The New Nation - Internet Edition

Toxic wastes out of yarn mills poses health hazard in Belkuchi

BSS, Sirajganj

Toxic wastes out of several yarn dyeing and processing mills, without any treatment plants, has been posing health hazards for all in Belkuchi upazila, local residents said.

The wastes, they said, were polluting environment and atmosphere, causing untold suffering to thousands of people.

But, they said, there was none to listen to or attend the complaints.

Belkuchi upazila is known for its rich weaving traditions.

The famous weavers of the area directly employ about two lakh people while indirect beneficiaries would be many times more.

To take advantage of the traditional industrial base, a good number of influential people established over 100 yarn dyeing and processing mills in different villages including Tamai, Shohagpur, Garamashi, Chala, Chandangathi and Mukundagathi without installing treatment plants or proper drainage system to protect the environment.

Untreated wastes of several toxic chemical dyes randomly released into ponds and marshes make it hazardous for human beings as well as aquatic life.

The upshot is an acute crisis of pure drinking water.

Observers said that ground water has also been contaminated for which tube-wells lift only coloured water.

Skin diseases and eye infection are common in the area while many suffer from water-borne ailments, said local people.

Mukti Khatun, 35, wife of Golam Kibria of Tamai village told BSS that she developed skin disease years back following using toxic water.

She said that drinking such contaminated water made her seven-year old child gastric.

Toxic water released by the mills, people said, adversely affected fertility of hundreds of acres of cropland, causing losses to the farmers.

Prize distribution among best teachers held in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A prize distribution function among the educationists, best teachers and caretakers under Mosque-basis child and public education programme was held at Gopalganj District Council auditorium, organised by Islamic Foundation Gopalganj district office on March 2.

S.M. Ashfaque Hussain Deputy Commissioner, Gopalganj was present as chief guest and distributed prizes among the educationist best teachers and caretakers of the different educational institutions including Madrasah in five upazilas of the Gopalganj district.

Mohammad Nurul Islam, Chief Executive Officer, Gopalganj District Council presided over the prize distribution function and addressed among others by Dr. Abdul Mannan, UNO, Gopalganj Sadar Upaila, Moulana Mohammad Anisuzzaman, Deputy Director Islamic Foundation, Gopalganj district office. Moulana Abdul Hamid, Principal, Gopalganj Alia Madrasha and Moulana Abdul Hakim Imam of toll office Jama Mosque under Gopalganj Sadar Upazila.

About 75 meritorious child educationists, best teachers ad caretakers received prizes from S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, D.C., Gopalganj.

Kishoreganj District

Bar Assoc election

held

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Annual Election of Kishoreganj District Bar Association was held at its Bhaban on Wednesday.

A new committee was formed with elected Advocate Dolon Bhowmik as President and Saiful Haque Khan (Shajon) as General Secretary respectively.

6 alleged criminals held, drug, ammunition seized in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in anti-crime drives, rounded up six suspected criminals including three drug-peddlers and seized huge ammunitions, phensidyl, ganja and smuggled goods from different areas in six northern districts on Sunday, RAB sources here said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force seized 33 rounds of bullet and arrested Mijanur Rahman alias Ronny, 21, son of late Nure Alam in this connection during a raid at Sapara area under Sadar upazila of Chapainawabganj district.

They rounded up the drug-peddlers identified as Shahabul Islam, 52, Jamil Uddin, 28, and Jahangir Alam, 30, and seized 130 bottles of phensidyl and 13.2 kilograms of ganja from their possessions during five separate drives at different places in Joypurhat, Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Rangpur districts.

Two arrested for cheating in Natore

BSS, Natore

Two cheats and alleged human traffickers were arrested for laking Taka 14 lakh from seven person sin the name of sending them abroad.

The cheats were identified as Ibrahim Hossain, of Singerdah under sadar upazila and his brother-in-law Jahangir Hossain of Chandrapur under Gurudaspur upazila in the district. Police said Ibrahim in connivance with his brother-in-law took Taka 14 lakh from seven persons in the name of sending them abroad with jobs a year ago.

When they put pressure on them to return their money as they failed to send them abroad within the promised time, Jahangir Hossain lodged an adbuction case against their creditors on Saturday.

and accordingly police arrested three persons out of the seven.

Later, the villagers assembled at Gurudaspur thana and let the police know the fact.

Police released the three persons and arrested the cheats.

Navy Chief inaugurates website of Khulna Shipyard

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam visited Khulna Shipyard Ltd (KSY) and inaugurated KSY'S own Website www.ksybn.com on Thursday last.

Navy chief expressed his satisfaction of the activities of KSY and hoped that inauguration of new web site will provide KSY a unique identification in the international arena. He also inaugurated the foundation of new barrack house for sailors and crews of Khulna Shipyard. At the end of the programme Navy Chief planted a tender tree on KSY premises, says a ISPR Press Release.

