The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hectic preparations afoot to ensure bumper boro production in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

Hectic preparations have been going on in full swing here with combined efforts of farmers, government officials and joint forces to make sure the bumper production of boro paddy in the district during upcoming season.

Get back from frustration following poor production of just ended Aman cultivation due to persistent attack of floods, the farmers with renewed spirit have put in their full efforts in taking preparations including planting of boro seedlings for getting bumper harvest in coming season.

"I have suffered a huge loss in last Aman season as there was almost no production from the lands, I cultivated, due to successive floods. But I am hopeful of getting necessary support from the government for boro cultivation to cover the losses" Kader Meah , a farmer in Rangunia Upazila said.

He said apart from favourable weather, adequate supply of fertiliser, pesticides with affordable prices, sufficient power supply for running irrigation pumps have to be ensured to get maximum boro production.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing 2,55,676 tonnes of Boro paddy from 69,630 hectares of land under 14 upazilas in the district this season against last year's 69,000 hectares of land with 2,53,230 tonnes of production, DAE officials said .

They said farmers have already planted boro seedlings over 1000 hectares of land till to date while seedlings are to be planted over more lands for boro cultivation.

DAE, district administration, BPC, PDB and Joint Forces are constantly working closely as per chalked out plan and in line with the government directives and watching the day-to-day developments to create a conducive atmosphere for boro cultivation with a view to ensure available fertiliser, pesticides, power and diesel fuel at the doorsteps of farmers throughout the season.

Anisur Rahman, Deputy Director of DAE, Chittagong said all preparations have been completed for giving continues assistance to the farmers attaching top priority on boro cultivation.

He said, a multi-sectoral meeting held here yesterday with Divisional Commissioner, Hossain Jamil in the chair, has taken decision to monitor the boro cultivation even at union levels by engaging officials of other government departments at upazila headquarter.

HDF donates edn materials among poor students

Our Correspondent, Kushtia

The Human Development Forum (HDF) has distributed education items among 31 local needy students on January 20, in Kumarkhali Upazila under Kushtia District.

Students, selected from various educational institutions in the Upazila on the basis of their family financial status and academic talents.

Secondary level textbooks and uniforms were handed over to the students in a formal ceremony. Deputy Finance Secretary, Government of Bangladesh, Nurul Alam handed over the Education Staffs on the occasion as chief guest. TNO-Kumarkhali Thana Nuruzzaman and Chairman Kumarkhali Pouroshova Nurul Islam Ansar were also attended as special guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Secretary Nurul Alam vowed to continue the practice every year with greater expansions.

"It is our obligation to stand beside the needy families in our own localities. It will encourage them to send their children to school by sharing burdens," said the Deputy Finance Secretary.

Echoing his statement, TNO-Kumarkhali Thana Nuruzzaman has ensured all possible supports from his office in further enhancing this noble practice. He, however, asked all well-off families and individuals to join the march.

Chairman Kumarkhali Pouroshova Nurul Islam Anser also appreciated the noble effort, taken by HDF in the locality. He also has promised to support on behalf of his office.

Former Headmaster of Kumarkhali M N High School Abdul Motaleb, noted social worker Majibar Rahaman Bokul also addressed on the occasion and expressed their hearty solidarity with the HDF in their effort to promote education in the locality.

Headmaster of M N High School Shahidul Islam coordinated the entire programme and selected students for the need based donation programme.

Firewood being used in brick kilns in Satkania, Lohagara

Our Correspondent, Bandarban

About 50 brick-field in Satkania Lohagara were using wood for burning bricks. Besides that, most of the chiminis are not as long as per government rule. As a result, the neighbours of those areas suffering from various diseases. People also alleged that the using woods were coming from Bandarban Tonkaboti range, Bandarban Forest Division, Lama Forest Division and Padua Range area, Chunati Range area. The concerned Forest Officers are not taking action against them.

Road constructed voluntarily in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

With voluntary participation of the local people a kutcha road was constructed at South Polia village under Boali Union of Sadar Upazila in the district.

Sources said the construction work of the road started on January 8 and ended on January 13. The locals including the members of HEED Bangladesh Disaster Management Committee constructed the road voluntarily. Earlier, Alis Arun Majumder, Central Manager, Disaster Management Programme of HEED Bangladesh, Rafel Tusher Chatterjee, Thana Social Development Officer of the organisation motivated them to construct the road.

With the construction of the road a long standing road problem was solved.

News Briefs

Workshop on TB

PABNA, Jan 26: A day-long workshop for private medical practitioners on Identifying tuberculosis was held at the auditorium of Pabna General Hospital on Monday. The workshop was jointly organised by Lepra and Department of Health. With civil surgeon of Pabna Dr Dipak Kumar Ghosh in the chair, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Dr Nuruzzaman Haque, Dr Masudur Rahman and ABM Fazlur Rahman, reports BSS.

