The New Nation - Internet Edition

Quality seeds to boost jute production underscored

BSS, Rangpur

Senior experts and agriculture scientists today said that increased production of jute could usher in a new era in the country's economy as its demand has been increasing in the international markets due to adverse effects of the synthetic fibres.

They said this while addressing the concluding session of a two-day training course on production and preservation of high quality seeds of jute and 'Kenaf' to raise production of the 'golden fibre' in regaining its past glory.

The farmers could produce and preserve quality seeds at their own for meeting their demands without depending on others and the country may be self-reliant on jute seeds in near future.

The training course was organised for the officials and employees of the Agriculture Extension and Agriculture Research Departments of Rangpur, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Bogra and Joypurhat districts at the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) in Rangpur.

The Rangpur Regional Centre of the BJRI organised the course to achieve self-reliance in producing quality jute and 'Kenaf' seeds for meeting local demands and increasing jute production in the country.

Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur Zone Kazi Nazim Uddin attended the inaugural and concluding sessions as the chief guest while Senior Scientific Officer of BJRI from Dhaka Yar Uddin Sarker was present as special guest.

Chief Scientific Officer of Rangpur BJRI Dr Mohammad Ayub Khan chaired the concluding session. Senior Scientific Officer of BJRI, Rangpur Zahid Al Rafique, its Senior Scientific Officer M Yunus Ali and Scientific Officer Babul Hossain, among others, addressed the function.

Scientific officers, experts of BJRI and DAE conducted the training course organised for the field-level officials and workers of the agriculture-related departments of five northern districts.

The scientists and experts underscored the need for involving more farmers in producing high quality jute and 'Kenaf' seeds by applying the latest technologies for fulfilling demand of jute seeds by locally produced ones.

They also asked the concerned officials for organising frequent training courses for field level officials and farmers at the grassroots to aquaint them with the modern technologies for producing and preserving jute and 'Kenaf' seeds.

They urged the participants for motivating the farmers to increase jute production in reviving the glory of the Golden Fibre as its demand in the international markets has been growing fast because of its eco-friendly nature.

There will be no need for importing jute seeds within the next few years as the farmers have been producing huge quantity of quality seeds in the country using the latest technologies, they added.

Quality service indispensable for postal service in competitive globalisation era

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a day-long workshop here today said quality service has become indispensable to make the Bangladesh Postal Service profitable and sustainable in the competitive globalisation age.

They also underscored the need for selecting time-fitting tasks along with formulating need-based work-plan for the Postal Department for its existence in the age of open market policy.

They were addressing at the inaugural session of a workshop styled "Challenges and Opportunities of Bangladesh Postal Department in the Context of Globalisation" at the conference hall of Postal Academy here. Arranged by the Bangladesh Postal Department, about 50 field level postmasters attended the workshop.

Director General of Bangladesh Post Office Mobashsher-ur Rahman addressed the session as the chief guest with Principal of the Postal Academy Shudhangsu Shekhar Bhadra in the chair.

Post Master General Probash Chandra Saha, Additional Director General of Bangladesh Post Office Shafiur Rahman and Director Nuruzzaman also spoke on the occasion.

"We have many potential in the sector but those are not being materialised due to lack of dependable service and frequent allegations are being raised by the customers," they said.

In this context, they observed that both the domestic and foreign courier services are gaining popularity due to lack of trust on the postal service which is embarrassing to the national economy.

Highlighting the aspects of trained and honest manpower, the speakers urged the participants to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty along with patriotic zeal so that the lost glory of the department could be regained as soon as possible.

They termed the postmasters as the key persons to make the Postal Department service-oriented and said "You should be accountable and transparent to your service for the greater interest of the nation as well as the department".

Vitamin A+ campaign observed in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The National Vitamina A+ Campaign 2008 was observed in five upazilas of the Gopalganj district in a befitting manner on May 10.

A total 1,71,938 children in five upazilas of the Gopalganj district aged in between 1-5 years and 1,38,287 children in between 2-5 years were swallowed A+ Vitamin. The 1,71,938 children aged between 1-5 swallowed Vitamin A+ capsule while 1,38,287 children swallowed anthelmic tablets on Saturday by 439 field workers, 244 supervisors at 6 Parmanent centres, 1687 temporary centres.

