The New Nation - Internet Edition

Barisal BSTI realises Tk 1.27 lakh as fine in last two months

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Mobile courts operated by Barisal office of Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute in 62 cases collected 1, 27, 300-taka fine in Barisal region in the month of March and April 2008.

BSTI Barisal regional office sources said seven mobile courts were operated in April 2008 at Sagordi Bazar of Barisal city, Banaripara upazila town of Barisal district, Razapur upazila and district town of Jhalakati district, SwarupKati upazila and district town of Pirojpur district and Patuakhali district town and collected Tk.65, 600 as fine from 37 cases.

Besides six mobile courts operated in March 2008 collected Tk. 61, 700 as fine from 25 cases in March 2008.

The fines were collected as penalty for using unauthorized weighing scale and system, selling sub-standard and adulterated food items.

Shawkat Osman, deputy director in charge of Barisal regional office of BSTI said that after separation of judiciary mobile courts still operating by first class administrative magistrates.

However, within this month judicial magistrates for operating BSTI mobile courts would be deployed and then operation would be strengthen, he added.

BWCCI distributes 50 cows among Sidr-hit women entrepreneurs

Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce (BWCCI) and international organisation IDRF jointly distributed cows as starter capital goods among the Sidr victims 50 women entrepreneurs at the two villages of Amtoli thana in Barguna district on 5 May as a part of series work of building self-confidence among the women entrepreneurs.

The basic objective of the programme is to help them continue and expand their entreprenerual activities for sustainable livelihood. Akteruzzaman, business counselor of BWCCI presided the programme. By giving message among the rural women entrepreneurs, Selima Ahmad, President of BWCCI, mentioned that women are the most victims or highly affected in any natural hazards. The starter capital plays a worth to maintain their survival.

Akteruzzaman said, the unity of community is the key force to make development of the women entreprenerurs and it is possible to rehabilitate and develop socio-economic condition of women entrepreneurs by caring for the distributed cows.

Sanjoy Shikdar, Technical expert, local Live stock expert, central committee members delivered their speeches and highly praised the BWCCI work.

The Secretary of BWCCI Ahmad Omar Faruk, Administrative Officer Zahidul Islam delivered their speech. The Sidr victim women entrepreneurs mentioning to Selima Ahmad, President of BWCCI that the are facing many obstacles but these capital goods will strengthen our confidence to continue survival.

Tense situation on recovery of brass-made idol in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Tense situation was prevailing over the recovery of a brass-made idol at Ukilbari village under Ghotmajhi union under Sadar upazila of the district.

Agitated villagers of both the sides were ready to trigger fight at last law enforcing agencies intervened to mitigate the tense situation recently.

Villagers said that an idol made of brass was unearthed by the labourers while excavating a pond at the home of one Poritosh Mittir of the village. The idol weighing about half a kilogram was thought to be made of gold. That is why the labourers hid it. But the new spread fast among the people of the locality.

The people wanted to see it but the labourers refused to show it as they thought of becoming rich by selling it. At one stage the villagers and the labourers organised themselves to face the rivals.

Being informed the law enforcing agencies rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. After testing by gold smith it was proved as brass-made idol.

Historic Genocide Day observed in Natore

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

The historic 37th Genocide Day of some one hundred people, including the then General Manager (Adminis-trator) of famous North Bengal Sugar Mills (NBSM) at Gopalpur under Natore district was observed on the mill premises on 5th May.

On May 5, 1971, the then Pakistan Army shot dead some one hundred officers, labourers and employes of NBSM through brushfire and dumped the dead bodies into the pond inside the mills compound. Entire water of the pond turned red from the spilling blood of the martyred.

They were killed on the staircase of the pond and the pond has been named Shaheed Sagar. Their holy dead bodies were not recovered. A memorial meeting was held in observance of this historic day at the foot of the Shaheed Minar near the Shaheed Sagar at Gopalpur NBS Mills. Managing Director of the mills Kazi Ghulam Murtaza presided over the meeting.

Shaheed family members including Advocate Anwarul Quadir, Dr. Anwarul Iqbal, Eabul Akhter, lecturer Farhad-uz-Zamman Rubel, local former M.P. Zillur Rahman, general manager of the mill S.M. Sudarssan Mallick, Principal Zafar Ahmed, Central Sramik leaders Anwar Kamal and Khairul Mashar, Abdur Razzak Master and others spoke on this historic occasion.

One labourer of the mill Khandaker Jalal Ahmed who escaped death even after being wounded in gun fire, depicted a first-hand account of the pathetic story of this genocide.

