The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslim community has been observed in hurricane Sidr-distressed areas of southern region in a gloomy mood without any festivity, but just performing minimum religious rituals.

Journalists of different media after visiting the Sir distressed areas on Eid day said peoples were over-whelmed with the emotions of losing their dearest and nearest ones, sources of earnings for livelihoode, crops, cloths and houses.

Still the sounds of weeping and wailing remembering the lost ones spread in the area after shadow of darkness covers at evening.

In Southkhali, situated on Baleswar river estuary and one of the most severely Sidr-affected areas under Sharonkhola upazila of Bagerhut district, homeless peoples observed Eid in their relief-tents and by weeping besides the mass or family graveyards and destroyed homes.

Eid congressional prayers were held either in the premises of destroyed mosques or on open grounds and worshipers participated wearing cloths received from different relief teams. In some places, as Imams of the local mosques or their family members killed or injured by Sidr ; one from the worshipre performed the duty of Imam in Eid Jamat and not a single animal was sacrificed to perform religious rituals by any family due to lack of financial ability. Teams of Bangladesh Army led by Lt.Col. Syeed Siddiki, Bagerhut district commander of joint forces hoisting banner 'Eso Sakoley Miley Eid Kori'( let us observe Eid with all others), on Baleswar River bank on the Eid day distributed relief packets included normal and winter cloths, kitchen utensils, water pots, school bags, flashlights and other essential items,.

Local former lawmaker and Jamaate Islami leader Mawlana Delwar Hossain Syedi observed Eid-ul-Azha with the Sidr-distressed peoples of this area and different Islamic NGO's arranged sacrificing animal and distributed meat.

In Khatachhera, Baro Machhua of Mathbaria upazila under Pirojpur district, Padma and other villages of Patharghata upazila under Barguna district, the scenario of observing Eid-ul-Azha just after five weeks of the devastating Sidr, were almost same.

BSS, Rangpur

Farmers are expecting a bumper production of onion this year in the northern region of the country with the early variety of the crop started arriving in the local markets in plenty.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 3,81,720 tonnes of onion from 63,620 hectares in the region during the current Rabi season, DAE officials said here on Monday.

They said the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and a number of NGOs had taken adequate steps to make the onion- farming programme successful.

Steps had been taken for providing adequate training, technical assistance, inputs, high quality imported and locally produced seeds and agri-loans to the farmers under various programmes of different government and non-government organisations, including the Northwest Crop Diversification Project.

More steps have been taken to increase production of onion in the current Rabi season, deputy director of DAE, Rangpur, Kamal Shariful Alam told BSS on Monday. Senior officials in the DAE, the BADC and the BARI said onion import would be reduced significantly next year if its production target were achieved.

They hoped that onion production in the region would continue to increase due to the impetus being given to the sector.

The crop is now being cultivated twice a year instead only in winter season in the past.

Last year, the DAE fixed a target of producing 3,53,006 tonnes of onion from 60,549 hectares in the country's 16 northern districts and the target was achieved, official sources added.

Our Correspondent, Gouripur

The Victory Day was observed n Gouripur Upazila of Mymensingh district in a befitting manner on December 16.

The beginning of the Victory Day started at zero hours of midnight with a 21-gun salute. A.K.M. Ehasasnul Huq, U.N.O of Gouripur Upazila, placed floral wreaths on the Shaheed Minar at Harun Park of the upazila town. Different organisations, clubs, samities, political parties and Gouripur Press Club also placed floral wreaths.

In the morning, colourful rallies were brought out by different organisations which paraded through the main road of the town and joined Gouripur playground.

The National flag was hoisted by the UNO of Gouripur upazila. In the afternoon, Press Club 'A' Group and Press Club 'B' Group organised a Volleyball match to mark the Victory Day. Besides, different kinds of sports and games were held on the Victory Day.

BSS, Rajshahi

Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival for the Muslims, was celebrated in the city and its adjacent areas with due religious fervour, joy and enthusiasm today.

Braving winter cold and chili wind, streams of people- young, old and children- rushed to the nearest Eidgahs, mosques and open places in the morning to offer their Eid prayers.

The main Eid jamaat was held at Hazrat Shah Mukhdum ® Central Eidgah Moidan at 8.30 AM. while the second largest at Shaheb Bazar 'boro rasta' at 8.45 on Friday morning.

Mayor-in-charge of Rajshahi City Corporation Rejaunnabi Dudu, along with other senior divisional and district level officials and elite offered their Eid prayers at the Central Eidgah.

