The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A training programme on voter list and national ID card registration process inaugurated on Sunday at MIST Mirpur Cantonment, an ISPR press release said.

Military Secretary Bangladesh Army Major General Shafiqul Islam inaugurated the training programme and gave guidelines and instructions on preparing of voter list and national ID card to the participating student officers.

Around 520 students of MIST are participating in the programme and it will be continuing till November 24.

Among others, MIST Commandant Major General Abdul Wadud and all local Brigade Commanders were also present in the programme.

BSS, Dhaka

A number of programmes have been arranged at the Dhaka Cantonment on November 21 on the occasion of Armed Forces Day.

With a view to keeping the roads inside the Dhaka Cantonment (From Shaheed Jahangir Gate to Staff road of the main road) free from traffic jam, all vehicles expect those carrying cantonment residents and the invited guests are requested to avoid the roads inside the cantonment area from 7.00 am to 10.30 am on the day, said an ISPR press release on Sunday.

The Armed Forces Division regrets the inconvenience caused due to imposing restriction on vehicular movements through the cantonment area.

BSS, Dhaka

Most of the essentials, including rice, flour, lentil and soybean were sold at cheaper price in BDR run sales centres and markets in the city on Saturday in comparison to ordinary city markets.

According to a market report of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) today, the price of coarse rice in different markets, including Kamlapur, New Market, Karwanbazar, Kalyanpur, Kachukhet and Mohammadpur, ranged between Taka 23 and Taka 25 per kg on Saturday.

Rice was sold at Taka 23 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 20 at BDR-run sales centres yesterday while in Kolkata per kg coarse rice was sold at a price equivalent to Bangladesh Taka 21.62.

Each kg of packet flour was selling at Taka 37 and 39 and in ordinary markets while the price of the item was Taka 38 in BDR- run open markets and Taka 35 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the flour is being sold at Taka 25.22 per kg, the report said.

The price of imported lentil (mashur) is ranging between Taka 64 and Taka 68 per kg in ordinary markets, while it is being sold at Taka 63 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 60 at BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of the lentil is Taka 61.26 per kg.

Onion (imported) was sold at Taka 52 to Taka 60 per kg in ordinary city markets while its price in Kolkata was Taka 32.43. Onion is being sold at Taka 65 per kg in BDR-run open markets and Taka 45 at BDR-run sales centres.

The price of imported gram (Chhola) was between Taka 46 and Taka 50 per kg in different retail markets yesterday while in Kolkata, the item is being sold at Taka 57.65.

The item is being sold at Taka 56 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 55 at BDR-run sales centres.

Sugar is being sold between Taka 29 and 30 per kg in ordinary markets compared to Taka 26.78 in Kolkata and Taka 30 in BDR-run open markets.

The price of green chili, however, is ranging from Taka 38 to Taka 50 per kg in ordinary city markets. The item is sold at Taka 30 at BDR-run open markets. The green chilli in Kolkata is being sold at a price equivalent to Taka 26.78.

Potato is being sold at Taka 21 to Taka 23 per kg in the ordinary markets. The price of potato in BDR-run open market is Taka 21 and at BDR sales centres Taka 18. In Kolkata, the price of the item is equivalent to Taka 16.07.

Soybean oil is being sold at Taka 89 to 92 per liter in ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 88 in BDR-run open markets and Taka 81 in BDR-run sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of soybean oil is Taka 103.57 per liter.

Palm oil is being sold at Taka 80 to Taka 82 per liter in ordinary markets while it is available at Taka 82 per litre in BDR-run open market. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil is Taka 98.21 per liter.

BSS, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Comm-ission (ACC) chairman Lt. Gen. (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury on Sunday urged the officials of the commission to make their sincere efforts to create a corruption free atmosphere to the nation within the next five years.

He was addressing the certificate giving ceremony of a fortnight long training course arranged for field level officials of ACC at the conference room of the commission here.

A total of 23 directors, deputy directors and assistant directors level officials took part in the training organized for the first time as part of up capacity building programme of the ACC with the financial support of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekheruzzaman and Director General (training) of the ACC Abu Taleb addressed, among others, on the occasion.

Highlighting the goals of the ACC and aspiration of common people on the commission, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said the commission has to stand on its own foot to make the people's dream true.

"In view of this the commission has been making its strives to bring the corrupts under prosecution, create social awareness among people against corruption and build up the capacity so that it can function independently in future," the ACC chairman said.

