DHAKA, March 25, 2026 (BSS) – Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator and valiant Freedom Fighter Md. Abdus Salam today urged the youth to take the mantle of nation-building by combining patriotism, merit, and honest leadership, while strictly upholding the true history of independence. “The independence of Bangladesh was not achieved through any compromise or as a gift, but was snatched through a bloody and tough war,” he said while addressing a memorial meeting marking the "Genocide Day" at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital’s Bailey Road area.  Highlighting the historical context of the struggle, Abdus Salam noted that the path to sovereignty was paved by years of resistance against oppression.  He described the ‘Black Chapter’ of March 25, 1971, when Pakistani forces launched a barbaric massacre against unarmed Bengalis. Recalling the horrors of that night, he specifically cited the indiscriminate killings and destruction carried out at Rajarbagh Police Lines, Dhaka University, and Jagannath Hall as a dark period in the nation's history. Recounting his personal experiences as a student activist, Salam said he was involved in the preparations for the liberation struggle from his student days.  He shared a poignant detail regarding the severe lack of weapons at the time, noting how students attempted to manufacture bombs using chemicals collected from school laboratories to counter the occupying forces.  He stated that witnessing the atrocities of the March 25 massacre served as a definitive turning point, leading him to take a solemn oath to continue the struggle until victory was achieved. He urged the new generation to take the responsibility of fulfilling those aspirations and protecting the independence earned by their predecessors. "We have liberated this country, and the responsibility to protect this independence now lies with the younger generation," Salam said.  "To take the nation forward, our youth must embrace the country's culture, people, and heritage, and combine patriotism and merit with honest leadership," he added. The administrator recalled the contribution of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to Liberation War and paid rich tributes to his memory.  He also paid deep respect to all martyrs of the Liberation War.  The programme, organised by the Central Cultural Committee of the institution, concluded with the DSCC Administrator distributing prizes among the winners of various competitions held to mark Genocide Day.

MEHERPUR, Mar 25, 2026 (BSS)- Mango trees across the orchards in Meherpur have been filled with budding fruits, raising hopes for a bumper production this season.  Meherpur has set a production target of 40,000 metric tons of mangoes from 2,361 hectares of land this year, provided no natural disaster occurs. Along with growing demand, mango orchards in the district are also expanding.  Although traditional varieties like Langra, Gopalbhog, Khirsapat and Ashwina dominate the orchards, many growers are increasingly showing interest in research-based varieties like Bari-3 and Bari-4.  A visit to different orchards in Meherpur shows that branches of mango trees have already started bending under the weight of the young fruits.  Last year, excessive rainfall led to pest infestations, causing losses to farmers. However, the Department of Agricultural Extension expects production to exceed the target this year if favorable weather prevails. A mango grower, Bakul Biswas of Pirojpur village under Sadar upazila said he owns more than a hundred mango trees of various sizes, all of which are now full of budding fruits. He added that he has taken proper care of the trees and blossoms from the beginning to ensure a good yield. Mango trader and exporter Shahinur Rahman said Meherpur mangoes have gained popularity in Europe due to their quality. He has been exporting mangoes to European countries for the past and plans to export 250 metric tons this year. For this purpose, the mangoes will be preserved using fruit packaging carbon bags. Deputy Director of the district agri office Sanjib Mridha said a target has been set to produce around 40,000 metric tons of mangoes in Meherpur this season. If adverse weather conditions do not occur, production is expected to exceed the target.   He added that due to their taste, mangoes from Meherpur will continue to meet domestic demand and maintain their reputation in European markets.