The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to raise voice against corruption

BSS, Netrakona

A spontaneous colourful grand rally of local people against corruption was brought out in Netrakona district town under the leadership of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt. Gen. (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury.

Netrakona District Corruption Prevention Committee Organised the rally to say no to corruption.

People from all walks of life, including children of different juvenile organisations, students and teachers of all the educational institutions, workers of different non-government organisations, socio-cultural organisations and professional groups, freedom fighters, government officials and thousands of common people attended the grand rally.

The rally, brought out from local Muktarpara ground, paraded the main roads of the district town. More than 10 thousand people participated in the rally with colourful posters, festoons ad play cards. The participants chanted various slogans saying no to corruption.

Earlier, inaugurating the rally, the ACC Chairman Lt. Gen. (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said, "we have gathered here on Wednesday to raise our voice against corruption and develop our mindset to keep vigil against all sorts of corrupt practice.

Director of ACC, Dhaka Division, Major Maksudur Rahman and Deputy Director of ACC Afzalur Rahman Bhuiyan and president of Netrakona District Corruption Prevention Committee Dr. MA Hamid and other leaders of the committee were present at the inaugural function.

Later, the ACC Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury had a meeting with the members of district and Upazila level corruption prevention committees in the conference room of Netrakona circuit house on Wednesday.

Maternity allowance distributed in Naogaon

BSS, Naogaon

District Women Affairs Department distributed Taka 3,24,000 as maternity allowance among 180 poor mothers in the district on Wednesday.

Momtaj Begum, District Women Affairs Department Officer, presided over the distribution ceremony while Shefaul Karim, Deputy Commissioner of the district was present as the chief guest.

The Deputy Commissioner said a healthy mother could give birth to a healthy child. But it is not possible for poor families to take proper care to women in their pregnancy. Keeping this situation in mind, the government has decided to provided with maternity allowances among the poor expecting mothers.

UNO Abu Zubaer Hossain, director of Sonali Bank Ilias Hossain, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Vocational training begins in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A 3-day-long vocational training organised by Social Service Department (SSD) began at the training room of Gobindagonj Social Service office in the district on March 15.

The aim of the training is to develop the socio-economic conditions of the presidents of different groups formed by SSD, sources said.

UNO of the upazila Kabir Al-Asad formally inaugurated the training as chief guest and director of SSD M. Afzal Hossain was present as special guest.

Presided over by Iqbal Hossain upazila Social Service Officer, the inaugural function was also addressed, among others, by assistant commissioner (Local) M. Anowar Hossain and local press club president Zahidur Rahman Tuku.

A total at 30 persons are taking part in the training.

Month-long int'l trade fair begins in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

The menthlong International Trade Fair began here on the Raypur Police line School and College ground recently.

72 Brigade Commander Brigadiar General Abu Said was chief guest while Deputy Commissioner Khandoker Aliar Rahman as special guest.

President of Raypur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Mostafa Azad Choudhury presided over the programme organised by the RCCI.

Some 158 stalls and 10 pavilions have been seet up in the fair. Unilever Navana, Otobi Furniture and other local and international companies are participating in the fair.

Construction of Rampal sub-health centre a far cry

Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

Construction of Rampal Sub-Health Centre is still a far cry because of its land dispute. At present the sub-health centre located at the upazila head quarter is situated on the 49 decimal of land is recorded against Bagerhat Zilla Parishad Authority. Now Zilla Parishad is the owner of this land. But for a couple of years the existing sub-health centre has been removated and managed by the Health Director.

Hence and inter-departmental initiative to exchange views on thus inevitable issue is urgently meeded so that the land may be transferred to the health director. It may be mentioned here that construction of 8(eight) sub-health centres of different upazilas of Bagerhat district have been completed except Rampal upazila headquarters sub-health centre. Immediate attention of the concerned higher, authority in drawn to this public important issue for greater benefit of the locals.

News briefs

Outlawed party leader held in Natore

NATORE, Mar 22: Police arrested a regional leader of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (Lal Potaka) at Haltibeel in Naldanga upazila early Wednesday. Tipped-off, police raided a shallow machine room at the beel at about 3am and arrested Mogla Masud, local regional leader of the underground party. Naldanga thana Officer-in-Charge Ansar Ali said Masud was wanted in at least 25 murder, extortion, snatching and other criminal cases, reports UNB.

Garment worker violated in Gazipur

GAZIPUR, Mar 22: A garment worker was gang raped by miscreants near Board Mill Bazar in Kaliakoir upazila Monday night. Police said the hoodlums numbering 5/6 kidnapped the adolescent garment worker of local Aiman garments factory at gunpoint when she was returning home from her work place at about 10pm. They took her to a bush near a pineapple orchard and raped her one after another. Hearing her scream local people rushed to the spot and rescued her but the culprits managed to flee. Police arrested two youths - Barek and Jasim -suspecting their involvement with the incident, reports UNB.

Hundi trader arrested in Sunamganj

SUNAMGANJ, Mar 22: An alleged hundi trader was arrested in Laurer Gar area of Tahirpur upazila Monday afternoon. Acting on a tip-off, a patrol team of BDR 17 battalion halted Jasimuddin, 27, son of Nijamuddin of Barachhara village in the upazila, near the border outpost at about 5:30pm when he was returning home from Sylhet city. Later, searching his body BDR recovered the Indian currency. The law enforcers also seized Jasim's motorcycle and his mobile phone set. Jashim later was handed over to Tahirpur police station. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Youth receives acid burn injuries

Bogra, Mar 21: A young man was injured in an acid attack allegedly by his rival group at Langolmora village in Sherpur upazila on early Monday. Local people said assailants threw acid on Zahidul Islam, 30, as he came out of his house responding to the call of nature at about 3:30am, leaving him critically injured. Hearing his cry for help, neighboures rushed in and admitted Zahidul to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Later, he was shifted to Dhaka Acid Survivors Foundation in Dhaka, reports UNB.

One hacked to death in Bagerhat

Bagerhat, Mar 21: A young man was hacked to death by his brother at Dewtala village in Morelganj upazila on Monday. Police said Bhobasindhu Bairagi hacked his younger brother Akhil Bairagi, 18, to death following an altercation over sharing of money. The body was sent to morgue for autopsy. Police arrested Bhobasindhu from Mongla upazila after a hot chase, reports UNB.

Octogenarian man killed in road mishap

Sherpur, Mar 21: An octogenarian man was crushed under the wheels of a bus at Shimultali in Sadar upazila Monday afternoon. Police said Nabi Fakir, 85, died on the spot as the bus ran over him at about 2pm. Police could not held the bus driver as he fled the scene soon after the accident, reports UNB.