The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The retail prices of most essentials remained almost stable in the city markets, according to a market report of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) issued here on Sunday.

The price of some vegetables including squash, brinjal and onion, however, declined yesterday by Taka 2 to 3, the report added.

The price of coarse rice in different markets, including Kamalapur, New Market, Karwanbazar, Kalyanpur, Kachukhet and Mohammadpur, ranged between Taka 22 and Taka 23 per kg on Saturday.

Rice was being sold at Taka 23 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 19 at BDR-run sales centers yesterday while in Kolkata per kg coarse rice was being sold at a price equivalent to Bangladesh Taka 21.42.

Onion (imported) was sold at Taka 32 to Taka 34 per kg in ordinary city markets while its price in Kolkata was Taka 26.78. Onion was being sold at Taka 38 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 28 at BDR-run sales centres.

The price of one-kg packet of flour was between Taka 31 and Taka 33 in ordinary markets yesterday while the price of the item was Taka 30 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 29 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the flour was being sold for equivalent of Taka 26.78 per kg, the report said.

The price of imported lentil (mashur) was between Taka 60 and Taka 65 per kg in ordinary markets, while it was being sold at Taka 63 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 58 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of the lentil was Taka 62.50 per kg.

The price of imported gram (Chhola) was between Taka 60 and Taka 65 per kg in different retail markets yesterday while in Kolkata, the item was being sold at equivalent of Taka 57.14. The item was being sold at Taka 64 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 52 at BDR- run sales centers.

Sugar was being sold at Taka 28 per kg in ordinary markets compared to Taka 32.14 in Kolkata and Taka 28 in BDR-run open markets.

The price of green chili, however, was ranging from Taka 60 to Taka 80 per kg in ordinary city markets. The item was sold at Taka 80 at BDR-run open markets. The price of green chili in Kolkata was equivalent to Taka 53.57.

The potato was being sold at Taka 19 to Taka 20 per kg in all the ordinary markets. The price of potato in BDR-run open market was Taka 19 and at BDR sales centers Taka 14. In Kolkata, the price of the item was equivalent to Taka 16.96.

Soyabean oil was being sold at Taka 77 to Taka 80 per litre in ordinary markets, while it was available at Taka 80 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 73 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of soyabean oil was Taka 107.14 per litre.

Palm oil was being sold at Taka 73 to 76 per liter in ordinary markets. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil was Taka 101.78 per litre.

The item was being sold at Taka 78 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 73 at BDR-run sales centres the report added.

BSS, Dhaka

An English Language Laboratory was inaugurated at Daffodil International University here on Saturday with a view to improving the students' proficiency in English.

It will conduct IELTS and other standard courses under the supervision of distinguished faculty members to help the students improve their skill in both speaking and writing English, a press release of the university said here on Sunday.

Professor Dr Aminul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of Daffodil International University, formally inaugurated the lab while Professor M Shahjahan Mina, Pro-Vice Chancellor, presided over the ceremony.

Professor Dr Mizanur Rahman, Registrar of the University, as well as other faculty members and students were present on the occasion.

BSS, Dhaka

The Meena Day 2007 was celebrated on Sunday across Bangladesh with a call to help boost the rights of the children for achieving a sustainable development and economic emancipation.

Speakers at the day celebration said that every year, the Meena Day is commemorated with the aim of highlighting issues that are important to children while also recognizing the importance of children.

Meena, they said, is the famous cartoon character who was born in 1991 here in Bangladesh. She is now recognized throughout South Asia and she is a communication tool that advocates for child rights, particularly girls' rights to an education, protection, access to services, they added.

The Meena Day, officially declared in 1998, was celebrated here in the capital city of Dhaka and all six divisional cities with this year's focus being Birth Registration for all children.

The speakers described birth registration as an important issue as it gives children access to education, health care and other important services.

Several programmes and events were organised marking the Meena Day. The Directorate of Primary Education organized a programme at LGED auditorium with the participation of around 400 children and government officials in the morning.

The programme included a children's performance and screening of Meena television episodes.

The Bureau of Non-formal Education (BNFE), under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, also hosted a programme at the Public Library auditorium. Young learners of the working children's project participated in the programme.

A cultural programme for children was arranged by the Shishu Academy to celebrate the day. The Shishu Academy also organised a drawing competition and theatre activities in all 64 districts.

Meena drama shows were staged in different points of the capital city by theatre groups and a truck carrying life-sized puppets of Meena, Raju and Mithu accompanied by a group of child performers.

UNICEF developed the Meena Communication Initiative (MCI). The Initiative is aimed at changing perceptions and behaviour that are detrimental to the survival, development and protection of girls in South Asia.

AFP, Peshawar

Fighting between two rival groups over a business dispute Sunday left at least nine people dead and 12 others injured in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

The deaths occurred in a village in the Khyber tribal district, where the long-standing rivals fired rockets and mortars at each other, a senior government official told AFP.

