The New Nation - Internet Edition

Strengthening of local govt to establish democracy stressed

BSS, Rajarhat

Speakers at a daylong workshop at Rajarhat in Kurigram stressed the need for streng-thening and making local government institutions more effective to establish democracy at grass roots level.

They said relaxation of administrative control in the activities of Union Parishads and ensuring institutionalisation of the local government bodies are must to give democracy a firm footing.

They also underscored the need for local participatory work- plans, preparing policies and allocation of special funds for development of the local government institutions for further progress in this respect.

Local upazila administration under the assistances of the donor agencies organised the workshop at Upazila Parishad auditorium here on Friday with Rajarhat UNO Khondker M Ruhul Amin in the chair. Acting Country Representative of Water Aid M Azahar Ali, Sanitation Specialist of WFP-World Bank Santonu Lahiri and Deputy Secretary of the Local Government Division Shafikul Islam were present as the resource persons. The workshop was participated by all UP chairmen and members of the upazila, teachers, journalists, socio-cultural activists, local elite and professionals.

Call to upgrade BM College into full-fledged university

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Students of Barisal Brojo Mohon College continued their movement for the second-consecustive day on Sunday for upgrading the institution into a full-fledged public university.

They brought out a procession in the campus, blocked the roads by the campus area from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM and boycotted classes to press home their demand. Additional Police were deployed in the campus.

Eminent citizens and student leaders in the city, however, expressed difference with the students' demand, saying that they want a separate public university in Barisal, not upgrading BM College into a university.

They said this movement was initiated to destabilise the campus of the college with the aim of serving the interests of vested quarters. In response to the long-standing demand for a full-fledged public university, the alliance government declared on January 09, 2005 its decision to upgrade B M College into a full-fledged university.

However, later the decision was changed, as people of Barisal demanded a separate public university instead of upgrading the College. Accordingly the alliance government selected 50 acres of land in Defulia area in the city outskirt for the university project approved by Education Ministry, Engineering Department and University Grants Commission on May 7, 2006. Begum Khaled Zia, the then prime minister laid the foundation stone of that project on September 17, 2006 and ordered to appoint a project director for construction of 3 buildings at the cost of 7 crore Taka.

However, recent movement of upgrading Rangpur Carmichael College into a university and cancellation of the land acquisition order for the proposed university in Barisal instigated the vested quarters to start the movement. Dr. Mahfuzul Huq, chairman of UGC, expressed his ignorance of the issue. S M Wazed Ali, Deputy Director of UGC said that the concerned authorities had approved Barisal Public University Act but did not finalise the project proposal. After approval of the project proposal, funds would be sanctioned for its implementation, he added.

Magistrate A T M Mahbubul Karim, officer in charge of land acquisition of Barisal district administration, said that Tk.12 crore demanded as price for 50 acres of land in Defulia area was too high as per project cost.

So government is selecting alternative land at the cost of Tk.8 cores adjacent to BKSP project in Kashipur area of the city for smooth implementation of the project, he added.

Govt to set up 17 labs to carry out bird flu test

BSS, Chittagong

The government is contemplating setting up 17 laboratories across the country, including one in Chittagong, with the financial assistance of USAID for screening bird flu properly.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Syed Ataur Rahman disclosed this at a meeting of the stakeholders on bird flu situation and to review the precautionary measures taken so far to tackle the menace. The meeting prohibited importing of poultry birds and their eggs to and from Chittagong for the next 15 days.

Director General of Livestock Department, Sunil Chandra Bose, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner, Hossain Jamil, Deputy Commissioner, Ashraf Shamim, member secretary of Chittagong Poultry Industry Association, Rakibur Rahman Tutul and poultry farm owner, Mohammad Iqbal Dada, among others, spoke at the meeting.

UNOs, district and upazila level officials of Livestock Department and a good number of poultry farm owners participated in the meeting held at Chittagong Circuit House Conference room this morning.

Addressing the meeting, the Fisheries and Livestock Secretary said all stakeholders of the sector should come forward to supplement the government's efforts to tackle the bird flu situation and keep limit its aftermath.

Warm clothes distributed in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd and the Bangladesh Red Crescent society has distributed 2100 blankets as relief goods among the cold-hit people in five upazilas of the Gopalganj district on February 8 and 9 last.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd has distributed 600 pieces of Banlkets among the 600 families of three upazilas of Gopalganj district and Gopalganj Sadar Upazila Tungipara Upazila and Kotalipara Upazila.

The Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd has distributed 600 Pieces of blankets in three upazilas of Gopalganj district at a function at Islami Bank, Gopalganj Branche's premises on February 9.

