The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The southwestern monsoon retreated finally from Bangladesh on Thursday after a rainy season, marked by excessive rains and floods, Met Office sources said.

The monsoon bade farewell with some rains across the country. The rains came from the bank of deep layers of convective clouds, the legacy of a low pressure and land depression still hanging over the Bay.

The low pressure turning into a land depression was the last of the 13 formed in the Bay of Bengal this season.

The lows mostly provided muscles to the monsoon this year, causing more than higher rainfalls this season.

The parting rains were, however, likely to be cleared by tomorrow to make room for the autumn in its full flare for the season, the sources said.

The monsoon had only one period of shortfall at the height of its peak in August when rains were 25 percent less than normal average after 31 percent excessive rainfall in July, which triggered the seasonal flooding.

The rains were 20 percent higher in September, which lingered the floods.

Until Wednesday this month, the rains were higher than average with a total of 4170 mm precipitaion in the country.

During the 12 hours between 6 AM and 6 pm today, Dhaka received the maximum of the parting gift of the monsoon followed by 37 mm in Mymensingh as the dark clouds sailed towards northeast. But Srimangal received only 12 mm of showers and Sylhet only two mm.

Khulna recorded 21 mm rains and Barisal 10 mm during the period. Elsewhere at many places there were some little rains, including seven mm at Ishwardi and five mm at Rajshahi.

During the past 24 hours ending at 6 AM today, only Cox's Bazar recorded worth mentioning 34 mm rainfall followed by 13 mm at Rajshahi and 12 mm at Sylhet.

The wet weather with some little winds under a canopy of clouds, however, turned the day cool. The highest maximum temperature today was 31.8 degrees Celsius recorded in Chandpur and the lowest minimum temperature was 21.5C at Ishwardi.

Dhaka recorded the maximum temperature of 28.6C and the minimum 25.4C, Rajshahi maximum 30.4C and minimum 21.8C, Khulna maximum 30.6C and minimum 24.6C, Barisal maximum 31.5C and minimum 24.5C and Sylhet maximum 25.9C and minimum 23C.

The met forecast during the next 24 hours beginning at 6 PM today said light to moderate rains or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally winds are likely at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong, Barisal and Khulna divisions with moderately heavy falls at places.

The day temperature may rise by 1-2C over the country, the forecast added.

The met outlook for next two days weather said the rainfall activity may decrease. The extended outlook for weather said little change is likely.

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a seminar at Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) in the city yesterday said food safety is an alarming issue in Bangladesh in terms of ensuring the security of public health.

The Institute of Food Science Technology (IFST) organised the seminar titled "Meeting International Standards for Food and Drug - A Challenge for Bangladesh", said a press release.

The speakers said use of various industrial color, preservatives, additives, indiscriminate use of pesticides and antibiotics has brought concern not only for the authorities, but the food scientists and general public as well.

They said the recent development in export of shrimp, pickles, fresh vegetables are causing concern in foreign countries due to the presence of unacceptable limit of nitrofuran metabolites, chloramphenicol, mycotoxin, sudan dye, melachite green and residual pesticides in imported consignments from Bangladesh to EU.

SM Wahiduzzaman, Secretary of Science and ICT Ministry, and S Ataur Rahman, Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, and MA Fiaz, Principal of Dhaka Medical College, attended the seminar.

BCSIR Chairman Prof Dr Choudhury Mahmood Hasan presided over the seminar while IFST Director Dr KM Formuzul Haque was the coordinator.

According to BCSIR release, the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) started functioning as an institute of the BCSIR from July 1983 and since then it has been involved in detection of residual pesticides in selected agricultural products and antibiotics, chloramphenicol and mixotoxin.

It is also collecting valuable data and providing analytical service to various organizations and individuals at home and abroad under different projects, the release says.

BSS, Dhaka

The government has sent a list of products to three BIMSTEC developed partners for exclusion from their final negative lists of products to be presented in the next trade negotiating committee (TNC) meeting.

An official source yesterday said the 'exclusion list' of products was sent to the governments of Thailand, India and Sri Lanka on Wednesday as per the decision of the last TNC meeting held in Dhaka from September 24 to 26.

The list covers 138 products for India, 185 for Thailand and 52 for Sri Lanka.

Explaining the exclusion list, the source said it varies from country to country. And it implies that the products included in the list would not be on their negative list to negate their duty free access in their market, beyond the free trade regime.

The source said these are potential exports of Bangladesh and the BIMSTEC negotiators agreed as part of helping the development of the export basket of the less advantaged members to keep them out of the negative list of its developed partners.

