Khan Arshad, Birbhum:

In Kanmora village of Rajnagar, the names of 103 individuals have been excluded from the supplementary electoral roll. In protest, villagers staged a demonstration on Wednesday and warned of boycotting the upcoming elections.

At Booth No. 20 in the Rajnagar Block, the status of approximately 190 names was under verification. Of these, 103 individuals—including a woman nearly 100 years old—were ultimately struck off the list.

To mobilize the community, villagers used public address systems and protested against the Election Commission, threatening to boycott the polls. Ninety-eight-year-old Jaygun Bibi stated that she is approaching her centenary year and has been voting for decades, yet her name has been removed from the list.

Rahim Khan, Mohammad Owais Karni, Sajeda Bibi, Amir Sheikh, and other affected villagers questioned why their names were struck off despite submitting all the necessary documents. They alleged that the Election Commission had acted deliberately.

Afroza Bibi said that while neither her name nor her husband’s name was removed, their son’s name was excluded. She asked, “How is this possible? If our son loses his voting rights, we too will not go to cast our votes.”

Sheikh Safi Ahmed and Sadek Khan stated, “Although our names were not removed, many villagers had submitted all necessary documents during the verification hearings; yet their names were still excluded. Therefore, we, the villagers, have collectively decided to boycott the elections.”

They added, “However, if our names are reconsidered before the polls and we are allowed to exercise our franchise, we will reconsider our decision to boycott; otherwise, we will not.”

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Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati, Farakka: NTPC Farakka marked its 45th Raising Day on 29 December 2025 at the Administrative Building premises, celebrating over four decades of excellence in power generation and nation building. The programme was graced by Shri Debabrata Kar, Head of Project, NTPC Farakka, as the Chief Guest.

The celebrations commenced with the garlanding of the statue of former Prime Minister Late Smt. Indira Gandhi, followed by unfurling of the NTPC flag. The formal proceedings included NTPC Geet, inspection of the CISF contingent, balloon release and cake-cutting ceremony, reflecting the spirit of pride and unity among employees.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Debabrata Kar highlighted NTPC Farakka’s remarkable journey since its inception in 1981, evolving into a 2100 MW Super Thermal Power Station with a strong focus on safety, performance, sustainability and people-centric growth. He appreciated the dedication and discipline of generations of employees who have contributed to making Farakka one of NTPC’s key power stations in the Eastern Region. He also shared the station’s achievements in generation performance, safety excellence, environmental stewardship, CSR initiatives, and national-level recognitions.

The event was attended by Smt. Soumya Kar, President, Udita Ladies Club; Shri Rajasekhar Pala, GM (O&M); Shri Satheesh S, GM (BE & EMG); Shri A R Mohanty, GM (Operation & FM); senior officials, representatives of Unions and Associations, CISF personnel, employees and their family members.

The 45th Raising Day celebrations reaffirmed NTPC Farakka’s unwavering commitment of the past 44 years towards reliable power generation, sustainable development and inclusive growth, as it continues to contribute to NTPC’s vision and India’s journey towards a developed nation.

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14 live Bombs Recovered in Lawdanga, Khoyrasole, Causing Sensation
Police recovered 14 large live bombs from a plastic bag hidden in a thicket beside an open field near the village of Lawdanga, under the Lokepur Police Station in the Khoyrasole Block of Birbhum district.
A special operation has been launched across the district under the direction of the Birbhum District Superintendent of Police to avert all kinds of untoward incidents in the district.
Late on Friday night, acting on a tip-off, police, led by DSP (DEB) Swapan Kumar Chakraborty, launched a search operation in the Lokepur area.
The police then recovered the 14 large live bombs from a plastic bag in a thicket next to a road on the outskirts of Lawdanga village, beside an open field.
The Bomb Disposal Squad has already been notified to defuse the bombs.
Police have started an investigation.

