Mostafa Shabuj

Bangladesh women’s team cricketer Sanjida Islam’s wedding photoshoot went viral on social media to the point that even the International Cricket Council’s website picked up the pictures with the caption: “Dress, Jewellery, cricket bat. Wedding photoshoots for cricketers be like …”

The proudest moment for a father, probably, is when he is known among friends and others through his children’s identity. For Hamdu Miah, a mere employee of the government’s central poultry farm, there probably is no other prouder feeling than being referred to as ‘Nahida’s [Akter] father’.

The Covid-19 crisis has made lives of many people, especially marginal farmers, miserable. To overcome this situation, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bogura has recently taken an initiative to distribute free vegetable seeds and money among the marginal farmers under the gardening project.

It is usually tough for women in our country to take up cricket -- or any other sport for that matter -- as a profession. For Murshida Khatun, a 21-year-old left-handed batter, it was even tougher.

A local Awami League leader in Nandigram, Bogura has reportedly stolen Tk 100 crore from his mother-in-law by forcing her to write him cheques and fixed deposit receipts, according to a complaint filed with Bogura Police Station.

Since the halt of cricketing activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, the hardships of male domestic cricketers were well documented, but the plight of female domestic players is as bad, if not worse.

How often is it that people shy away from doing something just because they think they are too old to do that? Bangladesh wicketkeeper batter Shamima Sultana is different from everyone in that regard. And hence, her story of emergence is also unique and different from most of her teammates.

From an outsider’s point of view, cricket in Bangladesh may always seem glamorous. It is however not the case always, especially not for women cricketers.

Bangladesh government has decided to open all heritage sites and museums under the Department of Archaeology on a limited scale from tomorrow after six months' closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Before winning the Under-19 World Cup this year, the young Tigers went to the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura in December 2019 to prepare for the global showpiece event in South Africa. U-19 captain Akbar Ali, their manager and coach told this correspondent that Bogura has grassy wickets and boast the best bouncy wickets in the country.

Courageous and resilient are perhaps two words associated with people from Magura. The statement holds true when we talk about Bangladesh’s brightest star, Shakib Al Hasan, who hails from this small district in Khulna.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim visited his hometown Bogura yesterday to spend some time with his family before leaving for the Sri Lanka tour next month. However, the 33-year-old, known as the most hardworking cricketer among his teammates, did not stop practicing as he completed practice sessions with the local boys at his home ground Shaheed Chandu Stadium from 11:30am to 2:30pm today.

Rajshahi Medical College campus and areas around the hospital premises have turned into a haven for birds, with hundreds of Asian openbill (locally known as shamukkhol), night heron, and cormorants nesting and breeding there.

Ashraf Ali (50), once a well-off farmer of Char Haatbaria village under Sariakandi upazila in Bogura, has lost everything to river erosion in just a matter of days.

For most people, sport is mere entertainment during their early age. It may later turn into a profession, but that usually depends on a lot of factors. However, for Bangladesh batter Sanjida Islam, even during her childhood, sport was more a necessity than a form of entertainment.

More than 1.25 lakh people have been suffering immensely since June 26 due to the flood situation in Bogura’s Dhunat, Sonatala and Sariakandi upazilas.

The by-election to Bogura-1 constituency will be held tomorrow amid coronavirus pandemic and worsening flood situation in the electoral area, forcing voters to lose interest in polling.

At a time when the world offers challenges in every step, it is not often that you find someone who takes multiple challenges head-on and thrives in those pursuits. Bangladesh women’s cricket team pacer Panna Ghosh is one of the courageous ones who represents the national team all the while playing volleyball professionally. Panna, the right arm pacer, is also a member of Bangladesh Ansar’s volleyball team.

Once crowded and noisy, the Bogura Govt Azizul Haque College campus remains quiet for months, due to closure during the pandemic. The silver lining? The green grounds becoming a bird paradise.

Most cricketers usually dream of playing cricket on the biggest stage due to their admiration for someone who has excelled in the sport.