The New Nation - Internet Edition

Govt moves ahead in redesignation port city, says Dr Zillur

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

The government has moved much ahead in shaping the port city up to the level of the world cities, according to Adviser to the caretaker government on education and commerce Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman.

"Practical move in this regard will soon be launched after defining the actual meaning of the words - world class city - and earmarking the prerequisites for it," he said while sharing the government's action and achievements with the senior workers of the mass media.

He claimed that the issue had been raised and discussed at the recent inter-ministerial meetings with due significance and positive attitude. As part of the move, the government is to address the city's water-logging problem on priority basis.

He said that a detailed plan of action had been drafted after consulting the representatives of different public and private bodies. "You people will soon start noticing the progress," the education and commerce adviser reaffirmed.

Referring to accommodation crisis in the public schools, the adviser said that they had been expecting better coordination between the schools in the city and its outskirts so that additional teachers from the remote areas are deployed at the city schools now under teacher shortage.

"Double shifting has already been introduced at five public schools. We're on the road to enhance volume of intake," Dr. Zillur said hinting about five other schools to be brought under the scheme. He said that decentralization of educational institutions is a must to build up worthy citizens from all levels of the society.

He informed that Karnaphuli Marine Drive project had been pending simply because of internal complications. Feasibility study of the project will begin soon. Admitting the cost of living in the recent time, the adviser claimed that the government had been working hard to make the essentials affordable.

He pointed out doubling the allocation and supply of rice for open market selling. "It will go on until the essentials become affordable," he added.

1000 voluntaries deposit income tax in Ctg

More than a thousand firms and individuals in the port city has reportedly made spontaneous deposits of income tax worth approximately Taka 250 million.

It was an instance of good citizenship amid the long lasting culture of tax evasion.

The spontaneous tax payers joined a function hosted by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at the office of Commissioner of Taxes in Chittagong yesterday.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) earlier welcomed the individuals and the firms to pay income tax voluntarily marking March 30 as the deadline.

Representative of Consolidated Tea State and Sylhet Tea Company Akhter Hossain paid Taka 12.5 million while Chairman of Hotel Saint Martin Sufi Ahmed handed over a cheque of Taka 350 thousand to the members of the NBR Ahmed Ali and Khorshed Alam.

The NBR officials said that they would be friendly and flexible for the spontaneous tax payers while tough against the dodgers.

The NBR member (administration) Mohammad Ali joined the function as chief guest while commissioner of Chittagong region Romendra Chandra Bosak presided over it.

7 sentenced to life for killing housewife in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A trial court in Barisal on Sunday sentenced seven accused to life imprisonment with each fifty thousand taka fine or to suffer more three years rigorous for imprisonment in default for murdering a housewife and injuring a youth.

The sentenced seven accused were Abdus Sattar Molla, Sheikh Dulal, Sheikh Nazrul Islam, Md. Kamal Howladar, Babul Howladar, Delwar Hossain Talukdar and Noni Gopal Samaddar, and the last two remained absconding during announcing the verdict.

Md. Shahidullah, district and session judge of Barisal announced the verdict on Sunday afternoon after examining 14 witnesses and other evidences.

Prosecution story in brief was Tania, daughter of Sattar Molla of Chuaripara area under Banaripara upazila fall in love with neighboring youth Parvez Molla and got married.

The marriage was not accepted by Tania's family and the couple living separately in a house.

The agitated family members of Tania planned to kill Parvez.After becoming aware about this plan, Parvez went to his maternal uncle Abu Saleh Ahmed's house to sleep at night.

On July 7, 2000 night, a group led by Tania's father Sattar Molla attacked the house of Abu Saleh Ahmed to kill Parvez.

At that time members of the house tried to prevent attackers, but Julekha, married daughter and Parvez, nephew, of Saleh Ahmed, became severely injured by chopping of the attackers.

Neighbors coming forward to rescue the victims, sent the injured Julekha and Parvez to Banaripara upazila health complex and from there Julekha was sent to Barisal SBMCH in critical condition.

Julekha succumbed to her injuries on July 08, 2000 morning and her Father Abu Saleh Ahmed lodged a murder case in this connection against the accused with Banaripara police station on the same day.

Sub Inspector Siddikur Rahman investigating the case filed charge sheet against the aforesaid seven accused on April 15, 2001 under sections 302(34) and 307 of penal code.

Informatics Olympiad held at RU

BSS, Rajshashi

Bangladesh Informatics Olympiad-2008 of the Division held yesterday at Computer Science and Engineering Department of Rajshahi University (RU).

Bangladesh Informatics Olympiad Committee (BIOC) and Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) jointly organized the informatics Olympiad-2008, the qualifying contest for the international Olympiad in Informatics from Bangladesh.

RU Vice - Chancellor Prof. M Altaf Hossain inaugurated the ceremony as the chief guest while Pro VC Prof. Dr. Mamnunul Keramat, Dean of the Science Department Prof. Abul Hashem, Chairman of CSE department Prof. Azizur Rahman and Representative of BAS attended it as special guests.

Farhad Hasan of Rajshahi New Degree College became champion while Rajib Al Imran of the degree college and Abdullah Al Nayeem of Rajshahi Collegiate School secured second and third position.

A total of 80 students of 16 schools and colleges of Rajshshi division participated in the contest.

The students who are under 20 years were eligible for the contest. The students have to show basic skills in problem analyses, design of the algorithm needed, data structure, as well as programming and testing of their solution.

The qualified students from division will participate in the national contest to be held at Notre Dame College in Dhaka on April 11.

Phensidyl recovered from coffin in Naogaon

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Members of RAB-5, Jaipurhat camp on March 26 last evening recovered 404 bottles of Phensidyl from inside an empty coffin being carried by a microbus( Dhaka Metro Cha 11-2066) from near Maghma Bridge of Nazipur village under Patnitola thana of Naogaon district.

It may be mentioned that the phensidyl being concealed inside the empty wooden coffin which was being carried in the microbus towards Naogaon from bordering Patnitola thana.

JU VC seeks cooperation for congenial academic atmosphere

BSS, Savar

The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr. Muniruzzaman has sought cooperation of the teachers, syndicate members and officials of the university for creating a congenial academic atmosphere in the university.

Since taking over charge of the Vice-chancellor on March 25, Professor Muniruzzaman has been holding dialogues with them seeking their support and suggestion for achieving this goal. "We must keep the university free from violence and indiscipline," he said during his talks with senior teachers and senate and syndicate members of the university.

Talking to university reporters, the VC said he would give more emphasis on research activities and infrastructural development of the university. Maintenance of peaceful atmosphere on the campus would also be one of his main tasks, he said.

Two killed in separate incidents in Chittagong

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Two people were killed in two incidents in the port city and Chakaria in Cox's Bazaar hours before dawn on Monday.

First of the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. near the divisional headquarters of the Fire Service and Civil Defense on the Sheikh Mujib Road while the other at village Harbang of Chakaria in Cox's Bazaar.

The victims were identified as Abu Zafar (40), a small trader and Nurul Amin (40).

Police said Abu Zafar suffered fatal wounds when a speeding microbus knocked him down at the time crossing road. He was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital in a critical condition where doctors declared him dead.

In another incident, bandits gunned down Nurul Amin when he attempted to resist them at village Harbang at about 2:00 a.m. He was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds shortly after admission.