The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to use latest tech for increasing maize production

BSS, Rangpur

Experts at a two-day training course on 'Family level training on hybrid maize farming using latest technology' here underscored the need for adoption of latest technologies and use of hybrid variety seeds for further increasing maize production.

Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) with the assistance of Burirhat Agriculture Research Centre (BARC) organised the course under the 'Hybrid Maize Farming Project' at the training room of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Sadar Upazila Parishad for the male and female farmers that ended here on Friday.

A total of 128 male and female farmers of Baoghoria, Ronochondi, Madhabpur and Mahiganj Blocks in the upazila took part in the course.

Chief Scientific Officer and Station In-charge of BARC Dr M Hafiz Ullah attended the course as the chief guest that was also attended by senior officials and experts of BARI, and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

The speakers said that hybrid variety maize could be produced thrice a year at the lowest cost with maximum profit and the farmers should have adequate knowledge for farming of the cash crop everywhere.

Later, every participating farmer was given a certificate and two kg hybrid variety maize seeds free of cost for farming the crop on their land this season.

Daring dacoity committed at Sundarban Courier Service in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A gang of armed dacoits looted properties worth Tk.4 lakh in cash and kinds from Barisal branch of Sundarbon Courier Service situated at Club Road area of the city within brick throwing distances to Barisal police line, residences of high police and administrative officials on Thursday early morning. Police arrested Faruk Matbbor and Abdus Sattar, night guards of the courier and house in this connection.

A B M Faruk, branch manager of SCS, said that a group of armed miscreants entering in the rented house compound of the service captured and tied night guard Faruk Matubbor. Then breaking the locks of the office and steel cabinets the miscreants looted Tk.2.60 lakhs in cash and other items including 20 mobile sets booked for Mobile Complex of Bhola, 10 mobile sets booked for Jamaddar Telecom of Pirojpur and one mobile set of the office.

Police visited the spot and a case has been lodged with Barisal Kotwali model police station in this connection.

Severe cold wave paralyses normal life in Chuadanga

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

Severe cold has paralysed normal life in Chuadanga district and its adjoining areas. Poor people are crowding at shops for old clothes.

A severe cold wave has been blowing over the district for the last few days, poor people are the worst sufferers as most of them are passing days without warm clothe. The prices of warm clothes are beyond the purchasing capacity of most of the poor people.

Rickshawpullers and pushcart drives are seldom seen on the roads before 9AM and after sunset, Shopowners are compelled to clase thin shops after sunset due to severe cold. In rural areas people are seen sitting around fire to keep themselves warm.

Patients at the local hospital are also suffering a lot as many of them have to spend their nights on the floor, from want of adequate number of beds.

The authorities of the hospital cannot provide the patients with bedding. The people belonging to middle class are seen visiting old clothes shops but due to high prices some of them are coming back without purchasing any clothes.

Pry scholarship exam held

BSS, Comilla

The examination for Primary Scholarship was held in the district here on Monday and Tuesday.

Organised by District Primary Education Office, the examination was held at 16 upazila examination centers.

Opinion sharing meet held in Naogaon

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

An opinion sharing meeting under auspices of Association for Development and Human Rights (ADHR) was held at its office premises at Masterpara in the Naogaon Municipality recently, presided over by Advocate and journalist Mohammad Anwarul Quadir.

Sadrul Anam Ranju, co-ordinator of Bogra unit BLAST NGO, former pourashava commissioner Mollah Motahar Hossain, legal Adviser advocate Wairs Ali, Shamsun Nahar Nurun, Aslam, Shahidul Islam and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers highlighted the dynamic role this NGO, was serving towards the people in mediation and legal aid.

Steps taken to distribute blankets among cold-hit people

BSS, Mymensingh

The government has undertaken a programme to distribute blankets among the cold-hit distressed people of the district, official sources said.

The food and disaster management ministry has sanctioned 1,500 blankets for 12 Upazilas and 10 Pourasabhas of the district, Md Mafizuddin, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO), told BSS on Tuesday. He said the blankets have already been handed over to the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and chairmen of the Pourasabhas.

Meanwhile, UNOs and Pourasabha Chairmen have started distributing the blankets among the cold-stricken people.

Round-table on 'Local govt &' dist govt' held in Comilla

BSS, Comilla

A roundtable on "Proposed Report about Local Government and District Government" was held in an auditorium in the town on Tuesday.

The speakers underlined the importance of continuing the activities of the Union Parishad, Zila Parishad and Upazila Parishad for strengthening the local government.

Leaders of different political parties, representatives of voluntary organisations, renowned personalities, elite of the town and journalists took part in the roundtable.

2,160 tonnes rice distributed under VGF card in Natore

BSS, Natore

A total of 2,160 tonnes of rice under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) distributed among the 72 thousands distressed people during the last four months in four Upazilas of the district.

