The New Nation - Internet Edition

Cultivation of IRRI-Boro facing setback due to drought in Pabna

Our Correspondent, Pabna

IRRI-Boro crops in nine upazilas of Pabna are facing setback because of a drought like situation. In many areas, cracks have appeared on fields due to lack of water.

Farmers say they are facing an unusual situation like the one in 1979 when there was no rain for several months and no humidity in the air.

Because of scorching heat and lack of rain, fields become dry within two-three days of irrigation whereas the same fields remained wet for seven-eight days after irrigation in previous years, they said.

The dry soil needs more irrigation now, which they can not afford because of high price of diesel and load shedding, farmers in many areas in Pabna told this correspondent.

Unlike in previous years, there was no rain in northern districts in October this year, they said. Showers in October increases moisture content in soil, which prevents it from becoming extremely dry and heated in summer, some experienced farmers said.

In previous years, January and February witnessed shower once or twice, but there was none so far this year, they said.

Besides, the dry spell also brings in pest attack on IRRI-Boro fields, they said.

Sources at the local meteorological office said day temperature in the area rises up to 34.5 degree Celsius since the beginning of this month. It will continue to soar if there is no rain, which is unlikely in a fortnight, they said.

There is no rain and the spy remains clear as the westerly cloud-carrying winds skip Bangladesh and go to Nepal and Bhutan, they said.

In previous years, nor'westers started from mid- February but there is no sigh yet this year, they said.

Buds of the different fruits bearing trees are also drying up in different areas of the northern districts.

Farmer Amanullah in Narayanpur village in Pabna Sadar upazila said even a slight rainfall increases moisture in soil, which keeps irrigated lands wet for 10-15 days. But now the lands dry up in two-three days after irrigation.

Abdul Hamid of Akdanta village in Atghoria upazila said his IRRI-Boro lands need frequent irrigation but he can not afford it due to high price of diesel.

Deputy Director of Pabna Agriculture Extension Department (AED) Akhtaruzzaman Afgan told New Nation that Irri-Boro in northern districts would suffer a setback if there were no rain in two weeks.

He also said more over 67,600 hectares of land cultivated this year and the Pabna farmers used diesel their two third Boro lands. But the majorities' farmers do not purchase diesel due to high price. As a result, the several thousands of Boro cultivated lands is being dried up different places in the district.

Bumper production of potato achieved in Chandpur

BSS, Chandpur

The harvesting of potato in Chandpur, one of best potato growing districts of the country, was completed recently.

Agriculture Extension Department (AED) sources said there was a bumper production of potatoes in the district this year.

About 16,000 hectares of land were brought under potato cultivation this year, which was 3,000 hectares of land higher than the targeted one.

The Agriculture Department has supplied high yielding variety of seed and other agricultural inputs to the potato growers in time. About 4,500 tonnes of potatoes were produced this year.

The farmers and potato traders are now busy in storing potatoes in different cold-storages.

But huge quantities of potatoes are left outside the cold storage due to lack of spaces in the cold storages. There are only 18 cold storages in the district, which is inadequate to accommodate the huge quantity of potatoes.

The farmers are compelled to sell their products at a lower price due to lack of storage facilities.

They urged the government to establish more cold storages in the district considering the storages of additional potatoes.

Gender equality for socio-economic development underscored

BSS, Rangpur

Women leaders here have advocated for establishing gender equality with a view to developing women leadership for changing their conditions to ensure overall and uniform socio-economic and national development.

They also said that it would not be possible to make a hunger-free, self-reliant and developed Bangladesh without ensuring emancipation of women in the mainstream national development activities side by side with the men.

The views were expressed in the fourth conference for the grassroots level women leaders of Sadar upazila, jointly organised by Grassroots Women Leaders Network (GWLN) and Nagorik Uddog at Rangpur Town Hall auditorium on Thursday.

The conference was participated by over 200 grassroots level women community leaders from Sadar upazila in the district, officials, NGO activists, elite, professionals and journalists.

Presided over by President of GWLN and eminent women leader Sanjis Ara Baten, the conference was attended by Additional District Magistrate M Faruk Hossain as the chief guest.

Deputy Director of District Women's Affairs Department Shameem Ara Begum, District Information Officer Abu Bakar Siddique, Upazila Social Service Officer Mosaddekur Rahman, noted women community leaders Marhamatun Nesa and Advocate Shameema Akhter Shirin were present as special guests.

Advocate Tazul Islam, chairman of Tapodhan, Rajendrapur and Porshuram UPs, women community leaders Aleara Begum, Anjuman Ara Begum, Romiza Begum, educationists, upazila level officials, executives of Nagorik Uddog and other organisations, addressed the conference.