Urging the officials to send the message to people on the three above goals of the commission, he said adding the nation will certainly get a corruption free atmosphere when the goals will be achieved.

The ACC chairman said brilliant officials of the ACC would be sent abroad to enhance their performance and further improve their capacity to fight corruption.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman expre-ssed his satisfaction to be associated with the ACC to and assured of providing all financial and administrative support to the commission.

BSS, Dhaka

South Asian Regional Director of United Nation Organisation on Drug Crime (UNODC) Gari Lewis on Sunday called on health adviser Major General (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman at his secretariat office here.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on drug crimes, HIV/AIDS and drug trafficking in South Asia.

The adviser welcomed the proposal of the UNODC director to introduce correction programmes for women and imprisoned drug addicts in Bangladesh.

Country coordinator of UNAIDS Dan Odallo, UNODC's adviser on HIV in Dhaka office Dr M Mozammel Huq and Dr Tasnim Azim of ICDDR,B were present on the occasion.

BSS, Dhaka

Shankhagatha, a radio documentary of Bangladesh Betar Transcription Service received this year's special jury prize by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

Besides, the Bangladesh Betar also got a special award for another function 'Save our Earth' broadcast in its world service.

Information about the prizes published in ABU's website:

www.abu.org.my on November 3 after the ABU prize 2007 was announced at its general assembly in Tehran.

In the Shankhagatha, a 14-minute radio documentary by assistant director Aktar Jahan, depicted the history and evolution of Shanka industry, it's tradition and present condition.

In the external broadcast category, the 12 and half-minute documentary 'Save our Earth' by Deputy Director Shanaz Begum got special award. The objective of the documentary is to create awareness among the people about devastation in the agri based Bangladesh due to climate change.

BSS, Dhaka

A weeklong theater festival-2007 began on Sunday at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) auditorium of Dhaka University (DU).

DU vice-chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz inaugurated the festival as the chief guest. The Department of Theatre and Music of the university organised the festival.

Selected works of 13 famous playwrights from Bangladesh and abroad will be presented at the festival.

The plays are Kayed-E-Hayat, Nemesis, Desire Under The Elms, The Chair, Waiting For Godot, Bratto, The Lesson, Phaedra, The Two Executioners, No Man's Land, Look Back In Anger and Kabi will be staged at the festival.

BSS, Rajshahi

Nine more voters including three females have been detected as double-registered in the just completed digitized voter-listing process in the metropolis.

After identification in computer checking and cross-checking the nine voters were summoned to the circuit house conference hall yesterday morning. Of them, two females identified as Sheuly Akter Banu and Rashida appeared at the venue but seven others did not respond to the call.

The females confessed that they registered their names and had appeared in the centers for snapping photographs and taking fingerprint in two places.

On their confession, they were handed over to the concerned police station.

According to the officials, the other identified voters were identified as Azizul Haque, Champa, Sanwar Hossain, Mahfuzul Hassan, Rabiul Awal Bablu and Saiful Islam.

District Election Commission lodged a case with Rajpara thana against them in this connection.

Present on the occasion, Second-in-Command of 6 Cavalry Battalion of Bangladesh Army Major Didar-E-Zabid and District Election Officer Syed Muhammd Musha held at short press briefing there and termed the double entry as punishable offense.

Earlier, in last month, eight other voters including a female have been identified as double entry and six of them remained in jail at present. They are Abdul Khaleque, Moksed Ali, Monsur Ali, Babu, Shahidul Islam, Monirul Islam, Ataur Rahman and Momota Begum.

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for LGRD and Cooperatives Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal urged all concerned including the physicians to be careful in the development of health services of the country.

He was addressing the inaugural function of a scientific seminar on 'Oro-Dental Infection Related to Systemic Diseases' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

Bangladesh Dental Health Research Foundation (BDHRF) organised the seminar with its President Dr Mujibur Rahman Hawlader in the chair.

Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib University Prof Dr Mohammad Tahir, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof MA Majid, Dean of Dentistry Faculty Prof Mohammad Ashraf Hossain and Managing Director of Incepta Pharmaceutical Abdul Muktadir and General Secretary of the BDHRF Dr Mohammad Abdur Rahim, among others, addressed the function.

The adviser said the government is considering to develop specialist doctors in all fields of medical treatment so that healthcare facilities would be ensured at all levels in the country.

