The New Nation - Internet Edition

40 pc work on voter enrollment, ID cards in greater Ctg completes

BSS, Chittagong

Nearly 40 percent work on the preparation of a fresh voter list with photographs and national identity cards has been completed in five districts of greater Chittagong region- Chittagong , Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.

Official sources said the names of 27, 27,906 voters have been enrolled in the list now being prepared in the districts till January 21. The work on the project began on August 24 last year.

This performance has been achieved only in the army-assisted areas as the work on voter registration and national identity card preparation in Kutubdia, Maheshkhali ,Teknaf and Sandwip is being carried out by Bangladesh Navy.

Bangladesh Army personnel have been working closely with the local Election Commission officials in preparing an accurate voter list and introducing national identity card with digital photograph.

Work on voter registration and taking photographs have already been completed in Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Raozan, Sitakunda and Anowara upazila under Chittagong district, Bandarban Pourasabha and Sadar thana , Thanchi upazila under Bandarban district, Khagrachhari Pourasabha and Sadar thana and Mohalchhari upazila under Khagrachhari district, Rangamati Pourasabha and Sadar thana and Rajsthali upazila under Rangamati district areas.

The process in Hathazari upazila in Chittagong, Ruma upazila in Bandarban, Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari, Barkal upazila in Ragamati and Cox's Bazar Pourasabha and Sadar thana was progressing fast, the sources said.

The numbers of voters so far enrolled in CCC areas are 15,48,362, Raozan -2, 02,9 36 , Sitakunda-2, 21,605, Anowara - 1,51,072, Hathazari -1,10,942 , Bandarban Pourasabha and Sadar thana- 49,223, Thanchi-13,020, Ruma-5,888, Khagrachhari Pourasabha and Sadar thana- 63,306, Mohalchhari-15,198, Matiranga-23,530, Rangamati Pourasabha and Sadar thana-75,511, Rajsthali- 16,949, Barkal-26,392and Cox's Bazar Pourasabha and Sadar thana -2,01,036.

A total of 794 army personnel, including officers, have been involved in the voter registration and national identity card preparations work in the region.

"We are hopeful of completing the tasks within the stipulated timeframe of July next as set by the Election Commission. Because, all concerned have put in their best effort with adequate logistic supports to achieved the target and till date the progress is satisfactory" an official preferring not to be named told BSS on Wednesday.

Choppers of Bangladesh Air Force were being utilised for 79 most inaccessible remote places under 3 CHT districts to carry sufficient manpower for conducting the process and logistics like power generators, cameras and lap top computers.

" We are also optimistic of completing the voter enrollment and ID card preparation work in CHT areas within the stipulated time by facing all obstacles though the job in the CHT areas more difficult than the plain lands" the officials said.

Immediate supply of fertiliser to SIDR-hit areas underscored

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers Party, called for immediate disbursement of loan and supply of fertiliser to Sidr affected people. At the same time he called for dialogues with political parties about food crisis and economic stagnancy.

Menon, while visited to different Sidr affected areas of Uzirpur, Babuganj and Banaripara upazilas of Barisal district, addressed gatherings in Jalla and Barakotha union of Uzirpur recently and distributed reconstruction materials among the Sidr affected people.

Menon said Sidr affected people need food, employment and loan for post-Sidr rehabilitation work and resumption of economic activities. If fertiliser and agricultural loans on easy terms are not supplied to the farmers, food crisis will not come under control even after import of 20 lakh tonnes of food grains.

Pointing to the last public address of the chief advisor, Menon expressed his disagreement with the government claim of facing Sidr situation and disaster management successfully and opined that field level facts and public opinion do not support the government claims.

Government displayed lack of foresightness by abstaining from importing food after the last flood. Like the solution of political crisis, united and coordinated national efforts are needed in management of disaster and economic affairs.

So during the government proposed dialogues with the political parties, issues of solving food crisis and removing economic stagnancy as well as issues of election and democracy should be discussed, Menon opined.

Prof.Nazrul Huq Nilu, central leader, Faizul Huq Farhan, upazila secretary of WP, Afoul Islam Sujon and Samrat Majumdar, central president and upazila secretary of Chhatra Moitri, Delwar Hossain, upzila Jobo Moitri sceretary, SM Zaman, secretary and Siddikur Rahman, joint secretary of Uzirpur upazila AL and other leaders and activists accompanied Menon during his visits.

Concerted efforts must to make Boro farming programme a success

BSS, Rangpur

A meeting of the joint forces with officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here recently stressed the need for concerted efforts of all to make the ongoing Boro farming programme a success.

Presided over by Deputy Director of Rangpur DAE Kamal Shariful Alam at the conference hall of Rangpur Carmichael University College, the meeting was attended by Commanding Officer of Rangpur Army camp Lt Col Kazi Mohammad Kaiser Hossain as the chief guest.