The three countries would take a look now at this list while preparing their negative lists so that Bangladesh's potential export items remained unaffected from their side. This is the spirit of BIMSTEC accommodation to less developed members Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.

This exercise is part of the next TNC meeting to be held at Kuchin in Western India from December 12 to 15. All members will present their final negative list in that meeting for a last moment evaluation and adjustment.

The source said the exclusion list has been approved at an inter-ministerial meeting held on October 4 at the ministry of commerce and attended by representatives of the concerned agencies including chamber leaders representing the private sector.

The government is also preparing a 'top export priority list' of 25 products, he said adding, similar lists would be exchanged among the members before the next TNC meeting. The product list would be harmonized in that meeting striking out overlapping to reduce the number in the final list for each country.

These products would enjoy specific rules of entry, the source said adding, the government is still working on the list. So also it is working on reducing the size of the country's negative list to adjust it at 21 percent of the total number of 5,039 products now globally traded.

This target has been agreed by the TNC for the four least developed nations. For the remaining three developed members, efforts are on to adjust it below 15 percent. All members are working on it, the source said.

He said senior BIMSTEC trade officials at the secretary level would meet immediately after the next TNC meeting. This meeting to be held in Dhaka would be followed by a BIMSTEC ministerial meeting scheduled for February next year in New Delhi.

There is a widespread expectation that the ministerial meeting would adopt the finally worked out 'modality agreement' to launch the free trade block in the region covering countries of the South and South East Asia.

It would work as a bridge between SAARC and ASEAN nations, the source said.

BSS, Rajshahi

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 arrested eight persons and seized two metal statues and 572 bottles of phensidyl in the region in last 24 hours ending yesterday noon, RAB sources said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force arrested Abu Taher, 22, from his house at Mohoishil village under Tarash upazila of Sirajganj district with a metal statue.

Following his confession, the RAB arrested two others identified as Sahed Ali, 30, and Mobarak Hossain, 27, with another metal statue from Dafila village under the same upazila.

The RAB also seized 572 bottles of phensidyl and arrested two alleged drug-traders, Monirul Islam, 30, and Rahmat Ullah, 26, during drives at different places in Dinajpur, Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi districts.

Raiding a residential hotel at Luxmipur area under Rajpara thana in the city, another RAB team captured four gamblers with 103 playing cards and Taka 9,920 in cash. They were identified as Imla, 50, Mainul, 45, Mojibur, 45, and Peya, 17.

The arrested persons and the seized statues and drugs were handed over to police.

BSS, Bagerhat

Properties worth approximately Taka 13 crore were damaged caused by the heavy storm and rainfall in the district on Monday, district administration sources said.

The sources said a platform at the river Bhoirab at Muniganj Ferry Ghat sank hit by the storm resulting disruption of movement of ferries since Monday.

Besides, around 27 electric poles of the Rural

Electrification Board (REB) demolished hit the storm keeping about 30,000 consumers out of power for last three days.

The district Disaster Management and Relief Office sources said some 1,590 houses, crops on hundred acres of land and 50,000 trees in 75 unions under nine upazilas in the district have been totally damaged by the storm.

Moreover, many shrimp ghers were washed away due to heavy rainfall and the storm in the district.

While contacted, deputy commissioner Sahidul Islam told BSS that the ministry of Disaster Management and Relief allocated Taka two lakh for the affected people.

BSS, Rangpur

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 17 criminals and seized a huge quantity of contraband goods from their possession from various places in Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Bogra districts during the past 24 hours till on Thursday afternoon, RAB sources said.

The elite force rounded up six female members of an organised gang of inter-district drug traffickers and seized 130 bottles of smuggled phensidyl from Raniganj bus stand area in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur while they were being boarded into a Bogra- bound bus at 10 this morning.

They are: Rahima Begum, 40, of village Luka, Monwara Begum, 30, of village Dihgirpar, Rowshan Ara, 55, of village Boyra and Anjuara Begum, 40, of village Shialnagar in Nababganj upazila of Dinajpur and Shahnaz Begum, 35, of Sutrapur area and Jolly Begum, 45, of Namajgarh area in Bogra town.

RAB picked up six members of an organised gang of inter- district dacoits with their gang leader and recovered six lifted cows from the house of Rekha Begum at village Teghora Dondapani under Sadar upazila in Joypurhat last night.

The arrested criminals are: gang leader Siddique, 48, of village Zatihar in Nababganj upazila, Anwar Hossain, 40, of village Boigram under Hakimpur upazila, Abdul Mannan, 30, of village Bamonpara under Ghoraghat upazila in Dinajpur and Ferdous Hossain, 29, of village Rukindipur in Akkelpur upazila and Rafikul Islam, 28, of village Pramanikpara in Sadar upazila of Joypurhat.

