The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has been implementing 49 development projects at a cost of over Taka 100 crore under Rangpur RHD Division during the current fiscal 2007-2008.

Sources said the projects include construction of roads, pavements and culverts, bituminous carpeting and surfacing, RCC Box culverts, expansion and re-strengthening of the existing pavements, to-towels, repairing, surfacing and earth works of the pot holes, approach roads, drains, seal coats, etc.

The projects will be implemented on Paglapeer-Dalia-Teesta Barrage road, Madhupur-Shyampur road, Rangpur-Gangachara road, Kadamtoli-Pirgachha road, Rangpur-Sahebganj-Mahiganj road, Hajirhat-Betgari-Langolerhat-Gangachara road, Motherganj- Pirganj-Nababganj road, Gangachara-Pirerhat-Monthonahat- Garagram-Kishoreganj road and Laldihgee-Txerhat-Taraganj- Kishoreganj road.

Besides, the projects will be implemented on Rangpur-Barobari-Kurigram road, Rangpur Cantonment Ghaghot road, Rangpur-Dhaperhat-Bogra road, Rangpur-Badarganj-Parbotipur road, Rangpur Old City roads, Rangpur-Kurigram road, Sadullapur- Pirganj- Nababganj road, Rangpur-Dhaperhat road, Rangpur-Syedpur road, Dhaka-Rangpur national highway and Rangpur-Teesta Bridge road.

Some of these projects are being implemented while others are on the process for launching soon, officials said.

Rangpur Area Commander and General Officer Commanding of 66 Infantry Division Major General Syed Fatemy Ahmed Roomy while exchanging views with the concerned government officials involved with the development activities on December 18 last asked the concerned authorities for completion of the works ensuring quality.

On the occasion, he also suggested the local journalists for properly monitoring the uplift activities being conducted by various government departments with a view to preventing corruption an irregularities as it happened in the past for ensuring quality and timely completion of the development works.

In another meeting with the local journalists here on January 2, Commanding Officer of the joint forces of Rangpur camp Lt. Colonel Kaiser provided statistics of the ongoing development works being conducted by the government departments during the current fiscal.

He also urged the journalists to play their due role in monitoring progress of works and reporting objectively with a view to check corruption and irregularities while implementing the works.

He expressed the hope that close observation of the development works by the journalists would reduce corruption and ensure proper implementation of the projects.

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Although a slight fall of rice prices were recorded in the port city's wholesale markets on Saturday, ordinary consumers might need long waiting to benefit from it.

A move around the wholesale markets in the city revealed that the price of rice depending on variety and quality dropped by Taka 140 to 170 for each sack containing 50 kilograms.

Retailers in most cases did not review the prices. Some of the retailers downed the price of the lowest grade of rice only by a Taka each kilogram.

Traders and importers claimed that the price fall took place following arrival of imported rice from India. "The rice market may see further fall in the coming weeks when rice from Myanmar starts arriving," they said.

According to a source at the office of controller of foods, nearly 17,000 metric tonnes of rice had been waiting discharge at the Chittagong Port.

Omar Azam, General Secretary of Chaktai Rice Traders Association, said India's decision to raise the price of rice had serious impact on the local market. But the prices fell Wednesday and on Thursday, he added.

Meanwhile, prices of both paddy and rice are on the declining trend in the markets of Chuadanga district from Sunday.

The paddy was being sold between Taka 800 to 820 per 40 kg only three days ago in the markets which was sold between Taka 600 to 650 per 40 kg on Sunday and Monday.

Besides, coarse rice is being sold at a price between Taka 28 to 30 per kg from Sunday.

which was sold Taka 30 to 35 per kg three days back.

It is suspected that rice traders hoarded paddy and rice for maximising profit, but as the government has decided to start open market sale the hoarders started marketing their paddy which resulted to decline in price.

The price of paddy and rice would be further decreased, it is expected.

Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

With a view to promoting economic condition and protecting the interest of the Cultural Artistes a new socio-cultural organisation styled as Bagerhat Articles Welfare Samity has been formed recently with 51 members headed by Nurul Islam Pintu as convener and Shamsuzzoha and Sk. Ekramul Kabir, Joint Secretary and member secretary respectively.

It has been formed after discussion at meeting held in the premises of Bagerhat Adarshya Bidyalaya Bhabain with Asaduzzaman in the chair.

Chain of command in CCC breaks down

Even after public announcement from the acting Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) on distribution and receipt of birth registration forms, Ward Commissioners are showing reluctance in receiving the worked forms from the citizens.

Denial of receiving the completed birth registration forms at the Ward Commissioner's office apparently poses great mismatch in the chain of command of the corporation's usual operations.

The Public Relation Department of the CCC in a newspaper announcement encouraged the citizens for free of charge birth registration, mandatory under the recently promulgated state law, on or before July 2 this year.

The announcement asked the citizens to collect the free of charge registration form and drop the completed registration sheet at the offices of the relevant Ward Commissioner.