"It is not right to give less importance to any kind of oral and dental infections," he said adding if any physical problem is noticed the persons concerned should immediately consult the doctors.

BSS, Dhaka

The Department for International Development (DFID) of Britain has sanctioned five million US dollars equivalent to Taka 35 crore for cyclone victims.

The money is being channelled through the UN and will be used for providing food, water, medical treatment and house repairing. Assessment of needs is being carried out in most affected districts, said a DFID press release.

Country representative of the DFID in Bangladesh Chris Austin said, "Cyclone Sidr has a devastating effect on people, poverty and crops. But causalities and damage could have been much more if the excellent early warning system and contingency measures are not taken by the Bangladesh government".

The DFID praised the government for taking preparations and prompt efforts to bring relief to the affected people.

This year the UK provided US$ 14.5 million equivalent to Taka 101.3 crore as disaster relief for flood and disaster Victims in Bangladesh, the release added.

BSS, Dhaka

Dhaka University (DU) authorities have cancelled admission of 13 more students who managed to get admitted to different departments of the university through fraudulent means.

The DU syndicate at a meeting on Saturday night took the decision. Vice- Chancellor (VC) of DU Professor SMA Faiz chaired the meeting.

Sources said of the 13 fake students, six were from the department of Management Studies while three from department of Mathematics, two from department of Botany and two from department of Applied Physics.

The syndicate took the decision on the basis of reports of the fact- finding committee that has been working for detecting fake students at the university.

The committee, headed by Pro-VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, has so far identified 180 fake students since its formation on October 10, 2006. The syndicate cancelled admission of all of the fake students.

The fact-finding committee was formed in the wake of allegations of inconsistencies in the admission papers of 11 students of the department of Public Administration in the 2004- 05 academic session.

BSS, Dhaka

Jatiya Party (JP) yesterday urged the government to declare the cyclone-hit areas as the "Disaster Area" and the people to face the aftermath of the calamity unitedly.

Former president of the country Hossain Mohammad Ershad and acting chairman of the JP Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud in separate statements praised the government of timely forecast of the cyclonic storm and effective measures in the affected areas, which saved life and property of millions of people.

Praising the members of the Armed Forces for shifting the people to safe places, Ershad said people of the country will remember them forever with gratitude.

Barrister Anis at a press briefing at the party office asked party men to stand by the affected people.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami formed a nine-member relief committee headed by Naib-e-Ameer Maqbul Ahmed as convener and party secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid as secretary.

At a meeting of the central executive committee at the central office with party Ameer Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami in the chair, Jamaat urged the government to allow various social and political organisations to carry out relief activities.

It called upon international organisations for initiating relief work and the government for distributing food and drinking water among the affected people.

Both the JP and Jamaat urged the solvent individuals to extend their support to the cyclone-hit people.

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh and United Nations have been jointly awarded Charles H. Best Medal, 2007 for their distinguished service in the cause of diabetes.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ismat Jahan received the award on behalf of Bangladesh at a ceremonial event of the American Diabetes Association in St Louis, Missouri Saturday.

The award is named after Charles H. Best, the co-discoverer of insulin. The award honours distinguished services in the field of diabetes, including both scientific and nonscientific endeavors, according to a message received from Permanent Mission of Bangladesh of the UN.

President of American Diabetes Association John Buse, in his award citation, said, "on behalf of the American Diabetes Association, we are honoured to present this prestigious award to the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh and the United Nations for their efforts to make every citizen of the world aware about diabetes". "The adoption of the World Diabetes Day Resolution would not have been possible without their involvement", he stated. Accepting the award Ambassador Ismat Jahan thanked the American Diabetes Association for honouring Bangladesh with this award. She said, "diabetes being a silent killer, Bangladesh's aim is to raise global awareness and that we believe can best be done through a UN resolution".

She noted that diabetes was rising faster in developing countries like Bangladesh, which can ill afford to cope with the disease on its own.

Ambassador Jahan said that Bangladesh's comprehensive diabetic health care delivery was well recognized. The Bangladesh PRSP and the Health, Nutrition, Population Sector Programme (HNPSP) had identified diabetes mellitus as one of the major public health problems, she added.

She also recalled that the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB) along with and its affiliates played strong role of advocacy and awareness raising in Bangladesh.

Ismat Jahan underscored that the severity of the threat that diabetes posed on the world economy, required a coordinated international action.

