The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pahela Baishakh celebrated amid festivities in Rangpur, Joypurhat

BSS, Rangpur

The northern region including greater Rangpur wore festive looks as thousands of people spontaneously joined traditional Pahela Baishakh celebrations through various programmes on Monday.

Thousands of children, adolescents, youths, men, women and activists of the socio-cultural, voluntary, NGO, business and professional organisations wearing traditional dresses turned out into the streets after sunrise and welcomed the new year.

Huge Boishakhi processions paraded the streets of the district and upazila towns carrying colourful festoons, placards and banners, wearing masks and singing Baishakhi songs including Esho Hey Baishakh Esho Esho, Palligeeti, Jarigan, Vatiali, Baul, Lalon Geeti, Nazrul Geeti and Rabindra Sangeet and other folk and classical songs.

The businessmen in villages, hats, bazars, sales centres and important places in both rural and urban areas organised the century-old traditional Halkhata and distributed sweets among their customers along with updating their accounts. Cultural functions and discussions on Pahela Baishakh were also organised at all district and upazila towns on the occasion of welcoming the Bangla New year, reports reaching here from different areas said.

Meanwhile, the Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, was celebrated here amid enthusiasm and gaity on Monday.

Students of Moubina Art School and Shantinagar Theater wearing colourful dresses brought out a "mangal Shobhajatra in the morning.

Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammelon Parishad organised the cultural programme and welcomed the day with Tagore's song "esho hey Baishakh esho esho," at Shaheed Dr Abul Kashem Moidan. Bangla Department of Joypurhat Government College and different socio-cultural organisations also celebrated the day by organising the new year.

Prices of iron materials re-fixed, businessmen warned of market manipulation

BSS, Chittagong

Different categories of iron rod including scrapped iron prices have been re-fixed at a reasonable price aimed at controlling the high prices of the iron products at a meeting between the businessmen and the concerned officials here.

As per the decision of the meeting, from now on good quality 60-grade iron rod to be sold at Taka 62 thousand per metric ton (mt) from current rate of Taka 74 thousand while 40-grade to be sold at Taka 58 to 60 thousand per mt from present price Taka 70 thousand.

On the other hand, the scrap iron and ship breaking yard businessmen have been asked to sell per mt scraped iron at a rate of Taka 50 thousand from the present price Taka 53 to 55 thousand. The prices of finished iron rod products and scraped iron materials were re-fixed at a meeting between the owners of different leading steel re-rolling mills, scrapped ship importers and breaking yards and the joint forces held at the latter's office last night.

The businessmen have been asked to follow the re-fixed price structure up to next June and they were assured of reviewing the rate after the dateline, meeting sources said. The recent unusual hike of prices of the construction materials seriously hamper the construction and development work of both private and public sectors. One year before, the price of per mt 60-grade iron-rod were sold at Taka 36 thousand while 40-grade was Taka 32-34 thousand.

The decision of the meeting instantly conveyed to the higher authorities of the government and the ministry of commerce, sources said. Meeting sources said the concerned official agencies warned that they would monitor it constantly whether the re-rolling and shipyard owners comply the refixed price structure and would take stern legal action against those who failed to response positively.

Col. Mohammed Masud Hossain of joint forces called upon the businessmen to extend their hand to the government in implementing the almost shelved development schemes of the country under current fiscal and said it is responsibility of every citizen to supplement the government's all positive efforts.

He assured the owners of re- rolling mills and scrapped ship breaking yards of solving their problems including gas and electricity crisis through conveying the matter to the higher authorities.

Tornado victims get CI sheets, cash in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

Corrugated Iron (CI) sheets and cash were distributed among the tornado hit families of Gidari Union under sadar upazila in the district on Thursday to build their houses.

Some 24 tornado hit families were given 120 pieces of CI sheets worth about Taka 60,000 and cash amounting to Taka 12,000 from the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, office sources said. Deputy commissioner Abu Mohammad Yousuf formally distributed the CI sheets on the premises of Sadar Upazila Parishad here as the chief guest. Sadar upazila Nirbahi officer M. Iftekhar Hossain, Project implementation officer of the upazila Mohammad Abdul Mannan and Union parishad chairman M. Anisur Rahman including the journalists were present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that a tornado sweeping over a number of villages under Gidari Union of the upazila on March 3 and damaged standing crops particularly maize and a good number of houses, sources said.