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Natun Gati, Birbhum : 

A person committed suicide in Birbhum’s Ilambazar due to SIR fear, according to the family of the deceased. After Panihati in North 24 Parganas, this time a death due to SIR fear has occurred in Birbhum’s Ilambazar.
An 85 year old man named Khitish Majumdar, from Korapara village under Kotwali police station in Paschim Medinipur, came to visit his daughter’s house in Ilambazar, Birbhum a few months ago. The body of the old man was found hanging from his neck in a house in Subhashpalli, School Garden, Ilambazar on Thursday.
The family has learned that Khitish Majumdar was in extreme fear of SIR. Khitish Majumdar name was not in the 2002 voter list. He was in the fear that if his name was not in the 2002 voter list, he would be sent to Bangladesh. He used to talk about SIR repeatedly. According to family sources, after the SIR was announced, he entered the house and committed suicide by hanging himself on Thursday.
This tragic incident has created a sensation in the district and the state.
It is known that he came to West Bengal from Bangladesh about 40 years ago. His name was also in the voter list here, and he had voted many times. But recently, the fear of SIR surrounded him. The family claims that he committed suicide due to this fear that if he is not included in the SIR list, he will be sent to Bangladesh.

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Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati, Farakka: A joint mega mock drill on disaster management was conducted at NTPC Farakka on 24th October 2025, within the plant premises. The exercise simulated a rescue operation of personnel trapped inside the underground CHP-Wagon Tripler Area, where the staircase leading to the location had collapsed due to an earthquake. The drill was conducted under the supervision of Shri Debabrata Kar, Head of Project, NTPC Farakka.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Nadia (WB); SDRF, Murshidabad; local Farakka police; NTPC Farakka Medical, HR, IT, Safety departments and other DMP committee members; along with CISF Fire and Security wings of FSTPP and FBP Farakka actively participated. The joint exercise emphasized the importance of inter-agency coordination and preparedness in disaster scenarios in a time bound manner.

The debriefing session, chaired by the Head of Project, NTPC Farakka, highlighted lessons learned and areas for improvement. Key attendees included Shri Rajasekhar Pala, GM (O&M); Shri A.R. Mohanty, GM (Operation); Shri Dharmendu Mondal, DDMP Incharge, DM & CD, Murshidabad; Shri Vijay Kumar, Sr. Commandant, CISF (FSTPS Unit); Shri Pramod Chandra, Dy. Commandant, CISF (FSTPS Unit); and others senior officials of NTPC Farakka.

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A few days ago, a video of a water tank sent by them to Gaza went viral on social media, drawing widespread appreciation. Now, the group has expanded their mission—they are raising funds to send essential food supplies to the region.

On Sunday morning, the youth team visited several local markets and streets in Munshirhat and Bargachhia to collect donations. People from all communities—irrespective of religion or background—came forward to contribute generously to this noble cause.

With the collected funds, they plan to send rice, lentils, cooking oil, and other essential dry food items to Gaza. The team has already partnered with a trusted NGO to ensure that these supplies reach the affected people directly.

According to the group, anyone who wishes to contribute further to this humanitarian effort can get in touch with them directly. Alternatively, they can also donate using the QR codes provided through below mentioned link.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/4/folders/1lrgoM2CedrSW4TsjyxNxqbmFW0h1mjJo

This initiative has not only gained local support but has also received praise on social media platforms across the country. The group hopes their efforts will inspire many more to come forward and stand for humanity beyond borders.

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GEM 2025 Concludes at NTPC Farakka with Closing Ceremony and Deregistration

Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati, Malda: NTPC Farakka concluded the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) 2025 with a grand closing ceremony on 21st June, followed by the deregistration and farewell of participants on 22nd June 2025.

The closing ceremony at RLI, PTS was graced by Shri Ajay Singhal, Executive Director, NTPC Farakka, and Smt. Seema Singhal, President, Udita Ladies Club, along with other dignitaries.

The event featured lamp lighting, NTPC Geet, a GEM 2025 short film, and performances including yoga, recitations, dance, mime show, and self-defense.
Participants also shared their experiences of the GEM 2025.

In his address, the Chief Guest, Executive Director (Farakka) praised the GEM girls for their confidence, talent, and growth over the 28-day residential program. Later, certificates for participation were distributed to all 116 participants.

On 22nd June, GEM girls were formally deregistered and handed over to their parents with a group photo, gift, and sweets, marking a heartfelt farewell.

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Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati, Farakka: NTPC Farakka organized a Press Meet on June 20, 2025, to strengthen media relations and share key updates.

The event was attended by 42 media representatives from nearby districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The day began with a visit to the Residential Learning Institute (RLI), where journalists interacted with participants of the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) 2025.

A formal session was held at the Gitanjali Auditorium, where Ajay Singhal, Executive Director (Farakka) addressed the gathering and appreciated the media’s role in showcasing NTPC’s initiatives.