Bangladesh took the lead in sponsoring a UN resolution on World Diabetes Day. The resolution was adopted in the UN General Assembly by consensus on December 20, 2006.

Staff Reporter

The 18th death anniversary of Major M A Jalil will be observed today. On the occasion Major Jalil Parishad will organise milad mahfil at the Mirpur martyred intellectuals graveyard at 9.00 am in the morning.

Besides, Major Jalil Parishad and the local freedom fighters will also organise milad mahfil and discussion meeting at Jalil's village at Ujirpur under Barisal district.

At the milad mahfil munajat will be offered for the people who lost their lives in the cyclone SIDR, informed Saima Jalil, chairperson of Major Jalil Parishad.

Major Jalil was commander of the sector number 9 during the liberation war in 1971.

UNB, Dhaka

Sayeed Khokon, AL Dhaka City organizing secretary who had opted for Progressing Democratic Party today met with acting general secretary Sayed Ashraful Islam at his NAM residence.

Sources close to the meeting told UNB that Ashraf counseled him to have patience in view of a strong group led by party's organizing secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury insisting on his expulsion from the party.

Vacillating Khokan started attending Awami League central office since November 16 despite objection from the followers of Saber Chowdhury.

Defeated in the last Dhaka City mayoral election to BNP's Sadeq Hossain Khoka, Sayeed Khokon is aspiring the party nomination in the upcoming mayoral election, said the party insiders.

UNB, Dhaka

Seven people were killed and 27 others injured in separate road accidents in Dhaka and Tangail districts Sunday. In Tangail, five people were killed when a goods-laden truck plunged into a pond at Ukhiabari in Dhanbari upazila in the morning. Police said the Dhanbari-bound truck from Modhupur fell into the pond in the morning, killing five on the spot.

The identity of the deceased, travelling in the truck, could not be known immediately.

Police seized the truck. But the driver managed to flee the scene. UNB Munshiganj correspondent adds : Two people were killed and 27 others injured when a bus fell into a roadside watery ditch in Nababganj in the morning.

The deceased were identified as Mamtaz Begum, 27, and her son Nayan, 2.

Local sources said the accident took place at Tikar, killing the two on the spot.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals.

UNB, Chittagong

A court here on Sunday sentenced four people to life term imprisonment for committing robbery and killing a man eight years ago.

The 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge Court also fined the convicts Tk 10,000 each, in default, to serve one year more in jail. The lifers are : Habibur Rahman Kalu, Abdul Alim, Nandan Babul and Abdul Halim. Of them, Nandan and Halim remained absconding. According to the prosecution, a gang of robbers looted Tk 40,000 in cash from a shop-Bismillah Aluminum- at Muradpur under Panchlaish thana on February 22, 1999.

The robbers also shot dead shop manager Shambhu Sarkar as he tried to resist themAfter the incident, shop owner Shahidullah Babul filed a case with respective police station. After investigation, police submitted chargesheet on June 30, 2000.

After examining the records and witnesses, Judge M Akhter Hossain found them guilty and delivered the judgement.

Staff Reporter

The 7th REHAB Fair Dhaka-2007 will begin tomorrow at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Barrister Mainul Hosein, Adviser for the Ministry of Housing and Public Works will inaugurate the fair at 11:00 am on November 20 at the Ball Room of the hotel while Secretary of the Ministry ASM Rashidul Hye will be present as special guest.

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) authorities yesterday disclosed the programme schedule of the fair at a press conference held at the National Press Club.

Mukarram Hussain Khan, President of REHAB said they will also observe the REHAB Week-2007 from today to November 25 like the past years. The observance will begin through a view exchange meeting on "the prospect of private housing industry and future duties" at Grand Ball Room of West Inn Hotel at Gulshan at 11:00 am today.

Engr Tanveerul Haque Probal, General Secretary of REHAB, Syed Sirajul Haque, Chairman of Fair Committee, Rabiul Haque, Chairman REHAB Week Standing Committee and Eng Enamul Haque, Convener to Dhaka Fair Sub-Committee 2007, among others, were present at the conference.

The programmes of the fair are the Inaugural Session on Tuesday, extempore speeches by the college students at 11:00 am on Wednesday, day-long blood and posthumous eye donation programmes on Thursday at the fair ground of the hotel, painting competition for children on Friday at the Ball Room, REHAB gold crests distribution programme at 7:00 pm on Saturday and the closing session of the Fair at 6:30 pm on Sunday at Utsab Hall of Radisson Hotel.

