The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

They lived in a thatched house but dreamed a better life. The husband earned livelihood by pulling rickshaw but prepared to observe their marriage day by cutting a cake with the name of his beloved wife on it embossed.

They came from Shiali village of Patuakhali Sadar upazila to Barisal city for earning and dreaming a better life for their only son. They started living in Barisal city renting a thatched house at West Kawnia area near Barisal weather office. But SIDR crushed not only their dreams but also their lives. It was a tragic tale of Ali Hossain, 26, Poppy Begum, 22, and their eight-month-old son Adnan.

On November 15 morning, Poppy requested Ali to return home early with some shopping and collecting the marriage day cake from the bakery shop to observe their 2nd marriage anniversary on November 16. As the weather was deteriorating and great danger signal announced, Ali returned home within noon with the cake and other items for the ceremony.

During previous danger signals no calamity had struck. So they hoped that nothing would happen and they would be able to observe the anniversary duly the next day. At about 11pm on November 15, the couple went to bed with their child and slept with dreams and planning observance of the ceremony. But at about 2am early November 16, the giant Chambol tree that had grown by their house crushed on their sweet home and dreams.

'In the morning we recovered all three of them crushed under the tree', narrated Anwara Begum in tears. She was a neighbour and witness of the tragic incident. The local people sent their dead bodies to their village home of Patuakhali with great difficulties as communications was severely disrupted and the victims had no close relatives with sufficient financial abilities.

'We had no blood connection with them, but their tragic deaths still bleed our hearts,' neighbours mourned the dead.

Our Correspondent, N'ganj

One person was killed and least seven persons including women and children were injured in a road accident at Sanarpur bus stand on Dhaka-Chittagonj highway under Siddirganj police station in the early hours of Thursday. According to police and eyewitness sources, the accident occurred when a Persoram- bound bus Noakhali Express from Dhaka was trying to overtake a microbus on the same direction skidded into roadside at 10.30 AM on Thursday as the driver of the bus last control over the streering.

The victims were identified as Emu, 4, Daughter of Nazrul Islam of Sonarpar near Monsur Masket area under Siddirgonj Police station in Narayangonj district of the injured Siri, 30, Lima, 6, Hannan, 40 were admitted to Dhaka Medical college hospital and others were released after giving first aid.

Police seized the bus and arrested its driver Awoal, 42. A case has been ldoged with Siddirgonj Police station in this connection.

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a day-long workshop today stressed the need for building social awareness in order to accelerate the poverty alleviation movement in the country. The workshop titled 'Participation of the government officials, NGOs and civil society members in developing life standard of the hardcore poor" was held at the conference hall of Rangpur Rotary Centre.

Government and NGO officials, public representatives, journalists and beneficiaries of the BRAC poverty projects attended the workshop which was organised jointly by BRAC, Rangpur and Rangpur Zilla Press Club.

Rafique Sarker of BRAC presided over the inaugural function of the workshop while Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Khondker Atiar Rahman was the chief guest and Rangpur Area Manager of BRAC Ataye Rabbi Al Selim presented the keynote paper.

In his paper Selim showed how 11,382 hardcore poor beneficiary families coped with their abject poverty and many of them achieved economic self-reliance in Rangpur district since the year 2002.

The day-long workshop was also addressed among others, by President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Social Communicator of BRAC Headquarters Neyamat Ali, District Livestock Officer Dr Hasanuzzaman Talukder, District Women Affairs Officer Shameem Ara, Deputy Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr GA Ansari.

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam visited voter registration and photo attached national ID card prepration programme at BNS Titumir in Khulna on Thursday.

Bangladesh Navy already started this programme for the coastal districts of the country. Navy Chief physically inspected the said programme. During this time commodore commanding Khulna briefed various aspects of voter registration to Chief of Naval Staff, says an ISRP press release.

The Navy Chief expressed his satisfaction on the overall performance of the programme and urged all concerned to devote their best efforts and dedication to make the progrmame successful one.

Among others, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Material), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Logistic) and high civil and military officers of the Bangladesh Navy were present on the occasion.

Our Correspondent, Kushtia

About 40 volunteers of the Kumarkhali Businessmen Forum (KBF) left Kushtia on Thursday to the Sidr affected Southern regions with a collected relief goods, worth about taka 4.7 lakh.

Emergency relief goods, included 5600 kg rice, 400 kg pulses, 800 kg potato, 800 liter cooking oil, 15 kg dry spices, 800 piece mach boxes, 800 piece lungies, 50 piece sarees, 500 piece towels and old cloths about 10,000 pieces, said the President of KBF and Chairman of Kumarkhali Pouroshova Nurul Islam Ansar.

"The KBF collected these relief going from door-to-door with the participation of all small and medium business owners in the Kumarkhali Thana," said the President KBF.

Our volunteer relief collection teams visited houses and shops in the locality to collect the donation said KBF member Majibar Rahaman Bokul, while talking to the reporter. "In case of further emergency need, more would be collected," he added.

However, both the relief carriers have been scheduled to reach their targeted 'Bagerhat district,' which is one of the worst cyclone affected locations. "Our 40 relief volunteers will be deployed at the district according to requirement, decided by the district relief committee," said Nuril Islam Ansar.

Members of KBF Lutfur Rahaman, Rafiq Uddin Bishash, Yar M Thatoo, Shafi Uddin Mullah, Mahfuzur Rahaman and many others attended the occasion, in the presence of local journalist.