The speakers in their brief speeches appealed the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government and chief of the army staff, to observe this historic genocide day on May 5, at the state level at this mill, honouring the martyrs, as such genocide has not occurred at any mill in the world, during the liberation war for independence, except Bangladesh Liberation War, and also to establish one modernised museum on the mill premisem preserving photos, life-sketches, relics and others of the said martyrs, in their memorium, well-known to the world.

Later, Pesh Imam Moulana Mukhtar Hossain led munajat of the milad mahfil.

Road named after Brig Gen (Retd) Gias Uddin inaugurated

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

The inauguration of a road after the name of Brigadier General( Retd.) Gias Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury Bir Bikram PSC was inaugurated at Gourhanga rail gate at the city by the Brig. General (retd.) Gias Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury himself on Wednesday morning.

Among others, Acting RCC Mayor Rezaun Nabi Dudu, former RCC Mayor, freedom fighter Durl Huda, Commander of Rajshahi district and city units Muktijoodha Sangsad and other dignitaries were present during unveiling of the name plaque of the road connecting Gourhanga rail gate to Rajshahi Air port.

After unveiling the name plaque, Brig. General (retd.) Gias Uddin was accorded a civic reception at the Nagar Bhaban where he was presented with a bouquet, crest and a book on the History of Rajshahi by the Acting RCC Mayor Rezaun Nabi Dudu.

Brig. General Gias Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury in his speech expressed his gratitude at the naming of the road after his name during his life time. He also thanked the freedom fighters of Rajshahi for this job.

Meet on vitamin A-plus campaign held in Bagherhat

BSS, Bagherhat

An advocacy meeting on 'Vitamin A- plus campaign' was held at the Bagherhat Press Club here on Wednesday.

District Civil Surgeon Dr Azmal Hossain attended the meeting as the chief guest.

Among others, the meeting was addressed, by president of Bagherhat C Shah Alam Tuku, General Secretary Ahad Uddin Haider, Dr Shahana Ferdous, Dr Biddyut Kumar Paul and Dr Abdul Basher.

Speakers said the administering of vitamin A to the children of 1-5 years must be ensured for their sound growth.

Officials sources said, the implementation of the programme in the district will be started on 10 May.

A total of 1,924 centres will be setup for administering Vitamin A capsule to 1,57,922 children and vermicide to 1,24,986.

Two get 7-year RI in Meherpur

BSS, Meherpur

Two persons were sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment each for abducting a youth in 2006.

The convicts were identified as Salam and Pavel. The Court also fined the convicts Taka 10,000 each in default to suffer one year more in prison.

District and Sessions Judge Taposh Kumar Dey delivered the judgment in a crowded courtroom here on Thursday morning. The prosecution story in brief is that, terrorists Salam, Pappu and Pavel abducted Rolex, 22, son of Anwaul Islam Badal on October 28, 2006 and demanded Taka one lakh as ransom keeping Rolex as hostage.

But Rolex managed to escape from the grab of his abductors in the night. His father filed an abduction case with Meherpur police station.

News briefs

Business establishments fined in Comilla

COMILLA, May 9: A mobile court realized Tk 12,500 in fine from six hotel owners and two confectioneries on charge of selling adulterated and stale food items in the district town on Tuesday. The court led by magistrate M Ataul Gani launched the drive on information that some business establishments, who have no valid approval from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, were engaged in selling adulterated and date expired food items. The business establishments fined are: Shasangachha Hotel, Jalalabad Hotel, Melody Hotel, Dhaka Hotel, Gomoti Hotel and Khwaja Hotel and Piyasa Bakery and Miami Confectio-nery, reports UNB.

2 killed in road mishap

MYMENSINGH, May 9: Two people were killed and another was injured when a bus rammed a rickshaw at Charpara crossing in the district town on Tuesday night. The accident occurred when the Sherpur-bound bus from Dhaka hit the rickshaw, killing rickshaw-puller Nurul Islam, 35, its passenger Sohrab Ali, 50, on the spot and injuring Sohrab's wife Kulsum critically at about 9:30pm. Injured Kulsum was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Police seized the bus, but its driver and helper managed to flee. A case wad filed, reports UNB.

One killed in Gaibandha nor' wester

GAIBANDHA, May 9: A severe nor'wester that swept over Palashbari and Sadullapur upazilas of the district Monday night killed a woman and damaged 300 thatched houses and standing crops on vast tracts of land. Local people said the tropical storm lashed Barisal, Hosssainpur, Kishoregari, Polashbari and Mahdipur unions in Polashbari upazila and Idilpur union in Sadullapur upazila. Achhia Begum wife of Azizar Rahman of Shibrampur village in Polshbari upazila was electrocuted when a snapped live electric wire fell on her during the storm, reports UNB.