The New Nation - Internet Edition

'Strong local govt a must to establish good governance’

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Rajshahi: Leaders of Rajshahi Divisional Union Parishad Chairmen Unity Alliance at a press conference held the hall room of Urban Health Care in the city have demanded to hold district council and upazila parishad elections before the holding of Parliament election. They also called upon the government as well as the election commission to start dialogue with various professional groups, civil societies and representatives from union levels in addition to the political parties. The press conference was attended, among others by Bazley Rizvi Al Hasan Al Manjil and Shahid Hasan Siddiqui Swapan, the President and the secretary(acting) respectively of of Rajshahi Divisional Union Parishad Unity Alliance, Matiur Rahman Tapan, Secretary General of Bangladesh Union Parishad Oikkya Jote Central Committee, UP chairmen Sajjad Hossain Mukul and Abul Kalam Azad.

The speakers in the meeting mentioned that the union parishad was an important institution of the local government that is why, to establish consensus in the national issues, the dialogue should not be limited only to the political parties rather all professional groups should be saturated in the dialogue.

They further said, to strengthen the local government, the district council and the upazila parishad elections should be held before the national parliament election.

They said, there was no alternative to a strong local government in case of establishing good governance, democracy and foundation of development at the grassroot levels. They mentioned, many local socio-economic problems can be solved through a strong local government. They also demanded to keep the local government free from the intervention of bureaucracy, local MPs and to remove discrepancy of fund of the local government.

The speakers said, the local government has been given the responsibility of conducting 10 mandatory jobs including maintaining law and order, controlling crime and smuggling, development of agriculture, fisheries, cottage industries, irrigation and communication and many other jobs but the union parishad does not have required manpower, fund or assets for performing those jobs.

The speakers hoped, the incumbent caretaker government will take positive step to bring a massive reform in the prevailing local government system and strengthen and accelerate it further.

The union parishad leaders also demanded to increase honorarium, allowance and an increased government allocation in the national development budget.

Alleged terrorist held in Jessore, arms recovered

Our Correspondent, Jessore

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-6) Jessore arrested a ganj leader of a terrorist group with a foreign-made pistol and an empty magazine from his residence on the night of 18th March. The arrested gang leader was identified as Saidur Rahman Ripon, (30) son of Badaruddin of Barandi Mollahpara in Jessore town. According to RAB-6 sources, that acting on a tip-off they raided their house and arrested Ripon while he was sleeping. Later after interrogation they handed over him to Kotwali Thana police along with the firearms. A case was lodged with the thana in this connection.

Polythene bags flood local markets in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Polythene bags have again flooded the markets in all eight upazilas in the district defying ban on its production, marketing-use and storage.

Although different types of bags including jute-made bags are available in the markets, a section of wholesale traders are supplying polythene bags in the rural markets of the district.

If a customer buys vegetables from a kitchen market, the shop owner gives him a polythene bag. Even in the medicine shop the banned item is available.

The authorities concerned are not taking any step to stop the sale of polybags.

The polythene is still being used for packing cement, fertiliser and other commodities. The government imposed a ban on use of polythene bags in the country in 2002.

Afforestation to resist disaster risk underscored

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A daylong workshop for introducing technology invented by Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) held at Barisal Caritas Auditorium on Thursday.

The 84 participants from forest officials, partners of social forestation movement, teachers and research scholars of BFRI and Patuakhali Science and Technology Institute, teachers and students of educational institutes, nursery developers, planters attending the program emphasized on disaster resistant sustainable forestation and plantation .

The program was presided over by Dr. AKM Wazih Ullah, principal research officer (forest resource) of BFRI and Manjur-e-Ilahi, deputy commissioner of Barisal as chief gust of the program inaugurated and ABM Enamul Huq, Barisal divisional forest officer (social forestation, as special guest attended the workshop.

Dr. Paramesh Nandi, divisional officer of Barisal BFRI, presented the key notepapers on process and procedures of disaster resistant social forestation in coastal areas of the country.

Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman, divisional officer of Khulna BFRI (mangrove culture) on culturing natural mangrove forestation, Dr. Md. Wahed Box, divisional officer of Chittagong, on process and procedure for rehabilitation of plantation in Sidr affected region, Dr. AKM Wazih Ullah, principal research officer (forest resource) of BFRI, on forestation management, Mrs. Khurshid Akter, divisional officer of Chittagong BFRI, on forestation development, Rafikul Haider, senior scientific officer of Chittagong BFRI, on transfer of technology invented by BFRI in different region of the country, also presented their notes.

Participants of the workshop in interactive discussion, sharing their experience and exchanging views emphasized on developing disaster resistant sustainable forestation and plantation, selecting disaster resistant variety of trees for social forestation, using saplings cultured in poly-bags instead of clay-pots, coastal forestation considering sloping of the embankment, trend of wind blow and hit of current and wave.

