The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sandhya's body sent to Khulna

DU Correspondent

The body of Sandhya Rani Sarker of Dhaka University, who committed suicide by hanging herself with the ceiling fan inside her room on Tuesday, was sent to her home in Khulna district for funeral yesterday.

Begum Rokeya Hall authority is yet to find out any reason behind the occurrence but they assumed that it happened due to mental problem.

The hall authority filed a general diary with Shahbag police station in this connection and they also seized her belongings to scrutinise the matter.

Sandhya, daughter of Binoy Krishna Sarker, was a fourth year (7th semester) student of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of the university.

Despite several attempts, this correspondent could not reach Asma Jahan, acting provost of the hall, for comments as her cell phone was switched off.

Revolver seized in city

UNB, Dhaka

Police, in separate drives, arrested five alleged muggers and recovered a revolver, five bullets and 17 mobile phone sets from the city's Sutrapur area on Tuesday-Wednesday.

A team of Sutrapur Thana police raided Dhupkhola field in Gandaria at about 4am Tuesday and arrested three youths-Deen Islam, 25, Aupu, 25, and Bhutto, 24.

Police also recovered a revolver loaded with five bullets from their possession.

Earlier on Tuesday night, another team of Sutarapur Thana arrested Sohagh, 20, and Rubel, 21 from Hotel Deenar at Nawabpur Road at about 7pm and recovered 17 cell phone sets.

Police said the arrested youths are the members of an organized gang and the recovered mobile phones were snatched from different parts of the city on Pahela Baishakh (April 14).

Relief misappropriation APS of ex-minister sent to jail

UNB, Chittagong

Nurul Azim Hero, APS of former minister Abdullah Al Noman, was sent to jail hajot when he surrendered to the court yesterday in connection with relief misappropriation case.

Raiding his home at Patiya in January last year joint forces had seized five bundles of CI sheet, which were meant for relief to the poor. Police filed the case. But Azim went into hiding.

Azim today surrendered to the court of Chittagong judicial magistrate and sought for bail. Rejecting the bail petition the magistrate sent him to jail hajot.

Release of Hasina's Khaleda demanded

Staff Reporter

Student Movement against Repression, a student group of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday called for a movement to realise the seven-point demand including release of the two former Prime Ministers, Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, lifting the state of emergency and declaring the date of the national election.

The student group-led by Khomeny Ihsan made the call at a press conference held at about 12:00pm at the DU Madhur Canteen.

As convener Khomeny demanded in his written speech, to control price of the essential commodities, to protect the educational institutions from the interventions of the IMF, Word Bank and ADB.

Mahedi, Raonkul Hasan Shraban, Moinul Islam, Niloy Sarkar, Alamgir Hossian Alam, Abu Foysal Zihad, among others, were present at the conference.

Food festival 'Taste of Dhaka' begins in city

BSS, Dhaka

A three-day traditional gala food festival titled 'Taste of Dhaka' begins today at the Kalabagan playground in the city.

The Dhaka Mahanagar Samity with the help of Spellbound, an event management organisation, organised the fair for the first time as part of its programme to celebrate the 400 anniversary of the old city, President of the Samity M Sirazul Islam said at a press conference at its office here on Wednesday.

Terming Dhaka as more older than Kolkata, he said the fair would definitely present the tradition, culture and rich history of the city to the new generation in a different way. The celebration begins with a colourful procession featuring, among other things, 30 horse carriages, popularly known as tom- tom, at 9 am tomorrow from the samity office premises at Nayabazar in the city.

Nearly 60 renowned food shops of the city with traditional items, including biriani, khichuri, kebab, bakharkhani and sweets, will be available at the fair.

Besides, traditional lathi khela, recitation from 'puthi', kawali, baul and other traditional songs, music and circus will also be performed.

Vice-chairman of the samity Alhaj Abdus Salam, General Secretary Abu Horayra and director of the Spellbound M Sadekul Arefeen were also present at the press conference.

Goods worth Tk. 1.50 cr gutted in N'ganj

BSS, Narayanganj

Readymade export oriented leather products, chemical raw materials and other machinery worth of about taka one and a half crore were damaged when fire broke out in a leather industries at Rupshi Kazi Para under Rupganj Upazila on Wednesday noon.

According to Police, the fire broke out at 12-20 noon and was extinguished at 1 PM by firemen from Demra Fire Service in cooperation with workers of the industry and local people.

The tin shed semi pucca Provati Artificial Leather and Chemical Industries specialized in manufacturing leather and reeksin products for exports was caught by fire due to electric short circuit, police said.

A huge quantity of chemical raw materials, leather products and a portion of the industry building and machinery were gutted by the fire.

No one, however, was injured during the blaze, police said.

Pre-dialogue talks positive: Ariff

BSS, Dhaka

Law Adviser Hassan Ariff yesterday said the pre-dialogue talks with political parties is progressing to a "positive" direction.

"It does not appear as hard as we thought it would be," Ariff told newsmen after nearly an hour meeting with fellow advisers retired major general Ghulam Qader, Anwarul Iqbal and Hossain Zillur Rahman.

"The ice is expected to be melted easily."

Ariff said the political parties, which took part in the discussion so far, suggested the dialogue to be ended by May and "we expect to start it very soon".

Asked if they were expecting to hold talks with the mainstream faction of BNP, he said "We invited all the major political parties".

Education Adviser Hossain Zillur later said the pre-dialogue talks were now at its concluding stage while it was aimed at making the dialogue successful.

"We will apprise the chief adviser the outcomes of the talks in next few days and then fix the date for the proposed dialogue," he said.