The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated in the Port city and different parts of the district as elsewhere in the country with the spirit of sacrifice, total surrender to the Almighty Allah in line with the inherent teachings of the holy event.

A total of 249 Eid congregations at mosques and selected open spaces including three big ones at M A Aziz Stadium and Jamiatul Falah Mosque (two successively) were held in the port city under the auspices of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and Chittagong Central Eid Jamaat Committee (CCEJC).

Chittagong Metropolitan and District Police sources said Eid-ul-Azha Jamaats in the city and district were held, the festival is being celebrated, the day's obvious ritual-slaughtering of sacrificial animals is also being done with complete peace and festivity.

Of the total Eid congregations, 131 were held in 41 wards in the city under the auspices of CCC while CCEJC organised 118 throughout the city. Of the biggest three, two Eid congregations were held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque premises successively at 8 AM and 830 AM while rest was held at M.A. Aziz Stadium at 8.15 AM.

A large number of muslim devotees participated in the Congregations and prayed for Divine blessings for the continued peace, prosperity and stability of the country as well as Muslim Ummah.

The devotees also prayed to the Almighty Allah for the salvation of the departed souls of 'Sidr' victims and early recovery of survivors, quick returning to normal life from the devastation. The law enforcing agencies had taken adequate security measures by deploying RAB, BDR, Police and Ansars at various strategic points in the city to keep watchful eyes on law and order before and after the Eid festival in checking any trouble centering cattle hide trading and any attempt to smuggle those.

As the prayers over, affluent people seen offering their sacrificial animals by slaughtering those in the name of Allah in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice made by the Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

Other major Eid Congregation were held at Andarkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, Laldhighi Maidan, Parade Maidan, Masjeed-e-Baitus Sharf at Kadamtali, Pologround Railway Public High School Maidan, Shah Amanat Shah (Rh)Dargah Maidan, Metropolitan Police line Maidan, Agrabad Jamboree field, Bayzeed Bostami (Rh) Dargah Mosque in between 7.30 AM to 9.00 AM.

Besides, programmes were taken to illuminate and decorate the important city corners and public buildings on this occasion.

Concerned authorities have also served improved diets in the hospitals, jails, orphanages, and also in youth and juveniles centers run by the Social Welfare departments.

CCC sources said 1845 contingency staffs have been engaged in the city with 101 waste disposing vehicles to remove the garbage and waste of sacrificial animals.

According to reports reaching here from fourteen upazilas under the district that people in the rural areas are also celebrating the festival with huge zeal and enthusiasm.

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

Four persons were killed and other 30 persons were injured in two separate road accidents in Gopalganj district on Wednesday.

A Dhaka-Khulna bound passenger bus of Banoful Paribahan was going to Dhaka from Khulna town. When the passenger bus reached middle position of the Majigati and Gheraha near a bridge under Kasiami upazila of Gopalganj districts on Dhaka-Khulna highway then the passenger bus collided head on with a passenger tolly locally called Noshiman which coming from the opposite direction. As a result three persons were died on the spot and other 30 persons were injured. The injured persons admitted to Gopalganj sadar hosptial. Kasiani and Muksudpur health complex critical condition.

Another accident was occured at Chandradhigole village under Gopalganj sadar upazila on Wednesday on Dhaka-Khulna highway when a incident people age (48) was crossing Dhaka-Khulna highway at Chandradhigolia village the local passenger bus remover the man and he died on the spot two separate cases was filed Gopalganj and Kasiani P.S.

Our Correspondnet, Chittagong

Cold spell of the ongoing winter, what started sweeping the northern region and the capital over the last couple of days, is likely to spread over the port city and its adjoining districts soon. According to the local meteorologists the cold wave may grip the port city and the districts adjacent as soon as the thick clouds are disappeared.

The port city experienced an extremely dull weather having no sun for entire day time apart from biting chill in the northern waft.

Several districts in Rajshahi and Dhaka divisions have already come under the purview of the prevailing cold spell.

The unusually dull weather hampered normal life in the port city particularly during the last working days.

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

The 16th December, Victory Day was observed as in Baraigram Upazila in a befitting manner as elsewhere in the country.

Baraigram Upazila Administration, socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions, Bonpara business association took programmes on the occasion of the Victory Day. As a part of the programmes, Upaizla Administration placed wreath of flowers at the National Monument in upazila premises, at the graveyard of Muktijoddha in Kalikapur, hoisted national flag at the top of government and non-government buildings.

The national flag was hoisted by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer at Bonpara High School ground, police, Anser-V.D.P, boys' scouts, girls' guides, cub groups of different educational institute displayed exercises at Bonapara High School field ; reception was accored to the freedom fighters at upazila auditorium etc. Upazila Muktijoddha commander Md Samsul Haque presided over the reception meeting while Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Salah Uddin was present as the chief guest, Upazila Land Officer Md Enamul Haque, Bonpara Pouro Chairman Md Sanah Ullah Nur Babu, Acting Thana Police Officer Md Shahider Rahman, Principal of Bonpara Degree College Md Abul Khayer (acting) were present as the special guests.

Among others, freedom fighters Md Sobahan Ali, Md Umar Ali Md Moslem Uddin addressed the meeting highlighting the role of freedom fighters in Liberation War of 1971.