The speakers appreciated the role of GWLN throughout the district including the most backward upazilas, in curbing the social curses like dowry, child marriage and repression on women and children through conducting their huge motivational and awareness building activities.

They also appreciated different initiatives taken by the GWLN in stopping dozens of child marriages, resolving dowry-related sequels and arranging a number of dowry-free marriages at proper age in the district in recent times.

Eradicating TB under DOTS pledged

BSS, Chilmari, Kurigram

Participants at an orientation course here expressed their firm commitments to bring all tuberculosis patients to direct observation treatment short course (DOTS) centres for eradicating the disease.

They said this while addressing the meeting on TB organised by the members of the DOTS committee by Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) under its social health project in Chilmari Upazila Parishad auditorium recently.

Chilmari Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sudeep Kumar Bose chaired the meeting that was attended by Assistant Manager (Health) of RDRS Badrul Alam as the chief resource person.

TB experts of RDRS Motiul Islam and Nazmul Islam, former chairman of Chilmari Upazila Parishad Shawkat Ali, Bir Bikram, President of Chilmari press club Nazmul Huda Parvez, among others, addressed it.

The RDRS experts elaborately narrated the present improving TB situation, ongoing activities and progress of controlling and eradicating TB in the upazila.

International consumers' rights day observed in B'Baria

BSS, Brahmanbaria

International Consumers' Rights Day was observed in the district on Saturday as elsewhere across the country.

Bangladesh Consumers Rights Society organised a discussion at its office here marking the day.

Syed Mohammad Afzal of Ain Sahata Kendra chaired the function.

Advocate Abdul Quiyum, Prof Jahirul Islam and Mohammad Khurshed Alam, among others, spoke.

Three 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.

News Briefs

Shops gutted in Kawnia

RANGPUR, Mar 27: Four business shops were gutted in a fire at Topikol Bazar under Kawnia Upazila here on Sunday night, police sources said.

Police and local people said the fire that erupted from a grocery shop following electric short circuit and soon engulfed three more adjoining shops worth about Taka two lakh estimated.

Fire Service and Civil Defense personnel from Rangpur Fire Service Station soon rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control, the sources said, reports BSS.

Goats distributed

KURIGRAM, March 27: Bangladesh Army has distributed goats among the destitute trained families aimed to reduce poverty on Sunday. Major Mafuzur Rahman, Deputy Commander of Kurigram Army Camp, distributed goats among 10 poor families at district livestock office premises. As a part of the programme, the army has distributed goats among the 70 families so far. Each family got two goats and providing 10-days training under the supervision of district livestock resources department, reports BSS.

Ferry service disrupted

RAJBARI, March 27: Ferry service on Daulatdia-Paturia route has been disrupted due to shortage of ferries. Sources at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said 10 ferries were plying on Daulatdia-Paturia route of but due to mechanical troubles were identified in four ferries on Sunday. About 900 vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the ferry ghat and created heavy traffic congestion, reports BSS.

8 hurt in road mishap

Mymensingh, Mar 23 (UNB) - At least eight people were injured as a truck turned turtle in Shikarikanda area on the outskirts of the town on Dhaka-Mymensing highway early Sunday. Witnesses said a Sherpur-bound truck overturned at the area at about 12:15am as the driver lost control over the steering while trying to avoid a fallen tree on the road critically injuring eight people, who were on the truck. Later, police on information, rushed to the spot and admitted six of the injured to the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, reports UNB.

Vehicles gutted

Mymensing, Mar 23: Eight three-wheeler tempos were completely gutted in a devastating fire at a car workshop at Dapunia in Sadar upazila early Sunday. Fire brigade sources said the blaze erupted at Shafi Workshop at about 12:15am and soon engulfed the entire workshop burning down eight tempos completely. Later, fire brigade on information, rushed to the spot and put out the blaze after one hour of frantic efforts with the help of local people. Fire brigade suspected that the flame might have originated from a burning cigarette butt that rapidly engulfed the workshop. The affected workshop owner put the loss from the fire at around Tk 4 lakh, reports UNB.

Crops damaged by storm

Thakurgaon, Mar 23: Standing crops on vast tracts of land were damaged due to hailstorm that swept the district Friday night. Though the actual amount of loss is yet to be estimated but local farmers said that crops on about 9000/10,000 hectares land were damaged extensively. Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sultana Parvin said Chilarong and Raipur unions are worst affected. Raipur UP chairman Nurul Islam said wheat and Boro paddy of 2000 hectares land and 50 dwelling houses were damaged in his union. Chilarong UP chairman Golam Mostafa said crops on about 4000 hectares were also damaged in his union. Official sources said standing crops on vast areas of some other upazilas were also damaged by the hailstorm, reports UNB.