The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shwakat for training to bring positive change in officials' attitude

BSS, Savar

Adviser for Health and Family Welfare, and Food and Disaster Management Dr AMM Shwakat Ali said today training programmes for the government officials is important to bring positive changes in their attitudes and mindsets.

"The officials could perform their duties in an easy manner, if they use their knowledge, getting from the training programmes, and following the code of conducts," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a function at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) here, an official handout said.

BPATC organised the function to mark the completion of its 40th foundation training course for the Bangladesh Civil Service officers and to distribute the certificates.

The Adviser, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of BPATC said, people always expect that the government officials would give highest priority to the public interests during their entire service period.

He said, the officers can feel that they live at a room, made by transparent glasses and people are always observing them as they could ensure transparency in their duties.

A total of 219 officers from 198 cadres including administration, police, tax, post and agriculture have successfully completed the foundation training course.

Hasan Mortuza Masum of administration cadre stood first in the training course.

Presided over by the BPATC Rector Abu M Moniruzzaman, the function was also addressed by MDS of the centre and course adviser Ashraf Hossain and Course Director Paritosh Chandra Das.

The Adviser distributed certificate among the officers who completed the training course.

Project to enhance fish production in Chalan Beel

BSS, Rajshahi

A Taka 20.41 crore project is being implemented to enhance fish production in Chalan Beel along with restoring its fish resources.

Officials said the Department of Fisheries (DoF) is implementing the project to ensure livelihood security of the wetland people and support the government's poverty reduction efforts through sustainable aquaculture and management.

There was a time when the Beel was widely known for its immense resources for fish harvesting across the northern region. The resources are now on the verge of extinction.

According to the officials, the three-year 'Chalan Beel Fisheries Development Project' is being executed in 12 Upazilas of Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Bogra, Pabna and Sirajganj districts. The work of the project began in July last year.

Among the objectives of the projects are to increase fish production to meet nutritional requirement and to preserve fish biodiversity and restore fish habitat.

Besides improving employment and socio-economic condition of fishing communities, landless and fish farmers, the project seeks to involve the target groups with water body management and aquaculture activities and establish their rights in the developed waterbodies.

Project Director Sawkat Ali told BSS that the successful implementation the project would help attain the target of annual fish production to 400 kilograms per hectare from 200 kilograms at present.

To attain the goal, 160 hectares of ponds, canals, dried rivers and beels will be re-excavated in addition to development of fish sanctuaries on 40 hectares and floodplain on another 20 hectares of waterbodies.

Apart from this, some other need-based infrastructures like 298 pipe-culverts, 80 fish sanctuaries, 23-kilometer embankments and three fish-landing stations will be constructed.

Fish nursery will be developed on 80 hectares of waterbodies to contain the reduction of fish production. Fish eggs and fingerlings will be released for stocking and rearing in the nurseries to increase fish population and protect the native fish species, particularly the small indigenous ones, from extinction.

The officials said 14,000 beneficiaries will be organised on group basis and they will be given necessary training in fish culture and management.

They said the fish farmers would also be given microcredit ranging from Taka 5,000 to Taka 10,000 for their alternative livelihood during the project implementation period.

77 language veterans receive civic reception in Netrakona

BSS, Netrakona

Seventy seven language veterans of Netrakona district were accorded civic reception at Netrakona Central Shahid Minar premises here yesterday.

Arthanaitik O Manabik Unnayan Sangstha (AMUS), a local non-government organisation organized the reception for recalling the outstanding contribution of the Language veterans in 1952.

Professor Rafiqul Islam Vice Chancellor of university of liberal arts, Bangladesh was present at the reception as chief guest.

Chaired by president of AMUS Abdul Hannan Khan, the function was addressed, among others, by Deputy Commissioner Netrakona Aiyatullah Mojumder, Police Super Netrakona Shakawath Hussain, Chairman of Netrakona Pourashava Nazrul Islam Khan and Executive Director of AMUS Ikbal Hussain Tapu.