Sekandar Mian, Commissioner of Ward 27 of Chittagong, City Corporation said that it had been the responsibility of the Acting Mayor who made the announcement

"Go to the Mayor and tell him whatever you like on my duty and denial of receiving the registration form," he told a citizen enthusiastic for registration and getting the birth certificate.

Official concerned of the CCC when asked told this reporter that they would look into the matter and find a quick remedy of the problem.

Indian contraband seized

Comilla, Jan 7 : BDR jawans of Kotbari, in separate drives on Sunday night and Monday morning, seized huge Indian saris, sex stimulating tablets, injections and other medicines worth Tk 1.70 crore from the district and also arrested a man. BDR sources said they seized banned sex stimulating tablets, injections and other Indian medicines worth Tk 1.10 crore from Trust Courier at Station Road in the town Sunday night. They also arrested Babul Hossain, 20, an employee of the courier service in this connection, report UNB.

Jubo League leader arrested in Satkhira

Satkhira, Jan 7 : Vice President of district Jubo League Sheikh Alamgir Hasan Alam was arrested by police from his Sultanpur residence in the town Monday morning.Police said Alam, also an accused in a number of cases, including murder, went into hiding soon after the declaration of state of emergency in the country but he returned home recently. Alam was taken to Sadar thana for interrogation, reports UNB.

65 shops gutted in Madaripur

Madaripur, Jan 7 :A devastating fire that broke out at the southern side of Tekerhat port in Rajoir upazila gutted 65 shops early Monday. Police and fire service sources said the fire originating from a sweet shop soon engulfed the adjacent shops at about 4am. However, the reason behind the fire could not be known immediately. On information, fire service personnel from Madaripur town, Gopalganj and Faridpur rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after two and half-hours of frantic efforts with the help of local people, reports UNB.

Beheaded body recovered

Pabna, Jan 7: Beheaded body of a teenage boy was recovered 21 days after his missing from near Karimpur rail line in Ishwardi upazila Sunday night. On information, police recovered the body of Nasim, 15, a welding shop worker, and son of Abul Kashem of Fateh Muhammadpur New Colony in Ishwardi. Police said four friends of Nasim called him out of his colony on December 16, 2007 and since then he remained missing, report UNB.

Silver jubilee celebration

Rangamati, Jan 7 : Tribal people here observed various programmes Sunday marking the silver jubilee celebration of programmes by BTV, which highlighted the culture of indigenous people. The programmes included rally and colourful processions. Tribal artistes performed dance and songs to celebrate the occasion, report UNB.

Plaintiff injured in attack in Natore

Natore, Jan 7 : A man, who filed a case against former Deputy Minister of Land for patronizing militancy, was injured in an attack by miscreants at Ramsharkazipur village in Naldanga upazila Sunday. Police quoting local people said plaintiff Mohidul Islam and his supporters went to the village of former Deputy Land Minister Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu in search of the accused of the case at about noon and came under attack by the supporters of Dulu, report UNB.

Traditional Rajpunnah to begin on Jan 24

Bandarban, Jan 7 : A five-day traditional Rajpunnah festival of local Bomang circle will begin on January 24. The 15th king of Bomang Circle Aung Shoi Prue Chowdhury announced the date of the festival at a press conference at Rajbari here Friday. Speaking on the occasion, the 95-year old king said Rajpunnah bears special significance.

to 11 aboriginal tribes and Bangla speaking people.

The king wearing traditional robe will collect tax from subjects. The ninth Bomang king had introduced Rajpunnah in 1875 and collection of jhum tax started since 1900. A three-day folk fair will also be held on the occasion to be attended by distinguished guests from home and abroad.

One stabbed to death

Munshiganj, Jan 7 : A man was killed by his colleague during a

clash at Muktarpur in Sadar upazila Monday morning. The deceased identified as Biren Shil, 50, hailed from Barisal, was working at a Saloon at Muktarpur.

Police said Manik Shil and co-worker Biren Shil attacked each other at the saloon following a quarrel over a trifling matter. At one stage, Manik stabbed Biren indiscriminately leaving him critically injured.

The attending doctors declared him dead when he was taken to Munshiganj General Hospital.

Local people caught Manik Shil, who also sustained injuries during the clash, and handed him over to the police.

Two killed in dists

Jhalakati, Jan 7 : A woman was killed and her sister and brother-in-law were injured in an attack by terrorists at Juthia village in Sadar upazila early Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Farida Begum, 42, wife of Khalilur Rahman Dakua while the injured as Rashida Begum and her husband M Mohsin, a 4th class employee of the Chief Adviser's office. Police said the assailants forcibly entered into the house of Farida at about 1.30am and hacked her to death. They also injured Farida and her husband, who went to the house to visit Farida.

She might have been killed following a previous enmity with her husband, police said. The body was sent to the morgue for autopsy. None was arrested in this connection, report UNB.