The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

The week long pilot project started from November 01 by deploying RAB to develop service and disciplinary conditions at Barisal Shere Bangla Medical College Hospital has been extended for more two weeks.

The extension was made for more two weeks at the request of the patients, hospital authority and elites of the city after its success hailed in controlling the rush of visitors and attendants by introducing purchasing visitor and attendant cards, banning entrance of medical representatives and illegal trespassers, stopping unauthorized absence of doctors and staffs and developing health, sanitation and treatment standards.

Dr. Maniruzzaman Mia, director of SBMCH, in this regard said more steps have been taken in this extended second phase to detect the persons and causes working against giving proper service and maintaining discipline and healthy environment at the hospital.

The prepared lists of such persons and causes would the sent to the higher authority for taking immediate action, he told

We now trying to assure patients about performing all clinical and pathological tests possible in the hospital at minimum costing and time, he added.

The project is conducting under a committee for health services consisted with the representatives of SBMCH, district and divisional administration, City Corporation, law enforcers, joint forces and elites of the city. A meeting of this committee presided over by Md. Harun Chowdhury, divisional commissioner was held at SBMCH on Monday afternoon.

It was attended by Dr.Maniruzzaman Mia, director SBMCH, Dr. Aziz Rahim, and principal SBMC. Aminul Islam, deputy inspector general of police, Lt.Col. Abdus Salam Muhammad Arif, Barisal in charge of director general of field intelligence (DGFI), Lt.Col. Abu Sayeed Muhammad Ali, district commander of joint forces, Lt.Col. Ershad Hossain, district RAB commander, Khan Syed Hassan, commission Barisal Metropolitan Police, Matiur Rahman, deputy director of Ansar and VDP, Dr. Mizanur Rahman, resident medical officer of Barisal Sadar Hospital. About practical possibilities and capacities about completing clinical and pathological tests in SBMCH and Sadar Hospital, SBMCH director said at present we cannot assure cent percent clinical and pathological service here due to shortage of manpower, equipments, chemicals and laboratory facilities.

But most of the tests could be possible according to the urgency of treatment in priority basis, he hoped.

BSS, Rangpur

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed an enthusiastic target for producing 3,81,720 tonnes of onion from 63,620 hectares of land in the northern region of the country during the current Rabi season, officials said here yesterday.

They said the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and a number of NGOs have taken adequate steps to make the onion- farming programme successful.

Steps have been taken to provide adequate training, technical assistances, inputs, high quality imported and locally produced seeds and agri-loans for the farmers under various programmes of different government and non-government organisations, including the Northwest Crop Diversification Project (NCDP).

The sources said the special steps taken earlier this year to produce onion during the immediate past summer season helped substantially in producing the spicy crop in the region.

More steps have been taken to increase production of onion in the current rabi season, Deputy Director of DAE, Rangpur, Kamal Shariful Alam told BSS today. Senior agro-experts in the DAE, the BADC and the BARI said onion import would be reduced significantly next year if its production target is achieved.

They hoped that onion production in the region would continue to increase due to the new impetus being given to the sector by various organisations and the crop is being cultivated twice a year during the summer and winter seasons in place of only once during the winter in the past.

Last year, the DAE fixed a target for producing 3,53,006 tonnes of onion from 60,549 hectares in the country's 16 northern districts and the target was achieved, official sources added.

This season, 1,896 hectares will be brought under onion farming in Rangpur, 1,415 hectares in Gaibandha, 680 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 855 hectares in Nilphamari, 502 hectares in Kurigram, 3,695 hectares in Dinajpur, 695 hectares in Thakurgaon, 1,112 hectares in Panchagarh, 11,000 hectares in Rajshahi, 3,250 hectares in Naogaon, 6,550 hectares in Natore, 3,210 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 27,290 hectares in Pabna, 1,105 hectares in Sirajganj, 1,705 hectares in Bogra and 1,200 hectares in Joypurhat districts.

Our Correspondent, Jessore

An acute shortage of bamboo has been prevailing in the Jessore district for quite sometimes.

The people involved in bamboo-based cottage industry are facing problem due to acute shortage and high price of bamboo in eight Upazilas of the district. The local people said, once a lot of bamboo used to grow in the district fulfilling various needs of the rural people. But the production of bamboo is on the wane. As the owners of bamboo clusters are selling it in huge quantity. At present a medium sized bamboo is selling between Tk 100 & Tk 150.00.

The sources said that the sufferings of the people involved in bamboo-based cottage industry intensified owing to the growing crisis, many of them have already left their occupation. Moreover, construction and reparing of thatched houses in rural areas are being hampered greatly due to the high price of bamboo.