A detailed presentation on plant operations and achievements was delivered, followed by an interactive Q&A session with senior officials.

Participating in the session were Sanjay Srivastava, General Manager (Operation & Maintenance); Satheesh S, General Manager (Business Excellence); Shashi Chandra, GM (Fuel Management); B.K. Bharali, General Manager (Medical); and Alok Kumar Ranbir, Head of Human Resources.

NTPC Farakka reaffirmed its commitment to open communication and collaborative engagement with media stakeholders.

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Writer: Moshiur Rahman Shanto 

Author & Radio jockey

Hearing the words “Magan dang umaga,” I turned around. As I looked, I felt a bit confused. I’ve been in the Philippines for seven years. I’ve met many women here, spoken to quite a few, but not once in all these years had I seen a girl who looked like a Bangladeshi woman. Which makes
sense—most Filipino women resemble Chinese or Japanese girls in appearance. But the girl standing in front of me now looked exactly like a Bangladeshi woman. With eyes narrowed slightly, she looked at me and asked in fluent Filipino, “Why isn’t there anyone at reception?” Scratching my head, I replied in Filipino, “I don’t know. I don’t work in this office. I came to see my friend Aslam. He works here, in HR and Admin.” She said sharply, “I didn’t ask who you came to see or what your friend does. Why are you talking so much like a chatterbox?”
I shrank with embarrassment. My habit of talking too much had landed me in awkward spots many times. Trying to smile, I said, “Sorry. I’ve had this habit since childhood—it’s hard to shake.”
She was about to say something when someone finally showed up at reception, and she walked over. I stood waiting for Aslam. By the time Aslam arrived, I had already forgotten about the girl. Now, about Aslam—he’s my childhood friend. When I moved to Manila, he followed shortly after, sorting out all his paperwork, passport, and visa. Unfortunately, although we arrived in the Philippines together, we didn’t have the good fortune to work together. Sometimes I would visit his office, sometimes he’d come to mine. We had thought we’d at least live together, if not work together, but our workplaces ended up being too far apart. So we had to live separately. Anyway, that day we were chatting on a sofa near reception when, to our surprise, the Filipino girl who looked Bangladeshi came up and said, “Sorry—I was really stressed earlier and behaved badly. I hope you didn’t mind.” I replied, “You didn’t behave badly. No need to say sorry.”
She smiled sheepishly. “I’m just going through a tough time. I had an interview today. I thought it would be like all the others where I’d get rejected again. But this time, I felt a little hopeful. If I get the job, it’ll be such a relief.” I was staring at her in amazement. A girl who looked so much like a Bangladeshi was speaking Filipino fluently, opening up to a complete stranger about her financial troubles. Aslam was sitting beside me, clearly confused about how we knew each other. She looked at me with a bright smile and extended her right hand. “I’m Esther Aizan. Aizan is my family name, so just call me Esther.” I shook her hand and said, “I’m Shafik. Just call me Shafik.”
Esther laughed out loud. That was my first meeting with Esther. After that, we began to see each other more often. Of course, it was mostly because I took the initiative—I would visit Aslam’s office frequently just to see her. Since she got the job there, it became easier for me to drop by, ostensibly to meet Aslam, but really to have coffee with Esther at Johans Café. As we chatted over coffee, our bond deepened. Before I realized it, our friendship had turned into love.
I couldn’t stop thinking: I love Esther. I love her with all my heart. No matter what, I want to marry her. I had a feeling she might feel the same. I sensed it in her smile, in her eyes. One day, while sitting in Johans Café, I got down on one knee and said, “Pogi ka, mahal kita”—“You’re beautiful, I love you.”
Very film-like, I know. A scene middle-class boys like me only dream of. But I did it. Esther smiled and replied, “Mahal kita”—“I love you too.” Even though we both confessed our love, I was scared. What if we couldn’t get married in the end? After all, I was just a Bangladeshi guy with an average job in the Philippines. It wouldn’t be
surprising if she didn’t want to marry me. But to my surprise, it was Esther who first brought up marriage. She told her family about me—her younger brother Isaac and her mother. Since they were a small family and financially not so well-off, her mother didn’t object. Everything fell
into place, and we got married quietly, without telling my family back home. Strangely, I didn’t feel guilty. Everything felt right. Though our wedding wasn’t extravagant, it was full of joy. Our friends filled it with celebration. I stepped into a new chapter of my life. Suddenly, everything changed. I was floating in happiness. Esther loved me deeply, more than before. Her curiosity about my country—my village, my parents, my culture—grew stronger. Despite knowing that Bangladesh was a poor
country, she never showed disdain. But she had some funny misconceptions—she thought people in my country wandered around with empty plates begging for food! She believed the
country was full of crime, theft, and violence. I told her stories to correct these ideas—stories about my village, the rivers, the people. Soon, Esther became insistent about visiting Bangladesh. I also longed to introduce her to my
parents. So I arranged a three-month leave and booked our tickets.

