The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

The government's paddy procurement target in Lalmonirhat is unlikely to achieve this season as the District Food Office failed to purchase even a single kilogram. The failure is atributed to its higher price in the market than the price fixed by the government

The procurement drive started accross the country on May 1 and continued till August 31. But as the drive failed to achieve the target within the stipulated time the government extended the drive till Oct 31.

In the second spell of the drive, the procurement centres in the Lalmonirhat district headquarters, Aditmari, Kaligonj, Hatibandha and Patgram upazilas could not purchase even a single kilogram of paddy.

According to the District Food Office, millers and farmers are showing reluctance in selling paddy to the government procurement centres as they are geting higher prices from the local markets. Per kilogram of paddy is being sold at Tk 13 at the local markets while the government had fixed the price Tk 11.25.

On the other hand, rice is being sold at Tk 20 when the government had fixed price at Tk 18.

District Food Officials said they could purchase 35,120 tonnes of rice against the target of 23,923 tonnes and zero tonnes of paddy against the target of 4,525 tonnes till September 23.

A Food Official said low government price and the various terms and conditions (such as chita, dryness etc) imposed by the government are mainly responsible for not achieving the paddy target

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a workshop here on Sunday underscored the need for increasing production of high-valued crops to strengthen the social economy of the country.

They said to make this effort a success, the small and marginal farmers should be encouraged to produce more high-valued crops by providing them need-based training, modern technology and other necessary inputs.

They were addressing the Regional Progress Review Workshop- 2007 organised by Northwest Crop Diversification Project (NCDP) under Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) at the conference hall of Postal Academy.

The workshop was atended by 75 district and upazila level DAE officials.

The main objective of the workshop was to review and analyse the activities of the project including training, demonstration results, problems and observations.

NCDP director Fazlul Haque Chowdhury, team leader Dr RP Ghosh, research associate Dr MR Sharif and crop production specialist Dr AHM Faruque gave their opinion on various aspects of enhancing high-valued crops.

The speakers said the country spends huge foreign currency for importing fruits, spices, cereals, oilseed and pulses every years to meet the domestic demand. But the country has an enormous prospect for increasing production of those crops by utilising the topographical and other natural factors side by side making best use of technology, they said.

There is no alternative to strengthening production of high- valued crops through crop diversification for strengthening rural economy, they said adding, it would be possible to get the expected results by involving small and marginal farmers in the cultivation of high-valued crops.

Officials said the seven-year NCDP involving Taka 341.90 crore is being implemented in 60 Upazilas of 16 northern districts.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A Trial Court of Barguna sentenced Matiur Rahman, former BNP lawmaker of Barguna-3 constituency, to 17 years imprisonment under two separate sections of Penal Code for toll collection.

Md. Shajahan Majumdar, Additional District and Session Judge of Barguna, handed down this verdict on Thursday after examining 11 witnesses, other evidences and arguments of the both sides said that Matiur will suffer 10 years imprisonments under Section 386 and more seven years under Section 387 of Penal Codes and both term of the conviction would be served simultaneously. Prosecution said Matiur demanded 1.5 lakhs taka as toll from Nurul Islam Mridha, Awami League leader of Amtali and collected Tk. 50 thousand as a part of that on October 19, 2006.

After declaration of State of Emergency Nurul Islam lodged a case in this connection with Amtali Upazila Magistrate Court on April 13, 2007 against Matiur and Sub-Inspector Shafikul Islam, after investigation filed charge sheet against the accused on June 17, 2007.

Advocates Abdul Motaleb, public prosecutor, Majibur Rahman, assistant public prosecutor, pleaded for the State, while Advocates Majid Talukdar and Kamalkanti, defended the accused.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Police of Bhola Sadar police station filed charge sheet against nine accused including Nazimuddin Alam, former lawmaker of Bhola-4 constituency, Jamaluddin and Kamaluddin, two brothers of him for kidnapping rival candidate and capturing voter centre in Union Parishad election.

Police and complainant sources said the accused led by Nazimuddin abducted Abul Kasem, rival UP chairman candidate against Jamaluddin on Election Day of Chaksamiya Union Parishad on January 27, 2007.