Some other big Eid jamaats in the metropolis were held at Hatemkha, Stadium ground, Shalbagan Eidgah, Tikapara Eidgah, Mohisbathan Eidgah math, Upashahar Eidgah Moidan, RUET campus and Rajshahi University campus.

After the prayers, special Munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for the peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as greater welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

Rajshahi City Corporation decorated the city's important points and road islands with National and colourful flags inscribed with "Eid Mubarak" both in Bangla and Arabic and illuminated important buildings marking the celebration.

After the Eid-prayers the Muslim devotees sacrificed thousands of animals in the name of Almighty Allah.

BSS, Lalmonirhat adds : Victory Day was celebrated in the district and upazila headquarters with great enthusiasm.

District Administration, Muktijodda Sangsad and different socio- cultural organizations placed wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar and Muktijoddha Smriti Shoudha in the morning. People at great number visited the mass grave and prayed for peace of the departed souls.

The national flag was hoisted atop public and private buildings after sunrise.

In observance of the day, students of different educational institutions and other children and juvenile organisations arranged marchpasts at the Collectorate Moidan.

Muktijoddha Sangsad organised a colourful procession, reception and discussion in the town. The procession was led by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and police super Mohammad Jamsher Ali.

Improved diets were served in hospitals, jails, orphanages and children's centres.

Special prayers were offered at mosques and temples seeking peace and prosperity of the nation.

The discussion was chaired by Advocate Sheikh Selim. Following the discussion prizes were distributed among the winners of the competition.

A reception was organised for Freedom Fighters and the families of the martyred Freedom Fighters at the Zila Parishad auditorium in the afternoon which was attended by the DC and local army camp commander Lt Colonel Anisur Rahman while it was chaired by district unit commander of Muktijoddha Sangsad Yusub Ali.

Our Correspondent, Baraigram.

A middle-aged educationist, Principal of the Ahmedpur College under Barigram upazila Md Ayub Ali died from a heart attack in Natore Hospital under treatment on December 15.

Ayub Ali (45) was an inhabitant of the village Ahmedpur. He was also a member of the Baraigram Diabetic Samity. On the day, he got up early in the morning and felt uneasy in his chest seriously. Then he was taken to Natore Medical Hospital. He was buried with great honour at a graveyard of his village in presence of hundreds of people and students.

A Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the Ahmedpur College field. Baraigram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Salah Uddin, Bonpara Pouro Chairman Md Sanaullah Nur Babu, Principal of Bonpara Degree College, Md Abul Khayer (acting), political leaders of different parties, local elite, students took part in the Namaz-e-Janaza. He left behind a son, a wife and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

A shop employee was burnt to death in a fire that gutted shops in front of Hathazari Health Complex early Friday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Jamiruddin, 20, an employee of a grocery shop.

Police and witnesses said the fire originated from an electric short-circuit of a grocery shop at about 3:30 AM and engulted the nearby six shops, burning huge valuables.

"Jamir suffered fatal burn injuries as he was asleep in his shop and later died on the spot," sources said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze with the help of local people after an hour's hectic effort. Fire Brigade sources said the extent of loss in the fire was estimated at about Taka one million.

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

At least 37 persons were injured, three of them seriously in a clash between two groups people of Mirpur and Ramgati village in Sirajganj Pourashava on Sunday.

The attackers damaged nine shops and two minibuses during the clash.

The injured were taken to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital and local clinics in the town.

Police and local sources said that, the clash ensued from a trifle issue between the people of Mirpur and Ramgati village at around 9.30 AM. The attackers engaged in the clash equipped with lethal weapons for one and half hour. At that time, nine shops and two buses were also vandalised and valuables were looted.

Being informed, Sadar thana police rushed to the spot and charged batons on them to bring the situation under control. Tense situation has been prevailing in the area. Police have been deployed there to avoid any untoward accident. Separate cases were filed with Sirajganj Sadar thana in these connections.

Our Correspondent, Nalchity

A man was killed in a road accident at Mallikpur on Barisal-Mollarhat road in Nalchity upazila under Jhalakati on Saturday morning at about 8.30.

The deceased was identified as Harun-or-Rashid (42), Branch Manager, Filful Fazal (NGO) of Nalchity branch.

Local sources said, Harun-or-Rashid was going to his office by a motorcycle when a Mollarhat-bound bus (Satkhira-Jha-04-0082) from Barisal hit him and he died on the spot.

Hearing the incident local people and police rushed to the spot but killer driver managed to flee.

Police seized the bus and recovered the dead body and sent it to Jhalakati Sadar Hospital morgue from autopsy.