Project Director of DAE from Khamarbari in Dhaka Abdur Rahim and Lieutenant Samimur Zaman attended the meeting as the special guests and a total of 300 officials and field level employees of DAE including all eight Upazila Agriculture Officers of the district took part in the meeting.

The meeting discussed various issues including supply of fertiliser, pesticides and other agri-inputs to the farmers, power situation and other matters and took some important decisions for achieving success in Boro farming during the current season.

To recoup the losses caused by floods in agriculture sector and to meet growing food demand, Lt Col Kaiser asked the officials and employees of the DAE to work for an all-time record bumper production of Boro paddy this year.

Six killed in separate road mishaps in dists

BSS, Narsingdi

Three persons including an infant were killed and ten others injured, four of them seriously, when a passenger bus skidded off the road in front of Narsingdi Zila Hospital in Sadar thana on Monday morning.

Two of the deceased were identified as Oliullah ,3, Abdus Salam ,45.

Police and eyewitnesses said the Kishoreganj-bound bus (Isha Kha service 32) from Dhaka met with the accident at 7.30 a.m. when the driver lost control over the vehicle.

The seriously injured Hanif, 32, Nazmul, 34, Jamaluddin, 60, and Rashida, 30, were admitted to Narsingdi Zila Hospital.

A case was registered with Sadar Thana in this connection.

Meanwhile, three persons were killed and two others injured in separate road accidents at various places in three northern districts during the past 24 hours till on Tuesday afternoon.

Police sources said, two motorcyclists were seriously injured when their speedy motorcycles collided head-on at Kawnia bus stand point on Rangpur-Kurigram highway under Kawnia upazila in Rangpur on Monday afternoon.

Kawnia police with the help of the local people rushed injured motorcyclists Zulfikar Ali, 35 and Shahin, 30, to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in critical conditions.

Bicyclist Bipul Chandra, 19, of village Dugulia in Khansama upazila of Dinajpur was killed when a Dinajpur-bound bus from Syedpur hit him at Botlagari point on the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway under Syedpur upazila in Nilphamari on Monday night.

NGO executive Abu Torab, 38, of village Ghughui in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat succumbed to his injuries at Joypurhat Hospital after being seriously injured when a brakeless Votvoti hit him at Rampura point in Joypurhat district.

Motorcyclist Shah Alam, 40, of village Dhuroil in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat was seriously inured when his motorcycle skidded off the road in his village and succumbed to his injuries at Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital on Sunday.

Separate cases were filed in these connections with the concerned police stations, the sources said.

Huge phensidyl recovered in Jessore

Our Correspondent, Jessore

Chowgacha thana police in a raid recovered 350 bottles of Indian smuggled Phensidyl from a bamboo cluster of Palua village under Chowgacha Upazila in the district on the night of last on Friday. They also arrested two persons who were carrying phensidyl.

They were identified as Shahabur and Eumus Ali of Bangladesh village under same upazila in the district.

According to Police sources, acting on secret information a contingent of police led by O.C Chowgacha raided Palua village last on Friday night at about 11 PM and after searching in a bamboo cluster, they recovered two sacks of Phensidyl.

JBCF distributes relief materials to Sidr-hit areas in Mongla

The relief materials were distributed among the Sidr victims in Mongla in venture of Japan-Bangladesh Cultural Foundation. Rice was distributed to the Sidr-affected people at Chila, Joimoni, Baiddomari, Gabbunia, Chandpai, Kanainagar, Machhmara (Housing), Narikeltola and at various Wards of Mongla.

After relief distribution in Mongla, some cash payments were also offered to the Sidr-damaged schools at Shoronkhola in Bagerhat, says a press release.

Detention of teachers is anti-Human Rights, says RUPTS

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

The Rajshahi University Progressive Teachers' Society (RUPTS) termed the detention of teachers is against Human Rights.

The RUPTS expressed it in a press conference at RU Dean's complex on Wednesday at 12 noon.

They said, for the detention of teachers and students, they are facing many kinds of problems. They are facing troubles on education and others. They also said that, Govt. should take immediate initiative to decrease campus violence and improve educational environment of the university.

They also demanded the release of all still detained students accused on August campus violence.

The former Vice-chancellor of RU Prof. Saidur Rahman Khan read out their demand in the press conference. Dr. Abdus Sobhan, Prof. Moloy Kumar Bhowmick, Prof. Abu Naser, Prof. Fayekuzzaman, Prof. Samsuddin Eliyas, Sofikunnabi Samadi, Prof. M. Mizanuddin, S.M. Abu Bakar, Rezaul Karim, Hasibul Alam Prodhan, Sujit Kumar, Prof. Jalal Uddin, among others were also present on the occasion.

