The New Nation - Internet Edition

Formation of automated marriage bureau to check fradulence underscored

BSS, Chittagong

Speakers at a views sharing meeting of human rights activists and marriage registrars demanded formation of central automated marriage bureau aiming at checking the various fraudulence in marriage and bringing reforms to the existing faulty marriage registration system to stop early marriage.

Chittagong Metropolitan chapter of Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) and district unit of Bangladesh Jatiya Kazi Samity (BJKS) arranged the meeting on "Role of human rights activists and marriage registrars in checking fraudulence in marriage process and stopping child marriage" held here on Monday.

Barrister Asad Abdullah, BJKS president Mohammad Fazlur Rahman, general secretary Kazi Mohammad Sarwar Alam, general secretary of BJKS, Chittagong unit, MA Hannan Zilani, BSEHR leader advocates- Syed Anowar Hossain, Abul Khayer and AHM Jashimuddin among others, took part in the discussion held at Chittagong Lawyers building with Chittagong city unit president of BSEHR, Advocate Zia Habib Ahsan in the chair.

BSEHR Metropolitan unit general secretary presented a paper focusing the existing faults in the marriage registration process and placed ways and means of checking cheating in marriage registration system as well as stopping early marriage.

Speakers at the discussion viewed that there were ample scope of applying fraudulent measures in the process of marriage registration particularly hiding some important information of bride and bridegroom by taking advantages of existing faulty registration form and process.

The meeting said the rate of child marriage has been on the increase also due to faulty registration process and the designated marriage registrars have been facing immense sufferings by the law enforcing agencies either for registering early marriage or in the incident of polygamy without taking prior permission of the first wife.

They also viewed that apart from imparting training to the marriage registrars for their skill development, the government should establish an automated central marriage bureau like as in France having all related information of marriage related information of all individuals, introduction of giving affidavit before conducting the Nikahnama by brides and bridegrooms, stopping court marriage by giving affidavit and provision of mentioning the name of mothers of both brides and bridegrooms like the names of fathers.

Ctg merchants pledge fast supply of essentials

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Merchants here in the port city recently agreed open market selling of the imported essentials by two to six weeks of issuing date of the delivery orders (DO).

Leading importers and merchants consented to do so at an urgent meeting with the Director General (DG) of the paramilitary force Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Shakil Ahmed at Bhatiari Golf Club.

Directed from the top, the BDR Chief sat together with the merchants to workout amicable strategies to control the soaring price of the essential commodities.

Importers and the merchants pledged that neither would they go for bulking of the essentials at the warehouses nor they encourage any quarter to do so for the greater interest of the public.

"Edible oil must go to the retailers from warehouse by fifteen days while the others by 45 days from the date of issuing the delivery order," the BDR Chief said.

Chairman of PHP Group Sufi Mizanur Rahman, Managing Director of S Alam Group Saiful Alam Masud, Managing Director of Masud & Brothers Abul Bashar Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of Mostafa Group of Industries Mohammad Jahir Uddin, Vice President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahbubul Alam, Managing Director of Imam Group Mohammad Ali, Chairman of Alam Group of Companies MS Alam, Sayed Sagir Ahmed, Enamul Haque and Omar Azam among others joined the meeting.

Mass awareness to prevent 'jatka' catching stressed

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Jatka conservation week-08 concluded in the district on March 16 amid much awareness among the people, particularly fishermen and fish traders on the prevention of Jatka catching and selling.

In the observance of the week, District Administration and Department of Fisheries (DOF) jointly organised the elaborate programmes that included holding of rallies, discussion meeting, documentary film display, motivational meetings, staging drama, essay competition and prize distribution. On the concluding day a discussion meeting and prize distribution was held at the conference room of District Collectorate office here on Sunday with ASM Rashedul Haque, District Fisheries Officer in the chair.

ADC Revenue Abdur Rashid addressed the meeting as chief guest on behalf of Deputy Commissioners Abu Mohammad Yousuf.

The meeting was also addressed, among others, by Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer M. Mahabubur Rahman Talukder, district correspondent of the BSS Sircar Md. Shahiduzzaman, area manager of Practical Action-Bangladesh M. Mizanur Rahman and fishermen leader Upendra Nath Das.

ADC revenue in his speech urged the fishermen and fishmongers not to catch and sell Jatka to enhance the Hilsha production in the country.

JU central mosque inaugurated

JU Correspondent

The central mosque of the Jahangirnagar University (JU) has been inaugurated on Tuesday through a formal inaugural function.

Charge d` affairs to the Kuwait Embassy to Dhaka Nayeef Al Dresh and JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Khondoker Mustahidur Rahman jointly inaugurated the mosque.

The inaugural function was followed by a brief discussion at the newly established mosque, where JU Pro VC Prof Md Moniruzzaman, Treasurer Syed Abdul Hie, Project Director Kuwait Jakat Fund Abdur Rahman Attarik and Gazi Md Johirul Islam of Kuwait, among others, spoke.

The eye-catching and magnificent mosque funded by Kuwait Government has 10,000 squire feet dimension with one doom and two minars, which adds the structured beauty to the campus.