We landed in Dhaka and stayed a couple of days at my sister Masuma’s place, but I wanted to take Esther to the village. My parents shouldn’t have to travel just to see their daughter-in-law. So we headed to my childhood village.
When we arrived, my heart swelled with joy. My parents welcomed Esther warmly. Word spread quickly, and soon neighbors flocked to see the foreign bride. They were thrilled. A village boy brought home a foreign bride! But their enthusiasm faded when they realized Esther
looked just like a local girl—not the fair-skinned beauty they imagined.
Still, Esther’s excitement didn’t waver. She threw herself into village life. She befriended the locals. Time flew. A month passed like a week. I wished I had taken six months’ leave instead of three. We tried to make the most of the remaining time. But around one and a half months
into our stay, something strange happened. One evening, Esther said, “Shafik, I don’t feel well. My left leg hurts so much—I feel like cutting
it off.” I laughed. “You’ve walked around too much today. That’s all.” But she didn’t smile. She went to bed early, without another word. Later that night, I woke up to the sound of sobbing. Esther was sitting alone, crying, holding her leg. I was stunned. I stayed up massaging her leg, worried sick. In our village, a husband
massaging his wife’s feet is practically scandalous. But I didn’t care. She fell asleep before dawn. The next morning, she was cheerful again. The pain was gone. She resumed her adventures—walking by the river, going to the market. I relaxed. A week passed peacefully. But then the pain came back—worse than before. She screamed through the night. My sister massaged her leg with warm mustard oil. Nothing helped. My mother said, “Shafik, I think your wife has been possessed by a jinn. You should call a fakir.” I hesitated but eventually agreed. The fakir arrived the next day with a helper and began a bizarre ritual. He pressed Esther’s finger so hard she winced in pain, then started chanting.
“Where are you from?” he asked. “Koh-e-Kaaf,” he answered himself. “Why are you here?” “I love this girl.” He claimed Esther was possessed by a 190-year-old jinn. Then he demanded a broomstick and struck her head twice with it. Esther screamed. I rushed in and pulled her away. My father was furious with me for disrespecting the fakir. “You’ve become your wife’s puppet!
Acting like a rich man just because you married a foreigner!”

Esther was shaken. She insisted we return to the Philippines immediately. I agreed. But things got worse after we returned. Esther withdrew from me. Though we lived under the same roof, we grew apart. The leg pain worsened. I took her to an orthopedic doctor. All scans were normal. He said, “I think the problem is in her mind. You should see a psychiatrist.” The psychiatrist said something that shook me to the core: “Your wife has BIID—Body Integrity Identity Disorder. She doesn’t believe her leg is hers. You should consider amputation.” I was horrified. “Are you mad? If you have a headache, do you cut off your head?” He said, “If you don’t do this, one day she might try to cut it off herself.” I dismissed him. But I was worried. Esther kept saying, “Buy a gun, Shafik. Shoot my leg off.” Every day she believed more strongly that her leg didn’t belong to her. I tried to reassure her,
but she grew more distant. I thought of calling her mother and brother. But before I could, something terrifying happened. One night, I woke up and found Esther gone. The rooftop door was open. I ran up and found her unconscious, her leg bleeding, a bloodied electric saw beside her. I rushed her to the hospital, knowing in my heart it was too late. Esther was already gone. The police arrived, but her mother managed to settle things. The autopsy confirmed she had done it herself. We buried her the next day. Her mother never blamed me. She even protected me from the police.
Without Esther, life became unbearable. I left my job and returned to Bangladesh.
Eventually, I remarried. My wife is named Urmi, and we have a daughter named Onubhuti. I had wanted to name her Esther. I couldn’t. I don’t know if I’m truly happy now. But whenever I think of Esther, a sharp pain cuts through
me. It silences my present and drags me back into the past. And I feel, somehow, that Esther is still with me. Very near.

