The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

The harvesting of short duration Aman paddy, BRRI Dhan-33 has been started in BRRI reigonal office in the Rangpur district amid much enthusiasm among the farmers.

A function was also arranged at BRRI Rangpur Regional Office Darmodas on the occasion, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Khandokar Atiur Rahman attended the function as the chief guest and IRRI Representative of Bangladesh Dr. Joynal Abedin and Rangpur D.E. Shafikur Islam was present as special guest with chief scientific officer and chief BRRI regional office, Rangpur Dr M. Abdul Magaid in the chair. It was addressed, among others, by scientific officer of BRRI, Rangpur station M Anwarul Haque, Krisok Milon, Hemota Pachua.

The speakers called for launching a social movement for eradicating 'Monga` from the greater Rangpur district by cultivating the BRRI-33 paddy as the paddy could be harvested within 100 days from sowing of seeds with drum seeder and about 30 to 40 days ahead of the normal harvesting period of trans playted Aman paddy.

Primarily one lakh acres of land was brought under BRRI-33 paddy cultivation in the greater Rangpur district during the current season.

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Uttura Development Programme (UDP), a Non-govt social organisation distributed relief materials among 1300 flood affected families of Khuriagachi Union under sadar Upazila of the district on Sunday, October 28 here.

Each family got 30 k.g rice 3 k.g pulse 2 litre soyabean oil, 1 k.g salt 1 piece lifebuoy soap, 2 piece washing soap 10 packets biscuit, 5 pac, kets oral saline.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sawdagar Mustafizur Rahman was present at the distribution programme. Besides, Concern office UP chairman Khuriagachi Abdul Malek UDP representative was also present.

The relief goods were distributed by UDP funded by Irish aid and Concern Bangladesh. Earlier UDP distributed relief goods among flood-hit people of the Rajpur, Khulaghat Mogolhat Union also. So far U.DP distributed relief among 3300 flood affected families.

BSS, Joypurhat

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in separate drives in the town recovered a shutter-gun phensidyl and arrested a drug peddler in this connection.

RAB sources said they recovered a locally made firearm from one Amirul Islam's house at Jaganathpur village in an abandoned state.

In a separate drive, RAB personnel recovered 41 bottles of phensidyl from Churipatti in Basudevpur under Hakimpur Upazila in the district and arrested a drug peddler named Fatima Begum, 55.

A case was filed with concerned police station in this connection.

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a meeting at Kalitola Hat in the district on Saturday laid stress on the need for taking joint efforts to eliminate repression against women, eve teasing and child marriage to establish a better, peaceful and dignified society. To eliminate repression and domestic violence and all sorts of repression against women and children there is no alternative to creating mass social level awareness, they said.

They were addressing a public rally organised for creating necessary awareness to eradicate the social curses at all levels by Programme for Eco-Social Development (PESD) under the assistances of Steps Towards Development (STD) at Kalitola Hat in Bogra.

Pourasabha Commissioner Aminul Farid presided over the rally that was attended by acting chairman of Bogra Pourashava Syed Anwarul Islam Babla as the chief guest.

Deputy Director of Youth Development Department, Bogra Abdul Mannan, district women affairs officer Selina Khanom and senior journalist Abdur Rahim were present as special guests.

Executive Director of PESD Mahfuz Ara Miva delivered the welcome speech.

Social workers and community leaders including Hassan Sheikh, Sajedur Rahman, Rezia Begum, Majnu Shah, the concerned NGO experts and executives, elite, professionals, civil society members and public representatives addressed the rally.

The speakers discussed various types of repressions including domestic violence and said the women are facing violence in various forms at almost every family and working places due to lack of social awareness.

They mentioned that child marriage is mostly responsible for maternal and child mortalities, unsafe pregnancy, risky delivery, malnutrition and many other complicacies of both underage mothers and newly born babies. The speakers asked all stakeholders and concerned in the society for their firm commitments of playing the pioneering roles in building mass public, social and family level awareness to prevent violence against women.

