The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Rangamati

People living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have been suffering from different health complexities including death risks and hindrances to physical and mental growth due to prevalence of anemia.

Eighty (80) percent children aged 6 to 23 months are suffering from anemia, Jan-e-Alam, Deputy Project Director (DPD) of Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) informed this citing a survey report conducted by Hellen Keller, an international NGO.

The ICDP has introduced a special programme in CHT in order to prevent and control anemia, a serious disease creator element.

A total of 46 percent teenaged girls and 39 percent women aged up to 49 years are experiencing this evil element of disease in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, the DPD added.

49 percent pregnant women living in the hilly region are also victims of the disease, he mentioned quoting the survey report.

Although anemia itself is not a disease but it causes disease, Dr. Saiful Islam, Residential Medial Officer (RMO) of Rangamati General Hospital said adding, it hinders physical and mental growth of children and adolescents as well as abates resistance power in human body.

Excessive anemia during pregnancy period increases death risk of both mothers and babies in the womb, the RMO said.

The programme is being implemented preliminarily in 933 Para centres of ICDP in nine Upazilas under the three hill districts by providing iron tablet, vermicide tablet and iron powder. All the upazilas will be brought gradually under the programme, officials said.

Besides, necessary advice such as taking food, which have plenty of iron and vitamin, are being disseminated among the villagers through Para workers and adolescent girl leaders to attain the goal of the programme.

Meanwhile, two activists - one para worker and one adolescent girl leader from every centre of 933 were imparted training on the topic to make the programme a success.

The nine upazilas, where the programme is running, are Rangamati sadar, Rajasthali and Baghaichhari of Rangamati district, Khagrachhari sadar, Matiranga and Lokkichhari under Khagrachhari district and Roangchhari, Niakkongchhari and Lama Upazila under Bandarban hill district as well as about 1.50 lakh people of 28,000 families in those upazilas are getting the service funded by UNICEF.

Apart from the advice of taking vitamin-enriched food, the authority is advising the people to control diarrhea and malaria in order to remain aloof from anemia.

The ICDP under Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, a major development agency of the area established in 1976, implements different programmes of Tk 180 crore to develop health condition of mothers and children living in the hilly region.

BSS, Rajshahi

Out of 230 rivers in the country, a total of 17 rivers have become waterless and eight others are on the verge of drying out due to various natural and manmade catastrophes including Farakka Barrage and other cordon structures on upstream during the past three decades.

Speakers made this observation at a discussion titled "Situation of rivers in the Northern Bangladesh and what to be done" here on Saturday. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) arranged the meeting at the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

BAPA General Secretary Dr Abdul Matin and Joint Secretary Sharif Zamil spoke on the occasion as the designated discussants.

Chaired by development activist Proshanta Shaha, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by Professor Dr AHM Zehadul Karim of Anthropology Department of Rajshahi University, Adviser of Atma Samajik Unnayan Sangstha (ASAUS) Abul Hossain, journalist Akbarul Hassan Millat and social worker Jamat Khan.

With the reduction in water flow, more other major rivers have turned into dying canals, shoals have been emerged in the riverbeds and salinity has been enhanced in the estuarine (sea-belt) areas, the speakers said. In 1971, the country's river-way was 24,140 kilometers that connected eight per cent areas of the country but it has been reduced to 3,800 kilometers in the winter season at present. Some more rivers will loose their navigability if the current trend of flow reduction is continued, the warned.

The speakers said, the Indian authorities have built infrastructures on the upstream of the 54 trans-border rivers to withdraw and divert water thereby depriving downstream Bangladesh from receiving its due share.

They said, due to the unilateral withdrawal of water, various negative impacts on the environment have started in the country that included untimely flooding, water logging, river erosion and ecological degradation.

They put forward 12-point recommendations in order to conserve the existing rivers of the country.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Participants of a daylong programme on 'Accountability of the peoples' representatives: expectation of the youths and discussion between the female ward commissioners with the young citizens' called for extension of power and jurisdiction of the female members and commissioners of local bodies for creating working environment.

The programme was organised by the Barisal Young Citizen Forum, local organ of International Republican Institute (IRI) and held at Faria community centre of the city on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Vanes, resident country director of IRI (?) was the chief guest and Aminul Ehsan, senior programme officer conducted the programme with assistance from Shamima Akter, Iqbal Mahmud, Afroza Begum and Dolon Dey.

Taslima Kalam Poly, Jahanara Begum, Tawhida Akter Luna, Khadiza Nasrin Sefali, Salma Akter Shila, Morsheda Begum Kajol, Rashida Parvin and Jahanara Hossain, 8 out of 10 female ward commissioners of Barisal City Corporation and 150 members of Young Citizen Forum took part in the discussion.

From the discussion it was revealed that female commissioners and members are not only facing non-cooperation from their male counterparts, but also becoming victims of the masculine attitude of the society.

They called to develop friendly environment for the female members in different bodies of local government for better, effective and fruitful result.

BSS, Rangpur

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in separate raids arrested three criminals and seized huge quantities of contraband goods from various places in Rangpur, Dinajpur and Joypurhat districts on Thursday, RAB sources said.

The elite force arrested professional drug trafficker Shafikul Islam, 25, son of late Nizam Uddin from his house in village Ismailpur under Pirganj Upazila of Rangpur and seized 30 bottles smuggled Indian phensidyl from his possession.

