The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pahela Baishakh observed in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

People of Barisal city observed 'Chaitro Sangkranti' and 'Pahela Baishakh' in festive mood amid daily miseries of price hike and hardship of life for bidding adicuto outgoing and welcoming Bangla year Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Under the programmes for bidding farewell and welcoming Bangla new-year two days long Baiskhai Mela at B M School ground by Udichi and at Hatkhola by local businessmen had been arranged. Local businessmen clearing their enterprises observed Halkhata Utsob by opening new account ledger book bound with traditional red color cloth and religious function, sweet meat distribution on Monday.

Kheyali Group Theatre arranged Sangskritik Adda with cultural show at their premises to bid farewell and welcome Bangla year from Sunday evening to late night.

Charukala arranged Mongol Shovajatra from B M School ground on Monday morning with motifs of Bangali folk and daily life.

Three-day long Baishakh Utsob with fair and cultural functions has been arranged by Shabdaboli Group Theatre at Barisal central Shahid Minar, Chander Hut at Barisal T B Clinic filed, Planet World children park at park premises had been arranged from Monday.

Udichi Shilpi Gosthi at B M School and Gano Shilpi Sangstha, KhelaGhar, Sur Lahori Songit Biddayaloy, Anirban Shilpi Gosthi, at Aswani Kumar Hall and Shahid Minar premises, arranged cultural program on Monday early morning to welcome new Bangla year.

Jugantor Swajon Somabesh organized mobile cultural teams in 17 points of four districts of Barisal division to observe Bangla new-year.

Soikat Sriti juvenile painting competition at Aswani Kumar Hall and Amrito Sriti children painting competition at Amrito Lal Dey College held on Monday morning to observe Pohela Baishakh.

Local administration and law enforcing agencies took special arrangement for safety and security of the people, functions and fair grounds of Pahela Baishakh Utsov by ensuring power supply at night, deploying mobile patrol teams with uniforms and plain clothes, check posts at sensitive and key points and continuous vigilance against pick-pocketers, eve teasers.

Potato growers facing problem for lack of preservation facilities in Bogra

UNB, Bogra

Potato growers of the district have been facing problem with their production worth about Tk 1000 crore in the absence of cold storage facilities.

Despite bumper production this season, potato growers are facing loss as they have failed to preserve the vegetable in cold storage due to lack of accommodation facilities.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said growers produced 10 lakh mts potatoes cultivating 65,000 hectares of land against the output target of 7.5 lakh mts from 42,810 hectares. Potatoes are now selling at Tk 10 per kg in wholesale markets and at Tk 12-13 in retail markets.

Though the farmers want to preserve the potatoes to get higher price in future they cannot do so for lack of accommodation in local cold storages. DAE sources said there are 27 cold storages in the district, which were established under private initiative with preservation capacity of 1.78 lakh mts.

Moreover, hoarders are preserving potatoes in those cold storages blocking most spaces by making advance bookings. Due to the advance bookings, many cold storage owners have already hanged notices announcing stoppage of receiving potatoes even before filling up the capacity, sources said.

As a result, growers are compelled either to sell their produces at lower rates or take back home.

Bablu Miah, a potato grower of Kahalu upazila, said traders are given priority in preserving potatoes in cold storages that has created trouble for the growers.

DAE deputy director Rustam Ali Mondal said growers have been facing problem as there is no government arrangement for potato preservation in the district and the private cold storages have limited accommodation.

National Disabled Day observed in Magura

Our Correspondent, Magura

The 10th Jatiya Protibandi Dibash (10th National Disabled Day) was observed by Taranga Protibandi Unnayan Sangstha in a befitting manner.

A colourful programme has been chalked out to mark the day. A rally, Discussion meeting and placing of memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, Magura were also held. The discussion meeting was presided over by Abdul Alim of Tananga disable development Association.

Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Halim and SP Magnon Mohammad Muslim took chair as chief and special guest respectively. Among the speakers Krishna Pada Biswas Labour Khatoon, Azizur Rahman of behalf of disable persons, UNO Magum Khatoon, ADC Sontosh Kr Adhikery NGO Co-ordinator Abdul Halim among others addressed on the occasion. Sirna Khatoon conducted the function.

Relief distributed among SIDR-hit families

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Red Crescent Society of Madaripur district arranged a relief distribution ceremony among 620 Sidr-affected families of Kalkini Upazila of the district on April 2.

Every relief material packet contained 20 kilogram of rice, 5 kilograms of dal pulse 2 litres of soyabeen oil 2 pieces of blanket, 2 pieces of sarees two pieces of longi, 2 pieces of tent, 2 buckets and 2 harricances.

