The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our correspondent, Netrakona

Communication Advisor Major General (Rtd) M A Matin Bir Pratik said that the present caretaker government has already achieved confidence and support of the people by executing different reform-oriented programmes including reconstitution of anti-corruption commission, election commission and public service commission and separation of judiciary from the executive branch.

He said that the government is carrying out the reform-oriented programmes and anti-corruption drive to free the country from all sorts of corruption, crime and irregularities with a view to steering the nation towards progress and prosperity. General Matin was addressing as the chief guest at a meeting on "Post-flood rehabilitation activities, development of communication network, fertilizer and seed distribution management and market rate of different essential commodities" at the conference room of the DC office here on November 3. Netrakona district administration organised the meeting, which was attended by the district and upazila level civil and military officers, civil society members, NGO officers, business community leaders and journalists. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner of Netrakona district Aiyatullah Mojumder and it was addressed, among others, by secretary of communication ministry Dr Mahbubur Rahman, chairman of Netrakona pourashava Nazrul Islam Khan, prominent social worker Dr MA Hamid, acting president of Netrakona chamber of commerce and industries Abdul Wahed and commander of Netrakona Muktizodda sangsad Haider Jahan Chowdhury.

The communication advisor said, the government has already let all including the stalwarts of the society to know that nobody is above law. In this context, he said that the government does not spare anybody, whoever he or she be, if any one is found involved in corruption.

Reviewing the reports of price hike of essential commodities, he said that the government is putting its best and sincere efforts to control the price hike of essential commodities, but it is not possible only by the government to check market prices as some essential commodities including onion are imported from the foreign countries like India and Pakistan. In this context, he underlined the need for increasing production of the essential commodities like onion in the country to fulfill the demand of the people. He also urged upon the people of all walks of life including the business community to extend all out co-operation to control prices of essentials. Later, the communication minister visited Netrakona-Durgapur, Netrakona-Purbadhala, Netrakona-Mohanganj and Netrakona-Kalmakanda roads to see for himself the condition of the roads that were damaged by the devastating flood recently.

Netrakona adds:

36th anniversary of the national co-operative day was observed here at Rampal upazila in a colorful and befitting manner. A mammoth rally paraded through the main roads of the upazila head quarter.

A discussion session was also organised captioned "The role of the co-operative system to control price hike and marketing of the agricultural products". The meeting was presided over by Sk. A. Barik, president, Pry. dealers co-operative association, while upazila Nirbahi Officer, Masoomur Rahman was in the chair as the chief guest. Siraj Mullick and Shahajahan Ali joined the session as guests of honour.

Speakers among others were Sk. A. Jahir, Sardar A. Hannan, principal (Acting) Sundarban girls' college, Khalid Hossan, Prof. Hiran Chandra Das and BRDB officer Belayet Hossain spoke on the occasion. Co-operative officer A. Halim delivered the welcome speech.

The whole session was facilitated by the upazila Youth Development Officer Mr. Fazlul Huq.

BSS, Rangpur

The Bangladesh Army is continuing the Taka 20 lakh post-flood relief and rehabilitation programme under the financial assistance of the Prime Bank Limited (PBL) in five flood-hit districts of greater Rangpur, officials said.

Commanding Officer of the Rangpur Army Camp Lt Col Kaiser launched the programme by distributing goats, crop seeds and cash at Gangachara Upazila in Rangpur on Monday.

Similarly, senior officials of the Army launched the same and are continuing the programme in the other four districts of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in greater Rangpur from the same day.

On Monday, Lt Col Kaiser distributed 41 Black Bengal goats among 41 flood-hit distressed families, 4-kg maize seeds to each of the 72 families, two-kg mustard seeds to each of the 128 families and Taka 60,000 to Taka 1,000 to each of the 60 flood- hit families of Gangachara Upazila in Rangpur.

Major Abu Taher Belal of Rangpur Army camp distributed 50 black Bengal goats among 50 distressed families, Taka 1,000 to each of the 50 families, 4 kg maize seeds among each of the 43 families, 4 kg mug-bean to each of the 21 families and 2 kg mustard seeds to each of the other 60 flood-hit distressed families of Pirgacha Upazila in Rangpur on Thursday.

Pirgacha UNO Gautam Kumar, all UP chairmen of the flood- affected areas in Pirgacha Upazila and Upazila level government officials were present.

Earlier, Chief of the Human Resources Division and Senior Vice- President of the PBL Wing Commander (retd) M Tobarak Hossain Bhuiyan handed over Taka 20 lakh to the Rangpur Area Commander and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 66 Infantry Division Major General Syed Fatemy Ahmed Roomy at his office in Rangpur recently.

The PBL donated the amount to the Bangladesh Army for rehabilitation of the flood-hit distressed people in greater Rangpur and the Army authorities allocated Taka 4 lakh for each for Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts.

Authorities of the Army Camp in these districts are distributing, coordinating and supervising the post-flood relief and rehabilitation activities using the donation in the flood-hit areas of these districts to assist the flood-affected people and the distribution would be completed very soon, the sources said.