Upazila Administration distributed ten Sewing Machines among ten freedom fighters for their socio-economic development and took a decision to form a "Kalyan Trust" for upazila freedom fighters day by Upazila Land Officer Md Enamul Haque in the meeting.

Our Correspondent, Jessore

A non-government voluntary Development organisation Rural Reconstruction Foundation (RRF) Jessore distributed 750 kgs of high yielding paddy seeds and 500 hens among the Sidr- hits 1125 families of Jessore and Khulna districts on 6th December. District wise distributed places (upazila as) are as follows. In Manirampur, Keshabpur and Sagordari in Jessore district and Dhigolia and Terokhada upazilas of Khulna district. They have distributed 2 kgs of paddy seeds and two hens of each family.

While they distributed this paddy seeds and hens upazila fishery officer Monirampur Md. Mohasin and Jugantor correspondent Monirampur Abdul Alim and while distributed at Sagordari under Keshabpur upazila present Keshabpur upazila fishery officer Haridas Kumar Devnath, UP Chairman Habej Rahaj Uddin, Sagordari rest house incharge Md. Sahjahan Ali. Attended among others, were RRF Executive body member and persons Md. Mashiul Azam, RRF Director Mrs. Pinku Rita Biswas, PC (pc credit) of RRF Babu Pankaj Kumar Sarker, Zonal Manager RRF Md. Zillur Rahman, Monitoring officer RRF Md. Hasnal Alam were present on the occasion.

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

If any one likes to get the farming loan from Sonali Bank, Bogha Branch under Bauphal Upazilla he must have to pay 20% as bribe to the IO of the Bank. Sources said that this bribery practice has been going on every Sonali Bank Branch all over Bangladesh for long days. On 9th December, last some local general people caught red handed a middleman named Razzaque with taka 63,700/= loan money.

The middleman of the IO Razzaque told the reporter that the taka is belongs to 4 poor farmers' loan. He also confessed that he took 20% taka from every man in favour of IO Manik. In this connection the authority of Sonali Bank transferred three staffs of Bogha Sonali Bank Branch to another Branch. But the authority does not take any legal action against the corrupt persons till now.

Father, daughter killed in road mishap

KHULNA, Dec 24: A man and his daughter were killed when a bus hit their bicycle from behind on Khulna-Paikgachha road at Ghoshnagar in Paikgachha upazila Sunday morning. Police said a Paikgachha-bound bus dashed the bicycle of Ansar Ali, 48, of Sonali village in Tala upazila of Satkhira, near the Shapla crossing in the area at about 10am, killing Ansar Ali and his daughter, Reshma, 12, on the spot. Ansar along with his daughter was going to Paikgachha for Eid shopping. Police sent the two bodies to the Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, reports BSS.

Housewife suffers acid-burn injury in Bhola

BHOLA, Dec 24: A housewife suffered severe burn injury early Saturday as miscreants hurled acid on her following a land-dispute at Rasulpur village in Charfashion Upazila. Police said a group of miscreants sneaked into the house of Khorshed Alam of the village at about 2:30 AM and poured acid on Khorshed's wife Bakul Bibi, 40, when she was asleep. Critically injured Bakul Bibi was first admitted to Charfashion Hospital and later shifted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Local sources said Khorshed had a longstanding dispute with his uncle, Ali Ahammad, over a piece of land. A case has been filed with Charfashion police station accusing four people for the acid attack, reports UNB.

Seminar on reproductive health held

THAKURGAON, Dec 24: The two-day seminar on Gender and Reproductive Health was concluded here on Thursday. Organised by Thakurgaon District Family Planning Department the seminar was held at Thakurgaon CMMU Building. On the concluding day, the seminar was attended by Dr Nurunnabi, civil surgeon of Thakrgaon as the chief guest while Makbul Hossain ADC (Rev) was present as special guest, reports BSS.

Rally held

GAIBANDHA, Dec 24: Ansar and VDP rally was held in the auditorium of Sadullapur Upazila Parishad in the district on Thursday. ASM Habibur Rahman, district adjutant of Ansar and VDP addressed the rally as the chief guest. Presided over by Upazila Livestock officer Dr. Uttam Kumar Das, it was also addressed, among others, by upazila Ansar and VDP officer M. Mojibar Rahman, sub- inspector Nirendranath Mondal, Naldanga UP Chairman Ismail Hossain and Union leader Abdul Jalil, reports BSS.

6 held with forged note

KISHOREGANJ, Dec 24: Police arrested six persons and seized 28 Taka 500 counterfeit note from them which was being used for buying cow at Karimganj upazila of the district on Monday. Police said, the arrested persons were identified as Alauddin, 35, of Karimganj, Gulger, 29, Imtiaz, 28, Merajul Haque, 28, Tapan Chowdhury, 27 and Awlad Hossain, 28 of Siddique Bazar of Dhaka. A case was filed with Karimganj police station in this connection, reports BSS.

Grenade recovered

GAIBANDHA, Dec 24: Sadar Thana police recovered a grenade and 70 rounds of bullet from Balua village under Ramchandrapur union of sadar upazila in the district on Thursday. Police said, the grenade with 70 rounds of bullet were found on the day while the villagers were cutting earth on the bank of a pond in the village. On information, the police went to the spot and recovered the grenade and bullets, reports BSS.