The New Nation - Internet Edition

Harvesting of Irri-Boro paddy begins with much enthusiasm in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Harvesting of Irri-Boro paddy has been started everywhere in the district with much enthusiasm.

According to the agricultural officials, the farmers are getting expected paddy yield this season due to the favourable weather along with the effective measures taken by the government agencies concerned.

District Administration and the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) jointly inaugurated the harvesting programme at Talonda area under Tanore upazila of the district.

Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim Khalil, DAE Deputy Director Braja Haridas, Tanore UNO Mazedur Rahman Khan, Upazila Agriculture Officer Rezwanul Islam, District Food Officer Rabiul Ahsan and Divisional Forest Officer Delwar Hossain attended the crop-cutting ceremony, among huge other enthusiastic farmers and school students.

DAE officials said the Irri-Boro paddy were cultivated on 80,635 hectares of land against the target of 77,000 hectares in the district with the production target of 3,01,173 metric tonnes of paddy. Speaking on the occasion DC Ibrahim Khalil called upon the farmers to sell their harvested paddy to the government purchasing centres.

He said the government would purchase 5,733 metric tonnes of paddy at the rate of Taka 18 per kilogram through 21 centres in the district till August 31.

Workshop on climate change held in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

A day-long regional workshop on Climate Change and its effects on agriculture was held in the conference room of District Collectorate Building here today.

Padakkhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra (PMUK) organised the workshop with the financial assistance of Oxfam-GB, sources said.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf addressed the workshop as the chief guest, while ADC (General) Abul Bayes Miah conducted it as moderator.

The keynote paper on the issue was presented by Selina Hasan, Scientific Officer, Field Services Wing, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Rangpur.

Presided over by Kazi Monir Mosharraf, project coordinator of PMUK, the workshop was also addressed, among others, by Plant Protection Specialist of DAE M. Alauddin Sarder, District Fisheries Officer ASM Rashedul Haque, Zonal Manager of Grameen Bank M Ansarul Islam, Agro-Processing Officer of Practical Action Bangladesh M Misbahuzzaman, President of NGO Forum, Sadar Upazila Unit M Ataur Rahman and Enamul Kabir, Project Manager of SKS.

More than 50 government officials, NGO workers, the local elite and journalists attended the workshop.

Historic May Day observed in befitting manner in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

The historic May Day was observed in the district in a befitting manner yesterday.

In observance of the day, various trade unions and workers unions chalked out separate programmes throughout the district. The programmes included workers rally, processions, discussions and cultural functions.

Darsana Sugar Mills employees and workers union held a rally and discussion on its office premises with Mr. Hafizur Rahman, president of the union in the chair. Local workers and political leaders spoke on the ocassion.

In Chuadanga town, a joint rally and discussion organised by the motor sramik union and rickshaw workers union was held on the office premises of local motor sramik union.

Mr. Md. Shahabuddin, President, Chuadanga motor sramik union presided.

On the other hand, local "transport workers, education and health service society" also chalked out a programme to mark the day which included procession, discussion and cultural function.

Drug trader gets two years RI in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

A drug trader was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for possessing heroin in May 2003. The convict was identified as Jewel, resident of Chandra in the town. The court also fined him Taka 1,000, in default to suffer 10 days in prison.

Additional district and sessions Judge Mohammad Sirajul Islam after examining seven witnesses and relevant documents pronounced the verdict on Monday.

The prosecution story in brief is that, police recovered heroin from the house of Jewel on May 1, 2003 and arrested him. Police filed a case against Jewel and five others with Jamalpur Thana.

The court acquitted five accused as charges against them could not be proved.

Training on use of pesticides held in Thakurgaon

BSS, Thakurgaon

A day-long training programme on the use and trade of pesticides was held at ESDO training centre here on Monday.

Thakurgaon Auto Crop Care Limited, a pesticide marketing company organised the programme. to enhance the knowledge of the retailers and its delivery to the farmers on the use of quality pesticides and application of right doses in the crop fields.

The programme was addressed, by RP Saha, Md. Habibur Rahman and Asfaqul Abedin, Mizanur Rahman, ANM Zahidul Hasan, Asifur Rahman, Aminul Moven, Fahmida Pervin and Ratan Kumar Das.

A total of 30 pesticide retailers from different parts of the district took part in the training programme.

Police recover huge quantity of clothes in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

A team of district police, in a raid, recovered 832 pieces of saries, 816 three-pieces and plain cloth worth about Taka 12 lakh from Barolia area on Dhaka-Chittagong highway here last night.

Police sources said, acting on a tip-off, a team of Sitakudhu police challenged a Chittagong-bound truck in the area. Being alarmed, the driver and helper of the truck escaped the scene leaving behind the vehicle. The police then searched the truck and recovered the clothes.

An organised group of smugglers imported the saries for selling in local market. The seized goods were deposited with the local Customs office, the sources said.

Workshop on health education held in Rajbari

BSS, Rajbari

Speakers at a workshop here on Tuesday urged all to come forward to help the 40 percent of the country's population, who have been suffering from different infectious, non-infectious and malnutrition-related diseases.