UNB, Chapainawabganj

Farmers of the district may not achieve the target of Boro and Wheat cultivation due to acute seed crisis.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension, farmers have set a target to cultivate Boro on 44,940 hectares while wheat on 15,000 hectares in the district during the current season. To achieve the target, they need 990 mts boro seeds and 1,800 mts wheat seeds. While contacted farmers said that they would start preparing boro seedbeds and wheat cultivation in the middle of the current month. But they are apprehending that they might not achieve the target as Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and its appointed dealers have failed to supply them adequate seeds. Farmers said that usually they store seeds every season but they failed to store seeds this year due to floods and other natural calamities and are now depending on BADC's seed due to its high quality and reasonable price.

Local agricultural officials, however, denied the seed crisis and said that farmers have stocked sufficient despite natural calamities but they are depending on BADC's seeds due to its high quality and reasonable price.

Assistant Director of local BADC Hasan Toufiqur Rahman said BADC received 75 mts of seeds for boro cultivation in the district and of the total, 14 mts were sanctioned for its sale center and the rest seed to its 16 dealers. He also said the sale centre sold out the seeds during the last part of October and dealers have almost finished their quota.

He further said, as the farmers are knocking the door of BADC for seeds every day they have urged the higher authorities to sanction more seven metric tons boro seed to meet the increasing demand. BADC sources said some 130 mts seeds of wheat have been allocated for the district, which will be available within a week.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A task force team of Anti-Corruption Department stated probe against Shahidul Huq Jamal, former Red Crescent Chairman and BNP whip.

This task force team No.4 of ACC headed by Major Zahid also included AKM Fazlul Huq, Deputy Director in charge of Barisal ACC office, Md. Maniruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner of taxes of Barisal and others.

This team visiting Banaripara upazila town and Labonsara village, electoral and native upazila and town of Whip Zamal on Thursday, inquired about his properties and wealth at local land registration office, Upazila Parishad office and banks.

They also visiting the luxurious houses of Whip Zamal estimated the costs of construction, fittings and furniture.

The team denying giving any details said there are many allegations against Whip Zamal about earning huge amount of wealth and properties beyond legal sources of income using political power and influences, evading taxes, misappropriating public and relief funds and items while he was Red Crescent chairman and ruling party lawmaker.

After investigating at electoral area, native upazila town and village, the team will also investigate about properties and wealth of Whip Zamal at Dhaka and other places and may interrogate him in this connection.

It will take some time to complete the investigation and report may be submitted to ACC at the end of this month, sources said.

Youth killed

SYLHET, Nov 5: A Bangladeshi youth was shot dead by Indian 'Khasia' assailants in the border area in Companiganj upazila here Friday. Sources said Saccha Miah, 25, remained missing since he went to the border area in search of his cattle on Thursday. Local people found his bullet-hit body near the border-pillar 1251 on Friday morning. Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) members recovered the body in the evening. Family members claimed he was killed by Indian Khasia tribal persons. Police sent the body to hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

Road mishap

GOPALGANJ, Nov 5: A bicyclist was killed in a tragic road accident at Tetulia in Sadar upazila on Gopalganj-Tekerhat road Wednesday afternoon. Witnesses said a speedy truck, loaded with goods, dashed bicycle rider Badar Molla, 30, of Nijra village in the upazila in the afternoon, injuring him critically. Local people rushed him to Sadar Hospital where he died at night. A case was filed, reports UNB.

4 grenades, seized

PABNA, Nov 5: Rapid Action Battalion members seized four Russian grenades and 300 bullets from Baghol village in Ishwardi upazila early on Saturday. Acting on a secret information, a team of RAB-12 raided the village and recovered the grenades and bullets in a wooden box from a bamboo cluster. The seized grenades and bullets were taken to the RAB office in the district town, reports UNB.

Two drug peddlers held

JESSORE, Nov 5: Narcotics Control Department, in a drive arrested two drug peddlers and recovered 10 kgs of hemp from their possession at Monihar Bus Terminal here on Friday morning. Acting on a tip-off, Inspector of the department Sheikh Saidur Rahman raided a Khulna-bound BRTC bus from Kurigram and arrested Ranajit Bhuiyan and Azizul Haque, hailing from Kurigram district. Later, 10 kgs of heroin were recovered from their possession. In another drive, a team of the department raided Lawjani check post on Jessore-Jhikorgachha road and arrested four people along with 22 bottles of Phensidyl syrup on Friday morning. The arrested are Jabed Iqbal, Nazim Uddin, Shamsul Haque and Moshiar Rahman, reports UNB.

Dacoit succumbs to injured

GAZIPUR, Nov 5: A highwayman, who was injured in mass beating after a bus dacoity Friday night, succumbed to his injuries in Kaliakoir health complex early on Saturday night. Witnesses said six to seven bandits, who boarded the Fultali bound bus coming from Kaliakoir upazila in the guise of passengers swooped on the passengers when the bus reached Barachala area of the Upazila at 8 PM. They beat and stabbed the passengers indiscriminately and looted cash and valuables, leaving six passengers injured. Hearing their cry for help, local people rushed in and caught two of the robbers when they were getting down from the bus. However, other bandits managed to flee with the booty, reports UNB.

Two awarded 17 yrs RI

JESSORE, Nov 5: A tribunal here Thursday convicted two men and awarded each of them 17 years rigorous imprisonment in an arms case. The convicts were identified as Sadhu Hossain, son of Ashraf Ali and Sirajul Islam, son of Shaheb Ali of Kauria village in Jhikargachha Upazila. According to the prosecution, police arrested seven people including Sadhu Hossain and Sirajul Islam during a raid in the upazila in the afternoon of November 27, 2001, reports UNB.