Scholarship fund introduced at JU

BSS, Savar

A scholarship fund titled "Maj Gen (retd) Abdul Mannan Siddiqi Trust Fund" was introduced on Sunday at Jahangirnagar University (JU) with a view to providing help for meritorious students.

JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Muniruzzaman received a cheque for Taka 6 lakh for the fund from Dr Razia Sultana, sister of late Abdul Mannan Siddiqi and Chairman of JU Geography and Environment Department.

JU Treasurer Prof Sayed Abdul Hie, Dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Affairs Prof Mahmuda Goni Ahmed, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences Dr Amin Muhammad Ali and Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof Dr Nasir Uddin were present on the occasion, among others.

Three students form each faculty will get the scholarship on the basis of their results in every session of honours examinations.

RAB recovers 36 walkie-talkies in Chittagong

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a series of drives at the shops of vessel scraps at Madambibirhat in Sitakund seized 36 unauthorized walkie-talkies and some of the devices used in wireless transmission.

The RAB squad also nabbed six people on charge of distorting radio frequency and selling the wireless devices without prior authorization.

Mohammad Mozaher Alam, son of late Mohram Ali, Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman, son of late Azizur Rahman, Mohammad Mohiuddin, son of lare Sekandar, Sumon Akbar, son of Jahur Mia, Mohammad Ismail, son of late Sultan Ahmed and Mohammad Kashem, son of Abul Kalam were among the detainees.

The squad also seized electric chargers of the walkie-talkie batteries, five batteries, five microphones, a marine ultra high frequency transmitter.

"Unauthorized selling of walky-talkies had been promoting culprits to operate even better than the law enforcing agencies," Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the RAB-7 Sheikh Sariful Islam told the reporters.

The detainees had been under questioning till the time of filing this report. A case has been recorded with Sitakund police.

Bid to rape housewife foiled in Jhalakati

Our Correspondent, Nalchity (Jhalakati)

Two culprits chopped a housewife as they fail to violate her at Shiddakati village under Nalchity Upazila in Jhalakati on Friday night.

Police and local sources said, on that night, Baby Akter (21), mother of one child ; wife of Shah Alam was sleeping with her minor child. Her husband was in Khulna. Availing this opportunity, two youths entered her house breaking the door and tried to violate her but faied Baby raised hue and cry.

At one stage they chopped her with a sharp knife and fled away. Hearing her screaning local people and patrol police rushed to the spot. Police arrested Abul Kalam (25) son of Hatem Mrida of village Tewla.

Seriously wounded Baby was admitted into Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Exhibition on clay ornaments begins at RU

RU Correspondent

A three-day exhibition on clay ornaments began at the hall room of central cafeteria of Rajshahi University (RU) on Thursday.

Hassan Tarek Limon, a 3rd year student, and Sayeda Salina Ferdous, a 4th year student, of Fine Arts Department jointly organised the exhibition.

Chairman of the department Prof Amirul Momenin Chowdhury inaugurated the exhibition, while department teacher Monirul Islam was present as the special guest.

Speakers said clay ornaments create a new fashion for all including teenagers to preserve our traditional culture.

Around one hundred colourful clay ornaments have been put on display in the exhibition. The exhibition remains open from 10:00am to 7:00pm for visitors.

Three snatchers beaten in Ctg

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Locals in cooperation with community police caught three snatchers red-handed and handed them over to the cops after beating here at Rifles Club area on April 10 last.

The frenzied passers-by also torched an auto-rickshaw that had been under the possession of the snatchers. Police could not tell the identity of the seriously assaulted snatchers.

Cops rescued the snatchers in a critical condition and sent them to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The CMCH sources said that the injured snatchers were placed at the Ward 28 of the hospital.

Physicians claimed that one of the snatchers might not be survived though they were trying hard to provide their best efforts to save them.

