The New Nation - Internet Edition

Vegetables farming gains popularity in N regions

BSS, Rajshahi

Vegetable farming has been gaining popularity everywhere in the northern region of the country for the last couple of years.

Side by side with the government agencies, different private organisations have undertaken special measures to ensure proper application and use of agricultural inputs in vegetable cultivation.

Official sources said, a number of companies responsible for ensuring supply of agriculture inputs are providing need-based training to their field level dealers, retailers and farmers' under the initiative.

Subsequently the trained beneficiaries are providing training to the growers. Thereby, the vegetable growers are getting adequate knowledge regarding application and use of seeds and other inputs particularly fertiliser and pesticides in their vegetable fields.

Horticulturist Dr Ittefaqul Azad told BSS that some 64,000 farmers produce vegetables on 17,000 hectares of land in the region. Of them, about 80 percent produce vegetables in commercial basis.

He said, the inputs retailers and local service providers (LSP) are playing a vital role to make the growers aware in inputs selection, its uses, proper application and cultivation.

Some private companies in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are giving training aimed at creating awareness and building capacity of the farmers, LSPs and inputs dealers and retailers to overcome their limitations.

Demonstration plots were set up in winter and summer seasons to encourage and aware the farmers about the developed varieties of seeds and their uses.

As part of setting up the demonstration plots, the programme has provision for training on cultivation method of the quality seeds for the concerned farmers so that they could play effective role to share their attained knowledge with fellow farmers.

Due to lack of appropriate knowledge the farmers use excess fertilisers and pesticides in their fields which cause increase in production costs. The environment will also face threat of pollution and harmful effects of indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

3 SBMC students beg pardon for mischievous activities

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Three students of Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College appealed to authority begging unconditional pardon for mischievous acts.

SBMC authority sources said among the punished students Saiful Islam Sohag and Sohel Mia, who were expelled for two years with fine Tk. 5000 per head, Muhinuzaman Muhin, who was expelled for one year with fine Tk. 5000, begged unconditional pardon giving bond for never repeating their mischievous acts or breaking academic discipline in future.

Dr. Aziz Rahim, principal, of the college, said that the decision of punishment was approved in the meeting of academic council and appeal of the students forwarded Wednesday to them for consideration.

The other seven punished students named Asim Kumar Ghosh, Nawshadul Islam, Sajjadul Jumma, Redwanul Islam, Asif Muhammad, Mir Saimon Kaderi and Asif Muhammad, who were fined Tk. 1-5 thousand per head and all will suffer more six months expulsion in default of depositing fined amounts.

It may be mentioned that BCL and JCD cadres jointly February 04 early hours ransacked thirty-three rooms of Islamic Chhatra Shibir supporters at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College male hostel in dispute over ragging of a Shibir supporter first year student. At least 13 students were injured, and huge personal and private properties damaged and looted in those incidents.

SMBC authority formed a five-member inquiry committee head by child specialist Dr. Zahid Hossain to investigate the matter and submit report within a week. Dr. Zahid Hossain, head of the inquiry committee, submitted the report February 11 night in a sealed envelope after examining witnesses and evidences.

SBMC academic council decided to take disciplinary actions including suspension of studentship and monetary fine against ten students after reviewing the investigation report on February 17.

Amar Ekushey observed in Gouripur

Our Correspondent, Gouripur (Mymensingh)

Amar Ekushey and International Mother language Day was observed was observed in a befitting manner in Gouripur Upazila in Mymensingh district with due solemnity on February 21 last.

The grateful nation as well as the people of Gouripur will always acknowledge its debt to language martyrs Salam, Rafique, Jabbar, Barkat, Shafiur and other illustrious sons of the soil who were killed in 1952 to establish Bengali as a state language.

The beginning of the Language Martyrs Day started at zero hours of midnight. AKM Ehasanul Haq, UNO of Gouripur Upazila placed floral wreaths on the Shahid Minar at Harun Park of the Upazila towns. Different organisations, clubs, samities, political parties and Gouripur Press Club also placed floral wreaths.

In the very early morning rallies performing chorus songs for the martyrs were brought out by different organisations which paraded through the main roads of the town and joined Gouripur Central Shaheed Minar.

In the afternoon and evening, Sacheton Nagari Samaj and other cultural organisations arranged musical soiree here in the town to celebrate this occasion.

Meanwhile, Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day was observed in the Netrakona in a befitting manner as elsewhere across the country. The programme was formally begun with placing of wreaths by Deputy Commissioner Aiyatullah Mojumder and Police Super Sakawath Hussain at Central Shahid Minar here at one minute past after the zero hour of the day.

A morning procession was brought out in the town, where all sections of people joined the rally. National flag was hoisted at half-mast atop of all the public and private buildings. While painting competition for children, recitation of the poem and cultural functions held at the local Shishu Academy.

Besides, screening of documentary films, discussions and musical soiree at different places and special Munajat seeking lasting peace of the language martyrs was held at different mosques, temples churches and other places.

Kidnapped minor boy rescued in Potnitola

BSS, Potnitola

A human trafficker was held and a minor boy was rescued from her clutches in Anantapur area of Nazipur Pourasabha under Potnitola Upazila in Naogaon on Friday.

Police sources said a Hindi and Urdu speaking woman Putuli Bala of Syedpur town in Nilphamari district tactfully packed up minor boy Nahid, 4, son of Zahidul Islam of the area inside a big bag and fled the spot speedily.

Mother of the victim boy soon noticed the incident, caught the woman and rescued her son with the help of the local people. Local people also held the woman and handed her over to Potnitola police station.

