Meherpur News, 21 October 2011: Under the initiative of Meherpur Freedom Fighter Ahmad Ali Technical and Business Management College, a tree plantation program was inaugurated on Thursday morning as part of a social forestry campaign.

Deputy Commissioner Begum Sahan Ara Banu inaugurated the program by planting a sapling on the college premises.
Present at the event were:

• Principal Shahi Uddin,
• Journalist Rafiqul Alam,
• President of Meherpur Press Club Al Amin Hossain,
• Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, among others.

Meherpur News, 10 October 2011: On the occasion of Tobacco-Free Day, the Meherpur Hawkers Federation organized an anti-tobacco human chain program on Sunday.

Led by Mamlut Hossain, President of the Hawkers Federation, the human chain was held in the Meherpur Bus Stand area.

Participants included:

• Journalist Rafiqul Alam,
• Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Amjhupi Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha,
• Dr. Abul Hashem,
• Noor Islam,
• Rafiqul Islam,
• Ayesha Khatun,
• Nahid Hossain,
• Ripon Ali, among others.

Leaflet Distribution in Meherpur on Tobacco-Free Day
Also marking Tobacco-Free Day, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha from Amjhupi distributed anti-tobacco leaflets on Sunday in Meherpur Sadar Upazila.

Journalist Rafiqul Alam inaugurated the leaflet distribution at the Meherpur Bus Stand area, with Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Subah, present at the event.

Meherpur News, 05 October 2011: A discussion meeting on "The Current Status and Actions Needed for the Implementation of the Tobacco Control Act 2005" was held on Tuesday at the Meherpur Sadar Upazila Parishad Auditorium.

The event was jointly organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, Sadar Upazila Task Force Committee, and WBB Trust.

The meeting was chaired by Shah Momin, President of the Sadar Upazila Task Force Committee and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

Speakers at the meeting included:

• Dr. Mizanur Rahman,
• N. A. Halim, Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer,
• Abdur Razzak, Primary Education Officer,
• Mokhlesur Rahman, Cooperative Officer,
• Rafiqul Alam, Journalist,
• Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Subah,
• Moshiur Rahman, District Manager of BRAC,
• Triptykona Biswas, among others.

Meherpur News, 21 September 2011: An exchange meeting titled "Current Status and Actions Needed for the Implementation of the Tobacco Control Act 2005" was held on Tuesday at the Meherpur Sadar Upazila Parishad Auditorium.

The event was organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, AID, and WBB Trust.

The meeting was chaired by Shah Momin, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Meherpur Sadar.
Speakers at the meeting included:

• Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha and member of the Upazila Tobacco Control Task Force,
• Anwar Hossain, Sadar Upazila Education Officer,
• N. A. Halim, Agricultural Officer,
• Dr. Mizanur Rahman,
• Abu Zafar Howlader, Youth Development Officer, and
• Momtaz Parveen, Assistant Upazila Primary Education Officer.

Meherpur News, 01 June 2011: To mark World No Tobacco Day, various organizations organized a smoke-free Meherpur city awareness campaign. On Tuesday morning, a rally was held under the initiative of the District Tobacco Control Task Force, AID, Swadesh, Subah, and the Anti-Tobacco Alliance.

The colorful rally, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Hossain Ali Khondaker, started from the District Motor Workers' Union office and marched along the main streets of the city with festive music, ending at the Shaheed Samsuzzoha Park.
Later, a discussion meeting was held at the Mafizur Rahman Open Stage in the park, chaired by Dr. Abdus Shahid, Civil Surgeon and Member Secretary of the District Tobacco Control Task Force Committee.

The chief guest of the meeting was Hossain Ali Khondaker, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue).
Special guests included Riaz Uddin, Panel Mayor of the Municipality, and Moniruzzaman, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture.
Aminul Islam Bakul, Executive Director of AID, delivered the welcome speech.

Speeches highlighting the importance of the day were given by Rafique-ul-Alam, Advisor of the District Tobacco Control Law Implementation Committee, and a paper was presented by Adv. Tanmoy Kundu, Assistant Project Coordinator of AID.

