The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Language veteran and poet Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury was laid to rest at the city's Banani Graveyard on Monday.

His 2nd namaj-e-janaza was held on the premises of Dhaka University Mosque after Zohr prayers on Monday while the 1st at Uttara-3 Jame Mosque on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, his body was taken to Central Shaheed Minar from BIRDEM mortuary. People from all walks of life showed their last respect to the late poet from 11 am to 12:30pm.

His qulkhwani will be held at his residence in sector No. 3, Road No. 20, House No 48 and Uttara-3 Jame Mosque after Asr prayers on Friday (December 28).

Poet Mahbubul Alam died of cardiac arrest on Sunday at the city's United Hospitals at the age of 80.

UNB, Dhaka

Leaders of Dhaka Unive-rsity Teachers' Associ-ation (DUTA) Monday accused the government of breaking its promise to release the detained teachers and students of the university.

"We had postponed our protest programmes when the government promised to release the (detained) teachers and students within 15 days. We've kept our promise, but the government has failed to do so," DUTA executive member Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique told UNB.

On December 9, the government took 15 days' time to finalise the process of releasing the four DU teachers and nine students arrested following the Aug 20-22 campus violence.

The DUTA executive committee meeting had postponed its work abstention programme, scheduled for December 10, following phone calls from Education Adviser Dr Aiyub Quadri to the DUTA leaders that the teachers and students would be released within 15 days that expired on December 23.

But the teachers are unlikely to be released any time soon as the hearing of a case against them was today deferred to December 31.

Dr Arefin said, "The government has lost its credibility and acceptability to hundreds of thousands of teachers and students throughout the country by not respecting its own commitment."

He said all the DU teachers and students were now in deep frustration for such an incident. "The outcome of frustration is never good for the country," Dr Arefin said.

About the role of the DU VC over the release of the detained DU teachers and students, he said the VC has repeatedly assured them that the government would release them soon. "But we're not seeing reflection of the assurances."

Dr Arefin said they were still hopeful of the release of the teachers and students. "We want a congenial atmosphere in the country's all the public universities."

DUTA acting President Prof Dr Tajmeri S Islam said, "I and my all colleagues have become extremely disappointed by government's behavior."

She said the government had told the DUTA leaders that the detained teachers and students would be released through a "respectful and acceptable" process.

"But now I'm in confusion what the government actually wants to say by using such words - respectful and acceptable," Dr Tajmeri said.

She said the teachers' association would call a meeting very soon to take further steps seeking release of the DU teachers and students.

UNB, Dhaka

Eight people, including three students of Iswardi Degree College, were killed and 23 people injured in road accidents in four districts on Monday.

The three college students were killed in Pabna when a microbus dashed their motorcycle at Dashurai Tetultala in Iswardi upazila on Pabna-Iswardi highway in the morning.

The victims were identified as Russell, 22, son of Atiar Rahman, and Abdul Latif, 21, son of Afiluddin of Ambaria village, and Sohag, 22, son of Mizanur Rahman of Dashuria village of the upaizila.

Witnesses said the accident occurred when a speedy microbus hit their motorcycle from behind while they were going to visit Lalon Shah Bridge over the Padma River at Pakshey at about 11:30 am. They died on the spot.

In Faridpur, a bus helper was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus plunged into a roadside ditch at Satoir Bazar in Boalmari upazila Monday morning.

Witnesses said the Boalmari-bound bus fell into the ditch at about 11:30am as the driver lost control over the steering, killing its conductor Mirajul Kazi, 25, on the spot and injuring its 23 passengers.

The injured were admitted to Baolmari Hospital and Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

In Bagerhat, two people were killed when a bus hit a rickshaw-van at Mulghar in Fakirhat upazila on Bagerhat-Mawa highway in the afternoon.

Police said the Dhaka-bound bus from Khulna dashed the rickshaw-van around 3:30pm, killing van driver Mandal, 50, of Chanderhat village, and passenger Ajit Biswas, 45, of Baroigati village in Mollarhat upazila, on the spot.

In Thakurgaon, two motorcyclists were killed when their motorcycles collided at Bhaularhat in Baliadangi upazila in Baliadangi Ranishankoil area in the morning.

Police said Shakhawat Hossain, 50, of Kalia Kalonda village in Baliadangi upazila, died on the spot while Ruhul Amin, 30, was critically injured when their motorcycles collided at about 10:30 am.

Ruhul Amin later died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital after admission.

UNB, Benapole

The turn over was estimated at Tk 1.25 crore at the Rajarhat hides and skin market, the largest in southwest region, on Saturday.

Alauddin Mukul, secretary of hides and skin traders association, told UNB that tannery owners reigned the market elbowing out the small traders.

He said the price this year was good - Tk 90 to 95 per square feet of hides and Tk 42 to 45 goat skin. More than 5,000 hides worth around Tk 1 crore were sold. About equal number of goat skin worth Tk 25 lakh were sold on the first day after the Eidul Azha.

It is expected similar volume of transactions will take place at Rajarhat market today (Tuesday).

Tannery owners dominated the market. Tk 400 crore advanced by the banks for buying hides and skin this year has mostly went to the tannery owners. Small traders have little scope of business.

"Supply this year is lower than expectation. Demand is good and the price is also good. The prospect of smuggle out of hides and skin is far less this year," said Alauddin Mukul.

He said Rajarhat market should be developed as the centre of hides and skin trading by removing certain problems facing the sellers and buyers. Lack of storage and preservation facility is the main problem, he added.