SM Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj, inaugurated the national Vitamin A+ Campaign in Gopalganj district by feeding a vitamin A+ to a child.

Ameena Primary School of the Gopalganj town on May 10 (Saturday) Dr AKM Reazaul Karim child Surgeon Gopalganj, Advocate Shamsun Naher Chairman Gopalganj Pourashava were present on the occasion.

Laptop fair draws huge crowd in Ctg

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

A three-day laptop fair titled 'Laptop Port-08' began at the auditorium of Engineers Institute Bangladesh (IEB) Chittagong on Friday which linked the young minds together with IT.

Maker Communication, an IT-based event management company in coordination with bdnews24.com, and The Daily Azadi, is hosting the laptop fair here in Chittagong for the first time. A total of 18 organisations are participating in the fair having 13 brands including 25 stalls. Secretary to the ministry of Homes Affairs Mohammad Abdul Karim joined the inaugural function as the chief guest. Chief Editor of the news agency - bdnews24.com Toufiq Imroze Khalidi, member of the Better Business Forum Sayed Mahbubul Islam and President of Bangladesh Computer Association (BSA) Mostafa Jobbar joined it as special guests.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Maker

Communication Mohammad Khan told the reporters that variety of laptops of different brands is being sold from Taka 27 thousand to 250 thousand.

The exceptional event having fashion show, cultural functions apart from display of new brand laptop drew huge crowd on the first and second day.

The provision of free entry for the visitors in the fair, in order to make the event more accessible to the people, especially for the students and mid-income people, has apparently turned the fair venue into mass gathering on the weekends.

Different IT vendors are offering discount prices, gifts and other facilities to the visitors at the fair. People are also streaming into the fair in order to buy products at reasonable prices. Youths those are switching over from desktop computers are showing interest in stylish laptops with reasonable price.

Mohammad Anisul Islam, a young businessman, said, "Laptop is more popular than desktop to me as it is easy to carry wherever I go."

"I can't find any alternative of laptop to do my business related tasks quickly," he said expressing his interest to buy a new brand laptop.

Acer, Asus, Compaq, BenQ, HP, Dell, Fujitsu, Hasee, Kings, Sonny and Toshiba, Lenovo have come up with laptops with attractive prices in the fair.

A software engineer said, "Every year I participate in this kind of event wherever it takes place. I like it because the fair gives me update information about new IT accessories". Product Manager of the Asus AKM Mohiuddin Khasru said, "Demand of laptops has gradually been increasing in port city and the fair will be helpful both for the students and businessmen to get a quality laptop."

Minor boy drowns in Chittagong

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

A minor boy was drowned at a pond at Banglabazar area near Freedom Fighter Colony under Baizeed police station on Friday.

The deceased was identified as Mohammed Faruque son of Mohammed Shafi Alam of the said area under same police station. Sources said that that Faruque went missing when he was taking bath with a group of children at Foyez Miar Pukur on Friday morning.

Later, locals found Faruque floating in the pond water at about 2:00 p.m. and rushed him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where attending doctors declared him dead.

The body of the victim was sent to the CMCH morgue for autopsy.

News briefs

One dies of heatstroke

KHULNA, May 14: A 60-year-old man died of heatstroke while waiting in a long queue of OMS centre for rice at Banargati in the town Saturday. Locals said Durjon Ali Sarder collapsed at about 11 am due to scorching heat as he had been waiting since 8am in the long queue for buying rice being sold under the Open Market Sale (OMS). He died when he was taken back home, reports UNB.

Cattle trader lynched in Narail

NARAIL, May 14: A cattle-lifter was killed in a mass beating at Tularam Babu village in Sadar upazila on Friday morning. Local people said an organized gang of thieves went to the village to lift cattle by a pickup van at about 8pm on Thursday. Sensing their presence, local people chased the gang and caught one of them while the rests managed to flee the scene. The angry mob beat the thief, Alamgir, indiscriminately leaving him critically injured. On information, police rescued Alamgir in the morning and admitted him to Sadar hospital where he died later, reports UNB.

Wife killed by husband in B'baria

BRAHMANBARIA, May 14: A pregnant housewife was killed allegedly by her husband at Nasirabad village in Nabinagar upazila on Thursday evening. Police said Durjoy Das beat up his seven-month pregnant wife Amita Das, 24, following a quarrel with her over a trifling matter leaving her dead on the spot, reports UNB.