The dead include three women who were killed after a mortar shell hit their home, he said, adding that the armed clash continued for more than four hours.

Lethal weapons are freely available in the rugged tribal areas of northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan and tribal clashes have claimed several lives.

BSS, New York

Chief Adviser Dr Fakh-ruddin Ahmed arrived here yesterday on an official visit to atend the 62nd session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He arrived at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York at 8.30 am local time by a flight of Emirates Airlines.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ismat Jahan welcomed the Chief Adviser at the airport

The Chief Adviser leads a high-powered delegation included Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar and Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim.

Dr Fakhruddin was taken to the Intercontinental Barclay New York Hotel in a special motorcade where he will stay during the visit

As his first official programme, on September 24, the Chief Adviser will atend an informal welcoming get together hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Dr Fakhruddin will co-chair a session on climate change with the Prime Minister of Netherlands.

On September 25, the Chief Adviser along with his spouse Neena Ahmed will participate a reception hosted by US President George W Bush and Mrs Bush.

The Chief Adviser will address the UN plenary session on September 27.

Dr Fakhruddin left Dhaka on Saturday night to atend the UNGA.

BSS, Rajbari

Several hundred vehicles including passenger buses were stranded at Daulatdia and Paturia terminals yesterday as the ferry service in this route was disrupted due to the inclement weather.

Daulatdia Launch Ghat Association sources told BSS that they stopped the launch operation last night and ferries also did not ply till 3 am today due to the same reason.

Meanwhile, continuous rainfall inundated the low-lying areas of Daulatdia and other side of the river Padma, disrupting the ferry service on this route. Two ferry ghats are now in operation at Daulatdia.

BSS, Dhaka

The Orissa coast crossing monsoon deep depression crossed Orissa coast of India near Paradwip by early yesterday morning and now lies over Orissa and adjoining area as a land depression, a met office press release said.

It is likely to move in a north-northwesterly direction further inland and weaken gradually by giving precipitation. Under its influence steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay squally weather may affect the maritime ports.

Maritime ports of Chitagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to lower local warning signal no. four but instead hoist local cautionary signal no. three.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the met office added.

BSS, Rajbari

Police recovered two pipe guns along with accessories for making arms from a welding shop in the district on Friday, police sources said.

Police said acting on secrete information, a team of the police conducted a drive at Kalam Welding shop owned by one Abul Kalam near dry-ice factory and recovered the two pipe guns, one steering, one trigger, one cabin handle, one firing pin, two drill machines and one hoax-blade.

The owner of the shop, however, managed to flee the scene sensing the presence of the police.

Police also said Abul Kalam has been making arms and supplying those to different areas in the country for long time under shadow of welding shop business.

UNB, Dhaka

Six people were killed and 47 others injured in separate road accidents in Comilla and Gaibandha Sunday. In Comilla, Four people were killed and 35 others injured in a collision between two buses in Daudkandi on Dhaka-Chitagong highway Sunday afternoon.

Police said the buses collided head-on at Maikpara at about 2pm, killing four people on the spot

The identities of the deceased-two women, a man and a child-could not be known immediately.

Of the injured, 10 were admited to different hospitals in critical condition.

In Gaibandha, Two people were killed and 12 others injured when a night coach dashed with a roadside tree in Gobindaganj upazila on Dhaka-Rangpur highway early hours on Sunday. Police said the accident took place at about 12:30am as the coach driver suddenly feel sick and lost his control over the steering, killing the driver and his helper on the spot

The deceased were identified as driver Idris Ali and helper Mahbub Alam.

The injured were admited to local health complex

UNB, Narsingdi

Angry workers and employees of United Meghna Chandpur (UMC) Jute Mills ransacked the office room of its general manager and beat him up in the district town over their arrear payments on Sunday afternoon.

Witnesses said around 3,000 to 4,000 workers and employees of the mill damaged the office room of GM DK Roy at 3pm and beat him up. They demanded payment of two months' arrear. On information, Deputy Commissioner Zillar Rahman and joint forces commander Lt Col Jahangir went to the mills and assured the agitating workers and employees of paying their arrears shortly. UMC, one of the country's large jute mills, has around 8,500 workers and 1,040 employees.

UNB, Kushtia

Nine young men of Allahr Dal were today jailed for five years for militant activities.

Speedy Trial Tribunal court judge Jalal Saifullah handed down the penalty to Najmul Hasan (22), Rakib Mondol (21), Shafiqul Islam Sumon (25), Shahriar (21), Tipu Sultan (30), Tasnim Alam (21), Zahiruddin Ripon (24), Murad Sharif (22) and Lokman Hossain (37). They hailed from different parts of Kushtia and adjoining districts. The court also fined them Tk 2,000 each.

The prosecution said they were arrested with some religious books, notebooks and certain 'important documents'. They were directly prosecuted under the Speedy Trial Act as a measure to curb militant activities.