The New Nation - Internet Edition

Munim Hossain, Lalmonirhat

The mighty river Teesta and Dharla were flowing above the danger level on Thursday night The Teesta river was flowing 36 centimeters above the danger mark at Daliya point under Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat and the Dharla river was flowing 12 centimeter above the danger mark at Mogholhat point under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila.

Low areas at patgram, Hatibandha, Aditmari and sadar upazila in Lalmonirhat beside the Teesta and Dharla river were inundated as water level rose in the river after two days heavy rain and because of the onrush water from upstream.

Standing crops were inundated in low areas at Hatibandha, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat sadar upazilas.

Twenty percent of the standing crops went under the flood water at Dahagram, Kuchlibari villages under Patgram upazila, South Goddimari, Paruliya, Sindurna under Hatibandha upazila, Gobordhan, South Bala para under Aditmari upazila i, Rajpur, Khuniya Gachh, Mogholhat, Kulaghat villages under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, said Lalmonirhat Water Development Board sources.

The worst affected unions of the four upazilas are Dahagram, Kuchlibari, under Patgram upazila, Goddimari, Parika Para and Sindurna under Hatibandha upazila, Mohiskhocha under Aditmari upazila, Rajpur, Mogjolhat, Kulaghat and Khuniya Gachh under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila.

The Executive Engineer of Lalmonirhat Water Development Board Mohammad Ali told this correspondent the water level of Teesta river at Daliya point has crossed its danger level and following above the 36 centimeters of its danger level 52.25 meters. And the Dharla river water has crossed its danger mark at Mogholhat point under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila and was flowing above 12 centimeter above the danger level. All of the gates of Gazoldoba Barrage in India had been opened at the early hour on noon on Thursday and the water had been following down to Bangladesh, resulting the water level in Teesta river increasing, he added.

The Lalmonirhat deputy Commissioner DC Rafiqul Islam and the camp commander of Lalmonirhat Army camp Major Mahfuzur Rahaman on Friday morning visited different flood affected areas in the district

The flood affected people at different flood hits areas facing another flood facing in again, whereas they yet not overcome immediate passed flood situation.

In the another hand, incessant rain over the last three days have taken a heavy toll on life of common people in Lalmonirhat

Standing crops and vegetables on a vast tract of land have been damaged and normal life has become paralysed for heavy rain since September 5 Morning. The downpour has also inundated many areas in district town and adjacent areas.

According to officials in the local Water Development Board, lowland areas under Patgram, Hatibandha, Aditmari and Lalmonirhat sadar upazilas were submerged due to the downpour coupled with onrush of water from the upstream. The Department of Agriculture Extension said the rain damaged paddy plants on about 2,500 acres of land and vegetables on nearly 15,000 acres of land. Hari Pado Barman, a farmer at village Rajpur village under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila said he cultivated paddy on two acres of land. But about one fourth of the crops suffered damage during the downpour. If the rain does not stop immediately, the loss may not be recovered, he added.

Many areas in the district town have gone under knee-to-ankle-deep water disrupting the normal activities of common people. The most affected areas are Puran Bazar, Saptaba Bazar, Railway Bazar, Nayarhat, Adrsha Para, College Bazar and Kalibari. The plying of vehicles was suspended on some roads in the town where people's suffering knew no bounds. Most shops had to be closed and those which remained open could hardly find customers.

Prokasha Saha, a grocer at Kalibari in the town, said he saw an about 70 per cent decrease in sale over the last three days. Abdul Hakim, a newspaper hawker in the town, looked frustrated as he said that his sale decreased by 50 per cent during the three days. The presence in educational institutions and offices appeared thin as most people preferred to stay indoors.

The day labourers could not manage work facing serious troubles in running their families. However, the rickshaw-pullers earned two to three times higher than the usual time. But some of them said they suffered from cold-related diseases and a major portion of their income had to be spent for treatment

A Correspondent, Magura

Aman cultivation is being hampered seriously in 4 upazilas of the district due to acute shortage of seedlings in the post-flood situation.

Farmers said preparation for fresh seedbeds could not be possible at this time as at least 25 to 30 days are required for growing seedlings.

As a result, most of them are being compelled to buy it from local markets. But many farmers cannot buy due to unsufficient supply and higher price rate.

They alleged that in the local markets seedlings for each one bigha of land is being sold now between Tk 1200 to 1500 instead of previous rate Tk 500 to Tk 600 only.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year 33,995 hectares of land were brought under Aman cultivation and seedbeds on 3,268 hectares of land were prepared by the farmers.

