The New Nation - Internet Edition

BCC election yet not create sensation among city dwellers

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Although draft voter list of Barisal City Corporation already has been published and BCC election within next two months knocking, but the voters yet not sensitized and the probable candidates started silent activities for that.

Related sources said the scenario would be changed after relaxing emergency and declaring rules of conduct and schedule for the second BCC election on next April 2008.

EC offices in Barisal said that after preparing voter list, they are taking preparation for second BCC election. In this election, transparent voting box may not be used, as it yet not made.

Although voters yet remained silence but probable candidates for commissioner and mayor posts of BCC started silent propagations, said Advocate S M Iqbal and Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, president and secretary of Barisal district committee of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance(FEMA) unofficially observing pre-election activities.

Probable candidates, specially the ward commissioner candidates by attending social functions, gathering and personally contacting peoples of their localities.

They also distributing relief items, grants and donations and eagerly waiting for withdrawal or relaxation of EPR and declaration of election schedule, said FEMA officials.

As election commission thinking about non-political nature of local government elections including BCC, so we have no tension about seeking nomination from any political party, said Advocate Enayet Pir Khan, president of Nagorik Parishad and candidate in second position at first BCC Mayor election held on March 20, 2008.

Ebaidul Huq Chan, president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries, former district BNP secretary and candidate in first BCC Mayor election, said that this time two significant changes would influence the election. One is its non-partisan nature and another is anticorruption movement.

Ahsan Habib Kamal, former BCC Mayor and former city BNP secretary, expressing his willingness for contesting BCC Mayorship, hoped that voter list with photo, national identity card will prevent fake voting, and role of the candidates in developing the city would be considered in voting.

City AL president and former MP candidate Advocate Shawkat Hossain Hiron also interested about contesting BCC Mayor election and said that although local body election is always non-political by rule, but highly political in nature.

However, decision would be depend on giving backup of my party in election and accepting resignation from the party post, he added.

Sarfuddin Sentu, a prominent businessmen, already started his election activities for Mayorship by contacting with present and probable ward commissioners of BCC.

Among others Awlad Hossain Dilu, ward commissioner and present Mayor in charge of BCC, Advocate Moazzem Hossain Alal, city Jamate Islami Amir, Alamgir Hossain Alo, Mahmudul Huq Mamun, AL and BCL leaders, also interested about contesting in next BCC election.

If Mayor Majibor Rahman Sarwar, now detained in jail, is not convicted in any case before election, then he will also contest from jail for reelecting as BCC Mayor, family sources said. On other hand if Sarwar convicted and declared to be not eligible for contesting in BCC election, then Moazzem Hossain Helal would be our best choice, told a four-party alliance leader.

Day-long workshop on legal aid held in Rajbari

BSS, Rajbari

A day-long workshop on village court and arbitration was held at Rajbari Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium on Monday.

The programme was arranged by Madaripur Legal Aid Association with support from British High Commission.

Saila Ferzana, UNO of Sadar Upazila was present in the function as the chief guest while Farhana Hayat, Assistant Commissioner of land of Rajbari Sadar, Serajul Islam, officer in- charge of Rajbari thana and Abdus Samad Nayan, assistant coordinator of Madaripur Legal Aid Association was present as special guests.

The programme was also addressed, by Fazlur Rahman, project Officer Abdullah Al Mahmood Ranjan and Md Ruhul Amin, Assistant Project manager of legal aid project while it was presided over by Abdus Sattar, Executive Director of VPKA, Rajbari.

A total of 50 government officials, Union Parishad chairmen, women ward members, teachers, journalist and civil society members took part in the workshop.

Free Phaco Surgery

Renowned Phaco Surgeon of Pakistan Dr. Syed Mohammad Asif will conduct Phaco Surgery of 300 patients for 5 days from 15th March 2008. Those who are interested to have oppor-tunity are requested to enlist their names to the following address.

Lion A Badal Eye Hospital E-163 South Banashree, Eastern Housing, Goran Project, Dhaka Phone: 7293054, 0191-3590856, 01191152137, says a press .

JU inter-hall debate competition concludes

JU Correspondent

A three day-long inter hall debate competition 2008 concluded on February 20 at the central auditorium of Jahangirnagar University following a prize giving ceremony.

The Jahangirnagar Univer-sity Debate Organisation (JUDO) organised the competition with a view to increasing creativity among the students of the university.

JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman distributed prizes among the winers through a formal ceremony s the chief guest.

A total of 11 halls of the university took part in this competition.

Indian currency, phensidyl seized in C’nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

Members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in separate drives recovered one lakh Indian rupees and 1,100 bottles of phensidyl on Monday and Tuesday in Shibganj Upazila in the district.

