The New Nation - Internet Edition

Exploration of talents of new generations for prosperous nation underscored

BSS, Gazipur

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Monday said here the latent talents of our meritorious new generation have to be explored through providing them with proper education and training to build a prosperous nation.

"As you know, our new generation is enriched with multi- phases talents. We have to use their talents and feats to achieve the country's socio-economic development through exploring the very essential virtues like patriotism, benevolence, honesty, integrity and responsibility in them," he added.

The President said this while addressing the inaugural function of the Annual General Meeting of the 36th Council of Bangladesh Scouts at Mouchak here on Monday.

President of Bangladesh Scouts Dr Shah Mohammad Farid and Chief National Commissioner Muhammad Fazlur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohd Aminul Karim, Secretary Md Sirajul Islam and Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present.

Describing scouting as the movement for creating ideal citizen, Professor Iajuddin, who is also the Chief Scout of Bangladesh, said it is possible to expand and strengthen the movement across the country through collective efforts and proper leadership.

The President also underscored the need for spreading out the movement to the educational institutes in the rural areas side by side of the schools and colleges in the urban areas through giving the teachers and guardians proper concept of the scout movement by making it more popular and extensive.

Referring to the various activities and programmes implemented by Bangladesh Scouts including holding of the COMDECA in Cox's Bazar and relief operation in the cyclone affected areas, he said, the juvenile and youths of the country have been inspired to stand by the distressed people during the period of necessity of the country and the nation.

"The activities of the scout movement is seen at the urban schools and colleges, but it is quite limited in rural areas. I call upon the national leaders of Bangladesh Scouts to put special attention so that the scout movement would not be turned into ceremonial and urban- oriented one," he added.

Underscoring the need for involving girl students into scout movement at higher rate and undertaking steps towards increasing the quality and skill of the scouts, the President said number of total scouts in the country is still fewer in comparison to its current population.

"I came to know that the present number of scouts in the country is 10 lakh. I think it is necessary to undertake more initiatives to increase the numbers of scouts in the country, their skill and quality," he added.

He also urged all concerned to come forward with their experience, inspiration and smooth working plan to expand the activities of the scouts across the country and assured of his all out cooperation in this regard.

President Iajuddin also distributed awards among the nine persons for their great contribution to expanding and development of Bangladesh Scouts.

He also went round the cub carnival stations on the council premises.

Two sentenced to death for murder in Chittagong

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

A session court here in the port city on Monday pronounced death sentence for two first degree murderers who killed Salim Uddin Majumdar Sawpan, a trader.

Judge of divisional speedy trial tribunal Shafiqul Karim delivered the verdict at a jampacked court.

Those received the death sentence were Akter Kamal alias Akter Hamid [50] and Mofazzal Hossain Raju [39]. Both the convicts hailed from Matlab in Chandpur.

Among the convicts, Akter Kamal is in jail while Mofazzal Hossain Raju is absconding since the killing. Businessman Salim Uddin Majumdar was killed on March 5,2006. Spouse of the killed businessman Marjina akhter expressed his satisfaction over the verdict and said," I want to see the implementation of the verdict.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Kamrul Islam told the reporters that the convicts chopped the to death. He claimed that the convicts' involvement in the murder had been proved beyond doubt. The judge delivered the verdict after examining 14 witnesses.

According to the case procedures, the convicts called the businessman Sawpan and his - relative Ashraf Hossain Mishu at the residence of Akter Hamid at Nazirpul area under Double-mooring police station and chopped him inhumanly. Mishu escaped him from the attackers fleeing from the spot.

A murder case was filed with the police station on that night. Charge sheet of the case was submitted to the court on July 2, 2006 and charge was framed on September 30, 2006.

Minor girl escapes child marriage at Hatibandha

BSS, Hatibandha

A minor girl escaped from child marriage at the intervention of local UNO of Hatibandha Upazila at village Dakshin Goddimari of Lalmonirhat district on Friday.

Locals said parents on both arranged all preparations for the marriage ceremony of the girl Shohagi, 9, daughter of Shukur Ali of the village with Ariful Haque, 11, son of Moslem Uddin of nearby Singhimari village in the same upazila.

On receipt of the news, local villagers informed the matter to the UNO Lutfur Rahman. The UNO then soon rushed there with officials and local social workers and stopped the marriage. Upazila Women Affairs Officer Sobir Kumar Paul, Director of Adarsha Unnayan Sangstha Samsuzzaman Selim, journalists Elias Bosunia and Asaduzzaman Shaju, members of the police and local public representatives were present. The UNO talked to the guardians and apprised them of the illegal initiative they took and its bad impacts on both immature husband and wife.

Prices of spices fall following bumper production in northern region

BSS, Rangpur

Prices of all variety of spices started declining as there is bumper production of the spicy crops in the northern region.

Farmers are getting excellent production as harvest of the crops begins. By now, the crops are available at the local markets in plenty, officials and market sources said.

A target for producing 7,09,407 tonnes of various kinds of spicy crops from 1,48,206 hectares of land was fixed, but the farmers brought more land than the target this time in the northern region, the sources said.

Targets were fixed for production of 3,81,720 tonnes of onion from 63,620 hectares of land, 1,83,557 tonnes of garlic from 33,374 hectares, 40,410 tonnes of pepper from 26,940 hectares, 60,609 tonnes of ginger from 5,009 hectares, 35,438 tonnes of turmeric from 13,125 hectares and 7,673 tonnes of coriander from 6,138 hectares in the northern region this season.