The Language veterans present on the occasion included former student leaders KM Fazlul Kader, Professor Jatin Sarker, Professor Fule Hussain, Fazlur Rahman Khan Azizul Haque and Shah Abdul Mutalib.

All of them were presented with crests.

Huge phensidyl seized in Jessore

BSS, Jessore

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered 719 bottles of phensidyl from a house at HMM road in the town on Tuesday.

RAB sources said, acting on secret information a RAB team raided a house of one Haji Nur Hossain and recovered the phensidyl from a toilet.

RAB seizes drugs and scrap materials

BSS, Rajshahi

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5, in anticrime drives, seized phensidyl, ganja and scrap materials from different areas in four northern districts during the last 24 hours till this afternoon, RAB sources here said.

Acting on tips-off, the elite force seized 138 bottles of phensidyl, 250 grams of ganja during the drives at different places in Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Joypurhat districts. However, none could be arrested in these connections.

They also seized 92 kilograms of copper and brass scrap materials, which were being smuggled out to India, during a sudden raid on Ghuripara area under Paba Upazila of the district in an abandoned condition. In another raid conducted at Modern More in Rangpur town, another RAB team seized 10 second-hand mobile sets in an abandoned state.

The seized goods were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases in these connections.

BRAC workshop on poverty held at Hatibandha

BSS, Hatibandha

Speakers at a workshop yesterday asked all stakeholders including Imams to play their due role for upgrading the living standard of the ultra-poor through alleviating their poverty and achieving self-reliance.

Communication Forum of BRAC under its Advocacy and Human Rights Programme organised the workshop titled 'Role of Imams in Upgrading the Life Standard of the Hardcore Poor' at Sindurna Hallroom under Hatibandha Upazila in Lalmonirhat district.

BRAC organised the workshop with a view to mobilising all stakeholders including the Imams in the process of eradicating abject poverty from the areas.

President of local Committee of Communication Forum Azizul Islam, elite and experts Asaduzzaman, Lutfar Rahman, Abdul Mannan and Aiyub Ali, addressed among others.

A total of 100 Imams, NGO activists and officials, teachers, members of the civil society, elite and professionals, took part. The speakers asked for eradicating abject poverty through combined and coordinated efforts of all stakeholders in a shorter period by mobilising and utilising all available resources including local manpower.

14 drug-peddlers nabbed in separate raids in Rajshahi, Satkhira

BSS, Rajshahi

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 10 alleged criminals including seven drug-peddlers and seized huge phensidyl and smuggled injections from different areas of four northern districts Saturday last.

RAB sources here said, acting on secret information, the elite force picked up the drug-peddlers including two females from different places of Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Rangpur and Dinajpur districts, and seized 964 bottles and five liters of loose Phensidyl.

They were identified as Abdur Rahim, 36, Anjuara Begum, 40, Shampa Khatun, 40, Idrish Ali, 36, Mozammel Haque, 35,Abdul Momin, 22, and Sayem Uddin, 26.

The elite force also arrested three alleged smugglers identified as Malek Mollah, 28, Shaheen Mondal, 32, and Abul Bashar, 25, with 448 ample of smuggled injections red-handed during a sudden raid at Eidgah road area in Joypurhat town.

The arrested persons and the seized goods were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases in these connections.

BSS Satkhira adds: Police arrested four drug peddlers and recovered 54 bottles of Phensidyl and 11 small packets of heroin from different places of the town on Sunday.

The arrested were identified as Abdul Alim, 30, village Vadiali under Kolaroa Upazila, Saiful Hossain Munna, 30, of Baliadanga village under Sadar upazila, Achhia Khatun, 30, wife of Anwarul Bari of Srikalam village under Ashashuni upazila and Saiful Islam, 32, son of Tafil Uddin of Ashashuni village in the district.

Police sources said, acting on a top-off, police raided SA Paribahan counter in the town and arrested Alim and Saiful with 54 bottles of Phensidyl.

Besides, in another drive at Srikamal village police arrested Achhia and Saiful with 11 small packets of heroin.

Separate cases were filed with concerned police stations in these connections.