Of the total, 16,115 hectres Aman paddy and seedbeds on 1890 hectares of land were badly damaged by floodwater in 4 upazilas of the district

The Department expected that the problem will be solved within short time as huge amount of seedlings are now being reached to the farmers from different districts which were not affected by flood.

BSS, Rangpur

The Administration with the assistance of the Armed Forces has completed distribution of 2,075 tonnes of rice allocated for the month of August in Rangpur under VGF programme, officials said here recently.

They said rice were distributed among 2,07,500 distressed families under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme.

The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management has allocated a total of 10,375 tonnes of rice worth Taka 19.71 crore for distribution among 2,07,500 distressed families under the ongoing VGF programme with 2,075 tonnes per month for the five-month long lean period this year, they said.

The government has extended the VGF programme by two more months this year than that of the previous years and it will continue for five months from August to December in all 83 union parishads (UPs) and Haragach pourasabha under all the nine upazilas of the district to help the distressed people during the lean period.

The second phase of distribution of VGF rice for the month of September will be conducted with the assistance of the Armed Forces from September 15 to 17 and more allocations have been given for the worst flood-hit UPs this year, the officials said.

Under the programme, each family will get a total of 50 kg rice with 10 kg each month and a total of 1,320 tonnes VGF rice will be distributed among 26,400 beneficiary families with 2,400 VGF card holders in each of the 11 UPs under Sadar upazila.

A total of 40,800 families will get a total of 2,040 tonnes of rice in 17 UPs of Mithapukur upazila, 36,000 families will get 1,800 tonnes in 15 UPs of Pirganj upazila, 24,000 families will receive 1,200 tonnes in Badarganj upazila and 12,000 beneficiary families will get 600 tonnes in 5 UPs of Taraganj upazila.

A total of 23,000 families with 2,750 card holders in each of the flood-hit Chaola and Tambulpur UPs and 17,500 families with 2,500 card holders in each of the other seven UPs in Pirgacha upazila will get 1,150 tones of rice under the programme.

A total of 16,000 families with 2,750 card holders in each of the four flood-hit UPs and 5,000 more families with 2,500 card holders in each of the other two UPs in Kawnia upazila will get a total of 800 tonnes of rice and more 125 tonnes of VGF rice will be distributed among 2,500 distressed families in flood-hit Haragach pourasabha in Kawnia upazila.

In the worst flood-hit Gangachara upazila, a total of 1,200 tonnes of rice will be distributed among 24,000 beneficiary families with 2,750 families in each of the worst affected six UPs and 2,500 families each for the other three UPs in the upazila, the officials said.

While talking to BSS after completion of the VGF rice distribution for August Thursday evening, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Rangpur M Rafikul Islam said the distribution could be completed smoothly without any problem and members of the Armed Forces extended their all-out support for the purpose.

Chitagong, Correspondent

Normal life here in the port city and its adjacent areas was disrupted to a large extent today because of the ceaseless rainfall that began in the predawn hours.

Most low-lying city areas including Chawkbazaar, Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, and Bakolia areas were under knee-level water forcing a large number of citizens stranded.

School going students were seen waiting in long queue for transport as most of the drivers including rickshaw-pullers preferred to stay outside the road during the downpour.

A huge rush was also observed in the afternoon when employees from different workplaces started moving to their home or expected destination at a time.

Weathermen said that the ongoing stormy weather might continue for the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, a deep convection and steep pressure gradient persist over North Bay, the met office said.

Squally weather may continue to affect the maritime ports. The met office asked the maritime ports of Chitagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla to hoist local cautionary signal 3.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea were asked to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Fate of about five hundred employees became uncertain, family planning and birth control activities hampered after countrywide activities of Bangladesh Association for Voluntary Sterilization stopped due to financial crisis.

BAVS sources said the organization financed by USAID started countrywide functioning for permanent sterilization of the couples since 1978 with 35 clinics. In 1992 funding agency USAID stopped financing BAVS due to some misunderstandings with national commitee of BAVS and its activities stopped.

Then in 1997 seventeen clinics of BAVS stated functioning financed by World Bank and in 1999 this agency also stopped financing.

Considering the importance of BAVS in population control and family planning Bangladesh government continued financing the organization providing funds from revenue sector till June 30,2006.

Since then in more than one year BAVS continued its activities of 17 clinics of the country in limited forms from own fund which also been exhausted.

