The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to implement National Women Development Policy

RU Correspondent

Around one hundred students of Rajshahi University on Saturday formed a human chain in front of central library premises and demanded immediate implementation of National Women Development Policy (NWDP) and protested the violent activities of fundamentalist's forces in Dhaka on April 11.

Campus sources said, the students formed the human chain one hour with tight police guard as several groups of Islamic Chhatra Shibir (ICS) vigilance their human chain and activities.

After human chain, the students held a rally in front of central library premises and speakers strongly condemned and protested the violent activities of fundamentalist's forces in Dhaka on April 11 that 200 peoples including police were injured.

Speakers urged all stage peoples to raise their voice against such kind of violent activities and demanded exemplary punishment to the fundamental activists.

Speakers alleged that former BNP-Jamaat government did not believe women equal rights and did not take any initiative for implementation of NWDP.

"When the neutral government like caretaker government took initiative for implementation of NWDP then fundamental forces who always oppose our Independence started to create anarchy on the issue" they said.

They blamed the fundamental forces to use general peoples religious believe and provoking the party cadres and activists to resort to violence.

They urged the caretaker government and demanded immediate implementation of NWDP and establish woman equal rights in the country.

They also demanded exemplary punishment to the responsible fundamentalist group who create anarchy on the issue in the country.

The rally was addressed by among other Masud Raba, Taimur Faruik, Badhan Odikari and Bioplab.

Knowledge-based education to build solid manpower underscored

BSS, Mymensingh

Speakers at the inaugural function of a training programme on Saturday stressed the need for further professional development of the university teachers to create future leaders with vision and mission.

In this respect, they urged the university teachers to strictly adhere by principles and strategies with emphasis on knowledge-based education to build a solid manpower base in the country. Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) Professor Dr. Musharraf Hossain Mian was the chief guest while Poultry Science specialist and member of the Public University Vice-Chancellor's Search Committee Professor S M Bulbul was the special guest on the occasion.

The two-month training course is being sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and organised by the Graduate Training Institute(GTI). The inaugural function was chaired by GTI Director Professor Dr M Mozahar Ali.

Course coordinator Professor Dr M Jobed Ali Mirza explained the aims and objectives of the course while Dr. Masuma Habib conducted the inaugural function. A total of 23 teachers of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, University of Chittagong, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Chittagong, Patuakhali University of Science and Technology, Jahangir Nagar University, University of Rajshahi, Sylhet Agricultural University and Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, Dinajpur are taking part in the course.

Deans of faculties, syndicate members, teachers and officers were present at the inaugural function. Earlier a colourful rally paraded the BAU campus.

Cow-dung becomes source of income for poor people in Kurigram

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Cow-dung becomes a source of livelihood for the poor people in Kurigram including other eight upazilas in recent times.

About four hundred families in Nageswari, Ulipur, Rajarhat, Fulbaria and sadar upazilas of the district have engaged in making and selling cow-dung sticks.

They have been earning more money from this cultivation. Many families use the sticks as fuel for cooking in the area locally called "Gobor sticks" and use as fire-wood. Some people also use jute sticks, straw and dry leaves and some use natural gas or local biogas for cooking, sources concerned said.

The demand for cow-dung is increasing day by day in the rural areas of the district. A few years back trees were in abundance and hence firewood was in wider use as fuel in the district. But due to the indiscriminate felling of trees, firewood is not that much in use as fuel as a result the demand of cowdung has been increasing dy by day in the rural area of the district.

Sakhina Khatun (38), Beauty Begum (41) and Momena Begum (38) told the New Nation Correspondent that they had been maintaining their livelihood for many days on cowdung as firewood selling. Some one of them said there was nothing to do by this time instead of this. Momena sold the cow-duing sticks Tk 4 to 5 per as a whole fifty sticks at best.

Thus they earned Tk 800/- to 900 in a month. Now many of them have taken it as their occupation for a living. Many poor and distressed people fully depend on this profession which is better living considering its economic prospects.

780 destitute mothers to receive maternity allowance in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

At least 780 destitute mothers in four upazilas in the district have been getting maternity allowance since last July.

Official sources said, Women Affairs Department will distribute Taka 14.04 lakh among 78 poor mothers of six months allowances from July to December of last year very soon.

Each mother will receive Taka 300 as per month allowance. Of the total money, Taka 2.97 lakh will be given among 165 mothers in 11 unions of Monohardi upazila, Taka 2.16 lakh among 120 mothers in 8 unions of Belabo upazila, Taka 2.43 lakh among 135 mothers in 9 unions of Shibpur upazila and Taka 6.48 lakh among 360 mothers in 24 unions under Raipura upazila.

A list of the mothers has been prepared. Other two uapzilas of the district-Sadar and Polash-are yet to be brought under the programme.

Freedom Fighters accorded reception

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

A grand reception and discussion meeting in honour of the freedom fighters was held, under auspices of Naogaon district Mukhti Joddha unit Command at its Muktijoddha Moncha in old Court premises recently in the evening, presided over by its district unit commander freedom fighter SM Serajul Islam.

Deputy Commissioner Shefaul Karim attended as chief guest while Superintendent of Police Sardar Nurul Ameen and Naogaon Pourashava Chairman Md. Abul Kassem Akanda as special guests.

Chairman of Naogaon Pourashava Md. Abul Kassem Akanda in his brief speech announced free taxes of water supply bills and also house tax about measuring one thousand square feet of the freedom fighters, residing in the municipal areas.

