The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bumper production of mango expected in Rajshahi

UNB, Rajshahi

A bumper production of mango is expected in four districts of Rajshahi region this season. These districts are Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore. Ninety percent of the mango trees have started to produce buds in these districts and highest production is expected this season if weather remains favorable for the delicious fruit, Dr Mohsin Ali of Bangladesh Agricultural Resource Institute said. Sources said the mango trees are in full blossom with the flowers open in the districts due to proper nurturing of the trees, proportionate application of insecticides and above all favorable climate.

According to a survey carried out by Agriculture Extension Department in 2006, some 255,551 tons of mangos are produced each year on 23,685 hectares of land in the four districts.

Among the districts, Chapainawabganj is famous for mango in terms of taste, variety and production.

Chapainawabganj also is known as 'mango capital of Bangladesh'. Bagha upazila of Rajshahi is also famous for large number of mango orchards and the people of the upazila are mostly dependent of mango production, the sources said.

Call to disseminate knowledge thru' information technology

Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

With a view to disseminating knowledge through information technology, a two-day-long annual knowledge fair ended here at Sreefaltala Pilot High School premises, in Rampal, District Bagerhat, which was inaugurated by the ex-adviser to caretaker government and career bureauerat Muyeed Chowdhury, while Professor Mahmoodul Hoque -a renowned artist of Dhaka University adorned the chair as special guest.

Masumoor Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Rampal chaired the occasion. More than 150 organisations took part including 60 school & colleges, teading clubs and local and National NGOs. Our village (Amader gram) -an organisation having a difference, operating its activity on ICT, research work and creating awareness regarding breast cancer and its remedy and also affording treatment. The total programme was facilitated by Mr Reza Selim, Executive Director. AMADER GRAM.

Various items were displayed on information technology and there was arrangement for wider competition on knowledge affairs, viz, quiz, recilation, drawing.

A good number of students participated in the programme, people from remote carners of the villages of Rayal, Mongla, Fakirhat adjoining areas rushed to the fair and had maximum pleasure out of this unique presentation.

Besides, thousands of dev. workers, youths common people including religious leaders and mediamen derived serene inspiration and widened their outlook and vowed building sound mental make-up for better life.

Navy Chief visits voter registration programme in Khulna

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam inspected the progress of 'Operation Nobojatra' National Identity Card and Voter Registration project at Rupsha Bridge Complex in Khulna on Wednesday, says an ISPR press release.

Navy Chief expressed his satisfaction on the progress of the project and urged all concerned to devote their best efforts, honestly, integrity and dedication to complete the project within the stipulated span of time successfully.

Mentionable, Bangladesh Navy started Operation Nobojatra since 9th Dec 2007 in the coastal region of Bangladesh and successfully continuing the project in 21 coastal areas. Among others, Commodore Commanding Khulna, local elites and high civil and military officers were present on the occasion.

10 shops gutted in Kishoregonj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Fire gutted ten shops and a microbus at Katiadi Bazar in Kishoreganj district here on Sunday noon.

Local Fire Brigade sources said the fire originated from a tea stall and soon engulfed the adjoining ten shops and a microbus kept standing near shops. On information, Firebrigide from Kishoreganj town rushed to the spot and doused the fire after two hours of frantic efforts with the help of local people.

Shop owner claimed that the extent of loss from the fire could go up to Taka 65 lakh.

Annual sports competition held in Gazipur

Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Annual sports and cultural function of Umeda Begum Girls High School in Gazipur was ended on Wednesday.

Commisioner of Gazipur Pourasova, Hasan Ajmal Bhuiyan was speaking as chief guest at the function chaired by founder of the Institution, Prof Nurul Hoque. He hoped that Umeda Begum Girls High School will be the best educational instition in near future.

He called upon all teachers, guardians and students to be dedicated social workers for the greater interest of the people and the country.

It was addressed as special guest. Shahana Jesmin, Ahmed Al-Aktar and Head Mistress Lutfunnahar Begum. After discussion, chief guest distributed prizes among the winners of the sports. A cultural function was held.

News Briefs

One get life for killing wife

Jessore Mar 6: A court here Wednesday convicted a man and awarded him life term imprisonment for killing his wife. The court also fined the convict, Mokbul Hossain, Tk 5,000. He hailed from Magura district. According to the prosecution, Mokbul Hossain, who was residing at Barandipara in the town here, strangulated his wife Sikha to death following a brawl over a trifling matter on May 28, 1995. A case was filed and police later arrested the killer Mokbul. After examining the records and witnesses, Additional District and Sessions Judge SM Aminul Islam handed down the verdict, reports UNB.

Book fair in Sylhet

Sylhet Mar 6: A weeklong book fair will begin on the premises of Srihatta Sangskritik College at Mirermaidan in the city on Saturday. Sylhet Cultural Foundation will organise the fair with GrameenPhone as the sponsor. Anya Prakash, Mawla Brothers, Oitijya Prakashani, Utsa Prakash, Somoy Prakashani, Agami Prakashani will participate in the fair. Poet Dilwar, who received Ekushey Padak, will inaugurate the fair. During the fair, seven eminent personalities will also be given awards for their contribution in Language Movement and Liberation War. The fair will remain open from 3pm to 8pm daily, reports UNB.

Schoolboy stabbed to death in Habiganj

Habiganj Mar 6: A schoolboy was killed following past enmity at Rarishal village in Lakhai upazila Wednesday. Local people said some miscreants called Ziaur Rahman, 15, a student of class X, out of his house in the morning. They took him to a solitary place and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him seriously injured. He died on way to Sadar hospital. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Indian clothes seized

Comilla Mar 6: BDR jawans, in separate drives, seized Indian cloths worth about Tk 1.40 crore from Burichang upazila here Wednesday. BDR members raided Kabila and Suagazi areas and seized Indian saree, three pieces and other valuable cloths. The seized goods were deposited to customs office. None was arrested. In Sylhet, BDR members seized a cloth-laden truck worth about Tk 50 lakh from the border of Goainghat uapzila Tuesday. BDR sources said they raided Samad area and seized the cloth-laden truck, reports UNB.

One get 10-yr RI for posiessing forged notes

Barisal Mar 6: A court here on Wednesday sentenced a man to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for possessing fake notes. The court also fined the convict Kalu Sardar Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer two years RI more. The convict was present in the dock during the verdict. According to the prosecution, Kalu Sardar, after purchasing grocery items from a shop, gave a note of Tk 500 to shopkeeper Akteruddin at Madhavpasha bazar in Babuganj upazila on July 27, 2006 but Akter detected the note as fake soon and informed police. After searching his body, police found more fake notes of Tk 500, Tk 100 and Tk 50 denominations. Sub Inspector Musharraf Hossain, after investigation, submitted charge sheet against him on September 30, 2006. After examining six witnesses and records, Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Kazi Joynul Abedin handed down the verdict, reports UNB.