District relief office sources said, the VGF card distributed among the low-income people in the four upazilas. The people were affected by immediate past floods.

Natore Sadar Upazila 1,500 VGF cards, Boraigram 6,000, Singra 16,500, Poura areas of Singra 1,500,Gurudaspur 9000,and Poura areas of Gurudaspur 1,500 cards were received during the period.

Each cardholder received 10 kg rice in September-October and 15 kg in November-December.

Moreover, a total of 360 tonnes of rice distributed among the distressed people those who live in flood free areas in the district, the sources said.

PDB gets Tk 7.8m as arrear in Ctg

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) has geared up its drive against collection of outstanding power bills from the defaulters.

As part of the drive PDB realized Tk 7.8 million as outstanding bills in different circles over the last couple of weeks since January 1, PDB sources said.

PDB during the drive snapped power connections to 2505 defaulting consumers from the subscribers to whom Tk 3.8484 remained outstanding.

It has also established reconnection of power to 706 subscribers on payment of the dues.

Monpura SI held for taking bribe

Our correspondent, Barisal

Sub Inspector Rafiqul Islam working in Monpura police station of Bhola caught red handed by Naval Force in Bhola for taking bribe from a trawler owner. Daliluddin Ahmed and Jalal Ahmed, two accused of a murder case arrested by police trying giving bribe to district police super of Barisal.

Sources said, joint forces arrested 20 pirates and recovered four trawlers from the Meghna River estuary under Monpura Upazila of Bhola district on December 28, 2007. Nur Ali Majhi, owner of a recovered trawler contacted with Monpura police to free his boat and SI Rafiqul demanded Tk. 25 thousand as bribe for that. After negotiation Tk. 6 thousand was fixed as speed money for the work and Tk. 3 thousand paid in advance for that by Nur Ali.

Informing the local team of Naval Force deployed in that area while Nur Ali paid rest Tk. 3 thousand to SI Rafiqul, the naval officials caught Rafiqul red handed and recovered pre-marked currency notes from his possession on Monday night. A case has been lodged in this connection against the SI Rafiqul with Monpura police station and sent to Bhola jail on Tuesday.

News briefs

Smuggled goods seized

COMILLA, Jan 21: Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) jawans of Comilla Sector seized smuggled valuables worth about Tk 62.33 crore during their drives last year. BDR sources said they also arrested 308 smugglers during the raid. Three battalions under the BDR Commilla sector conducted raids in different areas and seized various contraband goods from January to December last year, reports UNB.

Valuables looted

SYLHET, Jan 21: Dacoits looted cash and valuables worth Tk 9.20 lakh from a house injuring four inmates, including two children, at village Fulchandipur in Biswanath Upazila early Thursday. Local people said a gang of robbers numbering 15/16 stormed into the house of Shayesta Mia at 2 AM. They took the house inmates' hostage at gunpoint and looted Tk 3.10 lakh in cash, huge gold ornaments and other valuables, reports UNB.

6 suspected robbers held

SHERPUR, Jan 21: - Six suspected robbers were arrested by police at Jhenigati Bazar in Jhenigati Upazila on Thursday afternoon. Police said the six inter-district robber gang while going to Jamalpur by a three-wheeler locally known as 'Bhotboti' after snatching valuables from Madhutila Eco Park in Nalitabari Upazila were arrested at about 5 PM. During interrogation, the arrested robbers admitted that they were the members of inter-district robber gang, reports UNB.

One dies after taking toxic food

SIRAJGANJ, Jan 21: A housewife died and three of her family members fell sick after taking toxic food at Harinathpur village in Kazipur Upazila on Wednesday. Sources said Shirin Aktehr, 21, her husband Kafi, son Shafiq and father Badu fell sick on the night after eating food that contained harmful bacteria. Shirin died after sometime while the three of her family members were admitted to Upazila Health Complex, reports UNB.

Housewife killed for dowry

CHANDPUR, Jan 21: A housewife was strangulated to death allegedly by her husband for dowry at Gojra village in Matlab North Upazila on Wednesday. Police said Qamruzzaman strangled his wife Tania Akther, 24, following an altercation over dowry at dead of night. While fleeing local people caught the killer husband and handed him over to police. Police later recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Imam training programme ends

RAJBARI, Jan 21: A four-day training programme for Imams of different mosques on human resources development concluded at local Islamic Foundation auditorium on Thursday. Some 30 Imams from four upazilas of the district took part in the training programmme, which was organised under an initiative of the Religious Affairs Ministry with the financial assistance of UNFPA. The Imams were given training on various issues like maternal health and childcare, women rights, women trafficking, dowry and early marriage, eliminating illiteracy, prevention of HIV/AIDS and social development, reports UNB.