There will be 141 stalls in the fair for 136 members of REHAB and five sponsoring institutions. The sponsors will be allowed to attend the fair for the first time of its history.

Besides, 11 co-sponsoring institutions will take part in the fair. The institutions are Concord Real Estate and Building Products Ltd, Eastern Housing Ltd, Mission Energy and Properties Ltd, Rangs Properties Ltd, Sagupta NM Housing Ltd, Shadesh Properties Ltd, East West Property Development (Pvt) Ltd, Ideal Real Estate Ltd, Navana Real Estate Ltd, Rupayan Housing Estate Ltd and Shanta Properties Ltd.

Father of Architect Muzharul Islam will receive the REHAB gold crest for this year on behalf of his son.

The REHAB will organise a Raffle Draw on December 1. The winners of the draw will be from among the buyers in the fair.

UNB, Dhaka

The visiting European Parliamentary Delegation on South Asian Affairs Sunday observed that the state of emergency now in force in the country should be lifted before the local bodies and national elections.

The observation came when the delegation made a courtesy call on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda at his office in the morning.

The delegation, led by Robert Evans, Member of European Parliament (MEP), London, discussed issues including the EC's comprehensive plans and preparations, its voter registration process and other activities taking place for holding free and fair elections by December 2008.

"We discussed, but haven't got the timetable (on lifting the emergency)… Clearly that has to be lifted before the local bodies and national elections," Evans told reporters when asked if the delegation discussed the issue of lifting the state of emergency. The EU delegation chief said the state of emergency should be lifted so the political parties could run their activities, hold meetings at local levels and take preparations for elections.

"The Election Commission is working on that procedure to make sure for that to happen… it seems in pipeline to happen. The timetable (for lifting state of emergency) should be settled of course," he said.

Asked if they discussed the transparent ballot box issue, Evans said they mentioned it, but there was no discussion in details.

UNB, Dhaka

Both factions of BNP Sunday demanded lifting of emergency in cyclone hit areas and release of chairperson Khaleda Zia to conduct relief operation.

Acting chairperson Sifur Rahman talking to newsmen at Gulshan residence said emergency should be lifted to allow politicians extend helping hands to the cyclone victims.

Set Khaleda Zia free so that she can supplement the government efforts and instill courage to the survivors to face the situation with fortitude. She has done it in the past, added Saifur. Expressing heartfelt sympathy for the cyclone affected people Saifur urged the government to provide them necessary food, medicare and early rehabilitation. Affected farmers should be given agricultural inputs and cash so that they could undertake fresh cultivation. He called upon the party leaders and workers to stand by the affected people and provide all possible assistance for their rehabilitation. Delwar group office secretary Rizvi Ahmed also made a strong plea for release of Khaleda Zia so that she could go to the affected areas with relief.

Talking to newsmen at the residence of party secretary general Delwar Hossain he also demanded lifting of emergency in cyclone affected areas and release of detained party leaders.

Rizvi informed that an 11-member committee was formed headed by BNP joint secretary general Gayeshwar Roy to conduct and monitor relief activities in affected areas.

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Sunday said it has already appealed for Tk 400 million in international assistance for the cyclone victims through the Geneva-based International Federation and they would make the final appeal by Friday after assessment of the losses.

"Hopefully, proper response will be received about our appeal by 2/3 days," said BDRCS chairman Prof M Abdur Rob at a press conference at its head office in the morning.

He said: "According to our past experiences and reports, there is a possibility that death toll (from the cyclone) will rise to over 10,000."

Five teams, comprising BDRCS and International Federation officials, have been sent to the affected areas for quick assessment of losses caused by the Thursday night's powerful cyclone, 'Sidr', he informed. "We will make a final appeal for international assistance after receiving the reports from the teams," Prof Rob said. He appreciated the government's efforts in facing the disaster that mainly hit the country's coastal districts.

The BDRCS chairman said they have already started work to dispatch relief items to the affected areas. Around 42,000 volunteers of the Red Crescent Society worked continuously in the coastal areas during the storm and the efforts saved the lives of many people, he said. "We will make an emergency appeal by Friday," said Selvaratnam Sinnadurai, Head of Delegation of International Federation of Red Cross.

BDRCS vice-chairman Prof Dr Gazi Abdul Haque, treasurer SM Munir Lavlu, secretary general M Shafiul Alam and ICRC Head of Mission Finn Ruda also spoke at the press conference.