Abul Kasem was detained day-long as hostage at Bhola circuit house and freed him at night after the cadres of Nazimuddin capturing vote centres managed to declare Jamaluddin as winner in chairman post

During the regime of BNP led four party alliance police denied to register any case against the local BNP lawmaker and so Abul Kasem as complainant lodged the case with Bhola Sadar police station after political change over and imposition of State of Emergency.

Sub-inspector Zakir Hossain, after investigation, filed charge sheet against the accused on Thursday.

Our Correspondent, Satkhira

A gang leader of a robber group was killed in an encounter between his followers and police at Shakdah cropland in Tala Upazila on Monday night

The deceased was identified as Anowarul Islam Gazi, 40, son of Joynuddin of village Agardari in Sadar Upazila.

Two police constables Zahangir Hossain and Shahabuddin of Patkelghata police station were also injured in the atack. Police said, acting on a tip-off a police team of Patkelghata police station in Tala Upazila chased the dacoits near at Shakdah bridge in Tala Upazila while they were preparing to commit dacoity in a nearby village at about 12-30 AM and arrested him.

According to his statement, they took him to Shakdah cropland at about 4-AM early on Monday morning to recover hidden arms and ammunitions. Sensing the presence of Police Anowarul Islam accomplices opened fire, forcing police to retaliate. Anowarul Islam received bullets during the shootout and died on the spot, police sources said. Police recovered two firearms and nine rounds of cartridges from the place of occurrence. While contacted, Patkelghata thana officer in charge (OC) Rawshan Ali said, the dacoit was wanted by police in connection with 11 dacoity cases filed with Sadar and Tala police stations.

Our Correspondent, Magura

Two killed in road mishap

Two persons including a truck driver were killed and 30 others seriously injured in a fatal road accident at Ramnagar area on Magura-Faridpur highway Saturday (Sep 22).

The deceased were identified as truck driver Kuddus Molla (45) of Charadampur village in Faridpur and Subodh Day (65) of Loanpara in Jessore District

Police said, the accident took place while a Jessore-bound passenger bus of Eagle Paribahan from Dhaka collided head on with a Dhaka-bound loaded truck losing control at the place.

Of the injured persons, Shahidul Islam (30), Sultana Rani (45), Abu Bakkar (60), Mala Bibi (35) Rahul Amin (35), Kader Biswas (35), Lutfar Biswas (45), Champa Khatun (22), Mafizur Rahman (30), Ashraful Islam (33), Ejarat Milla (40), Rokeya Khatun (60), Rabiul Islam (35), Easin Molla (25), Firoj (25) and Imranul Biswas (35) were admited to Magura Sadar Hospital.

BNP leader gets

17-yr RI for possessing illegal arms

District Assistant Sessions Judge Rahibul Islam senesced a BNP leader and his armed cadre to suffer 17 years rigorous imprisonment here for possessing firearms September 23.

The convicts are Shreepur upazila BNP leader Musfiqur Rahman Kalonand his armed cadre Shahid Molla of Sarongodia village under Shreepur Upazila in the district

According to the prosecution story, in brief, on a tipoff, a police team of local thana based on the confession recovered a firearms and huge other lethal weapons raiding their houses.

Later, a case was lodged with the local thana and police pressed charge against them. Court proved the case after examining prosecution witnesses and other relevant evidence then pronounced the verdict

Husband kills wife for mobile phone

A housewife was allegedly beaten to death by her husband at Dhaneswargati village under Sadar Upazila in the district on September 22 night

Police said the deceased was identified as Khaleda Khatun (20), wife of Masum Molla of the village.

Locals said, Khaleda Khatun was married with Masum one year ago. Since then her husband used to torture her for various reasons. But on the fateful night the accused beat his wife mercilessly when she refused to bring money from her parents' house by which he wanted to buy a mobile phone. Doctors of sadar hospital declared her dead while she was rushed there.

After the incident the killer husband fled away. A case was filed with the local thana in this connection.