Other speakers included Abdul Kuddus, President of the District Motor Workers' Union, M.A. Hasan Sumon, Director of Ashroy, and Abul Hashem, President of the Rural Medical Practitioners Association.

During the event, three public places — the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, the Civil Surgeon’s Office, and the Municipal Building — were officially declared smoke-free as part of the commitment to make Meherpur a smoke-free city.

To recognize active contributions toward tobacco control, crests were awarded to representatives of Swadesh, Ashroy, and Subah.
The event was conducted by Majedul Haque Manik, Executive Director of Swadesh.

Meherpur News, 31 May 2011: On the occasion of the visit of Md. Nurun Nabi Talukder, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the NGO Bureau, a reception was organized on Monday by the Meherpur District NGO Coordination Committee.

The event was presided over by A.K.M. Azadur Rahman, Upazila Executive Officer of Mujibnagar.
The chief guest at the event was Md. Nurun Nabi Talukder, Director General of the NGO Bureau (Additional Secretary).
Among others present were his wife, Shakila Haque Saki, Mosharraf Hossain, Executive Director of Palashipara Social Welfare Association, Abu Jafar, Executive Director of Sandhani, Fazlul Haque Montu, Executive Director of CARD, Mr. Tarun Mondal, Project Manager of CBSDP, Tripti Rani Sarkar, Executive Director of CDP, Faruk Hossain, Manager of Save the Children, and Bulbul, Executive Director of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha.

Meherpur News, 23 March 2011: To ensure that underprivileged and minority children are not deprived of access to education, a motivational meeting was held on Tuesday at Gohorpur Government Primary School in Pirojpur Union under Meherpur Sadar Upazila.

The event was organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha.

With the slogan "Education is our first demand; Strength in education, Freedom in education," the meeting was presided over by the school's head teacher, Murad Ali.
The program was conducted by Subah’s Development Assistant, Mofizul Islam, while Mamunur Rashid, Program Supervisor, gave the welcome speech and outlined the objectives of the project.
Teachers Jahangir Alam and Obaidul also spoke at the event.

Speakers emphasized that minority and underprivileged children must not drop out and that guardians should remain alert to ensure progress in primary education. They stressed that by 2011, enrollment of all school-age children must be ensured as per government goals.
They further stated that it is a collective responsibility to bring all eligible children into schools.

The teachers expressed their satisfaction with Subah’s initiative, stating that such programs would play a significant role in promoting child education.

A similar motivational meeting was also held at Juginda Government Primary School.

Meherpur News, December 29, 2010: To raise public awareness against eve-teasing, a colorful rally and discussion meeting were organized yesterday, Wednesday, in Mujibnagar Upazila of Meherpur district by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha and the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association.

The event was held under the slogan: "Girls will be safe on the streets, in marketplaces, and at workplaces."

The discussion meeting took place at the hall room of Mujibnagar Secondary School, presided over by the school's head teacher, Abdul Hai.
Mujibnagar Upazila Chairman Amirul Islam attended as the chief guest. Special guests included Officer-in-Charge of Mujibnagar Police Station S.M. Zafar Ali, Inspector (Investigation) Sardar Babar Ali, Advocate Manjuri Begum, and Advocate Khandaker Shams Tanim, members of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association.

The meeting was conducted by journalist Rafiqul Alam, and the welcome speech was delivered by Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha.

Among others, teacher Munshi Mokaddes Ali and student Rabeya Khatun spoke at the event.
Speakers emphasized that eve-teasing is a major social problem and called for a social movement to eradicate it from the roots.

The chief guest offered guidance and motivational advice to the students, while Advocate Manjuri Begum provided a legal explanation regarding eve-teasing.

Before the discussion meeting, a colorful rally led by Upazila Chairman Amirul Islam paraded through the Kedarganj market area.

Meherpur News, December 23, 2010: Today, Thursday, Moniruzzaman, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Meherpur, visited the afforestation program implemented by the NGO Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha.

The organization has already set a remarkable example by planting national fruit trees (mango), forest trees, medicinal plants, and palm oil trees along both sides of the Meherpur-Chuadanga road.

During his visit to observe the environmental protection initiative, the Deputy Director was accompanied by Upazila Agriculture Officer N.M. Halim, CAB President Rafiqul Alam, beneficiary members, local dignitaries, and Subah’s Executive Director Moin-ul-Alam.

