The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Hundreds of solar power units set up so far in 60 remote and hardly reachable char villages in five districts of greater Rangpur on the Brahmaputra, Teesta and Dharla basins have brought an overall change in life-style of the isolated people.

Over 30,000 char people are presently using over 3,500 solar power units set up under the assistances of different NGOs in the char villages of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts to help change their lifestyle in last couple of years.

Reputed NGOs including BRAC, Grameen Shakti, Rangpur- Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS), Protyasha, Aspect and many others have installed these solar-power units at a cost of Taka 12,000 to Taka 35,000 each on down payment basis.

Grameen Shakti have so far installed a total of 196 solar power units including 102 units in Chilmari UP and 94 units in Astamir Char UP and more 12 Organic Fertiliser producing plants at different places in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram alone during the past one year.

People of Hatia, Buraburi, Anantapur, Bazra, Gunaigach, Char Santoshbiram and Khamar Damarhat villages under Ulipur upazila in Kurigram are now using over 70 solar units provided by BRAC on easy installments.

Similarly, people of more 40 char villages in 13 upazilas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts are now using solar power under the assistances of the NGOs.

The solar power users told BSS that they could hardly think about electricity in these remote and sandy char areas. But it is now a reality as anybody can avail of this facility in these near inaccessible villages.

The villagers, sole owners of these power units, neither suffer from low-voltage, nor get irritated due to load shedding like those living in cities and villages in other parts of the country.

By virtue of these solar power units, the char people are now watching TV programmes, lighting bulbs, using fans, refrigerators and calendars, charging mobile phone sets and operating computers side by side with other daily jobs.

Local elite as well as UP members said, the people of these char villages were in fact getting rid of centuries' old superstitions and social curses as they were increasingly becoming aware about the realities of life by seeing the popular TV programmes.

People are also becoming more aware about the bad effects of child marriages, malnutrition of the pregnant women and children, reasons of maternal and child mortality, adverse effect of dowry and many other social odds by watching TV programmes using these solar power units, they said.

More and more subscribers are getting connected with the solar power system, as they prefer it for the lowest cost and excellent service.

Students said, now their study at night is not hampered at all thanks to the uninterrupted service of these solar power units. None here has ever suffered even during inclement weather, they said adding that the demand for solar power is increasing day by day in these char villages.

They suggested establishment of higher capacity solar power units as the substitute energy sources not only in these char areas to help flourishing cottage industries but also in the mainland to reduce pressure on the limited electricity being generated by the Power Plants throughout the country.

The NGO officials told BSS that people are showing increased interest towards setting up of more solar power units in these char villages as well as in other parts of the district and adjoining areas.

While talking to BSS solar unit users of Grameen Shakti Bimola Khatun, 36 and Noor Alam, 45 of village Byaparipara, Saiful Islam, 40 of village Khamar Bari and many common villagers of various chars in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram told that they are now getting uninterrupted supply of power using the solar technology.

"We are now lighting our houses with electric bulbs, enjoying TV programmes and knowing about our country and abroad and our children studying at nights without any problem," they said.

Participants at a daylong views- sharing meeting held at Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat district on Wednesday underscored the need for joint efforts of all concerned to prevent repression on women and children and resist human trafficking through the frontier areas.

They also stressed the need for a massive campaign, particularly among the vulnerable groups in the frontier areas, for proper enforcement of all relevant laws as the efforts of the government or any other single organisation cannot stop these inhuman crimes.

Kaliganj Upazila Professionals' Committee for Prevention of Repression on Women and Children and Human Trafficking organised the meeting under the assistances of the Legal Aid Programme of Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) at Tushbhander Sagar Library auditorium.

Presided over by noted educationist and President of the committee Mokhlesur Rahman Tuku, the meeting titled "Roles and Responsibilities of Professionals Groups in Preventing Repression on Women and Children and Human Trafficking" was attended by Principal of Tushbhander Mohila College professor Mahbubur Rahman as the chief guest.

Assistant manager of Health service programme of RDRS Jasmine Ara Begum, its Legal Supervisor Rahela Khatun, UP members Joynal Abedin, Krishna Charan Mohanto, lecturer Refaz Uddin, headmaster of Babar Ali High School Nazrul Islam Molla, addressed the meeting among others.