Mohammad Zahangir Alam, Manager Islami Bank, Gopalganj Branch distributed 600 pieces blankets among 600 families of the three upazilas, Gopalganj Sadar, Kotalipara and Tungipara as chief guest and Mohammad Hossain Iqbal, 2nd Officer, Islami Bank, Gopalganj Branch and Faruk Hassan, SI of Police including elite of town were also present at the blanket distributing function.

Advocate SM Munir Lablu, General Secretary of Red Crecent Society Gopalganj unit distributed 1500 pieces of blankets among the 1500 families in five upazilas of the district on Feb. 8 and 9.

Opinion sharing meet on activities of Jagorani Chakkra held in Jessore

Our Correspondent, Jessore

A view exchange meeting on three years completion on successful programme of Jagorani Chakkra, Jessore arranged by Save the Children USAID on 2nd February was held at a local Poura Community Centre.

Jhenidah District Education Officer Md Atahar Rahman attended the meeting as chief guest while Magura PTI Super Md. Kamruzzaman Jhenaidah PTI Super Abdus Salam Sikder and Thana Education officer Jessore Sadar Rehana Sultana were present as special guests with Director USAID Education Department Save the Children M Habibur Rahman in the chair.

Executive Director of Jagornani Chakkra Foundation Jessore AK Arju was also attended the Experience Sharing meeting.

News briefs

3 killed in road mishap

PABNA, Feb 12: Three people, including a baby boy, were killed and 20 others injured when a coach plunged into a roadside ditch near Chhanda bridge on Pabna-Nagarbari highway Sunday night. Police said the Narayanganj-bound coach from Pabna tumbled down into the ditch at about 11.30 PM killing its three passengers on the spot and injuring 20. Two of the deceased were identified as Rakib, 16, and one and half-year-old Ashib while another deceased could not be identified immediately, reports UNB.

Juba League leader stabbed to death

CHITTAGONG, Feb 12: A Juba League leader was stabbed to death by the miscreants at Madanhat in Sitakunda Upazila Saturday midnight. Local people said the miscreants numbering 5/6 intercepted Juba League Sonaichhari Union Secretary Ridwan Ahmed, 36, when he reached Madanhat bazar on way home at about 12:30 AM. At one stage of a scuffle the miscreants stabbed Ridwan Ahmed indiscriminately leaving him critically injured. Local people hearing the hue and cry of the victim rescued him but he succumbed to his injuries on way to a local hospital. The reason behind the murder could not be known immediately. A case was filed, reports UNB.

One killed in Bhola road mishap

BHOLA, Feb 12: A minor boy was killed and 45 other people were injured when a bus plunged into a roadside pond at Bankerhat near Bhola-Bheduria Launchghat road here on Friday. Police said the Bheduria ghat bound bus from Sadar headquarters while giving side to a rickshaw fell into the nearby pond at 3 PM killing the minor boy Sohag, 4, on the spot. Local people rescued the injured passengers from the sunken bus. They were sent to a local hospital, reports UNB.

Blankets distributed

RAJSHAHI, Feb 12: Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) distributed blankets among the cold-stricken poor people in the city Saturday evening. Acting City Corporation Mayor Rezaun Nabi Dudu formally distributed over 600 blankets allocated from the government relief fund among the distressed people on the Nagar Bhaban premises. RCC Health Committee Chairman Moniruzzaman Sharif, Ward Commissioner Anju Ahmed, Chief executive officer Qurban Ali, secretary Emdadul Huq, deputy secretary Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal were, among others, present on the occasion, reports UNB.

35 hurt in Habiganj clash

HABIGANJ, Feb 12: At least 35 people were injured, four seriously, in a fierce clash between two groups of villagers at Naogaon village in Baniachong Upazila Saturday. Sources said the clash erupted between the two groups of villagers in the afternoon following a past enmity over taking lease of a water-body. Both the groups used lethal weapons during the clash that lasted for over an hour. The seriously injured Muzaffar Ali, 65, Malik Mia, 45, Murshed Mia, 18, and Kawser Mia, 24, were admitted to the nearby Nabiganj Upazila Health Complex while the rests were released after first aid, reports UNB.

Bodies recovered in Sylhet

SYLHET, Feb 12: Bodies of two young men were recovered in Dakkhin Surma and Biswanath Upazilas of the district on Friday. Police said local people found the body of the unidentified man, aged around 25, floating in a pond at Joinpur in Dakkhin Surma Upazila in the afternoon and informed them. Later, police recovered the body that bore marks of injury and sent it to the Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. In another incident in Biswanath Upazila, police recovered the hanging body of a young man at the upazila headquarters Friday noon. Police said local people found the body of Manik, 30, of Bajitpur village in Doarabazar Upazila of Sunamganj, hanging from a tree adjacent to the house of his master Manjur Ali of Rajnagar village in the Upazila, reports UNB.