Subah has been implementing this afforestation program in Meherpur Sadar Upazila with funding support from the Bangladesh NGO Foundation, aiming to protect the environment.

While speaking with underprivileged and minority community women beneficiaries during the visit, the Deputy Director said that the program would serve as an example by helping alleviate poverty, address nutritional deficiencies, and maintain environmental balance.
He also provided advice on plant disease control and maintenance techniques.

Meherpur News, November 2, 2010: A rally and discussion meeting to prevent eve-teasing was held this Tuesday morning at Amjhupi Secondary School in Meherpur Sadar.

The program was organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha and the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association. Students and teachers from Amjhupi Secondary School, Amjhupi Girls' Secondary School, and Amjhupi Alim Madrasa participated.

Despite light rain, students, teachers, and invited guests took part in a colorful rally that paraded through the Amjhupi market area.
Following the rally, a discussion meeting on preventing eve-teasing was held in the hall room of Amjhupi Secondary School.

The meeting was presided over by Borhan Uddin Chunnu, Chairman of Amjhupi Union Parishad.
Meherpur Police Superintendent Iqbal Hossain attended as the Chief Guest.
Other notable speakers included Advocate Khandaker Sams Tanim, member of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association; Jebun Nesa Sabuj, teacher from Kolkakoli Secondary School in Kushtia; and Amirul Azim, retired Senior Secretary.
Subah's Executive Director Moin-ul-Alam and journalist Rafiqul Alam, who presented the keynote paper, also spoke.
Teachers like Alif Hossain and students like Nazmin and Salma shared their views as well.

At the end of the event, participants pledged to work against eve-teasing.

Meherpur News, August 30, 2010: An orientation meeting was held by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha with financial support from the Primary Education Department under PEDP-2, aiming to create awareness and increase school enrollment of minority and ultra-poor children.

On Monday, August 30, the meeting took place at the Buripota Union Parishad auditorium in Meherpur Sadar Upazila. Advocate Shahjahan Ali, Chairman of Buripota Union Parishad, attended as the Chief Guest.
The meeting was presided over by Pijir Uddin, President of the Managing Committee of Shalika Non-Government Primary School.
Journalist Rafiqul Alam was present as a special guest.
Speakers included Md. Raichuddin, President of Fatehpur Primary School's Managing Committee; Sahabuddin, Head Teacher of Shalika Primary School; and Rabeya Khatun, representing the ultra-poor community.
The welcome speech was delivered by Moin-ul-Alam, Executive Director of Subah.

An NGO Coordination Meeting was held at the initiative of the Meherpur Sadar Upazila Parishad. Representatives from NGOs at the upazila level, public representatives, and government officials were present at the meeting.

On Wednesday, August 18, the meeting took place at the Upazila Auditorium, presided over by Mohammad Alauddin, Chairman of Meherpur Sadar Upazila.
Participants in the discussion included Abdur Razzak, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sadar Upazila, Moinul Alam, Executive Director of Subah, Jalaluddin, representative of CBSDP, and Alauddin, Executive Director of Mouchaq, among others.

Meherpur News, June 13, 2010: A reception was held for outstanding students of Amjhupi, organized by the Glorious Students Association with the support of the non-governmental organization Subah Social Development Organization at Amjhupi High School in Meherpur Sadar Upazila.

The event was presided over by Mamunul Islam, the head teacher of Amjhupi High School. Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, Superintendent of Police of Meherpur District, attended as the Chief Guest.
Borhan Uddin Chunnu, Chairman of Amjhupi Union Parishad, renowned social worker Saiful Islam, and Rafiqul Alam, Chief Executive Officer of Subah Social Development Organization, were present as Special Guests.

In the 2010 SSC and Dakhil examinations, 200 students from Amjhupi village participated, among whom 128 students passed successfully. Notably, 12 students achieved the distinction of securing GPA-5. These outstanding students were honored with crests and flowers.

Speakers emphasized that completing the SSC is the first step in life’s journey and encouraged students to continue progressing to become good citizens who contribute to the country and society.
The Chief Guest, the Superintendent of Police, delivered a detailed motivational speech offering various guidelines for the students.

