Rajshahi: Surface Water Plant Nears Completion; Fatal Stabbing Shocks Paba Village
Rajshahi confronts both infrastructure progress and public safety shocks this week. A joint Bangladesh-China surface water treatment plant has reached 65 percent completion and will supply 200 million litres of clean water daily upon finishing. Separately, a 40-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in Paba upazila following a neighbourhood dispute, while civic events including a divisional tree fair and anti-drug education initiative at a teachers college mark life in the Barind region's largest city.
🏢 Surface Water Treatment Plant 65 Percent Complete, Relief Coming for Water-Scarce City
Rajshahi, the largest city in Bangladesh's drought-prone Barind region, is grappling with an acute drinking water crisis as rapid urbanisation and a rising population outpace the city's supply infrastructure. The city currently faces a daily shortfall of nearly 37.5 million litres of drinking water. To address the declining groundwater levels in the Barind region and ensure sustainable supply, the long-awaited Surface Water Treatment Plant Project is under implementation. The project is being built at a cost of approximately Tk 4,062.22 crore under joint funding from Bangladesh and China, and physical construction has already reached 65 percent completion. Once completed, the plant will draw water from the Padma River, purify it, and supply 200 million litres of clean water daily to the city, a volume sufficient to meet projected demand through 2035. At present, the total daily water demand in the Rajshahi metropolitan area is about 11.32 lakh litres, of which the city's WASA authority extracts 8.65 lakh litres per day from underground sources through deep tube wells, leaving a persistent gap. The project represents the most significant investment in water infrastructure Rajshahi has seen in decades, and its completion is expected to transform water security for residents of the Barind zone, one of Bangladesh's most arid districts. Reported by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha on July 25, 2026. [1]
Woman Fatally Stabbed in Paba Upazila; Suspect's House Set Ablaze by Angry Locals
A woman named Farida Khatun, 40, was stabbed to death after an attacker entered her home in Hariyan Purba Para village in Paba upazila, Rajshahi. The victim was the wife of local village police officer Lalon Sheikh. Their son, Md Foysal, was seriously injured while attempting to save his mother and was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment. Witnesses reported that an argument broke out on Friday evening over a dispute involving a neighbour named Parash, 18. Parash and several others then allegedly entered the house and carried out the attack. Farida was stabbed during the confrontation and her son Foysal was injured trying to protect her. Hospital sources confirmed that Farida was brought to the emergency department already dead. Her body remained at the college morgue until 11:00 am on Saturday. Following the incident, angry residents set fire to the three-storey house belonging to the accused, Parash. Family members had reportedly fled the building before the arson. The victim's husband Lalon Sheikh filed a murder case at Katakhali police station. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman confirmed that no suspects had been arrested as of the report's publication. Rahman also noted that the main accused, Parash, had previously been arrested in a drug-related case. Reported by Views Bangladesh on July 25, 2026. [3]
🎓 Land Minister Urges Teachers to Lead Anti-Drug Movement at Rajshahi College Event
Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu addressed the inaugural ceremony of the Student Welfare Council for the 2026 academic year at the auditorium of Rajshahi Government Teachers Training College, calling on teachers to play a central role in protecting youth from drugs. Speaking as the chief guest at the event, the minister said that in the current situation of the country, teachers bear the most responsible role in shielding young people from what he called the blue sting of drugs. He stated that if any student goes astray, they should not be hated but should be brought back through love and proper education, noting that teachers are the mirror of society and the backbone of the nation. Addressing newly elected student representatives at the college, Minu said the arrogance of leadership should not touch anyone, and emphasised building a disciplined educational campus through mutual respect and courtesy to teachers. He recalled that the Rajshahi Government Teachers Training College has produced renowned educationists not only in Rajshahi but across the world. The minister noted that many of his own family members, including his wife, obtained degrees from this college. He mentioned various government development plans for the institution, including a large multi-storied building, a modern auditorium, and two new dormitories. Reported by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha on July 25, 2026. [7]
Sources: [1] Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) · [3] Views Bangladesh · [7] Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)