Arms, ammunition seized

CHITTAGONG, Jan 26: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) during separate raids recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, 30 bullets and 82 bottles of foreign liquor in different places of the city and the district on Wednesday. On a tip-off, a squad of anti-crime elite force rushed to a place in Raozan upazila and recovered the arms and ammunition, which were left there allegedly by a gang of miscreants in the early morning, a RAB press release said. Meanwhile, another RAB team seized 82 bottles of foreign liquor from the Patenga sea beach at about 8.30 AM, it said, reports BSS.

Watsan fair held in Jhenaidah

JHENAIDAH, Jan 26: A three-day-long watsan fair to mark the international sanitation year ended today at Jhenaidah Govt High Boys' School field here. Additional district deputy commissioner (revenue) M Abu Masud inaugurated the fair as the chief guest on Teusday. Traditional songs and mobile video films were played at the fair, reports BSS.

BSTI fines 7 restaurant owners

RAJSHAHI, Jan 26: A mobile court of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) fined Taka 25,500 from seven restaurants in the city on Wednesday. BSTI sources said, as part of the frequent drive against adulteration in food items and cheating consumers in weight and measurement. The mobile court led by Metropolitan Magistrate Sarwar Murshed Chowdhury conducted the drives in a number of restaurants at Saheb Bazar area under Boalia thana in the city and found seven of those guilty of selling and preserving sub-standard foods, reports BSS.

Advocacy meet held

MOULVIBAZAR, Jan 26: A district-level advocacy meeting on Children Development was held at the Circuit House here on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar M Alkama Siddiqi inaugurated the meeting as the chief guest. The meeting was organised by district Sishu Academy with the support from UNICEF. UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Jacob K Sarker was present at the meeting as special guest while additional deputy commissioner M Jahangir Kabir was in the chair, reports BSS.

One killed in Rajbari road mishap

Rajbari, Jan 26: An unidentified youth was killed in a road accident at Basontapur Bazar area on Dhaka-Khulna highway under Sadar Upazila on Tuesday night. Police said, a Faridpur-bound passenger bus knocked the youth down at Basontopur Bazar area while he was crossing the road at around 12.00 PM on Tuesday leaving him dead on the spot. A case has been filed in this connection with Rajbari Sadar thana police station, reports BSS.

Netrakona Newsletter

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

The members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Police in a joint nocturnal drive on Wednesday arrested four persons on charge of their alleged involvement in setting up a gambling den inside a Jatra-exhibition ground at Palpara area of Netrakona district town. Police and witnesses said, acting on a secret information, a team of the RAB and police forces cordoned off the opera exhibition ground and caught the four persons and recovered some gambling equipments from there.

2 held for vandalising statue of Goddess Kali

Police have so far arrested two persons on charge of their involvement in the incident of damaging an image of Goddness Kali by storming into a Kali-temple in village Kapaskatia under Durgapur Upazila of Netrakona district on last Saturday night. The arrested persons were identified as Nazrul Islam (26), son of Mafizuddin of village Dasal under the Durgapur Upazila and Sarif Mia, son of Abdul Ali of village Baraikandi under the same upazila. A case was recorded with Durgapur police station in connection with the incident on last Saturday night, police sources said adding that they have started investigation to unearth the actual motive behind the incident.

Madan Press Club election held

The biennial election of Madan Upazila Press Club in Netrakona district was held at Madan Press Club recently. A ten-member executive committee of the Press Club was elected in the election for the year 2008-09. Madan Press Club sources said, Jakir Hussain Uzzal of Dainik Dinkal and Saker Khan of Ajker Sangbad were elected President and General Secretary respectively of the executive committee for the two years term, the sources said. A three-member election commission headed by senior member of the press club Abdul Hye conducted the election, the sources added.

Theft rising alarmingly

The rate of theft incidents have registered a sharp rise in Netrakona district town during the last one month. According to unofficial sources, more than 30 stealing incidents occurred indifferent areas including Satpai, Malni road, Nagra, Ukil para, Barabazer, Masjid Quarters of the district town during the period. However, police could not recover most of the stolen goods or capture notorious thieves of the town, local people alleged.

2 rapists get life-term

Two young men were sentenced to suffer life term imprisonment by the district Child and Women Repression Prevention Tribunal Court here recently, on charge of violating a young girl at village Balukanda under Kalmakanda Upazila of Netrakona district during the year 2006. The Court also fined them with taka five thousands, in default to suffer another six years rigorious imprisonment. The Tribunal Court sources said, the two convicted persons are Ratan Mia and Liton Mia of the village Balukanda.

TSP fertilizer seized

Netrakona Police Detective branch recovered 14 bags of TSP fertiliser which was sold in black market, from the Islampur area of Netrakona district town on Wednesday evening. Police sources said, acting on a secret information, a team of plain clothed policeman of the Detective branch intercepted a tempo carrying the 14 bags of fertiliser and seized these bags. The DB police also arrested one Sapan Sarker from the spot suspecting his involvement in blackmarketing the fertiliser. Mentionable that earlier, an intelligence agency members and police recovered several dozens of blackmarketed Urea fertiliser bags from Shamganj, Parla and Challisha area under the district during the last two months.