Already 17 BAVS clinics in different parts of the country either stopped or suspended functioning at Malibag,Mirpur of Dhaka,Siddhirganj of Narayanganj, Barisal,Bhola,Sylhet, Jessore, Chandpur, Chitagong, Noakhali, Rajshahi, Khulna, Narshingdi, Tangail, Natore, Joypurhut and Bogura since July 01, 2007.

Advocate Humaun Kabir and Dr. Mizanur Rahman, two members of the BAVS management commitees of Bhola and Barisal said due to this crisis not only the activities of BAVS became stagnant in the country, but also the fate of the about five hundred staffs and employees of the organization became uncertain and valuable instruments, equipments, furniture of cores of taka would be damaged and destroyed. Administrative of the organization and joint secretary of health and family planning ministry already informed about this situation, they added.

Sources said from 1997 to June 2007 BAVS voluntarily sterilized 1.5 lakhs male and female, which is 75% of the total sterilization figures of the country.

Dr. S A Fida Hassan, deputy secretary of family planning directorate, acknowledging the facts of importance of BAVS in birth control and family planning programs of the country said as the program is yet to be approved by the planning commission, so the directorate can not able to take any decision about funding the organisation.

RAJBARI, Sept 8: The three-day training programme on goat rearing organised by Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) at VPKA training centre here concluded on Monday. The concluding function was atended by district livestock officer Dr Wazed Ali Chowdhury as the chief guest while upazila livestock officer Mohammad Hassanuzzaman was present as special guest With executive director of VPKA Abdus Satar in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by trainers Nazrul Islam, Munira Haque and assistant agriculture officer of Rajbari Mokhlesur Rahman, reports BSS.

Meet for keeping prices of essentials stable held in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Sept 8: A views exchange meeting to keep the prices of essentials under control during the holy month of Ramadan was held at the conference room of the Collectorate building here on Wednesday. With Deputy Commissioner Quazi Anwarul Hakim in the chair, the meeting was addressed, among others, by civil surgeon Dr M. Shamsul Haque, additional police super M. Anisur Rahman, president of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahzada Anwarul Kadir and businessman Abdul Latif Hakkani. Quazi Anwarul Hakim has urged the business community to maintain the prices of commodities like rice, wheat, lentils, soybean oil, chick-pea and onion at a tolerable level considering the greater interest of the people. Leading businessmen of the district and journalists were present in the meeting, reports BSS.

33 HSC candidates obtain GPA-5 in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI, Sept 8: A total of 33 student from 11 colleges of Narsingdi district have obtained GPA-5 in the HSC examinations this year. Of the successful GPA-5 holders 14 students were from Narsingdi Government College, four from Polash Shilpanchal College, four from Polash Urea Sarkarkhana College, three from Shibpur Shahid Asad College, two from Shahid Smriti College of Charsindur and one each from Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan College in Shibpur, Haji Abed Ali College in Sadar upazila, Madhabdi College, Gorashal Mosa-bin-Hakim College in Polash, Panchkandi College in Monohardi and Bara Chapa Union Adarsha College in Monohardi. Official sources said a total of 4,886 candidates had appeared in the HSC examinations this year from six upazilas of the district of whom 3,220 came out successful, reports BSS.

Mothers' gathering in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Sept 8: A mothers' gathering was held on the occasion of publishing results of the second-term examinations of Noyapukur Abed Ali Public School here on Wednesday. The School Management Commitee (SMC) organised the gathering with a view to improving further the quality of education through sharing views with the mothers, who are guardians of the students of the institution. President of the SMC Abed Ali was the chief guest at the function, chaired by Headmaster of the school Mohsin Ali. Principal of Noyapukur Mazida Khatun Mohila College Safiul Islam Belal, guardians and teachers Shefali Begum, Minuara Khatun, Kamruzzaman Mithu, Ariful Islam, Solaiman Mia, Golam Robbani and Anisul Haque addressed the gathering, reports BSS.

Ansar and VDP confce held in Barisal

BARISAL, Sept 8: Director General (DG) of Ansar and VDP Major General Mohammad Sadik Hasan Rumy today said the members of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP would be provided with training for developing their skill as training is the only way to ensure mental and physical strength. He said this while addressing the Ansar and VDP Barisal Range Officer's Conference here today. Major-General Rumy informed the officials and members of Ansar and VDP that at least 29,000 members of Ansar, reports BSS.