BSS, Jhenidah

Human chain, discussion and a cultural programme were held in the district town in protest against corruption and make the people aware of corruption on Saturday.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Sachetan Nagorik Committee (SNC) jointly organised the programmes.

Besides, a cultural procession was also brought out that paraded various streets in the town. Members of the TIB and SNC various social organisations joined the procession carrying with colourful banners and festoon inscribed with various slogans against corruption.

Later, the discussion was held on the Purasabha Park premises with convenor of the district SNC Advocate Sheikh Selim in the chair.

Professor NM Shahjalal, Dr Sudhir Kumar Samaddar, Nazimuddin Julias and Shahinur Alam Liton, among others addressed the discussion.

BSS, Satkhira

An Eid-reunion was held at the local Press Club on Saturday.

With president of the Press Club GM Monirul Islam in the chair, the reunion was attended by Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira Mohammad Kefayet Ullah as the chief guest while Police Super Mirza Abdullah Baki, Major Alamgir Islam and Pourasabha chairman Sheikh Ashraful Haque were present as special guests.

The function reunion addressed, among others, by Editor of the daily Dristipat GM Noor Islam, Editor of the Ajker Satkhira Mohsin Hossain Bablu, acting editor of the daily Patradut Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, staff reporter of the daily Prathom Alo Kalyan Banarjee, General Secretary of the Press Club Abdul Bari and advocate AKM Shahidullah.

Naogaon, Oct 28: Joint forces seized a touchstone made statue of Lord Shiva from a pond at Chakkanu village in Manda upazila on Sunday. On information, the joint troops recovered two parts of the statue weighing 85.5kg and 34.2kg from the pond of Abdul Jalil at about 3pm. Joint forces sources said the statue, worth about Tk 1.20 crore, was kept under the water with an intention to smuggle out of the country. None was arrested in this connection, reports UNB.

Comilla, Oct 28: Veteran Awami League leader and freedom fighter M Abdul Awal died of old-age ailments at his residence in Laksam upazila this (Sunday) morning. He was 80. Abdul Awal, former Member of Constituent Assembly and former general secretary of Comilla Dakkhin Mahakuma AL unit, left behind his wife, two sons, two daughters and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death. His namaj-e-janaza will be held at Laksam Pilot High School ground after Asr prayer today. Later, he will be buried at his family graveyard with state honour, reports UNB.

Joypurhat, Oct 28: A young man was killed by some terrorists at Hossain Nagar in Akkelpur upazila on Friday night. The dead was identified as Anisur Rahman, 25, son of Ahmed Ali of Harisara village. Sources said two groups of youths of Bhanurkanda and neighbouring Harisara villages of the upazila locked into an altercation over teasing a girl at a fair organized at Hossain Nagar on the occasion of Laxmi Puja of Hindu community. At one stage some terrorists of Bhanurkanda village swooped on Anisur of Harisara village blaming him for teasing the girl and beat him up mercilessly, leaving him seriously injured, reports UNB.

Sylhet, Oct 28: A young man was crushed under the wheels of a pickup-van at Uttarkul in Jakiganj upazila Thursday night. Witnesses said the Sylhet-bound speedy van ran over Yusuf Ali, 18, son of Abdur Rahim of Barothakuri village of the upazila, at about 11:30pm killing him on the spot. While trying to flee van driver lost control over the steering and the vehicle plunged into a roadside ditch. Later, police recovered the body of Yusuf Ali and sent it to the Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Local people also caught the van-driver and handed over him to police. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Faridpur, Oct 28: At least 20 dwelling houses were gutted in a devastating fire at Jandi village in Bhanga upazila Friday. Police said the fire originated from a kitchen in a house at dead of night and soon engulfed the adjoining houses. Local people brought the blaze under control after four hours of frantic efforts. The extent of loss could go up to Tk 40 lakh, house owners said. The victims have been passing their days under the sky, reports UNB.