Science & Technology seminar held in CHT

BSS, Khagrachari

A two-day seminar on "Introduction and Expansion of Local Technology" ended here at Ramgarh Upazila Government High School premises on Tuesday.

Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technology organised the seminar. Deputy Commissioner Shahadat Hossain attended the function as Chief Guest while Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Waliullah presided. Principal of the Ramgarh Government College Prof. AKM Shajahan presented a key-note paper.

Bangladesh Rifle (BDR) Commanding officer Lt Col. Sharif Mohammad Abul Hossain and Bangladesh Biggyan Shilpa Parishad Scientific officer Mohammad Moshtaqur Rahman were present as special guests.

Liton Munshi, Akhter Hamid Khan, Abu Taher Khan, Dr Mohammad Selim Khan, Moshiur Rahman, Mohammad Saiful Islam and Sharier Basher spoke on the occasion.

Assistant Teacher of Ramgarh Govt High School and inventor of modern coal burner technology Mohammad Saidur Rahman presented a local made coal burner in the seminar.

Daylong workshop on bird flu held in Ghuadanga

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

A day-long workshop on bird flu was held at the office of Alamdanga Upazila Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently.

The workshop was organised by the Alamdanga Upazila Poultry Farm Owners'. Association in Chuadanga district.

Hidar Ali, president of Alamdanga Upazila Chamber of Commerce chaired the workshop while Abul Hasan Veterinary Surgeon was present at the workshop as the chief guest.

Over hundred poultry farm owners of Alamdanga took part in the workshop.

Among others Shah Hamidul Haque, Waliul Islam, Kamal Hossain Rokon Khan and Asraful Hoque spoke on the occasion.

Micro credit distributed in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Department of Women Affairs distributed mciro-credit among the poor women of Sadar Upazila in the district on Monday aiming at creating employment opportunities.

The small loan distribution function was held at the office of Women Affairs of the town with Most. Mahmuda Khatun, District Women Affairs Officer in the chair while UNO of Sadar Upazila M. Iftekhar Hossain distributed the loan as the chief guest and M. Golam Faruq, Sadar Upazila Social Service Officer, was present as special guest.

A total of Taka 8.80 lakh was distributed among 72 women. Each of the women received loan ranging from Taka 5000/- Taka 15,000/-. The loan will be utilized for small businesses like livestock rearings cattle fattening, setting up, shops rickshaw-van purchase, etc, sources said.

News Briefs

2 killed in separate incidents

SYLHET, Feb 24: Two people, including a minor boy, died in separate incidents in the district on Wednesday. Police said Shadnan, 3, son of Chunnu Miah, drowned in a pond at Khasigao village in Biswanath upazila. The boy while playing on the bank of the pond in the courtyard of their house suddenly slipped into it. Later, relatives recovered the floating body. Meanwhile, police recovered the body of a young man, who was crushed under the wheels of a train, from Mominkhola area of Dakkhin Surma upazila on the same night, reports UNB.

Shops gutted

CHITTAGONG, Feb 24: One timber godown and two shops were gutted in separate fire incidents at MA Aziz Stadium and Baluar Dighirpar in the port city early Thursday. Fire brigade sources said a fire broke out at the godown under the under construction gallery of the stadium at about 2.45 am and gutted timbers worth about Tk 4 lakh. The reason behind the fire could not be known immediately. On information fire fighters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control with the help of local people. In another incident on the same night fire gutted one paper shop of Anowar Hossain and another old plastic shop of Komol Das at Baluar Dighirpar and gutted valuables worth over Tk 1.50 lakh. On information seven fighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze at 2am, reports UNB.

Two killed in road mishap

SIRAJGANJ, Feb 24: Two people were killed and three others injured in separate road accidents here Wednesday. Police said when a truck driver, his helper and two other people were repairing the truck at Bhengri in Solonga thana on Hatikumrul-Bonpara highway a Dhaka bound bus hit them at noon, killing helper Suruj Ali, 30, on the spot and injuring three others. The injured were admitted to Sadar hospital. A case was filed. In another accident, an unidentified man was crushed under the wheels of a Rajshahi bound bus at Kacchikata on the same highway at 3pm. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

Prisoner dies

NILPHAMARI, Feb 24: An under trial prisoner of the district jail died at Sadar hospital here Wednesday. Jailer Ismail Hossain said Shawkat Ali Bain, 35, of Laxmanpur village of Sayedpur upazila and an accused of a robbery case, suddenly fell sick in the jail at 8pm with chest pain. He was rushed to the hospital where he died late at night. But family sources claimed that he was very healthy and strong and they knew nothing about his any disease, reports UNB.

Two get life in Jamalpur

JAMALPUR, Feb 24: A court here Wednesday convicted two people and awarded them life term imprisonment for killing a man in 2003. The court also fined the convicts - Nurul Farazi and Chhakku Mondol - Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer five months more RI. According to the prosecution, his rivals during a clash following a union parishad election near Goalerchar Government Primary School in Islampur upazila on February 26, 2003 beat Haji Asmat Ali to death. A case was filed against 17 people in this connection. After examining the records and witnesses, Additional District and Sessions Judge Sirajul Islam handed down the verdict acquitting 15 others.

Touchstone made statue recovered in Lalmonirhat

LALMONIRHAT, Feb 24: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members recovered a touchstone made statue from a lychee orchard at Gopal Koy village in Kaliganj upazila on Thursday. Acting on a secret information a team of RAB-5 raided the orchard of one jamaluddin of the village and recovered the one and half maunds statue in abandoned condition. None was arrested in this connection, reports UNB.