Bangladesh Centre for Communications Programme organised the day-long workshop on campaign on Health Education issues, which was chaired by Civil Surgeon Dr M Bazlul Huq.

Principal of Rajbari Government College Professor Keramat Ali spoke as the chief guest while 50 journalists, government and non-government officials, representatives of NGOs and physicians of the district took part in the workshop.

Dr Mizanul Huq, Dr Niamat Ali, and District Health Education Officer M Liakat Ali Biswas presented separate papers on different issues of health education.

The workshop adopted a set of recommendations on the issue.

Body recovered

UNB, Sirajganj

Police recovered the body of a trader from a field at Jamtoli village in Rayganj upazila Monday morning. Family sources said Wazed Ali, 40, of the village went out of his house Sunday afternoon, but did not return home at night. Villagers found Wazed's body on Monday morning and informed police. Police suspected Wazed might have been killed some time Sunday night over land dispute.

Seminar on English language held at RU

RU Correspondent

A day long workshop titled English Language and Career Counseling was arranged by the ROTARACT CLUB of Rajshahi University (RU) at Kazinazrul Islam auditorium of RU in association with S@ifurs recently.

Prof. D. Abdur Rahman Siddiki Director of RU Teacher-Student Cultural Centre (TSCC) presided over the workshop while deputy Director of Saifur's, Prof. Ssifur Rahman khan, a former teacher of IBA presented the keynote. D. Zahidur Rahman ,sub deputy of S@ifurs, discussed different aspects of career counseling. M. Minhajul Islam program Chairman of Rotaract Club directed the programme. A large number of students were presented at the workshop.

Elderly monk killed in Rangamati

BSS, Rangamati

Unidentified assailants chopped an elderly Buddhist monk, popularly known as Bonte, to death at a remote village under Kawkhali upazila in the district on Sunday night.

Police said being informed a team of police from Kawkhali rushed to Mitingachhari village and recovered the body of Tuisa Mong Marma, 70 on Monday.

The body was sent to Rangamati General Hospital for autopsy.

A case was lodged with Kawkhali police station in this connection.

The elderly monk used to work at Mitingachhari Buddhist temple, where he lived alone, police said.

News briefs

Farmer's hand blown off in bomb explosion in Jhenidah

Jhenidah, May 3: One hand of a farmer was blown off in a bomb explosion at Tobahati village in Jhenidah Poura area on Tuesday morning. Police said the bomb exploded when Kosimuddin, 45, struck soil with a spade while preparing seedbeds at about 8am. He also suffered injuries in other parts of his body in the blast. Other farmers rescued and rushed him to the Sadar Hospital in critical condition. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered another unexploded bomb from the spot, reports UNB.

Two siblings killed

Narsingdi, May 3: Two siblings were killed and a man was injured when a truck rammed into a baby taxi at Char Madhabdi in Sadar upazila Tuesday morning. Local sources said the Narsingdi-bound speeding truck rammed the three wheeler at about 6:30am, killing Kabir, 28, and his brother Jalil, 32, on the spot. Injured baby taxi driver was admitted to Sadar Hospital, reports UNB.

Housewife slaughtered after rape in Jessore

Jessore, May 3: A housewife was slaughtered after rape at Ratnasarpur village in Monirampur upazila Monday morning. Sources said when Parveen, 28, wife of Uzir Ali, was sleeping at the veranda of their house some terrorists picked her up at gun point. They raped her one after another and slaughtered her with sharp weapon. Hearing her scream local people rushed to the spot but found her dead on the spot. The miscreants managed to escape The body was sent to hospital morgue for autopsy.

Pregnant woman strangled

Natore, May 3: A pregnant woman was allegedly strangled by the rivals of her husband at Budhpara village in Lalpur upazila Monday night. The deceased was identified as Bedana Begum, wife of Humayun Kabir. Quoting victim's family members, police said the assailants, led by one Sijdar Ali, attacked the house of Humayun Kabir when he was out of his house, reports UNB

50 hurt in road mishap

Brahmanbaria, May 3: Fifty people were injured, 15 of them seriously, when a bus fell into the roadside ditch at Ibrahimpur in Nabinagar upazila on Monday. Police said the accident occurred at noon when a Nabinagar bound bus from Companiganj fell into the ditch beside Nabinagar-Companiganj road as its driver lost control over the steering. Seriously injured 15 persons, including upazila sub-register Abdul Malek, 55, were sent to Dhaka while others were admitted to local hospitals and clinics. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Faridul Islam and OC Abdus Salam visited the spot, reports UNB.

One gets 5-yr RI for eve teasing

Chapainawabganj, May 3: A tribunal here on Monday sentenced a youth to five years of rigorous imprisonment for teasing a school going girl. The District and Sessions Judge Court also fined convict Durul, 30, of Sadasibpur village in Shibganj upazila Tk 10,000, in default to serve three months more in jail. The court, however, acquitted another youth as his guilt was not proved. According to the prosecution, Sentu and one of his associates made an indecent proposal to Roksana Khatun Putul, a class X student and daughter of Nurul Islam, on her way to school on October 22, 2006. They also tore her scarf, reports UNB