The crops have grown very well due to favourable climate this year, officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said here today. Departments concerned and some NGOs took special steps to increase production of all varieties of the spicy crops in all 16 northern districts during the current rabi season.

DAE sources said the steps taken included motivational campaign, supply of high-yielding varieties of seeds and extending technical assistance to the growers under various programmes.

Deputy Director of the DAE, Rangpur, Kamal Shariful Alam told BSS that there are bright prospects for increasing production of all variety spicy crops further in the region if the farmers are provided with an adequate quantity of high- yielding seeds.

The DAE, the Armed Forces, the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and other organisations under the government's post flood agro- rehabilitation and other programmes distributed a huge quantity of quality seeds among the farmers this time.

Special steps were taken to encourage the farmers in increasing production of the spicy crops in their land, including homesteads, to achieve self-reliance in spices, the sources said.

Warm clothes distributed in Moulvibazar

Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

Moulvibazar Districet Adminis-tration and an organisation "Red Crescent" distributed huge warm cltohes including 790 blankets and a good amount of relief materials among the cold hit poor people of Moulvibazar under Moulvibazar district on January 26 in presence of concerned authoritys

Among them,Districet Administration gave 690 blankets Red crescent offered 10 blankets, 100 lungies, 100 sarees, 200 packets salt each containing 500 gm, 100 packets of rice each containing 500 gm, 100 packets of rice each containing 20 kg, 100 packets of pulse each containing 5 kg and 100 container of oil each containing 2 litre.

Among others, DC Moulvibazar Md. ALKamha Siddiquee, Districet Red Crescent vice Chairman Alhaj Mahmudur Rahman, Districet Red Crescent Sacratary Nurul mutakim also present .

Samabaya Bhaban being constructed violating govt rule

Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

Violating the existing government circular and without floating any formal tender as per contract rule. 2911, construction of Samabaya Bhaban is drawing nearer to final stage. It has created grave concern and suspicion among the general membrs of the Bagerhat District Co-operative Society.

A project committee has been formed fraudulently with. Abul Hossain as convener and Shah Alam as secretary. alone with three other members.

With an evil design to misappropriate public money amounting Tk. 45 lakh which was generated out of the share capital of the general co-operators, they stacted construction in July last year.

As per Co-operative rules, such deposited amount is to be transacted with the union men's decision at the general meeting of the committee members.

News Briefs

Minor girl killed in fire

COMILLA, Feb 7: A minor girl was burned to death and two other people suffered burn injuries in fire at Ponnara village in Chouddagram Upazila Monday night. Police said the fire originated from a lamp at Jafar Ahmed's house at about 9 PM and spread fast through the house, killing Jannatul Ferdous, the three-year old daughter of Jafar, on the spot. His wife Parveen and son Hasan Ahmed, 5, were also injured in the fire. Hasan was admitted to a hospital, reports UNB.

UP chairman

arrested

BARGUNA, Feb 7: Chairman of Patharghata Union Parishad was arrested on Monday for embezzling relief materials. Joint Forces led by UNO conducted operation in the union as local people complained against UP chairman Motiar Rahman Mollah for embezzling relief. Joint Forces seized some relief materials including lungi, saree and blanket worth over Tk one lakh from the UP godown and his relatives' houses and arrested Motiar Rahman from the spot. A case was filed, reports UNB.

25 shops gutted in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, Feb 7: Fire gutted 25 shops at Uttar Wapda bazar in Subarnachar upazila Monday. Fire Service sources said the fire originated from electric short circuit in a grocery of the market and soon engulfed the adjoining shops that included grocery, stationary shop and pharmacy. Fire fighters from Maijdee fire station rushed to the spot and doused the fire after one and half an hours frantic efforts. Shops owners claimed that the extent of loss could go up to Tk 50 lakh, reports UNB.

Three smugglers arrested

SAVAR, Feb 7: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in a drive, arrested three smugglers with a piece of touchstone at Kumrail area in Dhamrai Upazila Monday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-4, raided the house of Kutu Mia in the area in the morning and recovered a 1.6 kg-piece of touchstone worth about Tk 15 lakh. The elite force also arrested Khorshed Alam, 32, Anisur Rahman, 45, and Abdul Mannan, 65 from the house during the drive. A case was filed with the Dhamrai Police Station, reports UNB.

Indian powder milk seized

COMILLA, Feb 7: Bangladesh Rifles seized some 337 bags of substandard powdered milk from frontier Amangonda village in Chouddagram upazila on Tuesday morning. Acting on secret information, a special team of 33 Rifles Battalion seized the milk smuggled into the country from neighbouring India. Sensing BDR's presence, the smugglers fled the scene, reports UNB.

One sentenced to 10-yrs RI

CHITTAGONG, Feb 7: A court here Tuesday sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal arms. The convict was identified as Sharif Khan alias Babu, of Tongibari in Munshiganj districts. According to the prosecution, a police patrol team recovered a pistol from a private car at Eidgah area under Halishahar thana on the night of May 5, 2003 and arrested Babu for possessing the arms. Later, a case was filed against him, reports UNB.

Fine realised

BARISAL, Feb 7: Six mobile courts of BSTI during the drives in three districts under Barisal regions fined Taka 28,900 from 21 business establishments on Tuesday. Official sources said, three mobile courts in Barisal city, two in Pirojpur and one in Jhalakathi district towns on Tuesday fined Taka 28,000 from 21 shops for faulty balances, adulterated Ghee and other foods, reports BSS.