Over 200 people including women living in the border areas, UP chairmen and male and female UP members, teachers, professionals, adolescents, male and female students, women community leaders, socio-cultural and NGO activists and elite took part in the meeting.

The speakers blamed lack of awareness, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, dowry, child marriage, ignorance, polygamy and cross- border trade as the main reasons behind the violence and repression against women and children and human trafficking.

They also suggested different ways for resolving these reasons and recommended bringing the schools and colleges of the frontier areas under the campaign to make the students aware about the bad effects of repression and human trafficking for building a prideful society.

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Two teams of physicians from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) have started for Shoronkhola of Bagerhat on Friday with aid materials and relief for the hurricane Sidr-hit people.

The teams would provide treatment facilities to the affected people for a couple of days and distribute relief and healthcare items worth Tk 4.75 lakh. RMCH medicine specialist Dr Kazi Tarikul Islam and Rajshahi BMA president Dr Wasim Hossain were leading the teams.

RMC principal Prof Dr Fazlur Rahman, RMCH director Col Dr Zahangir Hossaon Mollik, BMA and Medical Teachers' Samity were assisting the programme.

The relief material include 200 pieces of Sari, 200 pieces of Lungi, 100 pieces gamcha, 40 tents, 100 blankets, 350 pieces chadors, food items, water purifying tablets and medicines.

Different medicine manufacturing companies contributed the healthcare items.

Indian sari, phensidyl seized

Chapainawabganj, Nov 23: Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) members seized huge Indian sari and phensidyl syrup in separate drives here early Wednesday. Acting on a secret information, a patrol team of BDR seized 900 pieces of Indian sari worth about Tk 45 lakh at 1:00 am from an engine driven boat in the Padma River near Monohorpur border in Shibganj uapzila.Sensing the presence of BDR team, the smugglers, who were brining the saris from India, fled away, reports UNB.

Cattle trader killed

Benapole, Nov 23: Three Bangladeshi cattle traders were shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Putkhali frontier here early Friday. The deceased were identified as Ripon, 25, Alauddin, 35, of Uttarpara village in Putkhali and Aynal, 33, of Narayanpur village. Bangladesh Riffles (BDR) sources said when a group of cattle traders were returning home with cattle from India through Chara Math border in Putkhali, BSF troops of Angrail camp fired bullets on them, killing the three people on the spot, reports UNB

2 killed in Sylhet road mishap

Sylhet, Nov 23: Two people, including a minor boy, were killed and 12 others injured in three separate road accidents here on Wednesday. Witnesses said Myful, 6, son of Iqbal Miah, was crushed under the wheels of a bus at Kuchai in Dakkhin Surma upazila on Sylhet-Jokiganj road. The driver, however, managed to flee with the killer bus.

Besides, a three-wheeler tempo turned turtle at Dubag in Bianibazar upazila killing schoolteacher Motaleb Hossain, 30, on the spot and injuring seven girl students. The injured were given first aid, reports UNB.

Housewife beaten to deah in Sirajganj

Sirajganj, Nov 23: A housewife was beaten to death allegedly by her husband at Hamkuria village in Tarash upazila Thursday. Police said Raju beat his wife Sabana, 25, to death following a family feud at noon and fled away soon after the incident. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed, reports UNB.

JMB member arrested in Natore

Natore, Nov 25: Police arrested an active member of Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) from Jagdispur village under Naldanga Thana in the district on Thursday. Police said, acting on a tip-off, police arrested Dlahi Mandal, 45, allegedly an active member of JMB. Three murder cases are pending against him, police said.

Obituary

Gaibandha, Nov 25: Mofazzal Hossain, a valiant freedom fighter died of kidney ailments at his Bishpukur village home on Wednesday at the age 60. He left behind his wife, six sons, three daughters and host of relatives and well wishers to mourn his death. He was buried with state honour at his family graveyard at Bishpukur village of Rakhal Buruz Union under Gobindganj Upazila on Thursaday afternoon.

Medicine trader arrested

Sirajganj, Nov 25: The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a medicine trader with ingredients of phensidyl from Baba-Ma Medical Centre at Khaliphapatti of the town on Wednesday. RAB sources said, acting on a tip-off, a RAB team arrested Narayan Chandra Pal, 50, with 10 thousand Deksa metrosan tablets, 32 claudine phosphates and a huge quantity of sex stimulating tablets.