Rangpur: Intellectuals mark centenary of Buddhir Mukti Andolon amid vegetable price crisis

Rangpur this week united intellectual commemoration with civic urgency: scholars gathered at Garan Art Gallery to mark the hundredth anniversary of the Buddhir Mukti Andolon — Bangladesh's landmark freedom of intellect movement — while residents in city markets contended with vegetable prices that have nearly tripled in a single week. A divisional government seminar also convened to prepare officials for the nationwide Shipping Census 2026.

🪔 Centenary forum revives the ideals of Buddhir Mukti Andolon

The intellectual forum Atmasabha organized a centenary discussion in Rangpur on July 24 to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Buddhir Mukti Andolon, or Freedom of Intellect Movement, held at Garan Art Gallery in the city's Beacon More area. The event drew scholars, poets, academics and civil society figures from across the region. Keynote speaker Mamun Siddiqi, a Bangla Academy Research Officer and researcher, presented a paper titled 'Exploring the Evolution of Muslim Intellectual Thought in Bengal,' arguing that the movement's founding goal of promoting knowledge and intellectual enlightenment remains equally vital today for building a knowledge-based society. He noted that the ideals championed by the Shikha group — including secularism, democracy, tolerance, liberalism and pluralism — remain a powerful model for a progressive and forward-looking state. Dr Sanjoy Sarkar of the University of Barishal called the Buddhir Mukti Andolon deeply relevant for promoting free thought, human welfare and social progress, urging young people to embrace rational thinking and challenge superstition. Rajib Kumar Saha of the Bangla Academy highlighted the journal Shikha's historic role in advancing modern education, women's empowerment and secular values. Organizer Mir Rabi said the forum aimed to reassess the movement's legacy and influence in post-independence Bangladesh, and that Atmasabha regularly organizes such knowledge-based events to foster creativity and critical thinking. [2]

🗳️ Rangpur hosts divisional orientation for Shipping Census 2026

A divisional orientation seminar on the Shipping Census 2026 was convened at the conference room of the Divisional Commissioner's office in Rangpur on July 23, organized jointly by the Department of Shipping and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to align officials on the upcoming nationwide census. The seminar gathered divisional-level stakeholders to review the objectives, methodology and implementation plan for the countrywide census of engine-powered watercraft. The main data collection phase is scheduled to run nationwide from August 20 to 29, 2026, preceded by a pilot exercise in two districts from August 3 to 4. Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam attended as chief guest, while Divisional Director of Local Government Division Md Abu Jafar was present as special guest. Joint Director of Rangpur Divisional Statistics Office Md Shafiqul Islam delivered the welcome address and outlined the census goals, explaining that the exercise will compile a comprehensive and updated database of engine-powered vessels operating across Bangladesh's sea-going, coastal and inland waterways. The commissioner stated that the resulting data will support systematic planning for maritime infrastructure investment and regulation of the country's growing commercial and passenger vessel fleet. Additional Divisional Commissioner Md Abdul Motaleb Sarkar presided over the proceedings. [5]

🍛 Vegetable prices nearly triple in Rangpur, straining households

Skyrocketing vegetable prices across kitchen markets in Rangpur district have inflicted severe financial hardship on lower- and middle-income households over the past week, according to The Financial Express. The sudden spike compounds existing pressure from rising costs of other essential commodities, with the heaviest toll falling on the district's most vulnerable and low-income families. Traders attribute the supply shortfall at wholesale markets to recent monsoon downpours that severely damaged vegetable crops across the district, drastically reducing yields. The sharpest price increases have been recorded in yard-long beans, bitter gourd and eggplant, which now sell at Tk 80–100 per kilogram compared to Tk 30–40 just one week prior — a near-tripling for several items. Ridge gourd, snake gourd, teasel gourd and okra have also surged sharply. Buyers, however, have pushed back against the traders' weather explanation, accusing a group of opportunistic merchants of using crop damage as a pretext to artificially inflate prices across multiple vegetable categories. An on-the-ground visit by the Financial Express correspondent to several Rangpur city kitchen markets confirmed that the upward price trend was continuing to accelerate. Local residents described the combination of rising food costs and essential commodities as making daily household budgets increasingly unmanageable for ordinary families. [7]

Sources: [2] Views Bangladesh · [5] Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) · [7] The Financial Express