The New Nation - Internet Edition

Selim Reza, back from Baghabari

At least 15 cargo vessels carrying coal, fertilisers and clinkers have remained stranded on the Jamuna route connecting North Bengal since Friday following a sharp fall in water level of the mazor river.

Fuel-carrying tankers are facing serious difficulty to reach Baghabari river-port due to the navigation problem, official and local sources said, communication between Bagabari and other river-ports have been disrupted, threatening boro cultivation in the 16 districts in the northern region, a port source told the New Nation Correspondent. The sources said that as there were over floods this year plying of water vessels are being hampered in various channels of the Jamuna river ahead of the winter. Rivers and rivulets in the region are getting dry before the advent of the dry season.

On the other hand, another main river of the country, the Padma, has split into many narrow streams with the emerging of many sandbars in the mighty river due to scarcity of water flowing down of the Ganges.

Rivers such as Baronai, Fakirni and Atrai as well as canals are also fast drying up. As such, massive irrigation of boro paddy in the country's largest agricultural zone will have to depend on ground water. For excessive pumping of underground water the water level subsides far below the reach of pumps in the summer in recent years, creating a serious water crisis. The Correspondent report quoting agriculture officers and farmers in Sirajgonj said the authorities concerned allegedly didn't take measures timely so the situation worsened seriously.

A total of 48 water crafts have run aground and remained stuck in underwater shoals at various points along the Jamuna route, including Nakalia and Koitola in Pabna district, since Friday.

The water vessels including 41 fertiliser laden and seven slinker cargoes and Seven fuel carrying tankers. These water vessel had left for Baghabari Ghat from Chittagong and Narayangonj sevendays ago but failed to reach the port of call as the water levels at Nakalia, Majhkani and Koitola in the Jamuna river came down to 5/7 feet from 9/10 feet port, authorities said.

Meanwhile, the fertiliser, fuel and clinker are not being unloaded from the standard barges and carried to Bagabari by boat. It is pushing up the transport cost abnormally, said one port official.

Taking the advantage of disruption in supply, some dishonest fuel dealers have increased prices of fuels.

BSS, Chittagong

The second round of 16th National Immunisation Day (NID) began in the port city on Saturday with a target to feed oral polio vaccine to about 4.75 lakh children in the metropolitan areas.

To implement the day's programme, the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) administered two drops oral polio vaccine to children up to five years of age and fed one de-worming tablet to the children 2 to 5 years of age by engaging 6060 health workers and volunteers through 1212 vaccination centers at its all 41 Wards.

Acting CCC mayor Alhaj M Manjur Alam inaugurated the day's programme by administering oral polio vaccines to the children at a function at Memon Maternity Hospital at Sadarghat in the morning.

With local Ward Commissioner Tarek Solaiman Selim in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by member of the CCC mayor Panel and Ward Commissioner Rekha Alam Chowdhury, CCC Health Standing Committee chairman Mohammad Hossain, Ward Commissioner Iqbal Hafij Jubaraj, CCC Secretary A K M Khairul Alam and CCC health advisor Dr. Syeda Nurjahan Bhuiyan.

Speaking on the occasion, acting mayor called upon all to work with dedication for making the programme a success reminding that polio attacked children is not only a burden of a family, ultimately he/she become a liability of society too.

He said a polio disease-free society is an important precondition of establishing a healthy nation. A CCC press release said the vaccination started from 8 AM and continued uninterruptedly up to 4 PM.

Besides, around 1200 volunteers will go door-to-door in CCC areas for next four days to make sure that no child misses the immunisation.

It said several mobile teams consisting of 278 members have been engaged to feed oral vaccines to the children at rail, bus and steamer stations as well as other places of makeshift living.

BSS, Narsingdi

The Bijoya reunion was held at the auditorium of Narsingdi Pourasabha on Sunday.

On the occasion the District Puja Udjapan Committee announced upazila-wise prizes for best puja mandops for the year 2006 and 2007.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Zillar Rahman attended the function as the chief guest while it was presided over by Pourashava chairman Alhaj Lokman Hossain.

Police Super Shahab Uddin Khan and principal of Narsingdi Government College Mohammed Ali were also present in the function as special guests. Among others, Prof. Golam Mostafa Miah, Principal of Kustia Government Women's College, Professor Ohi Bushan Chakraborti and Ranjit Kumar Saha president and secretary of Narsingdi District Puja Udjapan Committee were also present.

UNB, Bogra

The government's decision to raise the prices of chemical fertilisers, except urea, from December 1 may hit the rabi cultivation in the northern region this season like other areas of the country.

Farmers of the region have taken a good preparation to cultivate crops in the current rabi season to recoup the losses they suffered following the recent floods and other natural calamities that damaged huge aman other crops on their land.

But all their hopes were shattered when the government ordered the BCIC and Department of Agricultural Extension to raise the price of different types of chemical fertilisers.

The government informed its decision through the monthly allocation letter of fertiliser of Agricultural Ministry, officials said. In this situation, farmers cannot use fertiliser on their lands due to its high price and are apprehending to fail the target of cultivation fixed by Agricultural Department The Department has fixed a target to bring 25.82 lakh hectares under 16 northers districts this season.