Based on a secret information, the BDR team raided a tea stall at Binodpur market under Mona Kasha Union of Shibganj upazila on Tuesday. Noticing the presence of BDR the smugglers fled away living the aforesaid rupees.

Language hero dead

BSS, Barisal

Abul Hashem, a language hero, died at his Sadar road residence here on Monday at the age of 85.

His namaz-e-janaza was held on the Ashwini Kumar Town Hall premises after Zohr prayers here on Monday.

Later, he was buried at the Barisal Muslim Graveyard.

Acting Mayor of Barisal City Corporation Awlad Hossain Dilu and a large number of people attended the janaza.

Abul Hashem was a coordinator of greater Barisal during the Language Movement.

Annual sports of Idilpur Pilot High School held

BSS, Shariatpur

The three-day annual sports and cultural function of Idilpur Pilot High School ended on February 16.

UNO of Gosairhat M Abdullah Al Mamun was present at the closing ceremony as the chief guest, while eminent industrialist Mohammad Abul Bashar presided.

The function was addressed, among others, by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Manirul Alam, UP chairman Delwar Hossain Shikari, Officer-in-Charge of Gosairhat Thana Delwar Hossain, Education Officer Mofazzal Hossain, Nurul Amin, Sekandar Azam, Majibur Rahman Kajal, Advocate MM Ali Ahmad, Tofazzal Hossain Master and Principal Officer of Sonali Bank M Zahurul Islam.

Later, the chief guest distributed prizes among the winners of the sports and cultural competition.

News briefs

Prize giving ceremony held

JHENAIDAH, Feb 22: Prize-giving ceremony of the annual sports and cultural competition of Jhenaidah Fazor Ali Girls High School was held on the school premises on Tuesday. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) and president of the school Baitul Amin Bhuiyan was present on the occasion as the chief guest while Headmaster of the School Nadira Akhtar chaired it. The chief guest distributed prizes among the winners in the sports and cultural competition, reports BSS.

48 persons held in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Feb 22: Police, in anti-crime drives, arrested 48 people including listed terrorists, convicted persons, and alleged criminals from different areas of the town and upazilas of the district. Police Super AKM Shahidur Rahman told BSS that the special drive was launched on February 5 aimed to nab terrorists, extremists, illegal arms holders and JMB members and to recover different kinds of drugs. Check posts were also set up in different places in the town to search transports to arrest the culprits, reports BSS.

Fugitive convict held

BRAHMANBARIA, Feb 22: Police arrested an absconding convict at Puniaot area in the town on Monday. The arrested person was identified as Amin,40 of Nayonpur area in the town. He was accused in several dacoity cases, police said, reports BSS.

Motorcyclist killed

NOAKHALI, Feb 22: A motorcyclist was killed in a road accident at Mannan Nagor on Sonapur-Ramgoti road under Sadar Upazila in the district on Tuesday. The dead was identified as Tajul Islam,30, of village Mannan Nagor. The accident occurred when a passengers bus hit the bicycle of Tajul Islam. He died on the spot, reports BSS.

25 injured in Madaripur road accident

MADARIPUR, Feb 22: At least twenty-five persons were injured, two of them critically, at Sakharpar crossing under Sadar Upazila in the district on Monday. Police said, the accident took place when a Tekerhat bound passenger bus from Srinadi lost control over the steering and skidded off the road. Two of the injured were admitted to Madaripur Sadar Hospital, reports BSS.

36 sacks of rice recovered

MADARIPUR, Feb 22: Police recovered 36 sacks of rice meant for relief from Gopalganj village under Rajoir Upazila in the district on Sunday. Police said, acting on a tip-off, a team of Rajoir thana police raided the houses of Vabatosh Sarker and Natbar Sarker and recovered the rice. UNO of the Upazila Moshiur Rahman was present during the drive. A case was filed with Rajoir Thana in this connection, reports BSS.

Blankets distributed

GAIBANDHA, Feb 22: Blankets were distributed among the physically disabled persons of Sadullapur Upazila in the district on Sunday. Sadullapur Upazila administration in cooperation with the Dhaka Club distributed 200 blankets among them. UNO of Sadullapur M. Farid Uddin Ahmed distributed the blankets on the premises of Upazila Parishad as the chief guest, reports BSS.

Drug peddlers arrested

JOYPURHAT, Feb 22: Police arrested nine alleged anti- social elements including three drug- peddlers and seized 64 bottles of phensidyl from different places in the district on Friday night. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Panchbibi Thana Police conducted a sudden drive at the bus stand area under Panchbibi Upazila and arrested drug peddler Ripon, 42, of village Durgapur under Kalai Upazila in the district and seized 54 bottles of phensidyl from his possession. In another drive, police conducted a bus and arrested Siddikur Rahman, 30, and Azizur Rahman, 28, with 10 bottles of phensidyl from their possession, reports BSS.