It may be mentioned that, Khulna Shipyard was handed over to Bangladesh Navy due to its huge loss and bankruptcy in 1999. Today shipyard is exposed to the international arena as a profitable organisation. It has also paid the tax of Taka 23 crore to the government during 2006-2007 and reduced its dues. Presently, Khulna Shipyard is building new ships, pontoons, foot overbridge and large machineries for various industries and organisations.

Among others, Managing Director of KSY Commodore Riaz, Commodore Commanding Khulna Commodore Razib, high civil and military officials and local elites were present on the occasion.

6 drug peddlers held: Ganja, Phensidyl seized in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Members of DB Police in separate drives held 6 drug peddlers with Phensidyl and ganja at different places of Fulchari upazila in the district on Thursday.

Sources said, acting on a tip off a team of plain clothes DB Police led by S.I Ashok Singh conducted a drive at Balashighat area of the upazila on Thursday noon and held two drug peddlers Safiqul Alam, 32, son of Abu Bakar Sarkel and Sohel Rana, 21, son of Omar Hossain, at the village of Horipur under Nababjonj upazila of Dinajpur district with a motorcycle from the spot.

According to their confessional statement, the Police also held a drug peddler Motaleb, 26, son of Kasim Uddin of Tongi Bankerghat area under Tongi upazila of Gazipur district from Syedpur Ghat area of the upazila and recovered 84 bottles of Phensidyl worth about Taka 65,000 from his possession.

A case was filed with Fulchari Thana in this connection.

Earlier, the: members: of DB Police in a drive recovered 5 kg of ganja worth about Taka 25,000 from a house of one Sekendar Ali at Bhasarpara village under Fulchari upazila on Thursday at about 10.30 AM and arrested·3 drug peddlers from the spot.

The anested are Abdul Rahman, 40, son of late Mohammad Ali, at the village of Rasulpur; Khabir Rahman, 42, son of Delwar Hossain at the village of Bhasarpara and Jahurul Haque, 28, son of Abdul Goffar, at the village of Madhya Konchipam of the upazila in the district.

A case was filed with Fulchari thana in this connection.

News briefs

Condolence meet on Bazlur Rahman held

BRAHMANBARIA, Mar 8: A condolence meeting on Sangbad editor Bazlur Rahman was held at local press club Thursday. Veteran journalist Mohammad Musa attended as chief guest while another senior journalist Mansur Kamal as special guest. Press club president Moahmmad Arzu chaired the meeting, which was attended by local newsmen. The speakers recalled the contribution of Bazlur Rahman in the field of journalism and conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved family members, reports UNB.

Alleged criminal held in Benapole

BENAPOLE, Mar 8: RAB held an alleged criminal with a home made pistol from Uttar Barapota village here Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off, the elite force raided the residence of Khokon and held him along with the firearm in the afternoon. Khokon was wanted in a number of cases, including smuggling, police said. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Son kills father in Bhola

BHOLA, Mar 8: A disgruntled son killed his father in broad daylight in Charfashion pourashava on Wednesday. Local people Asaduzzaman Dolan, 24, demanded money from his father Abdul Barek Howlader for business at noon. But on refusal Dolan became furious and hit his father with a brick on his head leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police rushed to the spot and sent the body to hospital morgue for autopsy. The killer son went into hiding after the incident. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Murderer held in Keraniganj

KERANIGANJ, Mar 8: Police arrested prime accused of a Purba Aganagar garments factory owner Helaluddin murder case on Thursday. Police said acting on secret information they arrested main accused Billal, 22, from Khejurbagh area of South Keraniganj thana in the morning. They said two weeks ago they raided the Khejurbagh area and arrested Ratan Miah alias Ratan, who was wanted in a number of murder and other criminal cases. Later, on the basis of his confessional statement they arrested Billal. Police said that after interrogation Billal confessed that he was involved in the killing of Helauddin.

Valuables looted

NARAYANGANJ, Mar 8: Dacoits stormed into a house of a businessman at Nayapara in Araihajar upazila and looted cash and other valuables injuring two people early Thursday. Local people said the gang numbering 10/12 entered into the house of businessman Kafiluddin at about 4am and looted Tk 45,000 in cash, nine tolas of gold ornaments and other valuables. They also stabbed the house inmates Rahatun, 45, and Rafiqul, 34, when they tried to resist the robbers leaving them critically injured. They were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where their conditions were stated to be critical.

Earlier, on Wednesday midnight a gang of robbers stormed into the Pankaj Jewelry at Khan Market in Araihajar upazila headquarters and took away Tk 22,000 in cash and 20 tolas of gold ornaments.

5 get life in Kurigram

Kurigram, Mar 8: A court here on Thursday convicted five people and sentenced them to life term imprisonment in a murder case. The convicts identified as Abdul Majid, his son Riajul, Omar Ali Dakat, Mohammad Ali alias Kendu Dakat and Mamud Ali Dakat were also fined Tk 10,000 each. According to the prosecution, Saifur Rahman, of East Ramkhana village in Nageswari upazila, filed a case against co-villager Abdul Majid for of cutting his tree few years ago. As Majid was subjected to harassment in the case, he allegedly hired the convicted five people to kill Saifur, reports UNB.