Workshop on midwifery begins in Faridpur

BSS, Faridpur

A week-long workshop on midwifery has begun on the premises of the District Council Training Centre here on Monday.

The workshop has been organised by Beneficiary Friendship Forum in cooperation with Bangladesh Army. Area commander of Faridpur Army camp Lt. Colonel Selim Ahmed inaugurated the workshop as the chief guest.

Lieutenant Sahanaj Dina, Asst. Civil Surgeon Dilara Haque, Vice-Principal of Govt Yasin Collage, Abdul Tauyab and General Secretary of District Diabetic Hospital, Abdul Samad also spoke on the occasion.

A total of 60 midwives participated in the workshop.

One arrested with fake Indian currency in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (BSS) arrested a person from Chandpur area under Devhata upazila in the district on Monday and seized 11,000 fake Indian Rupee from his possession.

The arrested person was identified as Ahmad Ali, 42, of Sakhipur of Devhata upazila.

Sources said, acting on a tip-off, members of the elite force conducted a drive at Chandpur area and arrested Ahmad Ali and seized 22 fake Indian currency notes of five hundred denomination after searching his body. The arrested person was handed over to police after filing a case with Devhata Police Station.

Counterfeit note seized in Ctg

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Police in a drive at city's Nandankanan area on Wednesday arrested three frauds and recovered counterfeit notes worth Taka 85 thousand from their possession.

The arrested frauds were identified as Mohammad Kalu, 35, son of late Ausiur Rahman, Mohammad Tayub, 28, son of late Sirajul Islam and Mohammad Abu Bakar, 28, son of Rafiq Ahmed.

Police said that the arrested persons were engaged in realising money from people of simple mind pledging them making money double quickly.

Arrested persons were handed over to Kotwali Police Station and a case was filed in connection with the incident.

News briefs

Injured youth dies

SYLHET, 25: A young man, who was injured critically in an attack by his cousin Sunday, died at Sylhet Osmani Medical Collage Hospital Monday evening. The deceased was identified as Sujan, 26, of Paikergaon village in Sadar upazila. Police said Sujan locked into an altercation with his cousin Sunday afternoon following a previous enmity. At one stage his cousin hacked him indiscriminately with a sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured, reports UNB.

Robbers held in Sylhet

SYLHET, Jan 25: Police arrested three suspected dacoits while they were preparing to commit robbery at Osmaninagar in Balaganj upazila early Monday. The arrested were identified as Jamir Ali, 30, son of Bashir Mia, Mogoi, 32, son of Safdar Mia and Nazir Mia, 32, son of late Sarfat Ullah of Rokanpur village. Police said acting on a secret information they raided the area at abut 2:30 am and arrested them along with some lethal weapons. A case was filed against them. Police said they were wanted in a number of robbery cases in the upazila, reports UNB.

Pneumonia breaks out in the Netrakona

NETRAKONA, Jan 25: Pneumonia that broke out in an alarming proportion in the district affected around 2,500 children during the last three weeks due to the prevailing cold wave. Sources said the children mostly from poor families have been admitted to the district general hospital and other upazila health complexes and many of them are suffering from acute respiratory problems. The doctors apprehended that the influx of pneumonia patients might increase further if the current cold spell persists for long. Meanwhile, guardians of the patients alleged that their children are not getting required treatment due to acute shortage of necessary medicine in the hospitals, reports UNB.

2 found dead in Natore

NATORE, Jan 25: Bodies of two middle-aged men were found at a house at Bazrapur village in Bagtipara upazila Monday night. The deceased were identified as Meher Ali, 38, and Almgir, 40. Police quoting local people said Meher Ali along with his friend Alamgir went to sleep at his house at night but they were found dead in the following morning. Later, on information, police recovered their bodies and sent those to local hospital morgue for autopsy.

Minor girl killed in Thakurgaon

THAKURGAON, Jan 25: A minor girl was crushed under the wheels of a tractor at Barampur village in Haripur upazila Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Eti Parveen, 7, daughter of Jahirul Islam of the village. Witnesses said Ainul Huq, co-villager of Jahirul Islam, while cultivating land by his tractor suddenly the vehicle hit Eti sitting beside the land in the morning killing her on the spot. Later, on information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A pall of gloom descended over the area following the tragic death of the minor girl, reports UNB.

One killed in Gaibandha clash

GAIBANDHA, Jan 25: A middle aged man was killed by his neighbour in a clash over a trifling matter at Harinabari village in Palashbari upazila Monday night. The dead was identified as Jabed Ali, 44, of the village. Police said there was a longstanding dispute between Jabed and his neighbour Abdus Samd over land dispute, reports UNB.