Freedom fighters Mozharul Islam, Afzal Hossain, ABM Rafiqul Islam, former general secretary of the district ex-armed forces Sangstha Dr Emdadul Huq and others spoke on the occasion.

Pahela Baishakh celebrated in Magura

Our Correspondent, Magura

The Bengali New Years Day Naba-Barsha has been celebrated with much enthusiasm on April 4 throughut the district. A colourful rally participated by government employees and members of NGO organised by District Administration was brought out in the early morning on Pahela Baishakh which paraded through the streets of the town.

A Baishaki Mela was held at local Nomani Maidan which was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner Abdul Halim. The mela started on first Baishakh which will continue for one week only. It has 25 stalls having varieties of articles will crockeries and earth pots, dolls etc. Palli-song, Rabindra Nazrul and Lalan Geeti etc will be staged every day at night. Apart from this, Lathi Khela, snake-play and Kilo-competitions were arranged there. Magura Press-Club has arranged a raffle draw and picnic in this connection.

15 hurt in Barisal clash

BSS, Barisal

At least 15 persons were injured in a clash between two rival groups of transport workers at Bhurhata bus stand under Gournadi upazila on Monday.

Police said the clash took place as one group of transport worker vandalised the Bangla New Year's function arranged by the bus workers at the bus stoppage.

The workers of the locally assembled passenger carrying vehicle known as 'nasimon' chased a bus when it damaged a 'nasimon' at Torka bus stand on Monday morning.

At one stage they damaged the window panes of the bus and vandalised the new year's celebration programme which was followed by chase and counter-chase by the rival groups of workers.

At least 15 workers of both the groups were injured in the incident. Of them critically injured five were admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and local health complex.

Gournadi Thana police visited the spot.

Price of rice marks fall in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

The price of coarse rice marked slight falls by Taka one to two per kg following strengthening the activities of open market sale (OMS) programme since April 1 in the district.

Official sources said, OMS programme started in the district from January 9 with 35 centres in the district to keep price of staple item stable.

The district food control office in line with the government decision has opened another 55 more OMS centres from April 1.

Each buyer is being entitled to purchase 5 kgs of rice instead of 3 kgs at Taka 25 per kg every alternative day.

Around 720 tonnes of rice have been sold at the 90 OMS centres in the district from April 1 to April 18 which will be continued until new Boro paddy is harvested, sources said.

News briefs

Father kills two daughters

Laxmipur, Apr 21: A cruel father slaughtered his two daughters at Chargajaria in Ramgati upazila early Friday. The victims were identified as Surma, 12, and Parvin, 7, daughter of the Abul Kalam. Sources said Abul Kalam slaughtered Sumar and Parvin and surrendered to police soon after the murder. Police said the father might have killed his two daughters due to abject poverty, reports UNB.

19 fall sick for gas leakage

Khulna, Apr 21: Nineteen workers of a shrimp-processing factory in Rupsa upazila fell sick Saturday morning due to ammonia gas leakage at the factory. Police said the poisonous ammonia gas suddenly started emitting at Star Seafood Ltd at about 10:30am when the workers were processing shrimps. The sick workers were rushed to Khulna Sadar Hospital in unconscious state by their colleagues. Some of them were stated to be critical, hospital sources said, reports UNB.

Body found

Comilla, Apr 21: Slaughtered bodies of two youths were found at Nabiabad in Debidwar upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway Saturday morning. On information by local people, police recovered the bodies Faruqur Rahman, 30, son of Roushan Ali of Nabiabad and Selim Hossain, 30, son of Nurul Islam of nearby village and sent those to hospital morgue for autopsy. Police said unidentified assailants slaughtered the two youths when Faruqur along with his friend Roushan went to the shallow machine room to pass the night on Friday, reports UNB.

Contractor found dead in Satkhira

Satkhira, Apr 21: A first class construction contractor was found dead at his office at Katia Amtala in the district town on Thursday. Police said on information they recovered the hanging body of the contractor Abdul Majid, 50, from his office 'Majid and Sons' in the morning. The body was sent to hospital morgue for autopsy. Police said miscreants might have hanged the body of Majid after strangulating him to death, reports UNB.

3 get 10-yr imprisonment

Magura, Apr 21: A court here on Thursday sentenced three people to 10 years imprisonment each for possessing contraband phensidyl syrup. The convicts were identified as Kamal Bhuiyan, 35, Sohrab Ali, 34, and Sekandar Ali, 30. They were present in the dock when the judgment was pronounced. According to the prosecution, police arrested the convicts along with 240 bottles of phensidyl syrup on January 12, 2005. After examining the records and witnesses, Joint Sessions Judge Rahibul Islam pronounced the verdict, reports UNB.

One held with arms in Rajbari

Rajbari, Apr 21: Police of river watch-post arrested a man along with a pistol and some bullets from Daulatdia launch terminal in Goalanda upazila on Friday morning. On his suspicious movement, police searched Saidul Islam when he was going to Dhaka from Bagerhat by a bus and recovered a foreign-made pistol and three rounds of bullet from his bag. Another report from Pabna adds: Members of Rapid Action Battalion-12 in separate raids arrested terrorists Alamgir, 21, from Rasulpur village in Ataikula thana and Abdul Khalek Fakir, 30, from Krishnapur village on Wednesday, reports UNB