Youth gets 14 years RI in rape case

A court here convicted a youth and sentenced him to suffer 14 years rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl.

District Sessions Judge M Kader Newaz pronounced the verdict on September 20.

The convict is Abul Kalam Molla, son of one Rowshan Molla of Baroil village under Sadar Upazila in the district

According to the prosecution story, in brief, the accused Kalam abducted a school girl of the same village while she was returning home from school and raped her on Aprils 5,2005.

Later a case was lodged with the local thana by her father and police arrested the accused. Accused Kalam also gave confessional statement to police and a charge was pressed against him.

After examining prosecution witnesses, relevant evidence and police report, the judge pronounced the verdict that day.

Diarrhoea claims one life in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Sept 25: Diarrhoea that took an alarming turn in the district after prolonged flood, claimed life of a young girl and affected 162 more people on Sunday. The dead was identified as Shilpi, 21, wife of Sukumar Das, of Sidir village in Sadar Upazila. Family sources said Shilpi affected by the waterborne disease on Saturday and died on Sunday morning on way to hospital. According to the district Civil Surgeon Office, some 8,739 people have, so far, been affected with the disease since August 30, reports UNB.

Mango trader killed

RAJSHAHI, Sept 25: Unidentified assailants hacked a man to death at village Anukompur in Charghat Upazila early on Saturday midnight The deceased was identified as M Ashraf, 45. He was a mango trader. Police said the assailants hacked Ashraf to death while sleeping in the varanda of his house at night Ashraf's wife found the body lying in a pool of blood at about 1.10 AM. The body was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. The reason behind the killing could not be known, reports UNB.

Seven shops guted

SUNAMGANJ, Sept 25: Seven shops were guted in a fire at Iqbal Hossain market in Tahirpur Upazila headquarters on Friday midnight Market sources said the fire originated in a shop from a torn wire of Palli Bidyut Samity at about 12:15 AM and soon engulfed the adjacent shops, burning down goods worth about Tk 30 lakh. Army and police members with the help of local people brought the blaze under control after an hour of hectic efforts, reports UNB.

Four robbers arrested

GAZIPUR, Sept 25: Members of Rapid Action Batalion (RAB) arrested four infamous robbers from Mokterbari area of Tongi thana on Saturday early morning. Acting on a tip-off that a gang of robbers was ploting to commit dacoity in the guise of RAB members, a team of RAB-11 raided the area at about 5 AM and arrested four of them. The arrested are Solaiman Akand, 26, Anil Chandra, 22, Abdul Jabbar, 36 and Nasir Mia, reports UNB.

Son kills father

in Mymensingh

MYMENSINGH, Sept 25: A cruel son beat his father to death at Balwar village in Trishal Upazila here on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Nurul Islam, 55. Police said Nurul Islam rebuked his son Ful Mia, 18, for not going to their paddy land to transplant aman seedlings and at one stage he beat him with a stick. At this his another son Abul Kalam became angry and beat him mercilessly leaving him dead on the spot On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed with the police. The killer son went into hiding, reports UNB.

Housewife violated

BENAPOLE (Jessore), Sept 25: A housewife was violated by a gang of terrorists at Paksia Bazar area in Sharsha upazila on Friday night Villagers said a gang of local terrorists led by Imamul and Mithu raided the house of the victim at dead of night and abducted her at gunpoint Later, they took her to a nearby jungle and violated her by turns throughout the night They later left the place leaving her in an unconscious state. After rescuing the victim while her husband was taking her to a local hospital the terrorists threatened him no to disclose the mater to anybody and file any case with the police, reports UNB.

Firearms recovered

SATKHIRA, Sept 25: Elite force RAB in separate raids recovered eight firearms and eight bullets in Sadar Upazila here on Saturday and Friday. Acting on tip off RAB troops conducted a drive in Jhilpara area of the district town early on Saturday and recovered five pipe-guns, two revolvers and eight bullets from a pond in abandoned condition. In another drive RAB personnel also recovered a revolver in abandoned condition from Bokari Bazar in the Upazila on Friday night Separate cases were filed with the police, reports UNB.