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Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati, Malda: NTPC Farakka inaugurated the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM-2025), a CSR initiative aimed at empowering 120 young girls (90 from West Bengal and 30 from Jharkhand) on 27th May 2025 at RLI PTS.

The 28-day residential program scheduled from May 26 – June 22 will train girls in leadership, skill development, and confidence-building.

The event was graced by Shri Amit Kumar Shaw, SP, Jangipur (Chief Guest), along with Ms. Ekam J. Singh, SDO Jangipur; Shri Ajay Singhal, ED (Farakka); and Smt. Seema Singhal, President (Udita Ladies Club).

During the 28-day workshop, participants will receive academic support in subjects like English, Mathematics, Bengali, Hindi, EVS and Science. The curriculum also includes special sessions on health and hygiene, self-defense training, life skills development, yoga, art & craft, and others.

The inauguration ceremony featured cultural performances, a screening of GEM-2024 film, testimonials from past participants and concluded with memento distribution to dignitaries and a group photo.

In his address, Shri Ajay Singhal reiterated NTPC’s aims towards girls’ education and empowerment, while Ms. Ekam J. Singh commended the program for building confidence and independence among girl participants. Chief Guest Shri Amit Kumar Shaw praised GEM as a practical initiative creating tangible change in young girls’ lives.

GEM-2025 represents NTPC Farakka’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the national ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ mission while creating opportunities for young girls in the region.

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The launch was led by Hitesh Shukla, Brand Manager of Korg India and the Sound Designer of the ELektroFM Surtaal ST-50. He highlighted the keyboard’s cutting-edge technology, its features, affordability, and versatility, making it a perfect choice for both beginners and experienced musicians.Also present was Joseph Gomes, Director of Furtados Music India Pvt. Ltd., who was exhilarated to see the enthusiastic response from the Kolkata audience.

To make this launch even more special, Furtados Music announced exclusive discounts on Electro FM for a limited time. This special offer is available as part of the launch celebration, making the keyboard even more accessible to aspiring musicians.

The ST-50 is the keyboard that hits all the notes and meets the needs of beginners and experienced players in a variety of settings. Be you an entertainer, performer, beginner or appearing for a keyboard exam this keyboard is the perfect tool to make music. Not only is it feature laden for use at home and on stage but also includes a plethora of authentic Indian voices and styles to create compositions that awe the listener and performer, too.

VOICES & STYLES
The ST-50 has an exhaustive selection of 689 voices (Including GM voices) covering a diverse range of musical instruments used in many different music situations. Also included are 280 styles enabling the easy creation of a variety of music using easy chord
accompaniments.

INDIAN SOUNDS & STYLES
Included in the huge selection of voices and styles the ST-50 comes loaded with 36 Indian Voices and 40 Indian styles. The voices have been carefully chosen and selected to straddle the different regions of India, and includes some of the most essential instruments, specially created from proprietary samples. Meticulous attention to the authenticity of the sound and its playability on the keyboard is the hallmark of the ST-50. The Indian styles cover genres from across India and unique to this keyboard are Ethnic Indian Styles in multiple keys to enable accompaniment of singers in different keys.

FEATURES THAT STAND OUT
8 Banks of 6 Registration Memory locations, Transpose Freeze and Style Freeze while changing registration memories, Portamento, Guitar Mode, Arpeggios and Harmony are some of the features that are on the ST-50 making it very versatile for any player, be it an experienced performer or beginner.

MICROPHONE INPUT
A very exciting feature included in the microphone input turning the ST-50 into a powerful tool for “one person band”. A separate effect parameter for the microphone gives the performer the freedom to make their own unique sound and music the way they want.

CONNECT YOUR KEYBOARD TO THE WORLD
The inclusion of USB MIDI allows the keyboard to be easily connected to any computer.
A very useful feature in the sound output allows the player to decide if he wants to hear the
onboard speakers even if an output to external speakers is taken, especially useful during
performances.

The Electro FM keyboard is now available for purchase both online and at leading music stores across Kolkata and India. With its modern sound design, Indian musical styles, and budget-friendly price, it is set to become a must-have instrument for every musician!

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