Police quoting eyewitnesses said that cop's aid responded quickly following alarm for help raised by the oppressed. Locals caught the snatchers when their auto-rickshaw was trapped into traffic jam near Rifles Club at about 8:45 p.m.

They had been on an escaping bid after taking away the belongings of a rickshaw passenger at that time.

A case was filed with Kotwali police station in connection with the incident.

One killed in Jessore road accident

BSS, Jessore

One person was killed in a road accident at Sujalpur Jamtola crossing under sadar upazila of the district on Wednesday. The dead was identified as Nazrul Islam, 30, son of Hossain Ali of Dumdia village.

The accident occurred Nazrul Islam crushed under the wheel of a truck when he was crossing the road. He died on the spot.

Arms recovered in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

Police recovered a pipe gun and one round bullet in an abandoned condition from Jatpur area under Tala upazila of the district on Thursday.

Police said, workers of a shrimp gher of one Din Mohammad found the arms while they were digging soil on the roads. Later, they informed police in this regard. Being informed, police recovered the firearm and bullet from there.

A case was filed with Tala thana in this connection.

News briefs

2 killed in road mishap

UNB, Apr 16: Two people were killed in separate incidents in the district on Sunday. Locals said terrorists hacked Ebadul Haq, a former UP member of Halitala village in Nabiganj upazila, to death early today following a previous enmity. Police arrested Awal Miah, 27, of Chowsatpur village in Nabiganj upazila in this connection. In another incident, Sujan Miah, 30, was stabbed allegedly by his friend following a conflict over money due to him at Lenjapara village under Shayestaganj thana this afternoon. Later, he died after admitting him to Sadar Adhunik Hospital, reports UNB.

Nor'wester damages thatched houses

THAKURGAON, Apr 16: A nor'wester that lashed the district Saturday night damaged at least 200 thatched houses and maize and mango on vast tracts of land. Local sources said over 100 thatched houses were damaged only at Akcha, Rajagaon and Ruhia in Sadar upazila and also toppled a number of tress. Maize over 500 hectare of land were damaged in the district. Agricultural officer of Ranishangkoil Upazila Fonibhushan Roy said that the storm damaged maize on at least 60 hectares of land and mango on vast tracts of land in the upazila. No casualty was reported till writing this report this afternoon, reports UNB.

3 killed in trawler capsize

MUNSHIGANJ, Apr 16: Three people were killed when a trawler capsized in Dhaleswari River at Char Kishoreganj in Sadar upazila Sunday early morning. The victims were identified as Jakir Hossain, 40, of Debbidwar village, and Faruq, 25, and Jamal, 25, of Nurabad village, in Charfashion upazila of Bhola. Police said the Dhaka bound trawler, loaded with watermelon, capsized in the river along with nine boatmen at 5:00 when hit by a Dhaka bound launch MV Sundarban-2 from Barisal from behind. Six of the boatmen managed to swim ashore. On information, coast guard members recovered the bodies and sent those to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

Murder case accuseds acquitted

RAJSHAHI, Apr 16: All the 12 accused of the sensational Mahfuzur Rahman Potu murder case were acquitted Thursday by the Rajshahi Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal. They were identified as Abdullah, Khaleq, Mokhlesur Rahman, Badsha Mia, Munsur Ali, Selim, Fazlar Rahman, Asgar Ali, Ratan Mia, Hossain Ali, Raju Mia and Mozahar Hossain of Shasankandi village in Shahjanpur thana of Bogra district. According to the prosecution, Mahfuzur Rahman Potu of Sashakandi village in Shahjanpur thana was killed and five others were injured in an attack on Sept 21, 2005 following a past enmity. Potu's son Ranju Mia filed a case against 12 people with the Shahjanpur thana next day, reports UNB.

Two killed in Comilla road mishap

COMILLA, Apr 13: Two people were killed and five others injured as a Pajero jeep hit a covered van in Chandina upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway Sunday morning. Police said two passengers of the jeep died on the spot when the speedy vehicle bound for Comilla from Dhaka rammed into a covered van about 7am. The dead were identified as Kamal Hossain, 45, and Mafizul Islam, 26. Five injured passengers of the jeep were admitted to different local hospitals, reports UNB.