Sumon Corraya

The 53-year-old dissident intellectual had been in prison since May. He was arrested under the Digital Security Act for criticising the government on social media over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the privileged treatment received by some VIPs. University students take to the streets to demand justice and the release of cartoonist Kabir Kishore.

65-year-old Catholic sculptor Mondol says he has obtained immense blessings from God as a reward for this work. He testified: “I was a simple security guard and not very educated, but after I started making religious statues, I obtained what I asked of Almighty God. I have gained prosperity, honour, peace and security in my life."

In the Diocese of Barisal, a 43-year-old mother of one was sexually assaulted at her home by a neighbour and his friend. Beaten, she was left unconscious on the floor. Her husband filed a complaint with the police, who arrested the attacker identified by the woman. The attackers thought the Christians were “very weak” and would not report the crime. In their village, Muslims sympathise with the man in prison.

Some 600 couples attend Mass promoted by Marriage Encounter in Tejgaon parish. Auxiliary Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes told the newlyweds “to set aside at least ten minutes each day to listen to each other.”

In 2015 Faisal Arefin Dipan in Dhaka was killed for publishing the works of writer and blogger Avijit Roy, also victim to extremist terrorism.

In the village of Chonguria, members of the local tribal community are full of joy for the first houses built under a housing programme launched by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the Year of Mujib. “Every year my shack was destroyed by the storm,” said one beneficiary. “I hope this house will last a long time now.”

Dhaka mourns Father Joseph Stephen Peixotto, an American Holy Cross missionary and a former rector of Notre Dame College. For Father Cruze, “He offered quality education to everyone in this country, regardless of ethnicity, religion or caste.”

Great interpreter of the national repertoire, he composed about 200 songs for the liturgy. Muslims and Hindus also pay tribute to his contribution to the country’s culture.

38-year-old Runu Veronica Costa works at the Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka. The facility hosted the inaugural day of the campaign. Mass vaccination will begin on February 7. Dhaka has already purchased 30 million doses from the Oxford-AstraZeneca company, produced in India.

A great rally was held yesterday. Ethnic Garo and Koch have lived in the Madhupur forest (​Tangail) for centuries. In 1962, the government announced that the forest was publicly owned. Now the Forest Department wants to evict tribal communities.

Bangladeshi authorities renew their commitment to de-radicalise extremist militants, young people recruited in universities and on the web. A life of hiding and fleeing, of armed militancy is not life. The state should punish but also rehabilitate those who err. Help from family is crucial.

Ordained on 15 January, five days earlier, he baptised 11 members of his family. Khokon came to know Christianity in 2000, at a Catholic school, “attracted by the life of PIME missionaries and local priests”. In his parish, 500 adults will be baptised this year.