National ID card distribution begins in Jaypurhat

BSS, Joypurhat

Distribution of national identity (ID) cards began in Joypurhat Municipality on Saturday.

Local joint forces commander Lt. Col. Jahidur Rahman inaugurated the distribution program at a function at the local Poura Auditorium.

Chaired by Poura Chairman Fazlur Rahman, the function was addressed, among others, by District Election Officer Saiful Islam.

The ID cards were handed over to voters of Ward-number 9.

The ID cards of other wards will be distributed in phases.

Election Office sources said the work on voter registration in the municipality will be completed by May 10.

Two snatchers held in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

Members of Chittagong Metropolitan Police here arrested two snatchers after conducting a drive in the port city on Tuesday.

The terrorist were identified as Khairul Basar,40 and Younus,20 hailed from Chokoria Upazila of the Cox's bazar district.

Police said, one Habibullah, informed to the Detective Branch Police that a group of snatchers snatched a Passport with Visa of Saudia Arabir and a ticket from his brother Mawolana Salim from GEC crossing area on Tuesday.

Police said Salim, went at Shah Amanat Market area where the snatchers detained him (Salim) and demanded Taka 30 thousand as ransom. Being informed the police raided the Saha Amanat Market area and arrested two miscreants from the spot. Police rescued Salim and recovered his Passport and ticket from their possession.

One killed in Moheshkhali gun battle

BSS, Cox's Bazar

One woman was killed and 20 others injured in a fierce gun battle between two rival terrorist groups at Kalar Maar Chhara under Moheshkhali Upazila in the district on Tuesday morning.

Police and eyewitnesses said, two groups named-Zia Group and Nur Group have been engaged in disputes over controlling the area for a long time.

The gun battle started when some terrorists belonging to Zia Group raided some houses at Pahartali village at the eastern side of Kalar Maer Chhara Bazar.

At one stage, terrorists from both sides started exchanging gunfire that lasted for two hours. Twenty one people were injured during the gun battle.

53 held on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in anti-crime drives, rounded up 53 persons on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district on Monday.

Of them 18 were picked up from different areas in the metropolis while 35 others from nine upazilas of the district.

Police also arrested a suspected drug-peddler identified as Kalam, 40, and seized 250 grams of heroin and five bottles of phensidyl during separate drives at different places in the district.

The arrested persons and the seized goods were sent to the court after recording cases in these connections.

Traffic Police lodged 35 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized two motorbikes without valid documents from different parts of the city during the time.

Youth killed by friends

BSS, Chittagong

A youth was killed allegedly by his friends in Motijarna area under Pahartali thana in the city on Sunday, police sources said.

The victim was identified as Jamal Uddin, 18, son of Abul Miah in city's Lalkhan Bazar area. Police arrested Sarwar, a friend of the victim, in connection with the killing.

The sources said some friends of Jamal called him out of his residence in Motijarna area at 10.30 PM last night. But he did not return home.

Pahartali police recovered Jamal's body from one kilometer off his residence early this morning. Nurul Islam, elder brother of the victim, filed a case, accusing some of Jamal's friends. Police suspect that previous enmity might be the reason for the killing.

Workshop on proposed police ordinance held in Gaibandha.

BSS, Gaibandha

A day-long workshop on limitation of the existing Police Act and the proposed police ordinance was held at the Circuit House here on Sunday.

Organised by the district police administration the workshop was chaired by acting Police Super Mollah Nazrul Islam while it was addressed by Chief Executive Officer of Gaibandha Zila Parishad Syed Mohammad Wazed Ali as the chief guest.

Among others, principal of Gaibandha Government College Professor Ahsan Habib, Additional District Magistrate M. Siddiqur Rahman, M. Anisuzzaman Khan Babu, Abu Bakar Siddique, Dr Abdur Rahim, Aminul Islam Golap, Mihir Ghose, principal Ramzan Ali, President of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahjada Anwarul Quadir, M. Abdus Salam, M. Faruque Ahmed and Abdur Rahman Swapan.