DHAKA, April 17, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the chief patron of Amra BNP Poribar, is gifting a new home to Golapi Begum, a helpless woman who used to live on the footpath in the city's Shahbag area. The construction work for Golapi Begum's new home was inaugurated today in Ratanpur village under Nabinagar upazila in Brahmanbaria district. Agriculturist Moksedul Momin Mithun, member secretary of Amra BNP Boribar, came up with the developments. "On the occasion of the first anniversary of the July Uprising, a rally of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal was held in 2025. During this time, the plight of helpless Golapi Begum, who lived on a footpath in Shahbag, came to the attention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. On humanitarian grounds, he directed his Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon to look into the matter seriously," he said. Subsequently, initiatives were taken for the treatment and rehabilitation of helpless Golapi Begum. Arrangements were made for Golapi Begum to live in a house in Dhaka, including treatment for a long eight months. At the same time, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman instructed the construction of a new home for her permanent rehabilitation. Following this, the construction work for Golapi Begum's new home was inaugurated this afternoon. It is learned that a delegation led by Engineer Ashraf Uddin Bakul, advisor of Amra BNP Poribar and Member of Parliament for the Narsingdi-4 (Raypura) constituency, and in the presence of Agriculturist Moksedul Momin Mithun inaugurated the construction work.

KHULNA, April 17, 2026 (BSS) - Under the ongoing "Operation Mangrove Shield,"  the Bangladesh Coast Guard has rescued two fishermen who were held hostage by  the notorious Boro Jahangir gang in separate drives in the Sundarbans, and  arrested an active member of the infamous Doyal gang along with arms and  ammunition. Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan disclosed  the information on Friday evening. He said, under the direct instructions of the Home Minister, the Coast Guard  has taken a firm stance against all forest-based criminal groups operating in  the Sundarbans region.  As part of this effort, two special operations --"Operation Restore Peace in  Sundarbans" and "Operation Mangrove Shield," are currently underway. During the drives, two fishermen along with a fishing boat were rescued alive  from the custody of the Boro Jahangir gang. However, sensing the presence of the Coast Guard, the pirates fled into the  forest, leaving the hostages behind. The fishermen had been abducted on April 15 while fishing near Shuyormara  canal in the Joymonighol area under Mongla Police Station.  The pirates tortured them in captivity in an attempt to extort ransom. Following intelligence surveillance, the location of the hostages was  confirmed, and a special operation was carried out by Coast Guard Base Mongla  on April 16 around 4 pm in the Murti canal area, leading to their rescue. In a separate drive, based on secret information, the Coast Guard learned  that members of the Doyal gang were took position near Hogoldara canal under  Shyamnagar Police Station.  Acting on the tip-off, Coast Guard Station Koikhali conducted another drive  in the area at around 6 am on Friday. During the drive the criminals attempted to flee upon sensing the presence of  the Coast Guard. After a chase, the forces managed to arrest one active  member of the Doyal gang along with two single-barrel guns and nine rounds of  live cartridges. The arrested was identified as Tarikul, 35, is a resident of Koyra Police  Station in Khulna district and had long been involved in piracy activities as  a member of the Doyal gang. Legal procedures regarding the arrested person and the seized arms and  ammunition are underway, while the rescued fishermen are being handed over to  their families. The Coast Guard official also reaffirmed that such operations will continue  in the future to make the Sundarbans completely free from pirates.