Six dacoity and robbery cases and several warrants for arrests are pending against gang leader Siddique with Nababganj police station alone in Dinajpur.

RAB also seized 56 pieces of smuggled Indian sarees from Rajshahi-bound Rocket mail train from Parbotipur at Joypurhat rail station in an abandoned condition on Thursday noon.

The elite force arrested five miscreants, who are involved in rapes and abductions, and rescued an adolescent from their clutches while they were taking her after abduction from village Ranirpara under Gabtoli upazila in Bogra on Wednesday afternoon.

The arrested criminals are: Sajib, 21, son of Abul Kashem, Mintu, 19, son of Babul Akand, Mahbub Hossain, 18, son of Fazlul Haque, Abul Kalam, 18, son of Abdul Bari of village Ranirpara and Hira, 19, son of late Edris Ali of nearby Moria village in Gabtoli upazila of Bogra.

RAB also picked up extortionist Rupchand, 35, of Fulbari Uttarapara area in Bogra town from Mohasthan point on the Rangpur-Bogra highway under Shibganj upazila of Bogra while he was engaged in realising extortion money from a Satkhira-bound bus, Soikat Paribahan, from Rangpur.

RAB seized a white touch stone statue weighing 35 kg and worth about Taka 1 crore from behind the house of Fazar Ali at village Jamalpur under Sahjahanpur police station of Bogra in an abandoned condition on Wednesday night.

After filing separate cases against the arrested criminals, RAB handed them over to the concerned police stations yesterday afternoon, the sources said.

UNB, Chapainawabganj

One person died of diarrhoea and 287 of nearly one thousand affected by the disease reported to the government hospitals in 24 hours to 8am Thursday as the disease is spreading fast across the district.

Stool of four affected persons tested at ICDDRB, Dhaka, found they were attacked by cholera, said resident physician of Sadar Hospital Dr Taj Uddin.

"The test report has not yet reached us but ICCDDR,B informed by telephone confirming cholera germs," Dr Taj told UNB. He expressed concern at the fast spreading of the disease and said they were finding it extremely difficult to tackle the situation with few doctors and nurses.

Some 287 diarrhoea patients reported to the government hospitals in the district from 8am Wednesday to 8am Thursday. Afsar Ali (65) died in Sadar Hospital today.

Patients are still coming from remote villages. Shibganj upazila is the worst affected area, added Dr Taj.

Confirming the situation acting Civil Surgeon Dr Rabiul Islam said 64 medical teams are working all over the district to combat the disease. He said improved facilities and modern medicines are now available for treatment of cholera patients. So, there is not much to worry about it.

UNB Correspondent visiting the Sadar Hospital found an awful situation in the 10-bed diarrhoea ward. Scores of patients were lying in the corridor. Relatives of the patients complained of inadequate treatment facilities with few doctors and nurses.

Doctors in Civil Surgeon office confirmed five persons died of diarrhoea in the district during this (October) month. Of the patients reported to the government hospitals today are 76 from sadar upazila, 39 from Nachol, 120 from Shibganj, 27 from Gumastapur and 25 from Bholahat upazila.

Besides, hundreds of people affected by the disease were undergoing treatment at home, private clinics and mobile medical teams, said reports reaching from remote villages.

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam today urged the Supreme Court for early disposal of Sheikh Mujib murder case, who was killed along with his family members 32 years ago.

Ashraf was speaking at a function marking the 43rd anniversary of birth of Sheikh Russel, youngest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, killed along with the family on August 15, 1975. Awami League and its front organizations celebrated the occasion through placing wreaths at the grave of Sheikh Russell at Banani graveyard, milad mehfil at the party office and offering special prayer.

Begum Matia Chowdhury, Subed Ali Bhuiyan, Abdul Mannan, AL Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Dr Mizanur Rahman Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury were, among others, present at the functions.

UNB, Chuadanga

A police constable died and two others were wounded in a road accident at Nehalpur Wednesday night. Shahadat Hossain died on way to Dhaka while his colleagues Shafiqur Rahman and Fazle Rabbi were lying in the Sadar Hospital. Police said the victims riding a motorbike from Hijalgari police outpost on way to Durga Puja duty met with the fatal accident and the vehicle turned turtle.

The injured were rushed to the Sadar Hospital. But Shahadat was referred to Dhaka as his condition deteriorated. He succumbed to his injuries Thursday morning on his way to the capital city. He hailed from Munshiganj district.

Police said they would investigate into the cause of the accident.