They said planting and using of bamboo in domestic and commercial sector like making furniture and housing, seasoning of wood by using process invented by BFRI could compete in world standard like China, Japan, Korea, and Burma.

Mehendiganj Muktijoddha Sangsad opens computer learning centre

BSS, Mehendiganj

As part of its great Independence Day celebrations, Mehendiganj unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad inaugurated a computer learning centre on the premises of its office today.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khan Nurul Amin inaugurated the centre at a gathering of freedom fighters amid much enthusiasm with the unit Commander Abdul Baten in chair.

Among others, Ajoy Kumar Basu, director operation of D.Net, veteran freedom fighters Maheb Hossain, Dr Abdus Sattar Dewan, Yusuf Chowdhury, Advocate Fazlul Haq, Abdul Alim and Sarder Arif Hossain spoke on the occasion.

The centre styled "Dalia Aziz Computer Learning Centre" was set up at the courtesy of a Bangladeshi computer engineer working in Washington State, USA.

New Jersey-based organization "Volunteers Association of Bangladesh" (VAB) is sponsoring the centre, while it would be run by D.Net (Development Research Network) Bangladesh.

The centre would provide opportunities for the promotion of computer education, training and learning in the remote corner of the country.

This is the second such centre in the country, set up by Tazin Shadid, who said similar centre would also be set up in other parts of the country.

Mehendiganj Upazila Unit of Muktijoddha Sangsad will also set up a library with rich collections of books containing ballads of the heroes of the great War of Liberation.

A discussion meeting and a colorful rally were also organized by the unit in celebration of the Independence Day.

A large number of freedom fighters, local elite and socio-cultural activists attended the functions.

News briefs

13 shops gutted in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, March 29: Thirteen shops were gutted in a devastating fire at Baradal Bazar under Ashashuni upazila of the district on Tuesday. Police and local sources said the fire originated from an electric short circuit at the electronics shop of Shamin Dhali and it soon engulfed the whole market. Owners of the shops claimed that valuables worth about Taka 12 lakh were burnt to ashes in the blaze. The gutted shops included cloth, decorator and electronic shops, reports BSS.

Heart camp inaugurated

COMILLA, March 29: A heart camp was set up on the Modern High School premises in the district on Tuesday. Heart Care Foundation organized the heart camp with a view to providing treatment among students and guardians of the school at free of cost. Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer AKM Sohel attended the inaugural function of the heart camp as the chief guest while Headmistress of the school Kohinur Begum presided over it, reports BSS.

Fake fertilizer factory unearthed

RAJSHAHI March 29: A team of the joint forces has unearthed a fake fertilizer factory at local BSCIC industrial estate in the city on Tuesday.

On a tip-off, a team of the combined forces including magistrate and the officials of BSTI conducted a sudden raid at Sawdagor Metal Products and found the fake fertilizer factory running without license and approval from any legal authority.

The team seized huge spurious fertilizers and fertilizer producing ingredients and machineries after searching the factory, reports BSS.

Tk 1.50 cr scheme being implemented in Pirojpur

Pirojpur, Mar 27 (UNB)- Works on three development schemes are progressing fast in the district involving Tk 1.51 crore. The schemes included construction of weather warning centre in Kaukhali, fire station in Swarupkati and thana complex in Mothbaria upazilas. The works are likely to be completed by the next month. Besides, Relief and Rehabilitation Department has been constructing 14 culverts in the district involving Tk 1.80 crore. Of the total, two culverts each are being constructed in Zianagar, Nazirpur, Kaukhali and Sadar upazilas and three each in Bhandaria and Mothbaria upazilas, reports UNB.

Rice distribution programme starts

Pirojpur, Mar 27- Rice distribution among 2.60 lakh Sidr-affected families of the district has started with the assistance of Saudi Government under the VGF Programme. A family will receive 15 kgs of rice for each of the months of January, February and March. Of the total, rice will be distributed among 26,118 families in Sadar, 12,695 families in Zianagar, 36,559 hectares in Nazirpur, 81,870 in Bhandaria, 16,828 families in Kaukhali, 46,912 families in Mathbaria and 39,510 families in Nesarabad upazila. Besides, 11,482 families will receive rice in Pirojpur Sadar, 8,902 families in Mathbaria and 4,150 families in Swarupkathi pourashabhas.

Heroin seized

Chapainawabganj, Mar 27 - BDR jawans seized one kilogram of heroin from Diarmanikchar frontier in Sadar upazila Tuesday night. BDR sources said two Indian smugglers entered into the Bangladesh territory along with the heroin at about 9am. Being chased by the BDR members, the smugglers run away to India leaving the packet of heroin on the border area. Later, BDR personnel seized the heroin worth about Tk 1 crore and deposited it to the battalion headquarters, reports UNB.