When contacted one sweeper named Kalachand told this Correspondent that his five family members were maintaining their living by making jhury, chai chatai, various flowerdala, flower basket and other items by bamboo, but due to price hike of bamboo they are thinking to leave that paternal profession immediately.

BSS, Chittagong

Speakers at a seminar here yesterday called upon the United Nations (UN) as well as the countries and organisations concerned to take effective measures for protecting fundamental rights of the refugees in compliance with the UN Convention.

They said the refugee issue has gradually been turning into a serious problem globally due to increasing regional, social, and inter-state conflict and war. Concerted efforts are needed to address the issue, they added.

They observed that "no person is born as a refugee, rather one is forced to become a refugee because of natural or man-made disaster."

The seminar titled "Refugee Rights and Refugee Protection" was jointly organised by the Department of Law of Premier University Chittagong (PUC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Bangladesh, held at PUC's auditorium.

Dr Anupam Sen, Vice-Chancellor of PUC, inaugurated the day-long seminar as the chief guest while Dr M Badaruddin, Chairman of the Department of Law of PUC, was in the chair. Dean of the Law Faculty of Chittagong University Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Deputy Representative (Protection) of the UNHCR Representation Office in Dhaka Francis Teoh and National Protection Officer of UNHCR in Dhaka Uttam Kumar Das addressed the seminar.

The speakers said currently the number of refugees rose to 100 crore globally and Bangladesh was also facing serious economic, social and political consequences due to refugee exodus from Myanmar.

Valuables looted

JHALAKATI, Nov 17: Armed bandits looted valuables worth over Tk 2 lakh from a house at Sheikherhat near police investigation camp early Wednesday. Local people said the gang swooped on the house of businessman Porimal Debnath at about 2 AM and looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables keeping the inmates hostage at gunpoint. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

Diabetes Day observed

COMILLA, Nov 17: The World Diabetes Day was observed in the district town in a befitting manner on Wednesday. To mark the day, a procession was brought out in the morning from the town hall premises that ended at the local Diabetic Hospital after parading different streets. Prior to starting the procession, a meeting was held on the town hall premises which was addressed, by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Manjurur Rahman and addressed, among others, by president of Diabetic Association Dr M Waliullah, acting general secretary Yusuf Jamil Babu, local BMA president Dr Iqbal Anwar and general secretary Dr Golam Mohiuddin, reports BSS.

Meeting to check price hike

CHANDPUR, Nov 17: To check the price-hike of essentials, a meeting of the cross-section of people was held at Chandpur Pourasabha on Tuesday. Chairman of the pourasabha Md. Nasiruddin Ahmed Presided over the meeting. It was addressed, among others, by Md. Jahangir Akand Selim, president of Chandpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Subash Chandra Roy, Vice-Chairmen of Chandpur Chamber and Md. Mostaque Haider Chowdhury, President of Chandpur Shop Owners Association, reports BSS.

Voter listing begins

FARIDPUR, Nov 17: Preparation of voter list with photographs and national identity cards has begun at Faridpur pourashava on Sunday. Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur Mohammad Yahia Bhuiyan and Commander of the 81 Brigade of Bangladesh Army Brigadier General MM Salehin inaugurated the registration of voters at premises of Mohim School in the town, reports BSS.

Ward Commissioners held on charge of robbery

DINAJPUR, Nov 16: Two Ward Commissioners of Setabganj Pourashabha were arrested on Tuesday for their alleged involvement with Monday's dacoity at the house of Poura chairman. The arrested were identified as Ayub Ali and Shamsul Islam. They were being interrogated. Police said on Monday midnight a gang of bandits swooped on the house of Poura chairman Omar Faruk and looted cash and valuables worth about Tk 2.50 lakh. The law enforcers said they arrested the two Ward Commissioners suspecting their involvement with the robbery. Another report from Laxmipur adds: Police arrested a local terrorist, Alauddin, along with a Light Gun from Rashidpur village in Sadar Upazila on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Time extended

BARISAL, Nov 16: Time limit of the weeklong pilot project started from November 1 to develop service at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (BSBMCH) has been extended for more two weeks. This decision was taken at a meeting at SBMCH Monday afternoon with Divisional Commissioner M Harun Chowdhury in the chair following the request of the patients, hospital authority and the elite of the city. The pilot project is being conducted to ensure health service at BSBMCH and achieved success in controlling rush of visitors and attendants by introducing purchasing visitor and attendant cards, banning entrance of medical representatives and illegal trespassers, stopping absence of doctors and staff and developing health, sanitation and treatment standards.