Of the total, boro will be cultivated on 15.08 lakh hectares, potato on 24.09 lakh hectares, maize on 1.35 lakh hectares, sweet potato on 11,084 hectares, lentil on 43,682 hectares, Chhola on 5,812 hectares, maskalai on 44,312 hectares, onion on 63,620 hecatres, garlic on 33,374, coriander on 6,138 hectares, turmeric on 13,125 hectares, ginger on 5,009 hectares, vegetables on 18.05 lakh, chili on 40,972 hectares, sesame on 28,127 hectares, mustard on 1.56 lakh, mug on 10,795 hectares and other crops on 41,904 hectares. Official sources said prices of TSP, MOP and DAP have been almost doubled. Price of per sack of 50 kg TSP has been fixed at Tk 1,382.24 against its previous price of Tk 697, per sack MOP at Tk 1,121 against Tk 715 and per sack of DAP at Tk 1,870 against the previous price of Tk 970.

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam inaugurated 'Operation Nabojatra' a voter list and national ID card registration project at Bhola nad Mongla on Sunday last.

During this time Commodore Commanding Chittagong and Commodore Commanding Khulna briefed various aspects of voter registration about their respective responsible area to Chief of Naval Staff, says an ISPR press release.

Addressing on the inaugural ceremony the Navy Chief urged all concerned to devote their best efforts and dedication to make the programme successful one. It may be mentioned that elaborate training progrmames were held at BNS ISSA KHAN and BNS TITUMIR on this project.

Among others senior officers from Naval Headquarters, high civil and military officials and local elites were present on the occasion.

Our Correspondent, Monirampur

World AIDS Day was observed in befitting manner in Monirmapur. Rally and discussion were the programme of the day.

On the occasion Upazila Health Complex authority launched a rally and discussion meeting at its compaund, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rahat Anwer was attended as chief guest at the function while THA. Dr Keramot Ali presided over the meeting. Among others, Dr Din Mohammad Dr. Moniruzzaman and FPO Siddiqur Rahman spoke on the occasion.

On the otherhand and Christian Commission for Development of Bangladesh (CCDB-CPRP) arranged a discussion at its Chinatola office where TNO attended as the chief guest. The meeting was presided over by the area manager of CCDB Anjelika Pallabi Sarker, Press Club. Secretary Prof Abbas Uddin, Professor Abdul Alim spoke among others on the occasion.

Two bodies recovered

BANDARBAN, Dec 10: Body of an army officer's son who went missing in the Sangu river here on Tuesday, was recovered on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Yasin Arafat Robin, son of warrant officer Borhan Uddin of Bandarban Cantonment and a Class VII student of Bandarban Cantonment Public School & College. Police said Robin went missing when he along with his friends was taking bath in the river. The divers from Chittagong recovered Robin' s body after three days of his missing, reports UNB.

Bijoy Mela inaugurated

CHANDPUR, Dec 10: A month long Bijoy Mela was inaugurated on Hasan Ali Government High School premises in the district town on the occasion of Victory Day on Friday. Divisional Commissioner Hossain Jamil formally inaugurated the fair by national hoisting flag and freeing pigeons at 5PM at the altar of the liberation war memorial 'Ongikar', reports UNB.

UP members arrested

BARGUNA, Dec 10: Kewrabunia Union Parishad member in Sadar Upazila was arrested on Friday on charge of taking bribe while distributing VGF cards among cyclone-hit families. Acting on a tip-off, joint forces arrested UP member Selim Khan for collecting Tk 200 from per family for distributing VGF cards in his Ward. When produced the court sent Selim to jail hajat rejecting his bail prayer, reports UNB.

Rice to be distributed

PIROJPUR, Dec 10: The government has decided to distribute 16,200 mts of rice against 2.70 lakh vulnerable group feeding (VGF) cards at 54 Unions in seven Upazilas of the cyclone-hit district gradually. Of the total, 35,000 cards have been allocated for Sadar Upazila, 15,000 cards for Zianagar, 40,000 cards for Nazirpur, 55,000 cards for Mathbaria, 35,000 cards for Bhandaria, 25,000 cards for Kaukhali and 50,000 cards for Nesarabad Upazila under the VGF programme that started here from December 1, reports UNB.

Chinese garlic seized

SATKHIRA, Dec 10: A huge quantum of garlic, imported from China, was seized from Bhomra border here Thursday. BDR sources said Pankaj Devnath, owner of Pankaj Traders in Chittagong, took 1,134 bags of imported Chinese garlic to Bhomra border from Chittagong. But he could not show the documents against 423 bags (7,191 kgs) of garlic. The BDR later seized the garlic. Sources said some dishonest traders are engaged in smuggling out Chinese garlic to the neighbouring country to earn windfall profit, as its price in India is much higher than in Bangladesh. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Baby killed in road mishap

CHANDPUR, Dec 10: An eight-month-old baby was killed and three other people were seriously injured in a road accident on Chandpur-Comilla Highway at Katra Bilwai area in Hajiganj Upazila on Thursday. Witnesses said baby boy Faisal Hossain died on the spot and his mother, grand mother and the rickshaw-puller were seriously injured when a Dhaka bound bus hit their rickshaw from behind at night. The injured were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex in critical condition. The killer bus managed to flee the scene. Local angry people protesting the accident put barricade on the road for two hours, reports UNB.

Son kills father

MAGURA, Dec 10: An old man was allegedly chopped to death by his son over a land dispute at Chhota Kalamdhari village in Mohammadpur Upazila here Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Rokonuddin Khan, 60, of the village. Police and local people said there was a longstanding dispute between Mitul Khan and his father Rokonuddin over the possession of a plot of land, reports UNB.