The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Devastating hurricane Sidr damaged embankment in coastal areas causing destructions worth Tk.700 crore.

The assessment report sent by local officials of Water Development Board to Water Resources Ministry said that 300 kilometers long embankment destroyed and 2000 kilometers long embankment have been damaged by hurricane Sidr in coastal belt.

This assessment included 166 kilometers and 311 establishment destroyed and 1300 kilometers and 411 establishments related with embankments damaged embankments and in Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Jhalakati and Pirojpur districts.

Besides 75 kilometers irrigation canals and 14 kilometers branch canals also damaged by Sidr in this region.

Water Development Board sources said the then Pakistan Government took a project with financial assistances from United States of America government to construct embankment locally known as Bhery Bandh in coastal region at the cost of 38.60 core Taka in 1960-61.

The project was named as 'coastal flood control dam' and ended in 1979-80 fiscal after constructing about one thousand kilometers long embankments, 177 drainage sluice, 320 flopping sluice, and 272 river closer establishments in coastal region.

By implementing this project 6 lakhs acres of land in coastal areas were saved from tidal bore, flood and salinity and came under irrigation schemes in coastal belts.

After success of that project Water Development Board constructed more hundreds of kilometers of embankments in different regions of coastal districts. District offices with executive and sub divisional engineers were opened under Barisal, Bhola, and Chittagong and Khulna Circles of WDB for maintenances and supervision of these embankments.

One source of WDB said Maj.Gn. Dr. A S M Matiur Rahman, advisor for water resources ministry, after visiting the Sidr affected areas directed official to prepare report about the destruction and damages of embankments caused by hurricane Sidr and accordingly the primary report was prepared and sent hurriedly.

BSS, Barisal

The second round at 16th National Vaccination programme has been completed successfully in the district on Saturday.

Official sources said 90 per cent children of aga group 0-5 years were brought under polio vaccination.

A total of 4,42,172 children out of a 4,47,662 were administared with polio drops. Besides, a total of 3,78,447 children out of a 3,80,980 of the age 1-5 years were given vitamin-A capsules in 6th unions of ten upazilas of this district on the day.

On the other hand, altogether 3,11,947 children out of 3,12,047 of the age of 2-5 years were given anti-worm tablets. A total of 2,360 centres were opened in the district to make the national immunization day (NID) a success, the sources added.

As many as 12,000 field workers and volunteers were engaged in the vaccination programme.

BSS, Pabna

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion(RAB) arrested two persons for their attempt to abduct a female college student at Maktab Para Radhanagar area in the district on Sunday.

The arrested persons were identified as Jony alias Geda,21, Farid,22. Five of their accomplices managed to escape from the scene.

RAB sources said a college student of Pabna college with fellow students going to College from Chalkpailanpur to Pabna Sadar. When they reached at Maktabpara suddenly 8 to 10 youths intercepted them and try to abduct one of the girls.

A solidarity and aid association "Kimse Yok Mu" which is approved by the Turkish Cabinet and Non-Government organisation established in Istanbul-Turkey has arrived to cyclone affected areas with its two administrators and two other Turkish Journalists. They distributed food and blankets in the different parts of Patuakhali. During their distribution they have made the assessment for their future relief programme, says a press release.

General Secretary of Kimse Yok Mu association. Ferruh Yucel and International Affairs Coordinator of association Hasan Erturk said "after seeing all the casualties and disaster caused by the Sidr we have planned to something for these people.

General Secretary of Kimse Yok Mu association Ferruh Yucel also expressed his gratitude to Bangladesh Government and army for the assistance that they provided during their visit. Frruh also thanked to Turkish Embassy and International Turkish Hope School for inviting their association to Bangladesh ad providing all the assistance to his Organisation.

BSS, Chittagong

Detective Branch (DB) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) recovered 931 bottles Phensidyl after conducting separate drives in the city on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of DB police raided a house at Alkaran area under Kotwali thana in the city and arrested Sharashati Boiddya, 40, wife of Delip Boiddya along with 900 bottles Phensidyl on Sunday afternoon.

