The New Nation - Internet Edition

'Mass awareness to conserve Jatka a must’

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Jatka small Hilsha fish less than 9 inches conservation week-08 was launched in the district on March 10 aimed at creating massive awareness among the people, particularly the fishermen and the fish mongers, on the preservation of Jatka catching and selling.

An inaugural function was also held on the occasion at the auditorium of zilla Parishad of the town here on Monday noon, sources said. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abu Mohammad Yousuf presided over the function while Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Fisheries (DOF), Rajshahi division M. Shawkat Ali addressed it and inaugurated the week as chief guest. District fisheries officer ASM Rashedul Haque was the welcome speaker.

The function was also addressed, among others, by Sadar upazila fisheries officer, M. Mahbubur Rahman Talukdader, district correspondent of the BSS M Shahiduzzaman, Journalist, Abedur Rahman Swapon, district Rover Scout leader Syed Azharul Haque Lalu and fishermen leader Upendra Nath Das.

In the morning a big colourful rally led by DD of FM Shawkat Ali was also brought out from the Independence Square and ended on the premises of Zilla Parishad after parading the main roads of the town.

A large number of people from all walks of life including fishermen, fisher mongers, NGO workers, Social workers and the students participated in the rally.

DC in his speech urged the fishermen not to catch the Jatka considering the national interest of the country.

Workshop on Safety Water held in Baraigram

Our Correspodent, Baraigram

A day-long workshop on "safety water, Sanitary Latrine and Hygiene" was held under the auspices of a Non Government Organisation (NGO) BRAC and Baraigram UP at Baraigram Union Council in Baraigram Upazila on March 11.

This workshop was presided over by Abdur Razzaque Sarker, the chairman of Baraigram UP UNO Md. Saiful Alam was present as the chief guest with on special guest. Md Farhad Ali, Upazila Manager, BRAC.

Independence Day programmes in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

The district administration has chalked out elaborate programmes in celebration of the Independence Day on March 26 in a befitting manner, officials said here today. The programmes were chalked out in a meeting at the conference hall of Rangpur Collectorate with Deputy Commissioner Khondker Atiar Rahman in the chair. It was attended by officials of different government, non-government and voluntary organisations, freedom fighters, heads of the educational institutions, professionals, socio-cultural activists, leaders of the businessmen community, local elite, journalists and lawyers.

The programmes include heralding of 21 gun salutes at Rangpur Police Line ground and placing of floral wreaths at the altar of the central Shaheed Minar at zero hour and monument of martyred freedom fighters, hoisting of the national flag atop all government, semi-government, private and public buildings, educational institutions, reception to the freedom fighters with floral wreaths, screening of documentary films at different cinema halls and other places.

Nalchity Newsletter

Number of voters drops at Nalchity

Our Correspondent

The number of voters has dropped at Nalchity Upazila under Jhalakati district, according to Upazila Election Office sources. They said, a total of 99,146 voters were enrolled in the new voter list contrary to the previous record of 1,47,477, marking a decrease of 48,331, voters.

Dacoity committed

A daring dacoity was commited at Birhat village under Nalchity Upazila in Jhalakati recently.

Victim and local sources said, a gang of armed dacoits numbering about twelve stormed into the houses of Manoranjan Sheel and Subash Sheel and made all the inmates of the houses hostage on gun point.

The dacoits looted cash money and gold ornaments worth about Tk. 60 thousand and decamped with the booty without any resistance.

Woundeds were admitted into Barisal SBMCH. A case has been filed with the Nalchity Police Station in this connection.

Notorious dacoit arrested

A notorious dacoit was arrested by police at Katakhali village under Nalchity Upazila.

The arrested was identified as Maharaj (30), son of Soharab Hossen of Katalkhali village. Sources said acting on a tip-off, a police team led by SI Alamgir Hossain of Mollarhat police camp arrested Maharaj from his residence. Police said, Maharaj is an accused of several dacoity cases. He was handed over to Nalchity Police Station.