The Chairman of Amjhupi Union Parishad also announced that he would award prizes to three of the students who achieved GPA-5 from his Union Council.

The Chief Executive Officer of Subah Social Development Organization pledged that, despite their limited resources, they would continue to support the Glorious Students Association in organizing such events to inspire meritorious students across the entire union in the future.

Meherpur News, June 8, 2010: A special discussion meeting was held in Meherpur on the theme "The Impact of Tobacco Product Marketing on Men and Women, Especially Women."

The meeting was attended by 80 women along with officials from both the district and upazila levels.

On the morning of Tuesday, June 8, the event was organized jointly by Subah Social Development Organization and Development and Human Rights Organization "Jiboner Jonno", with the support of WBB Trust. It was held at the Meherpur District Council Auditorium in observance of World No Tobacco Day.

Dr. Abdus Shahid, Member Secretary of the District Task Force Committee on the Implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act and the Civil Surgeon of Meherpur, attended as the Chief Guest.
The meeting was presided over by Abdur Razzak, President of the Upazila Task Force on Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Implementation and the Executive Officer of Meherpur Sadar Upazila.
Nazma Yasmin, District Women Affairs Officer, attended as a Special Guest.
Palash Khondaker, Executive Director of "Jiboner Jonno" and a distinguished journalist, delivered the welcome speech.
The keynote paper on the main theme was presented by Rafiq-ul-Alam, renowned journalist, columnist, and advisor to the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance.
The session was moderated by journalist Yeadul Momin.

Speakers at the event highlighted the various harmful aspects of tobacco and urged the government to amend the current tobacco control law. They also demanded an increase in taxes on tobacco products to help curb their usage.

Meherpur News, June 5, 2010: Under the theme "A Biodiverse Planet is Our Dream," International Environment Day was observed in Meherpur. However, due to the devastating accidents at Begunbari and Nimtali in Dhaka, the day was also marked as a National Mourning Day, leading to the cancellation of the previously scheduled colorful rally.

A brief discussion on the importance of the Environment Day was held, followed by a special prayer for the victims of the tragic fires. A minute of silence was also observed to honor their memory.

On the morning of Saturday, June 5, a discussion meeting was organized at Shamsuzzaha Park by the Meherpur District Administration and the Forest Department.
Freedom Fighter Md. Zainal Abedin, Member of Parliament for Meherpur-1, addressed the gathering as the Chief Guest.
Superintendent of Police Iqbal Hossain was present as a Special Guest.
The meeting was presided over by the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Hembram.
Sheikh Aslam, Nezarat Deputy Collector, conducted the meeting, while Additional Deputy Commissioner (Overall) Abdur Rauf gave the welcome speech.

Other notable speakers included Meherpur Municipal Mayor Haji Mutassim Billah Matu, along with representatives and Executive Directors from various local NGOs working for environmental development, such as Subah Social Development Organization, Development and Human Rights Organization "Jiboner Jonno", and Elahidat Foundation — namely Moin-ul-Alam Bulbul, Palash Khondaker, and Nur Islam.

Before the start of the discussion, a special prayer was offered for the souls of those who perished in the fire.
The National Mourning Day was formally observed across Meherpur, with the national flag flown at half-mast.

Meherpur News, June 5, 2010: Under the slogan "A Biodiverse Planet is Our Dream," World Environment Day was observed in Meherpur. However, due to the declaration of the day as a National Mourning Day, the scheduled rally was canceled. Instead, a discussion meeting and a special prayer session were held to pray for the souls of those who tragically died in a recent fire. A minute of silence was observed in their honor.

The event took place on the morning of Saturday, June 5, at Shamsuzzaha Park, jointly organized by the Meherpur District Administration and the Forest Department.
The Member of Parliament for Meherpur-1, Mr. Zainal Abedin, spoke as the chief guest.
The meeting was presided over by Meherpur Deputy Commissioner Mr. Benjamin Hembram.
Special guests included Superintendent of Police Mr. Iqbal Hossain and Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr. Abdur Rauf.
The meeting was conducted by NDC Sheikh Md. Aslam.