Kalkini Upazila Nirbahi Officer UNO Mesbahauddin, Deputy Director (In charge) of Red Crescent Society Mannan Khan and others were present on the occasion.

Body found in Goalando

BSS, Rajbari

Police recovered body of an unidentified person behind the Daulatdia Model High School under Goalando upazila in the district on Thursday.

Sources said that the body was found at a place which is about a quarter kilometre away from the Daulatdia brothel.

The body was lying naked in a ditch and his eyes were tied with a piece of cloth.

A case was filed with Goalando Police Station in this connection.

Naogaon newsletter

Boro cultivation

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

More than 1,550 hectares of land of Boro paddy were cultivated over the target in Dhamoirhat Upazila in the district during the current season. 18 thousand hectares of land have been cultivated over the target. 16,840 hectares of land of Boro. 16,828 hectares of land for UFSI type and 1,175 hectares of land for hybrid type of Boro paddy have been cultivated in said upazila. The peasants are expected to offer bumper Boro if the climate is prevailing good.

Prize distribution programme held

Sapahar Upazila Islamic Foundation branch held a prize distribution among the best students on Sapahar upazila parishad auditorium on April 8 under auspices of local mosque-basis and mass-education programme. Deputy Director of Naogaon district branch of Islamic Foundation Syed Ameen Uddin Mahmood was in the chair, while Sapahar upazila nirbahi Officer Md. Ziaul Huq attended as chief guest who distributed the prizes among the best students.

Local elites, journalists, teachers and others were present.

Dacoity committed

A daring dacoity was committed at the shops, at dead of night on April 5, at Bathgari bazar under Raninagar upazila in the district. The dacoits looted cloth valued about 2 lakh 6 thousand Taka of Wahab and Rehman cloth shop, and also looted ornaments valued about 6 lakh 10 thousand Taka of both Asha Jewellers and Mustafa Jewellers shops.

Phensidyl seized

46 Bangladesh Rifle, led by Patnitola upazila BDR Campleader Naik Dilip Kumar Biswas, on a secret raid, recovered 1720 bottles of Phensidyl, carrying by a truck, early in the morning on April 7, at Mathazi Bazar in Patnitola upazila in the district. The BDR also recovered three mobile sets and 91,400 Taka in cash and also arrested five persons, seizing the truck.

Acting on a tip-off, Naogaon Sadar thana police, led by O.C. Ekramul Huq Sarker, recovered 98 bottles of Phensidyl, at dead of night on April 6, from an old carton at local S.A. Paribahan Courier Service.

Open house day held

Sapahar Upazila Police Open House Day was held on the thana premises on April 8, presided over by O.C. Md. Zulfikar Ali.

Superintendent of Police Sardar Nurul Ameen attended as chief guest, while Sapahar upazila nirbahi officer Md. Ziaul Huq and ASP Shafiul Islam as special guests. The S.P. as chief guest met local persons and discussed with them about local law, order and other problems frankly and heard patiently.

News Briefs

Two siblings die after having poisonous food in Faridpur

FARIPUR, Apr 18: Two siblings died while two other people fell sick after having poisonous food at Kalyanpatri village in Nagarkanda upazila on Tuesday evening. Police said three children of Siraj Sheikh-Suman, Sujan and Sonia -- and Shabana, sister-in-law of his elder son Jewel, fell sick soon after having launch on Tuesday afternoon. They were admitted to Nagarkanda Health Complex from where they were shifted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Suman died in the FMCH on Tuesday evening while Sonia at midnight. Condition of Sujan is said to be critical while Sabana is out of danger, hospital sources said, reports UNB.

Dhaka-Aricha highway barricaded

SAVAR, Apr 18: Around 2,000 garment workers demonstrated and blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway in the morning following a terrorist attack on one of their fellow workers today (Wednesday). Police said the workers of Juvenile Garment Factory here took to the street at about 7:30am and put up barricade on busy Savar bus stand area, disrupting traffic. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control at about 8am, reports UNB.

Young girl killed in gas cylinder blast in Khulna

KHULNA, Apr 18: A young girl, who sustained serious burn injuries following an explosion in a gas cylinder in the city Tuesday night, died at Khulna Medical College Hospital Wednesday morning. The deceased was identified as Dulali, 22, daughter of Firoz Contractor of Bashupara area. Police said the gas cylinder exploded with a huge bang when Dulali was cooking about 11pm, leaving her critically injured, reports UNB.