Interest-free loan distributed in Kawnia

BSS, Rangpur

Kawnia Upazila Administration distributed cheques for Taka seven lakh interest- free loans among 140 flood-hit families of Sarai Union Parishad (SUP) under the ongoing Risk Reduction Programme (RRP) of the government here on Monday.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kawnia M Zakir Hossain at a simple ceremony organised on the occasion at upazila auditorium distributed the cheques among the flood-hit distressed families, including women, as the chief guest.

The interest-free revolving loans were distributed among the victim families in the upazila to enable them achieving self-reliance through income generating activates, rebuilding their damaged houses and starting normal life.

Presided over by Sarai UP chairman Ashraful Islam, the ceremony was attended by District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Zarzis, Project Implementation Officer Narendra Nath Paul as the special guests.

Each of the beneficiary families was given a cheque for Taka 5,000 under the programme, officials said.

News briefs

5 get life-term for killing

Moulvibazar, Mar 11: A court here Tuesday sentenced five people to life term imprisonment for killing a man at Murshidabadkura village in Barolekha upazila about five years back. The court also fined the lifers-Jamaluddin, Rahimuddin, Mazmai, Saleh Ahmed and Atiq-Tk 25,000 each, in default, to suffer two years more in jail. According to the prosecution, the convicts killed Abdur Rouf with sharp weapons at Murshidabadkura when he was returning home after attending Eid jamaat on November 26, 2003, reports UNB.

27 dams constructed

Bandarban, Mar 11: Construction of 27 dams in the three hill districts are on in full swing to bring the fallow lands under irrigation and expand fish cultivation. Bangladesh agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) under its second phase of CHT Integrated Agricultural Development Project is implementing the project with an involvement of Tk 5 crore. Of the total, 13 dams are being built in Bandarban, nine in Rangamati and five in Khagrachhari district. Upon completion of the scheme, an additional 1,000-mts of crops could be produced in Bandarban district alone. Besides, 400 families can make them self-reliant using its water and rearing ducks. In last fiscal, BADC constructed 30 dams in the district involving Tk 3.5 crore, reports UNB.

3 shops gutted

Kishoreganj, Mar 11: Three shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at a bazar in Mithamoin upazila Monday midnight. Police said the blaze originated from a burning mosquito coil at about 12:15am in a shoe-shop in the market and soon engulfed two other adjacent shops. Valuables of a mosque were also damaged by the fire. Local people, hearing the hue and cry of the shop staff, rushed in and managed to put out the blaze after two hours of frantic efforts. The affected shop-owners claimed valuables worth about Tk 10 lakh were destroyed by the fire, reports UNB.

Fine realised

Kishoreganj, Mar 11: As a part of the countrywide anti adulteration drive 30 business establishments were fined Tk 1.80 lakh at Bhairab Bazar here on Monday for selling adulterated food, cheating in weight and various irregularities. A joint team of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and district administration, led by 1st Class Magistrate Md Ruhul Amin raided clinics, restaurants, stationery shops, confectioneries, bakery shops and rice depots and realized the fine. They also filed cases against those business establishments. Magistrate Ruhul Amin said the anti adulteration drive will continue in the area, reports UNB.

Four held with ganja

Comilla, Mar 11: Police and RAB, in separate drives, held four people along with 25 Kg of hemp from different areas in the district on Monday. Acting on a tip-off, RAB intercepted an auto-rickshaw at Tiprapara area in Burichang upazila at about 7:30am. They recovered 15 Kg of hemp from the possession of passengers Selim, 37, and Alamgir, 35. In another raid, a patrol team of RAB arrested Hafizulla, of Gangabari of Brahmanbaria, while roaming at Dharmapur area in the town in the afternoon. The elite force, later, recovered 8 Kg of ganja from his bag, reports UNB.

Two held with porno CDs

Sylhet, Mar 11: RAB members seized 2,000 porno CDs from some shops at the Ana Mansion in Taltala area of the city and arrested two traders on Monday. The arrested were-Bakul, 22, and Muhibur Rahman, 24. Acing on a tip-off, RAB members raided Sumi Video World, Sumi CD Centre ,SA Movie World and Balaka Audio Complex and seized the porno CDs. A case was filed in this connection, reports UNB