DHAKA, Feb 4, 2026 (BSS) - BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas today said people from all walks of life regardless of their religious identity should come forward to build a beautiful and peaceful Bangladesh. "In Bangladesh, there are no minorities or majorities. All are equal citizens with equal rights," said Mirza Abbas, also the BNP nominated candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency. He made the remarks while exchanging views with members of the Christian community at St. Mary's Cathedral in Kakrail of the city. He later carried out door-to-door campaign in the Kakrail area. Mirza Abbas said that the time for election campaigning is very limited, noting that campaigning within just 21 days is a first-time experience in his long political career. He added that in the past he had not received any complaints from the Christian community. He assured them that if they ever need support in the future and remember him, he will stand by them. Mirza Abbas further said that although St. Mary's Cathedral and several other religious institutions were not previously included in his constituency, recent boundary delimitation has brought them under the Dhaka-8 constituency. He said that although people of different religions live in Bangladesh, the Christian community is comparatively small in number. However, the Christian community in the country lives a peaceful and harmonious life and has no conflict with others.  He thanked the leaders of the Christian community for their role in maintaining peaceful coexistence. Mirza Abbas said that they should not underestimate themselves thinking their number of votes is small. Even a single vote is extremely important and can inspire others to cast their votes. He called upon people of all communities including the Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and others to vote in his favor and requested them to encourage their acquaintances to participate in voting as well. Expressing gratitude to the organizers for inviting him to the programme, Mirza Abbas expressed hope that he would emerge victorious with the combined votes of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian communities of the Dhaka-8 constituency.  

KHAGRACHHARI, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS) - A youth was killed and another seriously injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a motorcycle on the Chattogram-Khagrachhari regional road in Guimara upazila of the district. The accident occurred late Tuesday night in the Bailachhari School adjacent area, according to police. A Khagrachhari-bound passenger bus of Shanti Paribahan coming from Chattogram collided head-on with a speeding motorcycle approaching from the opposite direction. Motorcycle rider Kuben Joy Tripura, 28, died on the spot after being run over by the bus. The deceased Kuben Joy was the son of Kripacharya Tripura of Pankhimura area under Sindukchhari union of Guimara upazila. Co-rider of the motorcycle, Holen Tripura, 19, son of Monohari Tripura of Bhaibonchhara area under Khagrachhari Sadar upazila, was seriously injured in the accident. He was given primary treatment immediately. The body of the deceased has been kept at Matiranga Upazila Health Complex. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Guimara Police Station Md Sohrawardi said the injured is undergoing treatment at Matiranga Upazila Health Complex.  The bus has been taken into police custody while the driver and his assistant of the Shanti Paribahan bus are absconding, he said, adding that the body will be handed over to the family after completion of legal procedures.