In another drive, the DB police nabbed one Rubel, 18, and Younus, 19, along with 31 bottles Phensidyl from City Gate area after searching a passenger bus on Sunday morning.

BSS, Barisal

Speakers at a meeting commemorating the Begum Rokeya Day urged upon the country's womenfolk to follow the path of the pioneering women leader to ensure establishment of a prosperous Bangladesh.

Organised jointly by the Barisal NGOs Development Network (BNDN) and Barisal District Unit of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), The (missing was held at BNDN office premises on Sunday.

Chaired by BMP president Rani Bhattacharjjya, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Noor Jahan Begum, Abdul Rahim, Dr Syed Habibur Rahman, AK Azad, Nurul Islam, Puspa Guha, Rahima Sultana Kazol, BNDN secretary Ranajit Dutta and Moshrefa Mili.

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

After day-long training programme of Baraigram Ansar and village Defence Party (VDP) on "Village-wise Basic Training" concluded on November 19.

This training was held at Thanaikhara school ground in Baraigram Upazila.

32 men and 32 women took part in the training programme. The main topies of training was agriculture, fishery, live-stock, family planning, sanitation etc. The training was arranged basically to develop economical and socio-cultural condition of trainees.The trainees all were inhabitant of same village Thanaikhara in Baraigram upazila. Different Departmental Officers related with subject matter were appointed as trainer. Also upazila trainer of Ansar and VDP Md Abdur Razzaque and Mrs Monika Kosta were co-ordinator of the training.

A concluding function was held on concluding day. Ansar and VDP office Kazi Alamgir presided over the meeting. He gave away certificates and TK 400/- per trainee. During training programme, Rajshahi Divisional Officer and Golam Kibria and Natore District Adjutant Md Abdul Mannan visited the training programme.

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

District Sadar Hospital opened a free Friday clinic at free of cast for the poor people in the district recently.

District Civil Surgeon, Dr ANM Bazlur Rahman formally inaugurated the clinic with Dr Shahdat Hossain in the chair.A total of 185 poor patients received the treatment from the clinic.

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

A reception was accorded to Justice Md. Anwar-ul-Haq of High Court Division, by Naogaon District Advocates Bar Association at its auditorium on November 15, presided over by the said association President Advocate MHM Jahangir Alam.

District and Session Judge AKM Shamsul Islam, Police Superintendent Sardar Nurul Ameen, PP advocate Sheikh Anwar Hossain, ex-president of the said association Advocate Khairul Anam Helel, ex-general secretary of the said association Advocate Khodadath Khan Pintoo, Mozharul Islam, present general secretary Advocate AZM Rafiqul Alam and others spoke on the occasion.

Couple receives acid

burn injuries

A husband and wife were injured seriously by acid thrown by some miscreants on November 12 at their residence on November 12, at dead of night while sleeping at Pauchkola village of Badalgachi upazila in the district.

The injured were identified as day labourer Mujibur Rahman (45) and his wife Tapi Parveen (35).

They were rushed to district Sadar Hospital and later sent to Dhaka for better treatment by local BRAC.

Seminar on birth registration held: A birth registration seminar was held at Niamatpur upazila parishad auditorium in the district on November 12, presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Sayedur Rahman.

Upazila education officer Md. Mahbubur Rahman spoke as welcome address.

Headmaster Murtaza Reza Haider lighted the necessity of birth registration.

The teachers of educational institutions attended it.

One commits suicide: A boy committed suicide in Sapahar upazila in the district on November 19. His dead body was found on hanging a mango tree. The dead body was identified as Abu Sayeem (22) of Sahabagpur village. Police rushed to the spot. The dead body was sent for postmortem.

A GD was reported with the thana in this connection.

Int'l Diabetes Day held: The International Diabetes Day was onserved in a chalked-out programme under auspices of Naogaon District Diabetes Samity on November 14.

A rally was held, paraded thoroughfares on the town, started from its office at Par-Naogaon.

A discussion meeting was held at its office, presided over by its vice-president, local prominent politicians, social workers and former first chairman elected by the election of Naogaon Pourashava Md. Abdur Rakib.