RAB arrested drug trafficker Yasin Mandal, 40, son of Tora Mandal of village Bhimpur in Panchbibi Upazila of Joypurhat from frontier village Basudebpur in Hakimpur Upazila of Dinajpur and seized 20 bottles of phensidyl.

Another RAB team seized 35 pieces of Indian woolen rappers and 80 pieces 'georgette' saree in abandoned conditions from village Kanupur under Akkelpur Upazila in Joypurhat. None was arrested in this connection. In another drive, the elite force arrested absconding warrantee and alleged criminal Mokshed Ali, 45, son of Banu Pramanik of village Dolapara in Akkelpur Upazila from Joypurhat town on the day. After filing separate cases in these connections, RAB handed over the arrested persons to the concerned police, the sources said.

BSS, Gaibandha

The Joint forces took special arrangement to increase the allotment of fertiliser in the district for producing Rabi crops during the current season.

Concerned sources said, the local commanding officer of the joint forces Lt. Colonel Syed Fazley Ahmed Kader talked to the concerned ministry for increasing the allotment of fertilizer for the district in view of requirement for the season.

In response to his request, the concerned ministry allotted 200 MTs of MOP, 600 MTs of MOP and 1000 MTs of TSP fertilizer. Besides, the BADC also allotted 50 MTs of MOP for the district responding to his call.

An initiative has been also taken to reach the fertilizer to the farmers quickly and properly. With the allotments, the farmers in the district will be able to cultivate their lands smoothly.

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

The 21st founding anniversary of Arindam Sangskritik Sangstha (ASS), a local cultural body was observed with great enthusiasm and fanfare under the auspices of the organisation recently.

In observance of the day the patrons and activists of the organisation brought out a rally carrying banners and festoons and paraded through the main roads of the town.

After the parade, a daylong function marking the anniversary was held at the local Sreemonta town hall with Abdus Shukur, Chairman of the organisation in the chair.

Nurul Islam Malik inaugurated the function by hoisting the national and organisational flags. Competitions on painting and composing poems were held at the Arindam office premises.

A discussion on the founding anniversary was held at the local town hall in the evening where Prof Israful Hassain, Nurul Islam Malik, Prof Rafiqur Rashid and Advocate Younus Ali took part in the discussion.

After the discussion, Liberation War organiser and Freedom Fighter Advocate Younus Ali, Language veteran Advocate Ali Tayab of Chuadanga town and poet Ismail Hassain of Zalshuka of Chuadanga sadar upazila were honoured for their performances in respective fields.

Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, chief cotton development officer, Chuadanga was present at the function as an observer.

Armed Forces distributes

warm clothes

RANGPUR, Nov 19: Members of the Armed Forces distributed warm clothes among the distressed people in Sukurer Hat village under Mithapukur Upazila here on Thursday. On behalf of Rangpur Area Commander and General Officer Commanding of 66 Infantry Division Major General Syed Fatemy Ahmed Roomy, Second-in-Command of Rangpur Army Camp Major Abu Taher Belal and Lieutenant Didar distributed the warm clothes in presence of public representatives and elite in a ceremony on Fulchowki Jam-e-Mosque ground. As a part of ongoing warm clothes distribution programme of the Armed Forces during the current winter season, the Army officials distributed sweaters among 492 poor people on the occasion, officials said, reports BSS.

Voters registration

GAIBANDHA, Nov 19: Registration of voters for preparing the voter list with photographs and national identity cards has began in Gaibandha Pourasabha on Sunday. A function was held on the occasion on the premises of Dhanghara office of BRAC here. Commander of the 66 Artillery Brigade Brigadier General Ibrahim Jamal addressed the function as the chief guest and formally inaugurated the programme. With commanding officer of the joint forces Lt. Colonel Syed Fazley Ahmed Kader, it was also addressed, among others, Major Shajahan, Pourasabha chairman M. Anwarul Hasan Sabur and acting district election officer M. Bulbul Ahmed Shafique, reports BSS.

Free Friday clinic in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Nov 19: Rangpur Lions Club has provided free treatments and medicines to over 65 poor patients, including women and children in a Free Friday Medical Camp organised here on Saturday. The Lions Club organised the Free Clinic as part of its regular weekly programme on its office premises. Club secretary Arif Hossain Tito, Lion Al Helal and other Executives of the Club were present. Dr Maruf conducted the clinic as a specialist physician while Ratan Lal Bakshi conducted immunisation programme, reports BSS.

Tk 1.34 lakh realised as fine

BRAHMANBARIA, Nov 19: A mobile court realised Taka 1.34 lakh as fines from different business establishments in the town on Monday. Assistant Commissioner Kalachand Singh and joint forces commander Lieutenant SM Shafiqur Rahman conducted the drives in the town and realised Taka 1.34 lakh from 16 hotels, sweetmeats and biscuit factories. The owners of the hotels and sweetmeats were fined on charges of selling unhygienic and date expired food. The court also found that the owners were running businesses without legal documents, reports BSS.

Tk 5 lakh distributed

RANGPUR, Nov 19: The district administration distributed Taka five lakh among 500 flood-hit families of three Unions under Pirgachha Upazila in the district for house building purposes on Tuesday. The relief money was distributed in a simple ceremony organised on the premises of Pirgachha Upazila Parishad, which was attended by government officials, UP chairmen and members and professionals and elite of the area. Each of the affected families was given a cheque for Taka 1,000. A total of 50 partially flood-hit families of Kandi UP, 225 families of Tambul UP and 225 families of Chaola UP received the assistances, reports BSS.