Finn Ruda said their teams are going to the field to make assessment about the losses and damages caused by catastrophic cyclone.

UNB, Dhaka

The development partners of Bangladesh have assured of providing grants in aid of the people affected by the catastrophic cyclone 'Sidr' that ripped through south and southwestern region of the country on Thursday midnight. Food and Disaster Management acting secretary M Ayub Miah informed this after a meeting at the ministry today (Sunday) with the representatives of 42 development organisations and UN bodies. Among the donor agencies, he said, UNDP would provide US$ 7 million while World Food Programme (WFP) allocated 10,000 metric tons of rice and 200 tons of high protein biscuits.

Other assurances include US$ 5.3 million by UNICEF, US$ 5 million by the UK government, US$ 2.1 million and 35 tons of rice by USAID, 4 million pound sterling by Islamic Relief-UK and 5,000 Euro by Spain. WFP has already started distributing 78 metric tons of high protein biscuits while the UNDP is providing water purification tablets. Some other organisations, including the Canadian government, would provide assistance after assessing the extent of damage caused by the cyclone, said the Disaster Management secretary.

According to the government statistics, the death toll the cyclone rose to 1,814 till 8am today (Sunday).

The hurricane "Sidr" affected 20 districts, including 12 worst affected, and some 27.44 lakh people. Besides, the severe storm destroyed 500,000 dwellings in the affected districts, except Jhalakati, Barguna and Madaripur.

UNB, Pirojpur

The official death toll from Thursday night's disastrous cyclone rose to 281 in the district with 27 more bodies recovered from two upazilas on Sunday morning.

District Control Room sources said 26 of the bodies were recovered from Mathbaria upazila while the other from Kaukhali upazila. The district administration, however, apprehended that the death toll would rise as large number of people still remained missing. According an official, some 300 people remained missing in Mathbaria upazila, 50 others in Bhandaria, 28 in Zianagar and one in Nazirpur upazila.

He said cash Tk 89 lakh was allocated from the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund today for the cyclone victims in the district.

Besides, the government has distributed 409 metric tons of rice, 200 tents, 1,000 blankets and some dry food for the distressed people.

UNB, Patuakhali

With 54 bodies recovered Sunday morning, the death toll rose to 315 in the district from the catastrophic cyclone "Sidr" that battered the south and southwestern region of the country on Thursday midnight.

The death toll in the district might cross 600 as a large number of people still remained missing, said a source at Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

Meanwhile, the government distributed cash Tk 3 lakh and 59 metric tons of rice among the cyclone-affected people in the district. Local sources said road communication from here to Barisal was restored after the ferry service at Lebukhali resumed in the morning. Major disruption in power supply along with acute scarcity of drinking water and food has compounded the miseries of the people, they said.

UNB, Bagerhat

Forty four more bodies were recovered in the coastal district on Sunday raising death toll from Thursday's cyclonic storm to 654.

These fresh 44 bodies were recovered from Sharankhola upazila alone, district control room source said.

Of the total victims, 594 were killed in Sharankhola upazila, 31 in Morelganj, 11 in Chitolmari, one in Mollarhat, seven in Kachua, five each in sadar and Rampal upazilas.

Control room sources said 75 unions of nine upazilas of the district were seriously affected by the cyclone.

Palli Bidyut office sources said some 78,000 subscribers remained without electricity since Thursday as five of its sub-stations and 1200km wire were damaged.

Power supply could not be restored in most parts of the city that hampered supply of drinking water seriously.

Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam said the death toll could rise further with reports reaching from remote and inaccessible areas. District Forest Officer (DFO) SM Shahidullah said vast areas of the Sunderbans were damaged and some of the forest officials remained missing. The body of Saidur Rahman, a forest guard of Dublarchar Forest Station, hailing from Sharankhola upzila, was recovered Saturday.

UNB, Dhaka

Police recovered the body of an unidentified young man from a hotel in the city's Moghbazar area Sunday morning. Informed by the staff of Parash International Residential Hotel, police recovered the body, aged about 25, from Room No-24 at about 10am and sent it to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Hotel staff said, being failed to get any response from inside the locked room, they looked inside the room through the ventilator and found the body lying on the floor.

Hotel manager Rashed Khan said Shuvo Ahmed and Naimul Islam from Jamalpur checked in the room on November 15. But, they remained missing since on Sunday.