Fertiliser seized: Acting on a tif-off, BDR Jawans of Patnitola upazila special camp recovered 93 bags of country-made TSP fertiliser and seized one truck at night at Komalbari of Goshnagar union parishad in the said upazila on November 13.

The driver and others managed to escape before the arrival of BDR. The number of the seized truck was Dhaka Metro No 9398. The value of the seized fertiliser was estimated about total 12 lakh 4 thousand 7 hundred, which was deposited to Patnitola customs godown.

One with ganja: Acting on a tif-off, RAB in a campaign arrested one person with 2 KG. 500 gram ganja in Raninagar upazila in the district on November 1.

The arrested person was identified as Mintoo (40) of Palsha Haludanga in Santahar of Adamdighi thana in Bogra district. He was arrested with the same at Laskarpara of Paroil union parishad in Raninagar upazila.

One boy drown in the river: One boy was drowned in the river when he slipped away suddenly while taking ablution for the prayer by the side of the river, in Porsha upazila in the district on November.

The dead was identified as Al Ameen (20), son of Sannu Mia of Munshipara of Nithpur union Parishad. His dead body was found on floating. He was reportedly a patient of epilepsy.

NOAKHALI, Dec 11: A devastating fire that broke out at Shikarirhat in Begumganj Upazila here gutted 12 shops early Friday. Witnesses said the fire originated from an electric short circuit at a shop around 3AM and soon engulfed the adjacent shops. Local people brought the blaze under control before the arrival fire servicemen. The affected shop owners claimed that cash and valuables worth Tk 50 lakh were destroyed in the fire, reports UNB.

BAGERHAT, Dec 11: After 22 days of cyclone Sidr, five more decomposed bodies were recovered on Friday evening from Dublarchar in Sharankhola Upazila, raising the death toll to 798 in the district. Official sources said the bodies of five men were found under the sand in the worst affected Char. But the identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. With this the death toll rose to 665 only in the worst hit Upazila by official count, reports UNB.

RANGPUR, Dec 11: A three-day training workshop for the journalists on 'Bird Flu and Pandemic Flu Awareness and Preparedness' concluded at Chamber Bhaban in the town on Tuesday. Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) organised the workshop with the financial assistance of UNICEF. Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Atiar Rahman was present on the concluding day as chief guest and distributed certificates among the participants. A total of 40 journalists of different print and electronic media from Rangpur and Nilphamari districts took part in the training course, reports UNB.

DINAJPUR, 11: A JMB cadre, who was a charge-sheeted accused in August 17 serial blasts here, was arrested from Ramsagar crossing in south Kotwali Thana on Friday. The arrested was identified as M Nazrul Islam, son of Dr Aftab Uddin of Khanpur village of the area. Police acting on secret information raided the area arrested Nazrul, trainer of JMB militants, at about 7 AM, reports UNB.

JESSORE, Dec 11:Police recovered a huge quantity of contraband medicine in an abundant state at Chatiantala Bazar under Baghorpara Upazila of the district on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of police raided the area and recovered the contraband Indian medicine CET-2 tablet 45,600 pieces, Citerzen tablet 2,400 pieces, reports BSS.

GAZIPUR, Dec 11: Police arrested two persons and seized 62 bottles of phensidyl from their possessions from Salna Porabari area under Gazipur Sadar District on Sunday. The arrested was identified as Shafiqul, 40, and Fazlul Haque, 28. Police sources said, acting on a tip-off, police raided Shafiqul's house at Salna Porabari and seized 62 bottles of phensidyl. They also arrested Shafiqul and Fazlul from the house, reports BSS.

MADARIPUR, Dec 11: The branch managers' conference of Rupali Bank Ltd Faridpur greater district was held at the Pourasabha auditorium here on Saturday. With Assistant General Manager of Rupali Bank Bhuiyan Mohammad Mohiuddin in the chair, the conference was attended by Managing Director of the Bank Abdul Hamid Miah. Branch Managers of the Faridpur region attended the conference, reports BSS.