BSS, Rangpur

The second consignment of huge relief materials for the cyclone-affected people was sent by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) from Rangpur on Thursday after collecting those from the local businessmen, organisations and individuals.

Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) collected the relief goods from local industrialists, businessmen, students and people from all walks of life and handed over those to BDR on the temporarily set up Crisis Cell on Rangpur Public Library premises.

The consignment of the donated goods included over 9.5 tonnes of rice, 1,000 pieces saree, warm clothes packed in 13 jute bags, clothes, baby foods worth Taka four lakh, 50 bags salt and other essential items, which were sent to Barishal on Thursday afternoon. Earlier on Monday, a huge quantity relief materials including five tonnes of rice, two tonnes of flattened rice, 400 bags of salt, powdered milk, spices, 1,000 pieces of sari, lungi and warm clothes were sent by BDR to Barishal.

President of RCCI Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu along with other business leaders and elite handed over relief materials worth about Taka 20 lakh so far in two consignments to Acting Rangpur Sector Commander of BDR Lt Colonel Mokbul Kader.

The BDR authorities sent the relief goods by trucks to Barishal and it would continue till the next order of the higher authorities, Lt Colonel Mokbul Kader told BSS.

The RCCI, Rangpur Press Club, different socio-cultural, professional and voluntary organisations have started massive campaigns using loudspeakers to encourage the people to come forward with what they have to stand beside the affected people in the south-western coast lines of the country. The next consignment will be sent on Saturday from Rangpur, officials said.

"We are sending the goods to the central coordination cell in Barishal from where these are being distributed among the distressed people and we appeal to all affluent and kind-hearted people to come forward to stand beside the affected brothers and sisters," Lt Colonel Mokbul told BSS on Thursday.

Major Ahmed Azizul Hakim, Major Maksurul, Major Saad, Senior Vice-President of RCCI Mohammad Jahangir, local industrialists, Haragach pourasabha Chairman Mamunur Rashid, BSS Staff Reporter Mamun Islam and Channel-i Reporter Merina Lovely were present, among others, while handing over the relief materials on Thursday.

Irregularities in relief work

PATUAKHALI, Dec 01: Around 200 people Thursday staged a demonstration at Galachipa upazila headquarters in protest against alleged irregularities in relief distribution in Dakua union. Local sources said the cyclone-affected people thronged the office premises of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer at about 11 AM, chanting slogans against UP Chairman Gazi Nesar Uddin. They alleged "nepotism" in relief distribution. The UNO, Abul Kashem Mohiuddin, pacified the protestors by allocating 4 metric tones of rice for them. "Most of them (protestors) are not affected. All of the affected people have already got relief smoothly," said the UNO, reports UNB.

Youth killed

NATORE, Dec 1: A young man died at Sadar Hospital here Wednesday, suspected to have been drugged by the members of 'Aggyan' (doping) party when he was travelling by a bus. The deceased was identified as Naresh, 30, of Hapania village of Naldanga thana. Police said local people found Naresh unconscious on Natore-Naldanga road in the evening and sent him to Sadar hospital where he died. Four other people who were also suspected to have been drugged by the members of 'Aggyan' party were recovered in unconscious condition from rail station and bus stand in the town and admitted to Sadar hospital, reports UNB.

Tragic indeed!

GAIBANDHA, Dec 1: A man slaughtered his own daughter to implicate his rivals in a murder case at Boali village in Sundarganj upazila Wednesday morning. Police said Selim Miah slaughtered his seven-year-old daughter Sheuli taking her to a nearby paddy field at about 9 AM. On information, police rushed to the spot and arrested Selim Miah, his wife Morsheda Begum and brother Nurul Islam. There had been a long conflict between Selim Miah and Amirul Miah over a disputed land and Selim Miah might have killed his daughter to implicate Amirul Miah in the murder case, police said, reports UNB.

Old man succumbs to injuries

NARSIGNDI, Dec 1: A septuagenarian man, who was injured in a harpoon attack during a clash at Nekjanpur village in Sadar upazila, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. Police said supporters of local UP chairman Abdur Razzak attacked the house of Bachchu Member with sharp weapon following establishing supremacy over the village on September 22, leaving 25 people injured. Of the injured, eight people, including Najat Ali, 70, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital while the rests to Sadar Hospital. But doctors released Najat Ali from DMCH on Tuesday as there was no improvement in his health condition, reports UNB.

Two gets life in Chuadanga

CHITTAGONG, Dec 1: A court here on Wednesday sentenced a man to life term imprisonment for hurling acid on his wife for dowry. The court also fined Sarawar Hossain Mridha, Tk 20,000. According to the prosecution, the convict threw acid on his wife Ayesha Akhter Moyna in their rented house at Kalsidighirpar in Bandor thana on August 21, 2006 following a family feud over dowry, leaving her critically injured. Later, the victim filed a case with the police, reports UNB.

Indian timber seized

NETROKONA, Dec 1: Police seized smuggled Indian timber worth about Tk 5 lakh from a trawler in Kangsha river in Durgapur Upazila Monday. Police also arrested four people-Moti Rahman, 22, Hussain Ali, 30, Arif Hussain, 45 and Rafiq Miah, 40. Acting on a secret information, police seized 600 cubic feet timber from the trawler and arrested the four smugglers. A case was filed with Durgapur police station, reports UNB.