from all walks of life, have been flocking to a particular temple in Moulvibazar town.

Gone too soon

Among the 167 species of plants in Moulvibazar’s Lawachhara forest, two rare species of trees, known as the “African Teak Oak”, were the elements that attraction for hundreds of tourists to the forest.

Hakaluki under threat: Illegal fishing goes on unabated

South Asia’s largest wetland ecosystem, the Hakaluki haor, is currently under threat as its fish population and aquatic plants is in decline due to illegal fishing.

Living in a state of constant fear

Hiramoni Bhumij, 30, Purnima Bhumij, 28, Radha Mahali, 40 and Shukantala Bhumij, 40.

Tea workers return to work after 15 days

After a 15-day work abstention, tea workers resumed work for a daily wage of Tk 170 yesterday morning.

Unhappy tea workers return to work

Nineteen days after they started a demonstration demanding daily wage of Tk 300, tea garden workers have joined work today (August 28, 2022) for daily wage of Tk 170.

Tk 170 wage decision draws mixed reactions from tea workers

Tea workers have expressed mixed reactions to the daily wage set at Tk 170, following a meeting between tea garden owners and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Plight and struggle of tea workers continue forever

Basanti Bauri, 40, of Moulvibazar works for a renowned tea estate as a “plucker”. Her day starts at 5:00am sharp. After paying homage to the family deity, she prepares food for her three children and husband.

Tea workers’ strike: Owners of tea estates to meet PM tomorrow

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invited all tea estate owners to the Gono Bhaban for a meeting tomorrow.

Demo for tk 300 daily wage: Tea workers vow not to back down

Hundreds of tea workers blocked roads for hours at multiple points of Moulvibazar yesterday, the 12th day of their work abstention, to press home their demand for a daily wage of Tk 300.

Tea workers defiant

Workers of different tea estates in Sylhet, Habiganj, and Moulvibazar continued work abstention yesterday demanding Tk 300 daily wage.

August 23, 2022

Most tea workers continue protest for pay hike

Many tea plantation workers continued their protest yesterday, disregarding their union leaders’ agreement on the withdrawal of ongoing strike demanding pay hike.

August 22, 2022

Tea workers’ wages: Many take to streets again

Demanding a pay hike, tea plantation workers in Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway at least for two hours yesterday.

August 22, 2022

A hub of illegal sand mining

Bunobhir union of Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal upazila has become a hub of illegal sand mining, posing threat to nearby farmlands and damaging the soil fertility in the area.

August 21, 2022

Was this really a win for tea workers?

“Today, I protest so that I don’t die out of hunger. It’s a protest for our lives, our survival and our rights.”

August 18, 2022

Tea workers’ strike continues as no agreement in labour dept’s meeting

The Department of Labour organised a tripartite meeting between owners of tea gardens and tea workers’ leaders yesterday. However, workers’ strike continued this morning as no agreement was reached regarding their demand for an increased minimum wage.

August 16, 2022