Representatives from NGOs such as Subah, Jiboner Jonno, Elahidad Foundation, along with teachers and students from various schools, participated in the event.

Before the discussion began, all attendees stood in silence for one minute to honor the victims of the fire in Old Dhaka and offered a special prayer for them.

Meanwhile, National Mourning was observed throughout Meherpur, with the national flag flown at half-mast and black flags raised. All other scheduled programs were canceled out of respect.

An important exchange meeting on the enforcement of tobacco control laws was held in Amjhupi, Meherpur Sadar Upazila. The event was organized by the Subah Social Development Organization and took place at the organization's auditorium in Amjhupi on Saturday afternoon.

The meeting was presided over by Acting Chairman of Amjhupi Union, Mr. Sirajul Islam. Among the speakers were Mr. Tarikul Islam, Sanitary Inspector of Meherpur Sadar Upazila, and Mr. Moinul Alam, Executive Director of Subah Social Development Organization, along with other dignitaries.

Speakers discussed the severe health risks posed by tobacco products and emphasized the importance of strict implementation of tobacco control laws to protect public health. The meeting highlighted the need for active cooperation between local authorities and the community to achieve a tobacco-free society.

Such initiatives are expected to raise awareness and contribute significantly to building a healthier, safer environment for all. Reported by: Meherpur News

The Meherpur Roads and Highways Department has once again come under public scrutiny for initiating a plan to cut down 1,440 century-old trees along the Meherpur-Mujibnagar and Meherpur-Chuadanga regional highways. The justification provided is road expansion and accident prevention. However, locals and environmentalists are voicing strong opposition, citing past actions and environmental degradation.

🌳 A Repeat of History?

Just a year ago, the department removed 2,786 mature trees along the Meherpur-Kushtia regional highway as part of a widening project. Despite promises, not a single replacement tree was planted. The once green roadside has now turned into a barren stretch, resembling a desert.

Now, the same narrative is unfolding again.

📢 Public Reaction

Residents are expressing deep frustration. The previous removal left scars on the landscape, and no reforestation efforts followed. With new plans to clear even more trees, people fear further environmental imbalance and long-term consequences. Subah also raised their hands.

🏛️ Official Stance

The Roads Department has confirmed that they’ve formally requested permission from the District Council to proceed with the tree removal. In response, the District Council Chairman stated that only the trees deemed absolutely necessary for removal would be cut, and proper observation would be conducted beforehand.

🌱 Environmental Concerns

Environmentalists warn that continued deforestation without replantation will disturb the ecological balance. They emphasize the importance of reforestation and sustainable planning, urging authorities to develop road infrastructure without compromising nature.

✅ Conclusion

Development and modernization are vital, but not at the cost of green heritage. With careful planning, road safety and environmental conservation can go hand-in-hand. The people of Meherpur are calling not just for transparency, but for action that respects both infrastructure needs and ecological sustainability.

On May 9, 2024, a comprehensive income-generating training and rice distribution program was conducted at the Nagdah Union Parishad under Alamdanga Upazila, Chuadanga district. The event was organized by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha with the support of the Department of Women Affairs, operating under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

The initiative focused on empowering VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) beneficiaries, equipping them with essential livelihood skills while also meeting immediate food security needs.

🔹 Key Features of the Program:

• Hands-on training on income-generating activities
• Awareness-building sessions on self-reliance
• Free rice distribution to support underprivileged women

This initiative reaffirms Subah’s commitment to strengthening local communities, with a particular focus on empowering women through skill development and nutritional support.

On May 9, 2024, an income-generating training and rice distribution program was successfully organized at the 12 No. Khaskarara Union Parishad under Alamdanga Upazila. The event was implemented by Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, with support from the Department of Women Affairs, operating under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

This program targeted VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) beneficiaries, aiming to build their capacity for sustainable income generation and provide essential food support.

🔹 Program Highlights:

• Practical training to enhance livelihood skills
• Awareness on financial self-reliance and women’s empowerment
• Distribution of rice to support basic nutritional needs

This initiative is part of Subah’s continued efforts to uplift marginalized communities by combining skill-building with immediate support, ensuring both short-term relief and long-term empowerment.