Health fair begins in Netrakona

BSS, Netrakona

A three-day health fair jointly organized by local Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and World Vision began at Kalmakanda upazila stadium in the district on Tuesday.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aiyatullah Mojumder formally inaugurated the fair with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Goutam Chandra Paul in the chair. The inaugural function was addressed, among others, by Police Super Mohammad Sakawath Hussain, Poura Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan and Kalmakanda Press Club Secretary Faqrul Alam Kasru.

A total of 30 stalls, including herbal medicines, were set up in the fair.

Workshop on child, women reporting held at Thakurgaon

BSS, Thakurgaon

A three-day training workshop on 'children and women reporting' organised by Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) concluded at Thakurgaon Press Club on Tuesday.

Director General of the institute Md Nazrul Islam inaugurated the workshop on March 16.

Deputy Commissioner Mia Adullah Mamun spoke at the concluding session as chief guest with PIB senior trainer M Atiur Rahman in the chair.

It was addressed, among others by, Abdul Mannan, coordinator of the course, Enamul Haque, president press club and participants Rafiqul Islam and Anjuman Ara Bannya.

M Atiur Rahman, senior trainer of PIB, trainers Abdul Manan and Parvin Sultana Rabbi, Chief Reporter The Asia Post Ziaur Rahman, President Thakurgaon Bar Association Adv Abdul Halim and Civil Surgeon Dr Nurunnabi were the resource persons.

In the concluding session the chief guest distributed certificates among the participants.

A total of 27 journalists from 5 upazilas of the district took part in the workshop.

Fake fertiliser factory unearthed in Jhenidah

BSS, Jhenidah

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a raid underthed a fake fertilizer factory at Kaliganj Upazila headquarters of the district and seized 10 bags of adulterated fertiliser on Sunday.

The members of the elite force, on secret information, conducted the raid at Sugarcane cultivators Cooperative Samity's abandoned Bhaban near the MU College and unerathed the fake factory.

They also recovered fertiliser making machinery and other materials from the place.

The owner of the factory managed to escape sensing the presence of RAB personnel.

During the raid, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and OC of the thana were present.

Upazila Krishi Officer, Hafizur Rahman filed a case against Ashraful Islam Lantu, the owner of the factory.

Besides, RAB also seized huge quality of ganja worth about Taka One lakh from the Sadar Upazila's Goalpara Bus Stand and arrested one Shaheb Ali Mollah in this connection on Monday.

One killed, 20 hurt in Barisal Road Mishap

Our Correspondent, Barisal

One unidentified passenger killed at the spot and 20 other injured after their carrying bus (Dhaka-metro-ba-11-22-84) of Ivy Paribahon playing on Patuakhali-Barisal route fall into road side ditch near Bakerganj on Sunday noon.

Chehlum of Selim Al-Deen held at Sonerkhil

BSS, Feni

The chehlum of renowned dramatist Dr. Selim Al-Deen was held at his village home at Sonerkhil under Sonagazi upazila of the district on Friday.

A memorial meeting was also held on the occasion in the afternoon at Mongalkandi High School ground.

Dramatist Nasir Uddin Yusuf Bachhu, chairman of Natak and Natyalalla Department of Jahangirnagar University Ahmed Suni, elder brother of Selim Al-Deen, Brohan Uddin, journalist Nurul Karim Mojumder, Poet Mahbub Altamas and former union parishad chairman Mohammad Elias addressed the memorial meeting.

'Bashan,' a drama written by late Al-Deen was staged in the evening at Feni.

Training workshop for Ansar, VDP held in Baraigram

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

A fortnight -long training of Ansar and village Defence Party (V.D.P) began at the Chulkati School ground under Baraigram Upazila on March 16.

32 male and 32 female are taking part in this village- based basic training. This training is being held on agriculture, fishery, live-stock, sanitation, family planning etc.

3 held with gania, phensidyl in Comilla

BSS, Comilla

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three persons with ganja and phensidyl from different places of the district on Sunday night.

The arrested were identified as Mizanur Rahman,27, Delowar Hossain and Ataul Islam, 25.

RAB sources said, acting on tip-off, members of the elite force arrested Mizanur Rahman and Delowar Hossain with 500 bottles of phensidyl from Goyalganj area under Sadar Dhakkhin thana.

In another drive, they arrested Ataul Islam with 500 kg ganja in front of Hotel Time Square under Chauddagram upazila.

Body recovered from launch cabin

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Police recovered a violated dead body of a young female passenger from the cabin of M V Rajhangsa-7 plying on Dhaka Mehendiganj route and arrested one cabin boy of the launch in this connection.

The dead body was sent to Barisal SBMCH morgue for autopsy on Saturday.

Police and hospital sources said that one male passenger named Kabir Hossain boarded on the cabin-11 of the launch from Dhaka on Thursday evening with one young female passenger identifying themselves as couple.

The launch after leaving Lalkharabad station of Mehendiganj, cabin attendant found the cabin as locked from outside and later after peeping through window seen the lying body of the female passenger on the bed. Failing to awaken her launch staffs breaking the lock found the violated dead body of the female passenger, a cloth-bag, condom packet, sex-instigating tablet in the cabin.

Md. Jahangir Hossain, master of the launch, lodged a case with Mehendiganj police station after reaching final destination.